The Slow Newscast

Memecoins started as a fad. A niche but fun way to bet on the longevity of internet trends. But then, days before his second inauguration, Donald Trump launched his own, $TRUMP… and changed the game. The value soared as supporters piled in, before crashing when his wife, Melania Trump, also released one. Amid the mayhem, one early buyer of the coin walked away with $109 million.

The path to finding out who profited from $TRUMP goes through Argentina, where a young and naive entrepreneur called Hayden Davis attempted to pull off a similar stunt with the backing of the nation’s libertarian president, Javier Milei. But while Trump seemed to get away with it, Davis is now facing calls to be arrested.

This episode offers a rare glimpse into a murky world full of get-rich-quick schemes, flashy personalities and cut-throat deals. It also carries a warning: what happens when unregulated crypto assets become a core part of the US economy?

Reporter: Patricia Clarke and Barney Macintyre

Producer: Patricia Clarke

Sound design: Dominic Delargy

Artwork: Lola Williams

Editors: Jasper Corbett and Ceri Thomas

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Surfing’s ultimate barrier is the 100 foot wave. In Dec 23-year-old Alo Slebir is rumoured to have surfed a 108 foot wave. The problem is no one can agree how big the wave actually was.  

Reporter: Claudia Williams 

Producer: Ada Barumé  

Sound design: Karla Patella 

Artwork: Lola Williams 

Executive Producer: Matt Russell 

Editor: Jasper Corbett 

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Donald Trump promised to release classified files about extraterrestrials. But even if they disappoint the millions of people hoping to find proof of existence of aliens, there is a growing belief in the scientific community that it is only a matter of time before proof of life outside our solar system is found.

Reporter: Giles Whittell

Producer: Matt Russell

Sound design: Dominic Delargy

Artwork: Lola Williams

Editor: Jasper Corbett

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A week before Donald Trump's inauguration, a real estate mogul flew to Jerusalem to meet Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Within days, a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel was agreed. What happened that weekend and how influential was the businessman in the diplomatic negotiations?

Reporter: Donald Macintyre

Producer: Matt Russell

Sound design: Tom Burchell

Artwork: Lola Williams

Editor: Jasper Corbett

Slow Newscast Executive Producer: Matt Russell

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