Sensemaker

The Observer
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Sep 19, 2025 • 12min

Did Trump and Starmer answer the Epstein question?

Donald Trump was asked if he had sympathy for Peter Mandelson - the former UK ambassador to Washington - who was recently sacked for his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. Writer: Cat NeilanProducer: Amalie SortlandEpisode Photography: Joe MeeExecutive 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.
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Sep 18, 2025 • 9min

How does Trump rule like a king?

Since returning to the White House in January, President Trump has issued more than 200 executive orders. Yet so far, only 20 proposed bills have become law.Writer: Bex SanderProducer: Amalie SortlandEpisode Photography: Joe MeeExecutive 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.
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Sep 17, 2025 • 8min

Israel launches Gaza City offensive

The announcement of a major Israeli ground offensive came within minutes of a UN report which states that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians.Writer: Poppy BullardProducer: Amalie Sortland Host: Tomini BabsEpisode photography: Sofia FentonExecutive 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.
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Sep 16, 2025 • 9min

Is meme culture tied to Charlie Kirk's death?

Messages on unfired bullet casings left by Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old accused of shooting Charlie Kirk, appear linked to online alt-right movements.  Writer: Jess Swinburne, with reporting from Nicky WoolfProducer: Amalie SortlandHost: Casey MagloireEpisode photography: Sofia FentonExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore & Jasper CorbettTo 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.
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Sep 15, 2025 • 8min

Who are the lost artists of Ancient Egypt?

For decades, the pyramids, mummies, and hieroglyphs of Ancient Egypt have been reduced to clichés in textbooks and pop culture. A new exhibition seeks to change that.Writer: Amalie Sortland, with reporting from Laura CummingProducer: Amalie SortlandEpisode Photography: Joe MeeExecutive 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.
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Sep 12, 2025 • 7min

Climate scientists vs. Donald Trump

Scientists are increasingly concerned about the impact Donald Trump’s policies and rhetoric are having on the environment. So how are those on the front line in the fight against climate change coping against a backdrop of rising scepticism?  Writer: Casey MagloireProducer: Amalie SortlandHost: Ada BaruméEpisode photography: Sofia FentonExecutive Producer: Katie GunningTo 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.
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Sep 11, 2025 • 6min

How might Nato respond to Russian drones over Poland?

Early on Wednesday morning Poland announced that for the first time Nato jets  had shot down Russian drones in its airspace.Writer: Poppy BullardProducer: Poppy BullardHost: Ada BarumeEpisode photography: Sofia FentonExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Sep 10, 2025 • 6min

Who is the Somali judge with 1.5 million TikTok followers?

Colonel Hassan Ali Nur Shuute is giving Somali social media users a unique insight into the country’s war on terror. Writer: Layla Mahmood and Poppy BullardProducer: Poppy BullardHost: Casey MagloireEpisode photography: Joe MeeExecutive Producer: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Sep 9, 2025 • 9min

Who are the winners and losers of the cabinet reshuffle?

What does the recent cabinet reshuffle tell us about the new direction of the Labour party and the government?Writer: Casey MagloireProducer: Casey MagloireHost: Ada BaruméEpisode photography: Joe MeeExecutive Producer: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Sep 8, 2025 • 9min

Who’s the new editor of American Vogue?

For the first time in decades, American Vogue, the leading fashion publication, has a new editorial head succeeding Anna Wintour, often regarded as the most powerful woman in the industry. Who is the new woman in charge? Writer: Stephen ArmstrongProducer: Amalie SortlandEpisode Photography: Joe MeeExecutive producer: Jasper CorbettTo 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.

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