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

Dec 1, 2025 · 10 min
Why are Europe’s Gen Z heading to the mines of Australia?
TikTok may glamorise the FIFO lifestyle in the outback, but what happens when the reality doesn’t quite match? Host: Tomini Babs Writer: Casey Magloire Producer: Amalie Sortland Reporter: Niamh Rowe Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 28, 2025 · 10 min
Why is the army recruiting gamers?
The army is recruiting gamers to fly drones, raising questions about whether war is becoming more like a game. Host: Casey Magloire Writer & Producer: Amalie Sortland Episode Photography: Sofia Fenton Executive producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 27, 2025 · 7 min
Will the Budget bring the cost of living down?
In the budget Chancellor Rachel Reeves outlined a series of measures aimed at bringing living costs down. But each of those measures must be paid for by taxes elsewhere. Writer: Poppy Bullard Producer: Poppy Bullard Host: Ada Barume Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 26, 2025 · 9 min
Gaza is trapped in limbo
In the weeks since the ceasefire was agreed, more than 300 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, and more than 600 injured, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Host: Ada Barumé Writer: Poppy Bullard Producer: Amalie Sortland Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Matt Russell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 25, 2025 · 10 min
What’s behind the US-Russian peace plan for Ukraine?
This weekend, European leaders were scrambling to prevent US President Donald Trump from forcing Ukraine to sign a peace deal widely viewed as favourable to Russia. Host: Casey Magloire Writer & Producer: Amalie Sortland Episode Photography: Sofia Fenton Executive producer: Matt Russell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 24, 2025 · 7 min
Could Covid lockdowns have been avoided?
Last week, a major report from the independent inquiry into the government’s handling of the Coronavirus pandemic was published. Writer: Poppy Bullard Producer: Poppy Bullard Host: Casey Magloire Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 21, 2025 · 9 min
The Michael Jackson fan dilemma
Michael Jackson has become the first artist to achieve a top 10 hit single in six different decades, right as the trailer for his new biopic has been released. How do fans of the star reconcile the allegations when interacting with his work?’ To listen to Liv and Miranda on We Have Notes visit: lnk.to/wehavenotes Writer: Casey Magloire Producer: Casey Magloire Host: Casey Magloire Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 20, 2025 · 6 min
Why is a 2.6 degree temperature rise so catastrophic?
As COP30 wraps up in Brazil, climate change experts warn that not only have we missed the 1.5 degree target for global average temperature increase, but we are now on a path to 2.6 degrees. Writer: Casey Magloire Producer: Poppy Bullard Host: Tomini Babs Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 19, 2025 · 7 min
How police caught one of the biggest crypto scammers ever
Qian Zhimin has been dubbed the cryptoqueen after UK Police discovered she had approximately £5 billion of stolen investments. But how was she caught? Host: Ada Barumé Writer: Casey Magloire Producer: Amalie Sortland Reporters: Poppy Sebag-Montefiore and Phoebe Davis Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Matt Russell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 18, 2025 · 10 min
Why has Trump sent warships to the Caribbean?
On Sunday, America announced that it had moved the world’s biggest aircraft carrier within striking distance of Venezuela. Its addition to an already sizable fleet marks the biggest US military build up in the Caribbean since the Cold War. Writer: Jonathan Lewis Producer: Jonathan Lewis Host: Ada Barumé Episode photography: Sofia Fenton Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 17, 2025 · 9 min
Why are nicotine pouches more popular than ever?
Nicotine pouches are flying off the shelves across the UK – and increasingly, it’s teenagers buying them. Host: Tomini Babs Writer & Producer: Amalie Sortland Episode Photography: Sofia Fenton Executive producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 14, 2025 · 10 min
Why did Republicans release Epstein emails?
Marjorie Taylor Greene, the ultra-Trumpian Republican congresswoman from Georgia, is one of the four Republican dissenters who support the full release of the Epstein files. Listen to Alexi Mostrous discuss the Epstein emails in more detail on The News Meeting podcast. Host: Tomini Babs Writer & Producer: Amalie Sortland Episode Photography: Sofia Fenton Executive producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 13, 2025 · 9 min
Can Trump really sue the BBC?
Trump’s lawyers demanded that the BBC apologise for an edited clip of him in a Panorama documentary or face a $1 billion lawsuit. Writer: Poppy Bullard Producer: Poppy Bullard Host: Ada Barume Episode photography: Sofia Fenton Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 12, 2025 · 6 min
Why is Andrew Tate finished?
Young people are moving on from online influencer Andrew Tate. Host: Ada Barumé Writer & Producer: Amalie Sortland Episode Photography: Joe Mee Executive producer: Matt Russell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 11, 2025 · 7 min
Why is porn showing choking being banned?
The government has criminalised the depiction of choking and suffocation in online porn. Writer: Poppy Bullard Producer: Poppy Bullard Host: Casey Magloire Episode photography: Sophia Fenton Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 10, 2025 · 8 min
Could Trump start a new nuclear arms race?
President Trump wants America to resume nuclear testing for the first time in 33 years. President Vladimir Putin hinted Russia might follow suit. Host: Tomini Babs Writer & Producer: Amalie Sortland Episode Photography: Sofia Fenton Executive producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 7, 2025 · 8 min
What does the renters rights act mean for tenants?
The renters rights act is the most momentous change to housing law since the 1980's, but what will it mean for the UK's 11 million renters? Writer: Ada Barumé Producer: Ada Barumé Host: Casey Magloire Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 6, 2025 · 9 min
Zohran Mamdani: How to topple Trump
The young, charismatic socialist has swept to victory in the New York Mayoral election. Writer: Poppy Bullard Producer: Amalie Sortland Host: Tomini Babs Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 5, 2025 · 8 min
Will Rachel Reeves raise taxes?
This week Chancellor Rachel Reeves gave an unexpected and unprecedented speech just three weeks before the government’s annual Budget. Writer: Poppy Bullard Reporter: Rachel Sylvester Producer: Poppy Bullard Host: Casey Magloire Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 4, 2025 · 6 min
Is this the end of TV?
In 2026, the UK government will decide whether to end terrestrial TV. Host: Katie Gunning Writer: Stephen Armstrong Producer: Amalie Sortland Episode Photography: Joe Mee Executive producer: Matt Russell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.