Married at First Sight UK has been pulled off air after allegations of rape during filming were made by former participants. What does this tell us about safeguarding in reality TV? Why might Rachel Reeves’s newly announced cuts on food tariffs negatively affect our health? And why has a football club admitted to spying?

Jeevan Vasager is joined by The Observer’s James Tapper, Madeleine Parr and Andrew Butler as they battle it out and pitch the top stories of the day. 

Note: This episode contains mentions of sexual violence and suicide.

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

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Host: Jeevan Vasager

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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Wes Streeting, the health secretary, announces he’s resigning from government in an attempt to force Sir Keir Starmer out of Downing Street. Has the Labour leadership contest officially started? What can we learn from US Donald Trump’s summit with China’s Xi Jinping? And why are young people facing a significant retirement crisis?

Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer’s Stephen Armstrong, Cat Neilan and Caitlin Macdonald as they battle it out and 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
• @theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky 

Host: Giles Whittell

Producer: Amalie Sortland

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

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

There are council elections in England and votes for the Welsh Senned and Scottish Parliament today. What could the results mean for Keir Starmer, Labour and for the future of politics in the UK? Where did the mysterious hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship come from, and what happens next? And has there been a coverup of Britain’s nuclear weapons testing programme in Australia and the Pacific during the 1950s?

Jeevan Vasagar is joined by The Observer’s Jon Ungoed-Thomas, Poppy Bullard and Jess Hayden as they battle it out and 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
• @theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky 

Host: Jeevan Vasagar

Producer: Amalie Sortland

Executive Producer: Gary Marshall

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.

In the wake of the terror attacks in Golders Green, what can Britain do to stop antisemitic violence? With a historic marathon record broken, how did Sabastian Sawe achieve his sub 2-hour time? And as the May elections approach, exactly how bad are Labour's prospects?

Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer’s Jeevan Vasagar, Jess Hayden and Andrew Rawnsley as they battle it out and pitch the top stories of the day. 

Live at The Royal Society of Arts!

**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: Ada Barumé

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

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

What do the latest revelations about Peter Mandelson’s appointment tell us about Keir Starmer’s leadership? What are the long term implications of Iran and the US blocking the Strait of Hormuz? And is climate change’s impact on pollen the source of our hay fever problems? 

Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer reporter James Tapper, producer and reporter Poppy Bullard and sports reporter Jessy Parker Humphreys, to decide the top story of the day.

**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
• @theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky 

Host: Giles Whittell 

Producer: Casey Magloire 

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

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

Pope Leo has publicly criticised President Trump’s actions in Iran, but what does this mean for the Christian MAGA followers caught in the middle? Is the UK government divided over defence spending? And how consequential is the end of Victor Orban’s grip on Hungary, following his sweeping election defeat? 

Jeevan Vasagar is joined by The Observer’s Cat Neilan, John Simpson and Stephen Armstrong  as they battle it out and 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
• @theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky 

Host: Jeevan Vasagar

Producer: Casey Magloire 

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

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.

Why does the Artemis II mission around the moon matter? Are concerns around Anthropic’s new AI model Mythos justified? And who has the upper hand in the ceasefire agreement between the US-Israel and Iran?

Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer’s technology reporter, Patricia Clarke, reporter Phoebe Davis and Deputy Comment Editor, Erica Wagner, to decide the top story 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
• @theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky 

Host: Giles Whittell 

Producer: Amalie Sortland

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

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

What can NASA's latest rocket launch teach us about our bodies? Is shared house ownership worth it? And what does the return of Kanye West tell us about our relationship with musicians?

Jeevan Vasagar is joined by Jessica Hayden, The Observer’s assistant sports editor; Ada Barumé, producer; and Phoebe Davis, reporter, to see who can pitch the top story 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
• @theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky 

Host: Jeevan Vasagar

Producer: Jonathan Lewis

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

Join our events – observer.co.uk/our-events

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

What does AI chatbots have to do with violence against women and girls? Why have Meta and Google been found liable for social media addiction? And could Nigel Farage's visit to Ipswich Town's Portman Road be the start of Reform’s relationship with football?

Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer’s technology reporter, Patricia Clarke, deputy sports editor, Andrew Butler, and data reporter, Hannah Schuller, to see who can pitch the top story 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
• @theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky 

Host: Giles Whittell 

Producer: Amalie Sortland

Executive Producer: Casey Magloire

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.

Why did President Donald Trump postpone his deadline to strike Iranian power plants? How is the Iran war impacting the cost of living in the UK? And is there a pattern to anti-semitic attacks in the UK? 

To battle out who can pitch the story that should lead the news, Jasper Corbett is joined by The Observer reporter Stephen Armstrong, producer Ada Barumé and Head of Data and Graphics, Katie Riley.

Come along to the next The News Meeting LIVE, right in our newsroom, this Thursday at 6:30 pm! Get your ticket at observer.co.uk/our-events. 

**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: Casey Magloire

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.

Why has a recent blackout in Cuba sparked questions about a potential conflict with the US? How concerned should we be about the spread of meningitis? And why did Kenya introduce menstrual leave for workers? 

Jeevan Vasagar is joined by The Observer’s Evan Moffit, Elaine McCallig and James Tapper as they battle it out and 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
• @theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky 

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

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