James was Director of BBC News and before that was Editor of the Times.
James Harding
Editor and founder

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Thursday 16 November 2023
18:30-19:30 GMTActivism: A new era of leadership
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Friday 3 November 2023
08:30-10:00 GMTUK AI Summit Debrief
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Tuesday 5 December 2023
12:00-13:00 GMTIs the UK getting more corrupt?
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Tuesday 24 October 2023
12:00-13:00 BSTThe Issa brothers: do the rules apply to them
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Tuesday 10 October 2023
12:00-13:00 BSTThe Right voice- the Telegraph sale, the Dacre diaspora and the rise of GB News
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Wednesday 13 December 2023
18:15-19:30 GMTThe News Meeting Live
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Wednesday 22 November 2023
18:30-19:45 GMTThe News Meeting Live
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Wednesday 12 July 2023
18:30-19:30 BSTCan our microbiome save us? A ThinkIn with Dr James Kinross
Join us for this ThinkIn to understand how your gut shapes your life, what you can do to make yours better and how protecting our environment could help improve human health.
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Wednesday 28 June 2023
08:30-09:30 BSTGlobal AI Index Launch
Join us online to hear about the fourth update of the Index and what the findings mean for the future of artificial intelligence worldwide.
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Wednesday 19 July 2023
18:30-19:45 BSTThe News Meeting Live
Join Tortoise Media for a live recording of the hit podcast, ‘The News. Meeting’ and help set the news agenda.
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Thursday 20 April 2023
18:30-19:30 BSTThe News Meeting Live, with Rosie Holt, Liz Moseley and Giles Whittell
Join us for a special live recording of the hit podcast, The News Meeting, which invites you into the editorial meetings at Tortoise.
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Tuesday 7 March 2023
19:30-20:30 GMTInside Iran: a new revolution?
Who are the voices that can help inspire change? Who are the people waiting to lead Iran into the future and what would the transfer of power look like?
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Thursday 20 April 2023
18:00-22:00 BSTTortoise Lates: Truth
Join us for an evening of conversation, ideas and entertainment.
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Tuesday 7 March 2023
19:00-21:00 GMTIran: a new revolution?
Join us as we’ll be exploring recent developments in Iran, covering everything from protests and media coverage, to international and geopolitical perspectives.
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Thursday 23 February 2023
09:00-10:00 GMTThe Review
Join us at our fortnightly breakfast event that helps Tortoise members and friends make sense of what’s going on in the world, from breaking news and the latest scoops, to the slow burn stories we should be keeping an eye on.
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Thursday 26 January 2023
19:45-20:30 GMTFathers and sons, with Tom Allen
Join Tom in conversation with James Harding, as he talks about his recent book ‘Too Much’ and we explore his journey to being an adult and struggling with manhood
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Thursday 12 January 2023
18:30-19:30 GMTThe Westminster Accounts: democracy for sale?
Tortoise joins forces with Sky News to delve into the stories of the Westminster Accounts, and explore how much of British democracy has been up for sale.
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Monday 23 January 2023
18:30-19:30 GMTSuicide in healthcare: how do we protect NHS workers?
Join us for a special ThinkIn hosted in association with Doctors In Distress, as we attempt to shine some light on the dark plight facing healthcare workers, and explore what can be done to protect healthcare workers.
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Tuesday 31 January 2023
18:30-19:30 GMTThe Tavistock: what happens now?
Join us as we investigate the unanswered questions from our podcast series The Tavistock: Inside the Gender Clinic.
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Thursday 26 January 2023
18:15-21:30 GMTTortoise Lates: Masculinity
An evening that tries to make sense of masculinity: what it looks like, how it works, the problems it causes and why we need it.
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Thursday 6 October 2022
20:30-21:30 BSTIn conversation with Alastair Campbell
One-on-one with Tortoise editor-in-chief James Harding, Alastair will unpick how Westminster’s class of 2022 speaks to the electorate, and the world. Where are they going wrong, what are they getting right, and what should we watch out for in future Government communications
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Wednesday 7 December 2022
09:30-13:30 GMTThe Responsible Quantum Summit
Conversation around shared languages, national security, global economy and Quantum supremacy with special guests
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Wednesday 30 November 2022
19:30-20:30 GMTBuilding a fairer world: in conversation with Lawrence H. Summers
This ThinkIn will re-imagine how the world is run.
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Tuesday 22 November 2022
18:30-19:30 GMTThe Tortoise interview: Maria Ressa
Join us for a special Tortoise Interview with Maria Ressa, where she explains what she has sacrificed for the truth, and urges us to pay attention to dark forces in the online world, before it is too late.
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Thursday 20 October 2022
13:00-14:00 BSTThe forgotten 500,000: why is the UK government blocking Evusheld?
Join us for a special ThinkIn where we try to understand why Evusheld is being blocked in the same country that makes it, and the impact this decision is having on the people who just want their lives back.
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Thursday 6 October 2022
18:00-21:30 BSTTortoise Lates: Power and the Press
Tortoise Lates: Power and the Press edition will be an evening of conversations exploring the interplay of power, politics and the press.
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Tuesday 29 November 2022
18:30-19:30 GMTThe Tortoise Interview: Michael Palin on Iraq
Spend an evening chatting with Micheal Palin
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Wednesday 14 September 2022
18:30-19:30 BSTKing Charles, the monarchy and Britain now
Examining in detail the procedural, constitutional and cultural shifts that King Charles will bring.
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Tuesday 6 September 2022
18:30-19:30 BSTBritain’s new PM: what can we expect?
As Rishi Sunak or Liz Truss take the keys to No.10, what happens now?
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Tuesday 14 June 2022
10:00-11:00 BSTSlow News Cafe at the British Library
Bring your morning paper routine to the British Library, with a Tortoise Editor and special guests.
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Wednesday 8 June 2022
18:30-19:30 BSTMaking sense of democracy, with James Harding
What do you think about the state of the country?
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Tuesday 14 June 2022
18:30-19:30 BSTRevival: as London comes back to life… what’s the plan?
What sort of future does London have?
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Thursday 23 June 2022
18:30-19:30 BSTThe Hong Kong Diaries: In conversation with Lord Chris Patten
Hong Kong, the handover and what has happened since.
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Tuesday 21 June 2022
18:30-19:30 BSTIs global order out of control?
Join us for a ThinkIn with one of the most respected voices in global governance today, Rory Stewart, where we’ll discuss leadership in an era of geopolitical turbulence.
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Thursday 7 April 2022
18:30-19:30 BSTWhat do we owe each other now? A ThinkIn with Minouche Shafik
The director of the London School of Economics and author of What We Owe Each Other: A New Social Contract, on society, resources and collective responsibility.
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Monday 4 April 2022
18:30-19:30 BSTRedesigning Work: Is hybrid the answer? A ThinkIn with Lynda Gratton
How can we make remote working work?
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Tuesday 19 April 2022
18:30-19:30 BSTThe story behind the best British play ever: a ThinkIn with Jez Butterworth
Jez Butterworth on Jerusalem, and what it says about modern Britain.
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Monday 25 April 2022
18:30-19:30 BSTThe future of the BBC: in conversation with Lucy Powell
What does the future hold for public service broadcasting?
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Wednesday 20 April 2022
18:30-19:30 BSTOpen News Meeting
On Wednesday evenings, Tortoise journalists have a weekly news meeting to chew over the live news agenda.
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Wednesday 13 April 2022
18:30-19:30 BSTOpen News Meeting
On Wednesday evenings, Tortoise journalists have a weekly news meeting to chew over the live news agenda.
