The News Agents

An ever present figure in British politics since the 1980s, Lord Peter Mandelson isn't done yet. He's hoping to become the next chancellor of Oxford University, but his name's also been brought up in the conversation about who should become Britain's ambassador to the US under Donald Trump. Lewis spent the morning with him in Oxford, for a conversation about higher education, culture wars, how Labour should engage with the new American administration - and why Elon Musk is too big for Keir Starmer to ignore.Editor: Tom HughesExecutive Producer: Louis DegenhardtProducer: Natalie Indge Digital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulYou can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in Florida here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFEDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below: https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents The News Agents USA now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents-usaYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Donald Trump’s latest cabinet picks are actually laugh out loud hilarious. Unless, of course, you are American. In which case they are a signal that he doesn’t give two hoots about the rule of law or US security. Today we talk through the ethics of appointing Matt Gaetz and the persuasions of Tulsi Gabbard. And, we speak exclusively to Steve Hilton, former Downing Street advisor to David Cameron who is now behind Donald Trump and seriously considering a run for Arnold Schwarzenegger’s old job - Governor of California.Editor: Tom HughesExecutive Producer: Louis DegenhardtProducer: Natalie Indge Digital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulYou can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in Florida here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFEDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below: https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents The News Agents USA now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents-usaYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Elon Musk is the world's richest man, owner of the biggest media platform and the new President's latest bed fellow. Is X now an arm of the US government? And what’s happening to the podcast space in America? Why can’t centrists find the influence that the Right wields there? Later, Estonia's Foreign Minister tells us that British NATO troops in his country can be deployed within days to fight Putin. They’re both dreading and expecting an invasion. Editor: Tom HughesExecutive Producer: Louis DegenhardtProducer: Natalie Indge Digital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulYou can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in Florida here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFEDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below: https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents The News Agents USA now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents-usaYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

When the COP29 host country opens its own conference by extolling the virtues of fossil fuels, you know you’re off to a good start. Keir Starmer didn’t let that put him off. He announced ambitious new targets for Britain’s carbon reductions - almost as if the world’s most famous climate denier hadn’t just won the US election. Is it all pie in the sky? Or does Starmer reckon his targets can outlast Donald Trump? Later, Justin Welby has resigned as the Archbishop of Canterbury - the first time that’s ever happened - after acknowledging a conspiracy of cover up over child abuse within the church. Why are major institutions like the Church of England still getting this so wrong?Editor: Tom HughesExecutive Producer: Louis DegenhardtProducer: Natalie Indge Digital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulYou can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in Florida here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFEDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below: https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents The News Agents USA now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents-usaYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

What does the MAGA movement sound like second time around? Dan Cox is a Republican legislator, heavily backed by Donald Trump for Maryland governor last time around. On today’s episode he tells us he believes in Stop the Steal, the deportation of migrants, the freeing of January 6th insurrectionists, and is anti-vax. He’s waiting by the phone to see if he’s getting a job in the next administration. Later More in Common's Luke Tryl on where the Democrats went wrong. Was it message or messaging? And will the party now recoil from social issues they think put many voters off?Lastly, a mystery letter is opened live on air....Editor: Tom HughesExecutive Producer: Louis DegenhardtProducer: Natalie Indge Digital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulYou can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in Florida here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFEDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below: https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents The News Agents USA now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents-usaYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

This week on The Sports Agents, Do winning teams need to be a bit "toxic"? England rugby centurion Danny Care, who has won three Six Nations and two Premiership titles, joins us on the podcast to discuss the "dictatorship ruled by fear" at England under Eddie Jones. Plus, Care spills some of his party stories - can you guess what tattoo he got in Vegas with his England team mates? Later, we chat about the 'haves' and the 'have nots' in tennis. We're joined by former professional tennis player Conor Niland - if you haven't heard of him, that's kind of the point! The man who beat Roger Federer aged 12 tells us about the loneliness and grind of being outside the top 100, and life on tour with the golden generation. As Arsenal lose their hugely popular sporting director Edu, we speak to Clive Palmer from The Arsenal Vision Podcast, about the void that he's left at the club and how to fill it. And we share our sporting howler stories. If you've got one of your own please get in touch! Got a question for The Sports Agents - email us at thesportsagents@global.comNew episodes every Tuesday and Thursday. 02:40 - England's "dictator" with Danny Care12:03 - How tennis' other half live17:51 - Yin to his Yang: Edu and Arteta 23:11 - Sporting howlers

Emily, Jon and Lewis bid farewell to the United States by answering your questions on the US election.So what next for Kamala Harris? Why didn't the celebrity endorsements work for the Democrats? And is there any way Donald Trump could stand for a third term?Editor: Tom HughesExecutive Producer: Louis DegenhardtProducer: Natalie Indge Digital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulYou can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in Florida here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFEDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below: https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents The News Agents USA now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents-usaYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

The Democrats are only just beginning to digest what went wrong and what a Trump presidency might mean for America for the second time around. But in Britain and Europe alarm bells are already off the charts. What does Trump mean for Starmer, for populism and for national security? Do we have to start doing more without Americas help?Editor: Tom HughesExecutive Producer: Louis DegenhardtProducer: Natalie Indge Digital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulYou can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in Florida here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFEDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below: https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents The News Agents USA now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents-usaYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Donald Trump’s result last night was astounding. He reached corners of America few republicans had reached, both geographically and demographically. The Democrat post-mortem will begin before she’s even conceded. What went wrong? What did they misunderstand? And what happens now that Donald Trump's power is unchecked and complete?Editor: Tom HughesExecutive Producer: Louis DegenhardtProducer: Natalie Indge Digital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below: https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in Florida here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFEThe News Agents USA now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents-usaYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

It's still early in Washington DC but in a remarkable and unprecedented night Donald Trump is on the verge of the greatest comeback in political history. He's on course to pick up the key swing states he needs to secure a return to the White House. How has he managed it? And what does it mean for America and the world?Editor: Tom HughesExecutive Producer: Louis DegenhardtProducer: Natalie Indge Digital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below: https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in Florida here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFEThe News Agents USA now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents-usaYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

The stakes could hardly be higher as US voters turn out to vote for the next President. Is it the White House or the jailhouse for Donald Trump? Could America be on the cusp of its first female POTUS? The country is on a knife edge, security barricades are going up, and once again Donald Trump is slinging sexist insults. The next 24 hours could be fraught, unpredictable and historic. And, your questions answered on the US election. The surprises to watch out for, why Americans have to queue so long to vote, and what happens if it’s a tie?You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in Florida here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFEEditor: Tom HughesExecutive Producer: Louis DegenhardtProducer: Natalie Indge Digital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below: https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents The News Agents USA now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents-usaYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

We’re high on the rooftops overlooking the White House for our last full day of this election. How has each candidate closed the campaign? What should we be looking out for on election night itself as early results come in? And what has Jon learned from the Kamala Harris campaign team about how they're planning the last 24 hours?Editor: Tom HughesExecutive Producer: Louis DegenhardtProducer: Natalie Indge Digital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents The News Agents USA now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents-usaYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

The News Agents are in Washington. And we’re asking one big question - will this be the election that brings women out for Kamala Harris in such numbers that she can seal the deal? That in essence is where we start the final lap of the campaign. What is the 'secret voter' really doing? And does anyone trust the shift in the polls? Later, we’re door knocking in a ruby red county of Pennsylvania. Why do the Democrats think they stand a chance here when they know it’s a deeply religious conservative community? Is there such thing as a 'moral Republican' voter demographic?Editor: Tom HughesExecutive Producer: Louis DegenhardtProducer: Natalie Indge Digital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"And, you can grab your News Agents merch, including t-shirts, hoodies and water bottles here: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agentsThe News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

This week on The Sports Agents, Imagine being stranded on an icy ledge 6,000m high in the Himalayas for three days with no food or water - that's what happened to British mountaineer Fay Manners who joined Gabby and Mark to tell her story.Former England rugby captain Dylan Hartley opened up about getting a traumatic brain injury from playing the sport he loves. He called out rugby for having its 'head in the sand' on brain injuries and revealed he got no help with his aftercare post-retirement.Plus, we had an emergency episode after Manchester United manager Eric ten Hag was sacked and looked at the man who'll be taking over, Ruben Amorim. Andy Mitten from United We Stand and Henry Winter joined us for that chat. And we went down a rabbit hole of horse sex... yes, you read that right! Got a question for The Sports Agents - email us at thesportsagents@global.comNew episodes every Tuesday and Thursday. 03:05 - Himalayan horror 11:54 - Ex-England captain on brain injuries 18:20 - Manchester United manager 21:27 - Horse sex

It isn’t just Kamala Harris and Donald Trump on the ballot in the US general election on Tuesday. Across the United States abortion rights are being voted on too, in a string of referendums across different states. The biggest and most fiercely contested of all is in Florida, which in May enacted a six week abortion ban. In a special report, Lewis tells a disturbing tale of fire and fury in the Sunshine state, of women’s health being put in jeopardy and of a growing theocratic strain at the heart of American politics.Editor: Tom HughesLead Producer: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory SymonDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"And, you can grab your News Agents merch, including t-shirts, hoodies and water bottles here: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agentsThe News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

The membership voting has now closed on the Tory leadership race. By Saturday we will have a new leader of the opposition. What flavour will that conservatism be? Robert Jenrick released a video this week warning of conspiracy and cover up over the Southport killings. Does he no longer believe in the rule of law? And is this a winning strategy for his party?Later Elon musk is having his (literal) day in court over his big cash give aways. And Donald Trump is pretending to be a garbage collector. Meanwhile, Lewis has started hosting his own radio phone in show in Florida. Just another crazy day in election town.Editor: Tom HughesExecutive Producer: Louis DegenhardtProducer: Natalie Indge Digital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"And, you can grab your News Agents merch, including t-shirts, hoodies and water bottles here: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agentsThe News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

If there’s one thing Rachel Reeves drilled into us in the months before delivering her first budget, it’s that none of her tax rises would target working people. So how have we ended up with a £40 billion tax raid which WILL almost certainly hit working people? The NI increase to employers will make it harder for them to hire, raise wages or expand businesses. So how does that add up? And why were there no new measures today to offset the cuts to winter fuel allowance for the elderly? We popped down to the Treasury to ask Reeves in person. Later, Steve Bannon is out of prison, Joe Biden is messing up his apostrophes and Kamala Harris is speaking to thousands of fans - in a district she’s already won. Just another crazy day in election town.Editor: Tom HughesExecutive Producer: Louis DegenhardtProducer: Natalie Indge Digital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"And you can grab your News Agents merch, including t-shirts, hoodies and water bottles at the link below.https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agentsThe News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

One day out from the budget we ask why The Chancellor appears to be frightening off the very people she needs to help flourish for economic growth. Businesses and entrepreneurs are starting to feel uneasy with the budget plans they’re hearing. And they are wondering if Reeves has enough people around her who understand how to make the UK competitive. More in Common’s Luke Tryl joins us to talk about why voters are dreading the budget. And, Lewis sneaks into Trump's speech at Mar-a-Lago. We'll hear from the bustle inside the ballroom. Editor: Tom HughesExecutive Producer: Louis DegenhardtProducer: Natalie Indge Digital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"And you can grab your News Agents merch, including t-shirts, hoodies and water bottles at the link below.https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agentsThe News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Trump has achieved a lifetime ambition and played Madison Square Gardens, NYC. Throughout the night the stage was filled by supporters, surrogates and comedians making a variety of racially offensive gags - including calling Puerto Rico a floating island of garbage. Trump's fans are split into those who think they warmed up the stage nicely, and those who think they've lost him a crucial minority vote. Later, the billionaires buying into Trump. First he won over Elon Musk. Now it looks like Jeff Bezos has been bought. The Amazon owner is also the proprietor of the Washington Post - that stalwart of a free thinking press. This weekend he overturned the editorial line the paper wanted to take and refused to endorse Kamala Harris. What does that tell us about the future of the free media if Trump wins? And Tommy Robinson has been jailed for contempt of court after he spread misinformation about Syrian refugees. Because that's how the rule of law works.Editor: Tom HughesExecutive Producer: Louis DegenhardtProducer: Natalie Indge Digital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"And you can grab your News Agents merch, including t-shirts, hoodies and water bottles at the link below.https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agentsThe News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

This week on The Sports Agents, Brentford manager Thomas Frank tells us taking a big job like Manchester United wouldn't make his life better, in an exclusive interview. We also talk about the Bees' no d***heads policy, 'secret sauce' and Ivan Toney's gambling ban. Plus, your questions are answered by Gabby and Mark, who tell stories of meeting their hero in a urinal, singing to the England manager and an awkward encounter with Manchester United legend Eric Cantona. A North versus South competition hosted by The Sports Agents is on the cards and Olympic gold medallist Jessica Ennis-Hill explains why sprinters don't slick their hair back any more. Got a question for The Sports Agents - email us at thesportsagents@global.comNew episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

The Tory party are down to the final two in another long contest for leader. It's an unusual contest with both Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick coming from the right of the party. So, who are they? What do they believe? And how would they shape the Conservative Party after the worst defeat in its history? Editor: Tom HughesExecutive Producer: Louis DegenhardtProducer: Natalie Indge Digital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"And you can grab your News Agents merch, including t-shirts, hoodies and water bottles at the link below.https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agentsThe News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

We have an interview with Yulia Navalnaya, the wife of Alexei Navalny - the Russian opposition leader murdered in prison earlier this year by Putin's government. Why did he go back to Russia after his poisoning? And what did Putin make of his death? But we start in America with Kamala Harris who last night told a CNN town hall that yes, she agreed Trump was a fascist. The Democrats can't seem to decide how to play him - as a weirdo, an entertainer or a threat to Western Democracy. Are they strategically targeting different groups in their messaging? Or is it all getting a bit lost?Editor: Tom HughesExecutive Producer: Louis DegenhardtProducer: Natalie Indge Digital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"And you can grab your News Agents merch, including t-shirts, hoodies and water bottles at the link below.https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agentsThe News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Donald Trump's campaign has filed a Federal Election Commission complaint against - what sorry - the Labour party, accusing it of 'blatant foreign interference', for allowing volunteers to door knock in swing states for Kamala Harris.The story either goes back to a linked in post by a labour staffer offering volunteers free accommodation in North Carolina, or it goes back to a longer standing row that Trump's mate Elon Musk has with Keir Starmer.Farage is out of the traps calling it an 'insult' to an incoming Trump administration. Labour is calling Farage a pot, or a kettle, and pointing to the efforts Farage has made over 8 years to get Trump into power. Later in the show we ask whether labour are prepared to send water company bosses to jail. We speak to Defra's Steve Reed about pollution and whether the water companies should work for no profit.Editor: Tom HughesExecutive Producer: Louis DegenhardtProducer: Natalie Indge Digital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"And you can grab your News Agents merch, including t-shirts, hoodies and water bottles at the link below.https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agentsThe News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Twenty four hours after a jury cleared sergeant Martyn Blake of all charges relating to the murder of Chris Kaba, the questions have only intensified. Why did this case ever come to court? What did the CPS know that made them think he’d be found guilty? And how does Chris Kaba’s family now respond to the not guilty verdict?At the heart of this story is a question of trust that has fallen apart - between the police and the public. Between the senior management and the rank and file and between whether we believe the wheels of justice are driven by evidence or public perception. We speak to a leading investigative journalist, a former director of the CPS, and a Gold firearmers commander in the Met.Editor: Tom HughesExecutive Producer: Louis DegenhardtProducer: Natalie Indge Digital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"And you can grab your News Agents merch, including t-shirts, hoodies and water bottles at the link below.https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agentsThe News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Why is Elon Musk offering voters in Pennsylvania the chance to win a million pounds a day by registering to vote? Well, we can all probably work out the answer. He's Trump's number 1 fanboy and reckons he has a lot to gain if he can swing this swing state to make Trump president. Democrats are trying to work out if it constitutes election interference - and whether they realistically have a chance of fighting it in court. Meanwhile, closer to home, the Moldovan president reckons the Russians were playing a similar game in her elections this weekend.A referendum that would see Moldova form closer EU ties was won by a whisker - when a landslide had been predicted - after Russian bribe money flooded the country. The aim was to get this former Soviet bloc country to turn its back to Europe and re embrace Putin. Why cant we work out how to stop election interference when we can spot it everywhere?Editor: Tom HughesExecutive Producer: Louis DegenhardtProducer: Natalie Indge Digital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"And you can grab your News Agents merch, including t-shirts, hoodies and water bottles at the link below.https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agentsThe News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

This week on The Sports Agents, England named German coach Thomas Tuchel as the man to lead the Three Lions to World Cup glory - but does his nationality matter more than how good a manager he is? German football writer Raphael Honigstein, joined Gabby & Mark to explore... How do clubs actually unearth the best talent? Old-school scouting prowess or new-age AI-infused data? We debate it out with former Brentford, QPR and Rangers manager, Mark Warburton, and the 'data-brain' behind Liverpool hiring Jurgen Klopp, former Director of Research, Ian Graham. Plus, do 'superstars' get special treatment when it comes to drugs in sport? We talk to Ahmad Nassar, the Executive Director of the Professional Tennis Players' Association, and Edmund Willison, investigative journalist and author of the Honest Sport newsletter. Got a question for The Sports Agents - email us at thesportsagents@global.comNew episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

Will this be the most gendered election ever? How late should you stay up to watch the results? And who do Jon and Lewis think will win?With less than three weeks to go to the US election, we answer your most pressing questions.Editor: Tom HughesExecutive Producer: Louis DegenhardtProducer: Natalie Indge Digital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"And you can grab your News Agents merch, including t-shirts, hoodies and water bottles at the link below.https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agentsThe News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Kamala Harris has been trying to reach the parts of America that Democrats dont easily reach. Her latest foray was on Fox News in a sit-down interview with Bret Baier. She called the network out for failing to correct Donald Trump's falsehood on his election loss. But she struggled more when she had to differentiate herself from Joe Biden, and their past record. Did it work as a strategy?Later, leaked ministerial letters of complaint and budgetary stalemate. Is Rachel Reeves facing the usual departmental wrangling or are things looking particularly uncomfortable for the Chancellor this time around? And are there now clues to what she actually has to cut. Lastly, are women allowed to have children AND lead a political party? Well it's not entirely clear...Editor: Tom HughesExecutive Producer: Louis DegenhardtProducer: Natalie Indge Digital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"And you can grab your News Agents merch, including t-shirts, hoodies and water bottles at the link below.https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agentsThe News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Tory leadership ballots have now gone out - and Conservative members must now chose if they want Kemi Badenoch or Robert Jenrick to lead their party. Unusually, both candidates come from the same wing of the party - the right - which begs the question, is there a genuine path for them to win over a wider electorate? We speak to the man spearheading the movement to find the Tories their route back to power, Grant Shapps. Later, why are we horrified to discover our Prime Minister spent ten minutes speaking to one of the most influential women in the world? And why is the Daily Mail calling this a DARK DAY FOR ENGLAND?Editor: Tom HughesExecutive Producer: Louis DegenhardtProducer: Natalie Indge Digital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"And you can grab your News Agents merch, including t-shirts, hoodies and water bottles at the link below.https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agentsThe News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

What exactly is a 'working person'? At the heart of that question is the answer to whether or not you think Labour has fudged its promise not to put up taxes in the budget in two weeks. Yesterday the Prime Minister refused to rule out increasing the national insurance contribution employers pay on their staff - having promised 'no increases on income tax, VAT or NI for WORKING PEOPLE'. So are they breaking an election promise? And will it damage trust if they do? Later, we talk to Graham Brady, the man whose job was to dispatch Conservative prime ministers when their party no longer wanted them. How does he explain 14 years of Tory chaos? Did the party become addicted to the psychodrama that was damaging a country?Editor: Tom HughesExecutive Producer: Louis DegenhardtProducer: Natalie Indge Digital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulAudio clips courtesy of BBC Breakfast and Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg on BBC One.Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"And you can grab your News Agents merch, including t-shirts, hoodies and water bottles at the link below.https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agentsThe News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Last month Germany suspended free movement at some of its borders, citing growing migration concerns. Critics of the move believe it’s dealt a body blow to the integrity of the European project, leading to an angry outburst from Poland’s PM - and former European Council President - Donald Tusk about “unfair unilateral” action from a fellow EU member state. This weekend, however, Poland followed suit and has threatened to suspend the right to asylum in the country. Tusk believes Vladimir Putin is trying to destabilise the EU by abusing its asylum policy and luring in thousands of migrants from the Middle East and Africa, in turn fuelling a resurgent far-right. So what becomes of the Schengen Area and free movement now? Later, we discuss how to write Alex Salmond’s obituary. Tributes flooded in following his death this weekend, but have the media glossed over his own admission of inappropriate conduct? Editor: Tom HughesProducers: Natalie Indge & Rory SymonDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"And you can grab your News Agents merch, including t-shirts, hoodies and water bottles at the link below.https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agentsThe News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

This week on The Sports Agents, Gabby & Mark Pougatch welcomed ex-Formula One Team Principle at Haas, Guenther Steiner, to talk about swearing and the unexpected F1 title race, with a bonus question for our weekend listeners. And after Rafa Nadal announced his retirement during our recording, tennis presenter Marcus Buckland helped us pay tribute to the tennis great. Plus we quizzed one of the UK’s top sports lawyers and Partner at Sheridans, Daniel Geey, on the landmark ruling in the legal battle between Man City and the Premier League about sponsorships.Got a question for The Sports Agents - email us at thesportsagents@global.comNew episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

Less than a week ago, the woman who was supposed to ease Labour's passage into government, Sue Gray, left her job as Chief of Staff following mounting pressure and rumours of fallouts behind the scenes. Her replacement is Morgan McSweeney - now the most powerful man in politics that you've probably never heard of. The architect of Labour’s election victory, Starmer’s campaign manager, and now his main man in Downing Street. So, who is Morgan McSweeney? What motivates him? And what kind of power does he have in Number 10?Editor: Tom HughesProducer: Natalie IndgeDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"And you can grab your News Agents merch, including t-shirts, hoodies and water bottles at the link below.https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agentsThe News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Lewis, Jon and Emily have all been speaking to various Tory MPs either running the campaigns or voting in the leadership race. Together we work out what actually happened behind the scenes, and the buyers regret some are now feeling. Later, Yuval Noah Harari, author of Sapiens and now Nexus, on why information and truth are two completely different things. And lastly, the GetJimAJingle campaign reaps succulent rewards from our listeners.Editor: Tom HughesProducer: Natalie IndgeDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"And you can grab your News Agents merch, including t-shirts, hoodies and water bottles at the link below.https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agentsThe News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

It's very rare you see the News Agents speechless. But today is one of those rare moments. James Cleverly, Tory MPs favourite as of yesterday has just been knocked out of the leaders race by Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick. You can hear from our voices, that we spend the entire episode trying to work out what on earth has happened. Did Team Cleverly's maths go wrong? Did MPs have a sudden change of heart over the direction of the party? And what does it mean for what happens to the Tory party now? One man who's probably breathing his first sigh of relief for a month is Keir Starmer. Later, Rachel Reeves' budgetary gymnastics, and our campaign to 'help Jim get a jingle'.Editor: Tom HughesProducer: Natalie IndgeDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"And you can grab your News Agents merch, including t-shirts, hoodies and water bottles at the link below.https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agentsThe News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Elon Musk has linked up with Donald Trump on the campaign trail - visiting Butler Pennsylvania and speaking to the crowds on the very spot Trump was targeted by a sniper back in July. He's parroting the Trump lines - calling this the last election ever if Trump loses - and offering people 47 dollars to sign up swing voters in key states. Is it bribery? Is it legal? Does anyone care? Later, will Labour's recent fiasco push Reeves to be bolder in her budget? Will she choose to borrow billions to invest? Is that enough to appease disillusioned back benchers?And Boris is back spewing more lies about Brexit. We take you through what's real and what's not.Editor: Tom HughesProducer: Natalie IndgeDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"And you can grab your News Agents merch, including t-shirts, hoodies and water bottles at the link below.https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agentsThe News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Sue Gray's resignation might have come as a surprise to some but as rumours swirled about mounting hostility towards her inside Number 10, her departure was inevitable. So, what will her exit mean for Keir Starmer? And what does the latest shake up in No 10 reveal about the mood behind the scenes?And, 12 months on from the 7th October attacks in Israel, we ask whether we're any closer to peace in the Middle East? Editor: Tom HughesProducer: Natalie IndgeDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"And you can grab your News Agents merch, including t-shirts, hoodies and water bottles at the link below.https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agentsThe News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

This week on The Sports Agents, Gabby & Mark asked former Chelsea talisman Frank Lampard for his thoughts on their current one - Cole Palmer - but is he the best player in the Premier League right now? Plus, Sam Burgess was among our guests as we explored whether the only way to save Rugby was to reunite the two codes!And after Liverpool's Ibrahima Konate questioned why he hadn't received the Player of the Match award last weekend, we explained how (and who) actually decides...Got a question for The Sports Agents - email us at thesportsagents@global.comNew episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

