The News Meeting

What did we learn from Donald Trump and Keir Starmer’s press conference? Why is Israel invading Gaza City? What does the suspension of the Jimmy Kimmel show tell us about press freedom in America?Rebecca Moore is joined by The Observer’s Erica Wagner, Steve Bloomfield and Rachel Sylvester as they try and pitch the top stories of the day.**Join us at the News Meeting Live on Tuesday 23rd September at 6:30pm** Rebecca Moore will be joined by David Aaronovitch, Claudia Williams and Jon Ungoed-Thomas. Get your tickets → HERE**We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk Follow us on Social Media: @ObserverUK on X @theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok@theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky Host: Rebecca MooreProducer: Poppy BullardExecutive Producer: Jasper Corbett To find out more about The Observer:Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentHead to our website observer.co.uk Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With young people in Nepal using social media sites like Discord to organise protests, are we witnessing the South Asian Spring? How influential is Elon Musk in British politics following his message to the Unite the Kingdom protestors? And how did the Assad regime systematically steal hundreds of children from their families? Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer’s Patricia Clarke, Chloe Hadjimatheou and Stephen Armstrong, as they each try to pitch the top story of the day.**Join us at the News Meeting Live on Tuesday 23rd September at 6:30pm** Giles Whittell will be joined by David Aaronvitch, Claudia Williams and Jon Ungoed-Thomas. Get your tickets → HEREFind the team’s must reads here:The crumbling seaside palaces at the centre of Britain’s asylum crisisYou Might Have Already Fallen for MAHA’s Conspiracy TheoriesGrayson Perry: Delusions of GrandeurRead more on today’s stories: US cash turned Tommy Robinson into the poster boy of UK far rightHow a western charity helped the Syrian regime abduct childrenPrepare for revolution now, Elon Musk tells London rally as police come under attack**We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk Follow us on Social Media: @ObserverUK on X @theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok@theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky Host: Giles WhittellProducer: Casey Magloire Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore To find out more about The Observer:Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentHead to our website observer.co.uk Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does the sacking of Peter Mandelson mean for Keir Starmer? Does Vladimir Putin want war with NATO? Is the UK at risk of an uptick in political violence?Rebecca Moore is joined by The Observer’s Jessica Hayden, Katie Gunning and Bernard Gray as they each try to pitch the top story of the day.Find the team’s must reads:Bosses can reject applicants who support rival football teamCultural Capital**Join us at the News Meeting Live on Tuesday 23rd September at 6:30pm** Rebecca Moore will be joined by David Aaronovitch, Claudia Williams and Jon Ungoed-Thomas. Get your tickets → HERE**We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk Follow us on Social Media: @ObserverUK on X @theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok@theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky Host: Rebecca MooreProducer: Poppy BullardExecutive Producer: Jasper Corbett and Matt Russell To find out more about The Observer:Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentHead to our website observer.co.uk Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why can’t the French government pass a budget? Who will win in the fight for the soul of the Labour Party? Why do pensioners keep being arrested?Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer’s Tom Gatti and Serna Cesareo, as well as the journalist and author Charlie Brinkhurst Cuff, as they each try to pitch the top story of the day.Find the team’s must reads:lThe Missing SisterBack to PetroleumHow Music Criticism Lost Its Edge**Join us at the News Meeting Live on Tuesday 23rd September at 6:30pm** Rebecca Moore will be joined by David Aaronvitch, Claudia Williams and Jon Ungoed-Thomas. Get your tickets → HERE**We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk Follow us on Social Media: @ObserverUK on X @theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok@theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky Host: Giles WhittellProducer: Poppy BullardExecutive Producer: Jasper Corbett and Matt Russell To find out more about The Observer:Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentHead to our website observer.co.uk Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will revelations about Angela Rayner’s taxes be the end of her political career? How will Melvyn Bragg’s exit from In Our Time impact the iconic show? Why did Nigel Farage compare the UK to North Korea in his plea to US politicians? Giles Whittell is joined by the Observer’s Cat Neilan, Paul Hayward and Alex O’Connell as they each try to pitch the top story of the day.Must Reads:'Jimmy Breslin Essential Writings'**Join us at the News Meeting Live on Tuesday 23rd September at 6:30pm** Rebecca Moore will be joined by David Aaronvitch, Claudia Williams and Jon Ungoed-Thomas. Get your tickets → HERE**We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk Follow us on Social Media: @ObserverUK on X @theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok@theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky Host: Giles WhittellProducer: Casey Magloire and Amalie SortlandExecutive Producer: Jasper Corbett and Matt Russell To find out more about The Observer:Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentHead to our website observer.co.uk Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will Afghanistan get the aid it needs? Is China the new America when it comes to globalisation? Could a lawsuit from a dark corner of the internet affect the Online Safety Act?Rebecca Moore is joined by Observer reporters Stephen Armstrong, Phoebe Davis and Bex Sander as they pitch their stop stories of the day.Links to the team’s Must Reads and recommendations here: Inside the world of the Great British Bake OffFit For TVFargo **We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk Follow us on Social Media: @ObserverUK on X @theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok@theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky Host: Rebecca Moore, Executive Producer Producer: Poppy BullardExecutive Producer: Matt Russell, Deputy Head of AudioTo find out more about The Observer:Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentHead to our website observer.co.uk Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will SpaceX’s latest triumph mean Elon Musk will make it to Mars? Why will the price of Mounjaro weightless drugs go up? Benjamin Netanyahu called the IDF’s airstrike on Gaza’s Nasser Hospital a “tragic misstep" but so far 240 Palestinian journalists have died since the beginning of the conflict.Giles Whittell is joined by the Observer’s International Editor, Steve Bloomfield, our Acting National News Editor, Rebecca Myers and reporter, James Tapper, as each try to pitch the top story of the day.Links to the team’s Must Reads and recommendations here: Race Across the World‘House of Earth and Blood’ by Sarah J. Maas**We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk Follow us on Social Media: @ObserverUK on X @theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok@theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky Host: Giles WhittellProducer: Amalie SortlandExecutive Producer: Rebecca MooreTo find out more about The Observer:Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentHead to our website observer.co.uk Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ceri Thomas is a Senior Editor at The Observer with a knack for shaping news narratives. Jessica Hayden, the Assistant Sports Editor, dives into the incredible rise of women’s rugby, highlighting its recent success. Vanessa Thorpe, Arts and Media Correspondent, discusses cultural economics, advocating for a tourism tax to bolster local arts. The trio also examines the Epping protests and their impact on community sentiment towards asylum seekers, revealing the deeper societal issues at play.

Stephen Armstrong, a reporter at The Observer, and Katie Riley, the data editor, dive into the intricate dance of geopolitics, evaluating Ukraine President Zelensky's attempts to sway Trump post-Alaska Summit. They candidly discuss the clash of Washington’s militarization with America's political trajectory and dissect MPs making TikToks. The duo reflects on the unpredictable nature of international diplomacy and the role of social media in today’s political engagements. This engaging conversation sheds light on the evolving landscape of political communication.

Facial recognition technology's impact on law enforcement raises ethical and privacy concerns. The political implications of American influence on UK parties are scrutinized. Tensions rise as mass arrests related to Palestine Action prompt questions about public support for the government. The classification of Palestine Action as a terrorist organization sparks debates about civil liberties and state control. Plus, the team dissects how news priorities shape public discourse in this tumultuous political landscape.