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The News Agents - USA

The News Agents - USA

162 episodes — Page 1 of 4

Has Trump just written the campaign ad for every Democrat?

May 14, 202638 min

Trump's Epic Fury...with Indiana Republicans

May 6, 202637 min

Is Trump a Russian asset? Fiona Hill on the President she worked for

Apr 29, 202644 min

The Democrats are finally fighting dirty - will it be enough to win?

Apr 23, 202632 min

Are any Republicans getting ready to move against Trump?

Apr 16, 202634 min

Has Trump lost control of his own party?

Apr 9, 202645 min

Will Trump's record unpopularity make him end the war in Iran?

Things just aren’t going well for Donald Trump right now. Forget the Iran war, his spectacular NATO fallout, rising gas prices, Trump’s just heard that the construction of his 90,000ft ballroom will have to be paused after a judge told him he was the White House steward and not its owner. The affordability crisis in America is spiking as his poll numbers are tanking. Is he looking for a speedy way out? A diversion?We speak to Congressman Jim Himes, the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee.The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Apr 1, 202634 min

How Trump screwed the world economy

Vast sums of money was traded before President Trump's now famous attempt to announce an Iran peace deal on Monday. The speculation was that those with prior knowledge had capitalised by insider trading. Today we’re joined by Nobel Prize winning economist Paul Krugman to explain why this sounds highly plausible, and why there’s no ethics investigation even if it’s true. Later - was Meta and Google deliberating trying to harm children by getting them addicted to the their sites? A jury finds the companies liable in a historic ruling.The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Mar 26, 202633 min

Is MAGA rupturing over Trump's war in Iran?

The first resignation over the Iran war came yesterday. Oddball Joe Kent, Director of counter-terrorism, said he disagreed with President Trump's war. Are others starting to feel the same? Loud voices in MAGA are telling Trump he’s got it wrong. What happens now?We talk to Jason Greenblatt, White House special envoy to the Middle East during Trump's first term, about what Trump is trying to achieve in Iran - and whether he is losing the room.The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Mar 18, 202639 min

Trump's Kentucky chaos and Rubio's big...shoes

Despite being at war, America's commander in chief President Trump has been busy hosting election-style campaign events ahead of important midterm elections. It was billed as an "affordability tour", a chance for Trump to hammer home the ways in which his presidency will make voters feel better off.But predictably, at a rally in Kentucky, Trump went off script. He used the platform to repeatedly slam GOP Congressman Thomas Massie, mock Barack Obama, and declare that America had in fact already won the conflict in the Middle East. US public opinion on the war already makes alarming reading for the White House - and that's before the huge spike in oil prices really filters through to the weekly shop or at the gas pumps. Has his decision to strike Iran wrecked his best shot at keeping voters on side?Later - John Bolton on how Trump has fumbled his Iran "excursion", and why Marco Rubio needs insoles...

Mar 12, 202629 min

Will Trump's Iran strikes hit him in the ballots?

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Why did Trump decide to strike Iran? Was it the US that started the war? Is it even a war? Listening to senior figures in the administration and in MAGA it's not entirely clear. The accounts are confused, contradictory, and seem to change by day.What is clearer is that the American public don't support the action. Polling suggests only one in four Americans back the strikes - and a series of Trump influencers have reacted with fury to the move. This is another war from the President who pledged to end them. With the midterms critical for Trump's future, could this intervention become a massive own goal if gas prices rise and voters turn away from the GOP?This week, Jon is joined by Michael D. Shear, the Pulitzer Prize winning New York Times correspondent.And later - James Talarico electrifies Democrats in Texas, but is talk of turning the State blue premature? Or does Talarico represent a generational shift in the party?The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Mar 4, 202633 min

Where are the missing Epstein files that point to Trump?

