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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: [email protected] And The News Agents now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Episodes

Has Rishi's party decided he's no good?

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...

Jan 15, 202440 min

Is Israel committing genocide in Gaza?

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...

Jan 12, 202443 min

Can Nikki Haley stop Donald Trump?

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 Steph...

Jan 11, 202435 min

Post Office scandal: Why has justice taken two decades?

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 corp...

Jan 10, 202434 min

Sex Tape Allegations on Epstein's island: will we ever learn the truth?

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 ...

Jan 09, 202436 min

The Post Office Scandal: who’s to blame for Britain’s greatest miscarriage of justice?

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...

Jan 08, 202437 min

Ukraine and Gaza: when will the wars end?

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 Hughes Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus Producer: Laura FitzPatrick Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell Video 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 ...

Jan 05, 202438 min

Sunak sets the election date (sort of)

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 Hughes Senior Producer: Ga...

Jan 04, 202429 min

When will Sunak call the election?

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 Hughes Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus Producer: Laura FitzPatrick Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell Video Production: Arvind Badewal & Shane Fennelly You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask ...

Jan 03, 202434 min

2023 In Review: Part Two

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 Hughes Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus Producer: Laura FitzPatrick Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell Video Production: Arvind Badewal & 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/ EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal  https:/...

Dec 29, 202341 min

2023 In Review: Part One

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 Hughes Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus Producer: Laura FitzPatrick Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell Video Production: Arvind Badewal & 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/ EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal  https://...

Dec 27, 202334 min

Christmas Q&A Special!

Your questions answered in a (very merry) Christmas Q&A special with Jon, Emily and Lewis. Editor: Tom Hughes Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus Producer: Laura FitzPatrick Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell Video Production: Arvind Badewal & 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/ EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal  https://nordvpn.com/thenewsagents...

Dec 25, 202333 min

2024: democracy's biggest year

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 Hughes Senior Producer & special correspondent: Gabriel Radus Producer : Laura FitzPatrick Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell Video Production: Rory Symon &a...

Dec 22, 202353 min

Has Macron given in to racists?

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 Hughes Senior Pro...

Dec 21, 202336 min

Will the courts stop Trump from running?

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 st...

Dec 20, 202337 min

Wes Streeting: The NHS is not the envy of the world

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: T...

Dec 19, 202334 min

Michelle Mone: Is it too easy for the rich and famous to lie to the public?

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 ...

Dec 18, 202337 min

The News Agents Investigates: The Rise of the Far Right

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...

Dec 16, 202356 min

High Court: Piers Morgan knew about phone hacking

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 hims...

Dec 15, 202337 min

Does Putin think he's about to win the war?

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 ...

Dec 14, 202333 min

Does anyone care what Gary Lineker tweets?

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 v...

Dec 13, 202331 min

How has Sunak got himself into this mess over Rwanda?

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/ EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal  https://nordvpn.com/thenewsagents Try it risk-...

Dec 12, 202337 min

Is the Tory right about to kill Rishi's Rwanda bill?

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/ EXCLUSIV...

Dec 11, 202333 min

Delusional, scandalous and snobbish: Tory PMs according to John Bercow

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/ EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal  https://nordvpn.com/thenewsagents Try i...

Dec 08, 20231 hr 1 min

Is Rwanda about to bring Rishi Sunak down?

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...

Dec 07, 202332 min

Boris Johnson: the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth

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/ EXCLUSIVE NordVPN ...

Dec 06, 202333 min

Will you have to be rich to marry a foreigner under the new immigration rules?

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/ EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal  https:...

Dec 05, 202335 min