There are council elections in England and votes for the Welsh Senned and Scottish Parliament today. What could the results mean for Keir Starmer, Labour and for the future of politics in the UK? Where did the mysterious hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship come from, and what happens next? And has there been a coverup of Britain’s nuclear weapons testing programme in Australia and the Pacific during the 1950s? Jeevan Vasagar is joined by The Observer’s Jon Ungoed-Thomas, Poppy Bullard and Jess ...
May 07, 2026•28 min•Ep. 708
In the wake of the terror attacks in Golders Green, what can Britain do to stop antisemitic violence? With a historic marathon record broken, how did Sabastian Sawe achieve his sub 2-hour time? And as the May elections approach, exactly how bad are Labour's prospects? Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer’s Jeevan Vasagar, Jess Hayden and Andrew Rawnsley as they battle it out and pitch the top stories of the day. Live at the Royal Academy! **We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsme...
May 01, 2026•44 min•Season 1Ep. 707
What do the latest revelations about Peter Mandelson’s appointment tell us about Keir Starmer’s leadership? What are the long term implications of Iran and the US blocking the Strait of Hormuz? And is climate change’s impact on pollen the source of our hay fever problems? Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer reporter James Tapper, producer and reporter Poppy Bullard and sports reporter Jessy Parker Humphreys, to decide the top story of the day. **We want to hear what you think! Email us at: ...
Apr 23, 2026•33 min•Ep. 706
Pope Leo has publicly criticised President Trump’s actions in Iran, but what does this mean for the Christian MAGA followers caught in the middle? Is the UK government divided over defence spending? And how consequential is the end of Victor Orban’s grip on Hungary, following his sweeping election defeat? Jeevan Vasagar is joined by The Observer’s Cat Neilan, John Simpson and Stephen Armstrong as they battle it out and pitch the top stories of the day. **We want to hear what you think! Email us ...
Apr 16, 2026•26 min•Ep. 705
Why does the Artemis II mission around the moon matter? Are concerns around Anthropic’s new AI model Mythos justified? And who has the upper hand in the ceasefire agreement between the US-Israel and Iran? Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer’s technology reporter, Patricia Clarke, reporter Phoebe Davis and Deputy Comment Editor, Erica Wagner, to decide the top story of the day. **We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk Follow us on Social Media: @ObserverUK on...
Apr 09, 2026•32 min•Ep. 704
What can NASA's latest rocket launch teach us about our bodies? Is shared house ownership worth it? And what does the return of Kanye West tell us about our relationship with musicians? Jeevan Vasagar is joined by Jessica Hayden, The Observer’s assistant sports editor; Ada Barumé, producer; and Phoebe Davis, reporter, to see who can pitch the top story of the day. **We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk Follow us on Social Media: @ObserverUK on X @theobserveruk ...
Apr 02, 2026•32 min•Ep. 703
What does AI chatbots have to do with violence against women and girls? Why have Meta and Google been found liable for social media addiction? And could Nigel Farage's visit to Ipswich Town's Portman Road be the start of Reform’s relationship with football? Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer’s technology reporter, Patricia Clarke, deputy sports editor, Andrew Butler, and data reporter, Hannah Schuller, to see who can pitch the top story of the day. **We want to hear what you think! Email u...
Mar 27, 2026•35 min•Ep. 702
Why did President Donald Trump postpone his deadline to strike Iranian power plants? How is the Iran war impacting the cost of living in the UK? And is there a pattern to anti-semitic attacks in the UK? To battle out who can pitch the story that should lead the news, Jasper Corbett is joined by The Observer reporter Stephen Armstrong, producer Ada Barumé and Head of Data and Graphics, Katie Riley. Come along to the next The News Meeting LIVE, right in our newsroom, this Thursday at 6:30 pm! Get ...
Mar 23, 2026•29 min•Ep. 701
Why has a recent blackout in Cuba sparked questions about a potential conflict with the US? How concerned should we be about the spread of meningitis? And why did Kenya introduce menstrual leave for workers? Jeevan Vasagar is joined by The Observer’s Evan Moffit, Elaine McCallig and James Tapper as they battle it out and pitch the top stories of the day. **We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk Follow us on Social Media: @ObserverUK on X @theobserveruk on Instagr...
Mar 19, 2026•20 min•Ep. 700
Why is President Donald Trump asking NATO for help in the Iran war? What’s going to happen with the hundreds of thousands who are displaced in Lebanon? And what is the Labour government going to do about the nearly one million young people who are out of work? To battle out who can pitch the story that should lead the news, Jasper Corbett is joined by The Observer reporters Stephen Armstrong, Hannah Schuller and Bex Sander. **We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.u...
