The News Agents

It's The News Agents' first birthday. So we open the floor for questions from you, the listener. Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson-SmithYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

A tumultuous week in Spain continues as Luis Rubiales, the Head of the Spanish FA, refuses to resign after kissing footballer Jenni Hermoso on the lips in the aftermath of Spain's World Cup win. His mother is on day 2 of a hunger strike, locking herself inside a church. You couldn't write it.So Lewis and Jon discuss the wider repercussions of this sexism row with Spanish lawyer Miriam Gonzalez Durantez.They also speak with Mayor of London Sadiq Khan about his controversial ULEZ extension, and whether it threatens to create divisions within the Labour party between Khan and Keir Starmer.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson-SmithYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Emily and Jon host a weekly podcast; giving you everything you need to know about the world of US politics and how it affects you.Episodes are available every Tuesday exclusively on Global Player and all other platforms every Wednesday.Find the latest episode of News Agents USA here on Global Player.

Donald Trump has been indicted again. But this time, it was the full works, including obligatory mugshot. This mugshot, of a scowling, glowering Trump appeared all over social media, at Trump's own hand, as he returned to Twitter (currently ridiculously known as X) to urge his followers to "NEVER SURRENDER!"Jon makes an unusual appearance on a Friday, but couldn't resist it in the wake of the legal nightmare the US now finds itself inhabiting. He joins Lewis to discuss what's different about this indictment, what next and why Trump seems to draw vitality and strength from something as incredible as being arrested.You can hear about the GOP debate and the Trump saga on The News Agents USA - listen here.And Lewis talks to the King of the Dance himself, Sir Matthew Bourne, choreographer extraordinaire about his new production of Romeo Juliet in London's Saddlers Wells, the return of homophobia and why the government never seems to understand the arts.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson-SmithYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Yevgeny Prigozhin is apparently dead, two months after he marched the Wagner mercenary group to Moscow in a mutiny that appeared to be a very embarrassing weekend for Vladimir Putin.Yesterday, a private plane crash also killed nine others, including his right hand man, the co-founder of the Wagner group, Dmitry Utkin.So what actually happened? Was it an act of revenge from Putin? And is he now stronger than ever?Jon and Lewis speak to Alicia Kearns MP, the chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee and ask foreign affairs expert Tim Marshall about the future for Russia.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson-SmithYou can listen to this episode on Alexa, just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

It's 75 days since Nadine Dorries announced she was standing down as an MP with "immediate effect"... but she's still the MP for Mid Bedfordshire and getting paid for it.Since announcing she'd go in June, Dorries has received calls to go from local councils, politicians and even the Prime Minister. She's also been criticised for effectively going missing. So what has she been up to? And tonight is a big night in American politics - it's the first debate to choose the Republican candidate for the 2024 election and one very familiar face won't be there.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson-SmithThe News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Mason Greenwood won't play for Manchester United again. Greenwood was one of the most exciting talents in world football two years ago, before he was arrested and charged for attempted rape, coercive control and assault. The charges were dropped by the CPS in February this year.The final decision on Greenwood's place at the club was announced yesterday, with a "mutual deicison" that he will be leaving. But just last week, there were rumours of a plan to bring the player back. So what happened? And what changed?Jon and Lewis talk to The Athletic's Adam Crafton, who has the inside story of what went on at Manchester United last week and we hear from TV presenter and fan of the club, Rachel Riley.Later, we take a look at the government's stance on small boats crossing the channel. Sunak said months ago that stopping the boats would be attainable. It seems he's now changed his tune.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettVideo Producer: Will Gibson-SmithThe News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

It's debate night in Milwaukee tonight. The big hitters of the Republican Party will all be there, fighting it out in the first chance to be on the same stage together. That is, all bar one, notable frontrunner; former President Donald Trump.Emily and Jon will be in your The News Agents: USA feeds tomorrow morning (Thursday) digesting the overnight debate. See you then!

