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

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Episodes

Ep 238: The killer robots 14.12.2021

"Killer robots" are already being developed and used by lots of countries. But if these machines are really autonomous, who do we blame if things go wrong? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 237: Protection for punters 13.12.2021

Gambling firms could be forced to ask punters for their payslips in a move to help prevent unaffordable losses. Why's it taken until now? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 236: Boris Johnson's never-ending Christmas party 10.12.2021

It's the story which refuses to leave at the end of the night: the saga of the Downing Street Christmas party. But how much of a hangover could it cause Boris Johnson? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 235: Turkey tensions 09.12.2021

Politicians are promising that this Christmas will be better than the last one. And one man, and his supermarket, are securing shoppers their turkeys... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 234: Omicron: what do we know? 08.12.2021

Even though it's more transmissible, there's a chance the new Covid variant might be weaker than others. And that might be because, as the virus mutates, it loses its "fitness"... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 233: Dread in Ukraine 07.12.2021

Russia is building up troops near its border with Ukraine. Moscow claims there is a growing threat on its western border. It all feels like a return to 2014... why the renewed tensions? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 232: Is Scotland cooling on independence? 06.12.2021

In Scotland, the SNP is committed to trying again for a referendum on independence. But timing is everything. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 231: Parole for Pistorius? 03.12.2021

Oscar Pistorius, South Africa's most famous athlete, was jailed in 2013 for the murder of Reeva Steenkamp. He could soon be released on parole. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 230: Labour's levelling up 02.12.2021

Both Labour and the Conservatives agree the country needs to level up. How we get there is where the parties split. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 229: Reproductive rights at risk 01.12.2021

For almost 50 years, women in the United States have had the right to have an abortion. But a Supreme Court case could put those rights in jeopardy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 228: Understanding Omicron 30.11.2021

Scientists think the new mutation of Covid-19 could be linked to HIV. How? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 227: Stopping the people smugglers 29.11.2021

How can Britain and France stop the lucrative, and deadly, trade in human lives in small boats across the English Channel? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 226: A hospital's prisoner 26.11.2021

Tony Hickmott has autism and learning difficulties. For more than 20 years he's been held in a specialist hospital, hours away from his family. His local council blame a lack of other options - how can this be justified?   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 225: The blob running Britain? 25.11.2021

Kate Bingham is one of many public figures to accuse the government, civil service, and the media of being a "blob" resistant to reform. Is it really a problem? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 224: Europe's anti-lockdown fight 24.11.2021

This week, Austria brought in its fourth national lockdown and said Covid vaccines will become a legal requirement from early next year. It’s been met with large protests and threats of strike action. Will the UK follow a similar path? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 223: The strange case of Peng Shuai 23.11.2021

A top Chinese woman tennis player alleged that a senior politician had sexually abused her - then she disappeared. Now Peng Shuai has resurfaced, but is she safe? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 222: Could there be a war in Europe? 22.11.2021

Bosnia has been held together by a complicated peace deal since its civil war 25 years ago. Is it about to fall apart? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 221: The battle across the Channel 19.11.2021

Some days, more than 1000 migrants cross the English Channel in small boats. Could the UK and France stop them if they wanted? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 220: The profit of conspiracy 18.11.2021

Alex Jones is one of the United States' great sources of misinformation and he's made a lot of money from it. This week a court has found him liable by default of defamation. But will it stop him spreading lies in future? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 219: A sickle cell crisis 17.11.2021

Sickle cell disease is a condition which affects Black people, and people from other ethnic minorities. Too many are dying needlessly from it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 218: A deadly crisis in Kuznica 16.11.2021

Trapped between Polish guards on one side and Belarusian guards on the other, migrants trapped on Europe's frontier find themselves caught in a lethal geopolitical game. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 217: COP's conscience 15.11.2021

At the start of COP, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley delivered a stark warning on the effects of a rise in global temperature. But did anyone listen? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 216: Xi Jinping’s great rejuvenation 12.11.2021

The Chinese Communist Party has just passed a landmark new resolution under Xi Jinping. But what's really motivating him? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 215: Trapped in Whitehall 11.11.2021

Since 2016, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been held hostage in Iran. And to understand why, you need to know about a long-forgotten tank deal, and a debt Britain is refusing to pay... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 214: Big Bird gets (a) shot 10.11.2021

The culture wars over vaccinating kids against Covid in the US have got so fierce that a Sesame Street character has been dragged into the fight. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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