The Observer

Sensemaker

News EN ↓ 1388 episodes

The Sensemaker from The Observer - one story every day to make sense of the world. Subscribe to The Observer and use the code AUDIO50 to get 50% off your annual subscription: Early access, bonus content and ad-free listening to our podcasts A daily edition, curated by our editors 7 days a week Puzzles from the inventors of the cryptic crossword Recipes for every occasion Free tickets to join Observer events in our newsroom or online Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Author

The Observer

Category

News

Podcast website

observer.co.uk

Latest episode

Jun 19, 2026

Where to listen?

Podcasts in the app Replaio Radio Coming soon

Podcasts are coming to the app soon. Install now and be the first to see a whole new take on podcasts

Get it on Google Play Install for free Android 5M+ downloads · 4.8 rating iOS soon

Episodes

Why is Jeff Bezos' wedding sparking protests in Venice? 27.06.2025

Amazon’s billionaire founder is taking over the city for his wedding to Lauren Sanchez.    Writer: Stephen Armstrong   Producer: Casey Magloire   Host: Tomini Babs   Episode photography: Joe Mee   Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will the victims of grooming gangs ever get justice? 26.06.2025

The UK government has launched a new inquiry and national criminal investigation into the sexual exploitation of children by grooming gangs. Writer: Jon Ungoed-thomas   Producer: Poppy Bullard   Host: Casey Magloire   Episode photography: Joe Mee   Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will France’s new powers stop small boat crossings? 25.06.2025

The French authorities will soon have new powers to intercept small boats carrying asylum seekers across the English Channel, even if they are already at sea.  Writer: Serena Cesareo Producer: Serena Casareo Host: Tomini Babs Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can one woman’s legal victory change the future of fossil fuels? 24.06.2025

After years of courtroom battles, campaigner Sarah Finch won a landmark Supreme Court case that could reshape how the UK approves oil, gas and coal projects. Writer: David Taylor   Producers: Poppy Bullard   Host: Tomini Babs   Episode photography: Joe Mee   Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What could happen next after the US bombed Iran? 23.06.2025

Donald Trump ordered the strikes on three nuclear sites in Iran early Sunday morning. He said the US entered the war to stop the threat from “the world’s number one state sponsor of terror”.   Writer: Stephen Armstrong   Producer: Rebecca Moore   Host: Casey Magloire   Episode photography: Alex Jones   Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priva...

Will Trump bomb Iran’s nuclear fortress? 20.06.2025

Could Donald Trump order a strike on Iran’s underground nuclear site using a bunker-buster bomb – and what might the consequences be? Writer: Stephen Armstrong   Producers: Jonathan Lewis and Poppy Bullard   Host: Tomini Babs   Episode photography: Joe Mee   Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What’s really in your can of tuna? 19.06.2025

The UK eats hundreds of thousands of tonnes of tuna every year but not all of it is legally or sustainably caught.  Writer: James Tapper Producer: Ada Barumé Host: Andrew Butler Episode photography: Alex Jones Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How much energy and water does AI use? 18.06.2025

Artificial intelligence is changing our lives and our world at an astonishing pace, but its hunger for data is matched by its need for energy and water.  Writer: Jon Ungoed-thomas Producer: Poppy Bullard Host: Tomini Babs  Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why is Benjamin Netanyahu striking Iran? 17.06.2025

What does the escalating conflict in the middle east mean for Iran, its regime and hopes for a new nuclear deal with the US? Writer: Poppy Bullard with additional reporting from Chloe Hadjimatheou Producer: Poppy Bullard Host: Casey Magiore Episode photography: Joe Mee   Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why are physician associates attracting so much controversy? 16.06.2025

With findings of a government review on the role of physician associates expected any day now, what is the role, and why are some doctors so concerned about safety? Writer: Rachael Healy Producer: Poppy Bullard Host: Claudia Williams Episode photography: Alex Jones Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Has Rachel Reeves ended austerity? 13.06.2025

Chancellor Rachel Reeves this week set out the government’s spending plans for the next three years, committing billions of pounds to some departments, while significantly cutting others. She told MPs they were her “choices” - but are they the right ones? Writer: Cat Neilan, The Observer’s Whitehall Editor    Producer: Poppy Bullard   Host: Tomini Babs   Episode photography: Jo...