Lucy Letby has been given a whole life order for her crimes. She joins only a small group of prisoners to be given a sentence so severe that they can never be considered for parole. But she wasn't in court today to hear it for herself. She chose not to appear, much to the victims' families fury. The Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition want the law to be changed to force criminals to face their days of reckoning in person. It sounds simple - but is it? Lewis discusses with a former Old Bailey judge and a victim of the Manchester Arena Attacks whose own cowardly perpetrator also refused to confront the court.And after the Lionesses' near miss in Sydney we ask why politicians always sound so weird when talking about football. We talk to the politico's politico and genuine football obsessive, Lord Danny Finkelstein.Editor: Tom HughesProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson-Smith

Covid is back in the news - there is a new mutation of Omicron which is potentially more infectious than the last. Some are sounding the alarm. We talk about whether you should be worried (spoiler -probably not). But while it's in the news we thought we'd examine a question long lurking at the sidelines of the Covid news story - where did it come from? Is the lab leak theory increasingly credible? Plenty in Washington, including big elements of the Biden administration think so. And if it is - why are we not talking about it? What might be the biggest story of our time? Lewis talks to a leading expert who sits on SAGE and a journalist who has done the running on the story from the very beginning.Editor: Tom HughesProducers: Rory Symon and Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson-Smith

It's A-level results day and the message from the Education Secretary is to urge students not to worry too much about the results, that no-one will ask about them in 10 years' time.The PM has also said that there are plenty of other options available to those who didn't get the grades they need. But is this really the message for ministers to send to kids who have been studying for these things for years? And would they be saying the same to their own kids? We also analyse whether this was the year to revert to a 2019 marking system, with a generation still deeply affected by the pandemic.Jon and Lewis also discuss the life and broadcasting legacy of chat show king Michael Parkinson who has died at the age of 88. He invented the chat show format for UK television. We talk through the changes in TV which have taken place over the last half century and why we won't see Parky's like again.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Will Gibson-Smith & Rory Symon

England's women's football team reach the World Cup final, beating the hosts Australia. But with the highest paid footballer in the equivalent of the Premier League paid less in a year than some male players get in a week, will this prove a watershed moment in attempts by many to push for greater financial parity? We speak to Kieran Maguire, football economist.And back in the world of Westminster - what does falling inflation mean? A governmental success in one of their key targets, or is this the calm before the storm with wages and public sector - both inherently inflationary - rising. We speak to editor of Red Box, Lara Spirit.commentary courtesy of BBC Sport.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettVideo Producer: Will Gibson-SmithThe News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Emily and Jon host a new weekly podcast; giving you everything you need to know about the world of US politics and how it affects you.Episodes are available every Tuesday exclusively on Global Player and all other platforms every Wednesday.Find the latest episode of News Agents USA here on Global Player.

What were three spies living in Great Yarmouth and Harrow doing in the UK? Today it was revealed that three Bulgarian nationals were arrested in February and they've been in custody since - they were apparently working for Russian security services. They're awaiting trial but yet to enter any pleas.They'd been in the country for years, even baking cakes for their neighbours. So what were they up to? And how common is it for Russian spies to be hanging around in Britain? Jon asks former head of the MI6 Russia desk, Christopher Steele.And exactly two years on from the Taliban taking back power in Afghanistan, we talk to journalist Yalda Hakim about the conflict and discuss her work to get Afghan women back into education.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettVideo Producer: Rory SymonThe News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Mason Greenwood was one of the most exciting talents in world football two years ago. A superstar in the making. But in January 2022, a social media video surfaced of Greenwood - he was arrested on suspicion of rape, coercive behaviour and assault - suspended by United, and he's not played since. But, charges were dropped earlier this year and the club now have a decision to make. Should Greenwood play for their club again? Or should they take a moral stand? We talk to The Athletic's Adam Crafton, and Em, who's protesting at tonight's Premier League opener.And we look at the government ditching cancer screening targets. Is this a good idea if they're constantly being missed... or does this just mean that more people will not be seen before it's too late? We speak to former Health Secretary Stephen Dorrell.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettVideo Producer: Rory SymonThe News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

