The News Agents
Daily News
Emily Maitlis, Jon Sopel and Lewis Goodall – three of the UK’s top journalists – host an award-winning daily news podcast: The News Agents. They’re not just here to tell you what's happening, but why. Expect astute analysis and explanation of the day's news – and a healthy dose of scepticism and the ability to laugh at it all when needed. Episodes are available every weekday afternoon. You can listen to The News Agents on Alexa, just say "Alexa ask Global Player to play The News Agents" The News Agents is a Global Player Original podcast. For advertising opportunities on this podcast email: [email protected] You can visit our website here https://www.thenewsagents.co.uk/
Get AI-powered summaries of The News Agents
Never miss key insights. Receive episode summaries straight to your inbox.
Recent Episodes
Trump - Pirate of the Caribbean?
Dec 11, 2025Trump has attacked a huge oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela - and when asked what would happen now to the oil responded “we will probably keep it". Is there actual strategy behind the piracy? Will...
Summary Preview
The News Agents discuss Donald Trump's seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker and the massive military buildup in the region, examining whether this constitutes piracy or presages an invasion. They analyze the legal justifications, Pete Hegseth's controversial actions, and the broader implications for American foreign policy. The episode also explores Labour Party leadership dynamics, particularly Shabana Mahmood's positioning as a potential successor to Keir Starmer, and concludes with a lighthearted segment on the State Department's font controversy.
- Trump Seizes Venezuelan Tanker - Piracy or Prelude to War?
- Pete Hegseth's Extrajudicial Killings and the Second Tap Order
Exclusive: Did the Met “cover up” a paedophile ring?
Dec 10, 2025An exclusive investigation by Andy Hughes, co-host of The Crime Agents and LBC crime correspondent, raises disturbing questions about whether a London police officer was operating a grooming gang in t...
Summary Preview
This episode of The News Agents features an in-depth investigation by LBC's Crime Correspondent Andy Hughes into allegations that a former Metropolitan Police officer was involved in a paedophile ring while serving as an active officer. The investigation reveals claims of abuse, alleged cover-ups, and systemic failures within the Met. The episode also includes an interview with Justice Minister Jake Richards about reforms to the European Convention on Human Rights and controversial changes to the UK's jury trial system.
- Uncovering the Paedophile Ring Allegations
- The Investigation Disappears
The $100bn media battle that could change everything
Dec 09, 2025Netflix and Paramount are locked in an epic fight to take over Warner Bros. Discovery. The price tag could well reach north of $100bn. And at stake - a huge back catalogue of blockbuster film and TV, ...
Summary Preview
The News Agents examine the proposed $82.7 billion Netflix takeover of Warner Brothers and the competing $108 billion hostile bid from Paramount, analyzing the political ramifications of media consolidation in the Trump era. The deal involves key Trump allies including son-in-law Jared Kushner and Larry Ellison, raising questions about presidential influence over business. The episode also features an interview with Noah Oppenheim, screenwriter of Netflix's 'House of Dynamite,' discussing nuclear war threats, and concludes with Trump's stark warnings about Europe's 'decay' due to immigration.
- The Warner Brothers Takeover Battle and Trump's Involvement
- The Power Consolidation and Cultural Control at Stake
European leaders have met in Downing Street once again to discuss peace plans for Ukraine, following Trump's latest proposal - but once again it seems Zelenskyy has wound Trump up, leaving America and...
Summary Preview
The News Agents analyze a newly released US National Security Strategy document that marks a dramatic shift in American foreign policy toward Europe. The document, issued by the Trump administration, accuses Europe of 'civilizational erasure' through immigration and explicitly endorses far-right 'patriotic parties' in Europe. The hosts express alarm at how little attention this unprecedented policy reversal is receiving, particularly given it effectively positions America against its traditional European allies. The episode also covers ongoing leadership speculation within the Labour Party, with even Keir Starmer's closest organizational allies reportedly surveying members about potential replacements.
