The US celebrates 250 years of independence from the British Crown on 4th July. Accusations have flown that Trump has used the anniversary to celebrate himself, not the country. So what does it tell us about Trump's place within America…and is it really that unusual?   Ada Barumé is joined by the Observer's Americans, Erica Wagner and Evan Moffitt to discuss this moment in US history.

Each year new temperature records are threatened to be broken. But the UK seems to respond not with innovative adaptation, but with shock. Why? Ada Barumé is joined by academic meteorologist Rob Thomson and Dimple Rana, who is the Heat Resilience Leader at Arup, to discuss how we got here and where we go next.

Why are UK voters so anti-establishment? Why can't we name the Putney Pusher suspect? And why is the government banning teenagers from having AI relationships?    Jeevan Vasagar is joined by The Observer's Sarah Dear, Stephen Armstrong and Cat Neilan 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: 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  

On Sunday evening, a framework deal between the US and Iran was signed to end the four-month war. Will the deal last?   Host: Madeleine Parr Writer & Producer: Amalie Sortland and Poppy Bullard Episode Photography: Joe Mee Executive producer: Jasper Corbett  

Last week, X users were flooded with images of Reform UK leader Nigel Farage fighting Andrew Bailey, the Governor of the Bank of England. The images were fake, but what were they trying to achieve?   Host: Andrew Butler Writer & Producer: Amalie Sortland Reporter: Patricia Clarke Episode Photography: Joe Mee Executive producer: Jasper Corbett  

Who's calling the shots when World Cup staff and fans are denied entry? Can the US-Iran ceasefire survive another exchange of strikes? And why has the Belfast knife attack become about the Irish border?     Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer's John Simpson, Hannah Schuller and Evan Moffitt 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: 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  Download the Observer app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists

Protests in Albania against a planned luxury resort development linked to Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner may be evolving into a broader political movement.   Host: Ada Barumé Writer & Producer: Amalie Sortland Episode Photography: Sofia Fenton Executive producer: Jasper Corbett Clip credits: Reuters, David Senra  

Booing AI at graduation ceremonies in the US is becoming a trend. What's behind it?   Host: Madeleine Parr Writer & Producer: Amalie Sortland Episode Photography: Sofia Fenton Executive producer: Matt Russell  

This episode is a sports desk takeover ahead of the World Cup. What's going to happen when Iran plays their first match on US soil? Why is FIFA facing allegations of trying to sell tickets using unofficial platforms? And could England win the World Cup?    Andrew Butler, is joined by George Simms, Jessica Hayden and Rory Smith - as they battle it out to pitch the top World Cup story 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: Andrew Butler   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

Why has Pope Leo written 42,000 words warning about the dangers of AI? Why is Britain at risk of ‘losing' a generation of young people? And what does the European heatwave have to do with the fairness of tennis?    Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer's John Simpson, Jessy Parker Humphreys 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: 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  Download the Observer app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists

Last week, reports emerged that the UK Treasury had discussed with supermarkets the idea of capping prices on staple foods like bread, eggs and milk. But supermarkets pushed back. Host: Jonathan Lewis Writer & Producer: Amalie Sortland and Poppy Bullard Episode Photography: Joe Mee Executive producer: Matt Russell

A decade after Britain voted to leave the European Union, Brexit is again part of the political debate. Host: Ada Barumé Writer & Producer: Amalie Sortland Episode Photography: Joe Mee Executive producer: Matt Russell

AI videos depicting London rife with gangs, violence and crime may be driving overseas tourists away from the capital.   Writer: April McLennan Producer: Amalie Sortland Host: Andrew Butler Episode photography: Lizzie Tucker Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett Clips: BBC Panorama, NBC News, LBC  

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: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk  Follow us on Social Media:  @ObserverUK on X  @theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok @theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky    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  Download the Observer app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists

A deadly Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighbouring country Uganda has been declared an international public health emergency by the World Health Organisation. How concerned should we be? Host: Ada Barumé Writer & Producer: Amalie Sortland Episode Photography: Joe Mee Executive producer: Jasper Corbett Clip credit: WHO, Associated Press, TeleSUR

While the US and Iran maintained the fragile ceasefire over the weekend, the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important shipping lanes, remains effectively closed. Host: Madeleine Parr Writer & Producer: Amalie Sortland Episode Photography: Sofia Fenton Executive producer: Jasper Corbett

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: 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: 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

Police forces across the UK are rapidly expanding their use of AI. How might AI improve policing?    Host: Madeleine Parr Writer & Producer: Amalie Sortland Episode Photography: Sofia Fenton Executive producer: Jasper Corbett

After disastrous election results, the Prime Minister is fighting to save his political career.   Writer: Poppy Bullard Producer: Amalie Sortland Host: Ada Barumé Episode photography: Sofia Fenton Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett