The News Meeting

Will Keir Starmer’s meeting with Donald Trump cement him as the pragmatic leader the UK left has been missing? With the TV industry struggling, are we witnessing the end of our beloved British TV dramas? Giles Whittell is joined by comedian Matt Forde, critic Scott Bryan and Tortoise’s Cat Neilan as they each pitch a story they think should lead the news. **Join us at the next edition of the News Meeting Live! Get your ticket for Wednesday 26th March in Bath here: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/our-events/the-news-meeting-live-3 And our London live show on Tuesday 29th April here: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/our-events/the-news-meeting-live-2 Grab your ticket to see Matt Forde’s Political Party Live - https://www.mattforde.com/live/ Listen to Tortoise’s latest series - Lucky Boy here - https://lnk.to/IKgGih Get 30% off UnCommon Wine by using the code UNCOMMONTORTOISE at checkout!Follow us on Social Media: @tortoise on IG and X, @tortoisemedia on tiktok @tortoisemedia.bsky.social on bluesky Host: Giles Whittell, deputy editor at TortoiseEmail: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.comProducer: Casey MagloireExecutive producer: Rebecca Moore 

Germany’s Friedrich Merz has vowed to secure “independence” from the United States following his party’s victory in parliamentary elections. In 2023 the Crown Prosecution Service found black people are 16 times more likely than white people to face prosecution under joint enterprise laws, so why is a review only happening now? For the first time, Apple has agreed to withdraw its highest-level data security tool from UK customers after the government demanded access to user data for security reasons.Giles Whittell is joined by ITV News presenter Charlene White, plus Tortoise’s Jeevan Varsagar and Patricia Clarke, as they pitch and battle it out for today’s top story. **February’s edition of the News Meeting Live has sold out! So grab a ticket for our March and April shows while spots are still available! Get your ticket hereWe always love to hear your thoughts. Send a voice note to: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.com Host: Giles Whittell, deputy editor at Tortoise.Producer: Casey MagloireExecutive producer: Rebecca Moore 

Why is it so hard for journalists to report on Trump’s blatant lies? Tens of thousands have died and been displaced in the Democratic Republic of Congo - so why is the war missing from the front pages? And what does the conversation between Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch and controversial podcaster Jordan Peterson reveal about the UK’s political right?Giles Whittell is joined by journalist and author Marie Le Conte, plus Tortoise’s Ada Barumé and Cat Neilan, as they pitch and battle it out for today’s top story. **February’s edition of the News Meeting Live has sold out! So grab a ticket for our March and April shows while spots are still available! Get your ticket hereWe always love to hear your thoughts. Send a voice note to: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.com Host: Giles Whittell, deputy editor at Tortoise.Producer: Casey MagloireExecutive producer: Rebecca Moore 

As Trump and Putin negotiate a peace deal without Europe or Ukraine, where does this leave Nato members? Can Keir Starmer establish himself as a key figure in European defence? And as the US and Russia meet in Saudi Arabia this week, what does that tell us about the  future of geopolitics? Giles Whittell is joined by Tortoise’s Jasper Corbett, Stephen Armstrong and Cat Neilan, as they pitch and battle it out for today’s top story. **Join us at the next edition of the News Meeting Live! We host live recordings on the last Thursday of every month. Get your ticket for February 27th hereWe always love to hear your thoughts. Send a voice note to: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.com Host: Giles Whittell, deputy editor at Tortoise.Producer: Casey MagloireExecutive producer: Rebecca Moore 

With a single 90-minute phone call has Donald Trump sidelined Europe in the Ukraine discussion? Why is Donald Trump criticising South Africa’s land laws and what does Elon Musk have to do with it? With Cardiff University announcing major departmental cuts, will other institutions follow suit to save higher education in Wales? Giles Whittell is joined by the former opposition leader of South Africa and founder of Futurelect, Lindiwe Mazibuko, CNN presenter Max Foster and Tortoise’s Patricia Clarke as they pitch and battle it out for today’s top story. **Join us at the next edition of the News Meeting Live! We host live recordings on the last Thursday of every month. Get your ticket for February 27th hereWe always love to hear your thoughts. Send a voice note to: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.com Host: Giles Whittell, deputy editor at Tortoise.Producer: Casey MagloireExecutive producer: Rebecca Moore