After eight years as North America Editor Jon returned home to the UK, but things weren't quite as he had left them. In his book, Strangeland, Jon recounts what it was like in the US, looking back to the UK - and the strange feeling when he returned home to realise that either Britain had changed, or he had. Lewis sits down with Jon to discuss just how much the British political landscape has changed over the past 10 years.Editor: Tom HughesProducer: Natalie IndgeDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"And you can grab your News Agents merch, including t-shirts, hoodies and water bottles at the link below.https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agentsThe News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

The Labour freebies story “broke“ over a month ago. Yet last night whilst Keir Starmer was meeting with Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels he found himself fielding questions about what free stuff he was handing back after agreeing to repay 6k. Why is Labour being so weird about this? Does it tell us something more about labours naïveté? Or perhaps their unreadiness for government? Or is the media environment just a whole lot more complicated since they were last in power. Later, new documents have been released overnight in the US claiming Trump “resorted to crime" in his attempt to overturn the 2020 election. Will this change the Supreme Court view that he’s “immune from prosecution?” And lastly, the Chagos Islands - Where are they and what’s going on?Editor: Tom HughesProducer: Natalie IndgeDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"And you can grab your News Agents merch, including t-shirts, hoodies and water bottles at the link below.https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agentsThe News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Overnight nearly 180 missiles were targeted at Israel by Iran - revenge for the killing of Hizbollah leader, Nasrallah, last week. Western governments have offered their help to Israel - calling it an existential fight for survival. What will Israel do next? How long will their invasion of Lebanon go on? Is Russia involved and was the assassination of Nasrallah helped by an insider? All these questions...Luckily, Mark Urban is at hand. Later in the show, the Tories are wrapping up their conference with a very different predicted outcome to the one many were expecting. Who's going to make it through to the members vote?Editor: Tom HughesProducer: Natalie IndgeDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"And you can grab your News Agents merch, including t-shirts, hoodies and water bottles at the link below.https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agentsThe News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Overnight Israeli began its ground war in Lebanon. They’re targeting Hezbollah but inevitably ordinary Lebanese citizens will pay a heavy price. Iran, which backs Hezbollah, has said it may strike Israel in retaliation. How should western leaders respond to this escalation? And how can it end? We speak to Shadow Foreign Secretary, Andrew Mitchell. Later, have the Tories found their new Brexit? Why is Robert Jenrick promising that leaving the ECHR can solve immigration (it can’t)? And why aren’t they a little more scared this week when they reflect on the mountain they have to climb back to power?Tickets are now on sale for The News Agents 'live on stage' at The Royal Albert Hall on Sunday December 1st. Buy yours from Global Player at the link below.https://app.af.globalplayer.com/Br0x/7ggnmqw4Editor: Tom HughesProducer: Natalie IndgeDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"And you can grab your News Agents merch, including t-shirts, hoodies and water bottles at the link below.https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agentsThe News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

The Tories suffered their worst electoral defeat for a hundred and fifty years in July. So why are they so upbeat this conference? Today we introduce you to the four remaining candidates for party leader - frontrunner Robert Jenrick, Kemi Badenoch, James Cleverly and Tom Tugendhat - and ask the biggest question of all. Why does Liz Truss still believe she can save Western Civilization?Tickets are now on sale for The News Agents 'live on stage' at The Royal Albert Hall on Sunday December 1st. Buy yours from Global Player at the link below.https://app.af.globalplayer.com/Br0x/7ggnmqw4Editor: Tom HughesProducer: Natalie IndgeDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"And you can grab your News Agents merch, including t-shirts, hoodies and water bottles at the link below.https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agentsThe News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

This week on The Sports Agents, We were joined by an array of brilliant guests to assess Anthony Joshua's shock defeat at Wembley and what's turning into a fierce rivalry between Arsenal and Man City. Later in the week, what finally feels like the end of the Everton takeover saga was in sharp focus. Gabby & Mark wanted to find out who the prospective new owners - The Friedkin Group - really are and why they've become so unpopular in Rome? New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

What is your biggest journalistic regret? Should a Prime Minister's spouse get an allowance? And what does 'middle class' mean in America? Thank you all for some BRILLIANT questions. The answers take us down some very strange alleys indeed...Tickets are now on sale for The News Agents 'live on stage' at The Royal Albert Hall on Sunday December 1st. Buy yours from Global Player at the link below.https://app.af.globalplayer.com/Br0x/7ggnmqw4Editor: Tom HughesProducer: Natalie IndgeDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"And you can grab your News Agents merch, including t-shirts, hoodies and water bottles at the link below.https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agentsThe News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Keir Starmer has tried to shake off further accusations that he's indulged in freebies from a Labour donor by pointing out how many in the media do it too. What does this row tell us about the relationship between politicians and the public purse, and the part the media plays in creating that sense of injustice? Are we happy to hunt down every penny gifted - albeit publicly declared - in the quest for 'cleaner politics'? Or will we just invite comparisons that ANYONE in public life is 'all the same'? Later, Diane Abbot on the 2019 election, that row with Keir Starmer and whether Corbyn got too cosy with Putin's Russia.Tickets are now on sale for The News Agents 'live on stage' at The Royal Albert Hall on Sunday December 1st. Buy yours from Global Player at the link below.https://app.af.globalplayer.com/Br0x/7ggnmqw4Editor: Tom HughesProducer: Natalie IndgeDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"And you can grab your News Agents merch, including t-shirts, hoodies and water bottles at the link below.https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agentsThe News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

The Prime minister has arrived in New York and called on British citizens to evacuate Lebanon after Israeli missiles targetting Hezbollah left more than 550 dead in one day. Who are Hezbollah? Where did this war begin? We talk to the historian James Barr about the strange paramilitary army that is sewn into the society of Southern Lebanon. Later, Labour lose their first conference vote over winter fuel - UNITE union are triumphant. And... stay with us to the end for a special guest appearance. NO SPOILERS!Tickets are now on sale for The News Agents 'live on stage' at The Royal Albert Hall on Sunday December 1st. Buy yours from Global Player at the link below.https://app.af.globalplayer.com/Br0x/7ggnmqw4Editor: Tom HughesProducer: Natalie IndgeDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"And you can grab your News Agents merch, including t-shirts, hoodies and water bottles at the link below.https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agentsThe News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Keir Starmer made an hour long speech with the one funny moment carefully tucked away 55 minutes in. It was the first conference speech from a Labour prime minister for 15 years, and the hall went wild for every mention of the victory they’d just witnessed. But after that? What was there? A promise from the Prime Minister to restore trust in politics again and make people see it as a force for good. Is the country in the mood to do that?We talk to health secretary Wes Streeting and look at the wider context of today's speech.Tickets are now on sale for The News Agents 'live on stage' at The Royal Albert Hall on Sunday December 1st. Buy yours from Global Player at the link below.https://app.af.globalplayer.com/Br0x/7ggnmqw4Editor: Tom HughesProducers: Natalie Indge & Rory SymonDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"And you can grab your News Agents merch, including t-shirts, hoodies and water bottles at the link below.https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agentsThe News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

As protesters were wrangled off the conference floor, The Chancellor reminded her audience they were not a party of protest but a party of power. They’re now IN power. But Labour’s timetable has created a vacuum into which bad headlines have been allowed to dominate. Are these early teething problems or does it tell us something more structural about a lack of vision?We talk to Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Darren Jones, and Tom Baldwin, Starmer's biographer. And we hear from Gary Neville on Arsenal boxes and freebies.Tickets are now on sale for The News Agents 'live on stage' at The Royal Albert Hall on Sunday December 1st. Buy yours from Global Player at the link below.https://app.af.globalplayer.com/Br0x/7ggnmqw4Editor: Tom HughesProducer: Natalie IndgeDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"And you can grab your News Agents merch, including t-shirts, hoodies and water bottles at the link below.https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agentsThe News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

This week on The Sports Agents... Ahead of the opening matchday of the new and extended Champions League, we were joined by UEFA vice secretary general Giorgio Marchetti and European Clubs Association CEO Charlie Marshall. They discussed the suggestion that players may need to strike over the ever-increasing number of games and why UEFA's recent letter to No.10 Downing St. was not a thinly-veiled threat to Keir Starmer's government and their plans to introduce an independent football watchdog. And responded to criticism that this new competition format is just a European Super League Mk II. Later in the week, Gabby and Mark were joined by Olympic bronze medal boxer Lewis Richardson for an insight into what actually happens when an amateur decides to turn professional. Plus, as the new WSL season kicks off, it's first-ever Chief Exec Nikki Doucet was in our studio to talk about the big split from the FA this summer and the big challenges facing women's football. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

Tickets are now on sale for The News Agents 'live on stage' at The Royal Albert Hall on Sunday December 1st. Buy yours from Global Player at the link below.https://app.af.globalplayer.com/Br0x/7ggnmqw4On today's show Jon asks whether we're edging closer to the end of the war in Ukraine. Two and a half years on from Russia's invasion, President Zelenskyy is confident he now has a plan for victory. But how realistic is this? What might a peace deal look like? And how will the outcome of the US Presidential election affect it?To answer all these questions and more, Jon is joined in the studio by journalist and bestselling author Mark Urban, an expert in diplomacy and conflict. Editor: Tom HughesProducer: Natalie IndgeDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"And you can grab your News Agents merch, including t-shirts, hoodies and water bottles at the link below.https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agentsThe News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Just two months on from the landslide general election and Starmer is having to field questions about the 100k worth of freebies he's received since 2019 and why his chief of staff, Sue Gray, is being paid more than the PM. The story it tells is of frantic briefing around the PM by disgruntled special advisors. Is this a problem he has to fix? Or can he ignore it? And can he withstand accusations of 'sleaze' after labelling the Tories with that for so long? We talk to the Starmer's chief of staff before Sue Gray - Sam White. And Aggie Chambre, LBC's political correspondent reveals to us the new rules for MPs at Labour conference.Tickets for The News Agents live on stage at The Royal Albert Hall go on sale Friday morning from 10am on global player.https://articles.globalplayer.com/2GXq4afyiJDx1xqP7ZMiP9ZVkWQEditor: Tom HughesProducer: Natalie IndgeDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

The attacks on Hezbollah operatives were as audacious as they were incredible. Yesterday, targeting four thousand potential terrorists remotely through their pagers. And further attacks today using handheld radios. But when the dust has settled, how will the world view this move? Was it justifiable? Or a breach of international law? What are the ethics of targeting so large a group? And was it a breach of Lebanese sovereignty? Jon and Emily talk to former Newsnight defence editor Mark Urban, and Professor of International Law, Philippe Sands.Tickets to see the News Agents Live on Stage at the Royal Albert Hall go on sale this Friday, September 20th. They will be available via Global Player at the link below.https://articles.globalplayer.com/2GXq4afyiJDx1xqP7ZMiP9ZVkWQEditor: Tom HughesProducer: Natalie IndgeDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Donald Trump has blamed Kamala Harris and Joe Biden's rhetoric for the latest assassination attempt, calling them 'Marxist communists'. So how is the rhetoric changing in American politics? And is political violence on the edge of tipping over again?Later, Keir Starmer is cosying up to Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni. And Jon asks about those donations for the Prime Minister's wife's clothes. Tickets to see the News Agents Live on Stage at the Royal Albert Hall go on sale this Friday, September 20th. They will be available via Global Player at the link below.https://articles.globalplayer.com/2GXq4afyiJDx1xqP7ZMiP9ZVkWQEditor: Tom HughesProducer: Natalie IndgeDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

It's the second attempt on Donald Trump's life in just two months, once again calling into to question the security services and the state of gun violence in America. But will this change the course of the US elections?And, why did JD Vance just admit to making up the story about immigrants eating cats and dogs in Springfield, Ohio?Editor: Tom HughesProducer: Natalie IndgeDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

This week on The Sports Agents, Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman are joined by former England rugby captain Will Carling to discuss the future of the game, Spencer Matthews pops by to chat about his successful challenge of running 30 marathons in 30 days and Executive Producer: Adonis PratsidesSenior Producer: Adem WatermanVideo Producer: Sam TrudgillSocial Media Editor: Calum ScotlandTom Hughes is Editor for The News Agents podcast networkVicky Etchells is the Commissioning Editor for Global You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The Sports Agents".And, the Sports Agents now have merch!

It was the interview that shook the monarchy and saw the downfall of one of its most senior members.A brand new drama based on that interview, titled “A Very Royal Scandal” is set to be released on Amazon next week, so Lewis sits down with Emily to talk about Prince Andrew, the shockwaves it triggered, and the new drama. Editor: Tom HughesProducer: Natalie IndgeDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Two days after former president Donald Trump claimed immigrants are eating cats and dogs, and babies are being executed after birth, Jon and Lewis discuss how deep-rooted conspiracy theories have become in American politics. They're joined in the studio by Gabriel Gatehouse, whose book 'The Coming Storm' delves deep into the world of conspiracy, to find out just how much it is dominating American political discourse.So why is America so pre-disposed to conspiracy? How will it affect the election? And just how much is it tearing American society apart?Editor: Tom HughesProducer: Natalie IndgeDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Donald Trump was either up early this morning or didnt go to bed at all after his encounter with Kamala. He appeared on Fox News as they were discussing last night's debate performance - and claimed that 'polls' had called him the winner by 80 percent. Does he really believe it went well? Will he be convinced to do another one in October? And whose mind will have been changed by the performance of either candidate. There was no rowing back from the 'pet eating migrants' line. No softening on his stance on executed babies. But he took the news of Taylor Swift's endorsement of his opponent by predicting she would 'suffer for it in the marketplace'. For the first time since July 5th all three News Agents are in the studio together to discuss the fall out. And ask what now for Labour after the cuts to winter fuel bill passed with only one rebellious MP.Editor: Tom HughesProducer: Natalie IndgeDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

The Presidential debate on Tuesday night was everything that team Harris were praying it would be. Trap after trap laid for Donald Trump which he appeared to walk into. His areas of strength - the economy and immigration - didn’t really get off the ground. She baited him on his rallies and his racism. And he got very cross. Moments after the debate ended the Democratic nominee won the support of arguably the most powerful woman alive - Taylor Swift. How will this shift the electoral race?Editor: Tom HughesProducer: Rory SymonDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/You can also buy your very own News Agents merch at the link below...https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has told Lewis that the wishes of the parents of the babies murdered by Lucy Letby must be respected. And yet - as the inquiry into the hospital culture surrounding those deaths opens in London today, we ask why so many people are refusing to believe the verdict delivered by a jury after a ten month trial. Have we become too distrustful of our institutions? Or is it endemic to this particular case and context? Journalist David Aaronovitch joins us to discuss the growing internet conspiracies.Later, the French rape trial that has confounded public opinion - the husband who admitted to drugging his own wife over the course of a decade to invite men to rape her.Editor: Tom HughesProducer: Natalie IndgeDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

The (brat) summer was Kamala's. The Democratic nominee had two months of rave press reviews and sell out crowds. And a convention that left many remarking that the energy and momentum of the race was with her. But two months out from the election - and two weeks before the first ACTUAL postal votes are cast - Harris and Trump are now neck and neck in key swing polls. What's going on there? Later, winter fuel for pensioners. Was the cut to universal allowance a mistake? A sign of strength? Or of battles to come? - MPs vote tomorrow.Editor: Tom HughesProducer: Natalie IndgeDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Shane FennellyDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

This week on The Sports Agents, Gabby & Mark were joined by former Chelsea F.C manager Emma Hayes to discuss her brand new book,  ‘A completely different game: My Leadership playbook’.There was a half full Lord's in the cricket - why may that have been?And the team digest how the new Manchester United exec board are getting on after their 3-0 loss to Liverpool. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

The News Agents comes to you live from Ed Davey’s back garden. This is not a euphemism. The Lib Dems are a big force in British politics once again, the most significant third party force in parliament for a century. Davey achieved this breakthrough by doing some very odd things including bungee jumping, paragliding and consistently falling into water.After one of the most curious election campaigns in history, Lewis sits down with the Lib Dem leader, not long before the party’s annual conference. They talk about what he was up to with all the stunts, what he wants to do with his party’s new clout in parliament and whether there’s even further to go: whether they could yet supplant the Conservatives as Britain’s second party.Editor: Tom HughesProducer: Natalie IndgeDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane FennellyDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulWin a money-can’t-buy meet-and-greet with Jon, after enjoying a live podcast recording by pre-ordering a copy of his new book Strangeland here…https://www.waterstones.com/win/strangeland-prize-drawYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

The first round of the Conservative leadership race has seen Priti Patel leave the race, and Robert Jenrick take poll position. Could he be the Conservatives next leader? And what kind of Tory is he? We talk to Tory watcher and author Ben Riley Smith from the Telegraph. Later, is Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu in trouble? There is increasing desperation on the streets of Israel after the deaths of more hostages. The public mood has turned against the government and its ongoing war on Gaza. What happens now? We speak to the author and commentator Ayala Panievsky about how domestic politics is shaping Neyanyahu's military strategy.Editor: Tom HughesProducer: Natalie IndgeDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Shane FennellyDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulWin a money-can’t-buy meet-and-greet with Jon, after enjoying a live podcast recording by pre-ordering a copy of his new book Strangeland here…https://www.waterstones.com/win/strangeland-prize-drawYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

The tragedy at Grenfell seven long years ago was one that was entirely avoidable. That was the conclusion today of the inquiry, which stated baldly that those 72 deaths in a high rise fire in west London would not have happened without a culture of dishonesty, greed on the part of the construction companies, and denial by the government who knew the dangers of flammable cladding but did nothing. What happens now for the families of the victims? Does this give closure? Or provoke rage? And will anyone face prosecution for the part they played? Lewis and Emily take you back to the night it happened, and their reporting in the days and weeks afterwards - that interview with PM Theresa May - and ask what now for the hundreds of thousands of people who still live with the consequences of buildings that are deemed unsafe.Editor: Tom HughesProducer: Natalie IndgeDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Shane FennellyDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulWin a money-can’t-buy meet-and-greet with Jon, after enjoying a live podcast recording by pre-ordering a copy of his new book Strangeland here…www.waterstones.com/win/strangeland-prize-drawYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Actor Michael Sheen joins us today to discuss his latest role playing a royal - Prince Andrew in Amazon's three part drama 'A Very Royal Scandal', based on the Newsnight interview Emily did with him in 2019. He tells us what he privately decided about Prince Andrew's character before he accepted the part - and he tells us what he thinks of Keir Starmer's early days and what needs to needs to happen politically. He also takes us back - metaphorically - to his home town Port Talbot - which has seen the docking of its final ship in the steel making business for which it was formerly famed.There's also competition to win a special prize to come into the studio and watch the News Agents in person. All you need to do to enter is pre-order a copy of Jon's book from the link below.https://www.waterstones.com/win/strangeland-prize-drawAndy you can now buy your own News Agents merch in our online store https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agentsEditor: Tom HughesProducer: Natalie IndgeDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Shane FennellyDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Germany's hard right party the ADF have made astonishing gains in two regions of the country - the first time the hard right has seen substantial electoral gains since the Nazi era. What is propelling the rise? And what do the governing coalition parties do to combat them. Later, we sit down with Nadhim Zahawi - former chancellor, and former child refugee to talk about his party's rhetoric on immigration. And why he owed the treasury 5 million pounds of unpaid tax. Also, excitingly, there's a competition to win an special prize to come into the studio and watch the News Agents in person. All you need to do to enter is pre-order a copy of Jon's book from the link below.https://www.waterstones.com/win/strangeland-prize-draw Andy you can now buy your own News Agents merch in our online store https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agentsEditor: Tom HughesProducer: Natalie IndgeDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Shane FennellyDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

This Friday, Jon and Lewis answer your questions. What's behind Biden and Obama's "complicated" relationship? Do members of the royal family vote? And which state will be the most interesting battle ground in the US election?And, win a money-can’t-buy meet-and-greet with Jon, after enjoying a live podcast recording by pre-ordering a copy of his new book Strangeland here…www.waterstones.com/win/strangeland-prize-drawEditor: Tom HughesProducer: Natalie IndgeDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Shane FennellyDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

The disastrous "mini budget" of Liz Truss' short time in Downing Street will go down in history. But did she really consider stopping the NHS treating cancer patients in a bid to find the savings to clean up the fallout?Jon and Lewis speak to political biographer, Sir Anthony Seldon, about the dramatic 49 days of the shortest serving British Prime Minister.Editor: Tom HughesProducer: Natalie IndgeDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Keir Starmer is in Berlin, this time for some real politics, not a football match. He’s meeting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, unveiling a new UK/Germany defence agreement. Later he’s heading to Paris to meet President Macron. The new government is on a charm offensive, with much lofty talk of a reset of UK/EU relations post-Brexit. But is that really possible? How much is just vibes? Lewis and Jon analyse what has happened and crucially what has not happened, and are joined in News Agents HQ by German Ambassador Miguel Berger.We also talk about whether there’s any truth that Mr Mandelson might be going to Washington and Jon is shilling for his book again. What fun.To enter Jon’s competition head over to www.waterstones.com/win/strangeland-prize-draw to find out more Editor: Tom HughesProducers: Natalie IndgeDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Keir Starmer has made his first major speech as Prime Minister and he had an uplifting message for the public: things can only get worse.Jon and Lewis, firmly ensconced back in News Agents HQ analyse what the PM is up to and ask whether British politics can really sustain another project built on pessimism. They also discuss rumoured changes of the Labour Party’s leadership rules (if that doesn’t make you click, what will?) and Oasis’ imminemt return to the stage. Jon, predictably, swears from the start.Editor: Tom HughesProducers: Natalie IndgeDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

This week on The Sports Agents... Fabian Hurzeler, Brighton's new 31-year-old manager - the youngest in Premier League history - joined Gabby for an exclusive interview. He talks his meteoric rise, embracing the culture on England's South Coast, looking forward to coming up against Pep Guardiola and more. Then on Thursday, with ITV's Mark Pougatch as our special guest host, we examined the Raheem Sterling situation at Chelsea and if their unusual recruitment strategy will ever actually work? Journalist Matt Hughes, applied sport finance expert Rob Wilson and the former Man City defender Nedum Onuoha joined in. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

Kamala Harris pledged a "new way forward" for America as she formally accepted the Democratic party nomination for president at the DNC in Chicago.She makes history as the first black and Asian-American woman to lead a party's presidential ticket.But did the American people actually learn enough about Kamala and her politics last night? Will she need to do and say more if she's to beat Donald Trump in November's election? Or will simply being the "anti-Trump" candidate be enough? Editor: Tom HughesProducers: Natalie Indge & Rory SymonDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

We’ve been on the road in Indiana, which isn’t far from the DNC in Chicago and yet feels so distant. Has Kamala Harris’ introduction to the nation reached heartland America? We find a state full of friendly people who have just stopped talking to each other, of not just competing politics, but parallel realities. And back in the United Centre, the previously little known Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has made his keynote speech. Jon has all the reaction from the Democrat bigwig.Editor: Tom HughesProducers: Natalie Indge & Rory SymonDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

The Obama's are back, and last night they enchanted the Democratic Party National Convention in Chicago.They took the fight to Donald Trump. And they did it with glee. They were laughing in the face of the Republican nominee.So how important will Barack and Michelle Obama be for Kamala Harris' campaign? Can they move the dial further in the Democrats favour and help ensure election victory in November?Editor: Tom HughesProducers: Natalie Indge & Rory SymonDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

On Monday night Joe Biden made what was almost certainly his final speech as US President, and Lewis and Jon were in the hall at the Democratic National Convention to watch it all.It was the speech Biden never wanted to make. But did it ensure a smooth handover of the baton to his VP Kamala Harris? Later in the show we bring you a special report from outside the convention centre earlier on Monday where thousands protested against the US government's policy regarding the war in Israel and Gaza.Editor: Tom HughesProducers: Natalie Indge & Rory SymonDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Jon and Lewis are at the opening day of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Joe Biden (he’s still president apparently) will be taking to the stage to give a farewell address to the Convention which should have been his. The Dems are giddy at the passing of the torch - but is that euphoria justified? Has Kamala actually restored the Democrats’ chances? We take a look at the electoral map and what’s ahead on this big week in the American political calendar.Editor: Tom HughesProducers: Natalie Indge & Rory SymonDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Jon and Lewis are live from Chicago on the eve of the Democratic Party national convention, as Kamala Harris prepares to address the nation as her party's presidential nominee.Is she able to put to bed any lingering doubts that she's capable of defeating Donald Trump? Will the positive vibes around her campaign continue? And as tens of thousands of people are expected to protest outside the convention centre on Monday, can she unite the party over the war in Gaza.Editor: Tom HughesProducers: Natalie Indge & Zeynel Can YuceDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

