Podcast Directory

Last modified: 2024-09-22 04:10:54 PM

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The News Agents

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: dax@global.com And The News Agents now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Latest Episodes

Why was Rachel Reeves crying at PMQs?

12 hours ago Wed, Jul 2nd 2025

There is much we still don’t know or understand about today. Was Rachel Reeves upset by an altercation with the Speaker? Was the issue something more personal? Was she exhausted after the fruitless and demoralising failure of her welfare reform bill? But the sight of the Chancellor at lunch time today fighting back tears at the PM's side was pretty surreal. She looked wounded, fragile and hurt - and inevitably, it’s started speculation she does not have the Prime Minister's full confidence.

The markets are queasy - reflecting a panic that the government is looking less stable. Could the PM be about to sack his own Chancellor? And - how does he reassert his authority for the job he needs to do if the Labour MPs are now directing policy?

We talk to Keir’s former chief of staff Sam White.

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

Donald Trump threatens to deport Elon Musk

1 day ago Tue, Jul 1st 2025

After a lull in the Bro Wars - the sequel. This time Trump is threatening not only to remove Musk's government subsidies but even have him deported. Why? It all goes back to Musk's criticism of Trump's massive spending bill - which gives the wealthy tax cuts and removes Medicaid for 17 million Americans - and would add 3 trillion dollars to America's ballooning deficit. Could Musk start his own party? Will he really prove a political force against Trump? Which speaks louder in America - wealth or executive office?

Later, how shit is Britain? Should we accept the declinist narrative of the country being broken? Or is it being exploited by creepy xenophobes? We speak to Labour MP and former pollster Chris Curtis.

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

Does anyone know what the Starmer plan is?

2 days ago Mon, Jun 30th 2025

Tomorrow, Labour MPs will be asked to vote on the rejigged welfare reform bill. Senior Labour politicians Sadiq Khan and Andy Burnham still don’t think it’s worth the paper it’s written on. But the whole debacle has thrown up a bigger question about Starmer's leadership and authority. Does anyone really understand what’s in the PM's mind or what he is trying to achieve? We speak to the Starmer whisperer, Tom Baldwin.

Later, Glastonbury, Bob Vylan and the BBC. And how has Wimbledon now become a symbol of Britain's decline?

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

How to catch a terrorist

5 days ago Fri, Jun 27th 2025

This Friday, Lewis is joined in the studio by the newest members of the 'agents' family. Neil Basu is former head of Counter Terrorism Policing and Andy Hughes is an investigative journalist who's been covering crime for two decades.

They look back on 2017, a year which the UK experienced a series of devastating terrorist attacks, to talk about what it takes to catch a terrorist, and why some slip through the net.

You can listen to The Crime Agents here: https://www.globalplayer.com/podcasts/42L4DG/

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

Weekend Edition: Euros exclusive, Wimbledon's 66,000 tennis balls & is 5-day cricket too long? - The Sports Agents

5 days ago Fri, Jun 27th 2025

This week on The Sports Agents...

A big exclusive ahead of the Euros with two of England's defending champions, Lauren Hemp & Niamh Charles, Gabby goes behind the scenes at Wimbledon (10:30) and after England's historic comeback we ask ex-England bowler Steven Finn if 5-day cricket is too long? (19:30)

You can watch our full episodes on YouTube here.

Got a question for The Sports Agents? Email us at thesportsagents@global.com

New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

Is Keir Starmer losing control of his party?

6 days ago Thu, Jun 26th 2025

Remember how there was going to be no row back and no change to the government welfare reform bill? Well, now it seems there might be...

Starmer's team are talking about the importance of “conversations with colleagues“ after an amendment signed by 120 Labour MPs showed them how easily they could lose a major vote on Tuesday. Those conversations are code - as is “listening mode“. Are we about to see a climb down? A change of policy? Or watch the whole bill disappear?

We talk to Douglas Alexander about the direction of the bill, the party and our trade deal with Trump.

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

Why is NATO’s Secretary-General calling Trump “DADDY"?

7 days ago Wed, Jun 25th 2025

The atmosphere here at the NATO summit has been little short of obsequious towards President Trump. Leaders have worked out that if they want US buy-in to NATO they have to commit to Trump’s spending demands, and flatter him into believing he is the only person who can make things happen.

Well, so far it seems to be working. The US has renewed its commitment to defending other NATO countries. And the language has been expletive free.

But why are NATO leaders refusing to mention Russian aggression? Will they just end up looking scared? We talk to Estonia's defence secretary and the global historian, Peter Frankopan, author of Silk Roads

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

Trump: Israel and Iran "don't know what the f*** they're doing"

8 days ago Tue, Jun 24th 2025

We’re at the Nato summit in The Hague where Europe’s leaders were hoping to put defence spending and Ukraine top of the agenda.

That's before Donald Trump derailed things by swearing on the White House lawn. He’s very cross that Israel and Iran aren't listening to him, and his insistence that a ceasefire is underway.

Can he will a war to end just by saying it? Or are we learning how little control Trump really has over world events?

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

Does Trump want to topple Iran’s government?

9 days ago Mon, Jun 23rd 2025

Has Trump now decided he would like to topple Iran’s leadership? He’s let his cabinet tell the world that the only game here was to stop Iran becoming nuclear competent.

Yet, overnight his motivation seems to have changed. Does this change the whole scenario and make an end game much harder? And what kind of conversations is Starmer now having with his inner circle about whether these strikes on Tehran are even legal?

Later, the complicated response of Iranian people as their cities are being bombed. Do they welcome the chance to see the regime fall. Or will they rally to the flag?

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

Special Episode: Trump strikes Iran

10 days ago Sun, Jun 22nd 2025

Trump did it - he attacked Iran. Overnight, US armed forces attacked three of Iran’s nuclear development sites. Trump claims to have obliterated the nascent Iranian nuclear capabilities. Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu is jubilant. European leaders are uneasy. The whole world is holding its breath.

What happens now? Can we even know? What does it mean for the region, for Europe and the world? And what should the British government do?

Lewis and Jon discuss in a special Sunday episode, on a day when an already volatile world seemed to get that bit less certain.

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