One story is dominating the headlines today: the rapidly unfolding situation in the Middle East. This morning, Hamas released the last 20 living hostages; in return, Israel freed over 1,700 Palestinian detainees. We're devoting the entire episode to the latest from Gaza. Rebecca Moore is joined by The Observer’s Narrative Editor Chloe Hadjimatheou and Middle East Correspondent Ruth Michaelson, to answer questions about the first part of Donald Trump’s peace deal in Gaza. **We want to hear what y...
Oct 13, 2025•26 min•Ep. 655
Why has Donald Trump sent hundreds of National Guards to Illinois? Should the UK look to France when it comes to tackling the far-right? Will the US-backed plan for peace in Gaza work? Rebecca Moore is joined by The Observer’s Katie Riley and Poppy Bullard, and David Runciman, Honorary Professor of Politics at Cambridge University and host of the Past Present Future podcast, as they pitch their top story of the day. **We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk Follow...
Oct 09, 2025•35 min•Ep. 654
Do new oil projects in the Gulf of Mexico signal the end of an international consensus on climate change? Will the Home Office’s new plans to curb protests backfire? Six months on from the Supreme Court ruling, why are the public expected to police each other’s gender? Rebecca Moore is joined by The Observer’s Jeevan Vasagar, Ada Barumé and Evan Moffitt as they pitch their top stories of the day. Find the team’s Must Reads here: One Battle After Another Rivals Infinite Wibble Pre-order Jeevan’s ...
Oct 06, 2025•33 min•Ep. 653
Two Jewish people were killed in a terrorist attack at a Manchester synagogue. Did President Trump and Pete Hegseth cross the line with their inflammatory speeches to military generals? And what’s behind the surge in profits at soft toy maker Jellycat? Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer’s Erica Wagner, John Simpson and Sam Freedman, as they pitch their 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...
Oct 02, 2025•32 min•Ep. 652
Will the US ban a safe and legal abortion pill? Is the Met Police full of Freemasons? Can Labour take control of the narrative on immigration? Rebecca Moore is joined by The Observer’s Francisco Garcia, Serena Cesareo and Phoebe Davis as they pitch their top story of the day. Find the team’s Must Reads here: The Art of the Impersonal Essay Softly As I Leave You We Have Notes **We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk Follow us on Social Media: @ObserverUK on X @the...
Sep 29, 2025•32 min•Ep. 651
This weekend marks the first-ever Riyadh Comedy Festival, with Jimmy Carr, Aziz Ansari, and Dave Chappelle on the bill. It’s being reported they are each being paid upwards of $375,000 to perform in a country which severely restricts freedom of speech. What does Trump’s cryptic “good luck to all” at the UN really mean for Ukraine - and should we be worried? Is the breakthrough on Huntington’s disease The News Meeting’s first genuinely good news story? Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer’s I...
Sep 25, 2025•34 min•Ep. 650
This week the President made the erroneous link between pregnant women taking paracetamol to autism. What happens now that trust in basic pain relief is shaken? Has Reform miscalculated with its climate-skeptical stance? And Nike has teamed up with Kim Kardashian’s SKIMS - but is their new campaign crossing the line by sexualising female athletes? Giles Whittell is joined by journalist and author David Aaronovitch, the Observer’s National News Editor Claudia Williams and reporter Jon Ungoed-Thom...
Sep 24, 2025•33 min•Ep. 649
Could Tiktok become MAGA-tok? What are the implications of recognising a Palestinian state? Should Rwanda be hosting an international cycling competition? Rebecca Moore is joined by The Observer’s Stephen Armstrong, Bex Sander and Serena Cesareo as they pitch their top stories of the day. Find the team’s Must Reads here: The Rabbit Hole What it means to get really really high Hidden Valley Road **Join us at the News Meeting Live on Tuesday 23rd September at 6:30pm** Rebecca Moore will be joined ...
Sep 22, 2025•32 min•Ep. 648
What did we learn from Donald Trump and Keir Starmer’s press conference? Why is Israel invading Gaza City? What does the suspension of the Jimmy Kimmel show tell us about press freedom in America? Rebecca Moore is joined by The Observer’s Erica Wagner, Steve Bloomfield and Rachel Sylvester as they try and pitch the top stories of the day. **Join us at the News Meeting Live on Tuesday 23rd September at 6:30pm** Rebecca Moore will be joined by David Aaronovitch, Claudia Williams and Jon Ungoed-Tho...
Sep 18, 2025•33 min•Ep. 647
With young people in Nepal using social media sites like Discord to organise protests, are we witnessing the South Asian Spring? How influential is Elon Musk in British politics following his message to the Unite the Kingdom protestors? And how did the Assad regime systematically steal hundreds of children from their families? Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer’s Patricia Clarke, Chloe Hadjimatheou and Stephen Armstrong, as they each try to pitch the top story of the day. **Join us at the ...