A week that was dedicated to show that the Conservatives have a plan on how to 'stop the boats' has instead been dominated by tragedy - the death of 41 migrants in the sea near Lampedusa while the deputy chair of the Tory party told Channel-crossing migrants to 'f*** off' back to France - and farce - as 39 asylum seekers were removed off barge accommodation just days after moving in due to a bacterial infection in the nearby waters. Has this week been a major step back for Rishi Sunak in his attempts to fulfil one of his flagship policies? We discuss with Sir Craig Oliver, former director of communications at No.10.We talk parliamentary standards with Sir Chris Bryant - and Gary Lineker joins us to justify to heartbroken Spurs fan Jon why Harry Kane is right to leave Tottenham for Bayern Munich.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettVideo Producer: Rory SymonThe News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Generation screwed. A hoard of students tens of thousands of pounds in debt, but with nothing to show for it. We speak to students who've been affected and hear from the university and college union boss, Jo Grady- who backs the striking staff.And, the Tory internecine warfare continues after a shambolic selection process to pick their candidate for London mayor. But do they still have a pathway to win next year's election with Trump-fan Susan Hall if Jeremy Corbyn throws his hat in the ring?And... some marriage advice for Lewis ahead of his wedding.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettVideo Producer: Rory SymonThe News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Deputy Chair of the Conservative Party Lee Anderson went on TV last night and openly admitted that his own party are failing to 'stop the boats'. That's the same party that announced at the start of this year that one of their five priorities was to ... stop the boats. Anderson has always been a law unto himself, and sometimes this has worked to Rishi Sunak's benefit. But is he now becoming a serious problem for the Tories as they try to build their case for re-election next year?And - we speak to the Emily Bolton - founder of Appeal, the charity that helped Andy Malkinson get out of prison - after we spoke to Malkinson yesterday. She has shocking revelations about the state of the prison and justice system in the UK today.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettVideo Producer: Rory SymonThe News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Andrew Malkinson was convicted of rape in 2003 and it took nearly two decades for this miscarriage of justice to be corrected. But it could have happened much earlier, were it not for the police repeatedly bungling the case, or perhaps worse. Andrew joins Jon and Lewis for an extended conversation about his time in jail, what the police did wrong and what it tells us about the justice system itself.A content warning - the episodes contains mentions of rape and suicide.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettVideo Producer: Rory SymonThe News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Emily and Jon host a new weekly podcast; giving you everything you need to know about the world of US politics and how it affects you.Episodes are available every Tuesday exclusively on Global Player and all other platforms every Wednesday.Find the latest episode of News Agents USA here on Global Player.

It's "small boats week" on the government media grid; or that was the idea.It looks like it could have been over before it began. Jon is back, and with Lewis they chew over why the government keeps pointing to a policy area on which it's failed. They also talk through the Home Secretary's latest great idea as to where to house up to 500 asylum seekers. The Bibby Stockholm, a huge barge currently moored off the Isle of Portland.And we preview the latest and fourth indictment coming for Trump, likely this week.Meanwhile...Matt Hancock has been pretending to be Ken, from Barbie. It gives the silly season a bad name.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettVideo Producer: Rory SymonThe News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Donald Trump was indicted for a third time this week and a fourth is on the way. He emerged from a DC courthouse this week actually inviting more - he thinks it's helping him, feeding into a long-established persecution complex which he feels will been a key asset in his bid to be re-elected.In this episode, we ask a simple question: is he right? And is he right everywhere? If it is helping him secure the Republican nomination, will all this actually end up hurting his chances of obtaining the thing he truly craves - the presidency itself?And in the latest of our extended political conversations Lewis talks to Labour peer and refugee champion Lord Alf Dubbs about a political life which stretches back to Clement Attlee and Nazi-occupied Prague.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettVideo Producer: Will Gibson SmithThe News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Rishi Sunak isn’t much good at interviews. Sir Keir Starmer isn’t that much better. It follows a pattern of politicians become less and less willing to take part in political interviews, which they see as increasingly pointless, all risk and no gain. We ask, does it matter? And why does our democracy lose, as a result?And interest rates rose for again- now at a 15 year high. Torsten Bell joins Lewis to explain where it leaves households and Rishi Sunak’s re-election chances.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson SmithThe News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Donald Trump has been indicted. Again. But this is the most serious of the lot - a series of conspiracies against the republic itself and an attempt to subvert an election. Emily and Lewis talk what it means for America, Trump and 2024. Jon got bored on holiday and couldn’t resist popping up either.We speak to Trump's former Deputy Press Secretary, Hogan Gidley.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson SmithThe News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

