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The News Agents

Emily Maitlis, Jon Sopel and Lewis Goodall – three of the UK’s top journalists – host an award-winning daily news podcast: The News Agents. They’re not just here to tell you what's happening, but why. Expect astute analysis and explanation of the day's news – and a healthy dose of scepticism and the ability to laugh at it all when needed. Episodes are available every weekday afternoon. You can listen to The News Agents on Alexa, just say "Alexa ask Global Player to play The News Agents" The News Agents is a Global Player Original podcast. For advertising opportunities on this podcast email: dax@global.com And The News Agents now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Episodes

Q&A: Could Trump suspend the midterms? And how worried should we be about the stock market?

Trump's tariffs have caused chaos on the stock markets with a looming threat of recession. Rumours are swirling that the midterm elections could get cancelled. And tourists are re-thinking their travel to America. How worried should we really be? This Friday, Lewis and Jon answer your questions about Trump, the economy, and what the global impact will be. Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below: https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents The News Agents is b...

Apr 04, 202539 min

Weekend Edition - The Sports Agents

This week on The Sports Agents... It's Grand National weekend! ITV Racing presenter Ed Chamberlin was among our guests, as Gabby & Mark explored how viable a more 'ethically-conscious' version of the sport is, when it relies so heavily on gambling? (02:04) Former World Champion sprinter Darren Campbell is involved in the development a new 'Super Track' that promises to help athletes break Usain Bolt's 9:58-second 100m record. Darren joined us in the studio to explain. (06:00) After Chelsea s...

Apr 04, 202515 min

Has Brexit really saved us from Trump's trade war?

Declaring 'Liberation Day' for the USA, Donald Trump accused other countries of having "looted, pillaged, raped and plundered" America's economy. What he announced has sent tremors around the global economy and his own - Trump has set the stage for a global trade war. His tariffs start at 10% and go up to as high as 74% for an unlucky few states like Bangladesh and Serbia. It’s mathematical spaghetti. The UK has avoided the higher EU rate of 20% - so do Leavers have a point when they tell us tha...

Apr 03, 202543 min

Is Trump turning against Putin?

Has Trump just started to work out he’s being played by Putin? A light bulb moment is going on in the White House - Washington officials are privately admitting that the Ukraine peace deal is not going to plan. Whilst fifty senators have combined forces to seek new sanctions on Russia, we ask whether Trump has lost patience with Putin and whether this will make him double down or walk away? We hear what the Kremlin makes of this - with the BBC’s Russia Editor Steve Rosenberg. Later, Senator Cory...

Apr 02, 202539 min

Has a free speech row derailed our US trade deal?

It's 'Liberation Day' eve as Trump dangles his tariffs threat across the world again. How should Starmer respond to what could be a nail in the coffin to the UK economy? And how has one woman’s anti abortion protest now got tangled up in a free trade deal? We talk with a former Bank of England chief economist. Later, is Kemi Badenoch right about Adolescence? Should policy be made off the back of TV drama? And if so, what is it? Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcast...

Apr 01, 202546 min

Will Marine Le Pen's conviction embolden the Far Right?

The French Far Right leader Marine Le Pen is barred from standing in the country's next presidential election following her conviction for embezzlement. She’s beginning an emergency appeal straight away, and her party says “democracy has been executed“ in France today. Will that conviction silence them? Or could it be a rocket boost to their electoral fortunes? Plus, we have an exclusive interview with International barrister Philippe Sands on what happens when the law and politics clash, why Tr...

Mar 31, 202537 min

Exclusive: The White Lotus star on mega wealth, the MAGA divide and Brits in America

The White Lotus - now in its third series has proved a recipe for a smash hit. Take a fabulously wealthy bunch of characters. Make most of them dreadful. And watch them fight it out in a tropical paradise. We’re joined in today’s episode by one of this series stars, Jason Isaacs AKA Tim Ratliff, to discuss whether getting roles now depends on your political persuasions. And whether it pays to be outspoken in MAGA America. Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via ...

Mar 28, 202526 min

Weekend Edition - The Sports Agents

This week on The Sports Agents... Britain's biggest boxing promoters Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren made a rare appearance together. How is it being partners after 15 years of rivalry? Could boxing gyms help with issues raised in ' Adolescence' ? And could Anthony Joshua fight influencer Jake Paul? (02:15) Leaving your boyhood club in search of a Ballon D'Or - is Trent Alexander-Arnold a traitor or should we admire his ambition? Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague and John Gibbons from The...

Mar 28, 202524 min

Has Trump just undone the Chancellor's Spring Statement?

No sooner had the Chancellor sat down after her Spring Statement than Donald Trump announced to the world that he was slapping 25% tariffs on all cars imported into America. Car manufacturers are livid - and scared. And the OBR has warned that if the US goes further and imposes blanket tariffs, they could wipe out any short term prospect of growth in the British economy. With her room for manoeuvre already tight, could Rachel Reeves now have to rip up her latest plans? Are tax rises on the way? ...

Mar 27, 202532 min

Has Rachel Reeves lost the dressing room?

