Sensemaker

In recent years, an increasing number of women - including Nicola Packer - have been investigated and put on trial for illegally ending their pregnancy. Writer: Phoebe Davis  If you’d like to read more of Phoebe’s interview with Nicola Packer, click here .  Producer: Karla Patella Host: Casey Magloire Episode photography: Joe Mee Photograph: Sonja Horsman Executive Producer: Rebecca Moor...

The much-hyped EU-UK summit has resulted in a deal that the Government says will improve “jobs, bills and borders”. But has Labour been too cautious? Writer: Cat Neilan Producer: Karla Patella Host: Casey Magloire Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The trial of Sean Combs has finished hearing testimony from the prosecution's main witness: the singer and Combs’ ex-partner Cassie Ventura.  Contact the National Domestic Abuse Helpline by calling their 24-hour freephone on 0808 2000 247 or visiting https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/     Writer: Stephen Armstrong   Producer: Karla Patella   Host: Tomini Babs   Ep...

Why cinema is leaning heavily on the appeal of screening hit television shows. Writer: Vanessa Thorpe Producer: Jonathan Lewis Host: Claudia Williams Episode photography: Alex Jones Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett To find out more about The Observer: Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content Head to our website  observer.co.uk   Download the Tort...

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

The presidency and personal gain now go hand in hand – and no one has been able to do anything about it. Writer: Patricia Clarke Producer: Ada Barumé Host: Casey Magloire  Photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The last living American hostage has been released from Gaza following direct talks between the US and Hamas. It comes as Israel prepares for a military occupation of the territory, moving the population and taking control of food and aid distribution. Writer: Chloe Hadjimatheou Producer: Karla Patella Host: Claudia Williams Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy...

When armed gunmen attacked holiday makers in the Himalayas it reignited a decades-old conflict.  Writer and producer: Katie Gunning Photography: Joe Mee Executive producer: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Musicians are worried about big tech companies using their work to train AI models. But a group of musicians has come out fighting with an attempt to defend their art. How does it work?  Writer: James Tapper Producer: Casey Magloire Host: Tomini Babs Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Matt Russell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump vowed to tighten borders and deport en masse. Now over 100 days in, his administration races to deliver on sweeping immigration promises. Is he succeeding? Writer: Serena Cesareo Producer: Serena Casareo Host: Claudia Williams Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This year’s red carpet bonanza celebrated Black tailoring and rejected Trump-era masculinity in a rare moment of defiance. Writer: Stephen Armstrong   Producer: Karla Patella   Host: Tomini Babs   Episode photography: Joe Mee   Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The results from last week’s local elections show that Nigel Farage’ party is now the most popular choice for gen X women. Writer: Rachel Sylvester Producer: Ada Barumé Host: Casey Magloire Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Underfunded councils are turning parks into festival grounds to raise cash but this is transforming the meaning of public space in cities. Writer: Stephen Armstrong   Producer: Rebecca Moore   Host: Claudia Williams   Episode photography: Joe Mee 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.

Tristan Tate is far less well-known than his notorious brother, Andrew. New evidence suggests he holds a central role in their alleged criminality.  Writer: Phoebe Davis  Producer: Katie Gunning Host: Casey Magloire Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett The Sensemaker from The Observer - one story every day to make sense of the world. To find out more about The...

The judges had to decide what the words ‘man’, ‘woman’ and ‘sex’ meant in the Equality Act. They decided that they referred to biological sex. It will have an effect on how trans people access services and single-sex spaces. Writer: Jess Swinburne Producer: Katie Gunning Photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore The Sensemaker from The Observer - one story every day to make sense of t...

Since December 2024, a run of scientific papers has illustrated AI’s capacity for deception. Deep learning pioneer Yoshua Bengio says the consequences could be existential. Writer: Patricia Clarke Producer: Ada Barumé Host: Tomini Babs Photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

North Korean soldiers are fighting and dying in combat in Ukraine. Ukrainian intelligence estimates about 60% of the shells fired by the Russian army were provided by North Korea. What does it say about Vladimir Putin that he had to turn to Kim Jong Un for help? Writer: Matt Russell with additional reporting by Nina Kuryata and Claudia Williams. Producer: Rebecca Moore Host: Tomini Babs Photograph...

Young adults are swapping nightclubs for run clubs. The number of 20-29 year olds registering for the London marathon is up  86 per cent in the past three years. Writer: Andrew Butler Producer: Serena Cesareo Host: Tomini Babs Episode photography: Alex Jones Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For many Catholics Pope Francis will be remembered as a man determined to overthrow tradition, challenge privilege and speak up for those who were not heard. But he became head of the Catholic church at a time when the institution was plagued by widespread accusations of sexual abuse. For the victims of catholic priests, did he deliver justice?    Writer: Stephen Armstrong   Produce...

The world’s richest university is mounting the first serious fightback against the Trump administration. Who will blink first?    Writer: Stephen Armstrong   Producer: Casey Magloire   Host: Casey Magloire   Episode photography: Alex Jones   Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If your ‘for you page’ is suddenly full of dieting tips and before and after pictures, you might be on the receiving end of a resurgence of ‘thin-spiration’ on social media. But what’s behind this comeback? And who is being impacted?  Writer: Ada Barumé Producer: Casey Magloire Photography: Roisin Savage Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informa...

The standoff between Birmingham’s bin workers and the council is entering its fifth week as the latest pay offer was rejected. The Unite union says the dispute could spread to other areas of the country. .  Writer: Jess Swinburne Producer: Casey Magloire Photography: Roisin Savage Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

MPs were recalled to Westminster early on Saturday and passed an emergency legislation that allowed the UK government to seize control of British Steel, after its Chinese owner appeared to threaten closure. How did we get here? And why has steel-making in the UK become an issue of national security?  Writer: Serena Cesareo Producer: Casey Magloire Host: Tomini Babs Episode photography: ...

The President has imposed a 145 per cent tariff on Chinese imports to America but has hinted smartphones could be exempt. Writer: Xavier Greenwood Producer: Patricia Clarke Host: Claudia Williams Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.