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

Feb 23, 2022 · 6 min
Ep 288: Nearly bitcoin billionaires
The case of a couple accused of attempting to launder $4.5 billion worth of bitcoin teaches us a lot about cryptocurrency and its place in the economy.
Feb 22, 2022 · 5 min
Ep 287: The legacy of Jamal Edwards
Tributes have flooded in for music entrepreneur Jamal Edwards, who has died at the age of 31, a Youtube star who helped propel British rap and grime into the mainstream.
Feb 21, 2022 · 6 min
Ep 286: The islanders Britain won't allow home
The UK expelled everyone who lived on the Chagos Islands more than 50 years ago. Why are they still being blocked from returning?
Feb 18, 2022 · 8 min
Ep 285: Russia's controversial coach
15-year-old Kamila Valieva’s doping scandal has made headlines around the world. But she’s just a child. What about the team of adults surrounding her?
Feb 17, 2022 · 7 min
Ep 284: The price of pasta
Inflation has hit a 30-year high as energy, fuel and food costs continue to soar. A humble bag of pasta can tell us why the prices of supermarket basics are rising.
Feb 16, 2022 · 5 min
Ep 283: Olaf Scholz pipes up in Moscow
Germany’s new chancellor was initially criticised for his slow and awkward response to the Ukraine crisis, but he has now met Vladimir Putin. What does it tell us about his policy towards Russia?
Feb 15, 2022 · 5 min
Ep 282: Insulating Britain from rising bills
More Insulate Britain activists were jailed last week. Since their protests began in September global energy prices have risen dramatically and British households face a 54% increase in their fuel bills. It might strengthen their case.
Feb 14, 2022 · 7 min
Ep 281: A Major intervention?
Former Conservative Prime Minister Sir John Major launched a scathing attack on Boris Johnson over Partygate last week. He is known to be a critic of the prime minister, so will it make any difference?
Feb 11, 2022 · 6 min
Ep 280: Macron's mission
French president Emmanuel Macron met his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin this week. It was an attempt to de-escalate tensions over Ukraine, but Macron had another aim too.
Feb 10, 2022 · 5 min
Ep 279: The Oscars diversity drama
The Academy Awards is improving diversity seven years after a hashtag criticising the Oscars went viral, but progress is slow.
Feb 9, 2022 · 7 min
Ep 278: An influential kid
Ryan Kaji is one of the highest paid ‘child influencers’ on the planet, but internet success stories like his pose a challenge to regulators. Sign up to the Tech States newsletter here: https://torto.se/3HA5XNS
Feb 8, 2022 · 7 min
Ep 277: Isis loses its leader
Last week the Isis leader was killed during a raid on his hideout in Syria. What will his death do to the strength of the terrorist group he once led?
Feb 7, 2022 · 6 min
Ep 276: Carrie of Downing Street
Much is made of Carrie Johnson's apparent influence over policy in Number 10, but her power tells us something about her husband too.
Feb 4, 2022 · 6 min
Ep 275: An iceberg's climate warning
When a mega iceberg melted it released 152 billion tonnes of fresh water into the ocean, but that is not what is worrying scientists most. It represents a longer term problem for our planet.
Feb 3, 2022 · 6 min
Ep 274: Johnson's man in the north
The government has hinged its success on its ability to "level up" the country. A mayor and former rugby player provides the blueprint for how the Tories can do it.
Feb 2, 2022 · 7 min
Ep 273: A test for New York's new mayor
Eric Adams ran for mayor of New York City promising to curb crime, but without over-policing. A spike in shootings is putting that pledge to the test.
Feb 1, 2022 · 7 min
Ep 272: A slow march
It's been more than 20 years since the British military lifted their ban on gay people serving, so why are LGBT+ veterans still waiting for compensation?
Jan 31, 2022 · 5 min
Ep 271: The Ukrainian puppet?
Yevhen Murayev was named in a strange Foreign Office press release as the potential leader of a pro-Russian government in Ukraine. Who is he and what is the UK up to?
Jan 28, 2022 · 7 min
Ep 270: The t-shirt ban
The Australian Open banned t-shirts about the missing Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai, but then u-turned. What does it tell us about how sporting bodies deal with repressive regimes?
Jan 27, 2022 · 7 min
Ep 269: Policing partygate
How an investigation by the Metropolitan Police could be a threat to Boris Johnson no matter what it finds.