The week started with Lucy Frazer, the Culture Secretary calling out the BBC for bias and a failure of impartiality. She struggled to give many examples of either. Today, Prospect magazine has done a deep dive into what it calls ‘the right-wing cabal waging war on the principles of our public broadcaster‘. Is the BBC in thrall to the government? Or is it another institution the government is fighting? Later, What was Sir Simon Clarke hoping to achieve by calling for the PM to go? And is the rebe...
Jan 24, 2024•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today we hear from Ziv, who was at the Nova music festival and saw her friends die. Her boyfriend is a hostage. And from Eli whose 18 year old daughter Liri is being held by Hamas. And we ask the Israeli government why they’re so convinced their plan is working. The Israeli government insists their war against Hamas is working. But there are 130 Israeli hostages still in Gaza, and many many thousands of dead civilians. Later, we discuss voter ID and whether the Tories are disenfranchising the yo...
Jan 23, 2024•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast PSA: If you want all the latest on the departure Ron de Santis and the Republican Presidential primary race we have a full bonus episode for you on The News Agents: USA. Find it here. Keir Starmer has accused the Conservative Party of 'desperate, divisive and damaging' politics by picking fights with British instutitions like the National Trust and the RNLI. The Labour leader has previously stayed clear of the culture wars and stuck on the hard-fought territory of the economy and the new shape o...
Jan 22, 2024•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast 2024 is still young but from Gaza to Ukraine to Pakistan, somewhere new is seemingly pulled into the mire of geopolitical clashes what seems like every day. In an extended interview, Lewis asks Lord David Owen - Britain's oldest foreign secretary - about the state of the world and where we fit in. And, ahead of an election that could see Labour and Lib Dems play a prominent role in the balance of Westminster power, we ask the man who left the Labour Party to found the SDP party - the precursor t...
Jan 19, 2024•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast Rishi won his Rwanda bill as the rebels all but melted away. But how much of a victory is it - and can he convince the Lords to leave it alone? The former deputy prime minister is having trouble finding Rwanda. And the former Deputy Chair is unhappy with Labour sniggling(?) at him. Rishi's poll position just got worse. Later, we look at the issue raising alarm bells for the medical community. As the government passes new legislation on their regulation - are physicians associates putting patient...
Jan 18, 2024•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast After a couple of dramatic resignations last night from Tory rebels, the government appears fairly confident it CAN get it's Rwanda bill through the commons. But at what cost? Rishi has had to fight both flanks of his party. And those on his right are increasingly sounding like they're prepared to sack off the ol' rule of law to stop judges getting in the way of Rwanda flights taking off. Is the government prepared to follow them? And what kind of Conservatism would that be? Later, we look at Ir...
Jan 17, 2024•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast 60 Tory rebels are currently off signing amendments to Rishi Sunak's Rwanda bill including - checks notes - his two deputy chairmen who are on the government payroll. What message does this send out? And why havent they resigned their posts if they cannot even back their Prime Minister? Rishi is trying to fend off ANY amendment but he is - checks notes again - in the process of hiring extra lawyers, with 5,000 more sitting days - to make sure every individual migrant appeal gets fast tracked out...
Jan 16, 2024•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast Emily and Jon host a weekly US politics podcast in the run-up to the 2024 US presidential election; giving you everything you need to know about the world of US politics and how it affects you. Episodes are available every Tuesday, on Global Player. Find the latest episode of News Agents USA here on Global Player.
Jan 16, 2024•57 sec•Transcript available on Metacast 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, 2024•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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, 2024•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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, 2024•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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, 2024•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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, 2024•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast Emily and Jon host a weekly US politics podcast; giving you everything you need to know about the world of US politics and how it affects you. Episodes are available every Tuesday, on Global Player. Find the latest episode of News Agents USA here on Global Player.
Jan 09, 2024•52 sec•Transcript available on Metacast 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, 2024•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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, 2024•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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, 2024•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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, 2024•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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/ And, The News Agents now have merch!...
Dec 29, 2023•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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/ And, The News Agents now have merch! ...
Dec 27, 2023•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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/ And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: ht...
Dec 25, 2023•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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, 2023•53 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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, 2023•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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, 2023•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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, 2023•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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, 2023•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 17, 2023•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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, 2023•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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, 2023•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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, 2023•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