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Wednesday 6 April 2022
18:30-19:30 BSTOpen News Meeting
On Wednesday evenings, Tortoise journalists have a weekly news meeting to chew over the live news agenda.
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Monday 14 March 2022
18:30-19:30 GMTIs China censoring Hollywood?
What happens when producers want to make films with stories that China doesn’t want to be told?
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Wednesday 30 March 2022
18:30-19:30 BSTOpen News Meeting
On Wednesday evenings, Tortoise journalists have a weekly news meeting to chew over the live news agenda.
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Wednesday 23 March 2022
18:30-19:30 GMTOpen News Meeting: Ukraine special
On Wednesday evenings, Tortoise journalists have a weekly news meeting on Twitter Spaces to chew over the live news agenda.
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Wednesday 9 March 2022
18:30-19:30 GMTOpen News Meeting
On Wednesday evenings, Tortoise journalists have a weekly news meeting to chew over the live news agenda.
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Wednesday 16 March 2022
18:30-19:30 GMTOpen News Meeting: Ukraine special
On Wednesday evenings, Tortoise journalists have a weekly news meeting to chew over the live news agenda.
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Thursday 17 February 2022
18:30-19:30 GMTPTSD in the armed forces: could MDMA be the answer?
What kinds of PTSD does it work for, and are there any other banned substances which could be used in treating mental health conditions?
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Tuesday 8 February 2022
18:30-19:30 GMTDoes Netflix have a political agenda?
Until recently, it appeared Netflix successfully walked a political tightrope, but could a tumbling share price and a slowdown in new subscribers signal a change of direction?
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Wednesday 23 February 2022
18:30-19:30 GMTOpen News Meeting
On Wednesday evenings, Tortoise journalists have a weekly news meeting to chew over the live news agenda.
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Wednesday 16 February 2022
18:30-19:30 GMTOpen News Meeting
On Wednesday evenings, Tortoise journalists have a weekly news meeting to chew over the live news agenda.
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Wednesday 9 February 2022
18:30-19:30 GMTOpen News Meeting
On Wednesday evenings, Tortoise journalists have a weekly news meeting to chew over the live news agenda.
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Wednesday 2 February 2022
18:30-19:30 GMTOpen News Meeting
On Wednesday evenings, Tortoise journalists have a weekly news meeting to chew over the live news agenda.
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Thursday 20 January 2022
18:30-19:30 GMTWould privatisation be good for Channel 4?
It looks like 2022 could be a year of decision for the broadcaster. But what would the real impact of a privatised Channel 4 be for viewers and the industry?
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Monday 24 January 2022
18:30-19:30 GMTRacial privilege: can White Debt ever be repaid?
Why are people still reluctant to engage in any meaningful way with the British legacy of slavery?
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Wednesday 5 January 2022
18:30-19:30 GMTOpen News Meeting
On Wednesday evenings, Tortoise journalists have a weekly news meeting to chew over the live news agenda.
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Thursday 6 January 2022
18:30-19:30 GMTThe changing world order: in conversation with Ray Dalio
When Ray Dalio makes predictions, the worlds of politics, finance and industry listen. Find out what one of the world’s leading financial thinkers predicts for the years ahead.
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Tuesday 11 January 2022
18:30-19:30 GMTFrom ‘third person’ to future Queen: a new role for Camilla?
Has the Duchess of Cornwall quietly become the most outspoken Royal, playing a larger role in modernising the Monarchy than anyone expected?
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Wednesday 12 January 2022
18:30-19:30 GMTOpen News Meeting
On Wednesday evenings, Tortoise journalists have a weekly news meeting to chew over the live news agenda.
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Tuesday 7 December 2021
08:30-09:30 GMTIn conversation with Google’s Matt Brittin
Matt Brittin talks about the responsibility that comes with Google’s enormous presence and influence, and the role that digital tech can play in supporting an evolving labour market.
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Tuesday 7 December 2021
18:30-19:30 GMTOpen News Special Edition on Boris Johnson: what we’ve learnt, and what next?
What have we learned from 2021? What questions remain unanswered, and what new ones have arisen?
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Monday 29 November 2021
18:30-19:30 GMTInflation: what’s really going on?
Inflation is going to stick around for a while, and if Rishi Sunak is right and we can’t do anything about energy prices and supply chains, what’s the political response we need right now?
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Wednesday 17 November 2021
18:30-19:30 GMTAssisted dying: is the Bill safe?
The Assisted Dying Bill just had its second reading in the House of Lords. What is the reasoning of those in favour, and those who are against?
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Wednesday 3 November 2021
10:30-11:30 GMTChain of command: how can we get businesses, governments, suppliers and customers to Net Zero?
A Cop26 series ThinkIn, in partnership with McDonald’s, where we considered the power of understanding – and acting upon – company supply chains.
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Friday 5 November 2021
08:30-09:30 GMTDeeds and words matter: how can we close the say-do gap?
A Cop26 series ThinkIn where we asked, how can we communicate the climate emergency without catastrophizing?
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Wednesday 13 October 2021
13:00-14:00 BSTWhy is it still so hard to talk about mental ill-health?
As the first in a series of ThinkIns that seek to critically examine, and ultimately progress, the public conversation about mental health and wellbeing, we zeroed in on the elephant in the room: many people still don’t want – or know – how to talk about it.
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Tuesday 28 September 2021
13:00-14:00 BSTWhat will life be like in 2041? with Kai-Fu Lee
A conversation with Kai-Fu Lee where we asked, how will AI change the world over the next 20 years?
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Monday 4 October 2021
18:30-19:30 BSTIn conversation with Simon Sinek
An hour with Simon Sinek and his characteristic wit and wisdom, reflecting on the power of optimism in tough times, the future of leadership and how the experiences of the past two years will impact working culture.
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Wednesday 29 September 2021
18:30-19:30 BSTIn conversation with Ed Balls
Ed joined us live in the Tortoise newsroom for a wide-ranging conversation on his life and politics, and about the meaning of “Global Britain” and the role of “tax and spend” in the modern British age.
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Wednesday 8 September 2021
18:30-19:30 BSTVictoria, Succession and Stephen: is drama better at news than journalism?
How do the shifting boundaries between fact and fiction, news and drama reshape our relationship with journalism, and with history? If journalism is the first draft of history, is TV drama now the finished article?
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Thursday 30 September 2021
18:30-19:30 BSTIn conversation with Caitlin Moran
Caitlin joined us live for a glass of wine and a chinwag about feminism, music, celebrity culture, politics and more.
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Thursday 2 September 2021
18:30-19:30 BSTThe fight for feminism
At a time when women’s rights across the world are increasingly under threat, why is feminism eating itself alive? What can be done to bring everyone together?
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Wednesday 1 September 2021
18:30-19:30 BSTAfghanistan: what now?
Although it happened faster than even the Taliban expected, the fall of Kabul was not a surprise. The key question is, what happens now?
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Monday 20 September 2021
18:30-19:30 BSTLife after Angela: what has Merkel meant to Germany, Europe and us?
The German elections will mark the departure of Angela Merkel, seen by many to be the last great statesperson of our time. What are her greatest achievements? What will be her lasting legacy?
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Monday 13 September 2021
18:30-19:30 BSTInequality, incompetents and grade inflation: does meritocracy work?
Join us, with Daniel and Adrian, for a ThinkIn to debate who’s right about meritocracy and to explore the implications of both perspectives on the way we live our lives.
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Tuesday 26 October 2021
18:30-19:30 BSTCountdown to Cop26 with Sir Dave Lewis
A special Open News meeting with Sir Dave Lewis, former CEO of Tesco and Chair of the WWF, discussing the likely outcomes from Cop26.
