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.  

The country music icon has funded vaccines, literary programmes and now a children’s hospital – achievements politicians should envy

Amir Tibon’s The Gates of Gaza details his experiences on 7 October. He discusses his hopes for peace

Mayor Zohran Mamdani has faced criticism for his handling of the city’s blast of freezing weather. But Erica Wagner is nostalgic for the bliss of a snow day

In this episode The Observer's Deputy Comment Editor Erica Wagner speaks to award-winning author Naomi Alderman, as she discusses her latest book, Don't Burn Anyone at the Stake Today.  It's an electrifying exploration of how the digital era is reshaping our world as the internet floods us with knowledge, opinion and misinformation, dividing us and upending our sense of history.  

In this episode, the Observer's Deputy Comment Editor Erica Wagner speaks to award winning writer, journalist and broadcaster, Afua Hirsh, about her book - Decolonising My Body.  They discuss beauty standards, non-western rituals and celebrating our bodies - and Afua even shares the advice she received from Oprah Winfrey.   

The White Lotus star on writing novels, practising Buddhism and The Sopranos

On a short, freezing walk through New York’s streets, the film-maker discusses the power of narrative, the importance of facts and his own history of telling America’s story to itself

My extraordinarily lucky childhood spent sorting mailbags helped me understand the power of creativity and kindness

Wreck is a hugely enjoyable novel of tragedy and family in idyllic middle-class America