House prices have fallen an average of 4% in the last year due to rising interest rates and the knock on effect on mortgages. How low will they go and does anyone think we're on the cusp of a housing crash? We ask esteemed economist Roger Bootle.Also - we’re in Ukraine which has been hitting back - drone attacks on Russian apartment blocks in Moscow. Putin calls it “terrorism“. What does this tell us about the Ukrainian offensive? We speak to Andrew Harding, foreign correspondent and author of Small, Stubborn Town; Life, Death and Defiance in Ukraine.And how the Great Crested Newt is playing havoc with Boris Johnson’s plan for a swimming pool.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson SmithThe News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Emily and Jon host a new weekly podcast; giving you everything you need to know about the world of US politics and how it affects you.Episodes are available every Tuesday exclusively on Global Player and all other platforms every Wednesday.Find the latest episode of News Agents USA here on Global Player.

Rishi Sunak is handing out around one hundred new oil and gas licences for North Sea drilling and says it is entirely consistent with his plans for net-zero. But his former energy minister has said the government is 'on the wrong side of history'. Can you get to clean energy by going back for more fossil fuels? Will voters thank him at the ballot box if he can make the transition less painful? And what do the Independence-intent SNP make of this? We ask their leader for Westminster, Stephen Flynn. Later, we ask what's happening in Niger? As a military coup in one of the world's poorest countries leaves it wide open to Russian mercenary influence. We talk to journalist and geopolitical expert Tim Marshall.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson SmithThe News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

The Mayor for Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, says he is a "place first" not a "policy first" politician.In a week where the Greater Manchester Police have been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons, Lewis travels to Manchester to meet the Mayor and ask him whether he has confidence in the force.In today's The News Agents, we talk about his relationship with Keir Starmer and the central Labour party, the potential Qatari takeover of Manchester United and the Mayor's political ambitions going forward.Editor: Tom HughesSenior producer: Gabriel RadusField producer: Laura FitzPatrickVideo producer: Will Gibson SmithSocial media editor: Georgia FoxwellThe News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Andrew Malkinson spent 17 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. Yesterday the Court of Appeal finally cleared his name. It is a failure so serious, so unthinkable it barely makes sense. But today Mr Malkinson laid the blame firmly at the door of the police who- he says- concealed and destroyed evidence to mask their mistake. Why isn't this a crime? And what should happen now? We ask a former Director of Public Prosecution, Lord Ken Macdonald. Later, we look at the curious, budding relationship between Italy's hard-right prime minister Giorgia Meloni and America's President Joe Biden as they meet for talks at the White House. And - we bring you the letter written to Nadine Dorries ... from a town council in Mid Beds.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning: Alex BarnettVideo producers: Rory Symon & Will Gibson SmithSocial media editor: Georgia FoxwellThe News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Is the global climate crisis already out of control? Lewis' special report from Southern Spain. And, as the boss of NatWest resigns over the Farage - Coutts crisis - why has one man and his bank account consumed national news?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning: Alex BarnettVideo producers: Rory Symon & Will Gibson SmithSocial media editor: Georgia FoxwellThe News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Emily and Jon host a new weekly podcast; giving you everything you need to know about the world of US politics and how it affects you.Episodes are available every Tuesday exclusively on Global Player and all other platforms every Wednesday.Find the latest episode of News Agents USA here on Global Player.

Labour have promised to simplify and reform the Gender Recognition Act that helps trans people officially change their gender identity. Self ID will NOT be Labour policy - you will still need a medical assessment to transition. And they are drawing clear lines between sex and gender. Will this help politicians answer the toxic question of whether a woman can have a penis? And what does it tell us about Labour's direction of electoral travel? Who are they trying to please? Later we look at the protests in Israel and what the new 'reasonableness vote' means for Israel's claim on democracy.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning: Alex BarnettVideo producers: Rory Symon & Will Gibson SmithSocial media editor: Georgia FoxwellThe News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