Today, the Prime Minister was asked to directly express his confidence in the Chancellor. He did so without missing a beat. But how much support does Reeves have more widely in government, in her party and in the country at large? Later, as Trump's defence secretary insists no war plans were leaked when a group chat on the cusp of bombing Yemen accidentally invited a journalist to join. The journalist in question then publishes the war plans he received. Like shooting fish. Don’t forget you can ...

Mar 26, 202536 min

How Trump's secret war plans were leaked in a group chat

In the days before a US bombing campaign against the Houthis in Yemen, key members of Trumps administration began to plan the attack in a group chat. They accidentally invited a top journalist into the group - in what has become one of the all time best security fuck ups ever. Will anyone pay the price? What will Trump do now ? And do Europeans still trust America with their security? Later, we are joined by the Adolescence writer and creator Jack Thorne - what does he want to see happen for the...

Mar 25, 202539 min

Turkey slides towards dictatorship. Why is the West so quiet?

The jailing of Turkeys main opposition leader - President Erdogan's biggest rival - has sent thousands on to the streets in protest. Students who’ve never lived under anyone’s rule but Erdogan are now fearful this spells the end of democracy in the once great bastion of free secular expression and economic growth. Is Erdogan following the Putin playbook for staying in power? Is Trump about to follow both? And why is no one in NATO prepared to call it out? We speak to the main opposition party wh...

Mar 24, 202531 min

Special report: A scandal 'bigger than Thalidomide'

It has now been more than a year since plans for a compensation scheme were laid out for those affected by the sodium valproate scandal - and it is a state failure that stretches back decades. Sodium valproate is an effective treatment for epilepsy, but it has been linked to lifelong disabilities in around 20,000 babies born since the 1970s whose mothers were prescribed the drug while they were pregnant. Many were not properly warned of the risks, and a 2020 review concluded that thousands of mo...

Mar 21, 202545 min

Weekend Edition - The Sports Agents

This week on The Sports Agents... First up, an exclusive interview with the most important man in English rugby union, Bill Sweeney , CEO of the RFU. He faces a vote of no confidence next week after accepting a £350,000 bonus, taking his pay to £1.1m, when clubs are going bust, redundancies have been made and the community game is crying out for help (02:30). Newcastle legend Alan Shearer celebrated with Gabby (and Sam Fender ) as they won their first domestic trophy in 70 years (13:30). And we ...

Mar 21, 202526 min

Kemi crashes Net Zero. Will Starmer be next?

In dramatic fashion, The Sun reports that a leaked government memo claims that the UK's race to reduce carbon emissions could trigger a financial crash. Kemi Badenoch also ditched her party's commitment to net zero by 2050 this week, insisting that the target was now "impossible". So if the cross party consensus on Britain's climate targets are over - could Starmer's so far steadfast commitment to the green revolution come under pressure? Later, as Steve Bannon suggests a plan is being cooked up...

Mar 20, 202542 min

Why has “Adolescence” touched such a nerve?

It seems that everyone is talking about the Netflix hit drama 'Adolescence'. It has been viewed 24 million times in just a few days, and is topping the chart in the UK. It deals with raw teenage toxic masculinity - and it’s hit a nerve. Even the prime minister is watching it. As Gareth Southgate warns of the dangers to and from young men who’ve got tangled up in Andrew Tates world we ask why it’s suddenly become a talking point? Later, is Trump being played by Putin? Is he bright enough to even ...

Mar 19, 202538 min

Trump and Putin’s crucial phone call

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin spoke for an hour and a half today - could they bring the Ukraine conflict and closer to a sustainable peace? Or is the Russian president only interested in carving up Ukraine and taking the West for a ride? While a ceasefire in Ukraine does appear to be edging ever so slightly closer, the fragile cessation in Gaza collapsed overnight. More than 400 Gazans were killed, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, as Israel launched a series of airstrikes on the str...

Mar 18, 202537 min

Will Labour go to war over welfare?

Keir Starmer says he has a "duty" to fix welfare - and has described the current benefits system as "unsustainable" and "indefensible". But many of his own backbenchers fear that the noble rhetoric is an attempt to mask little more than a savings drive, and the backlash is growing. Andy Burnham became the latest Labour figure to voice his concerns, and there are indications that the government is looking again at some of the harshest measures expected to be unveiled tomorrow. But is the PM right...

Mar 17, 202542 min

Q&A: Will Rupert Lowe leave Reform? And is Donald Trump engineering a financial crash?

What is the likely endgame is for the Russia-Ukraine war? How can journalists hold politicians to account when gaining access to them requires towing an idealogical line? And will Rupert Lowe leave Reform? This Friday, Jon and Lewis answer your questions. Editor: Tom Hughes Executive Producer: Louis Degenhardt Producer: Natalie Indge Digital Editor: Michaela Walters Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell Video Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal Digital Journalist: Michael ...

Mar 14, 202545 min

Weekend Edition - The Sports Agents

This week on The Sports Agents... From sneaking a disguised Novak Djokovic into a team talk, to lessons from Ben Stokes and the LIV/PGA divide, we chatted to European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald for an exclusive interview (02:15). One day Jim Ratcliffe said Manchester United were on track to be 'bust by Christmas', and the next they announced plans for a £2bn stadium... so we asked Professor of Football Finance at the University of Liverpool, Kieran Maguire , how that makes sense (08:45). Mich...

