The News Agents - USA - podcast cover

The News Agents - USA

Join Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel in a weekly podcast that unpicks everything you need to know about the world of US politics - all of it delivered with Emily and Jon’s astute analysis, world-class insight and wry sense of humour. Episodes are available every Tuesday/Wednesday. The News Agents USA is a Global Player Original podcast and production. For advertising opportunities on this podcast email: [email protected]
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Episodes

Biden freezes, Trump rambles: Who's winning the cognitive war?

Biden's appearances at the G7 photo call and the Democrat fundraiser have raised eyebrows because of video circulating that appears to show him freezing at certain moments. The White House says don't fall for the clips- they're edited videos or 'cheap fakes'. What's going on? Why are Dems so defensive? And why is Trump mixing up his own doctor's name when he talks about his superior cognitive abilities. It's all shaping up to be a bizarre first TV debate 9 days from now - and we may - may see on...

Jun 18, 202429 min

America Q & A: Hunter Biden, Deep Fakes, and best campaign moments.

What does the Hunter Biden conviction do to the Presidential race? When will there be a female president? What's the campaign you wished you'd covered and why and who will be the next front runners for either party? Your questions answered - and we have one for you. Help us spot the audio deepfake. Editor: Tom Hughes Video Production: Shane Fennelly You 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 ...

Jun 12, 202431 min

How is Donald Trump planning his revenge?

Donald Trump is wondering aloud what prison would be like. He probably doesn't have to -it's extremely unlikely that the sentence eventually handed down to him in July will be custodial. But his MAGA henchmen are already talking about what happens if he wins in November, and what their revenge on the prosecutors who tried him will be. Has belief in the rule of law amongst MAGA voters broken down? And what is this doing to America? And whilst one trial is behind us, another has just kicked off. H...

Jun 06, 202423 min

Donald Trump: guilty on all counts

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, ...

May 30, 202418 min

The Trump trial is over. Will he be found guilty?

The Trump first trial, over hush money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels, is over. The real question is, as the jury deliberate - will he be found guilty? All this, while the Biden campaign sweats over stuttering polling data and a president who is apparently obstinate and determined to run the campaign his way. How can they turn the tide? Editor: Gabriel Radus Production: Abigail Brierley Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell Video Production: Rory Symon & Arvind Badewal You can listen to thi...

May 29, 202429 min

Bleach blonde butch body - American politics goes full Jerry Springer

American legislators in the House are hurling personal insults at each other - meanwhile Biden and Trump have committed to debate each other on TV and Trump is using an attack ad - a riff off of a Tom Petty song- to accuse Biden of “free falling“. What has happened to rational discourse in America? Editor: Gabriel Radus Social 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 Th...

May 21, 202430 min

"He should go to jail!" Michael Cohen tells Donald Trump's trial

If the adult porn director Stormy Daniels was the star witness of the Trump trial last week, this week it got even hotter. Trump's former fixer, friend and lawyer took the stand. Except now, Michael Cohen is no friend of Trump. What's more, he's a convicted felon, a liar and a perjurer. Will his presence as a key witness help or hinder the prosecution?And does it matter that he's told a jury he'd like to see Trump jailed? Later, why are 21 foreign born sailors still stuck on the cargo ship that ...

May 15, 202424 min

Stormy Daniels takes the stand against Donald Trump

In a surprise move, the sex worker and pornstar Stormy Daniels appeared as a witness yesterday in the trial of Donald Trump to reveal details of the night they spent together in a Nevada hotel room. The details were specific, and to some ears rather lurid - and included a description of her beating him on the backside with a rolled up magazine. None of this is illegal - but what might be is the money she alleges he paid her to hush it up - money from his campaign funds. Later, we revisit dog mur...

May 08, 202438 min

Should a president be able to "assassinate" his political opponents?

Is Trump above the law and should he have immunity from a case involving his actions around the January 6th insurrection? That's what the Supreme Court has spent the last week arguing about. Amazingly, they might be making a case for why he checks notes... IS immune. We hear from The New York Times Supreme Court supremo Adam Liptak. Later is Joe Biden wise to joke about his age at the White House Correspondents Dinner? And why did Trump's potential vice president pick shoot dead her pet puppy - ...

Apr 30, 202437 min

Trump on trial... and should America arm its teachers?

Later in the show...Why are teachers now being given guns in Tennessee schools? We start this episode with the astonishing testimony of former Trump ally David Pecker - who ran the National Enquirer tabloids - and freuquently bought up the embarassing stories about Trump to save him face when he was running for president in 2016. Was this against the law? Does it hurt Trump's defence? And why does Trump keep slagging off his critics on social media when he's been gagged ? Later what's actually h...

Apr 24, 202444 min

How do you pick a jury for Donald Trump?