This week on The Sports Agents, As we enjoy a brief post-Olympic break, we paused to reflect on an unforgettable summer of sport... From England's run to the final of the Euros in Berlin, to all of Team GB's success in Paris and so much sporting drama in between - The Sports Agents have been there for all of it. Plus, before leaving France, Gabby & Mark sat down to wade through all of your questions on everything from the rivalry between broadcasters, which sport they'd compete in at LA 2028 and how to stop a new Premier League season from casting a shadow over all the other sport we've fallen in love with at The Olympic Games. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

This Friday, we answer your most pressing questions...Will Trump drop JD Vance as his VP before the election? Who are the serious Tory leadership candidates? And what products does Lewis use on his hair? Editor: Tom HughesProducers: Natalie Indge & Zeynel Can YuceDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

The News Agents look back on how Twitter has evolved since it has become X under Elon Musk and ask if it's time to leave what has become an often dangerous platform of misinformation and abuse.And it's A Level results day, so Lewis puts Jon to the test.Editor: Tom HughesProducers: Natalie Indge & Zeynel Can YuceDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

The former chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng joins us at News Agents HQ for an exclusive interview.He reflects on his disastrous time as chancellor under Liz Truss, and the mini-budget which sparked a market crash. He still bristles when asked to apologise for his role in it all.He discusses the future of the Conservative Party as it searches for its new leader, the US Presidential election, and of course his thoughts on Liz Truss herself, describing her as an "unusual" woman.Editor: Tom HughesProducers: Natalie Indge & Zeynel YuceDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Trump and Musk - it was a rambling conversation covering an extensive list of Trump's grievances. Will an endorsement from Elon Musk change the course of Trump's election campaign?And, Lewis and Jon are joined by Madam Speaker Nancy Pelosi for an in depth conversation about the presidential race, social media and Liz Truss. Editor: Tom HughesProducers: Natalie Indge & Zeynel YuceDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Ukrainian forces have charged in to Russia in a surprise attack - how will this play out for President Zelensky? And, as the Olympics come to an end in Paris we ask how successfully they reunited the county.Editor: Tom HughesProducers: Natalie Indge & Zeynel Can YuceDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

As we bid 'au revoir' to the 2024 Paris Olympics, The Sports Agents round up the best of the big interviews from our final week inside Team GB House... Gabby & Mark were joined by running sensation and 1500m silver medalist Josh Kerr, and the most decorated British gymnast in history, Max Whitlock. Plus, renowned sports scientist, Professor Ross Tucker, to debunk and explain the controversy surrounding the two Olympic boxers at the heart of a gender row.New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

After weeks of rising tension and violence across the country, we take a deep dive inside the mind of the far right. Lewis speaks to a former friend of Tommy Robinson - the man who made him go viral. What made him turn his back on their ideology? And what is the future of the far right in the UK? Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel Radus Producers: Natalie Indge & Zeynel Can YuceSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersVideo Production: Rory Symon & Shane FennellyDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob Paul You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Last night, the UK braced for violence. But a defiant display of counter-protest won. Jon and Lewis ask what happened to the far right riots - and will there be more to come?Later, Jon speaks to the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, who shares his experience as a prominent Muslim politician and his defiant stance in the face of racism.Editor: Tom HughesProducers: Natalie Indge & Zeynel Can YuceDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Kamala Harris has finally selected her running mate - Minnesota governor Tim Walz. So can the pair take on Trump and Vance?And, with the UK military on standby to evacuate British citizens from Lebanon we speak to former British Ambassador to Lebanon, Tom Fletcher.Editor: Tom HughesProducers: Natalie Indge & Zeynel Can YuceDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

As planned violence continues this week the Prime Minister has a new battle on his hands - and it's one of the most influential men on the planet. Elon Musk is trolling Kier Starmer. So, how do governments take on Big Tech? Later, Jon speaks to Scotland's former First Minister Humza Yousaf who questions whether the UK is the right place to raise his family following the "horrendous violence".Editor: Tom HughesProducers: Natalie Indge & Zeynel Can YuceDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

A week on from the attack in Southport, cities across the UK are burning as disinformation spreads and far right groups gather to riot. Lewis and Jon analyse Kier Starmer's response - how can the government get control of the situation? And how much is Elon Musk and social media to blame for the spread of the riots? Editor: Tom HughesProducers: Natalie Indge & Zeynel Can YuceDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

After an unforgettable first week at the Paris Olympics,The Sports Agents return to round up the big interviews from their first week in Paris... Gold medal rowers Hannah Scott and Lola Anderson joined Gabby & Mark, in our Team GB House studio, to reflect on a nail-biting photo-finish win and wanting to shatter the traditional image of what a female athlete 'looks like'.Sky Sports boxing commentator Andy Clarke was on hand to try to explain GB boxing's disastrous Olympics so far and the bigger question which hangs over boxing's future as an Olympic sport at all.Plus, synchronised divers Noah Williams and Scarlett Mew Jensen reveal what it's really like to hit the pool at speeds of over 30mph. Search for The Sports Agents to listen to these interviews in full, plus so much more insight and reaction to the Games. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

This Friday we answer your questions.Which upcoming elections will Jon and Emily be staying up to watch? Will Huw Edwards have to pay back his BBC salary? And could Kamala Harris serve three terms as President?Editor: Tom HughesProducers: Natalie Indge & Zeynel Can YuceDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Trump turned up at the national association of black journalists yesterday and they just laughed at him. He took questions from a panel and found himself saying Kamala Harris had “turned herself black“. Cue hoots of outraged derision. And a former president complaining about the “horrible“ questions. Is there any strategy here or is it all going a bit wrong ? Later, should the English Defence League be a proscribed terror group or would that give too much credence to a bunch of thugs? We talk to the former head of counter terrorism about the impact of these knife edge decisions. And we hail the release of Wall street journalist Evan Gershkovich - held in a Russian cell on trumped up spying charges.Editor: Tom HughesProducers: Natalie Indge & Zeynel Can YuceDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Last night police in Southport were pelted with bricks and rocks as hundreds of people gathered in protest outside a mosque - after disinformation about the suspect of the stabbing attack was spread online. Today we talk about the power of ‘disinfluencers’ and the menace they create - for money, power or clicks - destabilizing vulnerable communities at a time of grief. How should we deal with ‘shared’ misinformation? And what responsibility do our leaders have to make sure conspiracies aren’t spread through their words?Editor: Tom HughesProducers: Natalie Indge & Zeynel Can YuceDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

We’ve spent the afternoon at the Treasury with the chancellor. How does she justify scrapping the cap on social care? Why is she wasting money by cancelling transport schemes we need ? And what are the taxes that ARE going up that she won’t rule out? We have the full interview. Later, an exclusive look with Reeves around the bathroom that all the former chancellors have used. Spoiler alert - it’s a urinal…Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducers: Natalie Indge & Zeynel Can YuceDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

The Tory leadership window has just closed and six MPs have thrown their names in. On one side of the party sits Tom Tugendhat and Mel Stride. On the other, Priti Patel, Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch. James Cleverly sits somewhere in the middle and Suella Braverman is now nowhere to be seen. We talk to former Tory chairman, Lord Chris Patten, about the shape of his old party now. And ask Henry Hill - at Conservative Home - to read the tea leaves. Later, the next in our thrilling 'US Presidential Election movies you might have missed' series. This one stars James Spader and John Cusack. Can you guess?Editor: Tom HughesProducers: Natalie Indge & Zeynel Can YuceDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

All week long The Sports Agents have been building up to the start of The 2024 Paris Olympics... London Mayor Sadiq Khan sat down with Gabby to reflect on the real legacy of London 2012, why he wants to bring the Games back to the capital and as more and more international sporting events come to the UK, if Premier League games will go the other way? Earlier in the week, Andy Anson - British Olympic Association Chief Executive - explained what makes brand 'Team GB' so unique in world sport. And the former Olympian Jack Buckner, now head of UK Athletics, explained how the sport can evolve to protect its own future, despite a 'golden generation' of British athletes.Got a question about the Olympics for Gabby & Mark - email (or send a voice-note) to us at thesportsagents@global.com New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

Is it sexist to call Kamala by her first name? What happens to the election if Trump loses? Who’s the best president America never had? After a full on crazy week in America we answer your questions.Editor: Tom HughesProducers: Natalie Indge & Zeynel Can YuceDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

It was an act of supreme selflessness. And one of utmost urgency. Joe Biden acknowledged both things in his speech to the nation last night confirming he wouldn’t seek re-election. His rhetoric was rousing. But his speech faltering. He confirmed for many why he had to go, and left questions as to what happens in this final stretch of his presidency. Later, why are some Labour candidates accusing the Independent “pro Gaza“ MPs of running “toxic” electoral campaigns?In response to our interview with Heather Iqbal, The Workers Party said: "The Workers Party was closely associated with a number of Independent candidates who stood on a platform opposed to the genocide unfolding in Gaza. Our candidates and those with whom we were most closely associated polled a quarter of a million votes.In Manchester our supporters were the victim of a hit and run attack in May, during the general election in Littleborough a female campaigner of ours was assaulted outside the polling station and in Birmingham masked men attacked our canvassers with machetes and bats in Sutton Coldfield. No other party receieved this sort of violent harassment. All cases are reported in local and national media if you Google them, and all were caught on CCTV."Editor: Tom HughesProducers: Natalie Indge & Zeynel Can YuceSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersVideo Production: Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Keir Starmer has faced down his first rebellion by removing the whip from 7 Labour rebels who voted with the SNP to end the cap on child benefits for families of more than two children. Did Starmer overreact? Or does it look decisive? And is this really the policy he wants to hold out on? A decade old policy of Osborne austerity.We speak directly to one of the rebels who lost the whip and ask what happens now.Editor: Tom HughesProducers: Natalie Indge & Zeynel Can YuceDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersVideo Production: Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Kamala Harris raised a hundred million dollars in the day and a half since Joe Biden announced he wouldn't be standing for re-election.She has now passed the delegate threshold to stand as the candidate - and as we record no one else has thrown their name into the ring.Republicans are meanwhile having to accommodate the new reality of having the oldest candidate in the race.Later, we look at the UK broadcasting landscape with Ofcom regulator Melanie Dawes. Does Ofcom have teeth? And will it use them?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Natalie IndgeVideo Production: Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

There is a dizziness to American politics right now - Vice President Kamal Harris raised 49 million dollars in the first twelve hours following Joe Biden's announcement that he would exit the race. She spent ten hours hitting the phones to garner Democratic support and is insisting she must 'earn' the votes of the delegates. But is the race already sewn up? Or might other candidates throw their names in the mix? And how well do we really know the figure who could be America's first female president? We talk to Ambassador Tony Gardner - a man right at the centre of the Democrats presidential campaigns, and to our leading historian Simon Schama - about the legacy Biden will leave and what this moment means for America.Editor: Tom HughesProducer: Natalie IndgeVideo Production: Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Chaos reigns in the Democratic party. In a virtually unprecedented move President Joe Biden has stepped aside from the presidential race weeks before he was due to become the Democrats’ candidate at their national convention in Chicago. Biden has endorsed his VP Kamala Harris. But is she assured of the crown? In a hastily assembled emergency podcast Jon, Emily and Lewis discuss the implications for the Dems, the election and the rest of the world.Editor: Tom HughesVideo Production: Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

This week on The Sports Agents, Gareth Southgate resigned following England's Euro 2024 final defeat, and the world's best golfers tee'd it up for the 152nd Open Championship... The man who hired Gareth, former FA Managing Director Martin Glenn, joined Gabby & Mark for an insight into the process of finding his replacement and The Athletic's Jack Pitt-Brooke joined us in the studio to help assess the leading candidates. After Rory McIlroy defended his own caddie ahead of his first appearance at a major tournament since his US Open collapse, we were also joined by caddies Billy Foster (Matt Fitzpatrick) and Jeff Brighton (Colin Montgomerie) to find out more about the mind-blowing complexities of the role and how much difference a great one can really make. Search for The Sports Agents to hear these episodes in full. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

Lewis is joined in the studio by one of the most senior women in British political history, former Labour Deputy Prime Minister, Harriet Harman.Two weeks into a new Labour government, she joins us for an extended conversation about her political life and journey, her memories of working alongside Gordon Brown and Tony Blair, and her advice to her successors in the party.Editor: Tom HughesProducer: Natalie IndgeVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

It feels like the walls are finally closing in on President Biden. His closest political allies, the leaders of the Democratic Party in Congress, are abandoning him. Every interview he does poses more questions than it answers. How long can he fight on? Jon, Lewis and Emily discuss. Talking of Emily - have you ever thought she might need to get her head examined? Kari Lake, the Republican candidate for Senate in Arizona, thinks so. Meanwhile, Nigel Farage thinks she has no friends. Listen to both interviews to reveal all.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Natalie IndgeSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Keir Starmer promised "national renewal" in today's King's Speech, where he outlined his policy plans for the next parliament.So did we get our first glimpse of what Starmerism might look like? Is the state back? And do we now have the most interventionist government for decades? Later in the show we return to Milwaukee and the Republican Party National convention. Emily is there speaking to senior party figures and asking where all the traditional Republicans have gone, as Trump and his acolytes take over the GOP.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Natalie IndgeSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Emily is live from the Republican Party National Convention in Milwaukee, a room full of "cranks and weirdos", as we react to the news that Ohio Senator J.D Vance will be Trump's running mate in the 2024 Presidential election. What does Vance stand for? Will he change the trajectory of the campaign? And is he even more Trump than Trump himself?Later in the show we discuss two men who have resigned from their jobs today. Welsh First Minister Vaughan Gething, and England manager Gareth Southgate. Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Natalie IndgeSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Emily is in Milwaukee for the Republican Party National Convention, just 36 hours after an assassination attempt on their Presidential candidate Donald Trump.As both he and President Biden call for unity, we ask whether the shooting on Saturday will help both candidates. Is it an easier race now for Trump? Has it ensured a stay of execution for Joe Biden? And how long will this new-found unity last?Later in the show, historian and journalist Nick Bryant joins the show to talk about American's violent and constant battle with itself.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Natalie IndgeSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Hours after Presidential candidate Donald Trump was shot at a rally in Pennsylvania, Jon and Lewis take a look at how the assassination attempt will impact the election in November.Will it strengthen Trump's campaign? And does it mean Joe Biden will now definitely stand against him?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

This week on The Sports Agents, We reflected on England's run to today's Euro 2024 final, Lewis Hamilton's record 9th British GP win and Novak Djokovic turning on the centre court crowd at Wimbledon. But you asked us to find out what's going on at Manchester United, after it emerged that the Women's side would be moved to 'portacabins' in order to accommodate the men - so we were joined by a host of guests including the former Head of Women's football at United, Polly Bancroft, to investigate a growing sense that the club's new owners simply don't care about the Women's game.With England v Spain on the brain and to mark two weeks until the start of the Olympics in Paris - a couple of TeamGB icons, Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill and Iwan Thomas, joined us to talk about how to 'peak' at just the right time for a moment that may only come around once in an athlete's career. Search for The Sports Agents to listen in full. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

A week on from a Labour landslide in the 2024 General Election, Lewis and Emily answer the questions that have been bugging you over the past seven days.They're asked why Tories are giving speeches in America, whether Reform are now getting too much media attention, and when the next General Election be held. That and much more.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Natalie IndgeSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Last night, the pressure on Joe Biden ramped up a notch - George Clooney called on the President not to stand in November, through a piece in the New York Times. It's being reported today he ran the op-ed past Barack Obama - who didnt try and dissuade him. Nancy Pelosi - arguably the Dem's most formidably woman -suggested Biden should 'make his decision...as time was running out'. And two senators spelled out the words the White House was dreading - Biden will lose to Trump if he doesn't quit the race.Will Biden reckon he can sit this one out until the media storm passes - or will the focus be unbearable until he chooses to go gracefully? It's fifty-fifty right now - and the Republican Convention kicks off in Wisconsin this weekend - how will the Democrats start talking about something else? Later, the new MPs sitting 'behaviour training ' courses - to remind them not to be rude/abusive/drunken in the commons - Aggie Chambré has the story. And - will Mr. Brightside become the 2024 euros anthem after The Killers Killer moment? We discuss the football, feelgood factors and folklore.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Zeynel YuceSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

PM Starmer has just arrived in Washington to meet President Biden for the first time. Arguably at a time when Biden needs Starmer more than Starmer needs the US president.He’s there to talk NATO - and our commitment to Ukraine. But questions about our own defence spending will pursue him. We’ll talk to the shadow foreign secretary Andrew Mitchell about Sir Keir's first week and the Tories last (in government for now). What lessons are his own party gleaning from their election defeat? And we reflect on billionaire brexiteer household appliance maker James Dyson’s fortunes as he fires a thousand people.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Zeynel YuceSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

A tale of two thinktanks - you lucky things. Jon has spent the day at the Tony Blair Institute and Emily has been with the Popular Conservatives (PopCons), Liz Truss' former parish. After the worst result in their history, how does the Conservative party rebuild?And what lessons are those on the right of the party taking away from Thursday night's defeat? Lewis talks to former party treasurer and donor, Lord Michael Spencer, about the direction for the party now. Later, crunch time for Joe Biden - will his own party really seek to remove him before the week is done?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Zeynel Yuce & Natalie IndgeSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Last night the final exit polls of the French election were revealed to a collective stunned gasp. The far-right RN party of Marine Le Pen - and Jordan Bardella - is in third place. Macron's centrist grouping is in second place - but the dominant bloc emerging is a collective of radical left parties - with the controversial figurehead of Jean-Luc Melenchon at its helm. Macron's PM has stayed on -for now - as caretaker. But there is a collective political fog over the shape of France’s next parliament. Has Macron's gamble paid off? Macron will argue he kept fascism at bay - but for how long? Later, what will Labour's planning changes mean for young people trying to buy houses? Can it work? And how does the Speaker of the house learn 334 brand new MP's names... by next week?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Zeynel Yuce & Natalie IndgeSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Now that PM Sir Keir Starmer has assembled his first cabinet, the first Labour cabinet in 14 years - who are the people now running the country? What will they do?Just hours after becoming the Official Opposition, the Tories turn to their next task - who will be their next leader? Contenders have already started to hit the airwaves. And the second round in France as the far-right National Rally edge closer to parliamentary power.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly, Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

This week on The Sports Agents, As the French public head to the polls on Sunday for the final round of voting in their own National Election, Gabby and Mark reflect on the significance of France's Euros campaign after Kylian Mbappe and co. urged young voters to resist the rise of the far-right.Gabby & Mark caught up with French football writer Tom Williams and our own Jon Sopel to explore a complicated history between the country and it's men's national team. And ahead of the British Grand Prix, McLaren's Lando Norris joined us in studio for a fascinating interview, just days after his Austria crash with friend and rival Max Verstappen. In a wide-ranging interview he explains the speed of thought required to make split-second decisions while driving at speeds of over 200mph and what it would trade to win his home race! Search for The Sports Agents to listen in full - Plus, more on Mark Cavendish' record-breaking Tour de France stage win & Cristiano Ronaldo's heart-rate during a penalty shoot-out.New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

Labour are the new government. Sir Keir Starmer is our new Prime Minister. He's in Downing Street, and he's about to appoint his cabinet...what next?Plus, we recap on the likes of Liz Truss losing her seat. Yes, LIZ TRUSS.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly, Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Keir Starmer’s Labour has won a landslide. Rishi Sunak’s Tories have had their worst defeat in history. Beneath the bonnet of that is perhaps the weirdest election of the modern era. Bleary-eyed and caffeine-fuelled after a night of live broadcasting Jon, Emily and Lewis bring you the results of the 2024 general election and analyse what this decision we’ve all made will mean now.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly, Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

A special polling day Q&A.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly, Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Fourteen years is a long time for any one party to be in government. Today we reflect on some of the moments of the last five Conservative governments and how things have shifted - societally, economically and in the media. We also bring you news of George Galloway's big donor - a man accused of human trafficking - and discuss the missing postal vote saga and the impact it might have.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly, Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

We sit down with Boris Johnson's director of communications, Lee Cain.In the last 48 hours Rishi has accused Starmer of being a threat to national security and a delight for Putin, a work-shy sloth who clocks off at 6pm, and a leader who's going to rig the electoral system forever more. Is this the sound of a man who thinks his campaign is going to plan? Perhaps the problem began long long before Rishi Sunak called the election - or even got into power. We ask the man who presided over Boris Johnson's 2019 campaign - Director of Comms Lee Cain - if he accepts the rot set in with him. The lies, the Covid parties, the narcissism - and the opportunities missed by the last Conservative PM to hold onto his massive majority. Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Zeynel Can YuceVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly, Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Live from Paris, Lewis and Jon react to the news that the far-right have stormed the French parliamentary elections in the first round - putting Macron in severe peril and the radical right, formed decades ago from the embers of Nazism, at the top of power in France. Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusVideo Production: : Rory SymonYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Jon and Lewis in France ahead of the first round of the French elections, which could see the far-right of French politics became the main political force in France. And we report from Birmingham, following round an independent candidate who thinks he has a chance of beating Labour MP Shabana Mahmood. He's pretty controversial, and for good reason. Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusVideo Production: : Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

This week on The Sports Agents,We asked if the media actually has any responsibility to help build the confidence of the England National team, after Harry Kane and other members of the squad responded to recent criticism of their performances at Euro 2024...Conor Coady - part of Gareth Southgate's last two England squads for major tournaments - joined Gabby & Mark for insight into the 'meticulous' nature of the England manager, how difficult social media has made it for players to ignore abuse while stuck in a Euros camp and which young players are ready to step up and lead in the absence of some of the old guard.Later, as a flurry of 'swap deals' for academy graduates between Premier League clubs for eye-catching transfer fees made headlines, Professor of Applied Sports Finance at UCFB, Rob Wilson, explored how 'fair market value' for a player is actually determined.And we heard from PFA Managing Director Maheta Molango, on the state of the current transfer market, the welfare of the young footballers at the centre of these deals and if strike action is inevitable.Remember, you can send your questions, story suggestions or thoughts on the weekend's action to us - thesportsagents@global.com.New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

With now less than a week to go, we answer your General Election questions.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusVideo Production: : Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

This was a TV debate unlike any other. Excruciating doesn’t even cover it. Whilst Trump confidently lied his way through the facts, Biden barely reached the end of his sentences without meandering off into a far distant phrase. It was painful to watch and it will raise serious questions now amongst senior Democrats. Can they, must they replace Joe Biden as their presidential candidate?And if so who will be the first top figure to say it out loud?We take you through the most painful moments of the night and the conversations after the debate and ask if the voters will forgive this more easily - or if it’s time to take drastic action to save the Democratic Party from disaster in November.Editor: Gabriel Radus Video Production: Shane Fennelly The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents USA"Find our store here: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

A week today your Twitter feed will be filing up with dogs at polling station memes. Yes dear listeners the marathon is almost done.On today's episode we will be looking at two TV debates - last night we saw the prime ministerial candidates on stage for the last time. Tonight it’s the turn of the US presidential candidates in Atlanta, Georgia. Do these debates ever change minds or just let audiences get things off their chest?We will hear from the Trump campaign team and ask if the stakes are higher for Biden or Trump, or Sunak or Starmer?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Zeynel Can YuceSocial Media: Jacob PaulVideo Production: : Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

The latest numbers from More in Common suggest that Nigel Farage may come to regret his comments over Putin and the Ukraine war. Reform has slipped back in the polls - and one in four voters believe that Farage is sympathetic to Putin. How will any of this play into the way people vote for his party next week? But we start with the gambling scandal. Keir Starmer has become the latest party leader to dispatch a candidate for betting - after Ipswich candidate Kevin Craig was found to have placed a bet on himself losing. North of the border, the Conservatives Scottish Secretary has come under fire for his own political flutter - even though it was not done with any inside knowledge. Are we in danger of descending into moral panic over any gambling?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Zeynel Can YuceSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: : Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

We will be telling the extraordinary story of Julian Assange in this episode - how he gained such legendary status - and whether he was more saint or sinner - as he leaves Belmarsh prison and heads to his new life in Australia. But we have to start with the latest twist in the gambleshambles as, you’ve guessed it, Rishi Sunak has now bowed to the inevitable pressure and pulled his support from two candidates who admitted to making an ill advised bet on the date of the election. Why could the whole country see this coming except the PM? Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Zeynel Can YuceSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: : Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Why is the Mail having a go at Nigel Farage and why is Nigel Farage having a go at Boris Johnson? These three are now firm 'frenemies' - calling each other 'morally repugnant' and calling in the lawyers... What does it tell us about the power on the right of British politics? And is Farage now regretting his 'Putin friendly' comments? Later, the Gambleshambles has reached the dizzy heights of second most damaging gaff for the election campaign amongst members of the public. Why has the cut through been so strong? And why hasn't anyone in Tory HQ managed this scandal better?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: : Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

