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: [email protected] 

Follow us on Social Media: 

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Host: Giles Whittell 

Producer: Casey Magloire and Amalie Sortland

Executive Producer: Matt Russell and Jasper Corbett

To find out more about The Observer:

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

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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://observer.co.uk/our-events/the-news-meeting-live-7 

**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
• @theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky 

Host: Jasper Corbett

Producer: Amalie Sortland

Executive Producer: Matt Russell

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 

Download the Observer app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists

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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: [email protected] 

Follow us on Social Media: 

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• @theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok
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Host: Jeevan Vasagar

Producer: Casey Magloire 

Executive Producer: Matt Russell 

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 

Download the Observer app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists

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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 Sabatini. 

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: [email protected] 

Follow us on Social Media: 

• @ObserverUK on X 
• @theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok
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Host: Jeevan Vasagar

Producer: Amalie Sortland

Executive Producer: Poppy Bullard

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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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 Investigates series ‘The Walkers: The real Salt Path’ wherever you listen to podcasts now: https://observer.co.uk/listen/the-walkers-the-real-salt-path 

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

Follow us on Social Media: 

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• @theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok
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Host: Giles Whittell

Producer: Amalie Sortland and Casey Magloire

Executive Producer: Katie Gunning

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 

Download the Observer app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 you think! Email us at: [email protected] 

Follow us on Social Media: 

• @ObserverUK on X 
• @theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok
• @theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky 

Host: Jasper Corbett

Producer: Amalie Sortland

Executive Producer: Katie Gunning

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 

Download the Observer app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 

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

Follow us on Social Media: 

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• @theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok
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Host: Giles Whittell 

Producer: Casey Magloire 

Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett and Gary Marshall 

To find out more about The Observer:

Subscribe to The Observer today and get access to:

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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] 

Follow us on Social Media: 

• @ObserverUK on X 
• @theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok
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Host: Jasper Corbett

Producer: Poppy Bullard

Executive Producer: 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 

Download the Observer app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists

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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] 

Follow us on Social Media: 

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• @theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok
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Host: Rebecca Moore

Producer: Casey Magloire and Poppy Bullard

Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore

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 

Download the Observer app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists

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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] 

Follow us on Social Media: 

• @ObserverUK on X 
• @theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok
• @theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky 

Host: Giles Whittell  

Producer: Casey Magloire & Amalie Sortland

Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore 

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 

Download the Observer app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.