The News Agents

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 mothers and babies had been exposed to "avoidable harm".

In opposition, Labour said that financial redress for victims was "desperately needed" - so why has nothing happened since the party took office? And how much longer will those families be forced to wait?

In a special report, Lewis talks to the families affected, including one for The News Agents not far from home.

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 Baggs

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

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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 talked about Lewis Hamilton's back seat driver and a big win for Lando Norris at Formula One's opening weekend with one of the world's most decorated female racing drivers and Sky Sports F1 Analyst, Jamie Chadwick(20:30).

Got a question for The Sports Agents - email us at thesportsagents@global.com

New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

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 that would see Donald Trump running for a THIRD presidential term, what would it mean for American democracy - and what would it mean for JD Vance, the Vice President already taking up pole position as the MAGA successor?

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 Baggs

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

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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 know? And does driving a Tesla make you “a nazi twat“?

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 Baggs

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

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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 strip. The White House confirmed that Washington had been consulted on the offensive. Trump's press secretary told reporters that: "All those who seek to terrorise not just Israel but the US, will see a price to pay, and all hell will break loose." Is Trump giving Benjamin Netanyahu licence to act with impunity in Gaza? And why is the British government contradicting itself on whether Israel is committing war crimes?

Later, Labour MPs have spent the afternoon voicing their unease at the welfare changes outline today by work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall. How much trouble is actually building on the backbenches?

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 Baggs

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

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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 to be sounding the alarm on the rising welfare bill, if 1.8m more people are claiming sickness benefits than before the pandemic?

Later, Donald Trump claims to have overturned Joe Biden's presidential pardons - a power not bestowed upon any occupant of the Oval Office. Is he stretching the US constitution to breaking point?

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 Baggs

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

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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 Baggs

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents

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

This week on The Sports Agents...

From sneaking a disguised Novak Djokovic into a team talk, to lessons fromBen Stokesand 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).

Michael Jordan, Usain Bolt, Sarah Storey... lots of famous sportspeople have tried switching sports. We got into what that's like with double Olympic champion Jade Jones, who's swapping taekwondo for boxing. We also chatted to Usain Bolt's football coach, Mike Mulvey(16:30).

And comedian Adam Hillschatted to us about his new role as President of the Rugby Football league, which seems to involve a big gold chain, hearing stories from his Ukrainian counterpart and spending his spare time at the Para-Standing Tennis World Championships (21:30).

Got a question for The Sports Agents - email us at thesportsagents@global.com

New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

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 proposals worked out by President Trump and agreed by President Zelenskyy. Jon and Lewis got his first reaction to that news - and discussed his vision for a smaller state.

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 Baggs

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents

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

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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 with China, on its impact on elections, and on its decision making on content moderation and advertising, are striking. We thought you should listen for yourselves, to Sarah’s first ever broadcast interview.

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 Baggs

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents

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

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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 Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

Digital Journalist: Michael Baggs

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents

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

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There is growing uncertainty in the American economy as stocks fall, and Donald Trump refuses to rule out a recession. He's even said he will double metal tariffs against Canada and threatened to impose levies on its car industry.

As the trade war heats up and Americans watch their market falter, will Donald Trump change his strategy? And how will the rest of the world respond?

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 Baggs

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents

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

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"America is not Canada, and Canada never ever will be part of America in any way." The words of the chiselled ice hockey player and former Bank of England Governor Mark Carney who is Canada's new Prime Minister. He's unafraid of Trump, has mocked his economic policy, and his expansionist pretensions. He's put the Liberal Party of Justin Trudeau in poll position to win the next general election against the Conservatives, and against all the odds. Will he become the pin up for centrists around the world looking for a muscular response to Trump?

Later, what's happening in the Reform party? Nigel Farage and Elon Musk's favourite Reform MP, Rupert Lowe, have fallen out badly. Who's lying? And what impact is it having on the party's fortunes?

And for LBC's Online Safety Day we ask More in Common's Luke Tryl why the public is so ahead of the politicians when it comes to tougher action in this digital age.

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

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 Baggs

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents

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

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

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In our first ever Live Q&A edition Jon and Lewis answer your most pressing questions.

Is Trump working for Putin? Will a military coup overthrow the Trump administration? If Zelensky ends up going back to America, should he wear a suit? And why are we all so obsessed with Lewis's jumper?

You can watch our Live Friday Q&A here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeOrLLSSBhc

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

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 Baggs

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents

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

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

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This week on The Sports Agents...

Imagine flying on EasyJet and seeing the men's team on private jets. That's one of the many gaps the England women's team experienced before Baroness Sue Campbellstepped in and five years later, the women won the Euros. One of the greatest trailblazers in UK sport joins us for International Women's Day (02:15).

After Emma Raducanu spoke out about crying when she saw her stalker at a match, we found out what it's like to have a stalker with former GB middle distance runner Sabrina Sinha (08:45).

Did you know North Korea show the Premier League? They do it in a very strange way, asMartyn Williams from 38 North, a US-based think-tank analysing North Korea, explained. (15:30)

And we've just turned one! We celebrate our first anniversaryby picking our favourite moments from the last year. (20:15)

Got a question for The Sports Agents - email us at thesportsagents@global.com

New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

Trump is no fan of Zelenskyy. That much has been clear for months. But according to Politico, his administration is now tapping up Ukrainian opposition politicians and former leaders to try to push Zelenskyy out of power. Is America now interfering in Ukraine’s domestic policies as well as forcing its submission to Putin? We talk to CNN Correspondent and Chief International Anchor, Christiane Amanpour about her time with Zelensky.

And what do European leaders have to offer Ukraine as they meet now in Brussels? Have they come to the conclusion Starmer hasn’t yet - that America can no longer be trusted?

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

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 Baggs

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents

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

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

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A carefully worded letter from Ukraine's President Zelenskyy has made its way to Donald Trump - The News Agents have details on the role that the British government may have played in getting that message delivered to the American President. What's less clear is how Trump will respond - what happens now? He described Zelenskyy's letter as "important" - so why has he suspended intelligence sharing with Kyiv? And will there be any punishment for Russia in this “deal”? Plus, we’re with the CEO of the Munich Security Conference, who led JD Vance on stage for that speech.

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

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 Baggs

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents

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

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

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Trump has ordered a “pause“ on all US military aid to Ukraine. All the pending military assistance Biden signed off before leaving office is now in a holding pattern until Trump gets his apology/ submission/ minerals deal from Zelenskyy. How long can Ukraine go on fighting now? Will the EU find the money to plug the gap? And is Trump remotely interested in peace?

Later, as tariffs the tariffs imposed on Mexico, Canada and China come into affect we ask how long before Americans will start noticing prices going up and their economy suffering?