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Thursday 30 September 2021
10:30-17:30 BSTThe Tortoise Cyber Summit
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Monday 21 June 2021
18:30-19:30 BSTThe origins of Covid: what do we know?
If we don’t know where Covid came from, how can we prevent all this happening again? We ask the experts.
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Tuesday 15 June 2021
18:30-19:30 BSTA ThinkIn with Gordon Brown
Join former Prime Minister Gordon Brown in conversation with James Harding.
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Tuesday 8 June 2021
08:00-09:00 BSTFat cats and pay gaps: should pay transparency be mandatory?
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Tuesday 8 June 2021
18:30-19:30 BSTA ThinkIn with Matthew Barzun on The Power of Giving Away Power
Join Matthew Barzun in conversation with James Harding on his new book, The Power of Giving Away Power.
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Wednesday 26 May 2021
18:30-19:30 BSTBritain’s productivity crisis: what is the solution?
As we emerge from Covid-19, how can we best reboot the economy and boost productivity? We ask the experts.
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Thursday 17 June 2021
15:00-20:00 BSTThe Tortoise Education Summit
Schooling after the virus: can we build back better?
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Tuesday 18 May 2021
18:30-19:30 BSTCountdown to Net Zero: what’s the plan for the next 12 months?
Join us for a special ThinkIn to mark the official launch of Tortoise’s Accelerating Net Zero coalition.
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Tuesday 18 May 2021
08:00-09:00 BSTA ThinkIn with Keith Anderson, Scottish Power CEO
As part of Tortoise’s Accelerating Net Zero initiative, join James Harding in conversation with Keith Anderson.
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Thursday 13 May 2021
18:30-19:30 BSTWhat kind of man is the next King?
How much do we really know about the next man to be King? We ask the experts.
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Tuesday 11 May 2021
08:00-09:00 BSTA ThinkIn with Alison Rose, CEO Natwest
Join James Harding in conversation with Natwest CEO, Alison Rose.
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Monday 10 May 2021
18:30-19:30 BSTCan art save the planet?
Join us to discuss how artists are thinking about the climate emergency and maximising their contribution to the climate transition.
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Tuesday 27 April 2021
08:00-09:00 BSTBack to reality: how will going back to work work?
As lockdown lifts (again) how will our workplaces ‘work’? Let us know what you think.
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Thursday 27 May 2021
08:30-14:00 BSTThe Future of Work Summit
What does the future of work really look like?
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Thursday 29 April 2021
10:00-10:50 BSTCan companies change faster than the climate?
Have “greening” companies grasped the scale of their own responsibilities? What are the obstacles to moving faster – and what’s at stake for those that don’t?
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Tuesday 20 April 2021
08:00-09:00 BSTCovid corruption: how much money has been wasted on the Bounce Back Loans?
Has the Chancellor’s ambitious Bounce Back Loan scheme been structured well? We ask the experts.
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Thursday 29 April 2021
08:30-15:15 BSTThe Tortoise Climate Summit: How can we accelerate net zero?
Join us to start writing a global to-do list before the world gathers in Glasgow to work out how to save itself.
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Thursday 15 April 2021
18:30-19:30 BSTCOP26: who are they kidding?
Will COP26 really be a catalyst for meaningful global action on climate change? Join us to find out.
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Thursday 1 April 2021
18:30-19:30 BSTDrinkIn: Happy 2nd Birthday Tortoise
Share a (virtual) cocktail with us to celebrate our second birthday.
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Wednesday 31 March 2021
18:30-19:30 BSTA ThinkIn with Lisa Nandy
Join James Harding in conversation with Lisa Nandy to discuss the direction of the Labour Party on the international stage.
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Tuesday 30 March 2021
08:00-09:00 BSTIn conversation with Michelle Mitchell, CEO of Cancer Research UK
Join James Harding in conversation with Michelle Mitchell on the impact of Covid on cancer services and patients.
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Tuesday 23 March 2021
08:00-09:00 GMTA ThinkIn with Jeremy Darroch
Join James Harding in conversation with Jeremy Darroch, Executive Chairman of Sky.
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Wednesday 24 March 2021
18:30-19:30 GMTA ThinkIn with Mark Carney on Value(s)
What does value really mean? Join James Harding in conversation with Mark Carney to find out.
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Monday 15 March 2021
18:30-19:30 GMTA ThinkIn with Jeremy Hunt
Join us to expand on the findings of the Tortoise Covid Inquiry and put your questions to Jeremy Hunt.
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Thursday 4 March 2021
18:30-19:30 GMTIs Britain quietly retiring its army?
What is the army’s role in modern Britain? Join us to find out.
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Tuesday 9 March 2021
08:00-09:00 GMTIn conversation with Sharon White, Chair of the John Lewis Partnership
Join James Harding in conversation with Sharon White, Chair of the John Lewis Partnership
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Friday 26 March 2021
09:00-15:00 GMTThe Future of Cars Summit
Join us and invited experts to discuss the big questions about the future of cars
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Tuesday 23 February 2021
08:00-09:00 GMTIn conversation with Carolyn McCall, CEO of ITV
Carolyn McCall on the future of home entertainment, public service broadcasting, diversity and representation and much more.
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Wednesday 17 February 2021
18:30-19:30 GMTA ThinkIn with David Baddiel on Jews Don’t Count
Join James Harding in conversation with author David Baddiel
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Wednesday 10 February 2021
18:30-19:30 GMTThe Maxwells: what a family, what a story
What does the psychodrama of the Maxwell family reveal about toxic power in the 21st Century?
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Tuesday 9 February 2021
08:00-09:00 GMTIn conversation with John Holland-Kaye, CEO of Heathrow
Join James Harding over breakfast in conversation with John Holland-Kaye, CEO of Heathrow
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Monday 8 February 2021
18:30-19:30 GMTA ThinkIn with Nadhim Zahawi, Minister for COVID Vaccine Deployment
Join James Harding in conversation with Nadhim Zahawi.
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Thursday 4 February 2021
18:30-19:30 GMTIn conversation with Caroline Lucas
Join James Harding in conversation with Caroline Lucas as part of our ‘Accelerating Net Zero’ series
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Monday 25 January 2021
18:30-19:30 GMTWhat does Carrie Symonds think – and does it matter?
Is Carrie Symonds more of a Dominic Cummings than a Denis Thatcher? And should we care?
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Wednesday 20 January 2021
18:30-19:30 GMTGoodbye Donald: end of an era, or start of the sequel?
What next for Trump’s followers? We ask the experts.
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Tuesday 26 January 2021
18:30-19:30 GMTFeeding the world sustainably after Covid: how will we do it?
How do we get food to everyone who needs it at a price they can afford?
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Thursday 25 February 2021
08:30-14:50 GMTThe Future of Money Summit
Join us an invited experts to discuss the big questions about the future of money
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Tuesday 19 January 2021
08:00-09:00 GMTIn conversation with Anne Boden, CEO Starling Bank
Join James Harding in conversation with Anne Boden
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Monday 18 January 2021
18:30-19:30 GMTTrans kids: what has been happening inside the Tavistock?
Join us to take a deep dive into what has really been happening inside the Tavistock
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Tuesday 12 January 2021
13:00-14:00 GMTOpen News
Add your voice to the Tortoise editors’ weekly news conference. Bring story ideas and perspectives. Have your say.
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Tuesday 12 January 2021
08:00-09:00 GMTAre business leaders stalling over disability inclusion?
Join us to ask why disability inclusion still isn’t on the boardroom table
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Wednesday 6 January 2021
18:30-19:30 GMTDoes Britain have an answer to immigration now?
Freedom of movement is over, but what does that really mean for Britain?
