Sensemaker

With a vote of support in the house of Lords, the government is under increasing pressure to ban social media for under 16s. But will Keir Starmer back a ban? Writer: Ada Barumé Producer:  Ada Barumé Host: Casey Magloire :  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Smithsonian is the world’s largest museum. It has been in Donald Trump's cross-hairs since the start of his second term, as he vows to kill off ‘woke’. How far will Donald Trump go in using the Smithsonian to rewrite American history? Writer: Jess Swinburne Producer: Amalie Sortland  Photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more in...

Diary of CEO host Steven Bartlett faced backlash online following an interview with Christopher Williamson where they hypothesise the reason for the declining birth rate. Is the birth rate declining and should we be concerned? Writer: Casey Magloire Producer: Ada Barumé Host: Ada Barumé Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Gary Marshall Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more i...

President Donald Trump’s push to acquire Greenland is part of a growing quest for influence in the Arctic, the planet’s coldest frontier, where Russia has interests in Norwegian archipelago Svalbard. Host: Casey Magloire Writer and Producer: Amalie Sortland Episode Photography: Joe Mee Executive producer: Gary Marshall Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, the government is expected to decide whether to approve plans for a new Chinese embassy in London. Critics warn it could be used for cyber attacks or as a base for espionage. Could it pose a threat to national security? Writer: Jonathan Lewis Producer: Jonathan Lewis Host: Ada Barumé Episode photography: Sofia Fenton Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priv...

Tens of thousands of people in South East England have been without water for days. What’s gone wrong and how much is the water company South East Water, to blame?  Host: Casey Magloire Writer: Ada Barumé Producer:  Amalie Sortland Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A year into Donald Trump’s second term, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement has become America’s most powerful – and in some quarters most feared – federal agency.  Writer: Serena Cesareo Producer: Serena Cesareo Host: Casey Magloire Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the 8th of January, the Metropolitan Police released a report into failures in vetting and recruitment of officers involved in misconduct or criminal offences.  Host: Ada Barume Writer: Amalie Sortland Producer: Casey Magloire Additional reporting: Madeleine Parr  Episode Photography: Sofia Fenton  Executive producer: Matt Russell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more i...

Last week the US inverted its food pyramid, placing high protein foods like meat and dairy at the top. How did we get here and is this good food guidance? Writer: Jonathan Lewis Producer: Jonathan Lewis Host: Ada Barume Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Gary Marshall Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hundreds have reportedly been killed in violent clashes with police as protests demanding regime change erupt across Iran. Host: Casey Magloire Writer & Producer: Amalie Sortland and Poppy Bullard Episode Photography: Joe Mee Executive producer: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok has been generating sexualised images of women and children on X. Can anything be done about it?  Writer: Jonathan Lewis Producer: Jonathan Lewis Host: Casey Magloire Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Wednesday, the US seized a Russian-flagged tanker in the Atlantic on the grounds that it threatened the “security and stability of the Western Hemisphere”. Host: Casey Magloire Writer & Producer: Amalie Sortland Episode Photography: Joe Mee Executive producer: Poppy Bullard Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Conservative and Reform MPs are calling for the British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah to be stripped of his citizenship. At the same time Shamima Begum, who joined Islamic State, is fighting to have hers reinstated. How and why does the government revoke citizenship?  Writer: Casey Magloire Producer: Casey Magloire Host: Casey Magloire  Reporters: John Simpson and Casey Magloire&n...

After attacking Venezuela Donald Trump has suggested he might target Colombia and Cuba, and he wants to get his hands on Greenland too.  Host: Andrew Butler Writer & Producer: Amalie Sortland Episode Photography: Joe Mee Executive producer: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For years, local authorities in England have found it difficult to stop the spread of slot machine arcades. But that could be about to change. Host: Ada Barumé Writer & Producer: Amalie Sortland Episode Photography: Sofia Fenton Executive producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Saturday morning, the United States of America bombed Venezuela and captured its President, Nicolás Maduro. What happened and why? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With AI-generated videos and images spreading online, platforms are stepping up efforts to identify and label them. Writer: Casey Magloire Producer: Amalie Sortland Host: Ada Barume Episode photography: Sofia Fenton Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can ChatGPT replace my therapist? As people are turning to AI for mental health support and relationship advice, could chatbots replace the role of a trusted friend, or even a therapist? Writer: Ada Barume Producer: Amalie Sortland Host: Tomini Babs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Weight loss drugs can be transformative for people who have struggled with obesity. But with a spike in hospital admissions experiencing adverse reactions to the drugs, should we be doing more to regulate this growing market?  Writer: James Tapper Producer: Ada Barumé Host: Tomini Babs  Executive producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 100ft wave is a big wave surfing milestone that was supposed to be impossible. Now, a young surfer from California is rumoured to have achieved it, breaking the official world record at the same time. The problem? Nobody can agree how big the wave was.  Writer: Claudia Williams, with additional reporting by Ada Barumé Producer: Casey Magloire Host: Claudia Williams Secure your privacy wit...

A group of climbers has sparked debate over cheating in mountaineering after scaling Everest and returning to London in just 5 days - with the help of xenon gas. Writer: Jess Swinburne Producer: Serena Cesareo Host: Casey Magloire Photography: Alex Jones Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A recent survey suggests Gen Z is fuelling a resurgence in church attendance, especially among Catholics. Why?  Writer: Jess Swinburne Producer: Ada Barumé Host: Claudia Williams  Photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Buy now, pay later platforms like Klarna have become a go-to payment option for millions, offering flexibility in tough economic times. But as debt piles up and regulation looms, is this convenience coming at too high a cost? Reporter: Barney Macintyre Writer/ Producer: Patricia Clarke  Host: Claudia Williams  Photography: Roisin Savage  Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on A...

Bumble received more than 20,000 legal threats alleging that the app discriminated against men by not allowing them to make the first move. Writer: Casey Magloire Producer: Casey Magloire Host: Casey Magloire Episode photography: Sofia Fenton Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Now into her 52nd day of refusing to eat, the jailed Palestine Action protester Qesser Zuhrah is in mortal danger Reporter: John Simpson Writer: Poppy Bullard Producer: Poppy Bullard Host: Ada Barume Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.