There has been an ‘alarming increase’ in AI schemes to dupe writers out of their cash, emails that start with compliments and inevitably lead to requests for money – and even threats

Erica Wagner wrote a biography of Washington Roebling. Now he is the subject of her new novel – and the fiction is just as revealing as the fact

The word game went viral during the bad old days of the pandemic. Could there be a better time to turn it into a gameshow?

In The Nuremberg Women, Natalie Livingstone reveals the hidden figures behind the trial of the century

The 92-year-old playwright’s examination of a famous wartime meeting between nuclear physicists has a disconcertingly contemporary ring

In Ghost Stories, Hustvedt documents the joy and sorrow of a 40-year relationship with her fellow writer

As Jeff and Lauren Sánchez Bezos partied with celebrities, the New York City mayor highlighted the Amazon workers who bankroll the couples’ billions

One of the great chroniclers of British gay life talks about his new show, Tip Toe

The best things in life weren’t meant to be easy. Just try making mayonnaise the old-fashioned way

The pope’s foray into political matters isn’t simply a quirk of an outspoken pontiff – it shows the Vatican has learned from past mistakes. If only the same were true for the president

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: 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

Despite a banner of the scowling 47th president louring over us, Washington offered a sense of bliss and peace

The author and activist on the end of Trump, political progress and why Mamdani’s smile is just one reason to be cheerful

The pioneering writer reported from across the globe, wrote openly of her experiences as a trans woman, and was a true companion to her readers

On a glorious spring day in north London, the 96-year-old, who fled Nazi persecution with her family, recalls how she first encountered antisemitism as a child in Austria, and shares her thoughts on its rise

Last week, the New York Times ran an experiment that has far-reaching implications, especially for book lovers. It asked readers to compare five pairs of writing samples — one written by AI, the other by a well-known author — and choose which they preferred. AI was chosen much of the time. So, can AI actually write good literature? Booker Prize judge Erica Wagner, The Observer's books editor Tom Gatti, and author Ada Barumé discuss

The rare find recalls a time when television was fleeting, communal and easily lost

When great art acts upon you, it is doing its work

The US defence secretary’s gunslinging rhetoric shows plenty of machismo – but precious little clarity about why America is bombing the Middle East

Why has the Home Secretary banned student visa applications for people from Sudan, Afghanistan, Myanmar and Cameroon? How will the recent conflict between the US and Iran impact the Men's Football World Cup? How are senior members of the US army using religious language to bolster support for the conflict with Iran?   Jasper Corbett is joined by The Observer's Andrew Butler, Erica Wagner and Hannah Schuller, as they battle it out to see who can pitch the story that should lead the news.