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Tuesday 5 January 2021
13:00-14:00 GMTOpen News
Add your voice to the Tortoise editors’ weekly news conference. Bring story ideas and perspectives. Have your say.
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Tuesday 8 December 2020
08:00-09:00 GMTA ThinkIn with Gavin Patterson, President and Chief Revenue Officer of Salesforce
Salesforce’s President and Chief Revenue Officer, Gavin Patterson, in conversation with James Harding
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Tuesday 15 December 2020
13:00-14:00 GMTOpen News Special: what did we learn in 2020?
What really happened this year? Which stories mattered, and what did we miss?
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Wednesday 9 December 2020
18:30-19:30 GMTA ThinkIn with Ed Miliband
The former Labour leader in conversation with James Harding.
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Tuesday 1 December 2020
13:00-14:00 GMTOpen News
Add your voice to the Tortoise editors’ weekly news conference. Bring story ideas and perspectives. Have your say.
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Thursday 3 December 2020
08:30-14:00 GMTThe Global AI Summit
On 3rd December, second Global AI Summit will imagine a world with AI at its core.
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Tuesday 20 October 2020
07:55-09:00 BSTWhat can smart machines do for humankind and for you?
What role will robots play in society? And how best can they serve humanity?
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Wednesday 4 November 2020
18:25-20:00 GMTUS Election: The Result – what now?
As the votes were still being counted, we discussed the US election – why it played out in the way that it did, and what the outcome will mean for America and the world.
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Tuesday 24 November 2020
18:25-19:30 GMTHow do we radically decarbonise our world, while meeting vital human needs?
How can we ensure that people and our planet can coexist harmoniously, and sustainably?
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Tuesday 10 November 2020
13:00-14:00 GMTOpen News
Add your voice to the Tortoise editors’ weekly news conference. Bring story ideas and perspectives. Have your say.
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Tuesday 10 November 2020
07:55-09:00 GMTIs Jack Ma the world’s greatest entrepreneur?
How powerful is Jack Ma?
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Monday 30 November 2020
18:25-19:30 GMTIn conversation with P.J. O’Rourke on the state of the United States
Join James Harding in conversation with satirist P.J. O’Rourke.
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Wednesday 25 November 2020
18:25-19:30 GMTSettled but not resolved: what next for the opioid crisis?
We return to our first ever story, and investigate the opioid crisis in the context of the pandemic.
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Monday 16 November 2020
18:25-19:30 GMTWhat is the job of scientists? with Jim Al-Khalili
Have we misunderstood what science can and can’t do?
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Monday 9 November 2020
18:25-19:30 GMTIn conversation with Lionel Barber: inside the corridors of power
Lionel Barber on the powerful and damned.
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Monday 19 October 2020
18:30-19:30 BSTMembers’ Open House
We want you to know how we’re doing, what’s changing in Tortoise, and to hear your feedback directly.
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Wednesday 21 October 2020
18:25-19:30 BSTBritain and slavery: Who profited and what should they do now?
What should companies that profited from slavery do now to make amends?
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Wednesday 28 October 2020
18:25-19:30 GMTHow will the climate crisis transform the Middle East?
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Tuesday 27 October 2020
12:55-14:00 GMTOpen News
Add your voice to the Tortoise editors’ weekly news conference. Bring story ideas and perspectives. Have your say.
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Tuesday 20 October 2020
13:00-14:00 BSTOpen News
Add your voice to the Tortoise editors’ weekly news conference. Bring story ideas and perspectives. Have your say.
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Wednesday 14 October 2020
18:25-19:30 BSTWill Nicola Sturgeon lead Scotland to independence?
Have the twin pressures of Brexit and Covid gifted independence to the SNP?
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Tuesday 13 October 2020
13:00-14:00 BSTOpen News
Add your voice to the Tortoise editors’ weekly news conference. Bring story ideas and perspectives. Have your say.
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Monday 12 October 2020
18:25-19:30 BSTHow do we live with loneliness?
Why is the 21st century the loneliest ever, and what can we do about it?
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Tuesday 29 September 2020
13:00-14:00 BSTOpen News
Add your voice to the Tortoise editors’ weekly news conference. Bring story ideas and perspectives. Have your say.
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Tuesday 15 September 2020
07:50-09:00 BSTWhy isn’t the ethnicity pay gap reporting mandatory?
How can we make sure more companies commit to reporting on the ethnicity pay gap?
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Tuesday 8 September 2020
08:00-09:00 BSTIn other news, Brexit: what’s happening?
Has Covid 19 scuppered the UK’s chances of landing a deal, or could the government still pull it off?
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Monday 7 September 2020
18:30-19:30 BSTLiving Better: In conversation with Alastair Campbell on mental health
Listen to Alastair Campbell’s intensely personal story about coping with depression.
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Tuesday 1 September 2020
13:00-14:00 BSTOpen News
Join the Tortoise editors and members from all over the world as, together, we grapple with the evolving live news agenda.
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Thursday 23 July 2020
18:30-19:30 BSTA House Through Time: a ThinkIn with David Olusoga & Melanie Backe-Hansen
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Wednesday 22 July 2020
18:30-19:30 BSTHow do we get 2m under 25s into work?
Under-25s were two and half times more likely than others to have been working in the parts of the economy that shut-down in March.
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Monday 15 June 2020
18:30-19:30 BSTDigital ThinkIn – Is there such a thing as a fair trial?
Is our justice system still fit for purpose or is wholesale judicial reform long overdue?
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Friday 15 May 2020
15:00-15:45 BSTSovereignty & surveillance: In conversation with Shoshana Zuboff
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Wednesday 22 April 2020
18:30-19:30 BSTCrisis Leadership – Tony Blair
The UK’s former prime minister in conversation with James Harding.
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Tuesday 28 January 2020
08:00-09:00 GMTWhat does Dominic Cummings think?
In the week of Brexit, we looked at what the PM’s chief advisor – the highly influential Dominic Cummings – means for investment in the north, defence procurement, the future of education; decision-making in government and more.
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Monday 27 March 2023
This week in Tortoise: The Peltz-Beckham wedding, Brand Boris and modern love
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Monday 13 March 2023
Sports Commentary
The BBC was wrong to suspend the sports broadcaster in the name of impartiality
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Monday 6 March 2023
This week in Tortoise: The six million pound man
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Monday 27 February 2023
This week in Tortoise: After the fall
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Monday 20 February 2023
This week in Tortoise: Wagner’s War
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Monday 13 February 2023
This week in Tortoise: The prince against the press
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Monday 6 February 2023
This week in Tortoise: A goodbye
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Monday 30 January 2023
This week in Tortoise: A mother’s fight to bring her children home
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Monday 23 January 2023
This week in Tortoise: Christians, courts and culture wars
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Thursday 19 January 2023
Sensemaker: Extreme continental
What just happened
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Monday 16 January 2023
This week in Tortoise: Real Money
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Monday 9 January 2023
This week in Tortoise: The Westminster Accounts
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Sunday 8 January 2023
Following the money
Without greater transparency, money will influence our politics in the dark. It’s time to check who is paying our politicians and to ask why
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Tuesday 3 January 2023
This week in Tortoise: How not to go back to the moon
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Monday 19 December 2022
This week in Tortoise: Slowing down for Christmas
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Monday 12 December 2022
This week in Tortoise: Inside Elon Musk’s Twitter takeover
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Monday 5 December 2022
This week in Tortoise – Octopus: the allegations against Crispin Odey
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Thursday 1 December 2022
The Tavistock: Why this story?
