Sir Keir Starmer has put his cabinet on alert for a possible US attack on Iran. Just 24 hours after insisting Donald Trump had given no indication he was about to “get involved” in the conflict between Israel and Iran, the Prime Minister called a COBRA meeting to review how Britain might respond to a major escalation. Would Starmer be able to say no to Trump? What might Trump ask us to do? And how did we get here in under a week? Later, we are joined by the Hungarian deputy foreign minister to d...
Jun 19, 2025•39 min
Later on this episode we’re joined by author of 'Sapiens' and 'Nexus' - Yuval Noah Harari - to talk politics and AI. But we begin with war. The speed of the escalation between Iran, Israel, and the US has been staggering. Trump is flirting with entering a war he doesn’t want, with an enemy he may not be able to control. At the heart of this conflict are questions over Iran’s ability to make nuclear weapons. Netanyahu believes it’s an imminent threat. Trump’s own administration didn’t believe thi...
Jun 18, 2025•52 min
Louise Casey's report on grooming gangs is incredibly tough reading. She details, over 200 pages, the repeated failings of local authorities, police forces, government departments and indeed the legal system, which treats the victims of the most horrific abuse as somehow culpable. She was tasked to look into the issue following a clamour for a national inquiry earlier this year. Bundled up in those calls - propelled by Elon Musk - was the claim that Pakistani men were responsible for the vast ma...
Jun 17, 2025•35 min
What is Israel's end game in Iran? Does it genuinely believe Iran is making nuclear weapons - or is this about overthrowing the whole regime? Did Trump make Iran more dangerous when he ripped up the diplomatic deal Obama had forged with the country? And will Trump end up dragging America into a brand new Middle East war? We talk to CNN correspondent and Ex Files host, Christiane Amanpour and ask how Iranians themselves are feeling about the prospect of their own leaders being toppled. Later, why...
Jun 16, 2025•41 min
The last two decades have led to the last 24 hours: Israel, going for broke and launching an all out assault on Iran’s nuclear programme. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu claims he is trying to prevent a “nuclear holocaust.” But why now? And in acting in this way will Israel succeed in halting an Iranian nuclear weapon or guarantee it? PLUS Lewis talks at length to Zia Yusuf, the former Reform Chairman about that weekend, where he resigned and unresigned in the space of 72 hours. Is Reform really a...
Jun 13, 2025•1 hr
This week on The Sports Agents... We hear the secrets behind match fixing from convicted match fixer and former professional footballer, Moses Swaibu . With the Lucas Paqueta trial coming to an end, Swaibu tells us how many people it takes to fix a match, what signs you can look out for, and how to put an end to all of this. (01:00) Mark heads down to Soccer Aid to chat to a host of sporting stars. What does Joe Hart make of Manchester City 's transfer business? How does Bryan Habana rate the Li...
Jun 13, 2025•26 min
It's been 3 days since the streets of Ballymena in Northern Ireland went from peaceful protest to full on riots. Since then, 41 police officers have been injured, rioters have hurled petrol bombs, and people have fled their homes as hate-filled mobs set fire to them. As the tensions builds and the protests turn to racist rioting, is this more of what we saw in Southport last summer, or is this specific to Northern Irish identity? Later, Jon sits down with Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson a...
Jun 12, 2025•49 min
Today, in a marked change of tone, Rachel Reeves laid out her spending review. The Chancellor set out budgets for government departments, boosting budgets for the NHS and Home Office. But the Tories are calling her approach "spend now, tax later". So is this the plan too ambitious? And are tax rises inevitable in the Autumn? And can Reeve's spending review help to rebuild her reputation? We speak to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Darren Jones. The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK -...
Jun 11, 2025•33 min
Keir Starmer has done his first media round since the u-turn on winter fuel payments, attempting to argue that the country’s finances are now stable and also still reeling from Liz Truss mini budget. 9 million pensioners are now eligible for the benefit. Including many well off couples. Is this really the best use of public money when young families are struggling and child poverty is double the level of pensioner poverty? Later, the SNPs Stephen Flynn joins us in the studio to talk about Gaza, ...
Jun 10, 2025•42 min
Why has Trump sent the National Guard onto the streets of L.A. to deal with protests against his immigration raids? Normally, this would only happen at the invitation of the State's governor. This time, Trump acted without consultation - and the governor, Gavin Newsom, is now threatening to sue him. Is Trump right to say he needs to assert law and order on a few protestors before it gets out of control? Is this a personal vendetta against Newsom? Or might it be for more sinister reasons - a dres...
Jun 09, 2025•42 min
Last night, one of the world's most powerful relationships came to a dramatic end. Over the course of one evening, Elon Musk set fire to his already fracturing partnership with Donald Trump. The bitter feud over Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' spilled out to accusations that the President is in the Epstein files and calls for his impeachment. As the break up plays out on social media, Jon and Lewis ask is the bromance truly over? Will Trump sell his Tesla? Will Musk be deported? And is there any co...
Jun 06, 2025•36 min
This week on The Sports Agents... With the NBA Finals starting, Gabby and Mark chat about Michael Jordan returning to our screens and why the NBA hasn't taken off in the UK with host of The Athletic’s NBA Daily podcast, Dave DuFour . (03:30) Comedian Lee Mack joined us for a laugh ahead of Soccer Aid, spilling the secrets from playing with some of the world's most famous footballers. (09:30) Former Chelsea and Nigeria player John Obi Mikel came into the studio to chat about the upcoming Club Wor...
Jun 06, 2025•24 min
The Tory leadership - in the form of shadow chancellor Mel Stride - is setting out to remind voters how dangerous their own Liz Truss was. He's pledged in a speech this morning that their party will never again risk the economy with unfunded tax cuts, and admitted the credibility of the UK economic framework was undermined by her misplaced policies. Why is this coming now? And what does it say about the current Tory leadership difficulties and their challenge with Labour's narrative? We talk to ...
Jun 05, 2025•40 min
Today, Israel has paused what little aid it was allowing into Gaza - closing all aid distribution centres. It follows 3 deadly incidents at aid centres over the last 3 days, with at least 27 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire on Tuesday. As tensions escalate and the roads leading to aid are becoming 'combat zones', the situation is increasingly desperate. So, can the new aid system in Gaza work? Is there any evidence that the aid is being diverted to Hamas as Israel claims? And what will it tak...
Jun 04, 2025•36 min
Less than 24 hours after the Defence Secretary stood up in the Commons to unveil the government's strategic defence review, months in the making, and it looks like NATO are forcing the MOD to go back to the drawing board. The PM couldn't completely commit to 3% of GDP going on defence spending, despite that being an essential part of the review. And now, according to briefings in the newspapers, NATO is forcing Britain (and all members) to commit to a new 3.5% target within a decade. The aim? Co...
Jun 03, 2025•33 min
The Prime Minister has warned the nation that it needs to be ready for war - in an era of new threats including the “immediate” danger posed by Russia. Is more spending on defence going to alarm or reassure people? And how should he answer those in his own party who insist welfare spending should come before warfare? Later, award-winning actor Eddie Marsan sits down with Emily and Jon, talking about the power in community, growing up in the East End in the age of the National Front, and his mess...
Jun 02, 2025•46 min
In the Spring on 2018, a man and a young woman were found slipping in and out of consciousness on a public bench in Salisbury, Wiltshire. What would follow was an incredible story of espionage, poisoning, and political vendettas. As the world was gripped by the botched assassination of Sergei Skripal, news rooms and crisis rooms here in the UK were reeling with the implications of the Russian attack on British soil. The attempted killing of the double agent who'd turned to work for UK intelligen...
May 30, 2025•43 min
This week on The Sports Agents... Gabby and Mark get a rare access all areas pass to go behind the scenes at Sale Sharks rugby club, from training to the team meeting to interviews with Lions and England players Tom Curry , Ben Curry and George Ford. (02:45) Four-time Olympic champion sprinter Michael Johnson has launched a new league to make athletics popular outside the Olympics, he tells us how it's going so far. (08:15) Britain's most decorated Paralympian, Sarah Storey , joins Professor Kir...
May 30, 2025•26 min
A trade court has smacked down Donald Trump's "Liberation Day" sweeping tariff plans. Three judges ruled that the US president had pushed the boundaries of his own executive authority beyond its limits when implementing broad tariffs. Members of Trump's camp have already labelled it a "judicial coup" and insisted the decision will be overturned quickly. But this is another hammer blow to his economic plan - can he restore his credibility with the markets after months of relentless uncertainty? L...
May 29, 2025•43 min
The age old "should we decriminalise cannibis?" conversation has reared it's head again, this time with the London Mayor Sadiq Khan backing the calls to decriminalise for possession of small amounts. How are drug laws in the UK damaging police relations with ethnic communities? What would decriminalisation it mean for stop and search? And, with so many countries around the world having already legalised cannibis, how will it change things here in the UK? Former head of Counter Terrorism for the ...