- Trump's Hostility Toward Zelensky and Ukraine Peace Talks
- The National Security Strategy: America's Shocking New View of Europe
How lawyers ruined Britain
Dec 05, 2025While China is an engineering state, tech analyst Dan Wang says the America and the West are "lawyerly societies", reflexively blocking everything - good and bad - and it's halting real progress. Da...
Summary Preview
This episode features an in-depth interview with Dan Wong, author of 'Breakneck: China's Quest to Engineer the Future,' exploring why Western nations struggle to build infrastructure while China excels. Wong introduces the concept of 'lawyerly societies' versus 'engineering states,' arguing that the US and UK have become paralyzed by legal processes designed for 1960s problems of overbuilding, while facing today's crisis of underdevelopment. The conversation examines China's engineering-focused governance, the tradeoffs of both systems, and what Western nations might learn without emulating China's authoritarian approach.
- Introduction: Britain's Building Crisis
- The Lawyerly Society vs Engineering State Framework
Six-time Olympic cycling champion Sir Chris Hoy joins Gabby and Mark after his terminal prostate cancer diagnosis at just 47 years old. What more does Chris think the government should be doing to h...
Summary Preview
Six-time Olympic cycling champion Chris Hoy joins The Sports Agents to discuss his terminal prostate cancer diagnosis, his campaign for better screening, and his partnership with Paddy Power's World Darts Championship to raise awareness. Chris, diagnosed at 47 with stage 4 cancer, shares his journey of acceptance, the importance of early detection, and how he's channeling his experience into saving lives through advocacy and fundraising.
- Living with Terminal Cancer and Finding Purpose
- The Fight for Prostate Cancer Screening
Reform's Deputy Leader, Richard Tice, popped up on the BBC today and appeared to dismiss the antisemitism claims of Jewish men who’d been at school with Nigel Farage as “politically motivated…made up ...
Summary Preview
The News Agents discusses Reform UK's response to allegations of anti-Semitic behavior by Nigel Farage during his school days at Dulwich College in the 1970s. Deputy leader Richard Tice dismisses the accusations as 'twaddle,' while multiple former classmates have come forward with corroborating accounts. The episode examines Reform's defensive strategy, media coverage disparities, and the party's record-breaking £9 million donation, alongside questions about accountability and double standards in British politics.
- Reform Dismisses Anti-Semitism Allegations as 'Twaddle'
- The Logical Inconsistency of Reform's Defense
Is Labour ready to reopen the Brexit debate?
Dec 03, 2025Today's episode is an exclusive interview with David Lammy - Justice Secretary, Deputy Prime Minister and former Foreign Secretary. Is he prepared to ignore the internal Labour criticism of his jury...
Summary Preview
David Lammy, the Justice Secretary, defends his controversial plans to reduce jury trials while addressing broader government challenges including leaked prison releases, cabinet infighting, and Labour's future relationship with the EU. He acknowledges public disillusionment but maintains optimism about the government's prospects while calling for cabinet unity and hinting at closer EU ties including potential customs union arrangements.
- Defending Jury Trial Reforms Amid Fierce Opposition
- Magistrates and Judicial Diversity Concerns
Is the jury system overrated?
Dec 02, 2025In the sane world of the commons, the Shadow Justice Secretary was only two minutes into his speech before he called the justice secretary a “Lammy Dodger“ and accused him of going back on his previou...
Summary Preview
The News Agents discuss Justice Secretary David Lammy's controversial plan to scrap jury trials for crimes carrying sentences under three years in England and Wales. The hosts debate whether this addresses the fundamental crisis in Britain's justice system, which faces a backlog of 78,000 Crown Court cases projected to reach 100,000 by 2028. They also cover junior doctors announcing five days of strike action before Christmas, despite receiving nearly 30% pay rises over three years, and Trump administration officials calling for travel bans amid heated rhetoric about immigration.
- David Lammy's Jury Trial Reforms and the Justice System Crisis
- The Practical Reality of Justice System Delays
What was The Chancellors biggest budget crime?
Dec 01, 2025Rachel Reeves is accused of misleading the public, lying and “possible market abuse” by the opposition. They’ve called for her resignation. The Prime Minister, however, is standing by her and told us ...
