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The Slow Newscast

The Observer
Donald Trump
Labour Party
Neil Gaiman
Sexual Assault
Brexit
Consent
Domestic Abuse
Jeremy Corbyn
Mental Health
Elon Musk
Sexual Abuse
Russia
Keir Starmer
Joe Biden
Benjamin Netanyahu
Artificial Intelligence
Nigel Farage
Scarlett
Ukraine
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 weeklyEpisodes461Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
DocumentaryNewsNews CommentarySociety & Culture

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Artwork for The Slow Newscast

Latest Episodes

The former Unite boss says the police investigation into alleged corruption during his tenure will clear his name after years of accusations. But whether it can erase this dark episode in British trade unionism is another matter. So will the reputati... more

James Tapper, The Observer's Science editor and a weight-loss jab user, tells the story of his journey using the weight-loss drugs. A journey that along with lost kilograms, led him to the godfather of these drugs: a man who discovered the hormone th... more

Kenyan men are leaving their country for work – and ending up on the frontlines of Russia’s war in Ukraine. This is the story of the recruiters, the promises and the poverty that keeps the pipeline moving.

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

Stephanie Arcanjo spent three years building a life with her boyfriend, Eric. One day he vanished, and the police came knocking. Only then would she learn his true identity, and that their life together was a lie.

Basia Cummings speaks to Sao Paolo... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
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Recent Guests

Len McCluskey
British trade union leader, former General Secretary of Unite
Unite the Union
Episode: The Fixer: The life of Len McCluskey | Ep 1
James Tapper
Observer's science editor
The Observer
Episode: The rivalry that spawned the weight-loss jab race
Oliver Basciano
Journalist who wrote the feature discussed in the episode
The Observer
Episode: How I fell in love with a Russian spy
Nkechi Simms
Actor, drama facilitator and youth mentor
Care system survivor, public figure in the episode
Episode: Careless
Andrew Anthony
Observer reporter who traveled to Albania to report on the development and protests
The Observer
Episode: How Ivanka Trump enraged all of Albania
Cameron Ponsonby
Colleague and reporter documenting Ben Stokes story
The Slow Newscast
Episode: The trials of Ben Stokes
Anand Gopal
Author of Days of Love and Rage
Author, Days of Love and Rage
Episode: What made Syrians fight for revolution?
Maxine Follows
Grandmother of Kim Edwards, pivotal interviewee
Family/Local community
Episode: “I will never judge you”: A grandmother’s promise
Shawneen Lam
Barrister and co-founder of Just for Kids Law
Just for Kids Law
Episode: “I will never judge you”: A grandmother’s promise

Host

Basia Cummings
Host of The Slow Newscast (and related series); long-form investigative journalist with The Observer.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 2.3k ratings
  • A Grandmother’s Story…and the horror of her indifference for her daughter’s murder.

    Have been following Tortoise since its very first episode. Highly respect Basia’s tone and journalistic skills and integrity. Unfortunately I believe the participation of too many reporters are tainting the clean cut balanced style this podcast used to excel in.

    Would like to ask Katie (this particular ep’s reporter) what exactly she wanted to achieve in familiarising us with this very unfazed, detached grandmother - who stated she had to take time off work because of the press attention follow... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Molylu
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Flawed and biased episode on ECT

    The tone of the journalist discussing ECT was immediately negative and judgmental. Her grasp of the science, psychiatry in general and the struggle of patients and families experiencing mental illness was quite limited. This creates more distrust and will discourage patients seeking care. Hugely disappointed you would let this dismissive tone be published.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    MTAKWA
    United Statesa month ago
  • Henry Nowak

    What a one sided review .

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Mary Mac 13
    United Kingdom4 months 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 Kingdom4 months 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
    Australia4 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate nuanced analysis beyond standard headlines, and strong guest expertise.
Some critics argue episodes are biased or overly opinionated at times.
Feedback highlights high regard for long-form storytelling and investigative depth.
Listeners praise rigorous, balanced investigations with careful sourcing.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The rivalry that spawned the weight-loss jab race
Q: How do you view the long-term use of these drugs and the idea of stopping them?
There is uncertainty about long-term effects and how to safely taper off; the individual may experience appetite return and the science on stopping is not yet clear, so many weigh ongoing health benefits against potential risks.
The rivalry that spawned the weight-loss jab race
Q: When did you start injecting yourself, and what prompted the decision to start this medication?
The decision grew from a personal health journey and a recognition that lifestyle changes alone weren't delivering sustainable results, leading to trying a once-doubted therapy that promised meaningful weight loss.
How Ivanka Trump enraged all of Albania
Q: Do you think the Trumps will get their way given the protests and environmental reviews?
It's uncertain; the government has to pass an Environmental Impact Study and manage public backlash, but the Trump-backed investment environment and political leverage could push the project forward unless public sentiment translates into sustained political pressure.
How Ivanka Trump enraged all of Albania
Q: So tell me, what are the Trump's plans for the development of this island?
The plan is to turn the area into a luxury destination, leveraging the island's unique geography and existing proximity to the coast, but the project faces environmental, legal, and political hurdles that could delay or derail development.
Paolo Zampolli: Trump’s matchmaker
Q: What is Paolo Zampolli's official role or mandate?
His role evolved from a private businessman and social connector into a government-adjacent envoy-like figure with duties that were not formally codified, leading to debates about transparency and ethics.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Slow Newscast

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

The show delivers long-form investigations and narrative journalism on timely UK and global issues, ranging from political finance, corruption, and governance to major global events and social justice stories. Episodes often feature deep-dive reporting, archival context, expert commentary, and on-the-ground reporting, giving listeners a clear throughline on accountability, policy implications, and human impact. A notable strength is its willingness to tackle complex, controversial topics with thorough sourcing and dramatic storytelling, which can attract listeners who crave thoughtful, in-depth analysis beyond headlines.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Slow Newscast?

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How many listeners does The Slow Newscast get?

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How many subscribers and views does The Slow Newscast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Slow Newscast has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Slow Newscast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Slow Newscast:

1. Careless | Tortoise Investigates
2. The News Meeting
3. The Audio Long Read
4. The Story
5. Black Box: The Chatbots

How many episodes of The Slow Newscast are there?

The Slow Newscast launched 7 years ago and published 461 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Slow Newscast?

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.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Slow Newscast?

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What guests have appeared on The Slow Newscast?

Recent guests on The Slow Newscast include:

1. Len McCluskey
2. James Tapper
3. Oliver Basciano
4. Nkechi Simms
5. Andrew Anthony
6. Cameron Ponsonby
7. Anand Gopal
8. Maxine Follows

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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