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

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 Baggs

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents

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

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

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What is it like to take on Rupert Murdoch and win? We have an exclusive interview with David Sherborne - the media barrister who represented Prince Harry last month and has been the go to lawyer for the highest profile celebrity trials ever fought.

But we start in Ukraine where Trump is threatening to stop military aid and the British Ambassador to America, Peter Mandelson, appears to have “wandered off the reservation“ in terms of party lines.

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

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 Baggs

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents

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

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

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In this bonus episode of The News Agents, Jon and Lewis get together to discuss Sunday's emergency meeting of European Leaders here in the UK to resolve a peace plan for Ukraine.

Will Keir Starmer's plan bring us closer to peace in Ukraine? Will Donald Trump get on board? And what will Putin make of the events that have unfolded over the last few days?

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

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 Baggs

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents

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

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

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In this bonus episode of The News Agents, Jon and Lewis react to Friday evening's remarkable events in the White House.

How will the Trump-Zelenskyy fallout impact the war? How will Keir Starmer react? And will Zelenskyy be forced into a resignation as Ukrainian president?

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

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 Baggs

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents

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

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There were smiles, laughs, and a few pats on the shoulder - the mood in the Oval Office felt at times amorous as Keir Starmer and Donald Trump got down to business.

The Prime Minister appeared to have defied some of his harshest critics in DC, earning almost fawning praise from the American President and seemingly a series of wins - on tariffs, the Chagos islands, and on Ukraine.

But if Donald Trump is a man who trades on personal relationships and rapport, will that positivity endure once Starmer has left the White House? And how much stock should Britain place in Trump's words, where he often delivers his message with ambiguity and sometimes even contradiction?

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

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 Baggs

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents

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

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

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This week on The Sports Agents...

The first refugee to win an Olympic medal, Cindy Ngamba, joined Gabby and Mark before her professional boxing debut to talk about her incredible story from a shock arrest to the hilarious moment she discovered boxing (03:00).

The story of fleeing Afghanistanand getting no support from cricket's governing body (the ICC) with Afghanistan women's cricketer, Firooza Amiri, and international cricket journalist Alison Mitchell (09:00).

Former England women's football captain Steph Houghtontalked about how she helped pioneer the rise of women's football from £4,000 per year salaries to winning the Euros and beating World Champions Spain this week (13:30).

And we reveal our karaokesongs... Mark's wasn't what we expected! (22:15)

Got a question for The Sports Agents - email us at thesportsagents@global.com

New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

If you’ve been charged with people trafficking and rape, entry into the US is normally impossible. But it seems the Trump administration has been instrumental in ‘persuading’ the Romanian authorities to hand back the US passports of Andrew Tate and his brother, Tristan. But why? Why would the US president want to help a man facing the most serious criminal charges - and he is wanted by the authorities in the UK too? Well Andrew Tate’s following on social media is huge. And his macho, misogyny brought a lot of young men to Trump in 2024. And it looks as though the administration now wants to return the favour, never mind the victims; never mind what he’s accused of.

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

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 Baggs

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents

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

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As we record, Zelenskyy is looking through the draft agreement which would give America oil, gas and mineral rights in exchange for…what? The final part of the deal is the bit that's missing. Will America pledge military help? And if not what does Ukraine get back?

Later, former Chief Whip Simon Hart describes the utter circus (*shitshow) that surrounded the last few years of Conservative rule. His book, "Ungovernable: The Political Diaries of a Chief Whip", is brutally honest. Will it put people even further off politics?

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

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 Baggs

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

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On the eve of his trip to Washington, Keir Starmer told the commons that UK defence spending would rise to 2.5 percent within two years. It’s an increase in real money of £13.4 billion. £5 billion of which will come from cutting our foreign aid budget. Is he trying to protect Europe? Or to please Trump? And will it work?

Later, does Labour have the right response to the falling birth rate? Why are all the conversations about family and children coming from the hard right and the MAGA traditionalists? We talk to Josh Simons, Labour MP for Makerfield.

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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 Baggs

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

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It didn't take long for Germany's new Chancellor in waiting, Friedrich Merz, to make his presence felt across the Atlantic. Before the final ballots had even been counted in the German elections, Merz took to a television debate to warn that "after Donald Trump's remarks last week...it is clear that this government does not care much about the fate of Europe". He called for the EU to work together at pace to "really achieve independence from the USA", even questioning whether NATO in its current form would continue to exist come the summer. Remarkable words from a politician until now known as a staunch atlanticist - but is he just reflecting the new political era Europe finds itself in? And what does that mean for Keir Starmer and the British government?

Later, Elon Musk instructs millions of federal workers to compile a list of their achievements in the past week or risk the sack, and a podcaster becomes deputy chief of the FBI. What on earth is going on in America's civil service - and is it just becoming an enforcement arm for Donald Trump?

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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 Baggs

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

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Right now, culture wars seem to punctuate every moment of our daily lives. Politicising more and more and dividing people over issues both big and small. How have culture wars embedded themselves in so deeply in our politics? What if they are part of a wider design to keep the rich powerful? And how damaging have identity politics been for the left?

Ash Sarkar sat down with Lewis to discuss these questions, which are at the heart of her new book 'Minority Rule: Adventures in the Culture War'.

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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 Baggs

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

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This week on The Sports Agents...

Mark and Gabby hit the road this week, meeting Formula Onedrivers at the O2 Arena and travelling to Wigan to chat to the best and possibly most underrated coach in Britain.

First up, an exclusive interview with three-time Grand Prix winner George Russellabout taking over from Lewis Hamilton as Mercedes lead driver, swearing rules and the moment you know if your car will be good enough to win a world championship (it's sooner than you think!). (02:45)

Mark also caught up with young British rookie Oliver Bearman, who was three when Hamilton won first world championship. He made a dramatic debut last season: drafted in with two hours notice he finished 7th ahead of Hamilton and Lando Norris, becoming the youngest British F1 driver in the process. So in his first full season can he replicate that success? He didn't in his driving test... (10:45)

And we meet Wigan Warriors Head Coach, Matt Peet, whose recent trophy cabinet is rivalled only by the likes of Pep Guardiola with seven in three years. So how did the life-long Wigan fan, who never played professional rugby league, guide his side to a historic quadruple and the Team of the Year award at Sports Personality of the Year? Might have something to do with the philosophy he reads... (15:30)

Got a question for The Sports Agents - email us at thesportsagents@global.com

New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

The backlash against Donald Trump for his diatribe against Volodymyr Zelenskyy has strengthened. Keir Starmer called the Ukrainian President in a show of support and told him it was "perfectly reasonable" to have suspended elections given Russia's invasion. European leaders have also lined up to reject Trump's claims that Zelenskyy is a "dictator" - even Nigel Farage has distanced himself from that notion, though pointedly has suggested that Ukraine needed to set a timeline for new elections.