Summary Preview
This episode dissects the escalating controversy around Chancellor Rachel Reeves and accusations she misled the public about the UK's economic situation ahead of the budget. The hosts examine whether she selectively presented financial data to justify tax rises, explore the political fallout including calls for her resignation, and analyze the government's broader struggles with welfare reform and public trust. The episode also covers US military actions near Venezuela and a social media incident involving Gary Lineker.
- The Rachel Reeves Misleading Allegations
- The OBR Leak Scandal and Government Fury
Salman Rushdie has spent half of his life under the threat of death, but it is only in his latest novel - The Eleventh Hour - that he has devoted a whole book to the themes of mortality. It is his fir...
Summary Preview
In this episode, the News Agents interview Sir Salman Rushdie about his new book 'The Eleventh Hour', a meditation on mortality and death. The wide-ranging conversation covers his views on the normalization of political violence, the rise of authoritarianism and shamelessness in politics, threats to free speech, the BBC's recent censorship controversies, and the changing political landscapes in America, Britain, and India. Rushdie reflects on his own near-death experience in 2022 and discusses racism, immigration, the future of reading, and artificial intelligence's limitations in creating original art.
- Writing About Death and Mortality
- The Normalization of Political Violence
Weekend Edition: Q&A - Which rules should football steal from other sports? - The Sports Agents
Nov 28, 2025Can other sports teach football a thing or two? On today's show Gabby and Mark take your suggestions on how to fix football, using your passion for a massive range of sports. Plus, we look back at T...
Summary Preview
Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman discuss listener suggestions for improving football by borrowing rules from other sports. The conversation focuses on two main themes: speeding up the game and improving player behavior toward referees. Topics include VAR time limits, goalkeeper injury protocols, referee communication, clock management, and the number of substitutions allowed.
- VAR Time Limits and Decision Making
- Goalkeeper Injury Time Wasting Tactics
Does Labour need to own its move to the Left?
Nov 27, 2025Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves have been out defending their Budget - denying that the tax-raising measures contained within it break the Labour manifesto's promises around taxes on working people. In...
Summary Preview
In this episode, the News Agents analyze Labour's second budget under Rachel Reeves, examining the significant tax increases, welfare spending, and the government's defensive posture when questioned about breaking manifesto promises. The hosts interview Deputy Labour Leader Lucy Powell about the budget's direction and the party's position on taxation and welfare reform, revealing tensions between Labour's stated goals and its actual fiscal policies.
- Labour's Budget: Breaking Manifesto Promises?
- A Return to Old Labour Economics
Budget 2025: Has Reeves saved her job?
Nov 26, 2025This time last year, Rachel Reeves pledged that her tax raising Budget “wiped the slate clean” and would mean no more need for future tax raids. Today demonstrably proved what a hostage to fortune tho...
Summary Preview
Rachel Reeves delivered Labour's second major budget, implementing £66 billion in tax rises compared to the £8.5 billion promised in their manifesto. The budget included freezing income tax thresholds until 2031, lifting the two-child benefit cap, and introducing new taxes on high-value properties. Despite positioning growth as their primary mission, the OBR downgraded growth forecasts for most years ahead while welfare spending projections increased by £16 billion. The budget shores up Labour's internal party support but raises questions about whether this signals a fundamental shift toward bigger government and whether more tax rises might follow.
- Budget Chaos and Broken Promises
- Historic Tax Burden on Middle-Income Workers
Are Trump's lawyers now controlling the BBC?
Nov 25, 2025Just a day after BBC bosses were in front of MPs to address impartiality concerns, and there's a fresh impartiality headache for the beleaguered broadcaster. Dutch historian Rutger Bergman, who'd been...
Summary Preview
In this episode, John Sopel and Lewis Goodall examine a major controversy at the BBC after it censored historian Rutger Bregman's Reith Lecture by removing his description of Trump as 'the most openly corrupt president in American history.' The hosts explore how this decision, made on legal advice following Trump's litigation threats, represents a broader pattern of institutional cowardice and misunderstanding of impartiality. They also discuss the BBC's recent Select Committee appearance and Nigel Farage's awkward responses to questions about alleged racist behavior during his school years.
- The BBC's Censorship of Trump Criticism
- Defending the 'Corrupt President' Statement
The leak of a 28 point peace plan over the weekend - reportedly agreed between Washington and Moscow - sent shivers down the spine of European leaders and Ukraine's soldiers. The proposals would for...
Summary Preview
The News Agents podcast discusses the controversial 28-point Trump peace plan for Ukraine, which heavily favors Russia and has sparked accusations of being effectively written by Moscow. The hosts analyze the diplomatic maneuvering between the US, Russia, Ukraine, and Europe, as well as the surprising bromance between Donald Trump and New York Mayor Zohra Mamdani, and ongoing turmoil at the BBC.
- The Controversial Trump Ukraine Peace Plan
- Terms of the Trump Peace Plan
Ken Clarke on the Budget from hell
Nov 21, 2025Ken Clarke is perhaps the archetypal political Big Beast. Elected to parliament 55 years ago, he held cabinet roles under Margaret Thatcher, John Major and David Cameron - tipped many times for No 10,...
Summary Preview
Lord Ken Clarke, the veteran Conservative politician and former Chancellor, reflects on his half-century political career while offering scathing criticism of the current Labour government's performance. In conversation recorded at his Nottingham home, Clarke discusses the dangers facing British democracy, his time serving under Margaret Thatcher, the catastrophic decision to hold the Brexit referendum, and why he believes Rachel Reeves is struggling as Chancellor. Despite his disabilities and living alone in his ninth decade, Clarke maintains his obsessive interest in politics while expressing both pride in his extraordinary career and concern about the country's direction.
- Political Career and the Changing Nature of Politics
- Devastating Critique of the Current Labour Government
Only three days after launching, Sky had to take down its TikTok channel for female sports fans. Branded as the "lil-sis" of Sky Sports, it was complete with pink hearts and Barbies. But were they o...
Summary Preview
Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman discuss Sky Sports' controversial Halo TikTok channel, which was positioned as the 'little sis of Sky Sports' aimed at young female sports fans but was shut down after just three days due to backlash over its stereotypical 'shrink it and pink it' approach. The hosts are joined by Chris Powers from the Football Supporters Association and Salon Andy Hickman from Football Beyond Borders to explore how sports content can authentically reach young women without reinforcing gender stereotypes.
- The Halo Launch and Initial Backlash
- Participation vs Fandom: Different Audiences, Different Needs
Was Nigel Farage a racist schoolboy?
Nov 20, 2025The Prime Minister has called on Nigel Farage to explain the reports of racist comments the reform leader allegedly made as a school boy. Farage has denied making the comments and called the allegatio...
Summary Preview
This episode examines allegations that Nigel Farage displayed racist and anti-Semitic behavior as a schoolboy at Dulwich College. The hosts discuss recent Guardian reporting, compare it to earlier investigations by Michael Crick, and explore what Farage's childhood conduct reveals about him today. They also analyze the stark difference between how Farage responded to similar allegations in 2013 versus his current denials, and consider the political implications as Reform UK leads in some polls.
- Keir Starmer Confronts Farage at PMQs
- The Original 2013 Investigation
Are the vultures circling around Keir Starmer?
Nov 19, 2025Backbench Labour MP Clive Lewis took to a TV studio to offer up his own Norwich seat to allow Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham a path back into Parliament and m ake a bid for No 10. He said his ...
Summary Preview
The News Agents dissect Labour's mounting leadership crisis as backbench MPs openly discuss replacing Keir Starmer, while corruption scandals threaten to undermine Zelensky's standing in Ukraine. With a critical budget looming and Starmer now the most unpopular PM in modern polling history, the episode explores whether the government can survive its self-inflicted wounds and what Trump's dealings with Saudi Arabia reveal about his second term.
- Labour's Leadership Crisis Intensifies
- The Budget Disaster and Manifesto Betrayals