Sensemaker

The Observer

The Sensemaker from The Observer - one story every day to make sense of the world.

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1,388 episodes
Updated June 19

Episodes1388

Newest first

Jun 13, 2025 · 8 min
Has Rachel Reeves ended austerity?
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: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jun 12, 2025 · 6 min
What’s behind Trump’s show of force in LA?
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.
Jun 11, 2025 · 6 min
Why Musk’s aid cuts will outlast his time in government
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 more information.
Jun 10, 2025 · 6 min
Is burning waste the answer to the UK’s energy needs?
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.
Jun 9, 2025 · 7 min
What's really going on with England's Lionesses?
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.
Jun 6, 2025 · 7 min
How to hack Mount Everest
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.
Jun 5, 2025 · 6 min
Bottom trawling: fishing’s dirty secret
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.
Jun 4, 2025 · 6 min
Is Britain ready to shift to a war footing?
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.
Jun 3, 2025 · 6 min
Is this the end of disposable vapes?
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.
Jun 2, 2025 · 7 min
Will Trump's Golden Dome work?
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.
May 30, 2025 · 5 min
The renationalisation of Britain’s railways
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.
May 29, 2025 · 6 min
Could the government’s immigration reforms lead to an exodus of international nurses?
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.
May 28, 2025 · 6 min
Who’s polluting the River Wye?
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.
May 27, 2025 · 7 min
Inside the world of Superbikes
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.
May 23, 2025 · 7 min
Is Britain ready to choose prison reform over punishment?
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.
May 22, 2025 · 8 min
Could this be the end of abortion prosecutions?
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 Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 21, 2025 · 6 min
Has Keir Starmer pulled off a Brexit reset with the EU?
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.
May 20, 2025 · 9 min
What did Cassie Ventura’s testimony reveal about Sean “Diddy” Combs?
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 Episode photography: Alex Jones Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 19, 2025 · 6 min
The boxset boom on the silver screen
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 Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists If you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact hello@tortoisemedia.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 16, 2025 · 6 min
Why is Gen Z going to church?
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.