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PODCAST

Sensemaker

The 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 websiteobserver.co.ukDownload 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 contacthello@tortoisemedia.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for

news news commentary

All Episodes

10:00

Why has Israel started bombing Gaza again?

Sensemaker ·

2025/03/21

Israel has resumed heavy airstrikes on Gaza. Why has Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to break the ceasefire deal now?Writer: Lilly CheslawProducer: Serena CesareoHost: Tomini BabsExecutive Producer: Rebecca MooreSecure your privacy with Surfshark! Go tohttps://surfshark.com/sensemakerfor 4 extra months of Surfshark. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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9:31

Is the hunt for the 100ft wave over?

Sensemaker ·

2025/03/20

The 100ft wave is a big wave surfing milestone that was supposed to be impossible. Now, a young surfer from California is rumoured to have achieved it, breaking the official world record at the same time. The problem? Nobody can agree how big the wave was.Writer: Claudia Williams, with additional reporting by Ada BaruméProducer: Casey MagloireHost: Claudia WilliamsSecure your privacy with Surfshark! Go tohttps://surfshark.com/sensemakerfor 4 extra months of Surfshark. Hosted on Acast. See

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6:07

Is Labour’s welfare gamble a risk worth taking?

Sensemaker ·

2025/03/19

In Labour’s most controversial move since taking office last summer, the government this week set out plans to reform the UK’s welfare system. But will it actually achieve the joint aims of saving money and getting more people back into work?Writer: Cat NeilanProducer:Casey MagloireHost: Casey MagloireExecutive Producer: Rebecca MooreEpisode Photography: Roisín Savage Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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8:09

Can Trump really strike a peace deal in Ukraine?

Sensemaker ·

2025/03/18

President Trump’s promise to stop the war in Ukraine may be more tricky to pull off than he hoped. Ukraine has agreed to pause the fighting and sit at the negotiating table but so far there’s little sign that the Russian President is willing to even entertain a ceasefire. Is there any chance Trump can pull off this peace deal?Writer: Chloe HadjimatheouProducer: Ada BaruméHost: Claudia Williams Executive producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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7:10

Manchester United’s theatre of nightmares

Sensemaker ·

2025/03/17

Not long ago Manchester United was the biggest name in global football, now the club is having its worst season in thirty years and one of its owners claimed it nearly went bust towards the end of last year. How did things get so bad and is it recoverable?Writer: Jasper CorbetProducer: Matt RussellHost: Claudia WilliamsEpisode photography: Roisin Savage Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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6:02

Syrian deal gives peace a chance

Sensemaker ·

2025/03/14

Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa, will be hoping his new deal with Kurdish forces, which control an oil rich region in the northeast, will send a message that his government represents all Syrians. Will the agreement steer the country away from civil war?Writer: Chloe HadjimatheouProducer: Ada BaruméHost: Tomini BabsExecutive producer: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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8:39

Andrew Tate lands in Trump’s America

Sensemaker ·

2025/03/13

The Tate brothers left Romania for the US despite facing serious criminal charges. What does this mean for the women bringing cases against the brothers?Secure your privacy with Surfshark! Go to https://surfshark.com/sensemaker for 4 extra months of Surfshark.Writer: Phoebe DavisProducer: Casey MagloireHost: Tomini BabsEpisode photography:Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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6:31

Why is Romantasy so popular?

Sensemaker ·

2025/03/12

More and more people are obsessed with books about love stories set in fantasy worlds. What's the appeal?Writer: Aleena AugustineProducer: Xavier GreenwoodHost: Tomini BabsEpisode photography:Roisín SavageExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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7:36

What are the consequences of Trump’s foreign aid cuts?

Sensemaker ·

2025/03/11

Donald Trump froze most of America’s foreign aid funding and is dismantling the US Agency for International Development. How is this affecting the millions of people who rely on USAID to survive?Writer: Serena CesareoProducer: Serena CesareoHost: Tomini BabsExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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6:59

Can Trump fix America’s eggflation?

