Share
The Slow Newscast
Rogue Lawyer: Power, money and a scandal at a London law firm
Season 1, Ep. 201
•
In 2014, a Jordanian man was imprisoned in a prison in Ras Al Khaimah, the northernmost Emirate in the UAE. He alleges he has been illegally detained and threatened. And the man he blames for this is a British lawyer. This is the story of the UK lawyer facing some of the most serious allegations ever levelled against a member of his profession.
Tortoise is a newsroom devoted to slow journalism.
For early access and ad-free listening subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts or join Tortoise for £60 a year.
As a member you’ll also get our newsletters and tickets to live events. Just go to tortoisemedia.com/slowdown.
If you’d like to further support slow journalism and help us build a different kind of newsroom, do consider donating to Tortoise at tortoisemedia.com/support-us. Your contributions allow us to investigate, campaign and explore, and to build a newsroom that is responsible and sustainable.
More episodes
View all episodes
407. Anthropic co-founder Jack Clark: What does the future of AI look like?
32:07||Season 1, Ep. 407Anthropic co-founder Jack Clark joins The Observer to reveal why he believes there is a chance we will see human-level AI by 2028. From how AI is already changing the job market to a historic meeting at the Vatican, he explains why we must prepare for a future where technology forces us to rethink what it means to be human.
406. 'Social media is killing our kids'
38:59||Season 1, Ep. 406Last year in the UK, a fifth of people arrested for terrorism offences were under 18. Counter-terrorism experts warn that outlawing social media for children is a matter of national security. So what are children really watching online?
405. How might Labour's new leaders grow the UK?
24:17||Season 1, Ep. 405With a leadership election on the horizon, there are discussions among the backbenches about how potential contenders might look to reshape and re-energise the UK's growth. The Observer's political editor Rachel Sylvester speaks with economics editor Ben Zaranko about what the various approaches might look like.
404. Doped Up!
48:11||Season 1, Ep. 404For decades, doping has hid in the shadows of elite sports. Now, for the first time, it’s out in the open. The Enhanced Games promises a new era of ‘superhumanity’ – is this the future of sport?Reporters: Jeremy Whittle and Chris Marshall-BellProducer: Jonathan LewisArtwork: Blythe Walker SibthorpSound Design: Dominic DelargyExecutive Producer: Matt RussellEditor: Jasper CorbettClips: ABC News, Enhanced Games, Josh Brett, Daily Mail
403. Nigel Farage and the five million pound gift: what's wrong with that?
21:31||Season 1, Ep. 403It was recently revealed by The Guardian that before he stood to be an MP in 2024, Nigel Farage received a £5 million gift from billionaire Christopher Harborne. But is there anything wrong with that?
402. Lively vs Baldoni: Inside Hollywood’s PR machine
35:28||Season 1, Ep. 402Blake Lively’s legal action against Justin Baldoni was settled just two weeks before it was due to go to trial. But the legal documents filed by both sides reveal something darker than a celebrity feud; a new troubling PR playbook.Reporting: Stephen Armstrong and Casey Magloire.Producers: Casey Magloire and Katie Gunning.Sound design: Dominic DelargyArtwork: Lucy StevensonEditor: Jasper Corbett Clips credits; ITV newsVogueNew York Times
401. How could the elections define the UK?
26:19||Season 1, Ep. 401The elections look set to create ominous headlines for Labour. In the locals they could see massive losses across the country. But in Wales and Scotland voters go to the polls to determine who will run the Senedd and Holyrood. It means the results might not just determine Keir Starmer’s future, but the future of the United Kingdom.Observer editor-in-chief James Harding sits down with political editor Rachel Sylvester to unpack what the elections could mean for Keir Starmer, Labour and the United Kingdom.Producer: Amalie Sortland
400. Djokovic in exile
42:08||Season 1, Ep. 400Novak Djokovic has long been Serbia’s most successful athlete, and perhaps most famous citizen. But as political conflicts such as youth protests have fractured the country, the tennis superstar has found himself on the outside of a regime and a country who once heralded him.Reporters: Francisco Garcia and Camilla Bell - DaviesProducer: Madeleine ParrArtwork: Harmony ClossSound design: Dominic DelargyEditor: Jasper CorbettClip Credits: Tennis Channel, The Telegraph
399. A mother's loss: The case of Tarryn Baird
23:08||Season 1, Ep. 399Alexi is joined by the Observer's national news editor, Claudia Williams to discuss the case of Tarryn Baird. Last week, her husband, Christopher Trybus was cleared of driving her to kill herself. Where does a grieving mother who spent 10 years searching for answers go from here?Host: Alexi MostrousGuest: Claudia WilliamsProducer: Ada Barumé