The News Meeting

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew the Duke of York, has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. In this episode, Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer’s Political Editor Rachel Sylvester, Home Affairs Editor John Simpson and Professor of the History of Monarchy at City, University of London, Anna Whitelock. They discuss the details of the arrest, possible fal...

Why are Britain and its European allies backing the conclusion that the Kremlin poisoned Alexei Navalny? What’s driving a growing measles outbreak in London? And why is the UK’s top military official framing rearmament as a moral necessity? Jasper Corbett is joined by The Observer’s Hannah Schuller, Phoebe Davis and Francisco Garcia as they  battle it out to see who can pitch the story that s...

Should the government consider implementing a graduate tax to make the tuition repayment system fairer? What did Jim Ratcliffe get wrong about immigration in the UK? And do we need to get serious about carbon capturing?  Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer’s Andrew Butler, Ada Barumé and James Tapper as they battle it out to see who can pitch the story that should lead the news. Join us...

Two senior aides to Keir Starmer have resigned. What does this tell us about where his leadership is heading? What do mass layoffs at The Washington Post mean for journalism? And why did Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl half-time show so irked Donald Trump?  Jasper Corbett is joined by The Observer’s Whitehall Editor Cat Neilan, producer Casey Magloire and Digital Production Editor Elaine McCallig to b...

Keir Starmer has apologised for appointing Peter Mandelson to his cabinet, but will that be enough to keep him in Downing Street? With an internet blackout impacting the flow of information out of Iran, how can journalists report on the ongoing atrocities? And as soldiers in Ukraine face an unrelenting winter, is a turning point in the conflict around the corner?  Giles Whittell is joined by...

What does the reopening of the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza mean for the next phase of Donald Trump’s ceasefire plan? What backlash might Keir Starmer face from new details surrounding Lord Peter Mandelson’s relationship to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein? And what are the effects of new age verification requirements on Pornhub? Jasper Corbett is joined by The Observer reporters Seren...

Are fears about microplastics overblown? Why is the assisted dying bill stuck in the house of lords? And what’s going to happen when ChatGPT rolls out its new ‘Erotica’ feature? Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer’s Patricia Clarke, Jeevan Vasagar and Jess Hayden to battle out who can pitch the story that should lead the news. **We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observe...

How is the Trump administration defending the killing of Alex Pretti by federal agents? Why was Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham blocked from running as MP? And what role will Trump’s new Board of Peace play in Gaza? Jasper Corbett is joined by The Observer reporters Stephen Armstrong and Serena Cesareo, and producer Poppy Bullard to battle out who can pitch the story that should lead the news. Pleas...

Does Keir Starmer need to rethink the UK’s approach to America? What does the Brooklyn Beckham bombshell tell us about the relationship between celebrities and the press? And will China put a man on Mars?  Jeevan Vasagar is joined by The Observer’s Jon Ungoed Thomas, Cat Neilan and Andrew Butler, as they each try to pitch the top story of the day.  Buy tickets to the next The News Meetin...

In this special episode looking at the first year of US President Donald Trump’s second term: What will the impacts of Trump’s cuts to USAID be? How has Trump reshaped global politics? Is Trump’s power threatened more by grassroots activism than pushback from institutions? Jeevan Vasagar is joined by The Observer’s Deputy Comment Editor, Erica Wagner, Head of Data and Graphics, Katie Riley, and Ch...

What will the UK government do about xAI’s Grok? Can a 1000-year-old tapestry really help repair European diplomacy? And how does ICE use data to identify who gets deported? Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer’s Head of News, Alex O’Connell, Fronts Editor, Evan Moffitt and Data and Graphics reporter, Bex Sander.  Please come and see us at the next The News Meeting Live on Thursday, the 2...

How can we tell what’s really happening on the ground in Iran? Why are murder rates falling in London? And are ICE agents immune from legal accountability? Jasper Corbett is joined by The Observer reporters Hannah Schuller, Stephen Armstrong and Serena Cesareo to battle out who can pitch the story that should lead the news. Please come and see us at the next The News Meeting Live on Thursday, the...

How did the seizure of a Russian oil tanker unfold? Is President Trump’s crypto-profeteering a bigger scandal than Watergate? And with the United States turning 250, is this a time to reflect on the UK-US special relationship?  Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer’s Vanessa Thorpe and James Tapper, plus special guest - the host of The Making of Musk: Understood, Jacob Silverman. Today the...