The Sunday Times report that Nick Mason, the party's chief data officer, is the fourth Conservative being looked into over bets allegedly placed on the date of the general election. But still, no one has been suspended by Rishi Sunak. Why not? And, how far and how high does Gamblegate go? Could even someone as high up as a cabinet member be allegedly implicated?And later, we talk Brexit 8 years on and Lewis is at a focus group in the crucial voting area and demographic of Whitby.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: : Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

This week on The Sports Agents,After Rory McIlroy's dramatic decision to take a break from Golf, following his collapse at the US Open, Gabby & Mark were joined by 2010 Ryder Cup winning captain and five-time major runner up Colin Montgomerie, to debate whether golf is the most mentally-challenging sport out there and to re-live the US Open he himself 'threw away' back in 2006. Later in the week, as Scotland kept their hopes a place in the knock-out stages of Euro 2024 alive, David Moyes joined Gabby for a morning coffee in Berlin, to discuss Tartan Army spirit, his own managerial future and player welfare as the number of games they're expected to play each season, continues to grow. Plus, with the new season's Premier League fixtures announced, we explored how the televised calendar really comes together with Sky Sports Director of Football Gary Hughes. Don't forget to rate, follow or subscribe so you never miss a show. Send your questions (or voicenotes) for our upcoming Euro 2024 Q&A to us at thesportsagents@global.com or via our socials. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

Emily, Jon and Lewis answer your General Election questionsEditor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusSocial Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell Video Production: : Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

In a move that I think we can safely say no-one saw coming , the Conservative campaign director has announced his own leave of absence two weeks out from polling day. His wife is a candidate. They are both being investigated for allegedly placing a bet on the date of the election before it was publicly announced. Another close protection officer has been arrested for misconduct. What is happening at the heart of his campaign and what is this doing to the state of the race. Later we see in a key Lab/Tory marginal talking to former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith who’s been the MP here for 32 years … - and to his newly selected Labour opponent Shama Tatler.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Zeynel Can YuceSocial Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell Video Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Election day is two weeks tomorrow. For some that can't come soon enough. Today - with the help of former Tory Chairman and ad man Lord Maurice Saatchi we assess the state of the campaign and ask how politicians are communicating with the public, and what the public is saying back. Is there such a thing as a campaign that's 'too nice'? And is this it? Later, we have the latest The News Agents/More in Common MRP poll and ask what will happen to the SNP and whether the methodology of how pollsters ask questions has changed?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Zeynel Can YuceSocial Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell Video Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Murdoch's Sun newspaper backing used to be 'a moment' in every UK general election campaign. Famously backing Blair in 97. Switching allegiance to Cameron over Brown in 2010. But this time around we have heard practically nothing. Is that because Murdoch hasn't made his mind up? Or because the enthusiasm for either candidate simply isn't there? Or is it a recognition that the power newspapers wield on the voter is waning?We speak to former Sun editor David Yelland, host of When it Hits The Fan about the role old and new media plays in politics now. And whether the Murdoch clan themselves may be moving on... Later, is Boris Johnson a help or a hinderance as he tries to endorse individual Tory candidates. And have you REGISTERED TO VOTE? You have until midnight Tuesday to do it - it only takes 2 minutes online.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Zeynel Can YuceSocial Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell Video Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

The man who brought you Brexit has launched his party's manifesto and complained about....Brexit. He recognises that small business has been more squeezed, immigration has rocketed , food costs have soared - but says the answer is to let him have your vote again so they can 'do Brexit properly'. Will voters believe him again?Later, we discuss the French football team's intervention into their own elections back home. Kylian Mbappé - a global superstar - is calling on voters to reject far-right politics in the shape of the National Rally (Le Pen) party. Will that influence the vote? Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Zeynel Can YuceSocial Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell Video Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Yesterday’s latest poll from Survation put the Conservatives on little more than seventy seats. This is political wipe out territory. Survation called it right on the 2019 Red Wall polling. So should we take this seriously? Also , how should the main parties deal with their Farage problem? But, even if Labour do win a massive super majority - how strong would that Labour Party be? Lewis goes to the tightest of marginals - Bristol Central - which might see one of the only Labour casualties of the night - to the leader of the Greens. It might provide context for what could happen to Starmer as soon as he gets the keys to no.10 - if the polls are to believed.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusSocial Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell Video Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

This week on The Sports Agents,How and why did an image of Arsenal's Bukayo Saka become the main feature on the back pages of almost every major newspaper following England's 1-0 defeat to Iceland... despite him only featuring as a 65th minute substitute.Football writer Henry Winter and Channel 4 sports correspondent Jordan Jarrett-Bryan joined Gabby and Mark and reveal how these photos are chosen and why the context is important when it comes to Saka and England.And as promised, also this week, we took a closer look at Netball Super League 2.0 - the fallout, the repercussions for the game at grassroots level and the perfect example of what happens when a 'smaller' sport makes the decision to go professional. NSL managing director Claire Nelson and Team Bath's own Kadeen Corbin were among those to feature on this special episode.Just scroll back through The Sports Agents feed to listen to these shows in full. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

Emily and Jon answer your General Election questions.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusSocial Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell Video Production: : Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Labour has launched a 25,000 word manifesto and as promised, there were no new rabbits and no hats. What we saw in Manchester was a newly confident Labour leader who barely paused in his answers to media questions: his lines were to script, his answers brief, and his stories well honed. But there were noticeable gaps in Labour's offering. Only two brief mentions of child poverty, and no restoration of the benefit to families of 3 children. That's despite another 100 thousand kids being pushed into poverty in the last year alone. Labour talks about 'hard choices' - but if this isn't a Labour priority, what is? We ask Labour's Peter Kyle what happens to those kids if the promised 'growth in the economy' doesnt come fast.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Zeynel Can YuceSocial Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell Video Production: : Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Emily, Jon and Lewis stayed up late to analyse the latest TV battle between Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer. Who came out on top this time around on Sky News?Editor: Tom HughesSocial Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell Video Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Tory frontbencher Grant Shapps has appeared to concede the Tories are now heading for defeat at the election and warned voters against allowing Labour a 'supermajority'. Does scaring people work as a campaign strategy? And is a supermajority a big problem for voters? We also hear from Lewis, who is on the campaign trail with Lib Dem leader Ed Davey. And later in the show we talk privilege, class, and pesky questions, after Rishi Sunak was asked what he had to go without when he was growing up.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Zeynel Can YuceSocial Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell Video Production: : Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Rishi Sunak launched the Conservative manifesto today at Silverstone. We’ve been trying to swerve the racing metaphors but the odd one crept in. He talked a LOT about tax cuts - doubling down on his disproven claim of Labour tax rises, but offered few new policies. The performance was polished. But has the public stopped listening? We talk to Home Secretary James cleverly and Deputy Foreign Secretary Andrew Mitchell. Later WE HAVE THE QUIZ RESULTS. And A WINNER is crowned.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Zeynel Can YuceSocial Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell Video Production: : Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Angela Rayner has told Lewis she carries the weight of working class women on her shoulders, and doesn't ever want to be the Labour Leader. Meanwhile in Paris, President Macron has thrown caution to the wind and 'done a Rishi'. He's called a snap parliamentary election to take on the party of Marine Le Pen. How should centrist leaders tackle their Far right parties? By bringing their policies into the fold - or defeating them and shutting them down? Does either really work? And in London, Lib Dem Leader Ed Davey pledges to put social care at the heart of his manifesto to 'Save the NHS'.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Zeynel Can YuceSocial Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell Video Production: : Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

It's manifesto week - Lib Dems announce theirs on Monday. Tories Tuesday. And Labour Thursday. But the cloud of Sunak's speedy D Day departure still hangs over him. Will this be terminal for Sunak?Later Lewis is in Leigh with North West voters there. And we have a QUIZ for you. Stay to the end.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusSocial Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell Video Production: : Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

In this week's general election Q&A special Emily, Jon and Lewis answer your questions on safe seats, compulsory voting, and the constituency they'd choose to stand in if they were running for parliament. All that and more.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusSocial Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell Video Production: : Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

This week on The Sports Agents, The extraordinary story of Khalida Popal - the first ever captain of the Afghanistan Women's National Football Team - hounded out of her country by those who believed women have no right to play and who orchestrated her team's daring escape from Afghanistan, when the Taliban returned. Then, as Manchester City announced legal action against the Premier League, Gabby & Mark found out if this new legal action could influence the outcome of their long-awaited hearing into 115 alleged breaches of the Premier League's financial rules - Sports lawyer Daniel Geey gave us his verdict. And former footballer-turned-agent, Paul Dalglish, joined us to discuss the ethics and issues in football agency, their role in multi-million pound transfers and why the industry needs to evolve.Just scroll back through The Sports Agents feed to listen to these interviews in full. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

Overnight, Richard Holden, The Tory Party chair parachuted himself into the safe seat of Basildon & Billericay. Which is 280 miles away from his former seat - North West Durham. Today, his former colleague and former Tory cabinet minister tells us why he's 'disgusting', and what she thinks will happen to Rishi's Tory party now. Does she accept that the rot set in with the lies, hypocrisy and calumny of Boris Johnson? You'll find out.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Zeynel Can YuceSocial Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell Video Production: : Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Rishi Sunak accused Keir Starmer of planning to put people's taxes up by £2,000 if he got into power - sums he said had been independently verified. This morning we learned they werent, after a top civil servant put the record straight. Labour are calling the PM a liar (he repeated his claim 11 times), but the Tories are standing by their figure - and say all's fair in love and campaign war. We discuss what TV debates do for viewers' understanding of policy, and find out what voters in Leigh took away from the TV clash. Later, Richard Holden, the actual Tory chairman, seems to be vacating one seat and parachuting himself into a safer one down south. His colleagues are up in arms.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Zeynel YuceSocial Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell Video Production: : Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

The first election debate is done. Sunak and Starmer had it out live, on television, for an hour. Did we learn anything? Jon and Emily watched from home and give their analysis. Meanwhile Lewis has been in the dreaded “spin room” in Salford, trying to parse through the politicians’ bluster. At the end of it all- will any of it make a difference?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusSocial Media Editor & Video Production: : Rory SymonYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

We’re in Clacton-on-Sea today. So, coincidentally, is Nigel Farage the new leader of the Reform party and prospective parliamentary candidate. We caught up with him, with the ex-leader Richard Tice, and with their Conservative opponent Giles Whatling. We also hear from people in the town about what they make of the latest offering from Farage. Can his soap box speeches stand up to scrutiny on any single policy?Editor: Tom HughesSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

So Nigel Farage is standing to be the Reform MP in Clacton. He’s stood before - (seven times if anyone is counting) but Clacton clearly feels to him like a pretty safe bet if he wants to be in the House of Commons for the next parliament. What is his game plan? And does this make Tory wipeout more likely? Later, does Kemi Badenoch understand the difference between sex and gender? She announced her new policy this morning but ended up sounding more confused than when she began. And our official pollsters More in Common bring you an exclusive MRP (general election style) poll ... with quite a few surprises.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Keir Starmer has had one of the toughest weeks as Labour leader, and yet the polls still show electoral wipeout for the Tories - as Starmer's personal ratings improve.Why is the tide not turning against Labour? And can the Tories do anything about it?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusSocial Media Editor: Rory SymonVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Lewis and Jon answer your questions on the Tory leadership, private schools, and downing pints. Plus much more.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Arvind BadewalProduction: Abigail BrierleyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

This week on The Sports Agents, UK cyclist Lizzy Banks joined Gabby & Mark in the studio, following her 10-month battle with UK Anti-Doping, for an insight into what actually happens when you fail a drugs test and the reality of trying to live as a 'clean' athlete under the current rules.The youngest executive in English football history, and current West Ham Director, Jack Sullivan, joined us later in the week to to help us find out how the big calls, like replacing the head coach, or voting on whether or not to scrap VAR, are actually made at Premier League clubs. Just scroll back through The Sports Agents feed to listen to these interviews in full. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

Trump is found guilty in New York. Just before 5pm on Thursday New York time the airwaves started cracking with news of an imminent verdict. Twenty minutes later the jury in a Manhattan court returned. And pronounced Donald Trump guilty on each one of the 34 counts. Donald Trump can still run for president. So in one respect this may change nothing. But let’s not let this moment of history escape - a former and possible future president who is now a convicted felon. What happens to his freedom, his vote and his temper now? And how should the Democrats play it?Editor: Gabriel RadusVideo Production: Rory SymonYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents USA"!The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/Find our store here: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Sir Keir Starmer is on a warpath. But not against the Tories but his own side. At least, what is nominally his own side. Starmer has poured petrol on the fire of the Diane Abbott imbroglio by deselecting several of his own left-wing candidates and MPs. Why is Starmer engaging in bloodletting in the middle of a general election campaign? Jon and Lewis discuss a party addicted to civil war.And we’re joined by the playwright of the moment, Jez Butterworth to discuss theatre, working with Harvey Weinstein, Baby Reindeer and his latest show, The Hills of California.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProduction: Abigail BrierleySocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersVideo Production: Rory Symon & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

It's day two of the Diane Abbott fiasco and the Labour party look no closer to getting to grips with the situation.Keir Starmer insists that no decision has been made on Abbott, but she says she's been banned from standing. How damaging could this be for the Labour campaign? And how has Starmer allowed it to dominate the headlines for the past 48 hours?Later, we discuss Nigel Farage's role in the campaign so far, and ask why he's getting so much airtime and being treated like he's a party leader.And we speak to The News Agents' official polling partner for the general election, More in Common, on whether the Tory proposed policy of National Service is actually a lot more popular than you first might think.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersVideo Production: Rory Symon & Arvind BadewalProduction: Abigail BrierleyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Rishi Sunak has had a gaffe-filled weekend amidst new policy announcements over the triple lock and compulsory National Service. Lib Dem leader Ed Davey has fallen into a 'sewage-stricken' lake whilst paddleboarding. It's only day 5 of the general election campaign, and it already feels like the campaign teams can't get away from awkward videos and uncomfortable photos. Why are the campaigns off to such a strange start?The two leaders have agreed to debate each other next week, as per The Telegraph. And when will Labour decide what to do with Diane Abbott?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProduction: Abigail BrierleySocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersVideo Production: Shane Fennelly, Rory Symon & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

The News Agents has new episodes every Sunday as we run-up to July 4th's UK General Election. We react as Lewis speaks to Home Secretary James Cleverly about why the Conservatives now want to introduce national service for every UK teenager, and we discuss whether election coverage provides a disproportionately large platform to minor parties with fringe views.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

James O'Brien joins us in The News Agents bunker to talk all things client journalism, talk radio, and whether he'll be as harsh on Labour as he has been this Conservative government, should Starmer win July's election.A final hurrah from... Laura FitzPatrickEditor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

This week on The Sports Agents,We brought you an exclusive interview between The News Agents' own Jon Sopel and the Arsenal and Ukraine defender Oleksandr Zinchenko - who reflected Arsenal's season and waning support for the war. A special insight into how world title fights are actually scored from the referee at the centre of what was described as the 'biggest robbery in boxing history'.Gabby & Mark then sat down with the Football League Chairman Rick Parry to discuss the widening gulf between the Premier League and The Championship, ahead of this weekend's Play-Off final. Plus, reaction to Gareth Southgate's provisional squad for this summer's Euros with Joe Cole and much more... New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

Each Thursday during the election campaign we are answering your questions.Do MPs get paid after Parliament breaks up? Why do majorities shrink so fast these days? What is purdah and what’s Farage up to? Later, Salman Rushdie talks to Emily about the knife attack that nearly killed him and the premonition he had that it would happen. We discuss censorship, hate, Gaza and Iran. And whether the attack has changed his political leanings.The best producer we could have asked for!: Laura FitzPatrickEditor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

So we finally have a date for the general election, and it’s very very soon.How is it going to go down with the voters ? How are Tory MPs feeling about being blindsided ? And has Rishi taken a massive, optimistic gamble or just given up?In our election special we discuss what just happened - and why.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly, Rory Symon & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

We are not ones to gossip but frankly the Westminster rumour mill is in overdrive, so we thought we should talk you through how the talk of a general election began and why we are all suspicious of a big announcement. Later, we talk to the Palestinian High Commissioner as three EU states - including Ireland - state their recognition of Palestine. What effect will this have - what changes? And we speak to the brother of an Israeli hostage - Naama Levi- about the sexual violence inflicted on women being held by Hamas since October.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

David Cameron has accused Rishi Sunak of hurting Britain’s soft power and putting universities at financial risk with his threat to curb the visa rights of international students. Rishi is desperate to see immigration numbers come down. But what will be the knock on effect of these curbs on our own students? Later, an interview with Ukrainian and Arsenal footballer Zinchenko - and why is Lee Anderson sounding one mushroomShort of a full English ?Editor: Tom HughesProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

The International Criminal Court is seeking arrest warrants for Israel's Prime Minister and Defence minister and three Hamas leaders - accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The Israeli cabinet has already hit back - calling it 'moral blindness'. But this means the country's leaders could face arrest in over 120 countries (the signatories to the ICC) if they travel abroad. Why has the prosecutor sought the warrants now - and what impact could this have on the war in Gaza and on Israel's relationships with the international community? Could Netanyahu really end up in the Hague?Later, as the infected blood scandal finally acnkowledges decades of failure and cover up we ask why these slow burn scandals that wreck so many lives are such a familiar story in the UK. And we talk to Omid Djalili about the death of Iran's PM in a helicopter crash.Editor: Tom HughesProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly& Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

We are on the ground in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, where Europe and Asia meet. For weeks hundreds of thousands of (overwhelmingly) Gen Zs have taken to the streets to protest against their government. The gates of Parliament have been stormed, tear gas repeatedly deployed, protesters beaten up and with even a fist fight among MPs thrown in.The clash has centred on the governing Georgian Dream Party’s “Foreign Agent” law, which opponents fear will be a tool to suppress political opponents. But the divisions being exposed in Georgia are far more fundamental and go much beyond than that. At the beating heart of it all is the influence of Russia, Vladimir Putin and a question which haunts many of the Soviet successor states- are we the next Ukraine? Lewis reports from Georgia in this special extended episode, where he tells a tale of geopolitical intrigue, of misinformation and conspiracy, and of a generation yearning for a different future. Field Producer: Gabriel RadusVideo Producer: Rory SymonYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

This week on The Sports Agents former England defender Rio Ferdinand joined us to discuss the stigma around mental health in football and whether teams are now better equipped to work with players who are struggling. We were also joined by Jadon Sancho's former youth coach and mentor Sayce Lewis-Holmes to find out more about the level of pressure on aspiring footballers today. Plus, with a huge final couple of days in the Premier League and WSL seasons this weekend, football writer Henry Winter talked us through a whole host of topics including the 115 charges for Manchester City over alleged breaches of financial fair play. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday

Keir Starmer has rolled up his sleeves, taken off his tie and headed to Essex to unveil his six first steps for government. Is Starmer looking for Blairite comparisons? Is there the same enthusiasm for change as there was in 1997? And what are the hard questions Labour still needs to answer, but won’t?Later we speak with Lewis in Tblisi ahead of another critical day of protests by those fighting the Russification of democracy in Georgia. And the big reveal today comes from Jon. Right at the end. Don’t miss it!Editor: Tom HughesProducer: Laura FitzPatrickField Producer: Gabriel RadusSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly, Rory Symon & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agentsJon’s brand-new book, Strangeland: How Britain Stopped Making Sense, will be available on 26th September 2024. To pre-order a copy or buy a ticket to Jon’s tour, please click this link: lnk.to/StrangelandsBook.Unlock priority booking for Jon’s tour with the presale code NEWSPRIORITY. General sale booking opens at midday on 17th May.

In an exclusive early interview we speak to the Government's Independent Advisor on Political Violence. John Woodcock, a cross party peer, has spent the last four years putting together recommendations to make public life safer by cracking down on extreme protest. He'll present his findings to parliament next week. Why do we need this? And which groups is he talking about banning? Is this a clampdown on democratic norms or a necessary precaution to protect those in public life. Later, why are the Labour MPs making scary 'whooooooo' noises in Prime Minister's Questions? All will be revealed....Editor: Tom HughesProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

We have a real live government Secretary of State with us in News Agents HQ today - David TC Davies insists the election still winnable for the Conservatives  - and says if you want to see what Labour would do in power, then look at the mess unfolding in Wales. Is he missing something or are we? Later, Peter Conradi - author of Who Lost Russia - takes us gently through all that is unfolding right now in Russia, Ukraine and Georgia, and why - despite the Western sanctions - it all speaks to a resurgent Putin.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

If it had been a speech about defence, it might have made more sense. But Rishi Sunak had no new policy offerings in todays pronouncement - he warned of a scary future under Starmer - then started talking about football shirts, ozempic, civic duty, literacy, and optimism. It was, in essence, an electioneering speech - criticising labour for blaming the Tories for the last 14 years. Meanwhile his Common Sense Minister Esther McVey has gone to war on the office lanyard. Later, will former lawyer and indeed felon Michael Cohen make or break Trump when he appears in court this week?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Lewis Goodall hosts a special report from Port Talbot, South Wales, where thousands of jobs are about to be lost at Tata Steel.Port Talbot is Britain's last great steelworks, and a community has been built around it for generations. But Tata has announced 2,800 job losses across the UK as part of the closure of the site's blast furnaces and a transition to greener steelmaking.We visited the site and the town itself, to assess the impact it could have on an economy already battered by the de-industrialisation of the 1980s.Editor: Tom HughesField Producer: Rory Symon Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

This week on The Sports Agents, Gabby & Mark took a closer look at a controversial new rule in cricket - the impact player in the IPL - and whether it's introduction became a threat to the fabric of the sport. The Telegraph's Nick Hoult joined us in the studio to discuss it's impact on the game and whether the current domestic schedule demands too much from players.And with the 'fight of the century' a week away between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, just how big is the latest drug scandal to hit boxing? Two-weight world champion Carl Frampton and broadcaster Adam Catterall explore how sensation Ryan Garcia is making headlines. Catch up with full episodes for more on how much Declan Rice's West Ham depature impacted David Moyes and his final season at the club, and just how do Real Madrid always find a way in the Champions League? New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

Did the Labour Party screw up in welcoming Natalie Elphicke into its party? One former frontbencher tells us Keir Stamer got this wrong. They're calling on him to now re-admit Dianne Abbott and Jeremy Corbyn into the Labour fold. Has Keir just made his life much harder in search of onesexy headline? Later, Is Biden about to stop arms sales to Israel - and why doesn't the Speaker of the House know about this? And what's happening to Israel's Eurovision entry. Can we remove politics from the cultural stage?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Very little political news is truly jaw dropping. But this morning's was. Natalie Elphicke, on the Conservative right of the party, and MP for Dover, has defected to Labour. She crossed the floor before Prime Minister's Questions and was warmly welcomed by Keir Starmer. It was not so long ago that Rachel Reeves was telling Elphicke to "fuck off", after her comments about Marcus Rashford. And it was not so long ago Elphicke herself was defending her convicted sex offender husband as being the 'victim of dirty politics'. Is this really the new face of Labour? Later, why has Astra Zeneca pulled it's Covid vaccine from the shelf. Is this about legal woes? Or commercial ones? And where is this country now on vaccine hesitancy? Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

The government is determined not to let a little thing like a disastrous set of local elections put it off its stride. Over the course of the bank holiday we were told that 'the plan is working... it just needs a little more time'. Labour is having none of it - accusing the PM of 'gaslighting' the public over the state of the UK economy. But what if the economy DOES start to improve? What if inflation DOES start to fall? Can the public be pursuaded things... can only get better...? We have an extended interview with Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves. Later. What do Javier Milei and Liz Truss have in common? Erm, nothing. Nothing whatsoever it transpires....The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agentsCip Credits:Rachel Reeves speech on Tuesday 7th MayAndrew Mitchell on Sky NewsAndrew Griffith on BBC Radio 4 Rishi Sunak on Sky NewsMark Harper speaking to Lewis Goodall on LBCIone Wells speaking to Javier Milei in Buenos Aires for BBC NewsLiz Truss interviewed on GB News

The local election and mayoral results flood in. How bad are they for the Tories? How much of that is Reform? And how well have Labour actually done?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agentsCip Credits:Ben Houchen with Sophie Ridge on Sky NewsRishi Sunak talking to BBC NewsAndrea Leadsom with Jo Coburn on PoliticsLive on BBC Two

This week on The Sports Agents, Gabby & Mark explored whether a Premier League salary cap will actually help smaller clubs bridge the gap to the 'Big 6' and if it could lead to a bigger drain on top English talent... Former Lioness Jill Scott was in the studio to explain why Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham is the obvious candidate to succeed Bayern Munich's Harry Kane as England captain - as they went head-to-head in the Champions League semi-finals. And legendary boxing promoter Frank Warren joined us to reflect on his rivalry with the Hearn family, the British public's complicated relationship with Tyson Fury and the night he was shot outside one of his shows... Catch up with the full episodes for more on Billy Vunipola's Mallorca arrest and Jadon Sancho's resurgence in Dortmund. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

