Sensemaker

China has started construction of what will become the world’s largest hydropower dam in Tibetan territory. Writer: Jonathan LewisProducer: Poppy BullardHost: Andrew ButlerEpisode photography: Joe MeeExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Resident doctors make up about half of all NHS doctors so NHS leaders are anxious about how the service will cope.Host: Casey MagloireWriter & Producer: Amalie SortlandEpisode Photography: Joe MeeExecutive producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Tuesday the government passed a bill which it’s calling the biggest overhaul of workers’ rights in decades.Writer: Poppy Bullard with additional reporting from Ada Barume Producer: Poppy BullardHost: Ada BarumeEpisode photography: Joe MeeExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yesterday the US military carried out strikes against three boats in the Pacific, which it claims were engaged in drug trafficking.Host: Casey MagloireWriter & Producer: Amalie SortlandEpisode Photography: Michael WhitakerExecutive producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At least 15 people have been killed after two men opened fire on a crowd gathered for Chanukah celebrations, near Bondi Beach in Australia.Writer: Poppy BullardProducer: Casey MagloireHost: Casey MagloireEpisode photography: Joe MeeExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Once Hollywood’s best-paid actor, Johnny Depp was cast out as a #MeToo villain, now he’s making his comeback.Listen to Alexi Mostrous' Who Trolled Amber series here: https://observer.co.uk/listen/who-trolled-amberHost: Casey MagloireWriter & Producer: Amalie SortlandEpisode Photography: Joe MeeExecutive producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week the Health Secretary announced a review into the rising rates of ADHD and Autism, as well as other mental health conditions. Writer: Poppy BullardProducer: Poppy BullardHost: Ada BarumeEpisode photography: Joe MeeExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Netflix and Paramount are in a bidding war to buy Warner Bros. What would they be buying and what might that mean for the entertainment industry? Writer: Jess SwinburneProducer: Amalie Sortland Photography: Joe MeeExecutive Producer: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As of yesterday, millions of Australian children under the age of 16 are now banned from using the social media platforms including X, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.Reporter: Patricia ClarkeWriter: Poppy BullardProducer: Poppy BullardHost: Casey MagloireEpisode photography: Joe MeeExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the Ukrainian President meets European leaders, Russia has ramped up its attacks on major infrastructure, and last week it claimed it had captured the key strategic city of Pokrovsk. Writer: Poppy BullardProducer: Poppy BullardHost: Ada Barume Episode photography: Sofia FentonExecutive Producer: Matt Russell  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vantara claims to house more than 150,000 animals - that’s 15 times the size of London Zoo.Writer: Jonathan LewisProducer: Poppy BullardHost: Casey MagloireEpisode photography: Sofia FentonExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bad Bunny, Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish are still dominating streams globally, but what about smaller artists? Writer: Casey MagloireProducer: Casey MagloireHost: Casey Magloire Episode photography: Joe MeeExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Observer’s data team has found that the United Arab Emirates  is vying to position itself as a key player in the industry, by looking towards the developing world. Reporter: Hannah SchullerWriter: Poppy BullardProducer: Poppy BullardHost: Ada BarumeEpisode photography: Sofia Fenton Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Justice Secretary David Lammy wants to introduce reforms to the justice system as part of a wider plan to tackle unprecedented delays in the court system. Host: Ada BaruméWriter: Poppy BullardProducer: Amalie SortlandEpisode photography: Joe MeeExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A recent survey by the Key Cities group found that 60% of their member councils - which include places like Bath, Hull and Medway in Kent - were planning on selling off things like shopping arcades and social clubs to pay for the rising costs of social care.Host: Ada BarumeWriter: Becky Pinnington and Poppy BullardProducer: Madeleine ParrEpisode photography: Joe MeeExecutive producer: Matt Russell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