But how far can politicians here, and in Europe, push against the American president when so much is at stake for Western security? Or is there an electoral advantage to standing up to the world's most powerful figure if voters think he has overstepped the mark?

We speak to Judith Gough, the UK's former ambassador to Ukraine who knows President Zelenskyy. And later, to More in Common's Luke Tryl, who has been conducting focus groups here about attitudes towards Donald Trump and the Ukraine war.

You can read More in Common's full report on 'Progressive Activists' here: https://www.moreincommon.org.uk/our-work/research/progressive-activists/

How might Trump change the course of the war in Ukraine? And what will the impact be for British and European politics?

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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 Baggs

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

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Not content with parroting talking points from the Kremlin, Donald Trump has hardened his position on Ukraine even further. Taking to Truth Social, the US president branded Volodymyr Zelenskyy a "dictator without elections" who has done "a terrible job" for his country. He warned his counterpart in Kyiv to "move fast or he is not going to have a country left". Those words will chill European leaders, already baffled at President Trump's decision to align himself with Russia so acutely - are we witnessing the beginning of a new Russian-American axis? And where does that leave those countries in the east of Europe, who have spent decades freeing themselves from the iron grip of Moscow?

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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 Baggs

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

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In the weeks following Donald Trump’s scrapping of diversity, equality and inclusion schemes in government, a number of big-name companies have followed suit rolling back their DEI commitments. So why are so many big companies ditching DEI? And what could this rolling back of DEI policies mean for businesses and workplaces? We speak to Alexandra Mousavizadeh.

Later, Gabriel Gatehouse joins us to tell us about frozen heads, psychedelic art, and his search for the mysterious Bitcoin founder.

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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 Baggs

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

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European leaders are heading to Paris. American negotiators are heading to Saudi. And the News Agents have arrived in Birmingham. It’s our first live show of 2025 and as a broadcasting first we’re joined by some abseiling window cleaners on today’s episode. We discuss Americas unilateral plan for Ukraine. Why has it left Europeans in tears? What can Starmer do with Trump? And are we really going to see British troops on Ukraine's borders?

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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 Baggs

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

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Despite Keir Starmer's long march to Downing Street, there is so much we don't know about our Prime Minister. His media presence, and his Downing Street, is more guarded than the PMs who have preceded him. He has worn many different political personalities on his journey from lawyer, to the House of Commons, to leader of the opposition - he has evolved as his journey to No 10 took shape.

What drives him? What are his fundamental principles? Who are his real allies? Gabriel Pogrund and Patrick Maguire have an arguably clearer picture than anyone except the man himself. Their new book 'Get In: The Inside Story of Labour Under Starmer' attempts to get beneath the skin of the man running our country.

They sat down with Lewis to try and answer some of those questions.

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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 Baggs

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

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This week on The Sports Agents...

Can the Six Nationslearn from the star-studded Super Bowl? We chat to ex-England rugby union player Ugo Monye (03:30).

Could rugby league help the Premier Leagueget VAR right? That's with Phil Bentham, Head of Match Officials at the RFL and former PGMOL VAR coach (10:45).

Joe McEwan tells us about suffering a sudden cardiac arrestwhen playing lacrosse. At just 22 his heart stopped for 4 minutes but he survived and now he's raising money by walking the length of New Zealand (16:45).

And we laugh about Andy Murray's fateful first ski trip, where he had to be transported down the mountain after biting off more than he could chew (22:45).

Find out more about Cardiac Risk in the Younghere

Got a question for The Sports Agents - email us at thesportsagents@global.com

New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

Donald Trump's first stab at a deal on Ukraine appears to have gone very well - for Russia. During a 90 minute phone call with Putin they started to lay out the terms. Including a veto on Ukraine joining NATO and an understanding that Ukraine would never reclaim Crimea. The phone call with Zelensky did not come until afterwards. European leaders are up in arms at being left out of the conversation and can’t work out why Trump is conceding to Putin before he’s even stopped his illegal invasion. Is Trump 'the deal maker' just not actually very good at making deals? And has he profoundly given up on the West and its defence?

Later, what does the Munich terror attack presage for the forthcoming German election? Is it making life for the anti immigrant parties much easier?

And which toddler dared to tell Trump he was not actually the President?

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

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 Baggs

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

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Kemi Badenoch got rebuffed in PMQs by the Prime Minister telling her for the second week in a row she “hadn’t done her homework".

Why isn’t she cutting through? Does she need to do more media interviews? Or might her safe space be the kind of podcasts Trump used to secure the 2024 election? Today we ask if that media exists here in the UK and if not, why not?

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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 Baggs

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

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The AI Summit in Paris assumed it would be the centre of tech action today. That was until Elon Musk put in a cheeky (hostile) bid for Sam Altman's OpenAI company, claiming he was owed the money anyway from a previous deal. There is beef between these two tech bros - who both proudly wear Trump's patronage. They previously worked and innovated together on the company that is now Altman's. Can Musk bully Altman into giving it up? Will Trump help him? And what happens if AI as well as X, tesla, SpaceX and (checks notes) the entire US government is now within Musk's grasp?

Later, is Trump serious about pulling out of NATO? And is the Ukraine war already lost? We speak to Jeremy Hunt about what he's learned from 14 years at the top of government, and what he'd do differently.

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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 Baggs

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

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Labour has been trying to show how tough it’s getting on immigration - releasing videos of its door to door raids whilst simultaneously putting up Reform turquoise ads on Facebook. The messaging goes to the heart of the Labour conundrum. Should it fight Reform or copy it? Does it need more muscular pushback? Or an acceptance that’s where voters concerns now lie? We discuss with MP Jake Richards.

Later, what is 'Blue Labour' and why are they favourites of Donald Trump? And who is DJ Dowster and WTF is he singing ?

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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 Baggs

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

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In a time of rising populism, a raging debate around free speech online, and with Donald Trump fixating upon Greenland, Helle Thorning-Schmidt sits in a unique vantage point.

Denmark's first female Prime Minister remains one of the most influential social democrats in Europe. And her experiences grappling with the migrant crisis have equipped her with some big ideas on how the left should combat the radical right.

She's also now one of the few people with Mark Zuckerberg's ear. Thorning-Schmidt co-chairs Meta's oversight board - a body which checks the tech giant on content moderation and rules on what can and cannot be posted on Facebook and Instagram. With Donald Trump effectively seeking to scrap restrictions on online expression, and eyeing up Greenland, a territory she once governed, Lewis sat down with her to discuss some of the big - potentially defining - issues of our time.

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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 Baggs

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

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This week on The Sports Agents...

A big helping of American sport as we geared up for Sunday's Super Bowl and explained the NBA transfer that broke the internet...

