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 

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Host: Jasper Corbett

Producer: Amalie Sortland

Executive Producer: Katie Gunning

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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 you get your podcasts, and here: https://link.mgln.ai/NewsMeetingxMoM 

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Host: Giles Whittell 

Producer: Casey Magloire 

Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett and Gary Marshall 

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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: [email protected] 

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Host: Jasper Corbett

Producer: Poppy Bullard

Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett

To find out more about The Observer:

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Will the world turn against AI? Could the England men’s team finally win the World Cup? And who is the mysterious backbencher preparing to challenge Keir Starmer?

Rebecca Moore is joined by The Observer’s consulting editor for comment, Erica Wagner; deputy sports editor, Andrew Butler; and Whitehall editor, Cat Neilan, as they look ahead to the stories set to shape 2026.

**We want to hear what you think! Email us at: [email protected] 

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Host: Rebecca Moore

Producer: Casey Magloire and Poppy Bullard

Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore

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It has been a busy year! The Epstein files were released, Prince Andrew is no longer a prince, The Lionesses won the Euros and Ozempic has taken hold of Hollywood. And they are just a few non-Donald Trump related headlines.

Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer’s Jeevan Vasagar, Poppy Bullard and Jessy Parker Humphreys, as they battle it out and pitch the top stories of the year. 

**We want to hear what you think! Email us at: [email protected] 

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Host: Giles Whittell  

Producer: Casey Magloire & Amalie Sortland

Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore 

To find out more about The Observer:

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Will European countries decide to give billions of frozen Russian assets to Ukraine? What did we learn about Trump’s White House from Vanity Fair’s 11 months of reporting? How should the government respond to the Palestine Action hunger strikers?

Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer’s Senior Producer Katie Gunning, Data and Graphics Editor Katie Riley, and Data Reporter Hannah Schuller as they battle it out for the top story of the day. 

Find the team’s must reads:

• All Cock, No Wok

**We want to hear what you think! Email us at: [email protected] 

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Host: Giles Whittell

Producer: Poppy Bullard

Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore

To find out more about The Observer:

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It’s been a huge year for British sport: the Lionesses roared to victory in the Euros this summer, the Red Roses won the Women's Rugby World Cup and Lando Norris won Formula 1 drivers' championship.

In such a record-breaking year across the sports, who deserves to be crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year? This year’s contenders are: Hannah Hampton, Chloe Kelly, Ellie Kildunne, Luke Littler, Rory McIlroy and Lando Norris.

Andrew Butler is joined by The Observer’s Assistant Sports Editor Jess Hayden, alongside sports reporters Jessy Parker Humphreys and George Simms, as they go head-to-head to debate who deserves to take home SPOTY.

Vote for who you think should win here: https://www.smartsurvey.com/t/observersport/ 

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Host: Andrew Butler

Producer: Amalie Sortland

Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore

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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called the shooting attack at Bondi Beach, Sydney, an act of terrorism and anti-semitism. The Washington Post has introduced AI-generated podcasts, and pro-democracy Hong Kong tycoon Jimmy Lai has been found guilty of national security offences.

Rebecca Moore is joined by The Observer’s technology reporter Patricia Clarke, senior researcher Serena Cesareo, and our very own producer Casey Magloire, as they battle it out to pitch the top stories of the day. 

**We want to hear what you think! Email us at: [email protected] 

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Host: Rebecca Moore

Producer: Amalie Sortland

Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett

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The Iranian leader said the water problem in the capital “cannot be solved” and has suggested evacuating the city’s nearly ten million residents. Iran and Egypt, two countries that criminalise homosexuality, were picked to play the World Cup’s Pride Match in Seattle. And some councils are now regularly paying more than £250,000 a year to support children with special educational needs.

Rebecca Moore is joined by The Observer reporters Jon Ungoed-Thomas and Jessy Parker Humphreys, and Fronts Editor Evan Moffitt, as they battle it out to pitch the top stories of the day. 

**We want to hear what you think! Email us at: [email protected] 

Follow us on Social Media: 

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Host: Rebecca Moore

Producer: Amalie Sortland

Executive Producer: Gary Marshall

To find out more about The Observer:

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Netflix’s acquisition of Warner Bros. - including its film and television studios, HBO Max, and HBO - is set to have major ripple effects on both TV and cinema. Meanwhile, the Kremlin is applauding the Trump administration’s newly released national security strategy. Why is Moscow welcoming it? A border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia is turning deadly. How are natural resources fuelling the tension?

Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer reporters Hannah Schuller and Stephen Armstrong, and Senior Writer Francisco Garcia, as they battle it out to pitch the top stories of the day. 

**We want to hear what you think! Email us at: [email protected] 

Follow us on Social Media: 

• @ObserverUK on X 
• @theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok
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Host: Giles Whittell

Producer: Amalie Sortland

Executive Producers: Rebecca Moore & Jasper Corbett

To find out more about The Observer:

Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content

Head to our website observer.co.uk 

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