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Has the DOJ withheld documents from the Epstein files that relate to allegations against President Trump? That's the accusation from senior Democrats after an NPR investigation found that more than 50 pages of FBI interviews and notes from a conversation with a woman who accused Trump of sexual abuse when she was a minor were removed from the dataset.California Congressman Robert Garcia is calling it "the largest government cover up in modern history". The White House says that President Trump has been "totally exonerated on anything relating to Jeffrey Epstein". So what's actually going on?We speak to the editor of The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, about Epstein, the State of the Union address, and the state of journalism in the era of Trump.The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Feb 26, 202641 min

Mark Kelly: The Senator Trump wants 'hanged'

Senator Mark Kelly is a former astronaut, a Navy pilot, and was almost Kamala Harris VP pick. Now he’s weighing up a run for the presidency himself in 2028. He came into the News Agents studio this lunchtime to tell us why Trump is helping his cause by threatening to have him “hanged“ and why it’s important for European leaders, including Starmer, to push back on Trump’s bullying.The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Feb 17, 202640 min

Clinton, Epstein and Trump's dire polling

Trump is trying his best to manifest good polling numbers. But the raw numbers as they stand are dire for the President. This week, we talk to top pollster Doug Sosnik, who was at Bill Clinton’s side for six years, about political shamelessness, polling and 'the Epstein class'.The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Feb 11, 202632 min

Why are the Epstein files revealing more about the victims than the villains?

In an exclusive interview with Emily, Amy Wallace - who co-authored Virginia Giuffre's posthumous memoir - warns that lives are being put in danger by the way that the US department of justice has handled the Epstein files.Why are victims' names appearing unredacted but possible perpetrators are having their names concealed, and testimony against them omitted entirely?Donald Trump has told America to move on and focus on something "people care about". Does the President's feeble attempt to draw a line under the Epstein files only strengthen the resolve to get to the bottom of the scandal and bring about justice?The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Feb 4, 202627 min

Billy Crudup on The Morning Show, moral cowardice, and Minneapolis as a police state

The actor Billy Crudup, known for The Morning show, Jay Kelly, and Almost Famous, is bringing the Western to the London stage in High Noon. It's an allegory of McCarthyism and Hollywood’s “black list ". This week, he joined Emily in the studio to discuss why he’s drawn to stories of moral cowardice and why he finds it so easy to speak up right now.The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Jan 29, 202638 min

Is Trump trying to distract us from the Epstein files?

The deadline to release the Epstein files is now over a month old. Last night, a congressional committee confirmed Ghislaine Maxwell would appear before it in a hearing on February 9th. Although she may choose to say little. The vote in Congress last November created a legal obligation on the government to release the Epstein files. So what happens now if the justice department refuses to comply? Later, how Gavin Newson rose through the Democrat ashes to lead the polls as the front runner in 2028. What has he discovered in how to deal with Trump?The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Jan 22, 202630 min

Will Trump bring martial law to Minnesota?

It's a week since Renee Nicole Good was shot by an ICE agent whilst in her car in Minnesota. Since then, protests have erupted around the country, schools in Minneapolis have closed, and last night saw a second shooting by an ICE agent. Is the immigration law enforcement now just a political weapon? And, as Trump threatens martial law, is ICE deliberately trying to provoke conflict in Minnesota? We're joined by Semifore's Ben Smith. The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Jan 15, 202643 min

Why 2026 could be Trump's most volatile year yet

The plan to taken down Venezuelan leader, Nicolas Maduro, was months in the making. And yet, when it did finally happen, it not only took Caracas by surprise but even Washington was stunned by the speed of the incursion. What does the operation in Venezuela tell us about how Trump might be planning to take over other territories? Why has he got his eyes on oil tanks, and is he prepared to go battle with Putin? We speak to The Crisis Room's Marc Polymeropoulos.Later, Tim Walz has ended his campaign to run for Minnesota governor after ongoing fraud accusations became the focus of Republicans. Are fraud claims a new effective weapon for MAGA to attack the Democrats?The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Jan 7, 202634 min

Has Vanity Fair made MAGA look ugly again?