After several delays, Brexit checks finally came into force this week - adding cost and delay to how small businesses can get their goods into the UK. It'll see prices pushed up on the consumer's end too.But, you won't hear either main party discussing this in great detail. Why? As an election issue - it's almost radio silence - even as the UK becomes the worst performing economy in the G7.We'll hear from Peter Foster from the Financial Times and What Went Wrong With Brexit on the Brexit economics and Labour's strangled relationship with this issue - and from Tim Shipman - chronicler of Brexit diaries with No Way Out - on what the Conservatives now make of the brexit they delivered.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

As of this week, Rishi Sunak can boast he has sent asylum seekers to Rwanda. Admittedly, it was just one guy. Admittedly he was paid £3k to go. Admittedly he'd already failed the asylum test to remain in Britain and admittedly - crucially - he went voluntarily. This is NOT the same forced deportation plan that Rishi promised would "stop the boats". But don't let pesky details get you down. The headline - conveniently dropping before tomorrow's local elections - make it sound like the Rwanda plan is flying. Later - what should you be looking out for in the Glastonbury weekend of fun that is the local elections. And what's going on with the protests on US college campuses - are we next?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

If the Palace of Westminster were a village - the Head of Counter Terrorism police tells us - NO one would dare to live there. Today we ask why so many of our MPs face threats to life - and what it's doing to our democracy more broadly, in terms of how they vote and speak out. Also, should we be concerned about actual terrorist acts from countries like China and Russia and Iran - are they operating on our streets - without the public even knowing?Editor: Tom HughesProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

On the stroke of midday, Humza Yousaf, Scotland's First Minister, made the announcement that just a week ago would have been unthinkable. Acknowledging the miscalculations he made in the sacking of his Green cabinet members last week - and the confidence vote he would - in all likelihood - have lost - the head of the Scottish government resigned. For fifteen years the SNP have been a political behemoth in Scotland - writing the rules of devolution and looking to a time of future independence. But after a year of utter political turmoil, is their time in power up? Today, we look at how we got here, the mistakes made, and who can take the party forward. We talk to a potential future leader, Stephen Flynn, and ask what this means for Labour at the General Election and for the shape of British politics more broadly.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

In 2024 Britain nearly 140,000 kids are homeless. Just because you don’t see them on the street doesn’t mean they’re not there. This is Britain’s temporary accommodation crisis, one which is worsening. Temporary accommodation was once a safe harbour for a few days, a week, a month or so at most. Now, thanks to rocketing rents and inadequate housing supply, more and more families find a single room in a hotel or accommodation block their permanent home. In this latest News Agents Investigates series, Lewis hits to road to find out just how big a problem it is, where it comes from and why so many working class kids may find themselves ruined by forces outside their control.Producer: Laura FitzPatrickVideo Production: Rory SymonYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

This week on The Sports Agents...A Premier League launched an attack on VAR via their social media account - and threatened legal action... Is there actually any legal recourse for victims of a dodgy offside decision? The Athletic's David Ornstein joined us on the pod to discuss the chaos at Nottingham Forest. Ultra-marathon runner Jasmine Parris then spoke to Gabby & Mark about becoming the first women to ever complete the Barkley Marathons and just what it takes to conquer the legendary 100-mile race.With the NFL Draft taking place this weekend and the number one pick going to Mark's beloved Chicago Bears, former Dallas Cowboys star Jason Bell told us how it all works and why the ingenious system should be the envy of European football. And after Liverpool's defeat to Everton in midweek we asked if Jurgen Klopp has announced his Anfield departure too soon. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

Lord Neil Kinnock - Labour leader from 1983 to 1992, Thatcher's biggest rival in her pomp, joins Lewis in the studio for a sit down chat to talk about his political life, from the 1950s to Harold Wilson, his interactions with Jeremy Corbyn and his hopes, (or whether he has any doubts), about Sir Keir Starmer.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickInterview Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Rory SymonVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Scotland's First Minister is facing a confidence vote after he pulled the plug this morning on his coalition government by ejecting the two Green party members of his cabinet. Humza Yousaf is making the case for a fresh start - unburdened by culture wars issues and climate change issues pulling the SNP in a direction it's no longer prepared to go in. But the Conservatives in Scotland smell blood. Can they bring the whole government crashing down with their vote? Later, Mick Lynch on the Labour plan for railways and what he makes of Angela Raynor's housing issue. And we bring you the snap results - from JL Partners - of which way GB News viewers are voting. It's quite the poll.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickInterview Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Rory SymonVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

The Prime Minister is in Europe this week making the case for an increase in defence spending of £75 billion over the next six years - to deal with growing global threats in a turbulent world. That's the headline at least. But Labour is asking pesky questions. Where is the new money actually coming from? And is the lift as great as it actually seems? We break down the numbers a little to see if the sums work. Later, Angela Rayner put her own housing issues centre stage at PMQs today against the Deputy PM. Did it work? And is 'pint size' now legit criticism in the Commons? And what's happening to TikTok after US legislators voted to see it banned or sold?Editor: Tom HughesProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Australia’s PM is at war with Elon Musk - calling him an ‘arrogant billionaire’ - and worse. He’s fighting to get violent images of a church stabbing in Sydney banned from Twitter/X. Elon Musk says it's censorship and an infringement on free speech. So who is going to win out here - regulation or tech money? Later, as more immigrants die in the Channel, we ask if Rwanda can act as a deterrent. And - on St. George’s day - what does patriotism mean to you - red and white cuff links? Cups of tea? Or mumbled embarrassment?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducers: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Rishi is making those naughty Lords stay in the chamber until they pass his Rwanda Bill without pesky amendments. That may come in the early hours of tomorrow morning. But even once the legal hurdles are passed, the practicalities will still be fiendish. Why has the first plane date been delayed again? Which airline is willing to take on the legal risk? How do immigrants' 'inadmissability appeals' work? And why did the government slip out the 24% INCREASE on small boat arrivals during this morning's press conference?Later, what actually happened in that encounter between the policeman and the antisemitism campaigner. And - Huw Edwards resigns from the BBC - what happens now.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducers: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

This week on The Sports Agents... A Sports Agents exclusive - Mark & Gabby had a first-look at an independent report into diversity at the senior levels of sport across every major National Governing Body in UK - Sporting Equals Chief executive Arun Kang joined them in the studio to unpack the findings...Former Lioness Eni Aluko then reflected on her own experiences - after becoming the first black woman in Italy to own a football club.Plus, how damaging were Manchester City & Arsenal's Champions League exits for English football's chances of a fifth qualifying spot in next season's competition? And after Lord Seb Coe announced he had chaired the first meeting of The Old Trafford Regeneration taskforce - Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham sat down with Mark to talk about public money, opportunity and London 2012.Here's some of our favourite bits - new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

The Middle East, the world, not for the first time in these long six months, has been holding its breath. Ever since Iran fired 300 hundred rockets into Israel, itself a response to the Israel’s killing of several senior Iranian military figures in Damascus, that dreaded word “escalation” has haunted the conversation, the grim realisation that the region, maybe more than the region, is just one mistake, one miscalculation away from all out war in every direction. Overnight, the promised Israeli retaliation to the Iranian attack came, with missle attacks in the heart of Iran itself, in the cities of Isfahan and Tabriz. Is this it? Can we exhale again? And for how long?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducers: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

**Since publication, Savanta revised the polling data included in this episode to show the Labour candidate on a two point lead. More information here**A 3am call, and a Tory MP talking about a life or death situation in which he was being held captive in a flat. Amazingly, that wasn't even the weirdest bit. As the day, and the story, unfolded, there were allegations of campaign money donated by Conservative supporters being used to pay for the MP's medical bills and more. Mark Menzies , Fylde MP, is just - remarkably - the latest in a long line of MPs - both Tory and Labour - who have lost the whip this parliament. What's going on? Has scandal become easier to detect? Harder to hide? Or is this what the end of every reign starts to feel like? We talk to the Times journalist who broke the story, Billy Kenber, and to the man whose job at the heart of Downing Street was interfacing between the PM and his MPs' each time scandal broke, Craig Oliver. Later, whats going on in the West Midlands race? We have exclusive Savanta polling.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducers: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Yes, yes, yes. She crashed the economy, has blamed everyone else, made Britain a laughing stock, inflicted higher mortgage rates on millions of households, and was the shortest serving prime minister in our history. But her 49 days has spawned a 100,000 word book (be thankful she didn’t last ten years - can you imagine how long that book would be?). And it does have a central argument - that Britain has become an administrative state, with civil servants ruling the roost. Does she have a point? We speak to John McTernan, Tony Blair's former political advisor, and Tom Fletcher, diplomat who's co-authored a report for the UCL Policy Unit on the need for Whitehall reform.Meanwhile Rishi Sunak is likely to get his Rwanda legislation passed this week. But will getting planes off the ground happen anytime soon?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducers: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

It was a conference that few people here would have ever noticed. Suella, Nigel, Orban - speakers deemed "far right" by the Brussels authorities - found their conference filled with Belgian police as they took to the stage for their NatCon gathering. The Federal Deputy served a court order on the grounds the conference "endangered public safety" and asked for its immediate closure. Cue great excitement amongst the Nat Conners. They could not be more delighted with this intervention which allowed them to rail - with some justification - against "Belgian democracy". Has it helped their cause and fuelled their victimhood narrative? Or were police right to act? Later, Rishi wants to ban smoking for anyone born after Jan 1st 2009. Can he? and should he?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducers: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

On Saturday night, Israel warned its citizens to go to a safe room and prepare to spend the night there. Two hours later, Iran began sending drones into Israeli territory - revenge for the killings of 7 men in the Iranian consulate two weeks ago in Damascus, Syria. Of the 350 drones, 99 percent were intercepted. Tragically -and miraculously - there was only one reported injury - a 7 year old Israeli bedouin child. So what happens next? Does Israel retaliate? Or heed it's allies and 'walk away with a win'. We talk to Tim Marshall and Yaakov Katz who know this war well. Later, Liz Truss tells our colleague Iain Dale she has 'unfinished business'. Is that a sign she's coming back? Her new book is out tomorrow. His interview with her is out tonight. We give you the sneak peak.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducers: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

This week on The Sports Agents... An array of stardust as the likes of legendary jockeyAP McCoy and Team GB icon Denise Lewis joined Gabby & Mark on the podcast. Is your Premier League club trying to kill off season tickets and is Everton's latest points deduction fair? Does Seb Coe deserve credit for announcing prize money will be paid to Athletes who win gold at the Olympics - and after terror threats at Champions League games - how will Paris ensure fan safety at the Games this summer?All this and much more on the Sports Agents over the last seven days.Here's a little flavour of some of the highlights...

On today's episode, we speak to Europe's first black leader - Vaughan Gething, the new First Minister of Wales. In an extended conversation, we talk his rise to the top of Welsh politics amidst experiences of racism, his political motivations and what is next for Wales if Labour return to power.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducers: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly and Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

TW: This episode includes discussions around suicide. If you need someone to talk to, Samaritans listen. Call them on 116 123.Last week, The National Union of Education voted overwhelmingly at their conference to 'abolish Ofsted' - saying it causes more harm than good and needed urgent and fundamental reform. They can't, of course, but today we - with your help - are asking if Ofsted is fit for purpose. We hear from teachers and heads - our listeners - who tell us what needs to change. We speak to Julia Waters, the sister of Ruth Perry, the Head of Caversham Primary who killed herself in the aftermath of an 'inadequate' rating and inspection, and finally we speak to Ofsted's new head - Sir Martyn Oliver. Does he think Ofsted has made mistakes? Did he fire anyone following the coroners verdict into Ruth's death? Would he change the one word summary ruling of 'outstanding' down to 'inadequate'. And how does he reflect upon words and actions of Amanda Spielman, his predecessor at Ofsted - criticised by many teachers for failing to find the right, compassionate tone in the face of that tragedy.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducers: Laura FitzPatrick & Shane FennellySocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly and Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

William Wragg, the MP who found himself blackmailed by a person to whom he'd sent explicit photographs - last night resigned the Conservative party whip. It means Sunak has lost another MP - Wragg will quit parliament anyway after the next election. He was the victim of a honeytrap which lured him into believing the messages he was receiving from a stranger. But he was also unwise enough to share colleagues contact details when pressured by his blackmailer. Today we go back to the origins of the honeytrap story with the Politico journalist who broke the story, Aggie Chambre. Later we look at Sunak's relationship with the voter - as revealed in this morning's LBC interview with various callers. What does it tell us about his campaigning strategy?Editor: Tom HughesProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly and Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

It is a truth near-universally acknowledged (amongst pollsters at least) that Labour will be the largest party at the next election. But how would they actually differ from the Tories in terms of what they do once in power?They've pledged not to raise taxes and not to remove the recent cuts. They're determined to be fiscally responsible - which means little room for spending plans. So what will actually change - at a moment when the country is crying out for repair? We talk to Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting. And - Suella has returned from Israel and come to the LBC studios to share her thoughts on the Middle East and the shape of the Tory party. Does she represent a significant chunk of the country in what she thinks? We discuss. Oh and Liz Truss was given advice by the Queen - which she ignored...Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon and Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Police are re-examining claims Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner may have broken electoral law more than a decade ago by failing to pay a capital gains tax worth around £2000. Is there a real story here? Is it about impropriety? Class? Big money vs. small money? And who’s behind it? Later author of Autocracy Inc. Anne Applebaum on Donald Trump's plan to “end the Ukraine war“ and why it makes no sense.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon and Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

This week on The Sports Agents, your questions for Gabby & Mark on everything from Olympics predictions, to how the panel on Match of the Day is selected! Plus, Sky Sports NFL analyst Phoebe Schecter on Louis Rees-Zammit's chances of becoming a regular starter for the reigning Super Bowl champs, after he made the switch from Rugby to NFL.And a closer look at the 'fractured' state of Golf - a week away from The Masters - with English pros Richard Bland and Laurie Canter on the reality of playing on the controversial breakaway LIV Golf tour.New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

Ian Hislop, editor of The Private Eye and team captain on Have I Got News For You sits down with Lewis for an extended conversation about political satire in the modern era of the Westminster psychodrama, and what it was like to have contestants like Piers Morgan and Boris Johnson on his show.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly and Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

In the early hours of Thursday morning Layla Moran - the only British MP of Palestinian heritage- received news she’d been longing to hear for months. Her family had finally escape from Gaza. Through perilous crossings and treacherous check points a family of five - including a seventy year old grandmother and two young children- had walked to safety. As Layla herself recognises their relief is starkly contrasted with the two million others who can’t escape. Today we hear that story. And we ask why the Lib Dem’s have referred Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron to the ethics adviser over questions of whether he concealed what he knew about the illegality of Israel’s war. We will discuss whether there is a case for government to answer. And where the war in Gaza goes now.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly and Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

The Prime Minister has called the Israeli Prime Minister's actions in Gaza 'increasingly intolerable' in a phone call with Netanyahu after the deaths of three British aid workers in an Israeli airstrike.The words are tougher than we've seen before. But the PM is now coming under pressure to end arms sales to Israel. Will he wait for America to move first? Is he watching to see where public opinion goes? Should Keir Starmer be more forthright - as the Lib Dem leader has been - in taking the initiative and call for arms sales to end - something many in his party are desperate to see. We speak to Zarah Sultana , the Labour backbencher who's been at the forefront of this appeal - and to former Labour front bencher Jess Philips. Later, what time is it on The Moon and why does NASA believe we need to sort it out?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly and Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

A new law has Police Scotland saying that they'd investigate every online hate crime. But what they've categorised as a hate crime has caused controversy. Why? And should the state decide what is and isn't a protected characteristic?And - Israel accept responsibility and apologise for a rocket strike that's killed foreign aid workers in Gaza. It comes after a precision stirke on the Iranian consulate in Syria. What is the IDF doing - and is it ostracising their greatest allies the US even further?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly and Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

This week, The Sports Agents dug into why Arsenal are still in a league of their own when it comes to the commercial success of their Women's team, how Gabby became 'obsessed' with Andy Murray and if Gareth Southgate would be a perfect fit for Man United's new owners?And to keep you going over the extended Easter weekend Gabby & Mark also found out all about Corinthians FC - one of the finest teams in English football history, that you've probably never heard of!New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

Your questions answered in a special Q&A edition of the podcast with Emily, Jon and Lewis.Editor: Tom HughesSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly and Rory SymonYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Forget everything you know about an exploding world population. The sad truth is, our birthrate is plummeting globally to the point where there soon won't be enough young workers to take care of the aging population. What happens then? Can you financially incentivise people to have kids? Should we be thinking harder about immigration? And why does this subject - and its pronatalist rhetoric - so often become the domaine of the authoritarian right? We'll hear from Elon, Jordan and Jacob - about why we should all be having more babies.Plus Robert Colville and Stephen J Shaw.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly and Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Once you have revealed that China is hacking British citizens on a major and global scale, the next question is - well, what are you going to do about it? Well this is the one the prime minister is currently pondering. He's talking about putting China on an 'enhanced' list - which basically sounds like a glorified registration. But is he prepared to risk trading links? Or shut down Confucious institutes in the UK - China's soft power - or even say no to tiktok? Also - the Tavistock child gender identity services are shutting their doors for good this week, after the Care Quality Commission declared the care they were offering our children was 'inadequate'. We speak to the investigative journalist Hannah Barnes, who helped expose the failures at the Tavistock. And we ask where children in need of help should seek it now?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly and Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

The bombing of a Moscow concert hall left at least 137 dead and even more wounded. The regrouped ISIS - now ISIS K- have claimed responsibility even though Putin is insisting on blaming Ukraine. Why has ISIS come for Putin? What does it tell us about the strategic alignments now dominating the Middle East, and does this act of terror bring the threat of more closer to home? Also - another by-election looms in the marginal seat of Blackpool South as Tory MP Scott Benton resigns. And Donald Trump wins a golf course. Organised by Donald Trump.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly and Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Influential left-wing commentator Owen Jones is in News Agents HQ a day after he quit the Labour Party - despite being a member since he was 15 - on account of what he perceived to be Keir Starmer's fundamental 'dishonesty'. We ask him why he thinks that, whether Labour have lost his vote forever, and if he wants to become the left-wing's Nigel Farage.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly and Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

This week, The Sports Agents took a closer look at the state of Rugby Union, reflected on Nottingham Forest becoming the latest Premier League club to suffer a points deduction, as well as, the infamous story of one, Ali Dia... On Tuesday, Andy Burnham - Greater Manchester Mayor and furious Everton fan - certainly didn't hold back when discussing why the Premier League needs an independent regulator. Top comedians Dara O'Briain and Josh Widdicombe were then on hand to talk about their six-part podcast series exploring the phenomenon of Ali Dia’s overnight rise to the Premier League – for 53 minutes.Then on Thursday, it was Rugby Union under the microscope as Courtney Lawes, Louis Rees-Zammit, Premiership CEO Simon Massie-Taylor and Wales legend Sam Warburton joined Gabby & Mark to debate the biggest threats to Rugby's future.New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon.

At 6pm on Friday the Princess of Wales released a video statement. In it, she discusses her cancer diagnosis for the first time. She acknowledges the difficulties facing their family in maintaining their privacy throughout her diagnosis and treatment. Will she now be left alone? And will the conspiracy theories stop? Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly and Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

There's only one poll that counts and that's the actual election and that's not today. We know that, we get it, but the latest numbers from YouGov are worth looking at to see a direction of travel that might be staring us in the face. Tonight's poll for The Times puts the Conservatives on 19 percent and Reform Party just behind them on 15. Is it conceivable that they overtake today's party of government at the general election? And what is the demographic that is propping up the newcomer Reformistas? Later, why is the Rwanda bill being pushed back if there is - according to the PM - a 'migrant emergency'?And we answer the question on everyone's lips - where is Jon's favourite Amish town - and what's it called..Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon and Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Margaret Thatcher has been out of power for thirty years but this week it's started to feel like she's back in the room. Rachel Reeves, shadow chancellor, gave the agenda-setting Mais lecture to the City of London last night, setting out her vision for Labour's first term in office and invoking the spirit, if not the policies, of Thatcher. David Lammy, her colleague, was quick to endorse both women when asked about it on the Politico podcast. Is the mention of Thatcher a way of winning over the unconvinced? Or is it a message about the radical nature of what is to come? Later, We discuss the Rwanda plan and the absence of effective diplomacy in Gaza with former foreign secretary David Miliband. And why has Leo Varadkar decided to quit frontline Irish politics?Editor: Tom HughesSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellProducer: Alex BarnettVideo Production: Rory Symon and Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Even after Kate Middleton appeared IRL at a local Windsor farm shop, the Tiktok conspiracy theories continued. Was it really Kate? Was the photo staged? Why did the video look different to the still image? On and on.The Royals have always generated frenzied gossip. What was once shared over a neighbourly picket fence is now just dispersed online. But does that change how the Royals should respond? Should they hold their nerve or feed the beast? We talk to Royal Correspondent Peter Hunt. Later, EU leaders have caved into the demands of European farmers by imposing higher tariffs on Ukrainian imports. Are they more scared of Putin or their own pitchfork protesters? And what will it mean for the war?Editor: Tom HughesSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellProducer: Alex BarnettVideo Production: Rory Symon and Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

The weekend has been awash with talk of yet another leadership putsch. Is Penny Mordaunt on manoeuvres? Is Kemi Badenoch scheming? The answer is probably no - for now - but it points to a sense of inexorable crisis in a party which is only now realising the scale of the loss that may be careering down the tracks towards them. Could enough of the parliamentary party be persuaded that more of them could survive if they replaced Rishi? And would Rishi REALLY pull the rip cord - announcing an election - if he felt that coming? We speak to the 1922 committee Treasurer, Geoffrey Clifton Brown. Also, what is Ofcom up to? And is it running scared of GB News? We discuss.Editor: Tom HughesSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellProducer: Alex BarnettVideo Production: Rory Symon and Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/Clips:BBC Breakfast: Kemi Badenoch with Jon Kay The Exploding Heads: GB News/Ofcom

This week, The Sports Agents were invited to the head offices of 'The Enhanced Games' to interview President Aron D'Souza - who wants to put on an Olympic-style event where all the athletes are permitted (even encouraged) to dope... Don't forget your popcorn for this one!Then on Thursday, Gabby & Mark were joined by boxing promoter Eddie Hearn, to discuss the role the sport is playing in Saudi 'sportswashing'. Plus, why owners of football clubs can't seem to stop at buying just one, and why Liverpool are following suit?New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon.

British politics has been dominated by race this week. The big picture is that certain ideas which would once have been unsayable are now commonplace within the Conservative Party. Sayeeda Warsi was at the centre of the Cameron modernisation project, where he sought to bring ethnic minorities into the tent. Now she’s in the wilderness and gives us a perspective of the changes which have taken place in her party. Among other things she calls some Tory ministers “arsonists” who seek to divide and that Michael Gove should be “nowhere near” communities and extremism policy. And the Democrat Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has called on Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu to resign or be replaced by elections as he is a “block” on the peace process. Will Biden be next to call for Israeli elections? Jon was bored at home so made a rare Friday appearanceEditor: Tom HughesSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellProducer: Alex BarnettVideo Production: Rory Symon and Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Michael Gove has announced today that the government is redefining extremism. But given they've taken up to 15 million pounds worth of donations from a man who said Diane Abbott should be shot, do they really have any credibility doing so this week?Lewis interviews Keir Starmer in an exclusive for LBC and asks whether Diane Abbott has a place back in his Labour Party.Editor: Tom HughesSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellProducer: Alex BarnettVideo Production: Rory Symon and Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

The PM has belatedly conceded that the comments in which a Tory donor expressed his urge to 'shoot all black women' WAS actually racist. He's still not giving the money back. No, that would be a step too far. He praised Frank Hester's move to 'apologise' and 'show remorse'. Hester apologised only for his rudeness, we should remember, not his threatening misogynist racist language. How does it feel to be sent out by Sunak to do the rounds - defending this stuff? And why are the men in grey suits meeting with the Prime Minister? Is this normal ? Or suspicious? Does Rishi still have control of his party - or is his authority on the wane? Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickVideo Production: Rory Symon and Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Today's Tory 'was it racist?' row centres a donor who's given the Conservatives more than ten million pounds. The Guardian scoop revealed comments he made 5 years ago - centring on the now-suspended Labour MP Dianne Abbott whom he blamed for making him 'want to hate all black women'. Rishi Sunak has called the comments 'clearly unacceptable' but refused to call them racist. Is there any chance he'll chose to return the money? And why is the Tory party struggling with yet another case of the 'Lee Anderson's'. Later, an exclusive: The prison in England where MORE inmates are on drugs than are NOT. What's going wrong with our prison system? And what's the knock-on effect?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickVideo Production: Rory Symon and Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Lee Anderson has defected to the Reform Party, saying he’d done a lot of soul-searching on his political journey, and wants his country back. He had of course already been kicked out of the Conservative Party for those ‘islamist’ slurs against Sadiq Khan, so when we say ‘defected’ we mean from being a party-less whip-less MP. Nevertheless, the move may chill his former colleagues - and the PM himself, who will wonder if the Lee he championed as his former deputy chair DOES in fact ‘speak for millions around the country’ and whether he will take voters with him. Later, ’THAT PHOTO’. Why the news agencies wont touch it, and why the apology from the Princes of Wales did little to clarify. Do we owe our Royals privacy ? Or do they owe us transparency? The News Agents have a heated debate.Editor: Tom HughesProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Rory SymonVideo Production: Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Welcome to The Sports Agents, a brand-new twice-weekly addition to The News Agents podcast family, hosted by Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman... This week Gabby & Mark explored the big scandal in Formula One surrounding Red Bull team boss Christian Horner, found out a little more about Manchester City and England star Phil Foden and discussed Saudi Arabia's increasing influence in heavyweight boxing.Here's a little flavour of what you can expect. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon.