Former Super Bowl champion Jason Bell, was in the studio to talk about Patrick Mahomes' G.O.A.T status, The Kansas City Chiefs' attempt at a historic 'Three-Peat' and the 'Taylor Swift Super Bowl conspiracy'? (09:50)

Tas Melas, co-host of 'No Dunks' podcast joined us to break down Luka Doncic's shock trade to the LA Lakers - one of the biggest stars in the sport and he had no idea it was about to happen and no power to stop it! (21:46)

Plus, would you know what to do if a brand wanted to sponsor your 12-year old child? The mother of Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly, Marcia Lewis, joined us to talk about her mission to help parents navigate the world of academy football. (03:59)

And can TikTok really help the growth of women's sport? Women's Sport Trust CEO Tammy Parlour and Birmingham City defender Shannon Cooke explain (16:23)

Got a question for The Sports Agents - email us at thesportsagents@global.com

Find out more about No1fan.club here

New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

In one fell swoop the Bank of England cut interest rates today and worse, their forecast for growth. They now believe the economy will grow at HALF the rate originally predicted. And the bank is pointing the finger at the Chancellors tax rises in the last budget as the problem. Is Rachel Reeves in trouble? Is the country? And will the Prime Minister stick by her as Chancellor?

Later, Kemi Badenoch has a new test for immigrants coming to Britain. Can they prove that they will give more back to the country financially than they take out ?

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

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 Baggs

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

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Last night President Trump floated the real estate agent’s vision for Gaza - a riviera in the Middle East, with waterfront property and barely a Palestinian on site. Is he suggesting seizing it? Buying it? Ethnic cleansing? Or a wild card route into diplomacy? We discuss with Layla Moran MP, whose family escaped Gaza last year.

Later, is Labour still pursuing the Indian Ocean Chagos deal? And has the price really doubled?

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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 Baggs

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

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President Trump, or should we say Elon Musk, has turned off the taps on the spending of an entire government department - US AID. Many voters will be happy to see a red line through some of the overseas spending. Other figures, like a hundred million dollars on condoms for Hamas, have been entirely confected. Why is an unelected foreign billionaire deciding what happens to the American taxpayer money? And if no one stops Elon Musk and Donald Trump, where will they go next?

Later, Keir Starmer is facing questions about his lockdown voice coach lessons. Should he face the same scrutiny that Boris Johnson did over party gate? Or has the country moved on?

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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 Baggs

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in America here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

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Canadians booing the American national anthem at sports matches, shops removing American made products from their shelves...how many enemies is Donald Trump prepared to make with his trade tariffs? The Mexican president and Trump have already agreed to postpone the tariffs by one month following a "good conversation". Is anyone really prepared to fight the bully tactics?

Later, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson tells us why she thinks Michael Gove is being hyperbolic about her changes to education. Will the Ofsted reforms really help parents? And why is she rolling back changes that the Tories say worked?

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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 Baggs

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in America here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

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The Washington plane collision is a moment of national mourning for America, but not for Donald Trump. With over 60 dead and bodies still being recovered from the frozen Potomac river, Trump decided to politicise the disaster within seconds of speaking: blaming DEI policies, before any investigation has started, much less concluded. Why does he act this way? And will he pay a political cost? Lewis and Jon discuss.

And you ask: why don’t we talk more about the Green Party? Well we listened and we talk to Green co-leader Adrian Ramsay MP to ask why his party isn’t commanding much attention.

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

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 Baggs

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in America here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents

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This week on The Sports Agents...

Former British number one tennis players, Tim Henman and Laura Robson, chatted to Gabby and Mark from a Sky Sports padel event about doping, the Djokovic-Murray partnership and Emma Raducanu's future (01:45).

As the Six Nations kicks off ex-England rugby player, David Flatman, joined us. Could the Six Nations stop being free-to-air and could this threaten the sport? (08:00)

We tried to figure out how Manchester City got so close to an early Champions League exit with former City player, Nedum Onuoha, and Pep Guardiola's biographer, Guillem Balague (14:15).

And before she heads off to compete at the Invictus Games we chatted to Gemma Barnes, the Team UK vice-captain who served in the army for 15 years before two life-changing leg injuries (18:45).

Got a question for The Sports Agents - email us at thesportsagents@global.com

New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

14 months ago Suella Braverman was Home Secretary. Now, she's positing the idea that Britain could fall into the hands of "Muslim fundamentalism" and warning that the UK could become a theocratic state akin to Iran. What has caused such a shift to the right? And how comfortable are the Tory party with that kind of rhetoric?

Later we speak to Greg Jackson, founder and CEO of Octopus Energy, about Rachel Reeves's growth speech, net zero and whether business has confidence in the Treasury.

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

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 Baggs

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in America here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents

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

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The high point of the political week was set to be Rachel Reeves speech in Oxford on how to grow the economy. Has she convinced anyone with her plans? And has she changed the country’s mood? Why did all her cabinet colleagues who voted against Heathrow expansion last time suddenly see the light this time around?

Later, Peter Mandelson and his damascene conversion on Donald Trump.

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

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 Baggs

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in America here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents

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

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Denmark’s Prime Minister is clearly worried enough about President Trump's threats over Greenland to embark on a tour of European capitals to drum up support. Is the UK able to offer clear and unequivocal support to Denmark - our NATO ally? We ask Secretary of State, Peter Kyle.

But we start with China’s AI model, DeepSeek RI. What is it? Why is it causing chaos to US markets? And is it a security risk?

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

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 Baggs

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in America here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents

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

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Few public figures have thought longer or harder about the role of the media than Steve Coogan. He lead the charge against the press barons during the Leveson inquiry, and has just starred as Brian Walden, the father of the modern British political interview - documenting Walden's complex relationship with Margaret Thatcher in the new C4 two-part show 'Brian and Maggie'.

He sat down with Emily to discuss phone hacking, press freedom, toxic masculinity, Thatcher's legacy, and his verdict on Keir Starmer's Britain.

And later - why you should all go and see 'A Real Pain'.

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

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 Baggs

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in America here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents

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

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As Donald Trump's first week in office comes to an end, we answer your most pressing questions.

Who will be the first casualty of President Trump's cabinet? Will his bromance with Elon Musk last the full term? And has news evolved to be entertainment?

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

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 Baggs

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in America here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents

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

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"

This week on The Sports Agents...

Sporting royalty on the podcast this week as Gabby and Mark were joined by Mo Farah, four-time Olympic gold medallist (1:30), two-time Ryder Cup winner and Olympic silver medallist Tommy Fleetwood (7:45), one of the most decorated female racing drivers, Jamie Chadwick, (13:30) and Nottingham Forest captain Ryan Yates (19:45).

Got a question for The Sports Agents - email us at thesportsagents@global.com

New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

After a long battle against the tabloids, Prince Harry has won an 8 figure settlement from Rupert Murdoch's News Group Newspapers. For the first time, a lengthy apology admits the paper group used unlawful activities at The Sun, and hired private investigators to get their stories. Will anyone be held responsible?

