The News Agents

Latest Episodes:

Is Rishi Sunak prepared to pick a fight with China? Mar 26, 2024

Show notes

Once you have revealed that China is hacking British citizens on a major and global scale, the next question is - well, what are you going to do about it?

Well this is the one the prime minister is currently pondering. He's talking about putting China on an 'enhanced' list - which basically sounds like a glorified registration. But is he prepared to risk trading links? Or shut down Confucious institutes in the UK - China's soft power - or even say no to tiktok?

Also - the Tavistock child gender identity services are shutting their doors for good this week, after the Care Quality Commission declared the care they were offering our children was 'inadequate'. We speak to the investigative journalist Hannah Barnes, who helped expose the failures at the Tavistock. And we ask where children in need of help should seek it now?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly and Arvind Badewal

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 Moscow terror attacks: Are ISIS back? Mar 25, 2024

Show notes

The bombing of a Moscow concert hall left at least 137 dead and even more wounded.

The regrouped ISIS - now ISIS K- have claimed responsibility even though Putin is insisting on blaming Ukraine.

Why has ISIS come for Putin? What does it tell us about the strategic alignments now dominating the Middle East, and does this act of terror bring the threat of more closer to home?

Also - another by-election looms in the marginal seat of Blackpool South as Tory MP Scott Benton resigns. And Donald Trump wins a golf course. Organised by Donald Trump.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly and Arvind Badewal

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/

Owen Jones on why he's left the Labour Party Mar 24, 2024

Show notes

Influential left-wing commentator Owen Jones is in News Agents HQ a day after he quit the Labour Party - despite being a member since he was 15 - on account of what he perceived to be Keir Starmer's fundamental 'dishonesty'. We ask him why he thinks that, whether Labour have lost his vote forever, and if he wants to become the left-wing's Nigel Farage.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly and Arvind Badewal

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 Sports Agents: Weekend Edition - The Sports Agents Mar 23, 2024

Show notes

This week, The Sports Agents took a closer look at the state of Rugby Union, reflected on Nottingham Forest becoming the latest Premier League club to suffer a points deduction, as well as, the infamous story of one, Ali Dia...

On Tuesday, Andy Burnham - Greater Manchester Mayor and furious Everton fan - certainly didn't hold back when discussing why the Premier League needs an independent regulator.

Top comedians Dara O'Briain and Josh Widdicombe were then on hand to talk about their six-part podcast series exploring the phenomenon of Ali Dia’s overnight rise to the Premier League – for 53 minutes.

Then on Thursday, it was Rugby Union under the microscope as Courtney Lawes, Louis Rees-Zammit, Premiership CEO Simon Massie-Taylor and Wales legend Sam Warburton joined Gabby & Mark to debate the biggest threats to Rugby's future.

New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon.

Kate Middleton reveals she has cancer Mar 22, 2024

Show notes

At 6pm on Friday the Princess of Wales released a video statement. In it, she discusses her cancer diagnosis for the first time.

She acknowledges the difficulties facing their family in maintaining their privacy throughout her diagnosis and treatment. Will she now be left alone? And will the conspiracy theories stop?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly and Arvind Badewal

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/

Could the Reform party overtake the Tories? Mar 21, 2024

Show notes

There's only one poll that counts and that's the actual election and that's not today. We know that, we get it, but the latest numbers from YouGov are worth looking at to see a direction of travel that might be staring us in the face.

Tonight's poll for The Times puts the Conservatives on 19 percent and Reform Party just behind them on 15. Is it conceivable that they overtake today's party of government at the general election?

And what is the demographic that is propping up the newcomer Reformistas?

Later, why is the Rwanda bill being pushed back if there is - according to the PM - a 'migrant emergency'?

And we answer the question on everyone's lips - where is Jon's favourite Amish town - and what's it called..

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon and 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/

Why is Thatcher back in fashion? Mar 20, 2024

Show notes

Margaret Thatcher has been out of power for thirty years but this week it's started to feel like she's back in the room.

Rachel Reeves, shadow chancellor, gave the agenda-setting Mais lecture to the City of London last night, setting out her vision for Labour's first term in office and invoking the spirit, if not the policies, of Thatcher.

David Lammy, her colleague, was quick to endorse both women when asked about it on the Politico podcast. Is the mention of Thatcher a way of winning over the unconvinced? Or is it a message about the radical nature of what is to come?

Later, We discuss the Rwanda plan and the absence of effective diplomacy in Gaza with former foreign secretary David Miliband.

And why has Leo Varadkar decided to quit frontline Irish politics?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Producer: Alex Barnett

Video Production: Rory Symon and 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/

How should the Royals respond to TikTok conspiracies? Mar 19, 2024

Show notes

Even after Kate Middleton appeared IRL at a local Windsor farm shop, the Tiktok conspiracy theories continued. Was it really Kate? Was the photo staged? Why did the video look different to the still image? On and on.

The Royals have always generated frenzied gossip. What was once shared over a neighbourly picket fence is now just dispersed online. But does that change how the Royals should respond? Should they hold their nerve or feed the beast? We talk to Royal Correspondent Peter Hunt.

Later, EU leaders have caved into the demands of European farmers by imposing higher tariffs on Ukrainian imports. Are they more scared of Putin or their own pitchfork protesters? And what will it mean for the war?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Producer: Alex Barnett

Video Production: Rory Symon and 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/

Are the Tories really ready to replace Rishi Sunak? Mar 18, 2024

Show notes

The weekend has been awash with talk of yet another leadership putsch. Is Penny Mordaunt on manoeuvres? Is Kemi Badenoch scheming? The answer is probably no - for now - but it points to a sense of inexorable crisis in a party which is only now realising the scale of the loss that may be careering down the tracks towards them.

Could enough of the parliamentary party be persuaded that more of them could survive if they replaced Rishi? And would Rishi REALLY pull the rip cord - announcing an election - if he felt that coming? We speak to the 1922 committee Treasurer, Geoffrey Clifton Brown.

Also, what is Ofcom up to? And is it running scared of GB News? We discuss.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Producer: Alex Barnett

Video Production: Rory Symon and 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/

Clips:

BBC Breakfast: Kemi Badenoch with Jon Kay

The Exploding Heads: GB News/Ofcom

The Sports Agents: Weekend Edition - The Sports Agents Mar 16, 2024

Show notes

This week, The Sports Agents were invited to the head offices of 'The Enhanced Games' to interview President Aron D'Souza - who wants to put on an Olympic-style event where all the athletes are permitted (even encouraged) to dope... Don't forget your popcorn for this one!

Then on Thursday, Gabby & Mark were joined by boxing promoter Eddie Hearn, to discuss the role the sport is playing in Saudi 'sportswashing'.

Plus, why owners of football clubs can't seem to stop at buying just one, and why Liverpool are following suit?

New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon.

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