Mar 16, 2026•28 min•Ep. 699
How did a British man end up being charged for allegedly filming Iranian missiles in Dubai? A tranche of new files raise questions about what the Labour government knew about Peter Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein before appointing him UK ambassador to the US. What could the files mean for Keir Starmer’s future as Prime Minister? And why is the Edinburgh International Festival facing backlash? To battle out who can pitch the story that should lead the news, Giles Whittell is joined ...
Mar 12, 2026•34 min•Ep. 698
How and why is the war in Iran impacting oil prices? What do we know about the new supreme leader of Iran? And how damaging will Keir Starmer's fracturing relationship with President Donald Trump prove to be? To battle out who can pitch the story that should lead the news, Jasper Corbett is joined by The Observer reporters Poppy Bullard, Stephen Armstrong and Serena Cesareo. Listen to ‘Stephen Miller’s America’ episode on the Slow Newscast HERE . **We want to hear what you think! Email us at: ne...
Mar 09, 2026•27 min•Ep. 697
Why has the Home Secretary banned student visa applications for people from Sudan, Afghanistan, Myanmar and Cameroon? How will the recent conflict between the US and Iran impact the Men’s Football World Cup? How are senior members of the US army using religious language to bolster support for the conflict with Iran? Jasper Corbett is joined by The Observer’s Andrew Butler, Erica Wagner and Hannah Schuller, as they battle it out to see who can pitch the story that should lead the news. **We want ...
Mar 05, 2026•31 min•Ep. 696
In this episode we discuss the US and Israeli strikes on Iran over the weekend. How did the situation unfold and what are the wider ramifications for the region? Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer’s International Editor Steve Bloomfield, Narrative Editor Chloe Hadjimatheou and Middle East expert and author Jotam Confino. Subscribe to our newsletters HERE for a wide array of digital stories and columns straight from The Observer newsroom. Listen to Chloe Hadjimatheou’s Slow Newscast documen...
Mar 02, 2026•27 min•Ep. 695
Politicians broke away from tradition and discussed Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor in Parliament this week - does this signal the end of deference? The number of people living in asylum hotels has dropped, but what’s behind this trend? Popular influencer Clavicular is the face of a growing community of looksmaxxers who are taking over the internet. What is looksmaxxing and why is it so popular? To battle out who can pitch the story that should lead the news, Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer’...
Feb 27, 2026•29 min•Ep. 694
What does a bomb explosion in the Ukrainian city of Lviv tell us about where Russia’s war in Ukraine might be going? How will the UK be affected by President Donald Trump’s new 15% global tariff? And what might be behind the killing of El Mencho, the most-wanted cartel boss in Mexico? Jasper Corbett is joined by The Observer’s Poppy Bullard, Elaine McCallig and Bex Sander as they battle it out to see who can pitch the story that should lead the news. Please come and see us this Thursday, the 26t...
Feb 23, 2026•30 min•Ep. 693
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew the Duke of York, has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. In this episode, Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer’s Political Editor Rachel Sylvester, Home Affairs Editor John Simpson and Professor of the History of Monarchy at City, University of London, Anna Whitelock. They discuss the details of the arrest, possible fallout and impact on the Monarchy. Join us at the next The News Meeting Live on Thursday, the 26th of ...
Feb 19, 2026•22 min•Ep. 692
Why are Britain and its European allies backing the conclusion that the Kremlin poisoned Alexei Navalny? What’s driving a growing measles outbreak in London? And why is the UK’s top military official framing rearmament as a moral necessity? Jasper Corbett is joined by The Observer’s Hannah Schuller, Phoebe Davis and Francisco Garcia as they battle it out to see who can pitch the story that should lead the news. Please come and see us at the next The News Meeting Live on Thursday, the 26th of Feb...
Feb 16, 2026•31 min•Ep. 691
Should the government consider implementing a graduate tax to make the tuition repayment system fairer? What did Jim Ratcliffe get wrong about immigration in the UK? And do we need to get serious about carbon capturing? Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer’s Andrew Butler, Ada Barumé and James Tapper as they battle it out to see who can pitch the story that should lead the news. Join us at the next The News Meeting Live on Thursday, the 26th of February: https://observer.co.uk/our-events/the...
Feb 12, 2026•31 min•Ep. 690
Two senior aides to Keir Starmer have resigned. What does this tell us about where his leadership is heading? What do mass layoffs at The Washington Post mean for journalism? And why did Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl half-time show so irked Donald Trump? Jasper Corbett is joined by The Observer’s Whitehall Editor Cat Neilan, producer Casey Magloire and Digital Production Editor Elaine McCallig to battle out who can pitch the story that should lead the news. Please come and see us at the next The News M...
