Your favourite cultural commentators Liv Little and Miranda Sawyer are (almost) back for a brand new season of the We Have Notes Podcast.    That means new episodes every week from Wednesday 14th January onwards. Make sure to follow the feed so you don't miss the first episode of season 2!   Until then… Let's chat! Send us your voice notes!  @WeHaveNotes_Pod on Instagram @WeHaveNotes_Pod on TikTok wehavenotes@observer.co.uk via email   

For years, local authorities in England have found it difficult to stop the spread of slot machine arcades. But that could be about to change. Host: Ada Barumé Writer & Producer: Amalie Sortland Episode Photography: Joe Mee Executive producer: Rebecca Moore

With AI-generated videos and images spreading online, platforms are stepping up efforts to identify and label them.   Writer: Casey Magloire Producer: Amalie Sortland Host: Ada Barume Episode photography: Sofia Fenton Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore

Will the world turn against AI? Could the England men's team finally win the World Cup? And who is the mysterious backbencher preparing to challenge Keir Starmer? Rebecca Moore is joined by The Observer's consulting editor for comment, Erica Wagner; deputy sports editor, Andrew Butler; and Whitehall editor, Cat Neilan, as they look ahead to the stories set to shape 2026. **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: Rebecca Moore   Producer: Casey Magloire and Poppy Bullard   Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore   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  

Bumble received more than 20,000 legal threats alleging that the app discriminated against men by not allowing them to make the first move.   Writer: Casey Magloire Producer: Casey Magloire Host: Casey Magloire Episode photography: Sofia Fenton Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore   

Now into her 52nd day of refusing to eat, the jailed Palestine Action protester Qesser Zuhrah is in mortal danger   Reporter: John Simpson   Writer: Poppy Bullard   Producer: Poppy Bullard   Host: Ada Barume   Episode photography: Joe Mee   Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore  

It has been a busy year! The Epstein files were released, Prince Andrew is no longer a prince, The Lionesses won the Euros and Ozempic has taken hold of Hollywood. And they are just a few non-Donald Trump related headlines.   Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer's Jeevan Vasagar, Poppy Bullard and Jessy Parker Humphreys, as they battle it out and pitch the top stories of the year.    **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: Casey Magloire    Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore    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  

China has started construction of what will become the world's largest hydropower dam in Tibetan territory.    Writer: Jonathan Lewis   Producer: Poppy Bullard   Host: Andrew Butler   Episode photography: Joe Mee   Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore  

Resident doctors make up about half of all NHS doctors so NHS leaders are anxious about how the service will cope.   Host: Casey Magloire Writer & Producer: Amalie Sortland Episode Photography: Joe Mee Executive producer: Rebecca Moore

Will European countries decide to give billions of frozen Russian assets to Ukraine? What did we learn about Trump's White House from Vanity Fair's 11 months of reporting? How should the government respond to the Palestine Action hunger strikers?   Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer's Senior Producer Katie Gunning, Data and Graphics Editor Katie Riley, and Data Reporter Hannah Schuller as they battle it out for the top story of the day.    Find the team's must reads: All Cock, No Wok   **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: Poppy Bullard   Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore   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 Tuesday the government passed a bill which it's calling the biggest overhaul of workers' rights in decades.   Writer: Poppy Bullard with additional reporting from Ada Barume   Producer: Poppy Bullard   Host: Ada Barume   Episode photography: Joe Mee   Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore  

It's been a huge year for British sport: the Lionesses roared to victory in the Euros this summer, the Red Roses won the Women's Rugby World Cup and Lando Norris won Formula 1 drivers' championship.   In such a record-breaking year across the sports, who deserves to be crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year? This year's contenders are: Hannah Hampton, Chloe Kelly, Ellie Kildunne, Luke Littler, Rory McIlroy and Lando Norris.   Andrew Butler is joined by The Observer's Assistant Sports Editor Jess Hayden, alongside sports reporters Jessy Parker Humphreys and George Simms, as they go head-to-head to debate who deserves to take home SPOTY.   Vote for who you think should win here: https://www.smartsurvey.com/t/observersport/    **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: Rebecca Moore   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  

 Yesterday the US military carried out strikes against three boats in the Pacific, which it claims were engaged in drug trafficking.   Host: Casey Magloire Writer & Producer: Amalie Sortland Episode Photography: Michael Whitaker Executive producer: Rebecca Moore  

Miranda and Liv hear from the queen of the year: the one and only… Lily Allen! We went mad for KPOP Demon Hunters, Adolescence and Kendrick Lamar's bootcut jeans at the Super Bowl. Sean ‘Diddy' Combs trial dominated headlines and the new documentary - Sean Combs: The Reckoning went viral.    Listen to Part One of 2025 Wrapped HERE  

At least 15 people have been killed after two men opened fire on a crowd gathered for Chanukah celebrations, near Bondi Beach in Australia.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called the shooting attack at Bondi Beach, Sydney, an act of terrorism and anti-semitism. The Washington Post has introduced AI-generated podcasts, and pro-democracy Hong Kong tycoon Jimmy Lai has been found guilty of national security offences.   Rebecca Moore is joined by The Observer's technology reporter Patricia Clarke, senior researcher Serena Cesareo, and our very own producer Casey Magloire, as they battle it out to 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: Rebecca Moore   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

Once Hollywood's best-paid actor, Johnny Depp was cast out as a #MeToo villain, now he's making his comeback.   Listen to Alexi Mostrous' Who Trolled Amber series here: https://observer.co.uk/listen/who-trolled-amber   Host: Casey Magloire Writer & Producer: Amalie Sortland Episode Photography: Joe Mee Executive producer: Rebecca Moore

Last week the Health Secretary announced a review into the rising rates of ADHD and Autism, as well as other mental health conditions.    Writer: Poppy Bullard   Producer: Poppy Bullard   Host: Ada Barume   Episode photography: Joe Mee   Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore  

The Iranian leader said the water problem in the capital “cannot be solved” and has suggested evacuating the city's nearly ten million residents. Iran and Egypt, two countries that criminalise homosexuality, were picked to play the World Cup's Pride Match in Seattle. And some councils are now regularly paying more than £250,000 a year to support children with special educational needs. Rebecca Moore is joined by The Observer reporters Jon Ungoed-Thomas and Jessy Parker Humphreys, and Fronts Editor Evan Moffitt, as they battle it out to 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: Rebecca Moore 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

As of yesterday, millions of Australian children under the age of 16 are now banned from using the social media platforms including X, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.   Reporter: Patricia Clarke   Writer: Poppy Bullard   Producer: Poppy Bullard   Host: Casey Magloire   Episode photography: Joe Mee   Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore