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, 2025•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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, 2025•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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, 2025•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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, 2025•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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, 2025•45 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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, 2025•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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, 2025•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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, 2025•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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, 2025•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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, 2025•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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, 2025•45 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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, 2025•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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, 2025•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast Sarah Wynn-Williams was a senior Facebook executive for most of the last decade. She had a front row seat as Mark Zuckerberg rapidly expanded the company and he grew in power and prominence. And she became increasingly alarmed by both his and the company’s actions. Now, she is telling her story - her memoir, ‘Careless People’, is out today. It has been described as “explosive”. Meta fiercely contest her account. And we’ve included their response too. Her allegations - on Facebook’s relationship ...
Mar 13, 2025•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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, 2025•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
