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

April 22 · 5 min
Why is the UK paying to switch off wind energy?
Wind, solar and nuclear now generate the majority of the UK's energy, but in a bid to promote renewables the government has ended up paying some wind farms to stop generating power, why? Writer: Matt Russell Producer: Ada Barumé Clips: Md Blackboi Global Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
April 21 · 9 min
Trump vs the Pope. What does it mean?
A public clash between Donald Trump and the Pope has exposed tensions inside America’s Christian right. Why does this matter? Writer: Jonathan Lewis Producer: Casey Magloire Host: Ada Barumé Episode photography: Michael Whitaker Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett Clips: BBC, 9 New Australia, CNN Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
April 20 · 9 min
Why do Reform councillors keep quitting the party?
Reform councillors are quitting more than any other party. What is behind the trend and how will it impact the local elections? Writer: Madeleine Parr Producer: Amalie Sortland Host: Casey Magloire Clip Credit: BBC Politics Midlands Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
April 17 · 7 min
Who really revealed Banksy’s identity?
For years, many people have claimed to know the identity of Banksy, the anonymous British street artist. Now a recent report claims to have finally unmasked him. Could this cause his work to lose some of its value? Writer: Seun Matiluko Producer: Seun Matiluko Host: Casey Magloire Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
April 16 · 7 min
Why are beta blockers so popular?
Data reveals that young women in the UK are increasingly being prescribed beta blockers. What is behind the trend? Read more here - ‘Magic pill’ beta blocker prescriptions for teenage girls rise 90% in a decade Writer: Casey Magloire Producer: Casey Magloire Host: Ada Barume Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
April 15 · 7 min
Why is Israel continuing to attack Lebanon?
As talks between Israel and Lebanon get underway in Washington, the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Israeli troops in southern Lebanon to say that the fighting will continue. Host: Ada Barumé Writer & producer: Amalie Sortland Episode Photography: Joe Mee Executive producer: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
April 14 · 10 min
The downfall of Europe’s great populist
Viktor Orbán built one of Europe’s most entrenched political systems and still lost. What does Hungary’s election result tell us about how populists can be beaten? Writer: Jonathan Lewis Producer: Madeleine Parr Host: Casey Magloire Clip Credit: Sky News Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
April 13 · 6 min
We’re losing the race to save the emperor penguin
The International Union for Conservation of Nature has placed emperor penguins in the endangered species list with some predicting they could be extinct by the end of the century. Can anything be done to halt their decline? Writer: Jonathan Lewis Producer: Amalie Sortland Host: Jonathan Lewis Episode photography: Sofia Fenton Executive Producer: Matt Russell Clips: CBS News Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
April 10 · 7 min
US vs. China: the new space race
Tomorrow morning Artemis II will splash down off the coast of San Diego. What’s next for the $90 billion space programme’s plan to put a human back on the moon? Writer: Jonathan Lewis Producer: Madeleine Parr Host: Ada Barumé Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Matt Russell Clips: CNN Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
April 9 · 8 min
Will the US-Iran ceasefire hold?
Barely an hour before President Donald Trump’s Tuesday deadline to obliterate Iran and its infrastructure, the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire. Host: Jonathan Lewis Writer: Amalie Sortland Producer: Jonathan Lewis Episode Photography: Sofia Fenton Executive producer: Jasper Corbett This episode is sponsored by Babbel. Get up to 60% off your Babbel subscription at babbel.com/sensemaker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
April 8 · 5 min
Why are art heists on the rise?
Over the past two years, there have been major thefts from galleries and museums in the Netherlands, France and Italy. So what’s happening? This episode is sponsored by Babbel. Get up to 60% off your Babbel subscription at babbel.com/sensemaker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
April 7 · 7 min
Is shared ownership housing really an affordable option?
Why some people in shared home ownership schemes don’t feel they're as affordable as they seem. Writer: Ada Barumé Producer: Matt Russell Host: Ada Barumé This episode is sponsored by Babbel. Get up to 60% off your Babbel subscription at babbel.com/sensemaker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
April 2 · 9 min
Is the Iran War dividing MAGA?
Is the war in Iran impacting MAGA support for Donald Trump, if so, why? Writer: Casey Magloire Producer: Casey Magloire Host: Ada Barume Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Matt Russell Clip credit: The Economist, NBC news, Forbes Breaking News, CNN and MS Now This episode is sponsored by Babbel. Get up to 60% off your Babbel subscription at babbel.com/sensemaker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
April 1 · 6 min
How is the Iran war affecting our cost of living?
The impact of the war in Iran is being felt around the world. But how is it affecting the UK? Writer: Ada Barumé Producer: Amalie Sortland Host: Casey Magloire Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett Clip from NBC News. This episode is sponsored by Babbel. Get up to 60% off your Babbel subscription at babbel.com/sensemaker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
March 31 · 9 min
The economics of K-pop and BTS
The world’s biggest boyband are back from their hiatus and set to go on a 82-date tour, but what impact will their return to the spotlight have on the Korean economy? Writer: Casey Magloire Producer: Amalie Sortland Host: Ada Barumé Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett Clips from 9 News Australia, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, NBC News, Asia One News, Channel News Asia, 7NEWS Australia, Bloomberg News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
March 30 · 9 min
Are war crimes happening in the Iran war?
Several leading figures have come out and warned both sides in the Iran war could be at risk of committing war crimes. But what does this mean? Host: Casey Magloire Writer: Matt Russell Producer: Amalie Sortland Episode Photography: Sofia Fenton Executive producer: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
March 27 · 8 min
Why are Meta and Google liable for social media addiction?
Social media companies have largely avoided responsibility for the impact their products have on people’s lives. But a new court ruling may change that. Host: Andrew Butler Writer & Producer: Amalie Sortland Episode Photography: Sofia Fenton Executive producer: Jasper Corbett Clips used in the episode were from The New York Times. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
March 26 · 8 min
What’s behind changes to the abortion law in England and Wales?
The House of Lords has voted to stop criminalising women for late term abortions. What will this mean for women in England and Wales? Host: Casey Magloire Writer: Ada Barumé Producer: Amalie Sortland Episode Photography: Sofia Fenton Executive producer: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
March 25 · 8 min
Is Cuba Donald Trump’s next target?
As Donald Trump ramps up pressure on Cuba, the island is facing fuel shortages, economic collapse and mass emigration. Will this mean regime change in the communist country? Writer: Jonathan Lewis Producer: Ada Barumé Host: Ada Barumé Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett Credits: The New York Times, The New Yorker and WNYC Studios Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
March 24 · 7 min
Are AI chatbots encouraging violence?
Two lawsuits allege that artificial intelligence chatbots, like ChatGPT, have encouraged people to commit harm not just to themselves, but to others. Reporter: Patricia Clarke Writer: Poppy Bullard Producer: Poppy Bullard Host: Ada Barumé Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Matt Russell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.