Will captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro get a fair trial in the US? Who is driving American foreign policy? How would Trump’s supporters view a military campaign? Jasper Corbett is joined by The Observer’s Washington Correspondent Hugh Tomlinson, Reporter Phoebe Davis, and lawyer Robert McWhirter as they give their assessment on the situation in Venezuela.  **We want to hear what you t...

Will the world turn against AI? Could the England men’s team finally win the World Cup? And who is the mysterious backbencher preparing to challenge Keir Starmer? Rebecca Moore is joined by The Observer’s consulting editor for comment, Erica Wagner; deputy sports editor, Andrew Butler; and Whitehall editor, Cat Neilan, as they look ahead to the stories set to shape 2026. **We want to hear what you...

It has been a busy year! The Epstein files were released, Prince Andrew is no longer a prince, The Lionesses won the Euros and Ozempic has taken hold of Hollywood. And they are just a few non-Donald Trump related headlines. Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer’s Jeevan Vasagar, Poppy Bullard and Jessy Parker Humphreys, as they battle it out and pitch the top stories of the year.  **We wan...

Will European countries decide to give billions of frozen Russian assets to Ukraine? What did we learn about Trump’s White House from Vanity Fair’s 11 months of reporting? How should the government respond to the Palestine Action hunger strikers? Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer’s Senior Producer Katie Gunning, Data and Graphics Editor Katie Riley, and Data Reporter Hannah Schuller as they...

It’s been a huge year for British sport: the Lionesses roared to victory in the Euros this summer, the Red Roses won the Women's Rugby World Cup and Lando Norris won Formula 1 drivers' championship. In such a record-breaking year across the sports, who deserves to be crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year? This year’s contenders are: Hannah Hampton, Chloe Kelly, Ellie Kildunne, Luke Littler, R...

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called the shooting attack at Bondi Beach, Sydney, an act of terrorism and anti-semitism. The Washington Post has introduced AI-generated podcasts, and pro-democracy Hong Kong tycoon Jimmy Lai has been found guilty of national security offences. Rebecca Moore is joined by The Observer’s technology reporter Patricia Clarke, senior researcher Serena Ces...

The Iranian leader said the water problem in the capital “cannot be solved” and has suggested evacuating the city’s nearly ten million residents. Iran and Egypt, two countries that criminalise homosexuality, were picked to play the World Cup’s Pride Match in Seattle. And some councils are now regularly paying more than £250,000 a year to support children with special educational needs. Rebecca Moo...

Netflix’s acquisition of Warner Bros. - including its film and television studios, HBO Max, and HBO - is set to have major ripple effects on both TV and cinema. Meanwhile, the Kremlin is applauding the Trump administration’s newly released national security strategy. Why is Moscow welcoming it? A border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia is turning deadly. How are natural resources fuelling the...

Will the next men’s football World Cup be the most politically tense in history? Did we learn anything from the latest round of peace talks between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump’s envoys? Is overdiagnosis of conditions like Autism and ADHD leading to worse outcomes for neurodiverse people? Rebecca Moore is joined by The Observer’s Ides and Comment Editor Alex O’Connell, Deputy Sports Editor Andr...

Why did Prime Minister Keir Starmer decide to defend himself and the Chancellor over last week’s budget? Rightwing activist and regular GB News contributor Lucy White claimed Commons deputy speaker Nusrat Ghani should not be allowed in the house because she was born in Pakistan. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked President Isaac Herzog for a pardon in his corruption cases. Giles W...

Will the shooting of two National Guards in Washington DC change US politics forever? Should the UK roll out screening for prostate cancer? Did Chancellor Rachel Reeves miss an opportunity to gear up the economy for growth? Rebecca Moore is joined by The Observer’s Cat Neilan, Steve Bloomfield and James Tapper, as they battle it out to pitch the top stories of the day.  Find the teams Must Re...

David Lammy has proposed scrapping jury trials in England and Wales for all but the most serious offences. Paramount Global has obtained exclusive streaming rights to the UEFA Champions League - a move that could redefine how football fans follow the sport in the future. Revelations that MAGA-supporting accounts on X are operated from countries like North Macedonia, Pakistan and Poland raise conce...