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Sensemaker

The Observerobserver.co.uk

The Sensemaker from The Observer - one story every day to make sense of the world.


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Episodes

Ep 123: Canada's terrible secret

Thousands of unmarked graves have been found in Canada at former residential schools for children from indigenous families. The true scale of the scandal is still emerging. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 05, 20217 minEp. 123

Ep 122: A bitter by-election

Labour won this week's by-election after a very hard-fought campaign. And the party wasn't only fighting its opponents. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 03, 20216 minEp. 122

Ep 121: Why Bill Cosby was freed

Comedian Bill Cosby was jailed for sexual assault - one of the highest-profile stars held to account after the #MeToo movement. So why has he just walked free? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 01, 20216 minEp. 121

Ep 120: China's rap patriots

China's ruling party are about to celebrate their 100-year anniversary. But their new anthem isn't quite what you'd expect... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 30, 20216 min

Ep 119: A political affair

Matt Hancock's resignation as Health Secretary has triggered a bout of political infighting. Who's going to win? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 29, 20217 minEp. 119

Ep 118: The paranoid pioneer

John McAfee invented anti-virus software and made millions. Last week he took his own life in a Spanish jail, convinced that politicians and the FBI were out to get him. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 28, 20215 minEp. 118

Ep 117: Britney's back

Britney Spears's speech to a court about the conservatorship that runs her life has made headlines. But it's also raised an important question: who gets to decide if you can have a child? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 25, 20215 min

Ep 116: Drama in the DUP

In just 2 months, Northern Ireland's DUP has toppled a leader, elected a new one, forced him to resign... and elected another new one. Huh? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 24, 20217 min

Ep 115: A moment of pride in the NFL

No professional American footballer has ever come out as gay while he was still playing. That changed this week thanks to Carl Nassib. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 23, 20215 minEp. 115

Ep 114: Blame the burrito

The American track star Shelby Houlihan has lost her place at the Olympics after testing positive for a steroid. She blamed a Mexican takeaway. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 22, 20215 minEp. 114

Ep 113: China's racy but radical tabloid

How a salacious newspaper – full of gossip and dramatic crime stories – is getting the Chinese authorities really worried. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 21, 20218 min

Ep 111: Murder and corruption

A 34-old unsolved murder has led to the Metropolitan Police being labelled 'institutionally corrupt'. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 17, 20217 minEp. 111

Ep 110: Israel's Houdini

Has Israel's longest-standing prime minister run out of road? Or does he have another trick up his sleeve? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 16, 20216 min

Ep 109: Football's duty of care

After Christian Eriksen collapsed on the football pitch, it was left to the players to decide whether to carry on with the match. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 15, 20216 minEp. 109

Ep 108: When a billion isn't enough

The world's richest countries have promised a billion vaccine doses to poorer nations. It sounds a lot. Is it? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 14, 20216 minEp. 108

Ep 107: A big, blocked pipe

The Keystone XL oil pipeline was supposed to run all the way from Canada to Texas. But it looks like it's not going ahead. Is it time for climate campaigners to celebrate? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 11, 20217 minEp. 107

Ep 106: The app that trapped criminals

A mobile phone app and an Aussie crime boss gave the FBI one of their biggest breakthroughs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 10, 20217 minEp. 106

Ep 105: Not quite a miracle

A new drug has been hailed as a breakthrough treatment for Alzheimer's. So why are so many people worried about it? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 09, 20217 minEp. 105

Ep 104: A crypto carnival

What a Miami convention hall packed with 12,000 Bitcoin enthusiasts tells us about the cult of crypto. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 08, 20216 min

Ep 103: Waiting at the bar

British pubs and restaurants have reopened after a long lockdown. But can they find anyone to serve us? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 07, 20215 minEp. 103

Ep 102: Bad marks for the Covid recovery plan

Boris Johnson's government announced its plans to help school children catch up on what they've missed because of Covid. It went straight to the back of the class. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 04, 20217 minEp. 102

Ep 101: The risk of reopening

The last Covid restrictions in England are supposed to be lifted in about three weeks. Is it safe to lift them? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 03, 20219 minEp. 101

Ep 100: Naomi Osaka serves up a challenge to tennis

The argument between tennis star Naomi Osaka and the tennis authorities is about much more than post-match press conferences Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 02, 20218 minEp. 100

Ep 99: Fever pitch

How one country may have tried to buy their way to a win at the Eurovision song contest... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 01, 20216 min

Ep 98: A political assassination attempt

Dominic Cummings, Boris Johnson's old adviser, tried to finish off the health secretary's career this week. Will he succeed? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 28, 20219 minEp. 98

Ep 97: A coma, a car crash and a president

Syria's president is about to 'win' another election. He became president almost accidentally, but he seems to be in power for life Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 27, 20216 minEp. 97

Ep 96: Ready, steady...stop? The Tokyo Olypmics

The Tokyo Olympic Games are supposed to start in July. They've already been postponed from last year because of Covid. Could it happen again? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 26, 20218 minEp. 96

Ep 95: Belarusian roulette

The dictator who rules Belarus wanted to get his hands on an opponent - enough to force down a plane he was travelling on Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 25, 20217 minEp. 95

Ep 94: The teenager who filmed George Floyd

Darnella Frazier was just 17 and on her way to the shop when she stumbled across a tragedy: the murder of George Floyd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 24, 20217 minEp. 94
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