Episode Overview

Podcast: The Trial: USA
Episode: A hello and update from Caroline & Liz
Date: October 27, 2025
Hosts: Caroline & Liz (with a segment from Rachel, NY office)

This brief episode serves as a thank you and update for listeners across The Trial podcast network, highlighting recent achievements, upcoming cases, and new offerings like Trial Plus and the Crime Desk newsletter. The hosts reiterate their commitment to delivering in-depth, global trial coverage while expressing gratitude to subscribers who support investigative, long-form journalism.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Commitment to Global Courtroom Coverage (00:05–01:50)

• Caroline and Liz assure listeners that ongoing content for Trial UK, Trial USA, and Trial Australia is a top priority.

  "We wanted just to sort of reiterate and remind you that everything we bring you on The Trial UK, The Trial USA, The Trial Australia is going to keep coming, we're committed to that." — Caroline (00:05)

• Announcement of a "big case" to be covered together in November.
• Shout-outs to Trial Australia under Wayne's leadership and coverage of high-profile cases like "the Trial and the Sentencing of Diddy" with the USA team.
• Trial Plus launched as a subscriber-exclusive add-on, featuring deep-dives like the Countess of Chester series post-Thirlwall Inquiry.

The Value & Expansion of Trial Plus (01:50–02:59)

• Liz emphasizes Trial Plus as a platform for:
  • Deeper legal analysis
  • Case studies beyond those proceeding to trial (e.g., Bloody Sunday, Sycamore Gap, unusual sentencing cases)

  "What we're trying to do with Trial Plus is kind of give everyone more of an insight... into legal issues that affect the courts, the judiciary." — Liz (01:52)

• The importance of subscriptions in sustaining high-quality journalism:

  "That kind of journalism, you know, it costs money and... we need to pay for it, you know, so that's really why we ask subscribers to kind of dig into their pockets." — Liz (02:36)

Agility and Long-Form Storytelling (02:59–04:04)

• Caroline highlights the team's agility—adapting coverage to courtroom developments in real-time.
• Long-form investigative series are another staple, such as George and Andy’s "Heist, Scams and Lies."
• Ongoing encouragement for feedback and support:

  "We love your questions and your messages coming in. We always try to answer them, but we'd love more of you to just support... the journalism that we're trying to bring you." — Caroline (03:52)

Crime Desk Newsletter Launch (04:04–05:27)

• Announcement of the new weekly Crime Desk newsletter:

  "So everyone that signs up will get a weekly newsletter every Wednesday. Lots more investigations that our top journalists are involved in..." — Liz (04:06)

• Newsletter features include:
  • Investigative pieces
  • Court and judiciary insights
  • Q&As with legal experts and barristers
  • Updates on latest podcasts
• Content will draw from teams in the UK, USA, and Australia.

Sneak Peek: First Newsletter Exclusive (Rachel, NY Office) (04:46–05:27)

• Rachel teases the lead story: an exclusive interview with key players in the Delphi murders case.

  "Lieutenant Jerry Holman and prosecutor Nick McLelland sat down and spoke to me about how they caught the killer Richard Allen, and also the one key piece of evidence that’s still missing from the case now." — Rachel (05:09)

• Encourages true crime fans to sign up for ongoing exclusive content.

Final Thanks and Subscription Reminder (05:27–end)

• Listeners are directed to TheCrimeDesk.com to subscribe for all content, including main podcast feeds and the new newsletter.
• Caroline and Liz offer heartfelt thanks to all supporters.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "[We’re] really committed to that free model of covering trials across, not just the country now, but across the globe, which we think is really important."
  — Caroline (00:55)

• "What we’re trying to do with Trial Plus is kind of give everyone more of an insight, I suppose, into legal issues that affect the courts, the judiciary."
  — Liz (01:52)

• "We will just change the plan at the last minute if we need to based on whatever’s happening in the court system."
  — Caroline (02:59)

• "This week’s lead story is an exclusive interview with the lead investigator and the lead prosecutor from the Delphi murders case… the one key piece of evidence that’s still missing from the case now."
  — Rachel, NY Office (05:09)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Welcome and Commitment to Global Coverage: 00:00–01:50
• Trial Plus Features & Subscriber Support: 01:50–02:59
• Agile Reporting and Long-Form Journalism: 02:59–04:04
• Announcement: Crime Desk Newsletter: 04:04–04:46
• Preview: Delphi Murders Newsletter Story (Rachel): 04:46–05:27
• Call to Action & Thanks: 05:27–05:51

Summary

This update from Caroline and Liz is a message of gratitude, transparency, and excitement for the future. The hosts reinforce their global scope, highlight their growing community and subscriber-supported content like Trial Plus, and invite listeners to deepen their engagement through the all-new Crime Desk newsletter. The episode exemplifies the podcast’s agility, commitment to high-impact journalism, and ongoing connection to its audience.