Later, President Trump dials into Davos. What is the rest of Europe thinking? Can he really end the war in Ukraine? And will he ever get a Noble Peace Prize?

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

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 Baggs

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in America here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents

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

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"

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Donald Trump's first 48 hours in the White House have been frenetic. His decision to pardon 1,500 January 6th rioters - including militia leaders and those plotting violent insurrection - has stunned even Republican lawmakers who witnessed the violence on Capitol Hill four years ago. The new President has chalked up a series of easy early wins with a blitz of executive orders, but some Americans are already expressing alarm about his instructions to government departments to investigate his political enemies. Is the shock and awe approach of the new administration underlaid by a targeted erosion of America's democratic safeguards?

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

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 Baggs

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in America here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents

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

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"

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The United States has a new CEO. Trump is promising a golden age - a flag on Mars, control of the Panama Canal, an America moving onwards and upwards.

He also suggested he’d pardon those convicted of the January 6th riots that he himself encouraged. And that came on the same day the outgoing President Biden preemptively pardoned his own family.

We are on the Mall in DC, we have George Santos in the studio, and we mark inauguration day in America on the cusp of Trump’s unguarded second act.

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

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 Baggs

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in America here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents

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

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"

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It's inauguration day in Washington DC and Emily and Lewis set the scene ahead of Trump's return to the White House.

We're on the streets of the US capital to speak to his excited MAGA supporters, as well as hearing from those now fearing for America as Trump returns to office.

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

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 Baggs

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in America here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents

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

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/

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This week on The Sports Agents...

Gary Lineker's replacements on Match of the Day, Mark, Kelly and Gabby, react to the big announcement (03:15).

As Tyson Fury retires from boxing (again!) we speak to the boxer who could be the heir to his throne, Moses Itauma, and his promoter Francis Warren(07:15).

How hard is it to break into the rotating cast of Premier League managers and how much does it cost? We speak to Lee Johnson, who's managed Sunderland, Bristol and more (14:15).

And from the Ashes in Australia we caught up with England World Cup winner Nat Sciver-Brunt(20:00).

Got a question for The Sports Agents - email us at thesportsagents@global.com

New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

Today marks the last day in the Presidential office for Joe Biden. Next week, he will pass the reigns over to Donald Trump for his second term as President of the United States. In his farewell speech Biden warned that an "oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that threatens our entire democracy."

So how will we look back on the Joe Biden presidency? And will he be remembered for anything other than making way for Donald Trump's second term?

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

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 Baggs

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in America here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents

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

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"

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Was it Joe Biden's quiet diplomacy or Donald Trump’s loud threats that brought the two sides to a place where a ceasefire is at least within reach? Over night Israeli rockets killed more than 70 Palestinians suggesting we are still a long way out from peace. How much power rests with Netanyahu now? And does he even want to see an end to the conflict? We speak to a man who knows him well.

Later, Ed Davey tells us why he’s disappointed with Keir Starmer and why the UK has to seek a customs union with the EU as Donald Trump comes back into the White House. Is he right?

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

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 Baggs

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in America here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents

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

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"

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At PMQs today, Kemi Badenoch accused the Government of writing "a cheque to compensate Gerry Adams”, the former leader of Sinn Féin. The Prime Minister has said he will look at "every conceivable way" to prevent such a compensation payout.

How could Labour’s plans to change legislation see Gerry Adams and other suspected IRA members receive compensation for internment during the Troubles? We speak to Alex Burghart, Shadow Northern Ireland secretary.

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

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 Baggs

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in America here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents

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

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"

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Nigel Farage claims that Reform is the party of the future. And the young. He hasn’t been correct on that one so far - it’s very much been the party of the old. But could that be changing? And why has the UK lagged behind the rest of Europe on this trend up until now? Are young voters really switching away from progressive parties, or is Reform just out to find those who never previously voted?

Later, why is the shadow chancellor sounding like a one man melodrama and invoking the drums "beating ever closer"? We discuss.

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

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 Baggs

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in America here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents

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

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"

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What is the story that links a Labour MP, a ransacked Bangladeshi palace, a free Hampstead property and Vladimir Putin? Today we delve into the curious tale that links the MP for Hampstead, Tulip Siddiq - the economic and anti-corruption minister - with the fall of a powerful and possibly autocratic Bangladeshi deposed leader, Sheikh Hasina, her aunt.

What are the charges being levelled? And has Siddiq been transparent with everything she's acquired and admitted between them? We talk to the Sunday Times journalist who's just returned from the Bangladeshi prime ministerial palace, Gabriel Pogrund.

Later, the LA fires have been doused in misinformation. What criticism of the government in California is legit? And what has just been made up by fantasists for political gain?

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

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 Baggs

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in America here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents

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

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/

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The bond markets are back in British politics and have made Rachel Reeves’ job even harder. The Chancellor has headed to China amid a backdrop of warnings over market turmoil, stubborn interest rates and the prospect of public spending cuts. But how much of it is her fault? In the short or long term? In this episode we talk to Ruchir Sharma, the author of (so Lewis says) one of the best political books of 2024: 'What Went Wrong with Capitalism'. It is a sharp critique of left and right, but also says that, in their own way, they’ve both got a point about how lousy our economic model has become.

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

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 Baggs

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in America here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents

The News Agents USA now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents-usa

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/

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This week on The Sports Agents...

What sport did James Corden beat Gabby at? And what's it like when your dad sells you to another club? All that and more with Jamie Redknapp, the former England, Liverpool and Tottenham player (03:00).

Should the England boycott their upcoming men's cricket match against Afghanistan? We ask Double-Ashes winner Steve Harmison, whogot death threats in 2003 about boycotting a game against Zimbabwe. (08:10)

And how about adding lava fields and lasers to golf? That's what Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy have done in their $100m experiment to bring golf to Gen Z. We find our more with The Athletic's Golf Reporter Gabby Herzig (16:45).

Got a question for The Sports Agents - email us at thesportsagents@global.com

New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

Liz Truss - reports the Telegraph - has sent the Prime Minister a 'Cease and desist' letter threatening him with legal action for saying that she 'crashed the economy'. Her lawyers contest that the statement is 'false and defamatory' and contributed to her losing her Norfolk seat in the election.

So, what is the free speech champion hoping to achieve by this legal battle? And how do we decide if she 'did' crash the economy? We chat to her ally, Mark Littlewood.

Later, the Chancellor is heading to China just when rising borrowing costs are throwing the bond markets into turmoil. Is this wise? What's going on? And what's at the bottom of all the negative sentiment about the UK? We chat to Sky News economic and data editor, Ed Conway.

