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

Nov 2, 2021 · 6 min
Ep 208: Handing back stolen treasures
France has decided to return some artefacts from one of its museums which were looted from Benin more than a century ago. Might museums in other western countries have to follow suit?
Nov 1, 2021 · 7 min
Ep 207: How to police a COP
The United Nations’ Climate Change Conference is underway in Glasgow. Whatever it agrees, how do we measure it?
Oct 29, 2021 · 6 min
Ep 206: The endemic equilibrium
The government is under increasing pressure to reintroduce Covid restrictions. Why are they holding off?
Oct 27, 2021 · 7 min
Ep 205: A bullish budget?
Inflation is on the rise, and Rishi Sunak’s high-spending budget could push it up further. Will the Bank of England step in and draw the purse strings?
Oct 27, 2021 · 6 min
Ep 204: Not so golden
For a reported £150m, David Beckham has agreed to become the face of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar – and an ambassador for the country. It's a move that might put his reputation at risk...
Oct 26, 2021 · 6 min
Ep 203: Britain's tumbling birth rate
In the UK, we're having fewer children than ever before. What's going on?
Oct 25, 2021 · 7 min
Ep 202: Masters of the metaverse
Facebook has just announced that it is creating 10,000 jobs to make a metaverse. A what?
Oct 22, 2021 · 6 min
Ep 201: Time for Covid Plan B
Covid cases are rising fast in the UK, and the government is under pressure to take steps to slow them down. Is it time for the government to to turn to Plan B?
Oct 21, 2021 · 6 min
Ep 200: The great resignation
More workers than ever before are quitting their jobs. Why?
Oct 20, 2021 · 6 min
Ep 199: Does 'Prevent' prevent extremism?
Prevent is the British government's first line of defence against radicalisation and extremism. How does it work?
Oct 19, 2021 · 5 min
Ep 198: Marooned: the shipping crisis
Outside every huge shipping port in the world there's a queue of ships waiting to unload. What's holding everything up?
Oct 18, 2021 · 6 min
Ep 197: The return of inflation
Inflation - a rise in the cost of living - used to be a huge problem in the UK. Is it about to become one again?
Oct 15, 2021 · 5 min
Ep 196: Vaccinating for two?
How did an overabundance of caution help cause a Covid crisis among pregnant women?
Oct 14, 2021 · 6 min
Ep 195: A frosty relationship
The UK has left the European Union. Why is trying now to renegotiate the way it left?
Oct 13, 2021 · 7 min
Ep 194: The Middle East's golden girl
Last week, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund took a controlling stake of Newcastle United for £300m. It’s the most controversial Premier League takeover to date. But who’s pulling all the strings? 
Oct 12, 2021 · 6 min
Ep 193: The priceless price cap
Gas bills are rocketing - but there's supposed to be a 'price cap' on them to protect consumers. Why isn't it working?
Oct 11, 2021 · 6 min
Ep 192: The sheikh who spied on his family
A British court ruled last week that Sheikh Mohammed, the ruler of Dubai, had used one of the most powerful surveillance tools available to security services to spy on his ex-wife in the middle of a custody case.
Oct 8, 2021 · 6 min
Ep 191: A movie star in space
A Russian actor and director are about to become the first to film a movie in space. Why are they doing it?
Oct 7, 2021 · 7 min
Ep 190: Breaking open shell companies
The leak of financial documents known as the Pandora Papers shines a light on 'shell companies' which allow people to hide their wealth. Has the time come for tax authorities to clamp down on them?
Oct 6, 2021 · 7 min
Ep 189: Changing a police force for good
After Sarah Everard's murder, there are now going to be two separate inquiries into the culture of the Metropolitan Police. What chance do they have of bringing about real change?