There is fury surrounding a bid by the former head of CNN to buy The Telegraph and The Spectator due to the involvement of the Abu-Dhabi-backed RedBird IMI investment groupIn an exclusive interview, media executive, Jeff Zucker - who is leading that group - tells us about a "serious campaign" against his bid, and that the Chair of The Spectator Andrew Neil, is a "hypocrite" in his opposition to the takeover bid, because he says Mr Neil wanted to be at the heart of the deal.In response, Andrew Neil refuted Mr Zucker's claims about him, saying "his memory is playing tricks on him." He added: "I have made it clear I will have nothing to do with [the group] and will walk away in the unlikely event [Mr Zucker] succeeds in acquiring The Spectator.Editor: Tom HughesProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Michelle Donelan is Rishi Sunak’s Science Secretary. She has accepted that she libelled an academic. That’s unusual. It’s even more unusual that the taxpayer is paying her libel bill. Lewis asks, why this has come about? Discover that to some extent, as always, all roads lead to Boris Johnson. We also ask whether we need to look at this through a different lens- whether this weird episode is part of the Conservative Party’s “Islamist” obsession.Editor: Tom HughesProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

The Chancellor of the Exchequer made a fat joke about the Leader of the Opposition on the floor of the House of Commons as he delivered his Spring Budget today. It was one of the only things he said that wasn't pre-trailed, making for an unremarkable speech about further temporary fuel duty freezes, National Insurance cuts and the creation of the Great British ISA. Lewis has all the details with LBC's Poilitical Editor Natasha Clark and The Times' Economics Correspondent Jack Barnett.Meanwhile, Emily has been locked in a battle with Trump's most die hard conspiracy theorist, Marjorie Taylor Green. They spent Super Tuesday in Trump's Mar-a-Lago ballroom, where the former President sped to victory.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickVideo Production: Rory Symon and Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

The Conservative Party have just received their worst polling results of all-time, with Ipsos now showing Tory support at just 20 points. It's the worst Tory numbers since polling began in 1978, so Lewis picks it all apart and analyses how bad things have got for Rishi Sunak on the eve of the budget.Later in the show we're in Washington DC with Jon and Emily for Super Tuesday.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickVideo Production: Rory Symon and Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

After everything that’s happened - the million plus deaths from Covid, the January 6th insurrection, the indictments, the law suits the debts and the sexual abuse - why are we even talking about a Donald Trump comeback? Britain doesn't get it, most of Europe doesn't. But America does. Today, we take you -not just behind the curtain, but right into the heart of the MAGA bunker - and the strategy for 2024. Which voters do they need? Who have they lost? And what’s the plan if Trump wins? Later, in the least surprising news ever, the Supreme Court has ruled Donald Trump MUST stay on the ballot in Colorado. What will Nikki Haley voters do once her path to the nomination closes? And who is the third Republican nominee for President? We have the interview.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickVideo Production: Rory Symon & Shane FennellyThe News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

The News Agents: USA, on Global PlayerWe're in Richmond, Virginia for Donald Trump's last rally before he is almost certainly crowned the Republican candidate for president. But who are the voters queuing for miles to get into the sold-out event? What do they think - and what motivates them to vote for a man indicted 91 times?We're the only foreign press able to get into the rally. The Trump team wouldn't let anyone else in. Listen to find out what it's like at the heart of MAGA America. Click here to find us on Global Player

George Galloway has said that Keir Starmer’s woken up to his “worst nightmare”, after the former Labour MP won the Rochdale by-election by almost 6,000 votes.Jon and Lewis analyse Galloway’s victory, and ask what this means for Keir Starmer ahead of this year’s General Election. Is it really the nightmare scenario Galloway is making it out to be?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickVideo Production: Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/Clips:GB News, George GallowayLBC, Ellie ReevesCherwell, Oxford University, George Galloway

Right now the Treasury are flying more kites than you would see on top of Parliament Hill on a windy day. This comes ahead of next week’s budget - the last before the general election. But one policy is particularly eye-catching. It's the idea that the Tories are about to tax non-doms - the flagship Labour policy. Whether you want to call it shooting Keir’s fox or stealing his clothes, it would be an audacious move.Also, how do the Royal family square the circle of remaining in the public eye while wanting maximum privacy at this difficult time? Couldn’t their communications be more effective?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickVideo Production: Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!

Liz Truss was doorstepped by the BBC in Westminster today and asked to explain why she'd been talking about the dangers of the 'deep state' at a Washington Conference over the weekend. Keir Starmer went one step further in his Commons questions - asking Rishi Sunak why he hadn't kicked her out of the party for her 'tin hat' conspiracy theories? Keir Starmer loves Liz Truss as he's seen polling showing just how unpopular she is with the public. He's trying to tie her travails to those of a weak leader, too scared to move against the former PM. Later, is it the Home Secretary's job to tell Gaza protesters to go home? James Cleverly gave The Times an interview to say it was stretching police resources, and everyone already understood their message. Is that how protesting works? Is that how politics work? We speak to the former Met Assistant Commissioner Helen King and Liberty - who's taking Suella to the High Court today.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickVideo Production: Shane FennellyClips:BBC, Liz TrussSky News, Chris PhilpYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!

Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman, two of the UK’s best sports broadcasters, host a brand new twice-weekly podcast exploring the stories behind the sports... Drawing on their wealth of experience and insight, with exclusive interviews and expert analysis, Gabby & Mark tackle the big issues and explain not just what’s happening, but why. They'll also bring a healthy dose of humour when needed too.The Sports Agents will bring you inside the greatest sporting events from around the world in what promises to be a truly memorable year of sport.New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.The Sports Agents is a Global Player Original Podcast.

Paul Scully, former Minister for London, has given his first extended interview to The News Agents since he talked about 'no-go' areas in Tower Hamlets and Birmingham. What did he mean? And what was he trying to say about Lee Anderson? What is it about the Tories deputy chairmen that makes them say this stuff? Today, we have a go at answering that. Is Rishi scared of losing the voters he thinks Lee Anderson stands for? And is he right to think Lee talks for the Red Wall? Or is that just a slur in it's own right? Later, what was President Biden doing in an ice cream parlour talking about Gaza.Editor: Tom HughesProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Gabriel RadusVideo Production: Rory Symon & Shane FennellyClips:X, Rosie HoltLBC, Michael TomlinsonBBC Radio London, Paul ScullyMSNBC, Joe BidenYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Emily, Jon and Lewis answer your questions in this bonus episode of The News Agents exclusively on Global Player.Editor: Tom HughesYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Former Deputy Tory Chair Lee Anderson was suspended from the Conservative party this weekend after accusing the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan of 'giving the capital city away to his (Islamist) mates.' In Sadiq Khan's first extended interview, he tells the News Agents that Anderson 'practices the politics of hate' and the Tory party has shown a tacit approval for it. We also chat Rochdale and whether the SNP should get a second chance from the Speaker to hold their Meaningful Vote on a ceasefire.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Shane FennellyClips:Lee Anderson with Chris Hope on GB News on FridayRishi Sunak on BBC Radio York this morningMark Harper on Nick Ferrari on LBC this morningSky News doorstep of Mr. Anderson this afternoonYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Joe Lycett is one of the biggest comedians in Britain today. He has also, over time, become more and more political. He’s had a new show on Channel 4 this week, Joe Lycett vs Sewage, where he has tried to expose and understand one of the biggest public policy scandals of our time. In this extended conversation with Lewis, he talks about what drives him, his slow politicisation, and why arguments about “woke” comedy, leave him cold.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Shane Fennelly You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Sir Paul Marshall is a Tory donor, hedge fund millionaire, co-owner of GB News and - according to his anonymous Twitter account - amplifier of far right conspiracy theories and extremist views on the Great Replacement Theory. In today’s episode, Hope Not Hate has worked with The News Agents to ask why a front runner bidding to buy the Telegraph has been engaging with anti Muslim statements by Britain First - and has - since we first approached him - deleted hundreds of likes and retweets from his now empty account. Sir Paul has said they are not aligned with his views and represent 'a small proportion’ of his social media posts. Will the government find him a fit and proper person to own media in the UK? Later, chaos in the Commons. What did last night’s ruckus really mean? Will the Speaker survive? Are our MPs safe ?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Shane Fennelly You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Why did Kemi Badenoch accuse a whistleblower of lying - in a row over compensation payouts to Post office victims?And why isn't the Prime Minister prepared to investigate what was actually said? Today, Keir Starmer put those questions to the government in the tone of a barrister preparing a quiet but devastating court case. Is Kemi sure she's right, even though the sacked chairman of the Post Office is fighting back? And what happens to her - the darling of the Tory right and leadership front runner - if she's proved wrong. Later, how much power does Sue Gray wield in the Labour party? We talk to Keir Starmer's biographer Tom Baldwin.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Prince William has expressed his deep concern about the terrible human cost of the middle east conflict and expressed his desire to see an end to the fighting as soon as possible. There's lots of head scratching going on right now: is the heir to the throne calling for a ceasefire? Is this the governments line or just the monarchy's position? Did this come from the Foreign Office? And should he be getting involved at all? Meanwhile, as Labour finally find a way of demanding an immediate ceasefire, we talk to the SNP's Stephen Flynn who says it wouldn't have happened without pressure from them. Later, why is Rishi Sunak quoting Eisenhower to talk to the NFU? And what is happening to England's rural vote...?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Rory SymonVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Alexei Navalny's widow Yulia has laid the blame for her husband's murder directly with Putin. Few world leaders seem to disagree. There is much grave talk of 'consequences' and 'action'. But what does that really mean? Short of Putin losing the Ukraine war, what would really hurt him enough to stop him murdering?We talk to hugely influential Putin critic Bill Browder who tells us who the 'next Navalny' will be if we don't act now. Later, why is Kemi Badenoch calling the former chairman of the Post Office a liar? Henry Staunton has stood by his allegations that the government was dragging its feet on Post Office compensation payouts ahead of the election. Is she really going to go to war over this?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Rory SymonVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Two more Labour wins in two more by-elections. Kingswood and Wellingborough were very safe Conservative seats, but now they've turned red.  The Conservatives have now suffered the most by-election defeats of any government since the 1960s - so what does this mean in a General Election year?Later, we reflect on the life of Russian opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, who has died in a Russian prison.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

The UK is in recession - which means the economy has been shrinking for most of the last year.What does that do to our standard of living? And what are the political choices that have to be made?The Tories are still talking about tax cuts - even if that means more cuts to public services. Labour has ditched its mega promise of borrowing 28 billion to invest in the economy. So what's the way out? Later, as Putin confesses he found Tucker Carlson a bit of a soft interviewer, we discuss how you do accountable interviewing in an age where 'facts dont matter'.

In the past 7 days Sir Keir Starmer has had to face down a leak over his big policy U-turn, a policy U-turn and the suspension of two Labour candidates for anti-Israel and/or anti-Semitic comments. A third person in the room at the time is, we understand, being 'spoken to'. It's probably not been a great week for party morale - but has any of it hit Labour's poll lead? And will any of it translate into actual voting in the by election results tomorrow? We talk to pollster Luke Tryl from More in Common. Later - rats, open sewage, cockroaches and drugs. Chief Inspectorate of Prisons Charlie Taylor talks us through the worst report he's ever penned on our prison system as we ask whether the justice system or the accommodation limitations dictate who is put behind bars.A Prison Service Spokesperson said:“The findings of this inspection are unacceptable which is why we’re taking urgent action to address the concerns raised. This includes deploying extra frontline officers to reduce violence and improve safety, undertaking refurbishments to improve living conditions, and ensuring offenders get greater access to the education and skills they need to turn their backs on crime.”Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Keir Starmer insists he took "decisive action" by suspending the Rochdale candidate Azhar Ali from the Labour party. Should it have come quicker? How damaging has it been to the wider party? And what on earth is going to happen in what's fast becoming the weirdest by election in modern history - with not one but three former Labour candidates. Later, we look at Rafah, in Gaza - now bracing itself for a ground incursion from an Israeli government that seems hell-bent on finishing a military mission. What does it take to get Netanyahu to stop? Will the US cease selling him weapons? And how does this sit alongside international negotiations for a prolonged ceasefire. Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Keir Starmer has gone out of his way to break with his party's antisemitic past and to reshape the Labour parliamentary party. But this weekend, shadow ministers found themselves in the unenviable position of having to defend the Labour candidate for Rochdale for 'mistakenly believing a conspiracy theory' instead of calling him out for his antisemitic remarks about whether Israel had turned a blind eye to the Hamas atrocities as 'a green light for a full on Gaza invasion'. Azhar Ali is standing against George Galloway which is perhaps why Labour is nervous. What should happen to all those other MPs suspended by the party leader for antisemitic remarks?And where does this leave Keir Starmer on his Middle East foreign policy more widely? Also, Trump has encouraged Russia to invade NATO countries that dont pay their bills. Well of course he has. Why is Europe surprised? And has it figured out America under Trump is not going to care about our security? We discuss why we've been so slow to listen to what he's saying.**This episode was recorded before Labour withdrew their support for Rochdale candidate Azhar Ali**Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

When will strikes end - and are Labour the party to stop the constant drumroll of them?We're joined by the most charismatic man on the left of British politics - who has become synonymous with the public sector striking. Mick Lynch.And later, we talk all things Biden as he hits back against accusations that his mind is ailing - only to then make yet another gaff.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

The worst kept secret in politics was freed from its shackles today as Sir Keir Starmer confirmed Labour would drop their 28 billion pound spending pledge on the green economy.It will confirms Rishi's criticism of a flip-flop leader. Why is Keir running scared of spending? Later, is Rishi's own party calling on him to apologise for his trans gag in the Commons yesterday? Why won’t he? We discuss where it’s left him.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

How has Rishi Sunak shown so little emotional intelligence that he ended up making his customary 'trans joke'?In the presence of the mother of a brutally murdered trans teenager. What does this tell us about the disconnect between his politics and the people he serves? And what does it mean for the divisive culture war that has formed the rump of so much recent conservative campaigning?Today we discuss decency, standards in public life and leadership with Lord Simon McDonald, and ask whether we've allowed intolerable rhetoric to become normalised in the slapstick of party politics.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Liz Truss and her mates have been selling their version of popular conservatism in central London this morning. They were delighted to see Lewis at their launch who spoke to Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg and Nigel Farage about both their vision and their seeming hypocrisy. We ask Sir Charles Walker, of the same party, if he recognizes this brand of conservatism or if they are in fact “useful idiots“ for the right-wing fringe Reform UK party .Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Northern Ireland's new first minister Michelle O'Neill has had her knuckles metaphorically rapped by the PM - who's warned politicians to "focus on the day to day" of the brand new power sharing deal - and not start conversations about a united Ireland. Could Ireland really unite within he decade? How many voters want to see that happen? And are we missing the bigger picture of what this deal actually means and where the vulnerabilities still lie? Later, Chris Steele is the former MI6 officer sued by Trump over the 'pee pee gate dossier'. That case has now been thrown out by a judge. He talks us through what it was like being sued by the former president and his fears that the US security services will be cowed into covering up what they know - if Trump returns.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Justice Minister and MP for Finchley and Golders Green, Mike Freer, announced he would be leaving politics this week, fearing for his and his family's safety after an arson attack on his office. Years on from the two shocking murders of MPs Jo Cox and Sir David Amess, we ask why has it become so dangerous to become an MP?Lewis travels to Mike Freer's burnt-out constituency office in North London, and we hear from Kim Leadbeater MP, the sister of Jo Cox, who now sits in Parliament as an MP in her late sister's constituency.Later, LBC's Henry Riley tells a tale about one Laurence Fox.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Paris is under siege. And this time, it's the farmers. But why?After weeks of tractors on the straße in Germany, France are hit by similar trouble. It's causing great consternation for an increasingly weak French president Emmanuel Macron.So today we ask, is Macron losing control of France as the far-right rises in Europe? And how big of a problem is this for the EU in Brussels?Later, we talk to the Conservative mayor of West Midlands, Andy Street. Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

It’s been four years since we formally left the EU - and its been eight years of trying to square an impossible circle. How do you keep Brexiteers happy, the EU on board and Northern Ireland’s government up and running, all at once?Well today Rishi came through with a deal which might - big emphasis MIGHT hit the spot. We take you through what we know. Later, Nicola Sturgeon explains to the Scotland Covid inquiry which she didn’t, sorry did, sorry didn’t really delete her WhatsApp messages. It all gets a bit emotional.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Last weekend the Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch made clear - in her trademark no nonsense style - that she wished all those trying to plot against and undermine Rishi Sunak would shut up and go away. In unrelated news, the Guardian revealed last night she's part of a Whatsapp group called.... The Evil Plotters. Are the rumblings of Prime Ministerial removal getting louder? Is policy being dictated by those he fears? And what to make of the IMF warning his chancellor NOT to cut taxes at the next election because our public services can;t afford it? Later, we look at the power sharing deal in Northern Ireland - could this be Rishi's legacy? And we ask whether Laurence Fox, who lost his libel case at the High Court, can or cannot be called 'a racist'.We approached Mr Fox for comment and he had nothing to add.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Emily and Jon host a weekly US politics podcast in the run-up to the 2024 US presidential election; giving you everything you need to know about the world of US politics and how it affects you.Episodes are available every Tuesday or Wednesday, on Global Player.Find the latest episode of News Agents USA here on Global Player.

The Telegraph editor began the morning by asking how ‘everyday British life would change in a global conflict’. Trump has already called it for WW3. On today’s episode we ask why the language has ratcheted up and whether we are already in a war without fully realising. How will President Biden respond to the deaths in Jordan of US servicemen?And is this all part of the Israel-Hamas war - or is Iran using that as a pretext to provoke America?Later, why is Truss at war with Rishi-again - this time, over vaping.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Alabama has executed convicted murderer Kenneth Eugene Smith with nitrogen gas, the first time this method of capital punishment has been used anywhere in the world.On today's show Lewis asks how it has come to this, and whether the US government will be gassing more of its criminalsLater, we take a huge handbrake turn to talk to the creator of the year's biggest TV show and cultural phenomenon - The Traitors. He tells Lewis how they choose the Traitors and even hints at a celebrity version.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

The head of the army - General Sir Patrick Sanders - has said the UK needs to train and equip a citizen army to be on the front door for any future war with Russia. The PM has hastily ruled out conscription but on today's episode, we consider whether the era of peace is over. And ask what we are prepared to do if the threats deepen. Later, election denier Trump has talked up a purge of bureaucrats and security forces. Are we happy to nod Trump through as he advocates a police state? And why are senior politicians here cheering him on?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

The week started with Lucy Frazer, the Culture Secretary calling out the BBC for bias and a failure of impartiality. She struggled to give many examples of either. Today, Prospect magazine has done a deep dive into what it calls ‘the right-wing cabal waging war on the principles of our public broadcaster‘. Is the BBC in thrall to the government? Or is it another institution the government is fighting? Later, What was Sir Simon Clarke hoping to achieve by calling for the PM to go? And is the rebellion now dead - or just getting going.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Today we hear from Ziv, who was at the Nova music festival and saw her friends die. Her boyfriend is a hostage. And from Eli whose 18 year old daughter Liri is being held by Hamas. And we ask the Israeli government why they’re so convinced their plan is working. The Israeli government insists their war against Hamas is working. But there are 130 Israeli hostages still in Gaza, and many many thousands of dead civilians. Later, we discuss voter ID and whether the Tories are disenfranchising the young from voting.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

PSA: If you want all the latest on the departure Ron de Santis and the Republican Presidential primary race we have a full bonus episode for you on The News Agents: USA. Find it here.Keir Starmer has accused the Conservative Party of 'desperate, divisive and damaging' politics by picking fights with British instutitions like the National Trust and the RNLI. The Labour leader has previously stayed clear of the culture wars and stuck on the hard-fought territory of the economy and the new shape of the Labour Party. But today's speech placed charities and cultural insititutions at the heart of British life as something he was prepared to defend. Has he given the Tories new amunition? Or found a whole new constituency of voters?Plus - PopCon - not the fantastic snack but the new Tory group headed up by one Liz Truss. But will the most unpopular British leader of modern history be able to make the Popular Conservatives at all relevant as he gear up to this year's election?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

2024 is still young but from Gaza to Ukraine to Pakistan, somewhere new is seemingly pulled into the mire of geopolitical clashes what seems like every day. In an extended interview, Lewis asks Lord David Owen - Britain's oldest foreign secretary - about the state of the world and where we fit in. And, ahead of an election that could see Labour and Lib Dems play a prominent role in the balance of Westminster power, we ask the man who left the Labour Party to found the SDP party - the precursor to the Liberal Democrats what he makes of the parties, and of Westminster today. Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Rishi won his Rwanda bill as the rebels all but melted away. But how much of a victory is it - and can he convince the Lords to leave it alone? The former deputy prime minister is having trouble finding Rwanda. And the former Deputy Chair is unhappy with Labour sniggling(?) at him. Rishi's poll position just got worse. Later, we look at the issue raising alarm bells for the medical community. As the government passes new legislation on their regulation - are physicians associates putting patients lives at risk? And before we go Count Binface graces The News Agents galaxy so we never again forget his name....Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

After a couple of dramatic resignations last night from Tory rebels, the government appears fairly confident it CAN get it's Rwanda bill through the commons. But at what cost? Rishi has had to fight both flanks of his party. And those on his right are increasingly sounding like they're prepared to sack off the ol' rule of law to stop judges getting in the way of Rwanda flights taking off. Is the government prepared to follow them? And what kind of Conservatism would that be? Later, we look at Iran flexing its muscles in the region - why is it attacking Syria, Iraq and Pakistan?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

60 Tory rebels are currently off signing amendments to Rishi Sunak's Rwanda bill including - checks notes - his two deputy chairmen who are on the government payroll. What message does this send out? And why havent they resigned their posts if they cannot even back their Prime Minister?Rishi is trying to fend off ANY amendment but he is - checks notes again - in the process of hiring extra lawyers, with 5,000 more sitting days - to make sure every individual migrant appeal gets fast tracked out of the way. Is this really the best use of our overstretched legal system? And, we look at the effect boundary changes could have on the election and - if you're looking for Iowa caucus coverage we have a whole episode on the US elections on our sister podcast The News Agents USA out this evening - find it here.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Emily and Jon host a weekly US politics podcast in the run-up to the 2024 US presidential election; giving you everything you need to know about the world of US politics and how it affects you.Episodes are available every Tuesday, on Global Player.Find the latest episode of News Agents USA here on Global Player.

