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The Slow Newscast

The Observer
Donald Trump
Labour Party
Neil Gaiman
Sexual Assault
Brexit
Consent
Mental Health
Domestic Abuse
Covid-19
Jeremy Corbyn
Sexual Abuse
Elon Musk
Keir Starmer
Joe Biden
Benjamin Netanyahu
Artificial Intelligence
Russia
Public Health
Scarlett
Opioid Crisis

The Slow Newscast from The Observer takes the news slowly. We investigate, and every week we focus on stories that really matter in the UK and around the world. From wars in Ukraine and Gaza through to true crime and injustice and real life mysteries, The Slow Newscast team is devoted to narrative investigations covering some of the biggest topics of the day.

Who are the people biohacking themselv... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes426Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureDocumentaryNewsNews Commentary

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Latest Episodes

Jeevan Vasagar uncovers how Britain’s waste system became a goldmine for criminals – and why the mess left by gangs often remains long after sites are shut down. 

Reporters: Jeevan Vasagar and Jonathan Lewis

Producer: Jonathan Lewis

Sound design: ... more

Each year new temperature records are threatened to be broken. But the UK seems to respond not with innovative adaptation, but with shock. Why?

Ada Barumé is joined by academic meteorologist Rob Thomson and Dimple Rana, who is the Heat Resilience Lea... more

Following Keir Starmer's resignation, Andy Burnham is now in prime position to become the UK's next prime minister. So what does he stand for?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we’re speaking to Frank Cottrell Boyce, the children’s laureate, who has spent two years visiting schools, libraries, and communities to discover what it means to grow up in Britain today. 

He’s written about it in a new book ‘A British Ch... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Cat Neilan
Whitehall editor at The Observer
The Observer
Episode: SNC Extra: The Henry Nowak case
John Simpson
Home Affairs editor at The Observer
The Observer
Episode: SNC Extra: The Henry Nowak case
Christine Batrouche
Head of Corporate Responsibility at Lundin Oil (1999–early 2000s); interviewee
Lundin Oil
Episode: On trial: oil and war crimes
Jack Clark
Co-founder of Anthropic
Anthropic
Episode: Anthropic co-founder Jack Clark: What does the future of AI look like?
Tim DeMayer
Assistant Chief Constable, Thames Valley Police
Thames Valley Police
Episode: 'Social media is killing our kids'
Stuart Stevens
Parent advocating for youth safety online
Private individual (parent)
Episode: 'Social media is killing our kids'
Jonathan Hall
KC, government's independent reviewer of terrorism legislation
UK Government
Episode: 'Social media is killing our kids'
Becky Foljambe
GP specializing in impact of social media on children
Episode: 'Social media is killing our kids'
Matt Dukes
Speaker on online safety and youth violence
Episode: 'Social media is killing our kids'

Hosts

Rachel Sylvester
Host of The Slow Newscast Extra; political editor and journalist with deep UK political reporting experience.
Ada
Host of The Slow Newscast with multiple appearances; specialist in interview-driven, investigative segments.
Alexi Mostrous
Host of Slow Newscast Extra; regular voice across episodes; strong investigative journalism background.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 2.2k ratings
  • Henry Nowak

    What a one sided review .

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Mary Mac 13
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Biased

    This is very biased. The families apology means nothing when they were in court shouting at Henry’s family the day before. Henry was handcuffed while dying and his murderer was never handcuffed. He was treated differently, why???????

    Poor Henry must have seen the police and thought thank god I’m safe now but they treated him so badly. That poor boy. You’ve hardly spoken about him. So disappointed

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    SIMO CC
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • What have you done to this podcast?

    It used to be great, now it’s awful. The Observer have killed it

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Lulu ledoux
    Australiaa month ago
  • Don’t love the extra episodes!

    It’s called the Slow Newscast and now you’re shoehorning in an extra half-baked episode covering the news headlines. Why? Just create a separate podcast. This podcast just became like every other podcast and has really lost its mojo.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    ange87
    Australiaa month ago
  • Justin Baldoni

    I'm sorry this is so biased to Blake Lively. MSM at their worst. She ruined Justin Baldoni's career.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    BulmersTrucker
    United Kingdom2 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The storytelling remains clear and investigative without sensationalism.
High-quality journalism with balanced, nuanced perspectives.
Professional, meticulously researched storytelling that respects listeners' intelligence.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Is this the end of Orban's influence?
Q: How optimistic are you about Péter Magyar's ability to untangle Hungary from Orbanism?
David notes the obstacles include judges and powerful business interests tied to Orbán, but suggests that with a two-thirds majority Magyar could push change, though it will not be easy to unravel decades of influence.
Is this the end of Orban's influence?
Q: What was your reaction on Sunday when you heard the election result?
David Aaronovitch explains a mix of pessimism and surprise—expecting Magyar to win based on polls, yet thinking the outcome would be blocked or delayed, and recognizing that the Orbán network remains deeply entrenched in institutions.
Can we be saved from AI?
Q: What kinds of safeguards or structural changes do you think are essential to protect people from AI's potential harms?
They advocate for balancing business incentives with safety, including blanket bans on certain engagement-focused training for youths, mandatory testing and safety standards, and ongoing monitoring to prevent the tech from undermining mental health and social well-being.
Can we be saved from AI?
Q: Will AI pass or fail humanity's test with these technologies, and what conditions would tilt the outcome toward success?
Both guests express cautious optimism if there is clear coordination and fundamental changes to incentives, including safer design practices and governance, but acknowledge it remains a difficult, non-linear challenge requiring systemic shifts.
Can we be saved from AI?
Q: What are the implications of the Google/Meta decision, and could we see a shift in accountability beyond content to the design of platforms themselves?
The discussion suggests that liability could expand beyond content to how products maximize attention, potentially opening up lawsuits and court-ordered changes to features like feeds, with broader consequences for injunctive relief and product design decisions.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Slow Newscast

What is The Slow Newscast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show offers long-form, narrative investigations into political, legal, tech, and social issues with a UK focus and occasional international angles. Episodes frequently dissect policy trade-offs, power dynamics, and the human impact behind headlines, often featuring investigative reporting, expert commentary, and historical context. A standout trait is the careful, methodical storytelling that balances robust research with accessible storytelling, making complex topics like anti-doping, political funding, and state influence easier to grasp for a broad audience. The format tends to combine deep-dive reporting with a wide network of journalists, policymakers, and industry insiders, which can appeal to listeners who value rigorous journali... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Slow Newscast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Slow Newscast:

1. The News Meeting
2. Sensemaker
3. The Audio Long Read
4. Today in Focus
5. The Story

How many episodes of The Slow Newscast are there?

The Slow Newscast launched 7 years ago and published 426 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on The Slow Newscast?

Recent guests on The Slow Newscast include:

1. Cat Neilan
2. John Simpson
3. Christine Batrouche
4. Jack Clark
5. Tim DeMayer
6. Stuart Stevens
7. Jonathan Hall
8. Becky Foljambe

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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