The News Meeting

In this episode we discuss the US and Israeli strikes on Iran over the weekend. How did the situation unfold and what are the wider ramifications for the region?

Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer’s International Editor Steve Bloomfield, Narrative Editor Chloe Hadjimatheou and Middle East expert and author Jotam Confino.

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Listen to Chloe Hadjimatheou’s Slow Newscast documentary on ‘The hunt for Iran's next Supreme Leader’ HERE.

**We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk

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Host: Giles Whittell

Producer: Amalie Sortland

Executive Producer: Casey Magloire

To find out more about The Observer:

Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content

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Politicians broke away from tradition and discussed Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor in Parliament this week - does this signal the end of deference? The number of people living in asylum hotels has dropped, but what’s behind this trend? Popular influencer Clavicular is the face of a growing community of looksmaxxers who are taking over the internet. What is looksmaxxing and why is it so popular?

To battle out who can pitch the story that should lead the news, Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer’s Whitehall Editor Cat Neilan, and two newcomers; writer, journalist and host of Sky News’ Trevor Phillips on Sunday, Sir Trevor Phillips, and award-winning documentary maker and journalist, Benjamin Zand.

Read ‘Clavicular didn’t invent ‘looksmaxxing’ – gay men have been at it for a long time’ on The Observer website HERE.

**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 and Amalie Sortland

Executive Producer: Casey Magloire

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does a bomb explosion in the Ukrainian city of Lviv tell us about where Russia’s war in Ukraine might be going? How will the UK be affected by President Donald Trump’s new 15% global tariff? And what might be behind the killing of El Mencho, the most-wanted cartel boss in Mexico?

Jasper Corbett is joined by The Observer’s Poppy Bullard, Elaine McCallig and Bex Sander as they battle it out to see who can pitch the story that should lead the news.

Please come and see us this Thursday, the 26th of February, for the next The News Meeting Live: https://observer.co.uk/our-events/the-news-meeting-live-8

**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: Jasper Corbett

Producer: Amalie Sortland

Executive Producer: Casey Magloire

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.