A mystery is afoot: in a critical week for the Government's Rwanda policy - with a looming Commons vote in 24 hours - a YouGov poll has emerged which spells Tory election disaster for Rishi. Look closely and you see that the poll started on December 12th - the same day the Rwanda policy last went through the Commons. Could it be the two are in fact related? In other words, are senior conservatives trying to spell out to Sunak that he must harden up his policy or face wipeout? Or even replacement? And if so, how should Rishi respond? We talk to former Levelling Up Minister Sir Simon Clarke, and Conservative Home's Editor Paul Goodman. And with Iowa temperatures down at -28 degrees celsius, will the big winner of the first Republican caucus be... the sofa?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

The war in Gaza has escalated. The UK, US and allies have attacked Houthi militia in Yemen, who themselves have been attacking Western shipping routes in the Red Sea. Meanwhile, on Thursday South Africa took Israel to court, in the ICJ, the International Court of Justice in The Hague.They contend that Israel is committing acts of genocide in Gaza. Israel denies the claims. In this episode Lewis asks whether the case is credible and what might happen if Israel loses. He also talks in an extended interview to Eylon Levy, the ubiquitous spokesman for the Israel government to ask him when the war might end and how Israel can continue to justify the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

Chris Christie - the only Republican candidate to publically call out Trump’s flaws - has pulled out of the presidential race. Does his departure open the door to Nikki Haley - to beat Trump to the Republican nomination? If she wins the New Hampshire primary in ten days time then all bets are off. Last night saw a cantankerous debate between the two candidates left in the race - whilst Trump was AWOL once again. Is this the last chance Republicans have to turn the race around? Also, who is Stephen Bradshaw, what did he do, and why has he become the latest villain in the post office scandal?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

The wrongly convicted Post Office victims have waited up to twenty years to have their prosecutions cancelled. Today, in one swift sentence, the Prime Minister declared them null and void. An initial payout will be made to each of 75 thousand pounds - a drop in the ocean for many of those who've lost livelihoods, homes and jobs. But it is at least a start. Why did the solutions suddenly come so thick and fast (I think we know). What does it tell us about the way we consume news, scandal and corporate malpractice?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

One of Jeffrey Epstein's alleged trafficking victims has stood by her claim that sex tapes exist of Prince Andrew and Bill Clinton on Little St James Island, and has painted a lurid picture of Donald Trump's sexual activities. Sarah Ransome - who was in her twenties at the time - had accused Epstein of filming guests on his island in compromising situations, only to then withdraw her testimony and say she made it all up. But today, as court documents disclosed her allegations, she confirmed her original testimony to ITV's Good Morning Britain. Is she a credible witness who's faced intimidation or a fantasist? A spokesperson for Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group said on Monday: “We categorically reject all allegations made by Sarah Ransome. In 2016, Ms Ransome retracted her claims and then in 2019 after settling her claims with Epstein and Maxwell, she also admitted to The New Yorker that the “tapes” had been “invented”. The allegations are baseless and unfounded. “The actions of Jeffrey Epstein were abhorrent and we support the right to justice for the many victims impacted by his abuse.” Donald Trump's spokesman also said Sarah Ransome's claims about the former president were "baseless", "simply false and have no merit".And with regards to Virginia Guiffre, Prince Andrew said he has never met her and has denied her allegations.We talk to an investigative journalist at the Miami Herald, Ben Wieder, who forced the court to make those documents public. Also today, where does the Post Office saga lead us now? And are politician's able to force a change of the law?Editor: Tom HughesProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

Emily and Jon host a weekly US politics podcast; giving you everything you need to know about the world of US politics and how it affects you.Episodes are available every Tuesday, on Global Player.Find the latest episode of News Agents USA here on Global Player.

Why are more than 700 postmasters still trying to clear their names and access even the most basic compensation more than two decades after they were falsely accused of theft? On today's episode Adeep Sethi tells us how his family warned the Post Office in 2002 about Horizon's problems - he has the proof in a newspaper article. Twenty two years on, and torn apart, they are still fighting for justice. We ask Tory MP and campaigner David Davis whether British justice has failed. A spokesperson for Fujitsu - who rolled out the Horizon system - said: "Fujitsu has apologised for its role in their suffering. Fujitsu is fully committed to supporting the Post Office Horizon IT statutory Inquiry in order to understand what happened and to learn from it. Out of respect for the Inquiry process, it would be inappropriate for Fujitsu to comment further at this time.”And how did Helen Harrison - partner of disgraced Tory MP Peter Bone - get selected as the candidate for his newly vacated seat of Wellingborough? It's a News Agents mystery.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

What's next for Ukraine and Russia? For Israel and Gaza? As tensions expand and inflame in the vital trading channel of the Red Sea and Russia continues to bombard Ukrainian cities, what is next for both regions?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

The Prime Minister has pretty much ruled out a May election. He said today that he is "working on the assumption" that the General Election will be in the second half of the year... but he is yet to nail down an exact date.We discuss why he's holding out, the possible dates to put in your diary and how that could cross over with the US Presidential election in November.And later, the Labour leader Keir Starmer sets out his ambitions for the election year.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

It's 2024. (Almost certainly) election year. Parties are in election mode and the pressure is on the PM to demystify when he will call the public to the polls.When will he? Why would earlier or later suit him? And will any date change the Tories' stuttering chances?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Arvind Badewal & Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

In part two of their end of year review, Jon, Emily and Lewis look back on the news from the months of July to December.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Arvind Badewal & Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

In part one of their end of year review, Jon, Emily and Lewis look back on the news from the months of January to June.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Arvind Badewal & Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

Your questions answered in a (very merry) Christmas Q&A special with Jon, Emily and Lewis.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Arvind Badewal & Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

75% of democracies in the world go to the polls next year. It's a year of enormous significance - not just for the US and for the UK, but for massive geopolitical bodies - South Africa, India, Russia etc. Where will we be come this time next year? Lewis (mostly) talks to those that know the regions best.Editor & birthday boy: Tom HughesSenior Producer & special correspondent: Gabriel RadusProducer : Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

Macron relents to the far-right and introduces tough immigration laws into multicultural France. What does this mean for the right-wing Marine Le Pen's hopes of being president - and for a country whose history is so interlinked with migration?Our new Health Secretary calls junior doctors 'doctors-in-waiting' - is that the best way to end a new flurry of strikes that could further cripple our limping health system?And Liz Truss gets a new portrait at her old home.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

The Supreme Court of Colorado has used an arcane section of the 14th Amendment of the US constitution to disqualify Donald Trump from standing for president, on the grounds of the part he played in mounting an insurrection against the state. It’s got to be a good thing, generally, if insurrectionists aren’t allowed to stand for high office. But the judgement raises critical questions about the power of the law versus the power of democracy. And who decides who is and who isn’t an enemy of the state. Trump‘s rivals fear he will use the ruling to rocket fuel his next stint of fundraising, by calling it a witch-hunt. Democrats are waiting to to see if it’s overturned by the Supreme Court - the ultimate arbiters. Meanwhile on the mean streets of Wellingborough - another by-election looms after the suspension of Tory MP Peter Bone. We take you to both Colorado and Wellingborough you lucky things…Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

Wes Streeting is hoping to become the first Labour Health Secretary in 14 years. How honest is he prepared to be about what the health service needs and what Labour is prepared to spend? On today's episode, he tells us that frankly the system we have is "not the envy of the world". Can they really fix it by closing a non-dom tax loophole and praying for growth? We also hear what he really thinks of Israel's actions in Gaza and of the death threats he's received in his own constituency.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

What did Michelle Mone mean when she said all she’d done was “lie to the press“ after she threatened journalists with lawsuits if they dared to investigate her story? Today we follow all the unanswered questions - is our defamation law serving the public?What did the government know about the missing Mone millions? And should she still sit in the House of Lords?Tax Lawyer Dan Neidle and Labour shadow minister Nick Thomas-Symonds join us.After that, we speak to former UK Ambassador to Lebanon Tom Fletcher on the horror and pain that the war between Israel and Hamas continues to inflict on all those affected; and is Jon Sopel running a covert cannabis farm in his basement?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Shane FennellyThe News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

The Far Right are growing in strength, power and number across Europe and beyond. In election after election extremist forces are becoming bigger and bigger players, destroying old more traditional conservative parties. In this episode of The News Agents Investigates, Lewis heads to the Netherlands, where an old political face, Geert Wilders, could now be king of all he surveys. But Holland is just one story, a microcosm of one of the biggest political tales of our time- the slow collapse of the centre and the forces of moderation on the right of politics. Online conspiracy, misinformation and the polarisation arising from the Gaza War is fuelling the fire. Liberal democracy could be burnt along with it.Producer: Laura FitzPatrickVideo Producer: Rory SymonThe News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Prince Harry won, the press lost. In a landmark court verdict, a high court judge on Friday ruled that phone hacking and other unlawful practices to obtain stories were "habitual" at the Mirror Group's newspapers. The judge also said that senior executives at the company knew about these methods, as did Piers Morgan, who once edited the Daily Mirror. Morgan has taken to the airwaves to once again deny. Lewis asks what this ruling means for Harry, the royal family, the press and Piers Morgan himself. He talks to a lawyer representing the victims of phone hacking, a former Daily Mirror editor and a former phone hacker.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Shane FennellyThe News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

Vladimir Putin’s “Results of the Year “ was a marathon televised chat show where for 4+ hours he answered none of the questions the Russian public desperately wished they could ask. “When will the war end? When are our soldiers coming home? Are you as ill as the rumours suggest? Why is the Russia on TV not the real Russia?"Today we ask if Putin’s buoyant mood suggests he thinks he’s about to win the Ukraine war. We talk to those from the Bush and Obama administration who know all about Putin's methods well and ask if América is going to give up on Ukraine. Later we discuss disgraced Scott Benton - the Blackpool South MP who could be out of a job … cue *another* by-election..Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Shane FennellyThe News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

The incoming chair of the BBC, Samir Shah, has suggested that Gary Lineker may have breached BBC guidelines with his 'ad hominem attacks' on two Conservative MPs. It was only two months ago that the BBC drew up its new social media guidelines - Do they make sense? Does Lineker care? And how much is the corporation responding to pressure from the right wing papers? Later - Mark Drakeford is stepping down as Wales First Minister - and is Rishi out of trouble now after winning last night's Rwanda vote?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Shane FennellyThe News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

Emily and Jon host a weekly US politics podcast; giving you everything you need to know about the world of US politics and how it affects you.Episodes are available every Tuesday, on Global Player.Find the latest episode of News Agents USA here on Global Player.

Rishi Sunak faces a crucial vote tonight in the Commons over his new Rwanda bill. It's not proving to be an easy week with his party split over whether the bill goes too far or indeed that it does not go far enough. So just how did the Prime Minister get himself into a position where his whips are scrambling at the last minute to get this vote passed? The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

Rishi Sunak is in a dark room in Paddington talking about the decisions he made as Chancellor to the covid inquiry. Meanwhile, various huddles of Tory MPs are meeting to decide whether or not to vote through the key Rwanda bill tomorrow, one backbencher, the ERG leader Mark Francois, has told the government to rip it up and start again. We ask former deputy chair of the party Paul Scully if Rishi could lose the vote.The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

In an extended interview, Lewis Goodall speaks with the former speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow.They discuss his difficult relationships with various Tory PMs (Cameron, May and Johnson), his switch from the far-right to the centre left, the bullying allegations that ended his political career. Plus, the TV show Traitors. He's in the next series.The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory SymonYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

An impromptu Prime Minister's press conference this morning raised more questions than it answered. Rishi Sunak was responding to the resignation of Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick last night - which blindsided the government - and left the PM defending his Rwanda policy and promising he would disapply human rights law to get it through. Today - a stark message for those in the party trying to cause trouble - from Tory backbencher and 1922 committee stalwart Sir Charles Walker - who joins us on the show.The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory SymonYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

Boris Johnson’s appearance before the Covid Inquiry always had the feeling of the end of season pre-Xmas finale. It began with protests from the bereaved - who Johnson had avoided by arriving early. He offered his apology , insisted the UK death rate had been comparatively normal, and couldn’t quite explain what if anything he thought he’d got wrong. Later- Suella in the Commons. What was that speech about?The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

The Home Secretary will bring in tough new rules to curb legal migration next Spring. Workers will be required to earn nearly forty thousand pounds to come here. Care workers will be exempt but won’t be allowed to bring a loved one. What will the unintended consequences be? And can we afford it ? Later, the Rwanda policy is looking for a defibrillator. What does the government have in mind?The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

Emily and Jon host a weekly US politics podcast; giving you everything you need to know about the world of US politics and how it affects you.Episodes are available every Tuesday, on Global Player.Find the latest episode of News Agents USA here on Global Player.

The Conservative Party has lost half a million voters since their October party conference - according to a brand-new poll of polls. They suggest Rishi's personal popularity is now lower than... Liz Truss. Why is this happening and is it reversible or terminal? Which political direction will it pull the PM in? And later who is Keir Starmer talking to when he warns Labour will not be making big spending plans - and confesses his admiration for the controversial Margaret Thatcher?The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

Matt Hancock has had his moment in the Covid Inquiry's sun. In characteristic form, he's been an appropriate mix of quoteworthy, weird and often both. At the heart of his testimony lies some extraordinary allegations. We dig deep.And in the latest of our extended political interviews, we talk to veteran Labour MP Dame Margaret Hodge, about her battles with the far right, the far left and how identity politics has brought her own rising sense of Jewishness to the forefront of her politics.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory SymonYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

On 15 September 2008 the world changed forever. The collapse of Lehman Brothers Bank heralded the financial crash and the worst recession in 60 years. It would change our politics - perhaps forever. One man predicted the scale and depth of what was to come - the chancellor who fought to stabilise the UK economy on the brink of collapse. That was Alistair Darling, whose death was announced this afternoon. Today we look at the impact that extraordinary time and his critical interventions had on this country - and we talk to his mentee - the shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves about the man he was. Later we reflect on the death of a statesman and foreign affairs titan - Henry Kissinger - at the age of 100 and ask if the man who witnessed an entire century will be better remembered for good or ill.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory SymonYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

With The Telegraph newspaper up for sale we are asking a wider question about who owns our news. Does it matter if foreign parties have a stake ? Does it matter if foreign governments do? And can an owner remain truly impartial when their business depends upon it? We discuss the intersection between politics, newspaper coverage and big money.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

Rishi Sunak has cancelled a meeting with the visiting Greek PM. Downing Street says it was because he raised the issue of the return of the Elgin Marbles/Parthenon Sculptures on the BBC, after expressly being asked not to. The Greeks say no such deal was ever made, and they didn't fancy a downgraded meeting with the Deputy PM Oliver Dowden. Meanwhile Keir Starmer's team say he had a very productive meeting with Kyriakos Mitsotakis on immigration and security - and they find it odd that a NATO ally was sent home empty handed. What does the row tell us about the PM's concerns? Also on the show, Lawrence Fox is fighting a libel case at the High Court to get his name cleared after he was called 'a racist' on twitter. We discuss.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Shane FennellyYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

Emily and Jon host a weekly US politics podcast; giving you everything you need to know about the world of US politics and how it affects you.Episodes are available every Tuesday, on Global Player.Find the latest episode of News Agents USA here on Global Player.

Net migration is at an all-time high. Almost three times higher - ironically - than before the Brexit vote. If everyone agrees it’s unsustainable then which parts of it do we want cut? And if migrants are actually plugging vital gaps in our economy then why can’t we say so?Also today - New Zealand has just U-turned on its smoking ban. Will we stick to ours? And where is Labour now on that 28 billion pounds promised for green spending…Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory SymonYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

Oscar-winning and BAFTA-winning actress Olivia Colman joins The News Agents in a rare broadcast interview to talk about her work: on screen, and off-screen with the charity she's a patron of: Tender. Together with Susie McDonald - CEO of Tender - she explains the importance of preventative efforts iin domestic violence cases in supplementing the work of charities supporting survivors of abuse. And she talks the new season of The Crown, the writers strike and how press intrusion has radically changed her personal life.Senior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory SymonYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

As Israel and Hamas exchange hostages for prisoners, the worst riots in decades break out on the streets of Dublin (at the egging on of one Conor McGregor) and a far-right, anti-Islam populist wins in the socially liberal, deeply pro-EU Netherlands - what's happened in the world after a fortnight of all-consuming British political psychodrama.Lewis talks to Secunder Kermani, Channel 4's Foreign Correspondent who's spent most of the last 2 months on the ground Israel, POLITICO EU's Dutch reporter Pieter Haeck and Virgin Media News Correspondent Richard Chambers.Senior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

A quick trip to Downing Street for The News Agents today and an interview with the Chancellor fresh from his Autumn Statement. How does he explain those real term cuts to public spending? What does he make of todays immigration figures? And does he miss Suella?Senior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & James CropperYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.The NewsAgentsStore.com

The government is running out of chances to change the course of politics. Today’s Autumn Statement was one of them. It was billed by PM Rishi Sunak and Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, as a tax-cutting budget, a reward for the tough economic decisions they’d taken earlier. But have they really cut your taxes? And is the economic situation really much improved since they told us there was no room for cutting taxes? Forget the spin, this is what the Autumn Statement really told us about where our economy and politics is going next.Senior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

In the past couple of days, the Covid Inquiry has seen the two most powerful scientists in the country during the height of the pandemic - Professor Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance - give evidence. What they've said has intensified the spotlight on Rishi Sunak - the architect of Eat Out to Help Out - of which testimony has revealed scientists weren't aware before the scheme was rolled out. Is this intensifying the pressure on the PM?And, ahead of the budget - tax cuts. But what kind? Are they politically motivated? And will they actually leave you better off?Senior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

Emily and Jon host a weekly US politics podcast; giving you everything you need to know about the world of US politics and how it affects you.Episodes are available every Tuesday, on Global Player.Find the latest episode of News Agents USA here on Global Player.

What should the government do if the Supreme Court calls their policy unlawful? Simples. Just change the law.It’s not the Christmas cracker joke answer for some in the Conservative Party who are actively trying to get the PM to do just that. Today, a former Lord Chancellor, Robert Buckland, spells out the damage that would do.Later, we ask what the decapitation of Sam Altman at the top of OpenAI tells us. Was he going too fast towards an unregulated AI world? And is it too late to put the genie back in the bottle, if so?And... MAGA. Argentine style.Senior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

Lewis travels up to Aberdeenshire to speak exclusively - and at length- to the Leader of the Opposition - Sir Keir Starmer after the mother of all British political weeks.Editor: Gabriel RadusSocial Media Editor & Video Production: Rory SymonField Production: Gabriel Radus & Rory SymonYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".And, The News Agents now have merch!To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

Jess Philips - one of the 8 frontbenchers who voted against the Labour whip last night - gives her first interview to us since resigning last night from her position as Shadow Minister for Domestic Violence and Safeguarding- to 'vote with her constituents and her heart'. Will this damage party morale and weaken Keir Starmer? Or will it show a different side to the politics of disagreement? Also, Rishi Sunak is undaunted by yesterday's excoriating judgmenet from the Supreme Court, making his Rwanda plan unlawful. He's got a new plan though don't worry! But will it actually get off (quite literally) the ground?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producers: Jack McKay & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".And, The News Agents now have merch!To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

Within minutes of the Supreme Court ruling - that the government’s Rwanda scheme was ’unlawful’.Deputy chairman Lee Anderson was out of the traps saying ministers should ‘go ahead and put planes in the air to Rwanda anyway’. He has a way with words. But 50 other Tory colleagues weren’t that far off the sentiment, urging Rishi to change UK immigration law to make it work. The government was warned - by the Lords - a year ago the whole scheme would be found unlawful. But perhaps this was never about Rwanda or policy, but about party confidence in the PM. Where is he now? Why isn't the party talking about the drop of inflation on a day of good economic news? And does the new Home Secretary think the Rwanda plan was batshit?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producers: Jack McKay & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

Emily and Jon host a weekly US politics podcast; giving you everything you need to know about the world of US politics and how it affects you.Episodes are available every Tuesday, on Global Player.Find the latest episode of News Agents USA here on Global Player.

Who is in charge of cabinet now, with two prime ministers sitting around the table? And are they aligned on domestic, as well as foreign policy? One day after Westminster was knocked off it’s feet by the reshuffle how is the move going down in the rest of the country. And what exactly IS a minister for common sense? Later - those protests, the ceasefire and the Labour vote.AND we have our own merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.comEditor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producers: Jack McKay & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

By 9am this morning, Suella began her own lifestyle choice of homelessness - sacked as Home Secretary. But the big news was still to come. David Cameron emerged from Number 10 Downing Street as both a) the new Foreign Secretary and b) a Lord. This reshuffle has definitely given the Rishi's cabinet a Pulp Fiction-style adrenalin shot to the heart. But will it put him back in control of the political agenda? From what we've seen so far, the patrician centrists are back in control and the populists are being shown the door. But how long can the calm last?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producers: Jack McKay & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

Emily reports from Georgia, the eye of the Donald Trump legal storm, where he was caught on tape trying to get an election official to 'find' him more votes to win the 2020 election. A year out from 2024, is this purple state closer to staying blue or turning MAGA red? The latter could tip the election in Trump's favour. And she heads to South Carolina, to find out about the woman who could well be waiting in the wings in case Trump falls foul of his legal woes. ----Emily and Jon host a weekly US politics podcast; giving you everything you need to know about the world of US politics and how it affects you.Episodes are available every Tuesday, on Global Player.Find the latest episode of News Agents USA here on Global Player.

Suella Braverman is (still) the Home Secretary.That's despite ongoing calls from within her own party for the Prime Minister to sack her for comments she made about the police and so-called 'hate-marches' in an article in The Times, which wasn't signed off by No.10.We speak to senior backbench Tory Tim Loughton, author of The New Snobbery David Skelton, as well as More In Common's Luke Tryl - and we ask who Suella's extreme politics and language really speaks for.Later, we look at the far-right Vox party in Spain after its co-founder Alejo Vidal-Quadras was shot in the face yesterday in an attempted assassination attempt.Editor: Gabriel RadusSenior Producer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producers: Jack McKay & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

Suella Braverman is in trouble- again. It's almost like she invites it. This time she's written a piece for The Times which is being slammed as inflammatory. She's compared the Gaza protests with The Troubles and suggested the police treat right-wing and left-wing protests by different standards, and strongly suggests this Saturday's should be banned. She has called into question a very old principle, that of police independence from the government. To make it worse, it appears No.10 asked for changes to The Times piece, only for them to be ignored by Braverman's team. On today's show, is Sunak finally about to sack his Home Secretary, and if not, why not?Editor: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producers: Jack McKay & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

Fiona Hill is one of the most powerful British people of the 21st century but the chances are you haven’t even heard of her. She’s advised three presidents of the United States on foreign policy, especially on Putin’s Russia. She gave evidence at Trump’s first impeachment. at this time of international chaos, of an America which feels inside and out, on the edge, there could be no better time to talk to this woman with a unique perch on American power, British decline, and how in the end, all roads lead back to the Kremlin.Editor: Tom HughesProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producers: Jack McKay & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

Today we examine what was in the King's Speech - and what was left out. Suella's controversial "lifestyle choice" tents for the homeless were dropped. What does this tell us about the relationship between Sunak and his Home Secretary?Also as Nikki Haley pushes into 2nd place in the Republican race to run for president, we are in her home town in South Carolina.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producers: Rory Symon, Jack McKay & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

There are tremors amongst Democrats today - and the makings of a victory lap for Trump fans - after polling one year out from a Presidential election shows the challenge Biden is facing in key swing states. America should know their next president a year today, and in the key state of Georgia we are talking to voters and their politicians about why they’re ready to see Trump back in office. Later, is homelessness a lifestyle choice ? Suella thinks so. Will taking away people’s tents actually make them leave the streets, or will they just get colder?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producers: Rory Symon, Jack McKay & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

In an extended interview, Jon speaks to Layla Moran, the only MP with Palestinian heritage and the Lib Dem MP for West Oxford and Abingdon.She talks about her family in Gaza, peace talks and how hope gets her through everyday.Editor: Tom HughesProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producers: Jack McKay & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

Did former Health Secretary Matt Hancock think the best person to decide who should live and die during the pandemic was... Matt Hancock? That was the accusation levelled by former NHS England Chief Executive Simon Stevens in the Covid inquiry. Luckily, the hypothetical situation never materialised but how happy do we feel about politicians playing god? And… as the deputy cabinet secretary describes a Downing Street in which not a day went by without rules being breached, we ask whether it’s time for an amnesty on all those citizens still facing fines and trials?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producers: Rory Symon & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

How should the police be responding to the government’s call to arrest more people on "hate marches" (sic Suella). Do laws need to change? Do specific chants cross the legal line? And what is the terror threat like over all in the UK right now? We have an extended interview with Met commissioner Sir Mark Rowley on protest, policing and public trust.In response to Sir Mark's comments about the Attorney General's Office, an AGO spokesperson said: "There has been no delay in the charging process for the two women who were arrested on suspicion of displaying images in support of Hamas."CPS received a complete version of the police report in the early hours of this morning – this was passed on to AGO at midday today for permission to consent to prosecute and this is being dealt with this evening as a matter of urgency."Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producers: Rory Symon & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".https://www.globalplayer.com/videos/2JsSa9qnmyY/

So, three guesses whose WhatsApps gave us our episode title today. That’s right, Dominic Cummings was up in front of the Covid inquiry where we were given a glimpse of his affection for cabinet colleagues...We also heard from No10 Comms director Lee Cain - his pal - together they paint a picture of the dysfunction that dominated decision making in the early months of Covid. What do the WhatsApp messages really tell us? And is any of this helping those who want resolution and an explanation for their loved one’s deaths?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producers: Rory Symon & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

Emily and Jon host a weekly US politics podcast; giving you everything you need to know about the world of US politics and how it affects you.Episodes are available every Tuesday, on Global Player.Find the latest episode of News Agents USA here on Global Player.