Sensemaker ·

2025/03/10

The price of eggs has skyrocketed. While Trump made them a central issue during his campaign, the problem runs deeper than inflation. Why could eggs spark a political crisis for the president?Writer: Phoebe DavisProducer: Gary MarshallHost: Claudia WilliamsEpisode photography: Roisín SavageExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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7:32

Musk, Trump, and the secretive government overhaul

Sensemaker ·

2025/03/07

Elon Musk has called the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, which he runs, “maximally transparent”. But it’s taking entire teams of reporters to piece together what is really happening inside The White House.Writer: Patricia ClarkeProducer: Patricia ClarkeHost: Tomini BabsEpisode photography: Roisín SavageExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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7:29

The ceasefire deadlock: What comes next for Israel...

Sensemaker ·

2025/03/06

The fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has expired, and hopes for a second phase are fading fast. With hostages still held in Gaza and political tensions rising in Israel, is renewed war now inevitable?To listen to Chloe Hadjimatheou on The News Meeting click here: lnk.to/2JnIOkWriter: Xavier Greenwood with additional reporting from Lilly Cheslaw.Producer: Casey MagloireHost: Casey MagloirePhotography: Roisin SavageExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for

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8:43

Ukrainian fears following the Trump-Zelensky clash

Sensemaker ·

2025/03/05

Donald Trump’s explosive press conference with Volodymyr Zelensky didn’t just strain US-Ukraine relations, it upended the established post-WWII world order.Writer: Phoebe DavisAdditional reporting: Cecily AtkinsonProducer: Ada BaruméHost: Tomini BabsEpisode photography: Roisín SavageExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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8:00

Is the music industry ready for AI?

Sensemaker ·

2025/03/04

More than 1,000 musicians have released a silent album in protest against new UK government proposals to change copyright law. Will the silence be too deafening for the government to ignore?Writer: Jess SwinburneProducer: Katie GunningExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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8:44

How Nasa is tracking the “city-killer” asteroid

Sensemaker ·

2025/03/03

The risk of a large asteroid hitting Earth in 2032 has dropped to nearly zero – but it could still hit the moon. Nasa’s Acting Planetary Defense Officer explains how her team is assessing the risk.Reporter: Patricia ClarkeProducer: Patricia ClarkeHost: Claudia WilliamsExecutive Producer: Rebecca MoorePhotography: Joe Mee Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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8:10

Is Anora the most radical film at this year’s Oscars?

Sensemaker ·

2025/02/28

This year’s Oscars are more political than ever, with Anora being the critics’ favorite for Best Picture. But could its portrayal of sex work signal a real shift in Hollywood’s attitude, or is it just another fleeting moment?Writer: Stephen ArmstrongProducer: Ada BaruméHost: Tomini BabsEpisode photography: Joe MeeExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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8:19

Trump’s purge of the military

Sensemaker ·

2025/02/27

In a massive shake-up of the US armed forces, the Trump administration has fired the country’s most senior military officer, the admiral leading the navy and several other senior figures. Why? And what does that mean for the world’s most powerful military?Writer: Jasper CorbettProducer: Xavier GreenwoodHost: Casey MagloireExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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7:51

Is the rise of Germany’s far-right a wake-up call for...

Sensemaker ·

2025/02/26

Germany’s far-right party, Alternative für Deutschland, secured second place in the weekend’s election, doubling its previous vote share. With concerns that the long-standing “firewall” against the AfD is weakening, can incoming Chancellor Friedrich Merz navigate domestic and global challenges to stop its rise?Writer: Cat NeilanProducer: Casey MagloireHost: Claudia WilliamsExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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8:38

Is Trump trading peace for Ukraine’s minerals?

Sensemaker ·

2025/02/25

Ukraine’s rare earth minerals have become a bargaining chip in high-stakes negotiations with the US. As President Trump pushes for access to half of Ukraine’s deposits, we explore what’s at stake—and why Kyiv is under pressure to strike a deal.Writer and producer: Katie GunningArt work: Joe MeeExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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8:32

How are M23 rebels and mineral smuggling driving...

Sensemaker ·

2025/02/24

The rebel group, M23 have taken control of a second city in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. What do they want? And is there anything that can be done to bring peace to a country after three decades of conflict?Writer: Ada BaruméProducer: Ada BaruméHost: Tomini BabsExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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1,232 results

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