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

Mar 17, 2025 · 7 min
Manchester United’s theatre of nightmares
Not long ago Manchester United was the biggest name in global football, now the club is having its worst season in thirty years and one of its owners claimed it nearly went bust towards the end of last year. How did things get so bad and is it recoverable? Writer: Jasper Corbet Producer: Matt Russell Host: Claudia Williams Episode photography: Roisin Savage Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 14, 2025 · 6 min
Syrian deal gives peace a chance
Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa, will be hoping his new deal with Kurdish forces, which control an oil rich region in the northeast, will send a message that his government represents all Syrians. Will the agreement steer the country away from civil war? Writer: Chloe Hadjimatheou Producer: Ada Barumé Host: Tomini Babs Executive producer: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 13, 2025 · 8 min
Andrew Tate lands in Trump’s America
The Tate brothers left Romania for the US despite facing serious criminal charges. What does this mean for the women bringing cases against the brothers? Secure your privacy with Surfshark! Go to https://surfshark.com/sensemaker for 4 extra months of Surfshark. Writer: Phoebe Davis Producer: Casey Magloire Host: Tomini Babs Episode photography: Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 12, 2025 · 6 min
Why is Romantasy so popular?
More and more people are obsessed with books about love stories set in fantasy worlds. What's the appeal?
Mar 11, 2025 · 7 min
What are the consequences of Trump’s foreign aid cuts?
Donald Trump froze most of America’s foreign aid funding and is dismantling the US Agency for International Development. How is this affecting the millions of people who rely on USAID to survive? Writer: Serena Cesareo Producer: Serena Cesareo Host: Tomini Babs Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 10, 2025 · 6 min
Can Trump fix America’s eggflation?
The price of eggs has skyrocketed. While Trump made them a central issue during his campaign, the problem runs deeper than inflation. Why could eggs spark a political crisis for the president? Writer: Phoebe Davis Producer: Gary Marshall Host: Claudia Williams Episode photography: Roisín Savage Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 7, 2025 · 7 min
Musk, Trump, and the secretive government overhaul
Elon Musk has called the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, which he runs, “maximally transparent”. But it’s taking entire teams of reporters to piece together what is really happening inside The White House. Writer: Patricia Clarke Producer: Patricia Clarke Host: Tomini Babs Episode photography: Roisín Savage Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 6, 2025 · 7 min
The ceasefire deadlock: What comes next for Israel and Hamas?
The fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has expired, and hopes for a second phase are fading fast. With hostages still held in Gaza and political tensions rising in Israel, is renewed war now inevitable? To listen to Chloe Hadjimatheou on The News Meeting click here: lnk.to/2JnIOk Writer: Xavier Greenwood with additional reporting from Lilly Cheslaw. Producer: Casey Magloire Host: Casey Magloire Photography: Roisin Savage Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 5, 2025 · 8 min
Ukrainian fears following the Trump-Zelensky clash
Donald Trump’s explosive press conference with Volodymyr Zelensky didn’t just strain US-Ukraine relations, it upended the established post-WWII world order. Writer: Phoebe Davis Additional reporting: Cecily Atkinson Producer: Ada Barumé Host: Tomini Babs Episode photography: Roisín Savage Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 4, 2025 · 8 min
Is the music industry ready for AI?
More than 1,000 musicians have released a silent album in protest against new UK government proposals to change copyright law. Will the silence be too deafening for the government to ignore? Writer: Jess Swinburne Producer: Katie Gunning Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 3, 2025 · 8 min
How Nasa is tracking the “city-killer” asteroid
The risk of a large asteroid hitting Earth in 2032 has dropped to nearly zero – but it could still hit the moon. Nasa’s Acting Planetary Defense Officer explains how her team is assessing the risk. Reporter: Patricia Clarke Producer: Patricia Clarke Host: Claudia Williams Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Photography: Joe Mee Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Feb 28, 2025 · 8 min
Is Anora the most radical film at this year’s Oscars?
This year’s Oscars are more political than ever, with Anora being the critics’ favorite for Best Picture. But could its portrayal of sex work signal a real shift in Hollywood’s attitude, or is it just another fleeting moment? Writer: Stephen Armstrong Producer: Ada Barumé Host: Tomini Babs Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Feb 27, 2025 · 8 min
Trump’s purge of the military
In a massive shake-up of the US armed forces, the Trump administration has fired the country’s most senior military officer, the admiral leading the Navy and several other senior figures. Why?
Feb 26, 2025 · 7 min
Is the rise of Germany’s far-right a wake-up call for Europe?
Germany’s far-right party, Alternative für Deutschland, secured second place in the weekend’s election, doubling its previous vote share. With concerns that the long-standing “firewall” against the AfD is weakening, can incoming Chancellor Friedrich Merz navigate domestic and global challenges to stop its rise? Writer: Cat Neilan Producer: Casey Magloire Host: Claudia Williams Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Feb 25, 2025 · 8 min
Is Trump trading peace for Ukraine’s minerals?
Ukraine’s rare earth minerals have become a bargaining chip in high-stakes negotiations with the US. As President Trump pushes for access to half of Ukraine’s deposits, we explore what’s at stake—and why Kyiv is under pressure to strike a deal. Writer and producer: Katie Gunning Art work: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Feb 24, 2025 · 8 min
How are M23 rebels and mineral smuggling driving violence in the DRC?
The rebel group, M23 have taken control of a second city in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. What do they want? And is there anything that can be done to bring peace to a country after three decades of conflict? Writer: Ada Barumé Producer: Ada Barumé Host: Tomini Babs Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Feb 21, 2025 · 6 min
Melania Trump v Anna Wintour: Who Really Holds the Power?
For the second time Vogue has broken with tradition and excluded the First Lady from the front cover. What does this snub tell us about the changing media and political landscape in the US? Writer and producer: Jess Swinburne Host: Claudia Williams Episode Photography: Lola Williams Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Feb 20, 2025 · 9 min
Are Elon Musk’s politics hurting Tesla?
Tesla sales are plummeting across Europe. Elon Musk's political antics might have something to do with it. Writer: Patricia Clarke Producer: Patricia Clarke Host: Tomini Babs Episode photography: Lola Williams Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Feb 19, 2025 · 7 min
Why are at-home rape kits being offered to university students?
Self-test rape kits are being promoted as a way to empower survivors, but experts warn they could undermine prosecutions. This debate raises a bigger question: how can we balance support for survivors with the need for justice? Writer: Phoebe Davis Producer: Casey Magloire Host: Casey Magloire Episode photography: Lola Williams Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Feb 18, 2025 · 7 min
Is America changing course on Ukraine?
Donald Trump’s new defense secretary has signaled a dramatic shift in US policy on Ukraine, raising alarms across Europe. As fears of appeasement grow and Western alliances are tested, what does this mean for the future of European security? Writer: Cat Neilan Producer: Ada Barumé Host: Tomini Babs Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.