The News Agents: USA, on Global Player We're in Richmond, Virginia for Donald Trump's last rally before he is almost certainly crowned the Republican candidate for president. But who are the voters queuing for miles to get into the sold-out event? What do they think - and what motivates them to vote for a man indicted 91 times? We're the only foreign press able to get into the rally. The Trump team wouldn't let anyone else in. Listen to find out what it's like at the heart of MAGA America. Click...
Mar 03, 2024•3 min•Transcript available on Metacast George Galloway has said that Keir Starmer’s woken up to his “worst nightmare”, after the former Labour MP won the Rochdale by-election by almost 6,000 votes. Jon and Lewis analyse Galloway’s victory, and ask what this means for Keir Starmer ahead of this year’s General Election. Is it really the nightmare scenario Galloway is making it out to be? Editor: Tom Hughes Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus Producer: Laura FitzPatrick Video Production: Shane Fennelly You can listen to this episode on Alexa...
Mar 01, 2024•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast Right now the Treasury are flying more kites than you would see on top of Parliament Hill on a windy day. This comes ahead of next week’s budget - the last before the general election. But one policy is particularly eye-catching. It's the idea that the Tories are about to tax non-doms - the flagship Labour policy. Whether you want to call it shooting Keir’s fox or stealing his clothes, it would be an audacious move. Also, how do the Royal family square the circle of remaining in the public eye w...
Feb 29, 2024•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast Liz Truss was doorstepped by the BBC in Westminster today and asked to explain why she'd been talking about the dangers of the 'deep state' at a Washington Conference over the weekend. Keir Starmer went one step further in his Commons questions - asking Rishi Sunak why he hadn't kicked her out of the party for her 'tin hat' conspiracy theories? Keir Starmer loves Liz Truss as he's seen polling showing just how unpopular she is with the public. He's trying to tie her travails to those of a weak l...
Feb 28, 2024•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman, two of the UK’s best sports broadcasters, host a brand new twice-weekly podcast exploring the stories behind the sports... Drawing on their wealth of experience and insight, with exclusive interviews and expert analysis, Gabby & Mark tackle the big issues and explain not just what’s happening, but why. They'll also bring a healthy dose of humour when needed too. The Sports Agents will bring you inside the greatest sporting events from around the world in w...
Feb 28, 2024•2 min•Transcript available on Metacast Paul Scully, former Minister for London, has given his first extended interview to The News Agents since he talked about 'no-go' areas in Tower Hamlets and Birmingham. What did he mean? And what was he trying to say about Lee Anderson? What is it about the Tories deputy chairmen that makes them say this stuff? Today, we have a go at answering that. Is Rishi scared of losing the voters he thinks Lee Anderson stands for? And is he right to think Lee talks for the Red Wall? Or is that just a slur i...
Feb 27, 2024•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast Former Deputy Tory Chair Lee Anderson was suspended from the Conservative party this weekend after accusing the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan of 'giving the capital city away to his (Islamist) mates.' In Sadiq Khan's first extended interview, he tells the News Agents that Anderson 'practices the politics of hate' and the Tory party has shown a tacit approval for it. We also chat Rochdale and whether the SNP should get a second chance from the Speaker to hold their Meaningful Vote on a ceasefire. Ed...
Feb 26, 2024•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast Joe Lycett is one of the biggest comedians in Britain today. He has also, over time, become more and more political. He’s had a new show on Channel 4 this week, Joe Lycett vs Sewage, where he has tried to expose and understand one of the biggest public policy scandals of our time. In this extended conversation with Lewis, he talks about what drives him, his slow politicisation, and why arguments about “woke” comedy, leave him cold. Editor: Tom Hughes Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus Producer: Laur...
Feb 23, 2024•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast Sir Paul Marshall is a Tory donor, hedge fund millionaire, co-owner of GB News and - according to his anonymous Twitter account - amplifier of far right conspiracy theories and extremist views on the Great Replacement Theory. In today’s episode, Hope Not Hate has worked with The News Agents to ask why a front runner bidding to buy the Telegraph has been engaging with anti Muslim statements by Britain First - and has - since we first approached him - deleted hundreds of likes and retweets from hi...
Feb 22, 2024•50 min•Transcript available on Metacast Why did Kemi Badenoch accuse a whistleblower of lying - in a row over compensation payouts to Post office victims? And why isn't the Prime Minister prepared to investigate what was actually said? Today, Keir Starmer put those questions to the government in the tone of a barrister preparing a quiet but devastating court case. Is Kemi sure she's right, even though the sacked chairman of the Post Office is fighting back? And what happens to her - the darling of the Tory right and leadership front r...
