Skip to content
Melo Podcasts Home
CategoriesLanguagesFollowing

Season 1, Episode 433 · The Slow Newscast

Ctrl Alt Restore

18 Aug 2026 · 35 min

Play episode WhatsApp Download

Episode notes

Rupert Lowe is the MP for Great Yarmouth, and the leader of Restore Britain, a right-wing political party which launched in February this year. So, how did the leader of such a young, fringe party end up appearing as a guest on the world’s most popular podcast? And what does it tell us about how the far-right works? Reporter: Poppy Bullard Producers: Amalie Sortland and Ada Barume Sound Design: Dominic Delargy Artwork: Lucy Stevenson Editor: Matt Russell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Podcast

The Slow Newscast

The Observer · Society & Culture · English

The Slow Newscast from The Observer takes the news slowly. We investigate, and every week we focus on stories that really matter in the UK and around the world. From wars in Ukraine and Gaza through to true crime and injustice and real life mysteries, The Slow Newscast team is devoted to narrative i

More from The Slow Newscast All episodes →

  1. S1 · E438 · 4 Sep 2026 · 31 min

    The teacher, the school, and the myth of the 'Lucky Boy'

    In the late 1980s 14-year-old Gareth had a sexual relationship with his 27-year-old chemistry teacher, Sally-Anne Bowen. His friends told him at the time that he was a ‘lucky boy’. Last week Sally-Anne Bown was convicted of seven counts of indecent assault. The Observer’s podcast series ‘Lucky Boy’ played a part in the case. Basia Cummings is joined by Chloe Hadjimatheou, who reported the story, to discuss the conviction of Sally-Anne Bowen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  2. S1 · E437 · 1 Sep 2026 · 48 min

    Paolo Zampolli: Trump’s matchmaker

    Paolo Zampolli, the Italian modelling agent who introduced Donald Trump to his future wife, Melania, has gone from the 1990s fashion world to the very top of the Trump administration, joining the small circle of loyalists Trump likes to keep close to advance his brand and influence. It is a story about how power works at the White House and how the distinction between private interests and public office are increasingly blurred. Reporter: Stephen Armstrong Producer: Jonathan Lewis and Amalie Sortland Sound Design: Dominic Delargy Artwork: Emma O’Neill Editor: Matt Russell Hosted on Acast.…

  3. S1 · E436 · 28 Aug 2026 · 23 min

    Why is electroconvulsive therapy still used?

    Is ECT therapy safe? Postcode prescribing leaves patients at mercy of psychiatric opinions. Jessica Rawnsley has been investigating what this means for patients Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  4. S1 · E435 · 25 Aug 2026 · 36 min

    My father, the vampire hunter

    After a spate of paranormal sightings in 1970s London, debate raged over the existence of a vampire in Highgate Cemetery. Fifty years on, the legend has been taken on by a new generation, fuelled by the world’s longest-running online feud Reporter: Francisco Garcia Producer: Poppy Bullard Sound Design: Dominic Delargy Artwork: Blythe Walker-Sibthorpe Editor: Matt Russell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  5. S1 · E434 · 21 Aug 2026 · 25 min

    What does a mass shooter’s chatbot history reveal?

    After a 2025 mass shooting on Florida State University’s campus, investigators found a year’s worth of chat history between the shooter and ChatGPT. MotherJones’ Mark Follman has been investigating what the chat log reveals about the shooter and the chatbot and examines how AI responds when faced with severe warning signs and where the responsibility lies when something goes wrong. Note: This story discusses suicide and violence. Mark Follman's reporting can be found here: https://www.motherjones.com/media/2026/08/openai-chatgpt-fsu-mass-shooting-chat-logs/ Hosted on Acast. See…

  6. S1 · E432 · 14 Aug 2026 · 23 min

    What next for Reform and Nigel Farage?

    Nigel Farage has been re-elected as MP for Clacton. But that also means a Parliamentary investigation into Farage resumes. So what's next for Reform and their leader? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  7. S1 · E428 · 11 Aug 2026 · 28 min

    The Mandelson files

    When Peter Mandelson was sacked as the UK’s ambassador to the United States over his links with Jeffrey Epstein people wondered how he ever got appointed in the first place. Eventually Keir Starmer’s government was forced to publish more than a thousand pages of emails, messages and letters which reveal how Peter Mandelson was appointed, vetted and cleared to become the UK’s most influential diplomat. What emerges from those documents, is a story about who wields power in Britain today, how it works and how we conduct our politics. The Observer’s Ada Barumé tells the story of a political…

  8. S1 · E427 · 7 Aug 2026 · 30 min

    Is mountaineering getting more dangerous?

    On Thursday 30th July, an avalanche hit the world's twelfth highest mountain. Ten experienced climbers were caught by it, among them one of the world's most famous and experienced mountaineers Nirmal Purja. Is the world of mountaineering becoming more dangerous? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  9. S1 · E426 · 4 Aug 2026 · 41 min

    Hard knocks: the cost of courage

    When World Cup Winner Phil Vickery retired in 2010, he thought his toughest physical battles were behind him. Today, like hundreds of former players, he lives with memory loss and the looming threat of brain trauma – and he’s demanding answers. And across the world, more and more people are looking towards one man in particular. Reporters: Ben Coles and Jonathan Lewis Producer: Jonathan Lewis Artwork: Lucy Stevenson Sound design: Dominic Delargy Executive producer: Jasper Corbett Credits: ITV, BBC, Dodge Woodall, ABC News Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  10. S1 · E425 · 31 Jul 2026 · 25 min

    Who owns our water?

    What are companies extracting British spring water, companies like Coca Cola and Nestle, paying for that water? The answer is extraordinary. And with the threat of nationalisation, what does the future hold for our water companies? In other words, what is our water worth? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Take it with you

The Melo app keeps playing with the screen off, works in the car and on your watch, wakes you to your station, and browses the whole catalogue offline. Free, no ads, no account.

Get it on Google Play