Feb 09, 2026•33 min•Ep. 689
Keir Starmer has apologised for appointing Peter Mandelson to his cabinet, but will that be enough to keep him in Downing Street? With an internet blackout impacting the flow of information out of Iran, how can journalists report on the ongoing atrocities? And as soldiers in Ukraine face an unrelenting winter, is a turning point in the conflict around the corner? Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer reporters Serena Cesareo and Jon Ungoed Thomas, and International Editor Steve Bloomfield to ...
Feb 05, 2026•31 min•Ep. 688
What does the reopening of the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza mean for the next phase of Donald Trump’s ceasefire plan? What backlash might Keir Starmer face from new details surrounding Lord Peter Mandelson’s relationship to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein? And what are the effects of new age verification requirements on Pornhub? Jasper Corbett is joined by The Observer reporters Serena Cesareo and Bex Sander, and Whitehall Editor Cat Neilan to battle out who can pitch the story that...
Feb 02, 2026•36 min•Ep. 687
Are fears about microplastics overblown? Why is the assisted dying bill stuck in the house of lords? And what’s going to happen when ChatGPT rolls out its new ‘Erotica’ feature? Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer’s Patricia Clarke, Jeevan Vasagar and Jess Hayden to battle out who can pitch the story that should lead the news. **We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk Follow us on Social Media: @ObserverUK on X @theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok @theobser...
Jan 30, 2026•38 min•Ep. 686
How is the Trump administration defending the killing of Alex Pretti by federal agents? Why was Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham blocked from running as MP? And what role will Trump’s new Board of Peace play in Gaza? Jasper Corbett is joined by The Observer reporters Stephen Armstrong and Serena Cesareo, and producer Poppy Bullard to battle out who can pitch the story that should lead the news. Please come and see us at the next The News Meeting Live on Thursday, the 29th of January: https://observ...
Jan 26, 2026•34 min•Ep. 685
Does Keir Starmer need to rethink the UK’s approach to America? What does the Brooklyn Beckham bombshell tell us about the relationship between celebrities and the press? And will China put a man on Mars? Jeevan Vasagar is joined by The Observer’s Jon Ungoed Thomas, Cat Neilan and Andrew Butler, as they each try to pitch the top story of the day. Buy tickets to the next The News Meeting Live on Thursday, the 29th of January HERE **We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer...
Jan 22, 2026•28 min•Ep. 684
In this special episode looking at the first year of US President Donald Trump’s second term: What will the impacts of Trump’s cuts to USAID be? How has Trump reshaped global politics? Is Trump’s power threatened more by grassroots activism than pushback from institutions? Jeevan Vasagar is joined by The Observer’s Deputy Comment Editor, Erica Wagner, Head of Data and Graphics, Katie Riley, and Chatham House’s Senior Research Fellow for the Latin America, US and North America Programme, Chris Sa...
Jan 19, 2026•37 min•Ep. 683
What will the UK government do about xAI’s Grok? Can a 1000-year-old tapestry really help repair European diplomacy? And how does ICE use data to identify who gets deported? Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer’s Head of News, Alex O’Connell, Fronts Editor, Evan Moffitt and Data and Graphics reporter, Bex Sander. Please come and see us at the next The News Meeting Live on Thursday, the 29th of January: https://observer.co.uk/our-events/the-news-meeting-live-7 Listen to the new Tortoise Inves...
Jan 15, 2026•34 min•Ep. 682
How can we tell what’s really happening on the ground in Iran? Why are murder rates falling in London? And are ICE agents immune from legal accountability? Jasper Corbett is joined by The Observer reporters Hannah Schuller, Stephen Armstrong and Serena Cesareo to battle out who can pitch the story that should lead the news. Please come and see us at the next The News Meeting Live on Thursday, the 29th of January: https://observer.co.uk/our-events/the-news-meeting-live-7 **We want to hear what yo...
Jan 12, 2026•34 min•Ep. 681
How did the seizure of a Russian oil tanker unfold? Is President Trump’s crypto-profeteering a bigger scandal than Watergate? And with the United States turning 250, is this a time to reflect on the UK-US special relationship? Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer’s Vanessa Thorpe and James Tapper, plus special guest - the host of The Making of Musk: Understood, Jacob Silverman. Today they battle it out to see who can pitch the story that should lead the news. You can find Understood wherever...
Jan 08, 2026•31 min•Ep. 680
Will captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro get a fair trial in the US? Who is driving American foreign policy? How would Trump’s supporters view a military campaign? Jasper Corbett is joined by The Observer’s Washington Correspondent Hugh Tomlinson, Reporter Phoebe Davis, and lawyer Robert McWhirter as they give their assessment on the situation in Venezuela. **We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk Follow us on Social Media: @ObserverUK on X @theobserveruk o...
Jan 05, 2026•26 min•Ep. 679