Feb 21, 2024•44 min•Transcript available on Metacast Prince William has expressed his deep concern about the terrible human cost of the middle east conflict and expressed his desire to see an end to the fighting as soon as possible. There's lots of head scratching going on right now: is the heir to the throne calling for a ceasefire? Is this the governments line or just the monarchy's position? Did this come from the Foreign Office? And should he be getting involved at all? Meanwhile, as Labour finally find a way of demanding an immediate ceasefir...
Feb 20, 2024•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast Alexei Navalny's widow Yulia has laid the blame for her husband's murder directly with Putin. Few world leaders seem to disagree. There is much grave talk of 'consequences' and 'action'. But what does that really mean? Short of Putin losing the Ukraine war, what would really hurt him enough to stop him murdering? We talk to hugely influential Putin critic Bill Browder who tells us who the 'next Navalny' will be if we don't act now. Later, why is Kemi Badenoch calling the former chairman of the P...
Feb 19, 2024•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast Two more Labour wins in two more by-elections. Kingswood and Wellingborough were very safe Conservative seats, but now they've turned red. The Conservatives have now suffered the most by-election defeats of any government since the 1960s - so what does this mean in a General Election year? Later, we reflect on the life of Russian opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, who has died in a Russian prison. Editor: Tom Hughes Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus Producer: Laura FitzPatrick Social Media E...
Feb 16, 2024•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast The UK is in recession - which means the economy has been shrinking for most of the last year. What does that do to our standard of living? And what are the political choices that have to be made? The Tories are still talking about tax cuts - even if that means more cuts to public services. Labour has ditched its mega promise of borrowing 28 billion to invest in the economy. So what's the way out? Later, as Putin confesses he found Tucker Carlson a bit of a soft interviewer, we discuss how you d...
Feb 15, 2024•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast In the past 7 days Sir Keir Starmer has had to face down a leak over his big policy U-turn, a policy U-turn and the suspension of two Labour candidates for anti-Israel and/or anti-Semitic comments. A third person in the room at the time is, we understand, being 'spoken to'. It's probably not been a great week for party morale - but has any of it hit Labour's poll lead? And will any of it translate into actual voting in the by election results tomorrow? We talk to pollster Luke Tryl from More in ...
Feb 14, 2024•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast Keir Starmer insists he took "decisive action" by suspending the Rochdale candidate Azhar Ali from the Labour party. Should it have come quicker? How damaging has it been to the wider party? And what on earth is going to happen in what's fast becoming the weirdest by election in modern history - with not one but three former Labour candidates. Later, we look at Rafah, in Gaza - now bracing itself for a ground incursion from an Israeli government that seems hell-bent on finishing a military missi...
Feb 13, 2024•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast Keir Starmer has gone out of his way to break with his party's antisemitic past and to reshape the Labour parliamentary party. But this weekend, shadow ministers found themselves in the unenviable position of having to defend the Labour candidate for Rochdale for 'mistakenly believing a conspiracy theory' instead of calling him out for his antisemitic remarks about whether Israel had turned a blind eye to the Hamas atrocities as 'a green light for a full on Gaza invasion'. Azhar Ali is standing ...
Feb 12, 2024•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast When will strikes end - and are Labour the party to stop the constant drumroll of them? We're joined by the most charismatic man on the left of British politics - who has become synonymous with the public sector striking. Mick Lynch. And later, we talk all things Biden as he hits back against accusations that his mind is ailing - only to then make yet another gaff. Editor: Tom Hughes Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus Producer: Laura FitzPatrick Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell Video Production:...
Feb 09, 2024•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast The worst kept secret in politics was freed from its shackles today as Sir Keir Starmer confirmed Labour would drop their 28 billion pound spending pledge on the green economy. It will confirms Rishi's criticism of a flip-flop leader. Why is Keir running scared of spending? Later, is Rishi's own party calling on him to apologise for his trans gag in the Commons yesterday? Why won’t he? We discuss where it’s left him. Editor: Tom Hughes Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus Producer: Laura FitzPatrick S...
Feb 08, 2024•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast How has Rishi Sunak shown so little emotional intelligence that he ended up making his customary 'trans joke'? In the presence of the mother of a brutally murdered trans teenager. What does this tell us about the disconnect between his politics and the people he serves? And what does it mean for the divisive culture war that has formed the rump of so much recent conservative campaigning? Today we discuss decency, standards in public life and leadership with Lord Simon McDonald, and ask whether w...
