The News Agents

Latest Episodes:

Let Them Eat Turnips Feb 23, 2023

Show notes

The environment and food secretary has suggested that - faced with a tomato shortage - people should just eat turnips instead.

It’s all a bit Marie Antoinette but just a bit more depressing.

Today we look at the long-term problem behind our current empty shelves with Observer food critic Jay Rayner.

And on the eve of the anniversary of Russia's second invasion of Ukraine, London's streets are blue and yellow - but is Putin successfully negotiating the West's economic sanctions? We ask corruption hunter-in-chief Bill Browder.

You can watch our episodes in full at https://www.globalplayer.com/videos/brands/news-agents/the-news-agents/

The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Shamima Begum: should we forgive the IS bride? Feb 22, 2023

Show notes

Most fifteen year olds do stupid things.

Rarely do they join a terrorist organisation in Syria. But today. Shamima Begum - the ISIS bride - lost her appeal - and with it her chance to regain UK citizenship. Do we feel safer as a country? Or soulless? And as Kate Forbes - committed Christian and SNP Finance Minister makes her case to lead Scotland, we ask another committed Christian, MP Tim Farron - once Lib Dem leader, now podcast host - if politics and religion can ever mix in Britain.

You can watch our episodes in full at https://www.globalplayer.com/videos/brands/news-agents/the-news-agents/

The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Putin, the Protocol and the Press Feb 21, 2023

Show notes

There is too much news today. Frankly.

Putin tried to convince a domestic audience that NATO started the war in Ukraine, Rishi Sunak tried to face down Tory doubters telling him to drop his Northern Ireland deal, and the press and media are mulling over how to respond to accusations of intrusion by Nicola Bulley's grieving family.

We hear from Northern Ireland Shadow Secretary Peter Kyle, Putin's former speechwriter Abbas Gallyanov, and former Head of News at ITN and formerly of broadcasting regulator Ofcom's Stewart Purvis.

You can watch our episodes in full at https://www.globalplayer.com/videos/brands/news-agents/the-news-agents/

The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

What is Boris Johnson up to? Feb 20, 2023

Show notes

Boris Johnson has been slapped down by a senior Conservative for his interventions on Rishi Sunak's latest Brexit deal over Northern Ireland.

Is the former PM stirring up trouble to pave the way for a comeback?

In the first interview since he left office, Johnson's former Director of Comms Guto Harri speaks exclusively to The News Agents and has a message for his old boss.

And Lewis comes back from Rotherham, where he was over the weekend reporting on a far-right protest gathered outside a hotel housing asylum seekers. He tells us what he heard and saw.

You can watch our episodes in full at https://www.globalplayer.com/videos/brands/news-agents/the-news-agents/

The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Is the Union bouncing back? Feb 17, 2023

Show notes

Rishi Sunak has been in Belfast, hoping he can be the Prime Minister to finally answer the question on the Northern Ireland Protocol. Can he break Brexit gridlock?

And elsewhere in the United Kingdom questions over the strength of the Union have been raised by Nicola Sturgeon's decision to quit as leader of the Scottish National Party.

Does her resignation signal the the start of the decline of the independence movement?

You can watch our episodes in full at https://www.globalplayer.com/videos/brands/news-agents/the-news-agents/

The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Nicola Bulley: Have the police said too much? Feb 16, 2023

Show notes

Lancashire Police have come under-fire for the revelations they made overnight about the missing mother Nicola Bulley who's not been seen for nearly three weeks. Why did they say so much - after weeks of near silence?

And how damaging has that been to trust in the police?

And we look at another communications disaster in the making - a train derailment in Ohio is threatening environmental catastrophe. Yet the authorities are accused of a cover up - and conspiracy theories are starting to flourish.....

You can watch our episodes in full at https://www.globalplayer.com/videos/brands/news-agents/the-news-agents/

The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Sturgeon resigns Feb 15, 2023

Show notes

Sturgeon is stepping down as Scotland's First Minister.

Jeremy Corbyn is banned from standing as a Labour MP.

If there’s a broad News Agents take away it’s this: be careful about sitting down with Lewis Goodall.

Today we look at what may lie behind Sturgeon's decision and what it could mean for Scottish independence.

And we ask Diane Abbott - old friend of Jeremy Corbyn - is she backs the current or former Labour leader now.

You can watch our episodes in full at https://www.globalplayer.com/videos/brands/news-agents/the-news-agents/

The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Gender Identity, Children and the NHS Feb 14, 2023

Show notes

The only NHS service in England to offer gender identity services to children announced it would be closing down last year - after years of whistleblowers who worked there trying to raise the alarm about a scandal in their midst: a failure to safeguard some of the country's most vulnerable young adults.

What went wrong?

And how much did the toxic political climate at the time over trans issues contribute to a work practice that was not fit for purpose. We talk to the investigative reporter Hannah Barnes who's new book Time to Think reflects her years spent talking to those involved - the staff, the families and most importantly, the children themselves.

You can watch our episodes in full at https://www.globalplayer.com/videos/brands/news-agents/the-news-agents/

The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Why is Joe Biden shooting down UFOs? Feb 13, 2023

Show notes

Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the airspace, another one gets shot down. What are these unidentified flying objects? Are they *just* balloons? And are there more of them now or are we just noticing them more?

What does it tell us about a) the sky b) the relations we now have with one of our biggest trading partners, China.

And - missing in action? Jon Sopel has finally turned up ... on Prime Time Australian TV. We are merciless, as you would expect.

You can watch our episodes in full at https://www.globalplayer.com/videos/brands/news-agents/the-news-agents/

The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Is it now too expensive to have kids? Feb 10, 2023

Show notes

Childcare in Britain is broken and yet it is almost never talked about. Why? In this episode, Lewis dissects why Labour thinks this could be the key to a majority at the next election and why in 21st century Britain having children is fast becoming a luxury item.

We talk you through how the system has become so expensive and the fact that families increasingly find themselves wondering whether it’s worth both parents staying in work - or worth even having children at all.

We also bring you up to date with the ongoing set of scandals engulfing sexual crimes and the Metropolitan Police and- horrifyingly- whether there may be even more to come.

You can watch our episodes in full at https://www.globalplayer.com/videos/brands/news-agents/the-news-agents/

The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

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