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

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 Baggs

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in America here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents

The News Agents USA now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents-usa

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"

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It was only 8 years ago that Mark Zuckerberg found himself apologising for misinformation posted and shared by the Facebook algorithm, acknowledging the harm and damage it was capable of causing, and putting forward the steps to rectify it. But eight years is a long time. Particularly when you have faced threats of imprisonment from the incoming administration. And yesterday, the CEO went full MAGA and decided that following Donald Trump's election it was time to scrap the fact check operation - that will save them huge amounts of money - and allow for a similar process of 'content moderation' to the kind Elon Musk is happy to use on X. Did the damascene conversion come as a result of those threats? 'Probably, yes'. Trump agreed. So has Facebook given up on Fact? And who will be the next tech giant to cave to Donald Trump?

Later, we speak to Wes Streeting about election interference and why he thinks Tommy Robinson is now providing a template for some Tory MPs.

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

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 Baggs

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in America here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents

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As Kemi Badenoch, Nigel Farage and Elon Musk call for a new inquiry into the grooming scandal, we speak to the man who uncovered the Rotherham abuse and whose reporting led to the original inquiry. Andrew Norfolk first wrote about this horrific widespread exploitation of young girls more than a decade ago as chief investigative reporter at The Times. He has given his first interview to The News Agents since Elon Musk's intervention to set the record straight on the scandal - and respond to those whom he accuses of 'shameful' behaviour - the weaponising of horrendous acts for political gain.

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

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 Baggs

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in America here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents

The News Agents USA now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents-usa

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/

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Keir Starmer has attacked those spreading lies over child grooming gangs. He didnt explicitly call out Elon Musk, but it was clearly he meant him. And he did explicitly call out Kemi Badenoch for sheepishly following Elon Musk's calls for an inquiry without exploring the myths he is peddling. Meanwhile, Musk has decided he's no longer a fan of Nigel Farage and has called for him to be replaced as leader of the Reform party. So who's up who's down as the year begins?

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

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 Baggs

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in America here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents

The News Agents USA now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents-usa

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/

In our final installation of our festive "What If" series Jon, Emily and Lewis ask what might have happened if Boris Johnson had decided to back the remain campaign rather than the leave campaign during the Brexit referendum? 

What if the Hong Kong handover hadn’t happened? Is there a world where Hong Kong’s democracy and independence could have been better protected?

And finally, what if Rishi Sunak hadn't called the election early? Would the Tories have had any time to redeem themselves? Or would Reform have been able to gain more of the vote share?

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

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 Baggs

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in America here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents

The News Agents USA now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents-usa

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/

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In the third episode of our Christmas "What if" series, Emily, Jon and Lewis bring you a US politics special.

First up, they ask how the world would have been different if George W. Bush lost to Al Gore in the 2000 Presidential election. Would there still have been an invasion of Iraq? And would Donald Trump have ever risen to office?

Later, they ask what would have happened if Bernie Sanders had beaten Hilary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic primary. Would Sanders have had a better chance of defeating Donald Trump?

And finally, what if Joe Biden had a quick nap before going head to head with Donald Trump in their Presidential debate earlier this year?

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

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 Baggs

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in America here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents

The News Agents USA now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents-usa

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/

What would have happened if to the Conservative Party if Dominic Cummings hadn’t needed to test his eyesight by driving to Barnard Castle? What if David Miliband was elected Labour leader instead of his brother, Ed Miliband? And what would have been the impact on British politics if the IRA had assassinated Thatcher in the 1984 Brighton bombing?

We answer more of you 'What if...' questions.

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

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 Journalists: Michael Baggs

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents

The News Agents USA now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents-usa

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/

In the first episode of our 'What If' series, Emily, Jon and Lewis look back at some of the big sliding doors moments of our recent history and examine how much our politics has been shaped by these pivotal events.

Grappling with some of your submissions, The News Agents ask - what if Scottish independence had won out in the 2014 referendum?

What if Rupert Murdoch had never bought The Sun newspaper?

And, what if Gordon Brown hadn't been caught on hot mic making disparaging remarks against a Rochdale voter in the 2010 election campaign?

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

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 Journalists: Michael Baggs

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in Florida here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents

The News Agents USA now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents-usa

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/

2024 really has been a political year like no other - treating us to an indulgent helping of seismic elections, career comebacks and a gluttony of scandals.

So we thought we’d try and make some sense of it all with the inaugural News Agents awards of the year. With some help from LBC’s Natasha Clark and Aggie Chambre, Lewis adjudicates on the highlights and the lowlights, the heroes and the villains of the last twelve months - and a look ahead to what’s in store for us all in 2025.

We’ll be back on Christmas eve with the first of our ‘What If’ series, taking a deep dive into the sliding doors moments which have shaped our world. What if things had played out differently?

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

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 Journalists: Michael Baggs

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in Florida here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents

The News Agents USA now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents-usa

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/

This week on The Sports Agents...

Sports Personality of the Year winner and 2024 Olympic gold medallist, Keely Hodgkinson,joins us for an exclusive interview (03:45).

We find out more about Tyson Fury and what it's like to box a rematch with cruiserweight boxer and former WBO title holder, Chris Billam-Smith, ahead of the biggest rematch of the century Fury v Usyk 2(11:25).

And how extreme can running get? We find out with ultra-runner Jon Shield (17:45).

Got a question for The Sports Agents - email us at thesportsagents@global.com

New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

Later in this episode we will be speaking exclusively to James Harding, founder of Tortoise media, in his first broadcast interview since buying the Observer newspaper. But we start in a court room in Avignon, packed to the brim with now convicted rapists who all abused a woman who had been drugged and "passed around“ by her husband. That women was Gisele Pelicot. She waived her anonymity to speak out for other victims. She is a hero in her native France. And increasingly around the world. But are we any closer to understanding how a crime like that happens?

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

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 Journalists: Michael Baggs

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in Florida here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents 

The News Agents USA now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents-usa

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/

Nigel Farage, Reform treasurer Nick Candy, and Elon Musk gathered below a portrait of a young Donald Trump in Mar-a-Lago. They were discussing campaign tactics, apparently, and whether Musk's money could be funnelled into Reform.

What can governing parties do to stop elections being bought? We ask the Polish Foreign Minister, Radek Sikorski, a politician who has helped to see off populist government in his own country.

Nigel Farage clip courtesy of GB News.

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

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 Journalists: Michael Baggs

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in Florida here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents 

The News Agents USA now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents-usa

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/

Lewis has been urged to cancel his new year holiday by Britain’s best known conservationist Chris Packham. When he tweeted asking for travel tips in the remote Faroe Islands, he did not expect to find himself at the centre of a mini-social media backlash, with animal rights campaigners arguing the islands should be boycotted because of their practice of whale and dolphin slaughter. We were intrigued by the political questions at play here. Do you have moral culpability just because you visit a country? How forgiving should we be of cultural practices? And are different standards applied to different cultures? Lewis talks to one of his critics in the studio.