The pictures from Greece tell a horrifying story of people running for their lives from the wildfires. Southern Europe is locked in unprecedented heatwaves across the continent. But the headlines tell a different story - of our two main parties starting to shift the narrative about net-zero policy - after what seems like a singular By-election upset in Uxbridge. The British public - according to recent YouGov polls - are firmly behind green policies - as long as it doesn't personally hurt too much. So why are politicians behaving like it's something we can all 'put off until later' when the crisis is clearly on our doorstep and our own economy depends upon us getting it?And - we report from Spain on the election that has left the country in political stasis and questions about whether the far right Vox party has peaked.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning: Alex BarnettVideo producers: Rory Symon & Will Gibson SmithSocial media editor: Georgia FoxwellThe News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Three by-elections and a win each for the three main parties. Labour won with the biggest electoral swing in their history in Selby and Ainsty, the Lib Dems won a huge majority in Somerton and Frome and the Conservatives just about held their seat in Uxbridge.On the surface, the set of results are better than what the Tories had anticipated. But, better than terrible can still be pretty bad.And does Labour Mayor of London Sadiq Khan need to rethink his ULEZ zone if Labour want to avoid struggling in next year's inner city campaigning? It sounds like Keir Starmer and Labour think so.We're joined in News Agents HQ by Labour's Emily Thornberry and Sarah Olney from the Liberal Democrats to pick apart the results, and what this could mean for Tories, Labour and Lib Dems ahead of next year's general election.For exclusive daily videos from The News Agents visit Global Player: https://www.globalplayer.com/videos/brands/news-agents/the-news-agents/You can watch our interviews in full at https://www.globalplayer.com/videos/brands/news-agents/the-news-agents/The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

What is really up with Nigel Farage's bank account? We discuss, and hear from the man at the centre of what's quickly become a national banking storm. And Defence Committee Chair and senior Tory MP Tobias Ellwood published a video earlier this week extolling the virtues of Afghanistan. Sort of forgetting that the country is led by the murderous Taliban regime. He now faces a no confidence vote. Why on earth did he do that?

Tomorrow voters in three English constituencies will head to the polls. Will the good news on inflation and car plants help Rishi Sunak? Will the backlash over child benefits harm Keir Starmer? Or will none of it make any difference? Has the county already found an inflection point where it's looking for change? We hear from the pollster Lord Andrew Cooper.And we talk to Mark Kermode and Simon Mayo about Barbie and her fall from paradise.

Defence secretary Ben Wallace has been one of the stalwarts of this government at a time when many cabinet positions have been musical chairs. But last weekend he suddenly announced he was quitting front line politics. In his first interview since the news broke - he tells Jon why and confirms he's heard rumours of a cabinet reshuffle in the coming days.Later we hear from Jamie Oliver who has been fighting to make Britain’s kids healthier for almost twenty years. Who could forget the infamous turkey twizzler episode - and backlash - as the chef-turned-food campaigner took on the stodgy school dinner. Today he’s back with a vengeance telling The News Agents Keir Starmer needs to provide free school means for 800,000 children on universal credit - and warning that his refusal to overturn the two child benefit cap will push thousands more into food poverty.

Emily and Jon host a new weekly podcast; giving you everything you need to know about the world of US politics and how it affects you.Episodes are available every Tuesday exclusively on Global Player and all other platforms every Wednesday. Find the latest episode of News Agents USA here on Global Player.

What's happening to Keir Starmer's policies? Yesterday he ditched another one, confirming that he would maintain the Conservative austerity policy that saw child benefit scrapped after two children.Cue major backlash - and today a resignation from a Labour mayor (famously no fan of Starmer) citing too many broken promises from the leader. Meanwhile, Keir is warming to his theme of fiscal prudence. Is it enough to convince people that Labour has a fresh promise?Later, we look at the resurgence of the morality police in Iran - over women who've ditched their head coverings. Is it a sign of confidence in the draconian regime - or are they losing their grip on the public ?

Shadow Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, grew up in poverty with his single mother on an east London council estate. But if Labour win the next election, he's nailed on to be in the cabinet.His life story - which includes Christine Keeler, finding his feet at Cambridge and coming out as gay - is something he's kept relatively quiet about until the publication of his memoir: One Boy, Two Bills and a Fry Up.In this special edition of The News Agents, Lewis speaks to the Labour MP for Ilford North about class, sexuality and religion, and he asks him about his political ambitions

The world's worst kept secret was revealed last night when Huw Edwards was named as the BBC presenter at the centre of the media storm. In an emotional statement, his wife revealed he was in hospital and in a bad way. The Sun decided not to print further allegations. The BBC's own news teams went ahead with new breaking stories. Where do we draw the line between HR complaints and investigative reporting? Former editor of The Sun, David Yelland, is back with us - he asks if the BBC understand the asymmetric war being waged on it by News UK. And later - has Boris Johnson really forgotten the pin number of his mobile phone?