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Monday 28 November 2022
This week in Tortoise – The Tavistock: Inside the gender clinic
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Monday 21 November 2022
This week in Tortoise: Inside Unite
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Monday 14 November 2022
This week in Tortoise: The Alzheimer’s casino
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Monday 7 November 2022
This week in Tortoise: Cop27
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Monday 31 October 2022
This week in Tortoise: The undoing of Liz Truss
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Monday 24 October 2022
This week in Tortoise: Another new prime minister
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Monday 17 October 2022
This week in Tortoise: Pig Iron
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Monday 10 October 2022
This week in Tortoise: Britannia unhinged
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Monday 3 October 2022
This week in Tortoise: The making of Andrew Tate
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Monday 26 September 2022
This week in Tortoise: Tortoise Lates
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Tuesday 20 September 2022
This week in Tortoise: Hoaxed
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Monday 12 September 2022
This week in Tortoise: The Second Elizabethan Age
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Monday 5 September 2022
This week in Tortoise: The Fix
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Tuesday 30 August 2022
This week in Tortoise: Who decides the next PM?
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Monday 22 August 2022
This week in Tortoise: Myanmar’s forgotten coup
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Monday 15 August 2022
This week in Tortoise – Hostile Environment: Inside the Home Office
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Monday 11 July 2022
This week in Tortoise – Londongrad: the Lebedevs and the PM
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Monday 4 July 2022
This week in Tortoise: The Darwin Job
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Monday 27 June 2022
This week in Tortoise – A coup at Claridge’s: Qatar’s quiet move on London
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Monday 20 June 2022
This week in Tortoise: Hollywood’s cultural revolution
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Monday 13 June 2022
This week in Tortoise – Visit Rwanda: Britain’s harsh welcome for refugees
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Monday 6 June 2022
This week in Tortoise – The Rules: Democracy in Britain
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Monday 30 May 2022
This week in Tortoise: Children and the police
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Monday 23 May 2022
This week in Tortoise: Odesa
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Monday 16 May 2022
This week in Tortoise: Activism and action
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Monday 9 May 2022
This week in Tortoise – Downfall: twenty days that did for Rishi Sunak
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Tuesday 3 May 2022
This week in Tortoise
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Monday 25 April 2022
This week in Tortoise: Mariupol
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Tuesday 19 April 2022
This week in Tortoise: The Lost Ark
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Monday 11 April 2022
This week in Tortoise – Greg Barker: the lord’s work
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Monday 4 April 2022
This week in Tortoise: Fallen women
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Monday 28 March 2022
This week in Tortoise: The trials of Alexei Navalny
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Monday 21 March 2022
This week in Tortoise – Into the dark: The broken promise of a bionic eye
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Monday 14 March 2022
This week in Tortoise – Shadow whipping: The men who saved Boris
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Monday 7 March 2022
This week in Tortoise: Russian warship, go f*** yourself
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Monday 28 February 2022
This week in Tortoise: Lord of Siberia
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Monday 21 February 2022
This week in Tortoise – Spiking: An injection of fear
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Monday 14 February 2022
This week in Tortoise: Modi’s warrior pose
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Monday 7 February 2022
This week in Tortoise – Unforgotten: Syria’s war crimes
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Monday 31 January 2022
This week in Tortoise: The Ministry of Untruths
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Monday 24 January 2022
This week in Tortoise: China’s missing tennis player
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Monday 17 January 2022
This week in Tortoise: Virginia
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Monday 10 January 2022
This week in Tortoise: A finding of rape
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Tuesday 4 January 2022
This week in Tortoise: CoolSculpting
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Monday 20 December 2021
This week in Tortoise: Our year in stories
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Monday 13 December 2021
This week in Tortoise: School 49
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Monday 6 December 2021
This week in Tortoise: The super divorce
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Monday 29 November 2021
This week in Tortoise: A place for Elliott
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Monday 22 November 2021
This week in Tortoise – The retreat from Kabul: 11 days in August
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Monday 15 November 2021
This week in Tortoise: Who is REvil?
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Monday 8 November 2021
This week in Tortoise: Cop 26, week two
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Monday 1 November 2021
This week in Tortoise: Cop 26
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Monday 25 October 2021
This week in Tortoise: Sweet Bobby
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Monday 18 October 2021
This week in Tortoise: Morpurgo, Pinker, and ThinkIns galore
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Monday 11 October 2021
This week in Tortoise: Havana Syndrome
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Monday 4 October 2021
This week in Tortoise: From Russia with Diamonds
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Monday 27 September 2021
This week in Tortoise: Pfizer’s War
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Monday 20 September 2021
This week in Tortoise: Wrong turn
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Monday 13 September 2021
This week in Tortoise: Beau and Biden
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Tuesday 31 August 2021
This week in Tortoise: Smear
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Monday 23 August 2021
This week in Tortoise: A son of Afghanistan
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Monday 19 July 2021
This week in Tortoise: The porn headmaster
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Monday 12 July 2021
This week in Tortoise: The mystery of where Covid began
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Monday 5 July 2021
The Arms Race
This week in Tortoise: The Arms Race
This week, we are focused on the Arms Race: the race to jab the world, the race between vaccines and variants.
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Monday 28 June 2021
This week in Tortoise: Campus justice
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Monday 21 June 2021
This week in Tortoise: Escape from the Amarula
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Friday 18 June 2021
The Responsible AI Forum at Waddesdon: Our statement
We brought together leading thinkers from around the world to discuss the responsible development and deployment of AI. Here’s what we learned on the day
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Monday 14 June 2021
This week in Tortoise: The missing note
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Monday 7 June 2021
This week in Tortoise: A death at Lancaster Lodge
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Tuesday 1 June 2021
This week in Tortoise: The second couple
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Monday 24 May 2021
This week in Tortoise: Hunt for the porn king
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Monday 17 May 2021
This week in Tortoise: Nail House
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Monday 10 May 2021
This week in Tortoise: White Gold Rush
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Tuesday 4 May 2021
This week in Tortoise: Shukri Abdi
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Monday 26 April 2021
This week in Tortoise: Pariah
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Monday 19 April 2021
This week in Tortoise: Lost at sea
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Monday 12 April 2021
This week in Tortoise: ThinkIn with James Harding
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Tuesday 6 April 2021
This week in Tortoise: Slow Reviews, Part III
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Monday 29 March 2021
This week in Tortoise: Cross Stitch – An Embroidery Scandal
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Monday 22 March 2021
This week in Tortoise: Keir Starmer
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Monday 15 March 2021
This week in Tortoise: K2
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Monday 8 March 2021
This week in Tortoise: The Navalny Show
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Monday 1 March 2021
This week in Tortoise: the Covid Variants
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Monday 22 February 2021
This week in Tortoise: Tax and honour
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Monday 15 February 2021
This week in Tortoise: WallStreetWins
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Monday 8 February 2021
This week in Tortoise: A year of Covid
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Monday 1 February 2021
This week in Tortoise: Corinna & the king
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Monday 25 January 2021
This week in Tortoise: Hidden homicides
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Monday 18 January 2021
This week in Tortoise: The Trump hangover
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Monday 11 January 2021
This week in Tortoise: The vaccine
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Monday 4 January 2021
This week in Tortoise: Immigration after Brexit
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Monday 28 December 2020
This week in Tortoise: The good parts of 2020
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Monday 21 December 2020
This week in Tortoise: Slow Reviews, Part II
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Monday 14 December 2020
This week in Tortoise: The Covid Inquiry
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Monday 7 December 2020
This week in Tortoise: Year of the Screen
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Monday 30 November 2020
This week in Tortoise: Feminism Inc.