May 28, 2025•32 min
It took Merseyside police less than two hours to release information about the suspect who'd been arrested in the Liverpool parade crash which injured close to 50 people. The force told the public that it was a 53-year-old white British man from the Liverpool area who had been detained. Right wing commentators and conspiracy theorists had already started speculating about the potential ethnicity and the motives behind the man alleged to have been involved. So was it sensible policing aimed at qu...
May 27, 2025•43 min
Jake Tapper of CNN is one of America’s most famous newsmen, someone who knows Washington inside and out. He - quite literally - had a ringside seat at the most consequential presidential debate in American history, as the presenter in charge as President Joe Biden melted down before the eyes of the world; his frailties and diminishment on display for all to see. Along with Alex Thompson of Axios, he has written a new book 'Original Sin' which, through conversations with over 200 White House and ...
May 23, 2025•33 min
This week on The Sports Agents... England captain Leah Williamson , who lifted the Euros trophy at Wembley, talks to us about her 19-year Arsenal career culminating in the Champions League final this weekend. (03:00) We have a laugh with the man responsible for Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney taking over Wrexham , Humphrey Ker. (07:30) As Netflix launch a new Drive to Survive series for the F1 Academy, where 18 women compete to make a name for themselves in motorsport, we speak to Susie Wolff ,...
May 23, 2025•25 min
Two Israeli embassy staff were shot dead outside the Jewish museum in Washington DC. The suspect chanted "Free Palestine" as he was taken into custody. World leaders - including the PM - have condemned the killings. He said in a statement: "Antisemitism is an evil we must stamp out wherever it appears." Earlier this week, the UK, France and Canada issued a statement about the "intolerable" humanitarian situation in Gaza, and threatened sanctions against Israel. That response has led to some Isra...
May 22, 2025•37 min
At PMQs, Kemi Badenoch asked Keir Starmer when “the inevitable U-turn on winter fuel" would come. Unfortunately for her, he’d already announced it. Admittedly, it was quietly done. With a bit of hedging and fudging. But if you were following closely, you’d have heard him commit to a rethink at "the next fiscal statement" to a Labour MP who stood up before the Tory leader. When will the backtrack come into force? And does this alleviate pressure on the Treasury on benefits - or just ramp it up? W...
May 21, 2025•38 min
The frustration in Keir Starmer's voice was palpable. He’s joined forces with France and Canada to pressure Israel to stop the humanitarian disaster unfolding in Gaza. How far are these leaders prepared to go? And will Trump support them? Later, what is the political fallout from the EU trade deal? And what would the Lib Dem’s do differently? We hear from Ed Davey on Brexit, Nick Clegg and his new book “Why I care“. The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/...
May 20, 2025•41 min
Late on Friday, the Newsagents learnt that Gary Lineker could part ways with the BBC as soon as Monday. On today’s episode we piece together the conversations that explain the timing, and ask where it leaves both parties. More widely, do the BBC rules work when it comes to talent tweeting? And was this relationship already over? Later, the big EU - UK reset has provoked a lot of white flag rhetoric of surrender and defeat. But 8 years on from Brexit, might the problem really be that the governme...
May 19, 2025•37 min
Jon and Lewis are back for a second News Agents live Q&A taking your questions. In the week of the PM's "island of strangers" speech, they discuss why some voters feel "hoodwinked" by Keir Starmer's government, who in Labour ranks is in prime position to succeed him when the moment arrives, and whether the media is responsible for the spike in Reform's poll numbers - or if liberals need to figure out a better way to take the fight to the populist right. They also reveal the weirdest places t...
May 16, 2025•42 min
Two big exclusive interviews this week on The Sports Agents... The new face of rugby, Henry Pollock , joined us in the studio. With two tries from one England cap, and now a Lions call up - this 20-year-old is on a rapid rise, and he’s using that fame to make rugby cool again with his try celebrations. (03:45) Gabby and Mark also sat down with Bournemouth manager, Andoni Iraola . Under his guidance the club could qualify for Europe for the first time ever, and he and his players, like Dean Huijs...
May 16, 2025•24 min
MP Rupert Lowe was kicked out of the Reform party earlier this year after a very public spat with Nigel Farage. He claims “lawfare“ and says Farage was trying to jail a political opponent. Reform say he was dropped for his behaviour after bullying allegations came to light. Yesterday the CPS announced no further action would be taken against Lowe, concluding that there is insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction. We speak to him on today’s episode about bullying, groom...
May 15, 2025•40 min
