Sensemaker

The judges had to decide what the words ‘man’, ‘woman’ and ‘sex’ meant in the Equality Act. They decided that they referred to biological sex. It will have an effect on how trans people access services and single-sex spaces.

Writer: Jess Swinburne

Producer: Katie Gunning

Photography: Joe Mee

Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore

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

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Since December 2024, a run of scientific papers has illustrated AI’s capacity for deception. Deep learning pioneer Yoshua Bengio says the consequences could be existential.

Writer: Patricia Clarke

Producer: Ada Barumé

Host: Tomini Babs

Photography: Joe Mee

Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore

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North Korean soldiers are fighting and dying in combat in Ukraine. Ukrainian intelligence estimates about 60% of the shells fired by the Russian army were provided by North Korea. What does it say about Vladimir Putin that he had to turn to Kim Jong Un for help?

Writer: Matt Russell with additional reporting by Nina Kuryata and Claudia Williams.

Producer: Rebecca Moore

Host: Tomini Babs

Photography: Joe Mee

Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore

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Young adults are swapping nightclubs for run clubs. The number of 20-29 year olds registering for the London marathon is up  86 per cent in the past three years.

Writer: Andrew Butler

Producer: Serena Cesareo

Host: Tomini Babs

Episode photography: Alex Jones

Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore

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For many Catholics Pope Francis will be remembered as a man determined to overthrow tradition, challenge privilege and speak up for those who were not heard. But he became head of the Catholic church at a time when the institution was plagued by widespread accusations of sexual abuse. For the victims of catholic priests, did he deliver justice? 

Writer: Stephen Armstrong

Producer: Matt Russell

Host: Tomini Babs

Episode photography: Joe Mee

Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore

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The world’s richest university is mounting the first serious fightback against the Trump administration. Who will blink first? 

Writer: Stephen Armstrong

Producer: Casey Magloire

Host: Casey Magloire

Episode photography: Alex Jones

Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore

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If your ‘for you page’ is suddenly full of dieting tips and before and after pictures, you might be on the receiving end of a resurgence of ‘thin-spiration’ on social media. But what’s behind this comeback? And who is being impacted? 

Writer: Ada Barumé

Producer: Casey Magloire

Photography: Roisin Savage

Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore

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The standoff between Birmingham’s bin workers and the council is entering its fifth week as the latest pay offer was rejected. The Unite union says the dispute could spread to other areas of the country. . 

Writer: Jess Swinburne

Producer: Casey Magloire

Photography: Roisin Savage

Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore

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MPs were recalled to Westminster early on Saturday and passed an emergency legislation that allowed the UK government to seize control of British Steel, after its Chinese owner appeared to threaten closure. How did we get here? And why has steel-making in the UK become an issue of national security? 

Writer: Serena Cesareo

Producer: Casey Magloire

Host: Tomini Babs

Episode photography: 

Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore

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The President has imposed a 145 per cent tariff on Chinese imports to America but has hinted smartphones could be exempt.

Writer: Xavier Greenwood

Producer: Patricia Clarke

Host: Claudia Williams

Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore

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