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Monday 23 November 2020
This week in Tortoise: Scottish independence
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Monday 16 November 2020
This week in Tortoise: Halloween 2020
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Saturday 14 November 2020
Behind the News, 14 November 2020
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Friday 13 November 2020
Donald Trump, importantly pathetic
The 45th president’s refusal to concede is laughable – but we ought to remember it
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Friday 25 September 2020
Harry Evans: restless, romantic… and relentless
Sir Harold Evans, Britain’s greatest newspaper editor, has died. In 14 years on The Sunday Times, he redefined the possibilities of journalism and inspired a generation – among them Tortoise editor James Harding
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Monday 15 June 2020
The government is unwell
Britain’s disease
Coronavirus is a vicious illness which has brutally exposed the weakness of the British government. The UK stands alone, suffering damage which is almost without parallel
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Monday 14 January 2019
What we are for
Tortoise, as you might imagine, is excited about the road ahead. We are a product of our times – and a response to it.
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Friday 22 September 2023
Are journalists too obsessed with bad news and did Rupert Murdoch make a secret deal with Prince William?
Steven Pinker, Harvard professor and author of Enlightenment Now, criticises the news machine. Plus whether Prince William reached a secret out of court settlement with Rupert Murdoch and News Group over phone hacking and Canada’s row with India.
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Friday 15 September 2023
Keir Starmer on the offensive and is the UK in a recession?
Andy Haldane, former Bank of England chief economist, offers his assessment of the UK economy. Plus Keir Starmer begins to set out his stall in two Murdoch-owned papers and Bernard Looney’s resignation from BP.
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Monday 11 September 2023
Why do we struggle to care about climate stories?
James Harding is joined by Jess Winch, Jeevan Vasagar and parliamentary sketchwriter Rob Hutton. They discuss the researcher arrested over alleged spying for China, Woking council cutting services and efforts to reduce global warming.
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Thursday 7 September 2023
Isn’t it time The Rolling Stones admitted they’re a PR stunt?
Plus: Yalda Hakim on the difference between Melania Trump and Olena Zelenska, and Toyota’s plans to build fuel cells
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Thursday 7 September 2023
Is the NHS “fobbing off” the mother of a girl who died of sepsis?
In this special episode of The News Meeting, James Harding is joined by Merope Mills, the mother of 13-year-old Martha who died unnecessarily from sepsis, and Polly Curtis from Demos, who are campaigning for “Martha’s rule” – the right to call for a second opinion – to understand how to make the change happen.
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Monday 4 September 2023
What a needless death teaches us about a toxic NHS culture
James Harding is joined by Tortoise editors Basia Cummings, Jeevan Vasagar and Giles Whittell. They discuss the risk of collapsing schools, an EU report on Kremlin disinformation and why the parents of Martha Mills, who died from sepsis, are campaigning for patients to have the right to a second opinion if they have concerns about their care.
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Friday 1 September 2023
Can the US and China be the best of frenemies?
James Harding and the team are joined by the FT’s US Financial editor Brooke Masters to discuss Gina Raimondo’s trip to China, the ULEZ expansion and massive pandemic relief fraud.
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Friday 25 August 2023
Are the British Museum thefts more than just a whodunnit?
Ben Bradshaw joins to discuss the thefts from the British Museum, Manchester United’s Mason Greenwood u-turn and the Republican primary debate
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Thursday 24 August 2023
Bonus episode: After Prigozhin’s reported death, what now?
In this special episode of The News Meeting the team discuss what Yevgeny Prigozhin’s reported death means for Vladimir Putin, the Wagner Group, Ukraine and the West.
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Monday 21 August 2023
Women’s football requires changes – some of them controversial
Plus: Donald Trump’s refusal to attend the Republican primary debate, and why wasn’t Lucy Letby stopped sooner?
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Friday 18 August 2023
Why is the US failing Afghan refugees?
Plus: the ongoing impact of the PSNI data breach and what makes Elon Musk a “space dictator”
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Monday 14 August 2023
What do you do when somebody is dying at the top of a mountain?
Plus: what’s happening in Niger and why King Charles is getting a pay rise
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Friday 11 August 2023
Zelda Perkins on toxic workplace culture
James Harding and the team are joined by campaigner Zelda Perkins. They discuss claims about the culture at ITV, Conservative grumblings over the ECHR and the Ohio vote that delivered a win for abortion rights campaigners
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Monday 7 August 2023
What happens when you’re switched at birth and what does Rishi Sunak believe?
James Harding and the team discuss the jailing of Imran Khan in Pakistan, two Canadian men who discovered they were switched at birth and dozens of swimmers getting sick at the world triathlon championship.
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Friday 21 July 2023
Post Office scandal, Starmer benefit row, and grain deal
In this episode, recorded in front of an audience in the Tortoise newsroom, James Harding is joined by Guardian columnist Gaby Hinsliff, Liz Moseley and Katie Gunning.
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Monday 17 July 2023
European heat storm, inheritance tax, and Hollywood strikes
The team discusses the record-breaking heatwave in southern Europe, potential plans to scrap inheritance tax, and why Hollywood’s actors and writers are going on strike. James also reflects on The Sun’s coverage of the Huw Edwards allegations.
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Tuesday 11 July 2023
Bonus episode: the BBC presenter and privacy
In this special episode James Harding explores why the media is reluctant to name the BBC presenter accused of paying a teenager for explicit images. He’s joined by Pia Sarma, editorial legal director at Times newspapers, and former BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw.
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Monday 10 July 2023
BBC presenter suspended, NHS & big pharma, and cluster bombs
Before founding Tortoise James Harding was head of BBC News. In this episode he’s joined by journalists Liz Moseley, Will Brown and Ceri Thomas, a former editor of Radio 4’s Today programme, to discuss the scandal surrounding a BBC presenter and what it means for the corporation. They also cover the US government’s decision to send cluster bombs to Ukraine, and the links between the NHS and big pharma.
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Friday 7 July 2023
Threads vs. Twitter, OnlyFans billboard, and Horizon membership
The team discusses Meta launching Threads to challenge Twitter, the billboard advertising an explicit OnlyFans account that sparked complaints and the UK edging closer to rejoining the EU’s Horizon programme.
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Monday 3 July 2023
France riots, Ukraine’s counteroffensive, and affirmative action
The team discusses the violence that has erupted in France, Ukraine’s faltering counteroffensive and the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn race-based college admissions.
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Friday 30 June 2023
Russian infighting, Thames Water, and Nicola Bulley’s inquest
James Harding is joined by Tortoise journalists Basia Cummings, Claudia Williams and Cat Neilan. They discuss Russia after the failed Wagner rebellion, the politics of water amid fears that Thames Water could collapse, and a coroner’s ruling that Nicola Bulley’s death was accidental.
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Friday 23 June 2023
Titanic sub, interest rate rise, and short children
James Harding is joined by Tortoise editors Jess Winch, Liz Moseley and Giles Whittell. In this episode they discuss the hunt for the missing Titan submersible, British children being shorter than their international peers and the Bank of England’s latest hike in interest rates.
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Thursday 15 June 2023
Jailed for abortion, Pacific warming and peerages
James Harding is joined by Tortoise editors Basia Cummings, Cat Neilan and Giles Whittell. In this episode they discuss a British woman jailed for using abortion pills, the El Niño effect in the Panama Canal and Boris Johnson’s honour’s list.
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Monday 12 June 2023
The News Meeting Live: Trump’s toilet troubles, wildfires and the allegations against Crispin Odey
In this episode, recorded at Kite Festival on Sunday 11th June, James Harding is joined on stage by Tortoise editors Alexi Mostrous, Basia Cummings and Jeevan Vasagar.