Sep 15, 2025•36 min•Ep. 646
What does the sacking of Peter Mandelson mean for Keir Starmer? Does Vladimir Putin want war with NATO? Is the UK at risk of an uptick in political violence? Rebecca Moore is joined by The Observer’s Jessica Hayden, Katie Gunning and Bernard Gray as they each try to pitch the top story of the day. Find the team’s must reads: Bosses can reject applicants who support rival football team Cultural Capital **Join us at the News Meeting Live on Tuesday 23rd September at 6:30pm** Rebecca Moore will be ...
Sep 11, 2025•32 min•Ep. 645
Why can’t the French government pass a budget? Who will win in the fight for the soul of the Labour Party? Why do pensioners keep being arrested? Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer’s Tom Gatti and Serna Cesareo, as well as the journalist and author Charlie Brinkhurst Cuff, as they each try to pitch the top story of the day. Find the team’s must reads:l The Missing Sister Back to Petroleum How Music Criticism Lost Its Edge **Join us at the News Meeting Live on Tuesday 23rd September at 6:30...
Sep 08, 2025•35 min•Ep. 644
Will revelations about Angela Rayner’s taxes be the end of her political career? How will Melvyn Bragg’s exit from In Our Time impact the iconic show? Why did Nigel Farage compare the UK to North Korea in his plea to US politicians? Giles Whittell is joined by the Observer’s Cat Neilan, Paul Hayward and Alex O’Connell as they each try to pitch the top story of the day. Must Reads: 'Jimmy Breslin Essential Writings' **Join us at the News Meeting Live on Tuesday 23rd September at 6:30pm** Rebecca ...
Sep 04, 2025•35 min•Ep. 643
Will Afghanistan get the aid it needs? Is China the new America when it comes to globalisation? Could a lawsuit from a dark corner of the internet affect the Online Safety Act? Rebecca Moore is joined by Observer reporters Stephen Armstrong, Phoebe Davis and Bex Sander as they pitch their stop stories of the day. Links to the team’s Must Reads and recommendations here: Inside the world of the Great British Bake Off Fit For TV Fargo **We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@obser...
Sep 01, 2025•32 min•Ep. 642
Will SpaceX’s latest triumph mean Elon Musk will make it to Mars? Why will the price of Mounjaro weightless drugs go up? Benjamin Netanyahu called the IDF’s airstrike on Gaza’s Nasser Hospital a “tragic misstep" but so far 240 Palestinian journalists have died since the beginning of the conflict. Giles Whittell is joined by the Observer’s International Editor, Steve Bloomfield, our Acting National News Editor, Rebecca Myers and reporter, James Tapper, as each try to pitch the top story of the da...
Aug 28, 2025•41 min•Ep. 641
An Essex council has been granted a High Court injunction to stop a local hotel from housing asylum seekers. What is behind the massive growth of Women’s Rugby and support for the Red Roses? Will a tax on tourists help boost local economies and support the arts? Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer’s Ceri Thomas, Vanessa Thorpe and Jessica Hayden, as each try to pitch the top story of the day. Read more on today’s stories here: Ellie Kildunne: I was just a girl with a passion, a belief and a...
Aug 21, 2025•39 min•Ep. 640
Will Zelensky find any success with Trump, in the wake of the Alaska Summit? What does the militarisation of Washington DC tell us about America’s political direction? And why are MPs making TikToks? Rebecca Moore is joined by the Financial Times’ Working It Editor Isabel Berwick, Plus The Observer’s Katie Riley and Stephen Armstrong, as each try to pitch the top story of the day. Links to the team’s Must Reads and recommendations here: Does HR still need humans? What Happened When Mark Zuckerbe...
Aug 18, 2025•31 min•Ep. 639
Will facial recognition technology change law enforcement forever? JD Vance has been wooing his British political allies in the Cotswolds, but will a new think-tank deepen US influence in right wing politics? Is the government at risk of losing public support after the Palestine Action arrests? Giles Whittell is joined by the Observer’s Whitehall Editor Cat Neilan, News Reporter Jon Ungoed Thomas and Consulting Editor for Comment, Erica Wagner. Links to the team’s Must Reads and recommendations ...
Aug 14, 2025•21 min•Ep. 638
What proof has Israel provided to support their claim that Anas al Sharif ran a Hamas cell in Gaza? Why has the partnership between Premier League Football and Stonewall ended? And will Putin’s visit to the US bring an end to the war in Ukraine? Giles Whittell is joined by NPR’s International Correspondent, Lauren Frayer. Plus the Observer’s Serena Cesareo and Jessy Parker Humphreys, as they battle it out and pitch the top stories of the day. Links to the team’s Must Reads and recommendations he...
Aug 11, 2025•37 min•Ep. 637
Is it wrong for the government to ask police to release information on the ethnicity and immigration status of crime suspects? As countries gather for the UN plastics summit, just how much of our lives are contaminated by plastic? Who is the YouTuber behind the misinformation campaign targeting France’s First Lady? Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer’s Political Editor Rachel Sylvester, reporter Phoebe Davis and reporter James Tapper. Links to the team’s Must Reads here: The Retrievals Seri...