What’s behind Trump’s show of force in LA? 12.06.2025

After small-scale protests over immigration raids erupt in Los Angeles, President Trump deployed the National Guard and later, the Marines.   Writer: Stephen Armstrong   Producer: Casey Magloire   Host: Casey Magloire   Episode photography: Joe Mee   Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why Musk’s aid cuts will outlast his time in government 11.06.2025

Elon Musk may have left the Trump administration and fallen out with the president. But amidst all the noise over the breakup of their bromance, Musk’s plan to claw back billions in foreign aid is quietly making its way through Congress.   Writer: Serena Cesareo Producer: Serena Casareo Host: Claudia Williams Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mo...

Is burning waste the answer to the UK’s energy needs? 10.06.2025

The government is planning on building a new generation of incinerators to generate electricity - including one on England’s renowned Jurassic coast.  Writer: Jon Ungoed-thomas Producer: Karla Patella Host: Casey Magloire Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What's really going on with England's Lionesses? 09.06.2025

England’s women’s football team heads into the Euros without three key stars.  Writer: Jessy Parker Humphreys Producer: Casey Magloire Host: Tomini Babs Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to hack Mount Everest 06.06.2025

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.

Bottom trawling: fishing’s dirty secret 05.06.2025

David Attenborough’s new documentary Ocean has put bottom trawling in the crosshairs of environmental activists.  Clips in this episode are from David Attenborough’s new documentary film, Ocean.  Writer: James Tapper Producer: Jonathan Lewis Host: Tomini Babs Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is Britain ready to shift to a war footing? 04.06.2025

After years of peacetime under-investment in defence, the UK government is vowing to shake things up. It says civilians can no longer ignore the rising risks. Writer: Cat Neilan Producer: Jonathan Lewis Host: Tomini Babs Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is this the end of disposable vapes? 03.06.2025

As rates of vaping continue to rise across the UK, a health and environmental crisis is unfolding. Will the banning of single-use vapes in the UK turn the tides on their environmental cost? Writer: Jess Swinburne Producer: Karla Patella Photography: Alex Jones Executive Producer:  Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will Trump's Golden Dome work? 02.06.2025

Donald Trump says he wants to build the ‘next generation’ missile shield to protect America from foreign attacks.    Writer: Stephen Armstrong    Producer: Rebecca Moore   Host: Claudia Williams Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The renationalisation of Britain’s railways 30.05.2025

The government has hailed ‘a new dawn’ for the railways under the first renationalised train service. But will Britain’s trains become more reliable and will tickets be cheaper under public ownership?  Writer: James Tapper Producer: Karla Patella Host: Claudia Williams Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Could the government’s immigration reforms lead to an exodus of international nurses? 29.05.2025

New research from the Royal College of Nursing suggests many overseas nurses are thinking about leaving the UK. Could the government’s tough new immigration reforms accelerate that? Writer: Rachael Healy Producer: Casey Magloire Host: Claudia Williams  Episode photography: Joe Mee  Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who’s polluting the River Wye? 28.05.2025

Why the River Wye is at the centre of one of the biggest environmental claims ever filed in the high court. Writer: Jon Ungoed -Thomas Producer: Karla Patella Host: Casey Magloire Photography: Alex Jones Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inside the world of Superbikes 27.05.2025

Two deaths a fortnight ago haven’t dimmed the high-octane appeal of motorsport. So when tragedy hits a high-risk sport like this, what keeps riders coming back? Writer: Rory Smith Producer: Casey Magloire Host: Tomini Babs Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is Britain ready to choose prison reform over punishment? 23.05.2025

The government has commissioned radical new reforms to reduce the prison population by 10,000 people. Writer: Rachel Sylvester Host: Tomini Babs Episode photography: Joe Mee  Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen to the Sensemaker podcast in Replaio

Radio and podcasts in one app - free, with no sign-up. Install today and do not miss the launch

Get it on Google Play

Replaio is not a podcast publisher; show names, artwork and audio belong to their authors and are distributed through public RSS feeds.