

Sensemaker
The Observer
The Sensemaker from The Observer - one story every day to make sense of the world.Subscribe to The Observer today and get access to: Our podcasts before anyone else A daily edition, curated by our editors 7 days a week Puzzles from the inventors of the cryptic crossword Recipes for every occasionFree tickets to join Observer events in our newsroom or onlineClick here to subscribe today for just £1 for your first month. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 23, 2025 • 9min
The Prince, the press, and the payout
Yesterday Prince Harry settled his long-running legal battle with Rupert Murdoch’s newspaper group. It’s being hailed as a victory for the royal, but who has actually won?To find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf 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.

Jan 22, 2025 • 9min
Should England’s cricketers boycott Afghanistan?
The England men’s cricket team faces calls to boycott an upcoming match against Afghanistan in protest of the Taliban’s oppressive policies, particularly their human rights abuses against women and girls. But should athletes be forced to take a stand?Writers: Phoebe Davis and Andrew ButlerProducer: Casey MagloirePhotography: Joe MeeHost: Tomini Babs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 21, 2025 • 10min
The second age of Trump
Donald Trump is sworn in for his second term as President of the United States. What did his Inauguration Address tell us about the direction he is setting for America and the world – from immigration and climate change to the future of Ukraine?Writer: David TaylorProducer: Rebecca MooreHost: Tomini Babs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 20, 2025 • 8min
Inside the fight to shut down an AI-powered “nudify” network
This month, the UK government vowed to crack down on explicit AI deepfakes by going after the people who create them. But the story of a popular “nudify” app highlights why tackling the issue is so challenging.Writer: Patricia ClarkeProducer: Patricia ClarkePhotography: Joe MeeExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 17, 2025 • 9min
A prospect of peace between Israel and Hamas
After 15 months of conflict, could this week’s ceasefire deal mark the beginning of the end of one of the deadliest wars in modern history?Writers: Lilly Cheslaw and Rebecca Moore.Producer: Katie Gunning. Photographer: Joe Mee. Executive producer: Jasper Corbett. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 16, 2025 • 6min
How windfarms unwittingly cause chaos to the UK’s air defences
Offshore windfarms are powerful generators of clean energy and are a key part of Labour’s green energy pledge. But these colossal turbines can blind the UK’s defence systems. What does this mean, and what can be done about it?This episode was written by Elaine McCallig Mixed by Casey Magloire.Photography by Jon Jones. Executive producer is Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 15, 2025 • 8min
TikTok’s fate: the countdown to a US ban
The ongoing legal battle over TikTok’s future could see the app banned from Sunday. As political and legal pressures mount, TikTok's 170 million American users are left wondering if their beloved platform will survive.To find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf 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.

Jan 14, 2025 • 8min
Mark Zuckerberg bows to Donald Trump
Silicon Valley is changing. Big tech executives are looking at another term under Donald Trump and deciding its time for a shake-up. It’s out with the old and in with the new. Writer: Barney MacintyreProducer: Patricia ClarkePhotography: Jon JonesExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 13, 2025 • 8min
How Pokémon Go Powers AI
Niantic, the company behind the game that took the world by storm in 2016, is building a massive geospatial AI model that could end up powering robots – all using player data. The company behind the wildly popular augmented reality game has been quietly helping to train a massive AI model by collecting user data to build a detailed 3D map of the world. While this geospatial model could power innovations like Augmented Reality glasses, there are concerns about privacy and potential uses for military applications.Writer and Producer: Patricia ClarkePhotography: Jon JonesExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 10, 2025 • 6min
Why rising borrowing costs spell trouble for Rachel Reeves
What are bond yields and why does their rise risk derailing the Labour government’s plans for the UK?To find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf 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.