We also talk another man’s travel plans- Keir Starmer who is getting more flak from within and without for globetrotting. Is this fair? He is, after all, the prime minister. We chat through with LBC’s Aggie Chambre and Natasha Clarke.

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

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 Journalists: Michael Baggs

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in Florida here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents 

The News Agents USA now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents-usa

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/

A modern day thriller - a Chinese spy who infiltrated not only government, but Buckingham Palace. The alleged spy, Yang Tengbo, says he did "done nothing wrong or unlawful". How did Prince Andrew get mixed up in this, and why is he getting so much flack?

Later, we talk about Stephen Bartlett's podcast after a BBC investigation revealed widespread health misinformation. How is wellness being weaponised to support "freedom of expression"?

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

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 Journalists: Michael Baggs

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in Florida here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents 

The News Agents USA now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents-usa

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/

Emily Thornberry is one of Labour's great survivors. An MP since 2005, she stuck with the party through 14 long years of opposition - serving in the shadow cabinets of Ed Miliband, Jeremy Corbyn and Keir Starmer. Never afraid to speak her mind, she's one of the party's most relaxed communicators, so why didn't Starmer bring her into government? On the backbenches, she's become chair of the foreign affairs committee - a powerful role scrutinising the work of the foreign secretary and Britain on the world stage. So with a revolution in Syria, Donald Trump poised to return to the White House, and populism on the rise in Europe, what better time to sit down with her to talk about her remarkable career. She speaks candidly to Lewis about her clashes with Corbyn's leadership team, Starmer's stuttering start and her journey towards the top of British politics.

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

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 Journalists: Michael Baggs

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in Florida here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents 

The News Agents USA now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents-usa

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/

This week on The Sports Agents...

After the biggest contract in sports history was signed (15 years and $765m dollars for baseball player Juan Soto) we tried to get our heads around the huge numbers with U.S. Sports Business Reporter, Daniel Kaplan (01:43).

As the Formula One season ended we had a debrief about the big driver argument, Lewis Hamilton and next year's wide open title race with BBC F1 presenter and voice of Drive to Survive, Jennie Gow (07:34).

We talked about the Game of Thrones at Manchester United with The Athletic's Adam Crafton after their sporting director Dan Ashworth left after just five months (14:40).

And for a Christmas treat, Gabby's husband and ex-Scotland and Wasps rugby player, Kenny Logan, joined us to spill the tea on Gabby (18:40).

Got a question for The Sports Agents - email us at thesportsagents@global.com

New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

Angela Rayner promises to deliver 1.5 million new homes within five years. It’s setting the battle lines for what the Telegraph is calling the “bulldozing of the Home Counties“. Is Keir Starmer ready to take on the Nimbys even if the Nimbys are now his core 2024 voter?

Later, who will be the “Voice of America“ - and what’s happening at the FBI?

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

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 Journalists: Michael Baggs

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in Florida here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents 

The News Agents USA now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents-usa

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/

The agriculture company Arla foods is trialing a new cow feed in the UK that aims to cut down climate changing methane emissions. It’s been approved by the regulatory authorities here, in Europe, and in America. But it hasn’t stopped milk becoming the latest conspiracy in the culture war, with reform MPs arguing for its ban and labelling it “woke milk “.

Later, Kemi Badenoch goes for Keir Starmer over immigration at PMQs. Is that wise?

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

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 Journalists: Michael Baggs

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in Florida here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents 

The News Agents USA now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents-usa

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/

Luigi Mangione is a 26 year old Ivy League graduate and an alleged cold blooded murderer. He’s also the top trending name worldwide with a Gen Z fanbase swooning over his abs. What does the shooting of a healthcare executive in New York, and the public response to it, tell us about American society and meme culture?

Later, what’s Israel doing in Syria - and could Netanyahu end up In jail for bribery ?

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

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 Journalists: Michael Baggs

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in Florida here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents 

The News Agents USA now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents-usa

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/

Syria’s brutal dictator, Bashar al-Assad, has fled Syria for Moscow. On today's episode we speak to his first cousin Ribal al-Assad about the character of the man who tortured and killed millions of his own people, and ask what hope is there for Syria now that he’s gone? And should the UK accept the incoming regime of proscribed jihadi terrorists?

Later, Carole Cadwalladr tells us why she is concerned that the sale of The Observer to Tortoise media is the route to self implosion for The Guardian.

And we catch up with 30p Lee and his latest illuminating tweet.

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

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 Journalists: Michael Baggs

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in Florida here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents 

The News Agents USA now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents-usa

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/

Rebel forces have seized control of Syria, leaving the country's President Bashar al-Assad scrambling to flee his homeland. There is jubilation on the streets of Damascus at the toppling of a despot who committed such grievous atrocities against his own people. But this is a move that will make leaders across the world nervous. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the group now in control of Syria, was set up as an affiliate of al-Qaeda and is a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK, the US and many other countries. And with Russia and Iran losing a vital regional ally in Assad - how determined are they to shape Syria's future?

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 Baggs

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents 

The News Agents USA now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents-usa

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/

Why aren't politicians funny anymore? Who is the most important Prime Minister in your lifetime? Will Elon Musk and Donald Trump's bromance last? And who will succeed Donald Trump?

Emily, Jon and Lewis answer the questions that we couldn't get to at our live show at the Royal Albert Hall.

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage 2025 with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

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 Baggs

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents 

The News Agents USA now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents-usa

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/

This week on The Sports Agents,

Gabby & Mark tackled the controversy surrounding the Premier League’s annual LGBTQ+ 'Rainbow Laces' campaign - after some players chose to directly challenge the Premier League’s directives. Wales all-time top goalscorer, Jess Fishlock (10:34) - MBE awarded for her services to football and the LGBTQ+ community and double-Paralympic 200m Champion Richard Whiteheadjoined us for a discussion about how 'inclusion' in wider sport (17:13).

The 4x Olympic Champion, Sir Ben Ainslie, joined us in the studio for an insight into working with Manchester United's new co-owner Jim Ratcliffe (02:39).

Got a question for The Sports Agents - email us at thesportsagents@global.com

New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

Today, in a movie studio setting Keir Starmer attempted to grab the public imagination with talks of pledges, missions and milestones. But the revelation came thirty minutes into his own speech when he acknowledged people’s impatience with traditional politics. Of which he is perhaps the archetype. Is he thinking about Reform who are now edging ahead of Labour in some polls? And is this what is driving his big fear now? Labour simply won’t have time to finish the job they’ve just begun with populists snapping at their heels.

Later, bitcoin surges to the hundred thousand dollar mark. What’s driving this rise and what does it tell us?

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

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 Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob Paul

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in Florida here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents 

The News Agents USA now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents-usa

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/

Keir Starmer is making a 'plan for change' speech tomorrow. Just don't call it a relaunch. Why does the government think it's necessary? What will it hope to do? And is this about changing policy or messaging, as Reform threaten to transform UK politics with foreign money?

