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: <a href="mailto:newsmeeting@observer.co.uk" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">newsmeeting@observer.co.uk</a>  Follow us on Social Media: <ul><li>@ObserverUK on X </li><li>@theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok</li><li>@theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky </li></ul> 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 contentHead to our website <a href="http://observer.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">observer.co.uk</a> Download the Observer app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

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: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk Follow us on Social Media: @ObserverUK on X @theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok@theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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: <a href="mailto:newsmeeting@observer.co.uk" rel="noopener noreferrer">newsmeeting@observer.co.uk</a>&nbsp; Follow us on Social Media:&nbsp;<ul><li>@ObserverUK on X&nbsp;</li><li>@theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok</li><li>@theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky&nbsp;</li></ul> 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 contentHead to our website <a href="http://observer.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer">observer.co.uk</a>&nbsp;Download the Observer app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists Hosted on Acast. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer">acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

What will be the biggest stories of 2026?

Every Monday and Friday three journalists battle it out to try and convince the editor that their pitch should lead the news.&nbsp; Discover what goes on behind the scenes in a newsroom. Why do some stories dominate, while others fail to make the cut? Tell us if you agree with the final running order - email <a href="mailto:newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.com</a>&nbsp; Book your place at a news meeting live in our newsroom - <a href="https://www.tortoisemedia.com/our-events" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.tortoisemedia.com/our-events</a>&nbsp; Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Producer: Casey Magloire Subscribe to <a href="https://observer.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Observer </a>today and get access to:<ul><li>Our podcasts before anyone else</li><li>A daily edition, curated by our editors 7 days a week</li><li>Puzzles from the inventors of the cryptic crossword</li><li>Recipes for every occasion</li><li>Free tickets to join Observer events in our newsroom or online</li></ul> Click <a href="https://open.acast.com/networks/61ba16ddafe1fc001a418e0d/shows/61ba18761a8cbe923a3cf195/observer.co.uk/subscribe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a> to subscribe today for just £1 for your first month.<hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

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Every Monday and Friday three journalists battle it out to try and convince the editor that their pitch should lead the news.  Discover what goes on behind the scenes in a newsroom. Why do some stories dominate, while others fail to make the cut? Tell us if you agree with the final running order - email newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.com  Book your place at a news meeting live in our newsroom - https://www.tortoisemedia.com/our-events  Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Producer: Casey Magloire Subscribe to The Observer today and get access to:Our podcasts before anyone elseA daily edition, curated by our editors 7 days a weekPuzzles from the inventors of the cryptic crosswordRecipes for every occasionFree tickets to join Observer events in our newsroom or online Click here to subscribe today for just £1 for your first month. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Every Monday and Friday three journalists battle it out to try and convince the editor that their pitch should lead the news.&nbsp; Discover what goes on behind the scenes in a newsroom. Why do some stories dominate, while others fail to make the cut? Tell us if you agree with the final running order - email <a href="mailto:newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.com</a>&nbsp; Book your place at a news meeting live in our newsroom - <a href="https://www.tortoisemedia.com/our-events" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.tortoisemedia.com/our-events</a>&nbsp; Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Producer: Casey Magloire Subscribe to <a href="https://observer.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Observer </a>today and get access to:<ul><li>Our podcasts before anyone else</li><li>A daily edition, curated by our editors 7 days a week</li><li>Puzzles from the inventors of the cryptic crossword</li><li>Recipes for every occasion</li><li>Free tickets to join Observer events in our newsroom or online</li></ul> Click <a href="https://open.acast.com/networks/61ba16ddafe1fc001a418e0d/shows/61ba18761a8cbe923a3cf195/observer.co.uk/subscribe" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a> to subscribe today for just £1 for your first month. Hosted on Acast. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer">acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

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