Sensemaker

Mar 06 2025 1062 ep. 7 mins 1.7k
Sensemaker Podcast artwork

The Sensemaker from Tortoise - one story every day to make sense of the world.

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Musk, Trump, and the secretive government overhaul

Mar 06 2025 7 mins  
Elon Musk has called the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, which he runs, “maximally transparent”. But it’s taking entire teams of reporters to piece together what is really happening inside The White House.Writer: Patricia ClarkeProducer: Patricia ClarkeHost: Tomini Babs Episode photography: Roisín Savage Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Ac

The ceasefire deadlock: What comes next for Israel and Hamas?

Mar 05 2025 7 mins  
The fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has expired, and hopes for a second phase are fading fast. With hostages still held in Gaza and political tensions rising in Israel, is renewed war now inevitable?To listen to Chloe Hadjimatheou on The News Meeting click here: lnk.to/2JnIOkWriter: Xavier Greenwood with additional reporting from Lilly Cheslaw.Producer: Casey MagloireHos

Ukrainian fears following the Trump-Zelensky clash

Mar 04 2025 8 mins  
Donald Trump’s explosive press conference with Volodymyr Zelensky didn’t just strain US-Ukraine relations, it upended the established post-WWII world order.Writer: Phoebe Davis Additional reporting: Cecily AtkinsonProducer: Ada Barumé Host: Tomini BabsEpisode photography: Roisín SavageExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more

Is the music industry ready for AI?

Mar 03 2025 8 mins  
More than 1,000 musicians have released a silent album in protest against new UK government proposals to change copyright law. Will the silence be too deafening for the government to ignore?Writer: Jess SwinburneProducer: Katie GunningExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Nasa is tracking the “city-killer” asteroid

Mar 02 2025 8 mins  
The risk of a large asteroid hitting Earth in 2032 has dropped to nearly zero – but it could still hit the moon. Nasa’s Acting Planetary Defense Officer explains how her team is assessing the risk.Reporter: Patricia ClarkeProducer: Patricia ClarkeHost: Claudia WilliamsExecutive Producer: Rebecca MoorePhotography: Joe Mee Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informati

Is Anora the most radical film at this year’s Oscars?

Feb 27 2025 8 mins  
 This year’s Oscars are more political than ever, with Anora being the critics’ favorite for Best Picture. But could its portrayal of sex work signal a real shift in Hollywood’s attitude, or is it just another fleeting moment?Writer: Stephen ArmstrongProducer: Ada BaruméHost: Tomini BabsEpisode photography: Joe MeeExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See a

Trump’s purge of the military

Feb 26 2025 8 mins  
In a massive shake-up of the US armed forces, the Trump administration has fired the country’s most senior military officer, the admiral leading the navy and several other senior figures. Why? And what does that mean for the world’s most powerful military?Writer: Jasper CorbettProducer: Xavier Greenwood Host: Casey MagloireExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast.

Is the rise of Germany’s far-right a wake-up call for Europe?

Feb 25 2025 7 mins  
Germany’s far-right party, Alternative für Deutschland, secured second place in the weekend’s election, doubling its previous vote share. With concerns that the long-standing “firewall” against the AfD is weakening, can incoming Chancellor Friedrich Merz navigate domestic and global challenges to stop its rise?Writer: Cat NeilanProducer: Casey Magloire Host: Claudia W

Is Trump trading peace for Ukraine’s minerals?

Feb 24 2025 8 mins  
Ukraine’s rare earth minerals have become a bargaining chip in high-stakes negotiations with the US. As President Trump pushes for access to half of Ukraine’s deposits, we explore what’s at stake—and why Kyiv is under pressure to strike a deal.Writer and producer: Katie GunningArt work: Joe MeeExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more

How are M23 rebels and mineral smuggling driving violence in the DRC?

Feb 23 2025 8 mins  
The rebel group, M23 have taken control of a second city in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. What do they want? And is there anything that can be done to bring peace to a country after three decades of conflict? Writer: Ada BaruméProducer: Ada BaruméHost: Tomini BabsExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.