Bradley Wiggins admits he was a cocaine addict. What does his struggle with drugs tell us about retired athlete care?

Why Angela Rayner may resign

Will revelations about Angela Rayner’s taxes be the end of her political career? How will Melvyn Bragg’s exit from In Our Time impact the iconic show? Why did Nigel Farage compare the UK to North Korea in his plea to US politicians?  Giles Whittell is joined by the Observer’s Cat Neilan, Paul Hayward and Alex O’Connell as they each try to pitch the top story of the day. Must Reads: 'Jimmy Breslin Essential Writings' **Join us at the News Meeting Live on Tuesday 23rd September at 6:30pm**  Rebecca Moore will be joined by David Aaronvitch, Claudia Williams and Jon Ungoed-Thomas.  Get your tickets at at: https://observer.co.uk/our-events/the-news-meeting-live-4 **We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk**  Follow us on Social Media:  @ObserverUK on X 
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@theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky  Host: Giles Whittell
Producer: Casey Magloire and Amalie Sortland
Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett and Matt Russell  To find out more about The Observer:
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A new era of global superpowers

Will Afghanistan get the aid it needs? Is China the new America when it comes to globalisation? Could a lawsuit from a dark corner of the internet affect the Online Safety Act? Rebecca Moore is joined by Observer reporters Stephen Armstrong, Phoebe Davis and Bex Sander as they pitch their stop stories of the day.  

More journalists killed in Gaza

Will SpaceX’s latest triumph mean Elon Musk will make it to Mars? Why will the price of Mounjaro weightless drugs go up? Benjamin Netanyahu called the IDF’s airstrike on Gaza’s Nasser Hospital a “tragic misstep" but so far 240 Palestinian journalists have died since the beginning of the conflict.   Giles Whittell is joined by the Observer’s International Editor, Steve Bloomfield, our Acting National News Editor, Rebecca Myers and reporter, James Tapper, as each try to pitch the top story of the day.

Have the Epping asylum protestors won?

An Essex council has been granted a High Court injunction to stop a local hotel from housing asylum seekers. What is behind the massive growth of Women’s Rugby and support for the Red Roses? Will a tax on tourists help boost local economies and support the arts?  Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer’s Ceri Thomas, Vanessa Thorpe and Jessica Hayden, as each try to pitch the top story of the day.
 

The Zelensky - Trump meeting

Will Zelensky find any success with Trump, in the wake of the Alaska Summit? What does the militarisation of Washington DC tell us about America’s political direction? And why are MPs making TikToks?  Rebecca Moore is joined by the Financial Times’ Working It Editor Isabel Berwick, Plus The 
Observer’s Katie Riley and Stephen Armstrong, as each try to pitch the top story of the day.

The government is at risk of losing public support over Palestine Action

Also in this episode: will facial recognition technology change law enforcement forever? And will a new think-tank deepen US influence in right wing politics?  Giles Whittell is joined by the Observer’s Whitehall Editor Cat Neilan, News Reporter Jon Ungoed Thomas and Consulting Editor for Comment, Erica Wagner.  Links to the team’s Must Reads and recommendations here:  Blackberry Violent, lawless, broken Britain? The facts tell a different story Host: Giles Whittell, Deputy Editor-In-Chief  Producers: Amalie Sortland and Poppy Bullard  

Why did Israel target and kill an Al Jazeera journalist?

What proof has Israel provided to support their claim that Anas al Sharif ran a Hamas cell in Gaza? Why has the partnership between Premier League Football and Stonewall ended? And will Putin’s visit to the US bring an end to the war in Ukraine?    Giles Whittell is joined by NPR’s International Correspondent, Lauren Frayer. Plus the Observer’s Serena Cesareo and Jessy Parker Humphreys, as they battle it out and pitch the top stories of the day.   

Brigitte Macron sues conspiracy theorist Candace Owens

Is it wrong for the government to ask police to release information on the ethnicity and immigration status of crime suspects? As countries gather for the UN plastics summit, just how much of our lives are contaminated by plastic? Who is the YouTuber behind the misinformation campaign targeting France’s First Lady?

Are we in a “Hot Reform Summer”?

As the UK Parliament takes its summer break, has Reform seized the media spotlight and emerged as a viable third-party contender? What are the risks of uploading ID to age-restricted websites under the Online Safety Act? Will Trump impose his peace deal deadline on Russia if Putin refuses negotiations?   Rebecca Moore is joined by The New Statesman’s Associate Political Editor, Rachel Cunliffe. Plus the Observer’s Poppy Bullard and Patricia Clarke, as they battle it out and pitch the top stories of the day.  

Why is Donald Trump targeting Brazil?

Are male novelists a dying breed? Can women trust apps with their personal data? Are tariffs the only way Donald Trump knows how to do diplomacy? Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer’s Home Affairs Editor John Simpson, Head of Data and Graphics Katie Riley and Consulting Editor for Comment, Erica Wagner.