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684 episodes

Will the fight for Keir Starmer’s seat make or break the Green Party?
03/09/2026 | 34 mins.
Why has Andy Burnham pledged to save the Jodrell Bank Observatory? Will the Holborn and St Pancras by-election be the ultimate test for Green Party leader Zack Polanski? And is Russia’s hybrid war with Europe really hybrid?

Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer’s Jon Ungoed-Thomas, Cat Neilan and Erica Wagner as they battle it out and pitch the top stories of the day.

**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: Giles Whittell

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.
What’s behind the Nepal flash flood?
27/08/2026 | 34 mins.
What are the consequences of the devastating flash flood in Nepal, which has killed hundreds and left more than 1,000 people missing? Why does England’s cricket team keep finding itself in trouble, with yet another player caught up in a suspected drunken mishap? And should we all start stockpiling the cupboards with tinned food?

Jeevan Vasagar is joined by The Observer’s Poppy Bullard, Andrew Butler and Ben Zaranko as they battle it out and pitch the top stories of the day.

Listen to The Wargame wherever you listen to podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-wargame/id1547225334

**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: Jeevan Vasagar

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
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Has Tupac Shakur’s murder finally been solved?
20/08/2026 | 35 mins.
Can Prime Minister Andy Burnham eradicate rough sleeping by Christmas? Why has the 1996 killing of hip hop legend Tupac Shakur returned to the headlines? And what could Disney and ABC’s lawsuit against the Trump administration mean for the future of press freedom?

Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer’s James Tapper, Evan Moffitt 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: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk
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: 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.
How vulnerable is global shipping?
13/08/2026 | 35 mins.
Can Andy Burnham do anything to combat wildfires? What does the future of universities and further education look like for students? And are we reaching a crunch point with global shipping?

Jeevan Vasagar is joined by The Observer’s Cat Neilan, Hannah Schuller and Ben Zaranko as they battle it out and pitch the top stories of the day.

**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: Jeevan Vasagar

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.
How will the drought affect our food supply?
06/08/2026 | 35 mins.
Why are AI models hacking real companies? How will the ongoing drought affect our domestic food supply? And what is the political and humanitarian fallout after around 70,000 migrants swam from Morocco into Spain’s Ceuta enclave last week?

Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer’s Hannah Schuller, Jonathan Lewis and Jon Ungoed-Thomas as they battle it out and pitch the top stories of the day.

**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: Giles Whittell

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

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About The News Meeting

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 MooreProducer: Casey MagloireSubscribe 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 onlineClick here to subscribe today for just £1 for your first month. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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