Israel began a prolonged ground invasion in northern Gaza this weekend, it continued targeted airstrikes in the region and temporarily cut off communications there. It says it wants to eliminate Hamas "surgically", but with so many civilians killed, what is Israel's endgame?Emily and Jon speak to Mark Regev - a senior adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and former Israeli ambassador to the UK.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producers: Rory Symon & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

Is Suella Braverman nailed on to be the next Tory leader?Will Donald Trump win the presidency from a prison cell?And...when are The News Agents going on tour?Emily, Jon and Montana correspondent Lewis Goodall answer your questions in this special edition of The News Agents. Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickVideo Producers: Rory Symon & Ben BateYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

Last night - after Israel's Prime Minister addressed the nation - the troops went into Gaza. It was a raid that paved the way for what Netanyahu promised would be the ground invasion to come. But what is the end game here? And are any of Israel's allies prepared to try and stop them? We talk to the Economist's Defence Editor Shashank Joshi about how Israel is preparing for war and what the end game might be. Also - has Keir Starmer done enough to reassure large Muslim communities - and others - he understands their pain over the loss of life in Gaza? What do they need to hear him say if a ground war begins?And the US finally have a Speaker. And it's a guy that frankly, no one has ever heard of. Who is he?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettVideo Producers: Rory Symon & Ben BateYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

Labour Muslim MPs have had a long meeting with leader Keir Starmer in which they expressed their discontent with their leader for not explicitly calling on Israel to do more to save civilian life in Gaza. He’s also seen at least 23 councillors step down over their frustration with Labour's position. Does the Labour leader need to do more to offer reassurance to Muslim voters and MPs? And why is it so problematic to ask for a ceasefire?Editor: Tom HughesProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettVideo Producers: Rory Symon & Ben BateYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

Rishi Sunak’s premiership is almost one year old. Is this where the Tory party wants to be 12 months out from an election? Can a party that’s been in power for 13 years win again? And what has to happen to make that possible?We talk to Ben Riley-Smith author of The Right to Rule and political editor of The Telegraph.Editor: Tom HughesProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Producer: Phoebe Dampare-OseiVideo Producers: Rory Symon & Ben Bate You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

Emily and Jon host a weekly US politics podcast; giving you everything you need to know about the world of US politics and how it affects you.Episodes are available every Tuesday, on Global Player.Find the latest episode of News Agents USA here on Global Player.

Should it be a crime to shout "jihad" on the streets of London during a protest to support Palestinian rights? The Home Secretary had a meeting with Met Commissioner Mark Rowley to ask why the police weren't prepared to arrest those seeking to incite "violence or hatred" on Britain's streets. Context is everything of course, and jihad can mean many things. So where does free speech collide with threatening behaviour - when hate crime has risen so sharply since the October 7th Hamas attacks?We speak to one of the country's top voices on counter terrorism, Sir Peter Fahy - who warns politicians not to put community relations in jeopardy. And - after historic by election losses last week what is the Tory strategy? And is the chancellor going to stick around to find out?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Producer: Phoebe Dampare-OseiVideo Producers: Rory Symon & Ben BateYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

Two massive by-election losses in Tory heartland. Are Rishi Sunak's hopes of holding onto his premiership next year in tatters?They may still win Tamworth and Mid Bedfordshire back in next year's general election, but that doesn't arrest the growing expectation that there is a distinct possibility the Conservatives could soon face electoral annihilation. We speak to Lara Spirit, editor of The Times' Red Box, to understand the political implications for the Tories and Sunak in the wake of last night's results.And - a voice from each party. Tory MP Robin Walker, who, despite campaigning in Mid Beds is still confident his party can recover (though one might say there's a slight falter in his voice);Lib Dem Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper tries to dampen her party's disappointment;and Labour shadow secretary Peter Kyle, who led the Labour campaign in Mid Beds has a thing or two (or three) to say about the Lib Dem's campaign - which he calls 'filth'.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Producer: Phoebe Dampare-OseiVideo Producers: Rory Symon & Ben BateYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

Just one day after the US president Joe Biden, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is on the ground in Israel pleading for the lives of British hostages and facing calls from Netanyahu for Britain’s “continuous support “. Rishi like Biden, is walking a fine line. We talk to Shashank Joshi, Defence Editor of The Economist about what's next as Western leaders scramble in the search for de-escalation.And later - is Sam Bankman-Freid a crook or a victim of a political pile-on? Once anticipated to be the world's first trillionaire he’s now got a "99.5% chance" of going to prison for fraud for 115...years. We speak to Michael Lewis - of 'Moneyball' and 'The Big Short' fame. He’s written a biography of SBF - Going Infinite - and talks to us about understanding the man many can't.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Producer: Phoebe Dampare-OseiVideo Producers: Rory Symon & Ben BateYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

A deadly inhumane attack on a Gazan hospital by Israeli forces killing hundreds. Or, a failed rocket by Palestinian Islamic Jihad, aimed at Israel, landing accidentally in a hospital car park killing dozens. We are at that inevitable stage of the conflict where truth has become another casualty.How does Biden - who's just landed in Israel - attempt to forge a path of peace through such differing narratives? And what happens when the truth comes out, if no one chooses to believe it?We talk to Lord Simon McDonald, who not only called time on misinformation in the Boris Johnson era - famously over what the former PM knew and denied - but was also Israel’s ambassador in the years of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza in the mid 2000s.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producers: Rory Symon & Ben BateYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The Israeli military has denied that there is a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, but there are now reports of people drinking toilet water to survive.So will Joe Biden's visit tomorrow make any difference in the hope for peace in the middle east, and help accelerate a resolution to the current conflict? And will the Rafah crossing open into Egypt to allow for food and medical supplies into Gaza, and for the safe passage of people out?And as Humza Yousaf makes makes his first leader's speech at the SNP conference in Aberdeen today, we ask whether the party has really refocused its aim of independence. Editor: Tom HughesProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producers: Rory Symon & Ben BateYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

Emily and Jon host a weekly US politics podcast; giving you everything you need to know about the world of US politics and how it affects you.Episodes are available every Tuesday, on Global Player.Find the latest episode of News Agents USA here on Global Player.

Over the weekend, Palestinian flags flooded central London as thousands marched for 'Free Palestine'. But has legitimate support for the rights of Palestinian citizens been merged with more sinister support, or acquiescence of, the presence of Hamas, a deeply illiberal, misogynistic, homophobic and anti-semitic terrorist organisation, in Gaza and the Palestinian territories?And as Israel starts to evacuate parts of the north of the country - is Hezbollah - the Islamist militant group in Lebanon far stronger than Hamas with equal hate for everything Jewish and Israeli - about to get heavily involved in what could soon become a regional war? We ask former UK Ambassador in Beirut, British diplomat Tom Fletcher.Poland went to the polls over the weekend - and voted in their masses for more pro-European, less far-right governance. We talk to Jakub Krupa, Polish journalist, about what this means.And another MP is suspended for sexual misconduct. The train of sleaze in Westminster trudges on.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producers: Rory Symon & Ben BateYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

Israeli officials have told Gazan citizens to leave the north and head south ahead of a potential ground invasion - retaliating after a week of war crimes perpetrated by Hamas on Israeli soil. 1.1million people - the number of people roughly in Birmingham, trekking largely on foot, down one of two roads, in the middle of a war. Is that possible? Most think not.Are many, many thousands of Palestinian civilians about to get caught up in warfare that will see so many lives, on both sides, lost? Israel say they're acting proportionately - but are they about to commit war crimes, and why are British politicians largely happy with this interpretation?We speak to the former Director of Prosecutions at the International Criminal Court, Fabricio Guariglia, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee Alicia Kearns, author of The Only Language They Understand: Forcing Compromise in Israel and Palestine & A Day in the Life of Abed Salama: A Palestine Story, Nathan Thrall, and military expert Michael Clarke.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producers: Rory Symon & Charlie ClintonYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

There are an estimated 150 hostages in Gaza - all ages, all nationalities, some taken from their beds as they slept. How does Israel even begin to contemplate ground war when so many of its people are the other side of that border? And how do you begin to negotiate with terrorists when they've broken every rule of war with the sheer evil of their acts? We speak to an expert in hostage negotiation Rachel Briggs OBE.Later, we discuss the SNP defection to- checks notes - the Conservative party, and we ask whether judges are going to let convicted rapists roam free because our prisons are now full. The former barrister who broke that story for the Times, Catherinke Baksi, is with us.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Rory SymonYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

Keir Starmer was asked live on LBC how far he'd be prepared to see Israel go in response to Hamas.Would he support a blockade? A siege of Gaza? And that's where the questions get tough. Israel has the world's sympathies right now - but no one wants to see this escalated into an existential middle east war. Who is prepared to say so? And later, we talk about the new BBC drama about Jimmy Savile and "hiding in plain sight" with Meirion Jones, the journalist who first tried to tell the world Jimmy Savile was a monster.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producers: Rory Symon & Charlie ClintonYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The News Agents at the Labour Party Conference: Day 2If Sir Keir Starmer was looking for a bit of sparkle today in his Leader's speech he shouldn’t have worried: it came to find him in the shape of a glitter-throwing protestor before he’d had the chance to say a word.Undeterred, he took to shirt sleeves and spelled out a working class mantra of aspiration and renewal for a country on its knees. Was it enough?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Rory SymonYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

Emily and Jon host a weekly podcast; giving you everything you need to know about the world of US politics and how it affects you.Episodes are available every Tuesday, on Global Player.Find the latest episode of News Agents USA here on Global Player.

The News Agents at the Labour Party Conference: Day 1The Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves joins The News Agents following her speech in Liverpool.We discuss her plans to tax tech firms, her unwillingness to tax the rich and the Labour members carrying Palestinian flags outside the conference centre.We also talk about the war that has begun formally today in Israel, after Hamas carried out a series of terror attacks this weekend.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Rory SymonYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

In the biggest story of the past week - a flagship, important, party conference week for the Prime Minister, he announced the scrapping of the biggest infrastructure project in Britain in a decade. A project that many saw key to levelling up the north of the country. But, is 'scrapping' it even that easy, that possible? And what's to say what they've promised in its place will come to fruition?We then go to Scotland and a seismic result in Rutherglen and Hamilton West, where the Labour Party have romped home to victory, unseating a decent SNP majority. What significance will results like this have in determining how Labour will do in next year's general election?And Lewis sits down with Dawn Butler, to talk race (and racism), Suella's 'multiculturalism' rhetoric, her journey to being a Labour MP and former shadow minister and the state of the Labour Party going ahead into next week's conference.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson-SmithYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The Tory conference is over, but the next one - Labour - looms large. What will Sir Keir Starmer do with the new look rail plans? Will they resurrect HS2 or get into line behind Sunak's plans? And whilst the mood of the country may demand change, how confident is Labour or bringing them on side?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson-SmithYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

Rishi Sunak was on his feet in a speech that was frankly too long. It ripped up HS2 and replaced it with a nebulous Northern Network pledge. It promised to rethink A levels and ban young people from smoking. There was nothing on housing, energy, social care , the environment - it felt, indeed, like the end of the road. Has he convinced anyone he is the future ? And what will Labour do with the cancelled project now?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson-SmithYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

Emily and Jon host a weekly podcast; giving you everything you need to know about the world of US politics and how it affects you.Episodes are available every Tuesday, on Global Player.Find the latest episode of News Agents USA here on Global Player.

The News Agents at the Conservative Party Conference: Day 2What does Conservatism look like in 2023? At their party conference in Manchester this year, the right of the party are being very vocal about redefining how their party looks. We hear from the politican whose drawn the biggest crowds at the event this year... not a government monster but former UKIP leader, Nigel Farage.And the PM still hasn't announced his decision on the northern leg of HS2 - we talk to West Midlands Mayor Andy Street about his campaign to keep the train line going north of Birmingham.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson-SmithYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The News Agents at the Conservative Party Conference: Day 1The queue to see the former PM stretched right the way through the Midland Hotel in Manchester. And it wasn’t to see her apologise for the chaos she caused to the economy a year ago. No, these are die hard Trussites. They love her, hate taxes and want to rip up regulation. She’s the most popular politician here - and that’s a headache for the PM who still hasn’t got his lines straight on major policy announcements that appear utterly muddled. We discuss the shape of the Conservative Party on Monday of the Manchester conference and speak to International Development minister Andrew Mitchell.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson-SmithYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Northern France is full of the ghosts of British history. Today it haunts our present.The News Agents went undercover and spoke directly to a people smuggler - who traffics asylum seekers across the Channel in small boats for thousands of pounds a traveller. Lewis reports from the beaches of Dunkirk.Field Producer & Newsgathering Producer: Rory SymonEditor: Gabriel RadusExecutive Editor: Tom HughesCommissioning Editor: Vicky EtchellsThe News Agents Investigates is presented by Lewis Goodall.You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is a Global Player Original podcast.

Michael Heseltine is a politician with a long political memory. He heard Neville Chamberlain declare war on Germany in 1939. He saw Suez unfold. He attended Churchill’s funeral. He’s served Conservative prime minister after Conservative prime minister and became the man who eventually even brought down Margaret Thatcher. He never reached the highest office himself, but having seen so many who did up close, and witnessed so much of Britain’s political journey over the last century, there can be few who can offer more perspective, more wisdom about the state we are in and where we might yet go, than he. In the latest of our extended political interviews, Lewis talks to Heseltine about his life, his journey, his passionate belief that we must re-enter the EU and how he worries that the current Home Secretary is echoing the rhetoric and division of Enoch Powell.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson-SmithYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Rishi Sunak has refused to answer whether his government is set to scrap the Northern leg of HS2 between Birmingham and Manchester.The indecision is already creating division within the Conservative Party ahead of the party conference next week. So today we ask whether Rishi Sunak really cares about the north of England.And we look at the latest "flip-flop" from Labour leader Keir Starmer.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson-SmithYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Emily and Jon host a weekly podcast; giving you everything you need to know about the world of US politics and how it affects you.Episodes are available every Tuesday, on Global Player.Find the latest episode of News Agents USA here on Global Player.

Laurence Fox's weird sexist rant last night on GB News got short shrift from the organisation which immediately suspended him from the platform, and followed on later by suspending their presenter, Dan Wootton.But GB news has still got plenty of presenters on its books who spout conspiracy, confect outrage, and misinform. This didnt come from nowhere - so why is everyone suddenly arguing this is a turning point for the fledgling broadcaster? We discuss the growth and the direction of GB News. Later, We look at 'the Voice' referendum in Australia into Aboriginal representation. Is this the Aussie's brexit moment? And will it tear the country apart?

Suella Braverman wants to make it harder for people to call themselves a refugee. She's in Washington setting out her case for a major overhaul of the UN Refugee Convention - signed in 1951 in the aftermath of the Second World War (but updated continually since). She says the numbers of people crossing the channel now make it unsustainable. Is she right? And where are her numbers coming from....Also today we speak to Naomi Klein on the war against objective truth - her new book is about being confused with a conspiracy theorist. And Lewis is back from the Lib Dem conference and an interview with Ed Davey.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson-SmithYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Rishi Sunak and his lectern are promising 'long term decisions for a brighter future'. But just whose future is getting brighter? Plans for HS2 are in chaos after rumours the PM might be about to ditch the wildly over-budget rail project. He's called environmental policies heavy handed - and ditched some of those targets. And now his ministers are starting to suggest that inheritance tax could be 'deeply punitive'. Will that be axed too? And we discuss the outlier poll for ABC news which gives Trump a 10 point lead over Biden in a presidential election.[Clip credit: Trevor Phillips on Sky News]Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson-SmithYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Gordon Smart was the editor of The Scottish Sun, and deputy editor of the Sun. But before that, he was the paper's showbiz editor who got to know very well, among others, Russell Brand. He sits down with Emily and Lewis to talk about the man that's been accused of sexual assault and rape, as well as debauchery in tabloid journalism and showbiz in the 2000s and 2010s.Russell Brand denies all allegations of sexual impropriety.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson-SmithYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

92 year old Rupert Murdoch is stepping down as chairman of News Corp, the owner of The Sun, The Times and Fox News - he was in charge of his media empire for 70 years.In true Succession style, his eldest son, Lachlan takes over. Emily and Lewis ask one of his former prodigal sons, Gordon Smart - who once was deputy editor of The Sun and editor of The Scottish Sun - about the man who used to be his boss. And later, we discuss the ramifications of Rishi Sunak's changes to his net-zero policies.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson-SmithYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Zac Goldsmith, one time energy minister, who resigned from Rishi Sunak's government, has accused his old boss of delivering a 'moment of shame' after he revealed plans to adjust (water down) his commitment to green policies. Rishi Sunak was propelled into explaining his new position in a hastily arranged press conference after details were leaked to the BBC. What effect will these changes have environmentally, economically, and politically. And why are Tory MPs now tearing strips off each other? We speak to Lord Greg Barker - former energy minister and Anna Valero who advises the chancellor.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson-SmithYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Youtube has announced it's demonetising Russell Brand's video content on its site - in other words, pulling the ads from the content he makes. The BBC and Channel 4 have said they are withdrawing 'some' Russell Brand content. But in an age where Brand can reach 6.5 million subscribers and sell out Wembley, does any of this stuff really hurt him? Also today, we hear from the son of Jimmy Lai - the world's richest political prisoner -and British citizen - who has stood up for Democracy against Chinese dictators. Why hasnt the UK government done more to fight for his freedom?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson-SmithYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Emily and Jon host a weekly podcast; giving you everything you need to know about the world of US politics and how it affects you.Episodes are available every Tuesday exclusively on Global Player and all other platforms every Wednesday.Find the latest episode of News Agents USA here on Global Player.

**CW: This podcast includes discussions of rape and sexual assault**This weekend saw the culmination of an extraordinary piece of investigative journalism that began four years ago. In 2019 Russell Brand - now accused of rape and sexual assault by women featured in the Sunday Times and Dispatches investigation - began a path of reinvention as a “ wellness guru “, eschewing main stream media platforms for a YouTube following of over six million. So was the defensive reaction by so many of his fans already baked in? We discuss with Rosamund Urwin and Louisa Compton who broke the story.Later, just when you thought it was safe to go back to your mortgage broker, Liz Truss is back. She’s unrepentant, she’s back on the tax cutting path and she says none of what happened was her fault...Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson-SmithYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

There is no money left.The reason Britain can afford less and less is apparently because we have no money. It's why we can't spend on schools, on hospitals, on defence. But what if it's not actually about scarcity at all?Today, Lewis reimagines our state's finances and argues why we need to talk about wealth.And - it's the first time in US history that a sitting President's child has been criminally prosecuted. Lewis talks to Olivier Knox of the Washington Post about what it means for Joe Biden and his bid to be re-elected ahead of Donald Trump now that his son Hunter is now facing serious jail time, should he be found guilty. Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson-SmithYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Penny Mordaunt, the Leader of the House of Commons, has accused the Leader of the Opposition of having no balls. No, she seriously did - comparing Sir Keir Starmer to flip flop beach Ken. But beach Ken, as it happens, is currently talking to Europol at The Hague trying to work out a plan to stop small boats by treating people smugglers like terrorists. The Tories say it will make us a dumping ground for migrants. We discuss. And as former presidential candidate Mitt Romney quits the US Senate, we ask what this tells us about US politics.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson-SmithYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

BREAKING NEWS: Rishi Sunak’s SpAd has hit back at Keir Starmer's ‘Inaction Man‘ gag and called him - wait for it - a ‘man of action’. But first, Labour is voting against the government’s bill to build more new homes. Why? Because the Tories say they would rip up old EU environmental regulation to get morew homes built. Do we really have to choose between the two? Conservatives argue the ‘nutrient neutral ‘ regulations are out dated. Labour says it’s ridiculous to wait 13 years for a solution which then endangers the land. And Later we give the Lib Dems the right to respond to the row over the by-election in Nadine Dorries' old seat.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson-SmithYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

"The battle for the General Election is getting started" - that was the message from Labour's Deputy Leader today. Angela Rayner made also a promise to change anti-strike laws within the first 100 days of a Labour government, in her speech to the TUC.So on the day that Labour gets serious about the next election, Emily hears from Labour's Peter Kyle - the new Shadow Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology.He's also running their campaign in the Mid Bedfordshire by-election and claims the Lib Dems there have launched "personal attacks" on the Labour candidate there.The Lib Dems say no personal attacks have been made. A source said:  "People in Mid Bedfordshire are disappointed that Labour have chosen a London councillor as a candidate to represent their rural towns and villages. After Nadine Dorries, people want a local MP, not someone who has been parachuted in." And could there be a spy for China in Parliament? If so, how did they get there and what damage could be done? Christopher Steele, former head of the Russia desk at MI6 joins Emily in the studio.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson-SmithYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Emily and Jon host a weekly podcast; giving you everything you need to know about the world of US politics and how it affects you.Episodes are available every Tuesday exclusively on Global Player and all other platforms every Wednesday.Find the latest episode of News Agents USA here on Global Player.

*CW: This episode contains discussions about suicide* More than a hundred of you - our listeners - have been in touch to share your own experiences with mental health care (or lack of it) in this country. Collectively, you paint a picture of a system in crisis, a pandemic particularly amongst the young which we cannot deal with. We hear from Roman Kemp - who's called on the government to put mental health provision in all our schools. And we talk to those working on the front line who offer their understanding of brain chemistry - where it's going wrong and what's happening in our society.Samaritans have helplines open to all callers including young people 24/7. They also respond to emails and have an online chat system that uses volunteers and not bots. You can find Samaritans by calling 116 123.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson-SmithYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

David Lammy, the next Foreign Secretary?This felt like the week when Labour really began to be treated as a government-in-waiting. One area which has barely been considered is how the party will handle foreign policy, Britain’s place on the world stage. David Lammy, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, talks to Lewis at length about what he wants to do if he gets that top job and his political journey. Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson-SmithYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

How does a man wearing red and white check trousers escape from a prison underneath a moving truck?Daniel Khalife - as we record - is still on the run. So where has he gone, how did he do it and what are the implications of the whole saga?Also on today's episode - Chris Pincher resigns as an MP, Britain (sort of) rejoins the... via the Horizon project) and we discuss abortion laws in Mexico.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson-SmithYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Could Suella's new Illegal Immigration Act be about to backfire horribly on the Home Office? Over the last year, money to house asylum seekers has come from the Department for International Aid. It's taken nearly 30 percent of their budget or just over £3.7billion. But the introduction of the new law - which criminalises asylum seekers - means that the government is no longer allowed under OECD rules to spend Aid money on them. Instead - the money looks like it may have to come from the Home office itself. Yup - all the money this government would prefer to be spending on policing, anti-terror, fire services etc. Was this a big fat own goal? Or is the government prepared to break international rules to avoid the change?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson-SmithYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

A government poster warning us "MOST SCHOOLS ARE UNAFFECTED" by lethal crumbling concrete may not offer the reassurance the Department for Education is aiming for. Indeed it was a gift to Labour - whose comms department instantly retorted with "Most swimmers not at risk of sharks". So what has happened to capital spending on schools since the Conservatives came to power? And what on earth is going on inside Number 10?Later, we look at why Birmingham City Council has gone bust.... with our own resident Brummie.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson-SmithYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Emily and Jon host a weekly podcast; giving you everything you need to know about the world of US politics and how it affects you.Episodes are available every Tuesday exclusively on Global Player and all other platforms every Wednesday.Find the latest episode of News Agents USA here on Global Player.

The blame for the school concrete scandal has landed right at the Prime Minister's feet - after a former civil servant from the Department for Education revealed it was Chancellor Sunak that cut the funding for rebuilding schools five years ago. But it's his Education Secretary - Gillian Keegan - who's conducting the political heat today after a sweary off-mic rant which she is almost certainly now regretting. In fact she gave a subsequent apology ON mic. The News Agents are back - yes all three - asking what it means for our children's education - and how damaging it is to the Sunak government. And as Keir Starmer shuffles his top team, we ask what it tells us about Labour's priorities a year out from an election.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson-SmithYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

David Dimbleby is one of the biggest names in the history of broadcasting. From election nights, to iconic political panel shows, to huge Royal occasions - he's been at the forefront of TV and radio news and politics for decades. He's also had a front seat for the shift in the industry's relationship with both politicians and the audience.In an end-of-summer special extended interview, David Dimbleby reflects on the biggest moments from his phenomenal career and talks to Lewis about his memoir: Keep Talking.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson-SmithYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

The PM announces a mini-reshuffle, with Defence Secretary Ben Wallace leaving the post and Grant Shapps warming a new Cabinet seat for the fifth time in less than a year. Claire Coutinho becomes the new Energy Security Secretary. But does this do anything to help arrest the Conservatives' seemingly-inevitable slide toward electoral defeat next year (if the polls are to be believed). We ask Lara Spirit, of The Times.Jon talks to Leah Williamson, Lionesses' captain and Arsenal defender, about her team missing out in the World Cup final and the furore around Luis Rubiales and the Spanish FA in the match's aftermath.And Jon also speaks to former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. He talks Trump, populism and whether Australia is ready to become a republic. Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson-SmithYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.