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Thursday 8 June 2023
Ukraine dam explosion, Saudi sport washing and economic policy
James Harding is joined by Tortoise editors Jess Winch and Giles Whittell, and Tortoise chairman Matthew Barzun who was US ambassador to London. In this episode they discuss the Kakhovka dam, the real difference between the economic policies of major political parties and golf’s PGA Tour merging with its Saudi-backed rival LIV Golf.
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Friday 2 June 2023
MeToo in the media, Whitehall WhatsApps and deep-sea mining
James Harding is joined by Tortoise editors Jeevan Vasagar, Jane Bruton and Giles Whittell. In this episode they discuss the sexual harassment allegations against former Observer columnist Nick Cohen; the Cabinet Office’s battle over Boris Johnson’s WhatApp messages; and a new frontier in the fight against climate change – deep below sea level.
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Thursday 25 May 2023
Cardiff riots, rape trials and Tina Turner
James Harding is joined by Tortoise editors Liz Moseley, Keith Blackmore and Mark St Andrew. In this episode they discuss Cardiff police’s response to a fatal e-bike crash which sparked a riot, proposals to block using rape victims’ sexual history as evidence in a trial and the death of music legend, Tina Turner.
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Thursday 18 May 2023
The News Meeting Live: immigration, Ron DeSantis and Zelensky’s European tour
James Harding is joined by Tortoise’s Alexi Mostrous, Liz Moseley and Katie Gunning in front of a live audience at London’s Picturehouse Central.
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Monday 15 May 2023
The power of investigative journalism, with Amol Rajan
Editors from the New York Times (Dean Baquet), the Financial Times (Roula Khalaf), Tortoise (James Harding) and the reporter behind the Guardian’s phone hacking reporting (Nick Davies) discuss how newsrooms should invest and support investigative journalism.
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Thursday 11 May 2023
Contraceptives, monarchy and Trump liable for sexual abuse
James Harding is joined by Liz Moseley, Phoebe Davis and Keith Blackmore to discuss the stories they think mattered most this week.
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Friday 28 April 2023
Sudan, the resignation of Dominic Raab and Joe Biden
James Harding is joined by Tortoise news editor Jess Winch, political editor Cat Neilan and audio editor Basia Cummings. In this episode they discuss the escalating situation in Sudan, the resignation of Dominic Raab and US President Joe Biden running for reelection.
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Friday 21 April 2023
The News Meeting Live: Fox settles, Musk’s rocket and the SNP
James Harding is joined by comedian Rosie Holt and Tortoise editors Liz Moseley and Giles Whittell in this special episode recorded in front of an audience in the Tortoise newsroom.
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Friday 31 March 2023
Manchester United, Israel and treatment of asylum seekers
James Harding is joined by Tortoise news editor Jess Winch, head of investigations Alexi Mostrous and head of social media Andrew Butler. In this episode they discuss the sale of Manchester United, Israel’s government pausing a judicial overhaul after protests and attitudes towards asylum seekers around the world
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Friday 3 March 2023
Culturemakers
This Saturday we launch the Weekend Sensemaker – a newsletter to make sense of who and what is shaping culture now
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Friday 3 March 2023
Hancock’s WhatsApps, Fox News and bird flu
Three journalists pitch their top story of the week to Tortoise’s editor-in-chief James Harding. In this episode James is joined by Tortoise editors Liz Mosely, Mark St Andrew and Cat Neilan.
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Saturday 25 February 2023
The politics of the AI age
The Blair-Hague report has plenty of technical recommendations; where will it leave democracy?
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Friday 24 February 2023
A year of war in Ukraine, the tomato shortage and cash-strapped councils
Three journalists pitch their top story of the week to Tortoise’s editor-in-chief James Harding. In this episode James is joined by Tortoise editors Jess Winch and David Taylor, as well as leading UK barrister Hashi Mohamed.
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Saturday 11 February 2023
Liz Truss’s “mandate” is a joke
The former PM’s assessment of what went wrong with her premiership demonstrates how undemocratic the Conservative party’s system for choosing a leader is
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Friday 10 February 2023
Earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, Man City and BP
In this episode Tortoise’s editor-in-chief James Harding and the team discuss how the news should respond to major humanitarian disasters like the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.
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Friday 3 February 2023
Britain is Bregretful
A new poll shows that voters regret leaving the EU. But despite Westminster’s silence on the idea of reversing it, there could still be opportunities for a closer relationship between Britain and Brussels
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Friday 3 February 2023
Dominic Raab, Adani vs. Hindenburg and the British Army
Three journalists pitch their top story of the week to Tortoise’s editor-in-chief James Harding. In this episode James is joined by Tortoise reporter Claudia Williams, head of programming Mark St Andrew and investigations editor Alexi Mostrous
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Friday 27 January 2023
Loud money
Companies that are otherwise impenetrable have been derailed by activist investors
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Friday 27 January 2023
German tanks, Dartmoor and Chinese infrastructure
Three journalists pitch their top story of the week to Tortoise’s editor-in-chief James Harding. In this episode James is joined by Tortoise’s climate editor Jeevan Vasagar, news editor Jess Winch and head of programming Mark St Andrew
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Friday 20 January 2023
The EU: move on or rejoin?
Rejoining the EU is not on the UK’s political agenda. Here’s why it should be.
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Friday 13 January 2023
The lessons from the Westminster Accounts
This week Tortoise and Sky News launched our database tracking the money flowing into British politics. What it found surprised even the most seasoned of journalists
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Friday 13 January 2023
Prince Harry, Brazil and the Westminster Accounts
Tortoise Editor James Harding is joined by Alexi Mostrous, Cat Neilan and Keith Blackmore to discuss the stories they think mattered most this week
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Friday 6 January 2023
What politicians can learn from the Harry and Meghan saga
Brits’ support for the monarchy is indicative of where they stand on a range of issues
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Friday 6 January 2023
NHS crisis, Congress chaos, Parthenon marbles
In the first episode of 2023 James Harding is joined by Liz Moseley, Dave Taylor and Mark St Andrew to discuss the stories they think mattered most this week
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Saturday 17 December 2022
A year of clarification
Much of 2022 has felt like a swirling mass of bad news, but it might just have laid the groundwork for better things to come.
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Friday 16 December 2022
Fusion breakthrough, FTX boss arrested, corruption scandal
In the last episode of 2022 James Harding is joined by Liz Moseley, Dave Taylor and Tortoise political editor Cat Neilan to discuss the stories they think mattered most this week.
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Saturday 10 December 2022
A world without waste could be closer than we think
Quantum computing could be key to reducing the inefficiencies we take for granted
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Friday 9 December 2022
German plot, ChatGPT, World Cup
In this episode James Harding is joined by Alexi Mostrous from the hit podcast Sweet Bobby, and Tortoise editors Liz Moseley and Keith Blackmore, to discuss the stories they think mattered most this week
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Friday 2 December 2022
Boosting Britain’s place in the world
Rishi Sunak’s first speech on British foreign policy this week was thin on ideas. Luckily, others have started putting in the work
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Friday 2 December 2022
Balenciaga, Alzheimer’s drug and protests
James Harding is joined by Tortoise journalists Liz Moseley, Andrew Butler and Dave Taylor to discuss the stories they think mattered most this week
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Saturday 26 November 2022
It’s time to go after the advertisers
When it comes to abuse of power, marketeers are the ultimate enablers
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Friday 25 November 2022
World Cup, winter of discontent, Disney hero?
In the first episode James Harding is joined by Tortoise editors Cat Neilan, Dave Taylor and Liz Moseley to discuss the stories they think mattered most this week
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Sunday 20 November 2022
The Responsibility100 Index: A case for optimism and urgency
Our latest ranking of the FTSE100 companies based on their social, environmental and ethical credentials has found that every company is doing something to improve their standing. It’s just not happening fast enough
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Friday 11 November 2022
What is Labour’s plan for growth?