Aug 07, 2025•36 min•Ep. 636
As the UK Parliament takes its summer break, has Reform seized the media spotlight and emerged as a viable third-party contender? What are the risks of uploading ID to age-restricted websites under the Online Safety Act? Will Trump impose his peace deal deadline on Russia if Putin refuses negotiations? Rebecca Moore is joined by The New Statesman’s Associate Political Editor, Rachel Cunliffe. Plus the Observer’s Poppy Bullard and Patricia Clarke, as they battle it out and pitch the top stories o...
Aug 04, 2025•35 min•Ep. 635
Are male novelists a dying breed? Can women trust apps with their personal data? Are tariffs the only way Donald Trump knows how to do diplomacy? Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer’s Home Affairs Editor John Simpson, Head of Data and Graphics Katie Riley and Consulting Editor for Comment, Erica Wagner. Links to the team’s Must Reads here: What do tweens really want? DOGE-pilled Read Erica’s piece on the Booker Prize longlist HERE Follow us on Social Media: @ObserverUK on X @theobserveruk o...
Jul 31, 2025•34 min•Ep. 634
Is the UK’s decision to conditionally recognise the state of Palestine more symbolic than practical? As protests in Epping continue, how is rhetoric around asylum seekers impacting children from ethnic minority backgrounds? Now that the Lionesses have won the Euros for a second time, is this confirmation that the hard work put into the women’s game has paid off? Giles Whittell is joined by ITV News Presenter and Loose Women panellist Charlene White. Plus, the Observer’s narrative editor Chloe Ha...
Jul 30, 2025•35 min•Ep. 633
Are Labour’s concerns about social cohesion a sign that they may be aligning with some of Reforms ideas on immigration? Why does Kemi Badenoch want to outlaw doctors’ strikes? And are the latest aid drops in Gaza a sign of change to come? Jasper Corbett is joined by journalist and broadcaster David Aaronovitch. Plus, the Observer reporter Stephen Armstrong and senior producer Katie Gunning. **Listen to the Sensemaker podcast: How did the Lionesses do it again? HERE **Join us at the News Meeting ...
Jul 28, 2025•29 min•Ep. 632
Is Belgium paving the way for more international action over Gaza? Have the Lionesses paved the way for a permanent change in English football culture? What’s going on at Unite? Rebecca Moore is joined by three Observer journalists. Senior Digital Editor Claudia Williams, Sports Reporter Jessy Parker Humphreys and Architecture Critic Rowan Moore. Links to the team’s Must Reads here: The billionaire and the tax evading gift shops The Human Side of Music’s Prince Of Darkness Records Tumbling for L...
Jul 24, 2025•36 min•Ep. 631
Why has Israel launched a new air and ground offensive in Gaza, where many international aid organisations are operating? Will plans to overhaul the water companies in England and Wales work? And why is Donald Trump suing Rupert Murdoch? Jasper Corbett is joined by The Observer’s Head of Data and Graphics, Katie Riley, researcher Serena Cesareo, and reporter Stephen Armstrong. Links to the team’s Must Reads here: ‘My Friends’ by Hisham Matar: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/127488823-my-frie...
Jul 21, 2025•25 min•Ep. 630
Will the conspiracy theories about Jeffrey Epstein divide Trump from his MAGA supporters? Can British culture accept genetically modifying embryos to prevent serious diseases? And why have we only just learned of the data breach involving Afghan refugees? Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer’s Head of Audio Jasper Corbett, reporter Phoebe Davis and producer Poppy Bullard. Links to the team’s Must Reads here: Sarina Wiegman, the tough England manager who could win us the Euros Illiberal land:...
Jul 17, 2025•38 min•Ep. 629
Is climate politics full of hot air? What’s next for the government’s Prevent scheme? What’s behind falling vaccine rates in some parts of the country? Rebecca Moore is joined by a trio of Observer reporters: Whitehall editor Cat Neilan, Senior Audio Producer Katie Gunning and Senior Writer Francisco Garcia. You can read Rebecca’s Must Read HERE And you can read Francisco’s Must Read HERE **Join us at the News Meeting Live: LIVE from the Observer Newsroom on Tuesday 29th July - with ITV News pre...
Jul 14, 2025•32 min•Ep. 628
The Observer recently published a major investigation into the bestselling memoir The Salt Path. In this special episode, Giles Whittell is joined by the journalist behind the story, Chloe Hadjimatheou, and her editor, Alexi Mostrous, to discuss how the investigation unfolded. To read Chloe’s piece click here . To read Raynor Winn’s rebuttal, click here . To listen to the episode of The Sensemaker outlining Chloe’s piece, click here . **Join us at the News Meeting Live: LIVE from the Observer Ne...
Jul 11, 2025•32 min•Ep. 627
Are Britain and France on the cusp of yet another agreement over small boats? Could the Texan floods have been prevented? Can women trust the justice system? Rebecca Moore is joined by Observer reporters Phoebe Davies and Serena Cesareo, and the journalist and author Jenny Evans, whose book Don’t Let It Break You, Honey details her experience being assaulted by a high profile figure, and her subsequent fight to find out why details of her ordeal made it into the tabloids. You can buy Don’t Let I...
Jul 07, 2025•27 min•Ep. 626
