The News Agents

Latest Episodes:

The scandal of Grenfell: Dishonesty, Greed and Decades of Denial Sep 04, 2024

Show notes

The tragedy at Grenfell seven long years ago was one that was entirely avoidable. That was the conclusion today of the inquiry, which stated baldly that those 72 deaths in a high rise fire in west London would not have happened without a culture of dishonesty, greed on the part of the construction companies, and denial by the government who knew the dangers of flammable cladding but did nothing.

What happens now for the families of the victims? Does this give closure? Or provoke rage? And will anyone face prosecution for the part they played?

Lewis and Emily take you back to the night it happened, and their reporting in the days and weeks afterwards - that interview with PM Theresa May - and ask what now for the hundreds of thousands of people who still live with the consequences of buildings that are deemed unsafe.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Producer: Natalie Indge

Digital Editor: Michaela Walters

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon & Shane Fennelly

Digital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob Paul

Win a money-can’t-buy meet-and-greet with Jon, after enjoying a live podcast recording by pre-ordering a copy of his new book Strangeland here…www.waterstones.com/win/strangeland-prize-draw

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/

https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Michael Sheen on Prince Andrew, Port Talbot and Keir Starmer Sep 03, 2024

Show notes

Actor Michael Sheen joins us today to discuss his latest role playing a royal - Prince Andrew in Amazon's three part drama 'A Very Royal Scandal', based on the Newsnight interview Emily did with him in 2019.

He tells us what he privately decided about Prince Andrew's character before he accepted the part - and he tells us what he thinks of Keir Starmer's early days and what needs to needs to happen politically.

He also takes us back - metaphorically - to his home town Port Talbot - which has seen the docking of its final ship in the steel making business for which it was formerly famed.

There's also competition to win a special prize to come into the studio and watch the News Agents in person. All you need to do to enter is pre-order a copy of Jon's book from the link below.

https://www.waterstones.com/win/strangeland-prize-draw

Andy you can now buy your own News Agents merch in our online store

https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Editor: Tom Hughes

Producer: Natalie Indge

Digital Editor: Michaela Walters

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon & Shane Fennelly

Digital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob Paul

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 German hard right win their first election since the Nazis. Sep 02, 2024

Show notes

Germany's hard right party the ADF have made astonishing gains in two regions of the country - the first time the hard right has seen substantial electoral gains since the Nazi era. What is propelling the rise? And what do the governing coalition parties do to combat them.

Later, we sit down with Nadhim Zahawi - former chancellor, and former child refugee to talk about his party's rhetoric on immigration. And why he owed the treasury 5 million pounds of unpaid tax.

Also, excitingly, there's a competition to win an special prize to come into the studio and watch the News Agents in person. All you need to do to enter is pre-order a copy of Jon's book from the link below.

https://www.waterstones.com/win/strangeland-prize-draw

Andy you can now buy your own News Agents merch in our online store

https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Editor: Tom Hughes

Producer: Natalie Indge

Digital Editor: Michaela Walters

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon & Shane Fennelly

Digital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob Paul

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/

Q&A: Presidential bromance, Royal politics and Lewis' pitch for Hawaii Aug 30, 2024

Show notes

This Friday, Jon and Lewis answer your questions.

What's behind Biden and Obama's "complicated" relationship? Do members of the royal family vote? And which state will be the most interesting battle ground in the US election?

And, win a money-can’t-buy meet-and-greet with Jon, after enjoying a live podcast recording by pre-ordering a copy of his new book Strangeland here…www.waterstones.com/win/strangeland-prize-draw

Editor: Tom Hughes

Producer: Natalie Indge

Digital Editor: Michaela Walters

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon & Shane Fennelly

Digital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob Paul

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/

https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Did Liz Truss really consider scrapping cancer treatment on the NHS? Aug 29, 2024

Show notes

The disastrous "mini budget" of Liz Truss' short time in Downing Street will go down in history. But did she really consider stopping the NHS treating cancer patients in a bid to find the savings to clean up the fallout?

Jon and Lewis speak to political biographer, Sir Anthony Seldon, about the dramatic 49 days of the shortest serving British Prime Minister.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Producer: Natalie Indge

Digital Editor: Michaela Walters

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon & Shane Fennelly

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

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

https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Can Starmer reset Britain’s relationship with the EU? Aug 28, 2024

Show notes

Keir Starmer is in Berlin, this time for some real politics, not a football match. He’s meeting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, unveiling a new UK/Germany defence agreement. Later he’s heading to Paris to meet President Macron. The new government is on a charm offensive, with much lofty talk of a reset of UK/EU relations post-Brexit. But is that really possible? How much is just vibes? Lewis and Jon analyse what has happened and crucially what has not happened, and are joined in News Agents HQ by German Ambassador Miguel Berger.

We also talk about whether there’s any truth that Mr Mandelson might be going to Washington and Jon is shilling for his book again. What fun.

To enter Jon’s competition head over to www.waterstones.com/win/strangeland-prize-draw to find out more

Editor: Tom Hughes

Producers: Natalie Indge

Digital Editor: Michaela Walters

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon & Shane Fennelly

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

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

https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Keir Starmer: Things can only get worse Aug 27, 2024

Show notes

Keir Starmer has made his first major speech as Prime Minister and he had an uplifting message for the public: things can only get worse.

Jon and Lewis, firmly ensconced back in News Agents HQ analyse what the PM is up to and ask whether British politics can really sustain another project built on pessimism.

They also discuss rumoured changes of the Labour Party’s leadership rules (if that doesn’t make you click, what will?) and Oasis’ imminemt return to the stage.

Jon, predictably, swears from the start.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Producers: Natalie Indge

Digital Editor: Michaela Walters

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon & Shane Fennelly

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

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

https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Weekend Edition - The Sports Agents Aug 25, 2024

Show notes

This week on The Sports Agents...

Fabian Hurzeler, Brighton's new 31-year-old manager - the youngest in Premier League history - joined Gabby for an exclusive interview. He talks his meteoric rise, embracing the culture on England's South Coast, looking forward to coming up against Pep Guardiola and more.

Then on Thursday, with ITV's Mark Pougatch as our special guest host, we examined the Raheem Sterling situation at Chelsea and if their unusual recruitment strategy will ever actually work? Journalist Matt Hughes, applied sport finance expert Rob Wilson and the former Man City defender Nedum Onuoha joined in.

New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

Did Kamala Harris seize her moment at the DNC? Aug 23, 2024

Show notes

Kamala Harris pledged a "new way forward" for America as she formally accepted the Democratic party nomination for president at the DNC in Chicago.

She makes history as the first black and Asian-American woman to lead a party's presidential ticket.

But did the American people actually learn enough about Kamala and her politics last night? Will she need to do and say more if she's to beat Donald Trump in November's election? Or will simply being the "anti-Trump" candidate be enough?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Producers: Natalie Indge & Rory Symon

Digital Editor: Michaela Walters

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon & Shane Fennelly

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

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

https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

How American politics is tearing families apart Aug 22, 2024

Show notes

We’ve been on the road in Indiana, which isn’t far from the DNC in Chicago and yet feels so distant. Has Kamala Harris’ introduction to the nation reached heartland America? We find a state full of friendly people who have just stopped talking to each other, of not just competing politics, but parallel realities.

And back in the United Centre, the previously little known Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has made his keynote speech. Jon has all the reaction from the Democrat bigwig.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Producers: Natalie Indge & Rory Symon

Digital Editor: Michaela Walters

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon & Shane Fennelly

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

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

https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents