Sensemaker

Thanks to his alliance with Donald Trump, Elon Musk has achieved an unprecedented combination of political power and immense wealth. What form will this new, supercharged Musk take? Writer and producer: Patricia ClarkeHost: Tomini BabsPhotography: Jon JonesExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore With thanks to Alexi Mostrous, Gary Marshall, Basia Cummings and Matt Russell

The high-speed rail project is now tens of millions of pounds in the red and an expensive bat tunnel is the latest major cost. With its future in doubt, how did it all go so wrong?Featuring Christian Wolmar, host of the podcast Calling All Stations - https://shorturl.at/KTypIWriter and producer: Eleanor BiggsPhotography: Jon JonesHost: Tomini BabsExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore

Donald Trump returns as President of the United States on 20th January 2025. What happens next? We consider the implications for America and the world – from Ukraine and climate change to the US southern border.Writer: David TaylorProducer: Katie GunningHost: Claudia WilliamsExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore

Donald Trump has been elected US president for a second time, in what some have seen as the greatest comeback in political history. How did he do it?Writer: Xavier GreenwoodProducer: Patricia ClarkeHost: Claudia WilliamsPhotography: Jon JonesExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore 

The results of the US elections have been coming in all night. What do they tell us about who could be the next president? To find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact hello@tortoisemedia.com

The language of the internet has taken on a life of its own with the rise of apps like Tik Tok. How far has the app affected the way we speak in real life?Correction: In this episode we state that "Brat" was the Oxford Dictionary Word of the Year. This is incorrect. "Brat" has actually been named the Collins Dictionary Word of the Year. The Oxford Dictionary has yet to announce its Word of the Year.Writer: Tomini BabsProducer: Tomini BabsHost: Tomini BabsExecutive Producer: Jasper Corbett

The 2024 presidential election is set to become the most expensive in history. Who are the billionaires donating to Donald Trump and what do they want in return?Writer: Xavier GreenwoodProducer: Xavier GreenwoodHost: Casey MagloireExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore

The dust on Rachel Reeves’s plans for the British economy is beginning to settle. Does her Budget leave young people better or worse off?  Writer: Barney MacintyreProducer: Patricia ClarkeHost: Tomini BabsEpisode photography: Jon JonesExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore