The News Agents

Latest Episodes:

What is Israel’s endgame? Oct 30, 2023

Show notes

Israel began a prolonged ground invasion in northern Gaza this weekend, it continued targeted airstrikes in the region and temporarily cut off communications there. It says it wants to eliminate Hamas "surgically", but with so many civilians killed, what is Israel's endgame?

Emily and Jon speak to Mark Regev - a senior adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and former Israeli ambassador to the UK.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Producers: Rory Symon & Arvind Badewal

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

Your questions answered: a listener special Oct 27, 2023

Show notes

Is Suella Braverman nailed on to be the next Tory leader?

Will Donald Trump win the presidency from a prison cell?

And...when are The News Agents going on tour?

Emily, Jon and Montana correspondent Lewis Goodall answer your questions in this special edition of The News Agents.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Video Producers: Rory Symon & Ben Bate

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

What is Netanyahu's next move? Oct 26, 2023

Show notes

Last night - after Israel's Prime Minister addressed the nation - the troops went into Gaza.

It was a raid that paved the way for what Netanyahu promised would be the ground invasion to come.

But what is the end game here? And are any of Israel's allies prepared to try and stop them? We talk to the Economist's Defence Editor Shashank Joshi about how Israel is preparing for war and what the end game might be.

Also - has Keir Starmer done enough to reassure large Muslim communities - and others - he understands their pain over the loss of life in Gaza? What do they need to hear him say if a ground war begins?

And the US finally have a Speaker. And it's a guy that frankly, no one has ever heard of. Who is he?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Planning Producer: Alex Barnett

Video Producers: Rory Symon & Ben Bate

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

Why is pressure mounting on Keir Starmer to call for a ceasefire? Oct 25, 2023

Show notes

Labour Muslim MPs have had a long meeting with leader Keir Starmer in which they expressed their discontent with their leader for not explicitly calling on Israel to do more to save civilian life in Gaza.

He’s also seen at least 23 councillors step down over their frustration with Labour's position.

Does the Labour leader need to do more to offer reassurance to Muslim voters and MPs?

And why is it so problematic to ask for a ceasefire?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Planning Producer: Alex Barnett

Video Producers: Rory Symon & Ben Bate

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

A year of Rishi - can he keep the Tories in power? Oct 24, 2023

Show notes

Rishi Sunak’s premiership is almost one year old. Is this where the Tory party wants to be 12 months out from an election?

Can a party that’s been in power for 13 years win again? And what has to happen to make that possible?

We talk to Ben Riley-Smith author of The Right to Rule and political editor of The Telegraph.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Planning Producer: Alex Barnett

Social Media Producer: Phoebe Dampare-Osei

Video Producers: Rory Symon & Ben Bate

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

This week on The News Agents USA: Is Liz Cheney coming for Donald Trump? Oct 24, 2023

Show notes

Emily and Jon host a weekly US politics podcast; giving you everything you need to know about the world of US politics and how it affects you.

Episodes are available every Tuesday, on Global Player.

Find the latest episode of News Agents USA here on Global Player.

Should it be a crime to shout "jihad"? Oct 23, 2023

Show notes

Should it be a crime to shout "jihad" on the streets of London during a protest to support Palestinian rights?

The Home Secretary had a meeting with Met Commissioner Mark Rowley to ask why the police weren't prepared to arrest those seeking to incite "violence or hatred" on Britain's streets.

Context is everything of course, and jihad can mean many things. So where does free speech collide with threatening behaviour - when hate crime has risen so sharply since the October 7th Hamas attacks?

We speak to one of the country's top voices on counter terrorism, Sir Peter Fahy - who warns politicians not to put community relations in jeopardy.

And - after historic by election losses last week what is the Tory strategy? And is the chancellor going to stick around to find out?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Planning Producer: Alex Barnett

Social Media Producer: Phoebe Dampare-Osei

Video Producers: Rory Symon & Ben Bate

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

Are the Tories heading for extinction? Oct 20, 2023

Show notes

Two massive by-election losses in Tory heartland. Are Rishi Sunak's hopes of holding onto his premiership next year in tatters?

They may still win Tamworth and Mid Bedfordshire back in next year's general election, but that doesn't arrest the growing expectation that there is a distinct possibility the Conservatives could soon face electoral annihilation.

We speak to Lara Spirit, editor of The Times' Red Box, to understand the political implications for the Tories and Sunak in the wake of last night's results.

And - a voice from each party.

Tory MP Robin Walker, who, despite campaigning in Mid Beds is still confident his party can recover (though one might say there's a slight falter in his voice);

Lib Dem Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper tries to dampen her party's disappointment;

and Labour shadow secretary Peter Kyle, who led the Labour campaign in Mid Beds has a thing or two (or three) to say about the Lib Dem's campaign - which he calls 'filth'.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Planning Producer: Alex Barnett

Social Media Producer: Phoebe Dampare-Osei

Video Producers: Rory Symon & Ben Bate

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

The rise and fall of a crypto billionaire Oct 19, 2023

Show notes

Just one day after the US president Joe Biden, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is on the ground in Israel pleading for the lives of British hostages and facing calls from Netanyahu for Britain’s “continuous support “. Rishi like Biden, is walking a fine line.

We talk to Shashank Joshi, Defence Editor of The Economist about what's next as Western leaders scramble in the search for de-escalation.

And later - is Sam Bankman-Freid a crook or a victim of a political pile-on? Once anticipated to be the world's first trillionaire he’s now got a "99.5% chance" of going to prison for fraud for 115...years.

We speak to Michael Lewis - of 'Moneyball' and 'The Big Short' fame. He’s written a biography of SBF - Going Infinite - and talks to us about understanding the man many can't.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Planning Producer: Alex Barnett

Social Media Producer: Phoebe Dampare-Osei

Video Producers: Rory Symon & Ben Bate

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

The misinformation of war Oct 18, 2023

Show notes

A deadly inhumane attack on a Gazan hospital by Israeli forces killing hundreds.

Or, a failed rocket by Palestinian Islamic Jihad, aimed at Israel, landing accidentally in a hospital car park killing dozens.

We are at that inevitable stage of the conflict where truth has become another casualty.

How does Biden - who's just landed in Israel - attempt to forge a path of peace through such differing narratives? And what happens when the truth comes out, if no one chooses to believe it?

We talk to Lord Simon McDonald, who not only called time on misinformation in the Boris Johnson era - famously over what the former PM knew and denied - but was also Israel’s ambassador in the years of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza in the mid 2000s.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Planning Producer: Alex Barnett

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Producers: Rory Symon & Ben Bate

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