What are the ethical dilemmas  of publishing a writer's private works after their death?  A new poll reveals that Nigel Farage’s Reform Party may be the UK’s most popular political party. How have Labour and the Conservatives responded to the news? What does the latest round of Trump tariffs tell us about the President’s negotiating tactics?Jeevan Vasagar is joined by Tortoise’s Cat Neilan, Katie Riley and Patricia Clarke as the pitch and battle it out for today’s top story. **Join us at the next edition of the News Meeting Live! We host live recordings on the last Thursday of every month. Get your ticket for February 27th hereListen to Cat’s episode of the Slow Newscast - The Rwanda Plan: How to lose £70 million here from Tuesday 11th FebruaryWe always love to hear your thoughts. Send a voice note to: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.com Host: Jeevan Vasagar, contributing editor at Tortoise.Producer: Casey MagloireExecutive producer: Rebecca Moore 

A gang of young officials from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency targeted the US Agency for International Development. What does that tell us about his loyalty to Trump?Despite overseeing the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, Trump now demands the Taliban return 78 aircraft, 40,000 vehicles and 300,000 weapons left behind.As the US steps back  from a key NATO committee, is this the UK’s chance to get closer with Europe again? Basia Cummings is joined by Moby Media Groups’s Saad Mohseni, plus Tortoise’s Stephen Armstrong and Giles Whittell as they battle to pitch the top story.**Join us at the next edition of the News Meeting Live! We host live recordings on the last Thursday of every month. Get your ticket for February 27th hereTo read the BBC’s analysis of Hollywoodgate, the documentary Basia mentioned about US military equipment left behind in Afghanistan, click here.We always love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Send a voice note to: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.com Host: Basia Cummings, editor at TortoiseProducer: Casey MagloireExecutive producer: Rebecca Moore 

What are the 180-year-old rules that prevent MPs from debating issues about the Royal Family? As Donald Trump floats the idea of “clearing out” Gaza, what lies ahead for Palestinians returning home? And President Trump promised tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China - but how will this affect foreign relations with the US’ closest neighbours? Giles Whittell is joined by NPR’s International Correspondent Lauren Frayer, plus Tortoise’s Patricia Clarke and Jasper Corbett as they battle to pitch the top story.**Join us at the next edition of the News Meeting Live! We host live recordings on the last Thursday of every month. Get your ticket for February 27th here: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/our-events/the-news-meeting-live-1Learn more about House of Lords with Tortoise’s Peer Review here: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/intelligence/peer-review Read the Ezra Klein article that Giles recommended here: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/02/opinion/ezra-klein-podcast-trump-column-read.html Read The Observer Patricia based her pitch on here: https://www.theguardian.com/global/2025/feb/01/stop-shielding-uk-royals-from-parliamentary-scrutiny-says-labour-peer Host: Giles Whittell, deputy editor at TortoiseEmail: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.comProducer: Casey MagloireExecutive producer: Rebecca Moore 

Why were priceless ancient Romanian artefacts stolen from a Dutch museum and what does this tell us about the global black market in stolen art? Will the government’s latest plans to expand Heathrow airport bring the growth Rachel Reeves has been promising? And why did Donald Trump offer federal government employees money to quit their jobs?Giles Whittell is joined by Tortoise’s Katie Riley, Claudia Williams and Jasper Corbett as they battle to pitch the top story.**Join us at the next edition of the News Meeting Live! We host live recordings on the last Thursday of every month. Get your ticket for February 27th here: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/our-events/the-news-meeting-live-1Host: Giles Whittell, deputy editor at TortoiseEmail: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.comProducer: Casey MagloireExecutive producer: Rebecca Moore