TikTok may glamorise the FIFO lifestyle in the outback, but what happens when the reality doesn’t quite match?Host: Tomini BabsWriter: Casey MagloireProducer: Amalie Sortland Reporter: Niamh Rowe Episode photography: Joe MeeExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The army is recruiting gamers to fly drones, raising questions about whether war is becoming more like a game.Host: Casey MagloireWriter & Producer: Amalie SortlandEpisode Photography: Sofia Fenton Executive producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the budget Chancellor Rachel Reeves outlined a series of measures aimed at bringing living costs down. But each of those measures must be paid for by taxes elsewhere. Writer: Poppy BullardProducer: Poppy BullardHost: Ada BarumeEpisode photography: Joe MeeExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the weeks since the ceasefire was agreed, more than 300 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, and more than 600 injured, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Host: Ada BaruméWriter: Poppy BullardProducer: Amalie SortlandEpisode photography: Joe MeeExecutive Producer: Matt Russell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This weekend, European leaders were scrambling to prevent US President Donald Trump from forcing Ukraine to sign a peace deal widely viewed as favourable to Russia.Host: Casey Magloire Writer & Producer: Amalie SortlandEpisode Photography: Sofia FentonExecutive producer: Matt Russell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 Last week, a major report from the independent inquiry into the government’s handling of the Coronavirus pandemic was published. Writer: Poppy BullardProducer: Poppy Bullard Host: Casey MagloireEpisode photography: Joe MeeExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael Jackson has become the first artist to achieve a top 10 hit single in six different decades, right as the trailer for his new biopic has been released. How do fans of the star reconcile the allegations when interacting with his work?’To listen to Liv and Miranda on We Have Notes visit: lnk.to/wehavenotesWriter: Casey MagloireProducer: Casey MagloireHost: Casey MagloireEpisode photography: Joe MeeExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As COP30 wraps up in Brazil, climate change experts warn that not only have we missed the 1.5 degree target for global average temperature increase, but we are now on a path to 2.6 degrees.Writer: Casey MagloireProducer: Poppy BullardHost: Tomini BabsEpisode photography: Joe MeeExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Qian Zhimin has been dubbed the cryptoqueen after UK Police discovered she had approximately £5 billion of stolen investments. But how was she caught? Host: Ada BaruméWriter: Casey MagloireProducer: Amalie Sortland Reporters: Poppy Sebag-Montefiore and Phoebe Davis Episode photography: Joe MeeExecutive Producer: Matt Russell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Sunday, America announced that it had moved the world’s biggest aircraft carrier within striking distance of Venezuela. Its addition to an already sizable fleet marks the biggest US military build up in the Caribbean since the Cold War.Writer: Jonathan LewisProducer: Jonathan LewisHost: Ada BaruméEpisode photography: Sofia FentonExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nicotine pouches are flying off the shelves across the UK – and increasingly, it’s teenagers buying them.Host: Tomini BabsWriter & Producer: Amalie SortlandEpisode Photography: Sofia FentonExecutive producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marjorie Taylor Greene, the ultra-Trumpian Republican congresswoman from Georgia, is one of the four Republican dissenters who support the full release of the Epstein files.Listen to Alexi Mostrous discuss the Epstein emails in more detail on The News Meeting podcast.Host: Tomini BabsWriter & Producer: Amalie SortlandEpisode Photography: Sofia FentonExecutive producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trump’s lawyers demanded that the BBC apologise for an edited clip of him in a Panorama documentary or face a $1 billion lawsuit.Writer: Poppy BullardProducer: Poppy BullardHost: Ada Barume  Episode photography: Sofia FentonExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Young people are moving on from online influencer Andrew Tate.Host: Ada BaruméWriter & Producer: Amalie SortlandEpisode Photography: Joe MeeExecutive producer: Matt Russell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The government has criminalised the depiction of choking and suffocation in online porn.Writer: Poppy BullardProducer: Poppy BullardHost: Casey MagloireEpisode photography: Sophia FentonExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Trump wants America to resume nuclear testing for the first time in 33 years. President Vladimir Putin hinted Russia might follow suit.Host: Tomini BabsWriter & Producer: Amalie SortlandEpisode Photography: Sofia FentonExecutive producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The renters rights act is the most momentous change to housing law since the 1980's, but what will it mean for the UK's 11 million renters? Writer: Ada BaruméProducer: Ada BaruméHost: Casey Magloire Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The young, charismatic socialist has swept to victory in the New York Mayoral election.Writer: Poppy BullardProducer: Amalie SortlandHost: Tomini BabsEpisode photography: Joe MeeExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Chancellor Rachel Reeves gave an unexpected and unprecedented speech just three weeks before the government’s annual Budget.Writer: Poppy BullardReporter: Rachel SylvesterProducer: Poppy BullardHost: Casey MagloireEpisode photography: Joe MeeExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2026, the UK government will decide whether to end terrestrial TV.Host: Katie GunningWriter: Stephen ArmstrongProducer: Amalie SortlandEpisode Photography: Joe MeeExecutive producer: Matt Russell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

