The News Agents

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Is Starmer willing to recognise Palestine or not? Jul 30, 2025

Show notes

After a ninety minute crisis cabinet meeting - driven by the appalling scenes of starvation in Gaza - Keir Starmer emerged with a plan: the UK would recognise Palestine by September. If Israel hadn’t changed its behaviour before then. So, is statehood for Palestine an end goal for UK foreign policy? Or just a punishment for Israel? And what happens if there ARE moves towards peace in the next six weeks - is that rewarded by the UK stepping back from its pledge? We talk to global historian Peter Frankopan about what “recognition“ really means. And ask Emily Thornberry where it leaves her party.

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Is Nigel Farage really “siding with Jimmy Savile“ by opposing the online safety bill? Jul 29, 2025

Show notes

Nigel Farage is no stranger to harsh criticism from his political rivals, but never before has he been linked to prolific paedophile Jimmy Savile.

That is, until now.

Cabinet minister Peter Kyle has accused the Reform UK leader of being “on the side” of Savile after Farage said he would repeal the government’s online safety act.

Farage has now demanded an apology - but Kyle’s doubled down.

Are Labour brushing over the genuine unease that many people have about the online safety act? And is their rhetoric making Farage look like the grown up in the room?

Later, did Starmer do enough to defend his friend Sadiq Khan after Trump called him a “nasty person?”

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

What do the Epping Protests tell us about 'civil disobedience' in the UK? Jul 28, 2025

Show notes

A wave of anti-migrant protests and counter-protests took place at migrant hotels around the country this weekend, with police being drafted in from all around. So, how close are we to another summer of riots? We sent The Crime Agent's Andy Hughes down to the protests in Epping as tensions in the community have been escalating for weeks.

Later, how safe are the new online age verification measures brought in for the Online Safety Act?

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

Tina Brown on how Trump lost control of the Epstein narrative Jul 25, 2025

Show notes

This Friday, Jon is joined by Tina Brown - former editor of Vanity Fair and The New Yorker - to discuss her run ins with Jeffrey Epstein, the fallout from the Epstein files, and what this could all spell for President Trump.

You can read Tina's substack 'Fresh Hell' here: https://tinabrown.substack.com/

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

Weekend Edition: A letter from the Lionesses to the Prime Minister - The Sports Agents Jul 25, 2025

Show notes

England are into the Euros final again! Last time, as soon as they won the Lionesses sent a letter to Downing Street demanding equal access to PE for girls. If they wrote again this time, what should they ask for to make football more inclusive for women? Gabby figures it out with Vice Chair of Kick It Out, Chris Paouros, and author of "Get Your Tits Out For The Lads", Sally Freedman. (06:30)

Plus we share our favourite bits from this week's episodes - how will Marcus Rashford fit in at Barcelona? Can we start comparing Scottie Scheffler to Tiger Woods? And will teenage sensation Michelle Agyemang fire the Lionesses to Euros glory? (01:00)

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Executive Producer: Adonis Pratsides

Producer: Sophie Penney

Video Producer: Sam Trudgill

Social Media Editor: Calum Scotland

Guest Booker: Kirsty Giddings

Tom Hughes is Editor for The News Agents podcast network

Vicky Etchells is the Commissioning Editor for Global

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

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Trump's Epstein cover is blown Jul 24, 2025

Show notes

This is the story that Trump just can’t escape. The White House has pushed back after reports that the President was told in May that he was among hundreds of names mentioned in the Epstein Files.

As the pressure mounts, and Trump’s attempts to deflect the story fail, can he ‘fake news’ his way out of it? Or could the MAGA faithful finally turn on the President?

Could Ghislaine Maxwell walk free? Jul 23, 2025

Show notes

For the last two weeks, Donald Trump has been trying to make the Epstein story go away after he claimed there were no missing files and there was nothing more to see.

Now, Ghislaine Maxwell - the former partner of Jeffrey Epstein, and the only person to serve jail time for his crimes - has been summoned to a meeting with the US justice department. Why? What information could she offer up that she hasn’t before? Do they want her to name names? Or take Trump’s name out of the frame? And might she walk free if she does?

Later, the broadcaster and journalist Mehdi Hasan found himself in a room with self described fascists. Young American men that want him deported. He joins us to tell us what happened next.

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

Are Gazans starving so that Netanyahu can survive? Jul 22, 2025

Show notes

“Let them eat burgers“ - Israel’s PM Netanyahu has popped up on a Canadian fratcast talking about his favourite fast food and weighing up the merits of the Double Whopper. Across the border, Gazans are starving to death - UN estimates suggest a thousand have been shot in the meagre food distribution queues. Many more are facing malnutrition and critical levels of hunger. We keep being told that 80 percent of Israelis are against the war - so why hasn’t it stopped? We speak to Ayala Panievsky.

Later, Hunter Biden rants at George Clooney and Barack Obama’s team for trying to bring his father down. It’s a three hour long interview. An act of loyalty? Or stupidity?

And, why is Nigel Farage providing the most memorable moment of the Tory reshuffle?

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

Trump's $20 billion Epstein gamble Jul 21, 2025

Show notes

Donald Trump has filed two defamation suits of ten billion dollars each against Rupert Murdoch’s Wall Street Journal. The newspaper claimed Trump sent a lurid birthday note to the grim dead paedophile Jeffrey Epstein - something Trump has vehemently denied. Why is Trump trying to kill the Epstein story now? And why won’t his MAGA base let it die?

Later, has environment secretary Steve Reed really stopped water bosses bonuses? Or are they just taking home their millions in a different way?

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

Q&A: Afghan data leak, Diane Abbott, and the Coldplay couple Jul 18, 2025

Show notes

This Friday, Jon and Lewis answer your questions about the Afghan data leak - what were the legal loopholes? Why hasn’t the Speaker resigned? And is there a situation where you'd ever disobey a super injunction?

Later, why is the Labour party at war with Diane Abbott? And is the story of the couple caught having an affair at a Coldplay concert really a public interest story worth our attention?

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

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