Sensemaker

The results from last week’s local elections show that Nigel Farage’ party is now the most popular choice for gen X women.Writer: Rachel SylvesterProducer: Ada BaruméHost: Casey MagloireEpisode photography: Joe MeeExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Underfunded councils are turning parks into festival grounds to raise cash but this is transforming the meaning of public space in cities.Writer: Stephen Armstrong Producer: Rebecca Moore Host: Claudia Williams Episode photography: Joe Mee Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Weight loss drugs can be transformative for people who have struggled with obesity. But with a spike in hospital admissions experiencing adverse reactions to the drugs, should we be doing more to regulate this growing market? Writer: James TapperProducer: Ada BaruméHost: Tomini Babs Executive producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tristan Tate is far less well-known than his notorious brother, Andrew. New evidence suggests he holds a central role in their alleged criminality. Writer: Phoebe Davis Producer: Katie GunningHost: Casey MagloireEpisode photography: Joe MeeExecutive Producer: Jasper CorbettThe Sensemaker from The Observer - one story every day to make sense of the world.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 journalistsIf you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact hello@tortoisemedia.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The judges had to decide what the words ‘man’, ‘woman’ and ‘sex’ meant in the Equality Act. They decided that they referred to biological sex. It will have an effect on how trans people access services and single-sex spaces.Writer: Jess SwinburneProducer: Katie GunningPhotography: Joe MeeExecutive Producer: Rebecca MooreThe Sensemaker from The Observer - one story every day to make sense of the world.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 journalistsIf you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact hello@tortoisemedia.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since December 2024, a run of scientific papers has illustrated AI’s capacity for deception. Deep learning pioneer Yoshua Bengio says the consequences could be existential.Writer: Patricia ClarkeProducer: Ada BaruméHost: Tomini BabsPhotography: Joe MeeExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

North Korean soldiers are fighting and dying in combat in Ukraine. Ukrainian intelligence estimates about 60% of the shells fired by the Russian army were provided by North Korea. What does it say about Vladimir Putin that he had to turn to Kim Jong Un for help?Writer: Matt Russell with additional reporting by Nina Kuryata and Claudia Williams.Producer: Rebecca MooreHost: Tomini BabsPhotography: Joe MeeExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Young adults are swapping nightclubs for run clubs. The number of 20-29 year olds registering for the London marathon is up  86 per cent in the past three years.Writer: Andrew ButlerProducer: Serena CesareoHost: Tomini BabsEpisode photography: Alex JonesExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For many Catholics Pope Francis will be remembered as a man determined to overthrow tradition, challenge privilege and speak up for those who were not heard. But he became head of the Catholic church at a time when the institution was plagued by widespread accusations of sexual abuse. For the victims of catholic priests, did he deliver justice?  Writer: Stephen Armstrong Producer: Matt Russell Host: Tomini Babs Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The world’s richest university is mounting the first serious fightback against the Trump administration. Who will blink first?  Writer: Stephen Armstrong Producer: Casey Magloire Host: Casey Magloire Episode photography: Alex Jones Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.