Feb 07, 2024•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast Liz Truss and her mates have been selling their version of popular conservatism in central London this morning. They were delighted to see Lewis at their launch who spoke to Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg and Nigel Farage about both their vision and their seeming hypocrisy. We ask Sir Charles Walker, of the same party, if he recognizes this brand of conservatism or if they are in fact “useful idiots“ for the right-wing fringe Reform UK party . Editor: Tom Hughes Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus Producer: Lau...
Feb 06, 2024•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast Northern Ireland's new first minister Michelle O'Neill has had her knuckles metaphorically rapped by the PM - who's warned politicians to "focus on the day to day" of the brand new power sharing deal - and not start conversations about a united Ireland. Could Ireland really unite within he decade? How many voters want to see that happen? And are we missing the bigger picture of what this deal actually means and where the vulnerabilities still lie? Later, Chris Steele is the former MI6 officer su...
Feb 05, 2024•45 min•Transcript available on Metacast Justice Minister and MP for Finchley and Golders Green, Mike Freer, announced he would be leaving politics this week, fearing for his and his family's safety after an arson attack on his office. Years on from the two shocking murders of MPs Jo Cox and Sir David Amess, we ask why has it become so dangerous to become an MP? Lewis travels to Mike Freer's burnt-out constituency office in North London, and we hear from Kim Leadbeater MP, the sister of Jo Cox, who now sits in Parliament as an MP in he...
Feb 02, 2024•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast Paris is under siege. And this time, it's the farmers. But why? After weeks of tractors on the straße in Germany, France are hit by similar trouble. It's causing great consternation for an increasingly weak French president Emmanuel Macron. So today we ask, is Macron losing control of France as the far-right rises in Europe? And how big of a problem is this for the EU in Brussels? Later, we talk to the Conservative mayor of West Midlands, Andy Street. Editor: Tom Hughes Senior Producer: Gabriel ...
Feb 01, 2024•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s been four years since we formally left the EU - and its been eight years of trying to square an impossible circle. How do you keep Brexiteers happy, the EU on board and Northern Ireland’s government up and running, all at once? Well today Rishi came through with a deal which might - big emphasis MIGHT hit the spot. We take you through what we know. Later, Nicola Sturgeon explains to the Scotland Covid inquiry which she didn’t, sorry did, sorry didn’t really delete her WhatsApp messages. It ...
Jan 31, 2024•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast Last weekend the Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch made clear - in her trademark no nonsense style - that she wished all those trying to plot against and undermine Rishi Sunak would shut up and go away. In unrelated news, the Guardian revealed last night she's part of a Whatsapp group called.... The Evil Plotters. Are the rumblings of Prime Ministerial removal getting louder? Is policy being dictated by those he fears? And what to make of the IMF warning his chancellor NOT to cut taxes at the nex...
Jan 30, 2024•46 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 or Wednesday, on Global Player. Find the latest episode of News Agents USA here on Global Player.
Jan 30, 2024•2 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Telegraph editor began the morning by asking how ‘everyday British life would change in a global conflict’. Trump has already called it for WW3. On today’s episode we ask why the language has ratcheted up and whether we are already in a war without fully realising. How will President Biden respond to the deaths in Jordan of US servicemen? And is this all part of the Israel-Hamas war - or is Iran using that as a pretext to provoke America? Later, why is Truss at war with Rishi-again - this ti...
Jan 29, 2024•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast Alabama has executed convicted murderer Kenneth Eugene Smith with nitrogen gas, the first time this method of capital punishment has been used anywhere in the world. On today's show Lewis asks how it has come to this, and whether the US government will be gassing more of its criminals Later, we take a huge handbrake turn to talk to the creator of the year's biggest TV show and cultural phenomenon - The Traitors. He tells Lewis how they choose the Traitors and even hints at a celebrity version. E...
Jan 26, 2024•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast The head of the army - General Sir Patrick Sanders - has said the UK needs to train and equip a citizen army to be on the front door for any future war with Russia. The PM has hastily ruled out conscription but on today's episode, we consider whether the era of peace is over. And ask what we are prepared to do if the threats deepen. Later, election denier Trump has talked up a purge of bureaucrats and security forces. Are we happy to nod Trump through as he advocates a police state? And why are ...
Jan 25, 2024•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