How do you pick a jury of right-minded individuals to pass a fair verdict on Donald Trump? His lawyers say it's impossible, that this trial is a witch hunt, that he's been gagged AND denied the chance to go to his son's graduation. Meanwhile, the judge has just carried on. They're selecting a jury which will witness the first ever criminal trial of a former US president. We talk to criminal defence attorney - and hardened New Yorker - Randy Scott Zelin about whether justice can be served in such...

Apr 16, 202438 min

Why is David Cameron getting snubbed in America?

David Cameron flew to Washington to try and seek more funding for Ukraine. But he's been snubbed by the House Speaker Mike Johnson. Was it hubristic to think he could change minds in America? What happens to Ukraine now? But we start with what happened dramatically, overnight in America where the state of Arizona has just brought BACK an abortion ban dating from 1864. How popular will this antebellum law be? And could women's rights ultimately lose Trump the election? And we speak to Democrat Co...

Apr 10, 202439 min

Could Florida’s new abortion ban actually help the Democrats win?

Trump‘s Truth Social company has plunged in value on the stock market after losses of more than 58 million were revealed. Luckily, though, he still has his bible business in which he tries to flog a double whammy bible constitution combo for a neat 60 dollars. Trump is trying to win few more Christians whilst simultaneously trying not to endorse an abortion ban that could see the Republicans lose the massive electoral state of Florida. Meanwhile, Senator Chris Coons - close Biden ally - tells us...

Apr 03, 202448 min

Trump to face criminal trial ... before the election

Trump will face a criminal trial in front of a jury before the presidential election. He'll be the first ex-president to do so - all while he has to stump up the not so measly 175 million dollars to write off his fraudulent asset evaluations. At least it's not the original $464 million - which was knocked down at the eleventh hour on Monday. Truth Social, his social media site, looks to be earning him a pretty penny at least as it's set to go public. Plus - we talk to Ben Smith of Semafor about ...

Mar 26, 202435 min

Is Donald Trump broke?

Elon Musk has given an interview to former CNN Anchor Don Lemon. He gets quite upset when Lemon asks him why X has gone to shit under his stewardship, and whether hate speech is still welcomed on his platform. Meanwhile, Trump is talking about a blood bath in Ohio and no one can decide whether he means the car industry or the state of democracy. Nigel Farage has got him to commit to NATO in his interview, and a new choir made of Jan 6th prisoners and supporters appears to have reached number one...

Mar 20, 202427 min

Is TikTok about to be banned in America?

The US House have voted to force TikTok to either part ways from Chinese-owned company ByteDance or be banned in the US. Why now? Why is Trump actually not that fussed? And does this benefit or hinder Biden's efforts to capture the youth vote through social media? This, all as Trump and Biden become the official nominees for their respective parties... though we all knew that already. Meanwhile, the pair launch their campaign ads and attack each other on age, incompetence, and their records. And...

Mar 13, 202429 min

Super Tuesday from inside Trump's Mar-a-Lago ballroom, and Haley quits the race

Why did conspiracy theorist Marjorie Taylor-Greene tell Emily to fuck off? What's it like to be let inside Donald Trump's Super Tuesday victory party? What's next for Nikki Haley after she announced today that she is giving up the ghost in the Republcian Party primaries, meaning that barring an extraordinary circumstance, Trump is the GOP candidate? And why has she come out and refused to back Trump? Editor: Gabriel Radus Video Production: Rory Symon The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC...

Mar 06, 202431 min

Live from Richmond, Virginia: Trump on the campaign trail

We'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. Editor: Gabriel Radus Video Production: Rory...

Mar 03, 202433 min

BONUS: Has the Supreme Court just saved Trump?

It's been some 24 hours for Donald Trump. In one evening, he scores a major win as the Supreme Court kicks the election inteference case down the electoral road. Plus, a major congressional thorn in Trump's side, Reaganite senator Mitch McConnell announces he's stepping down as Senate Republican Leader. Trump is ever so close to total ownership of the Republican party. We digest in this bonus episode of The News Agents - USA. Editor: Gabriel Radus Video Production: Shane Fennelly The News Agents...

Feb 29, 202425 min

Why is Fox News fact-checking Trump?

Fox News cut away from Trump's victory speech in South Carolina to correct his lies, in real time. And call out his election denials. What's going on between the TV channel and their former hero - and how long will it last. Also on the episode - why is Biden talking about a Gaza peace deal in an ice cream parlour and who is the Republican senator saying he backs the Alabama court decision to stop IVF despite wanting more children in his state. There's so much going on this week, and that's befor...

Feb 27, 202432 min

Does Bernie Sanders think Joe Biden is too old?

