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...
Aug 01, 2024•35 min
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 sp...
Jul 31, 2024•29 min
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 Hughes Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus Producers: Natalie Indge & Zeynel Ca...
Jul 30, 2024•30 min
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 President...
Jul 29, 2024•29 min
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...
Jul 28, 2024•19 min
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 Hughes Producers: Natalie Indge & Zeynel Can Yuce Digital Editor: Michaela Walters Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell Video 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 brou...
Jul 26, 2024•37 min
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 w...
Jul 25, 2024•40 min
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 Hughes Producers: Natalie Indge & Zeynel Can Yuce Digital Editor: Mic...
Jul 24, 2024•26 min
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 u...
Jul 23, 2024•34 min
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 presid...
Jul 22, 2024•43 min
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 Hughes Video Production: Shane Fenne...
Jul 21, 2024•18 min
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 appearan...
Jul 21, 2024•18 min
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 Hughes Producer: Natalie Indge Video Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal You can listen to this episo...
Jul 19, 2024•39 min
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 bot...
Jul 18, 2024•33 min
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 acolyt...
Jul 17, 2024•39 min
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....
Jul 16, 2024•43 min
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 ...
Jul 15, 2024•34 min
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 Hughes Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus 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...
Jul 14, 2024•26 min
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 ...
Jul 14, 2024•16 min
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 Hughes Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus Producer: Natalie Indge Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell Video Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind...
Jul 12, 2024•29 min
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 th...
Jul 11, 2024•34 min
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 re...
Jul 10, 2024•37 min
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 Bide...
Jul 09, 2024•39 min
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 parli...
Jul 08, 2024•36 min
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 Hughes Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus Video Productio...
Jul 07, 2024•31 min
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 Gran...
Jul 07, 2024•16 min
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 Hughes Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus 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.hsb...
Jul 05, 2024•26 min
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 Hughes Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus Video Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly, Arvind Badewal You c...
Jul 05, 2024•31 min
A special polling day Q&A. Editor: Tom Hughes Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus 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/ EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal https://nordvpn.com/thenewsagents Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents...
Jul 04, 2024•31 min
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 Hughes Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus Video Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly, Arvind Badewal Y...
Jul 03, 2024•43 min