'I love deadlines ... I love the whooshing sound they make when they go by.' Monday 4pm was the cut off for Boris Johnson to hand over his phone and Whatsapp messages to the Covid Inquiry. 48 hours later that phone still hasn't reached its end destination. Johnson says he's cooperating. The phone is with his lawyers. But the inquiry is waiting... Meanwhile the Cabinet Secretary Simon Case has delivered a shot across the bows to his old boss accusing those who criticise the civil service of 'self-defeating cowardice'. On today's episode we look at the political fall out and we also ask how an organisation like the BBC should cover a story about itself from the inside.

Another day of stories about a high profile BBC presenter at the centre of a sex scandal and and still no name. Come 4pm, BBC News announced a second young person had come forward with a complaint about the same presenter.We explore how privacy laws work in the media, when social media plays such a huge role - is this the Wild West when it comes to keeping a name out of the public domain?

Emily and Jon host a new weekly podcast; giving you everything you need to know about the world of US politics and how it affects you.Episodes are available every Tuesday exclusively on Global Player and all other platforms every Wednesday. Find the latest episode of News Agents USA here on Global Player.

The front pages proclaim just one story in town: the sex photos that were allegedly sold by an underage crack addict to a top BBC presenter. But look a little deeper, and there may be more to this story than meets the eye. What do we know about the money that's changed hands? What does it tell us about the relationship between The Sun newspaper and the BBC? And where is the line between privacy and transparency?Today we talk to former editor of The Sun, David Yelland, who tells us whether he would have published this story. And we ask what it tells us about media power in the digital age. Later, we look at the sudden collapse of the Dutch government, over asylum issues. Does anyone in Europe have an answer to small boats?

Mark Zuckerberg launched his new platform, Threads, this week. It's designed to knock Twitter - owned Elon Musk - off of its perch. This story is a parable of our age. Men of unbelievable wealth and unbelievable power locking battle. Whoever wins, if anyone wins, it will have reverberations on our culture, on our politics, on the tapestry of our lives. And Lewis also talks to the SNP leader for Westminster, Stephen Flynn MP, about his political make-up.

The prospect of another by-election looms after Parliament's standards committee recommended an eight-week suspension of former Conservative whip, Chris Pincher.If the name is familiar, it’s because he was arguably the one who sealed the fate of Boris Johnson and led ultimately to his resignation. Today we discuss the ramifications of the sexual assault and we look at Keir Starmer's pledge to give working class kids better oracy skills.

Exclusive footage of Boris Johnson from the One Decision Podcast has been shared with The News Agents. He was facing questions from hosts Julia Macfarlane and Richard Dearlove about Ukraine, democracy and global security. Towards the end, Julia asked him about his own response to British democracy - his refusal to accept the findings of the 'kangaroo court' privileges committee into his wrongdoing. She also asked him about Chris Pincher - the deputy chief whip who resigned from government over sexual assault allegations - and that's where Johnson's answers got really odd... Later on the show we talk about the escalating violence in Israel and Jenin, and why Netanyahu's personal fortunes may be influencing his military moves...Joining The News Agents today were freelance journalist Julia Macfarlane, Channel 4's foreign correspondent Secunder Kermani, & Cambridge Gates Scholar and expert on populism, Ayala Panievsky.

The SNP's deputy leader in Westminster, Mhairi Black MP, joins us exclusively in News Agents HQ to announce she's stepping down at the next election.We discuss the "toxic" culture that's led to Black - the youngest MP in 350 years when she was elected in 2015 - to leave parliament, and we ask why so many other MPs won't be standing again.

If you landed in this country and wondered what its problems were you might see the long queues for the health services, the high inflation, the shortage of workers to fill public sector jobs and the difficulties the country has with its supply chains. The New Conservatives are a new fringe Conservative group trying to solve a different problem. They think we need to cut immigration numbers by 400k, stop foreign workers visas, and offer the jobs (that we can't currently fill) to British workers. So that's now on Rishi's plate for him to ponder. We talk to their leader Tom Hunt and ask him how he'd get Brits to do those jobs. And after the press regulator IPSO ruled the Jeremy Clarkson column in the Sun was 'sexist, pejorative and prejudicial' we talk to IPSO's chairman Lord Faulks.