Mar 14, 202526 min

Exclusive: Keir Starmer talks Trump and Russia with The News Agents

Keir Starmer has spoken exclusively to The News Agents in Hull on a big day in both domestic and international politics. In his speech today, the Prime Minister pledged to abolish the biggest quango in the world - scrapping NHS England, the body which manages the day to day running of the health service. In the wide ranging speech in Hull, the PM lamented a state over stretched, inefficient and not delivering security for Brits. As he spoke, Russia came forward to publicly reject the ceasefire p...

Mar 13, 202528 min

Special episode: Inside the murky world of Facebook

Sarah Wynn-Williams, a former Facebook executive, reveals shocking allegations about the company's pursuit of profit and power in her new book. She discusses Facebook's role in the 2016 election, its relationship with China, and its impact on vulnerable users. Meta fiercely disputes these claims, leading to a complex and controversial narrative about the social media giant.

Mar 13, 202542 min

Trump puts the ball in Putin’s court

The origins of a peace deal have emerged in Saudi Arabia. There’s just one problem: whilst Zelensky is offering to sign up, there’s no word from Putin. How does a 30 day ceasefire work if the aggressor isn’t on board? And why is Trump convinced that he will be? Later, presidency or shopping channel? Why is Trump flogging Teslas on the White House lawn? Editor: Tom Hughes Executive Producer: Louis Degenhardt Producer: Natalie Indge Digital Editor: Michaela Walters Social Media Editor: Georgia Fox...

Mar 12, 202536 min

Is Trump driving America into a recession?

There is growing uncertainty in the American economy as stocks fall, and Donald Trump refuses to rule out a recession. He's even said he will double metal tariffs against Canada and threatened to impose levies on its car industry. As the trade war heats up and Americans watch their market falter, will Donald Trump change his strategy? And how will the rest of the world respond? Editor: Tom Hughes Executive Producer: Louis Degenhardt Producer: Natalie Indge Digital Editor: Michaela Walters Social...

Mar 11, 202540 min

Has Canada found the leader to take on Trump?

"America is not Canada, and Canada never ever will be part of America in any way." The words of the chiselled ice hockey player and former Bank of England Governor Mark Carney who is Canada's new Prime Minister. He's unafraid of Trump, has mocked his economic policy, and his expansionist pretensions. He's put the Liberal Party of Justin Trudeau in poll position to win the next general election against the Conservatives, and against all the odds. Will he become the pin up for centrists around the...

Mar 10, 202539 min

Live Q&A: Is Trump working for Putin? And what's Putin got on Trump?

In our first ever Live Q&A edition Jon and Lewis answer your most pressing questions. Is Trump working for Putin? Will a military coup overthrow the Trump administration? If Zelensky ends up going back to America, should he wear a suit? And why are we all so obsessed with Lewis's jumper? You can watch our Live Friday Q&A here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeOrLLSSBhc Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Edinburgh here: htt...

Mar 07, 202555 min

Weekend Edition - The Sports Agents

This week on The Sports Agents... Imagine flying on EasyJet and seeing the men's team on private jets. That's one of the many gaps the England women's team experienced before Baroness Sue Campbell stepped in and five years later, the women won the Euros. One of the greatest trailblazers in UK sport joins us for International Women's Day (02:15). After Emma Raducanu spoke out about crying when she saw her stalker at a match, we found out what it's like to have a stalker with former GB middle dist...

Mar 07, 202525 min

Is Trump trying to topple Zelenskyy?

Trump is no fan of Zelenskyy. That much has been clear for months. But according to Politico, his administration is now tapping up Ukrainian opposition politicians and former leaders to try to push Zelenskyy out of power. Is America now interfering in Ukraine’s domestic policies as well as forcing its submission to Putin? We talk to CNN Correspondent and Chief International Anchor, Christiane Amanpour about her time with Zelensky. And what do European leaders have to offer Ukraine as they meet n...

Mar 06, 202531 min

Trump suspends intelligence sharing with Ukraine

A carefully worded letter from Ukraine's President Zelenskyy has made its way to Donald Trump - The News Agents have details on the role that the British government may have played in getting that message delivered to the American President. What's less clear is how Trump will respond - what happens now? He described Zelenskyy's letter as "important" - so why has he suspended intelligence sharing with Kyiv? And will there be any punishment for Russia in this “deal”? Plus, we’re with the CEO of t...

Mar 05, 202531 min

Trump pulls the plug on military aid - can Ukraine survive?

Trump has ordered a “pause“ on all US military aid to Ukraine. All the pending military assistance Biden signed off before leaving office is now in a holding pattern until Trump gets his apology/ submission/ minerals deal from Zelenskyy. How long can Ukraine go on fighting now? Will the EU find the money to plug the gap? And is Trump remotely interested in peace? Later, as tariffs the tariffs imposed on Mexico, Canada and China come into affect we ask how long before Americans will start noticin...

Mar 04, 202536 min