Later, South Korea has not only stopped martial law in its tracks hours after it was threatened, but appears to be about to impeach its own President. Is this what functioning democracy in action looks like?

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

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 Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob Paul

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in Florida here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents 

The News Agents USA now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents-usa

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/

Elon Musk is reported to be weighing up a 100 million dollar donation to Nigel Farage to help him become Prime Minister. Farage has played it down but conceded that Musk does like his style. Is there a world in which this could actually happen? And could this be an issue which brings the mainstream parties together - united by a common threat? (Nigel Farage clip courtesy of GB News).

And as South Korea's president declares an emergency, martial law and puts media outlets under government control we reflect on 2024's ability to still pack in those political punches.

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

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 Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob Paul

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in Florida here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents 

The News Agents USA now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents-usa

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/

Masterchef presenter Gregg Wallace has just issued an apology for 'any offence caused' after he blamed middle class women for coming forward to complain about his over sexualised banter in the work place. Just to be clear, that's not an apology for the sex stuff. Just for the instagram post. He also told us he felt 'under siege' for just being Gregg on Masterchef. What does this episode tell us about victim blaming and victimisation, about work places that profess 'zero tolerance', and about the health of the Me Too movement more than a decade after it all began.

Later, Biden has decided to pardon his son Hunter to spare him prison. Has he opened himself to ridicule and charges of hypocrisy? Or revealed how little faith he has in the fairness of the justice system under Trump.

Voicenotes from contributors in this episode were voiced by producers.

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

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 Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob Paul

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in Florida here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents 

The News Agents USA now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents-usa

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/

The week on The Sports Agents...

Gabby and Mark Pougatch play darts with the world's best, teenage superstar Luke Littlerand world number one Luke Humphries(3:49).

Do they act like rivals or friends? How's it been for Littler becoming famous so young and so quickly? And what darts tips can they give us?

Lawyer to the likes of David Beckham and Alex Ferguson, Nick Freeman, aka 'Mr Loophole', joined us (11:01) to tell some entertaining stories from court and discuss whether high-profile stars have it easier than others.

Liverpool could lose their star player Mo Salah in the summer, as well as captain Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold. We ask Paul Machin, founder of The Redmen TV, if alarm bells are ringing and what price the club should pay to keep them (16:59).

And Mark's favourite golfer, Bryson DeChambeau, hits a hole in one... over a house! Could this set off a new trend in golf and beyond? (21:08)

Got a question for The Sports Agents - email us at thesportsagents@global.com

New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

When the vote in the Commons came back, you could have heard a pin drop. In the end, after hours of often compelling, personal and emotional debate the result was conclusive. 330 MPs voted to pass the assisted dying bill on to the next stage. 275 voted against. But there was no whooping or cheering when the result came through - just a defeating silence as the chamber grapples with what a huge social shift this could now mean to the country.

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 Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob Paul

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in Florida here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents 

The News Agents USA now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents-usa

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/

Net migration figures hit more than 900,000 in the year up to June 2023. And fell by 20 percent this year, down to 730,000. It was only a decade ago that Prime Minister David Cameron was talking about bringing immigration into the "tens of thousands". So, where did things go so badly wrong? And why after the Brexit referendum and the pledge to 'Take Back Control' did Boris Johnson's administration see immigration rise to a million people?

Today we ask new Labour MP, Jake Richardson - who has Reform snapping at his heels - what the Labour plan is? And if the government is prepared to issue fewer student visas if that brings the core number down?

Later, Mark Zuckerberg banned Donald Trump from Facebook after the January 6th riots. Now they're dining together in Mar a Lago. How is American business recalibrating in preparation for a second Trump term?

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 Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob Paul

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in Florida here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents 

The News Agents USA now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents-usa

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/

The assisted dying bill goes before MPs on Friday. If it goes through it will mark one on the biggest social changes in legislation the country has seen, and Britain will join around a dozen other countries who have decided to allow the state to step in at end of life. The tight parameters around the legislation mean only those who are terminally ill and facing six months or less to live would be given the choice of ending their lives on their terms. And they have to be residents of England or Wales.

Today, the News Agents discuss, with honesty and a little confusion, how we are each feeling about it. We ask what part religion may be playing in MPs decisions and what is at stake if the bill passes or if it fails.

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 Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob Paul

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in Florida here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents 

The News Agents USA now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents-usa

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/

Later in the show we’ll be speaking to Department for Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall straight from the Commons, after she delivers her plans to cut the welfare bill. But we start with the economic story you might be missing, and one that could dwarf everything else.

It begins in France where Marine Le Pen is currently threatening to bring down the Michel Barnier government by voting against his budget with the help of the far left parties. She says the budget is out of touch with the needs of ordinary working people and their electricity bills, but her moves and the ripples of uncertainty they create could trigger a Eurozone crisis of the likes seen last when Greece collapsed after the banking crisis. Is that where we are heading?

And, lots of people from all over the world have signed a lovely petition calling for a UK general election. What’s the...erm...point?

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 Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob Paul

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in Florida here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents 

The News Agents USA now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents-usa

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/

The newly released Jaguar advert displays an array of brightly coloured models cat-walking around a large rock with no car. It has sent Jaguar traditionalists into a tailspin. The company's CEO is unrepentant, and moreover says he's quite enjoying the attention/backlash.

Today, we speak to the masters of the advertising world, Saatchi & Saatchi. So, is the advert any good? Is the backlash about something more profound than cars? Is 'woke capitalism' on the way out?

Later, Romania's first round Presidential elections produced a shock winner overnight - the ultranationalist right winger Calin Georgescu came from nowhere. He's Putin friendly, NATO sceptic, pro-tarif, and anti immigrant. In the first European elections since Donald Trump's victory, what might this mean for the direction of the EU, Ukraine and the upcoming German elections?

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 Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob Paul

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in Florida here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents 

The News Agents USA now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents-usa

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/

The week on The Sports Agents...

Gabby travels to Newcastle United to speak to players Dan Burnand Amber-Keegan Stobbs, and club icon Shola Ameobi about using the power of the Premier League to help the local community (02:40).

Burn chats about his work with the Foundation, the pressure of 'local hero' status and Eddie Howe's England snub.

Plus... this stadium ain't big enough for the both of us: we look at lots of sports to see if women's football will actually get more fans by sharing the men's stadiums. Is it even feasible long-term? And if not, what's the new plan? That's with ex-England footballer Anita Asanteand Host of Counter Pressed podcast, Flo Lloyd-Hughes(13:50).

And Mo Farah chases down a thief - you can guess who won! (23:16)

Got a question for The Sports Agents - email us at thesportsagents@global.com

New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.