On today's episode we talk to the thorn in corporate America's side Senator Bernie Sanders. Should Amazon exist? Is Biden to old? Is Trump too racist? And how can he justify spending 200 million dollars on an election campaign? Later, ahead of South Carolina’s primary we ask what Nikki Haley’s strategy is. Editor: Gabriel Radus Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell Video Production: Rory Symon The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/ You can listen to this episod...

Feb 21, 202440 min

Old men and corrupt tyrants: America's choice for 2024

After a deeply unedifying week of US politics we look at the choice before America in November. Is Biden too old to stand for President? Is Trump too corrupt? And what happens next if the answer to both those questions is 'yes'? On today's episode we look at the report by special counsel Robert K. Hur who calls the president a 'well-meaning elderly man' and the kind words of encouragment Trump has for Vladimir Putin. Will any of the court cases land a decisive blow either way? And what is going ...

Feb 13, 202432 min

A court rules Trump has no presidential immunity

The unanimous decision by the court of appeal in Washington has declared that Donald Trump has no presidential immunity. This means Special Counsel Jack Smith can now proceed apace with his indictment of Trump over attempted election interference. What does this mean for Trump legally? What will happen to the highly debated US border deal? And later to hear from Ambassador John Bolton on whether military intervention by the US could make a Trump comeback more likely. Editor: Gabriel Radus Social...

Feb 06, 202443 min

Could Taylor Swift swing the US election?

It's all quiet - for now - on the campaign front. Today we ask whether republicans are prepared to scupper a cross-party border deal if they think it could help Trump in November. And we bring you the remarkable story of E. Jean Carroll - who’s owed 83 million dollars by the Donald. And ask if Taylor Swift can swing a US election. PSA: If you want to hear about Biden's crisis in the Middle East - head to the Monday episode of our regular daily The News Agents feed. Why is everyone talking about ...

Jan 30, 202437 min

What happened in New Hampshire and what does it mean?

Nikki Haley lost by more than ten points overnight in New Hampshire. The Republican National Committee now wants to crown election-denier Trump as its nominee. But Haley has made clear she’s not going to go quietly. She’s sticking around to call Trump senile and sees if he falls down any (metaphorical) stairs. Election denier Trump meanwhile is getting really stroppy with her and, like a sad class bully, has started threatening her. Editor: Gabriel Radus Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell Vide...

Jan 24, 202429 min

BONUS EPISODE: Ron gone, endorses Don - has Trump won?

A bonus episode of The News Agents: USA as Ron DeSantis drops out of the presidential race and endorses the man that's ridiculed him for months on end - Donald Trump. He's kissed the ring - 6 days after slagging people off for being spineless enough to do just that. With just one state having voted, and another voting tomorrow Tuesday (New Hampshire) - is Nikki Haley, the only candidate left - toast? Editor: Gabriel Radus Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell Video Production: Shane Fennelly &amp...

Jan 22, 202434 min

Donald Trump dominates in Iowa: is the Republican race already over?

Last night in Iowa saw many firsts. The coldest caucus on record and the biggest lead by the winner. Trump secured his win just 31 minutes after the polls closed. His nearest rivals, Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley trailed him by 30 odd points. So is the contest over? Can anything change the trajectory of Trump? And what does this tell us about the state of the Republican party and what will happen next? Editor: Gabriel Radus Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell Video Production: Shane Fennelly The...

Jan 16, 202433 min

The 2024 US election: the starting gun is fired

The US 2024 election calendar kicks off in earnest this week as the wannabee Republican nominees head to Iowa. Trump is making a quick pit stop via the courts - to tell them to grant him immunity from prosecution. And Nikki Haley is trying a novel tactic of pissing off the Iowan voters by telling them that New Hampshire knows better. Meanwhile, Biden is reminding America Trump is a threat to democracy, as he heads straight to South Carolina for the three year anniversary of the January 6th riots...

Jan 09, 202432 min

End of Year America Special: Your questions answered

Could California exit the union? Could Trump try for three terms? Would proportional representation ever work in America? And what were we doing on a soup-making course before the New Hampshire primary? Your brilliant questions, our valiant and occasionally pathetic attempt at answers as we see out the pre-election presidential year of America 2023. Editor: Gabriel Radus Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell Video Production: Shane Fennelly The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https...

Dec 19, 202339 min

Anti-Semitism and academic freedom: what’s happening on US college campuses?

The viral clip of Harvard President Dr. Claudine Gay - unable to condemn those on campus calling for genocide - has kicked off a wider debate about academic freedom and double standards. The president of University of Pennsylvania - who offered similar responses - has now resigned. On today’s episode we talk to Columbia Professor of History Simon Sharma about campus culture war and how it’s affecting wider party politics. Editor: Gabriel Radus Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell Video Productio...

Dec 12, 202332 min
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