A recession is on its way, inflation is biting, and more and more people are going on strike. The UK has been the worst-performing economy of the G7 countries over the past three years and is forecast to grow by next to nothing in 2023. As attention shifts away from the Conservatives, many are wondering, does Labour have a plan for growth?
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Saturday 5 November 2022
Hague’s lessons for fixing our democracy
The former Conservative leader has shown how to acknowledge when something’s not working – and how to fix it
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Monday 10 October 2022
Britannia unhinged
What happened in the 17 days between Kwasi Kwarteng becoming chancellor, sacking the Treasury’s top civil servant and his fiscal event which crashed the British economy?
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Friday 7 October 2022
Winning is the object
There’s been a shift in British politics – Keir Starmer now looks like the UK’s prime minister in waiting. But does the Labour leader have what it takes to win?
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Saturday 1 October 2022
Brexit: Britain’s convenient untruth
Despite the silence, Brexit continues to affect British politics, including last week’s mini-budget
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Friday 23 September 2022
Kwasi Kwarteng’s mini budget is a huge gamble
The government has promised a new era of growth. But there’s no guarantee the measures the chancellor has just announced will usher one in
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Friday 16 September 2022
Welcome back to history
This week we held three special ThinkIns to reflect on the death of the Queen and the questions surrounding it. What we discussed made Tortoise editor James Harding reconsider his views on the monarchy
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Friday 9 September 2022
An audience with the Queen
Editor James Harding is joined by Tortoise co-founder Matthew Barzun, the former US Ambassador to the UK, to reflect on the meaning of the death of Queen Elizabeth II
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Friday 2 September 2022
How to rig the race for Number 10
The way the Conservative party elects its leaders means the next contest will be vulnerable to manipulation
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Friday 19 August 2022
The secret election
The Conservative Party won’t tell us who their members – the people voting for the next prime minister – are. Here’s why we think that’s a problem
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Saturday 13 August 2022
Have fun and make history
With the FBI investigating Trump, a leadership election in the Conservative Party and tension in the Taiwan Strait, it’s safe to say there’s a lot going on in the news this August. This week the Tortoise newsroom has some news of its own too
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Friday 15 July 2022
The prime minister and the press
The relationship between the British government and the media during Boris Johnson’s time in Number 10 has left both institutions damaged. His exit is an opportunity to re-establish boundaries
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Saturday 9 July 2022
The joke’s over
Boris Johnson has, one way or another, dominated British politics since 2016. Despite his destructive legacy, the end of his premiership brings with it reasons to be optimistic
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Saturday 2 July 2022
Truth as an emergency service
Helpdesk Media, an information service set up by a team of Russians and Ukrainians, is a lifeline for those threatened by Putin’s regime. It also has some crucial lessons for journalists in the West
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Saturday 25 June 2022
The Johnsonomics muddle
Incoherent economic leadership is causing not just confusion, but institutional damage.
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Friday 17 June 2022
Johnson’s position
Boris Johnson’s position as prime minister is more challenged by politics than ethics. He’s lost his political touch.
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Saturday 11 June 2022
The wrong friends
For a long time, Boris Johnson’s problem was that he had no firm friends. Now he has a worse problem: he has the wrong ones
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Friday 27 May 2022
Stop press
Rampant inflation may claim an unlikely victim – the daily newspaper
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Monday 23 May 2022
Odesa
The Ukrainian port normally feeds the world, but the Russian invasion means nothing is getting out. Can we reopen the port – or will millions starve?
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Friday 20 May 2022
A glimpse of other worlds
This week saw people walk into the Tortoise newsroom and light it up with stories and ideas we hadn’t heard before. For a journalist, it’s the most exciting thing imaginable
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Friday 13 May 2022
A royal taboo
Confronting death is never easy, much less when it concerns the head of state. But we need to talk about the death of the Queen, not least so we can discuss what comes next
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Friday 6 May 2022
Do something, or leave
Democracy is in a dismal state, both in the UK and throughout the West. At Tortoise we’re determined to do all we can to fix it
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Saturday 30 April 2022
The port that feeds the world
Four hundred million people globally rely on exports that come via Odesa in Ukraine – a port currently blocked by Russian forces. If it isn’t reopened within eight weeks, the effects will be felt globally
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Friday 22 April 2022
The nuclear question
If Vladimir Putin decides to use a battlefield nuclear weapon in Ukraine, how should the West respond?
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Saturday 9 April 2022
The Treasury’s head boy
In his stewardship of the Treasury, Rishi Sunak is acting like a head boy, not a leader. He’s unwilling to stand up to a fiscal orthodoxy that stands in the way of remaking Britain.
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Friday 1 April 2022
Cutting compassion
Britain’s approach to humanitarian aid has become transactional. That’s not a necessity – it’s a political choice
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Friday 25 March 2022
Madeleine Albright: a tortoise brooch
Madeleine Albright, the first woman to be US Secretary of State, died this week at the age of 84. She was both an idealistic realist, and a realistic idealist
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Friday 11 March 2022
Conscription of companies
The economic isolation of Russia is unprecedented in terms of its scale – an impressive flexing of collective Western power against an aggressor. But it’s also inadequate, unfair and expensive
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Friday 4 March 2022
Welcome to the post-post Cold War era
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – and the West’s response – has brought a sudden, bloody end to the chapter of history that began with the fall of the Berlin Wall. We’re in a new age now
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Friday 25 February 2022
The West’s test
America and Europe have done little to deter Vladimir Putin over the years, despite the warning signs. Now he has invaded Ukraine, what is the West prepared to do in response?
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Friday 18 February 2022
Carrying on regardless
The absence of any tangible Brexit benefits is likely throw up old arguments around Britain’s departure from the EU, causing a headache for both the Tories and Labour
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Friday 11 February 2022
Tomorrow’s (virtual) world
Will politicians and the press indulge tired arguments about old media, only to catch up with the social impact of the metaverse when it’s too late?
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Friday 4 February 2022
Let me level with you
The government’s paltry spending plan for levelling up shows a lack of real ambition. If Britain is to reinvent itself, its leadership must think differently about debt, tax and spending
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Friday 28 January 2022
The Magnum’s opus
If companies that prioritise sustainability are undermined by their shareholders then it sends a signal to other corporates that it isn’t worth their time. But while these investors claim to be speaking out in favour of the free market, they’re not doing it – or the rest of us – any favours
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Thursday 27 January 2022
Xinjiang: The China Problem
China stands accused of committing crimes against humanity, and possibly even genocide, against the Uyghur population in Xinjiang. Yet Beijing compares its system of “re-education camps” to the West’s war on terror and says it’s entitled to protect its citizens from domestic terrorism. This is the sharp end of the China problem; exhibit A of Xi Jinping’s authoritarianism and the West’s impotence to defend human rights within China’s borders
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Friday 21 January 2022
The Chequers back and forth
Our investigation into Boris Johnson’s use of Chequers at the start of the first lockdown has exposed not just the PM’s rule breaking, but also his corrosive effect on the rest of government
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Friday 14 January 2022
A downward spiral
Even if Boris Johnson manages to survive “partygate”, there are a host of challenges facing the UK which mean he’s unlikely to recover his sense of optimism
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Friday 7 January 2022
Onwards, slowly
Tortoise’s approach to reporting – determined, relentless and resisting the urge to hop from story to story – resulted in our right to publish details of the case concerning Andrew Griffiths. It will be more important than ever in 2022
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Thursday 6 January 2022