Sensemaker

The Observer

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.

Subscribe Listen in podnod RSS feed Show website

1,388 episodes
Updated June 19

Episodes1388

Newest first

May 23, 2022 · 7 min
Ep 348: Unstoppable inflation?
The governor of the Bank of England warned last week that inflation could get worse – and that most things driving price rises are beyond his control. But others say the Bank was slow to act when prices first started going up. Could it have done more?
May 20, 2022 · 6 min
Ep 347: Grimsby’s proud East Marshians
The East Marsh estate in Grimsby is one of the UK’s most deprived communities. But a charity is trying to change that – one house purchase at a time.
May 19, 2022 · 7 min
Ep 346: A u-turn on torture
In 2020 the government tried to pass legislation that would have made it harder to prosecute British troops for war crimes like torture. This is how one group of campaigners forced it to rethink the Overseas Operations Bill.
May 18, 2022 · 7 min
Ep 345: The lifelong LGBT+ activist
For more than fifty years, Peter Tatchell has been fighting for LGBT+ rights. His work isn’t done yet.
May 17, 2022 · 7 min
Ep 344: Covid’s bereaved families
A group of people united by one haunting question have come together to form the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice. They’ve got the public inquiry they campaigned for, but there’s still a long way to go until they get answers.
May 16, 2022 · 7 min
Ep 343: The social housing activist
Since 2021, housing campaigner Kwajo Tweneboa has been travelling up and down the country visiting substandard homes, documenting the conditions and interviewing tenants. His campaigning is making a difference.
May 13, 2022 · 7 min
Ep 342: A new Marcos for the Philippines
Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr has won the presidency of the Philippines by a landslide. But he's not the first Ferdinand Marcos to rule the country. Why is his election so historic?
May 12, 2022 · 7 min
Ep 341: Netflix’s Tudum problem
The fansite Tudum was announced by Netflix last year in a bid to boost its offer to subscribers, bringing with it a whole suite of new writers. But when Netflix’s share price dropped the new staff were one of the first things to go. What happened?
May 11, 2022 · 6 min
Ep 340: Beergate
Labour leader Keir Starmer is currently under a police investigation for breaching Covid-19 lockdown rules. If fined, he says he'll resign. How did we get here and what does this mean for prime minister Boris Johnson?
May 10, 2022 · 6 min
Ep 339: HRT: the Davina effect?
The UK is currently facing a hormone replacement therapy (HRT) shortage. Could it have been avoided?
May 9, 2022 · 6 min
Ep 338: Trouble in paradise
The British Virgin Islands has been beset by scandals. The premier was arrested on charges of drug trafficking and money laundering, and a separate inquiry found evidence of state corruption. How did it come to this?
May 6, 2022 · 7 min
Ep 337: Time for a windfall tax?
Bumper profits posted by the world’s biggest oil and gas producers have reinvigorated calls in the UK for a windfall tax. Could it solve the cost of living crisis?
May 5, 2022 · 7 min
Ep 336: Overturning Roe
A leaked opinion by the US Supreme Court suggests that it could reverse an historic ruling that gives women the right to have an abortion. What impact would that have?
May 4, 2022 · 6 min
Ep 335: Westminster wrongdoing
The rotten culture at Westminster has been exposed once again. Has anything changed since allegations of sexual misconduct and bullying first emerged in 2017?
May 3, 2022 · 8 min
Ep 334: A Capitol coup attempt?
A congressional committee is investigating what happened on January 6th 2021 and in the days leading up to the attack on the Capitol. This is what it has uncovered so far.
Apr 29, 2022 · 8 min
Ep 333: Invaded: Mariupol’s last defence
Russian forces have reduced Mariupol to ruins. But they are still meeting fierce resistance at the city’s steel plant, where Ukrainian fighters are deep underground. Halyna’s cousin is one of them.
Apr 28, 2022 · 6 min
Ep 332: Jacob Rees-Mogg's crusade against wfh
The Minister for Brexit Opportunities and Government Efficiency wants to get civil servants back in the office. Why is he so bothered about it?
Apr 27, 2022 · 7 min
Ep 331: Elon Musk goes shopping
Twitter's board has accepted Elon Musk's offer to buy the social media company for around $44 billion. But what's he going to do with it?
Apr 25, 2022 · 7 min
Ep 330: Life under Shanghai’s lockdown
China is powering on with its zero-Covid policy as cases rise, more cities go into lockdown, and thousands are moved into special quarantine facilities. What does this mean for the people living there?
Apr 25, 2022 · 5 min
Ep 329: Sinn Fein's election hopes
Voters in Northern Ireland will elect a new assembly on 5th May. Polls suggest Sinn Fein could for the first time defeat unionists to become the largest party.