OpenAI launched Sora and Meta released Vibes - apps that turn text prompts into videos, inspiring creations from Ronald McDonald on Love Island to a skydiving dog.Writer: Poppy BullardReporter: Bex SanderHost: Casey MagloireEpisode photography: Michael WhitakerExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Sunday rebel forces in Sudan captured the key city of el-Fasher. Reports suggest that tens of thousands of people were killed in a matter of days.Writer: Fred Harter.Producer: Casey MagloireHost: Tomini BabsEpisode photography: Joe MeeExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The exceptional Category 5 hurricane that struck Jamaica was made four times more likely by human-induced climate change.Host: Ada BarumeWriter: Jeevan Vasagar Producer: Amalie SortlandEpisode Photography: Sophia FentonExecutive producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

US President Donald Trump’s peace plan says Gaza will be for the Gazans, but a few miles from the strip’s border, a small number of Israeli settlers are waiting to move in. Writer: Poppy BullardProducer: Poppy BullardHost: Ada Barume Episode photography: Sofia FentonExecutive Producer: Matt Russell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) make up more than half of all the food we eat in the UK and there are increasing fears about the implications for our health. Host: Ada BaruméWriter & Producer: Amalie SortlandEpisode Photography: Sofia FentonExecutive producer: Katie Gunning Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Donald Trump tried to buy Greenland, he forced Denmark to tackle longstanding grievances. Reporter: Isabel Coles Writer: Casey MagloireProducer: Amalie SortlandHost: Casey MagloireEpisode photography: Joe MeeExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In one of the most audacious art crimes in history, masked thieves raided the Louvre and escaped with France’s crown jewels.Host: Casey MagloireWriter & Producer: 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.

London has earned a reputation as Europe’s phone theft capital. A record 80,000 phones were stolen last year. Yet data shows a twist – while devices are at risk, people themselves are safer than they’ve been in decades.Host: Casey MagloireWriter & Producer: Amalie SortlandEpisode Photography: Joe MeeExecutive producer: Katie Gunning 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.

From Madagascar to Nepal, young people are leading protest movements that are shaking the foundations of power. What’s fuelling this global wave of unrest – and can it lead to lasting change?Writer: Jonathan LewisProducer: Poppy BullardHost: Andrew ButlerEpisode photography: Sofia FentonExecutive Producer: Matt Russell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week, Prince Andrew announced he will no longer use his title or honours. But why has the prince lost his titles now?Writer: Madeleine ParrProducer: Madeleine ParrHost: Casey MagloireEpisode photography: Sofia FentonExecutive Producer: Matt Russell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump has threatened to move football World Cup games from liberal US cities. Could his friendship with FIFA’s President Gianni Infantino make it happen?Writer: Poppy Bullard and Jessy Parker Humphreys Producer: Poppy BullardHost: Tomini BabsEpisode photography: Sofia FentonExecutive Producer: Matt Russell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Soon after winning 10 councils, Reform UK set up a Trump-inspired DOGE department that would cut unnecessary spending.Host: Tomini BabsWriter: Poppy Bullard with reporting from Jon Ungoed-ThomasProducer: 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.

Last week, President Trump hosted a roundtable with conservative influencers - but notably absent were manosphere podcasters Joe Rogan and Theo Von.Writer: Ada BarumeProducer: Amalie SortlandHost: Casey MagloireTo 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.

In the past five years, more than 800 late night venues have shut their doors. At this rate there are warnings that there could be no nightclubs left by 2029. If you want to listen to more about the struggles facing UK nightlife, listen to The Observer’s podcast We Have Notes HERE.Writer: Serena CesareoProducer: Serena CesareoHost: Ada BaruméExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The current ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas is phase one of the peace deal: a downing of arms to allow the exchange of prisoners and hostages in a set timeframe. But phase two of the plan remains vague. Writer: Poppy BullardProducer: Poppy BullardHost: Casey MagloreEpisode photography: Sofia FentonExecutive Producer: Matt Russell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.