Trump's inner circle may be wondering this week why they gave Vanity Fair exclusive access and close up photos for the magazine. The portrait is unflattering to say the least. And highly revelatory. Will it change how Trump sees those around him? And why is the MAGA aesthetic so central to the brand?Also - Trump speaks to the nation about the economy. Why’s he had to make up all his figures?The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Dec 18, 202531 min

Why are Americans abandoning Trump on the economy?

Affordability is the word that Zohran Mamdani made the centre of his New York mayoral campaign after watching the Democrats lose so badly in 2024. But now it’s the Republicans and President Trump that have to convince voters the economy is going in the right direction. And 70 percent of them no longer trust Trump to get it right. What does this mean for the midterms? Later, why the Supreme Court could be about to hand Trump the power he craves to fire whoever he fancies. We talk to Slate' s Mark Joseph Stern.The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Dec 11, 202529 min

Is this the biggest political sex scandal since Lewinsky?

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The story of the affair between journalist Olivia Nuzzi and Health Secretary RFK Junior has been called the least important and most important story of our times. What does it tell us about MAGA culture, journalistic ethics and the power of click bait versus deep dive investigation? Why is America so obsessed with her story? Later, has a leaked recording of Pete Hegseth, Secretary of WAR, opened him up to accusations of war crimes? And what happens to those who speak out against Trump's extra judicial killings?The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Dec 3, 202531 min

Has Trump's lawfare blown up in his face?

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The former FBI director James Comey has walked free after his indictment was thrown out by a judge who decided the presiding attorney was actually invalid. It’s a tricky moment for Donald Trump, who had pursued his enemies in the hope of putting behind bars people who he called “bad” - and led to accusations of “vindictive prosecution“ by the President. But already, the administration's ire has turned to its next victims - former astronaut and Arizona senator Mark Kelly. A decorated, highly respected military man who finds himself facing a possible court martial for sedition after Pete Hegseth's latest outburst. What effect are these arrests and investigations having on America's institutions? And after the resignation of outspoken congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, is Trump starting to lose his grip on his own base? We talk to the New York Times journalist Mark Landler. The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Nov 25, 202532 min

Inside Trump's psyche as Epstein rips MAGA apart

Last night both houses of Congress overwhelmingly voted to force the justice department to release the Epstein files. We could see the contents made public within days. But the vote itself, long resisted by Trump, has left the President looking weaker and more friendless amongst the MAGA base than he’s ever been. Is he starting to look like a lame duck President? And are Republicans imagining a MAGA world that comes after Trump? Or will they quickly revert to fealty? Later, the college professor in exile from America after being targeted by death threats for his academic work on Antifa.The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Nov 19, 202533 min

Trump's billion dollar battle with the BBC - what's at stake

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Donald Trump has told Fox News he has an "obligation" to sue the BBC - claiming the broadcaster "defrauded the public" in the way a Panorama episode misleadingly edited a clip of his January 6th speech.The dispute has made it on to Joe Rogan's podcast, and the BBC is being hauled into the 'fake news' category by MAGA commentators.How serious is President Trump in his threats? And could he bankrupt the BBC?Jon and Emily speak to Andrew Weissmann, law professor and former FBI general counsel.The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Nov 12, 202533 min

"Trump's worst nightmare": Mamdani wins New York

After a year in the wilderness for the Democrats, last nights electoral victories have given many a taste of winning again. Races in Democratic strongholds like New York, California, New Jersey and Virginia may not have been a shock - but the scale of the victories and the size of the turnouts has put a spring back into the step of those who’d given up hope.Today we discuss what Zohran Mamdani, Gavin Newsom, Abigail Spanberger and others are getting right. And whether it’s a useful predictor for what happens next?The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Nov 5, 202538 min

What would a Mamdani win mean for Trump's America?

A week out from the New York mayoral contest we speak to a good friend of Zohran Mamdani - journalist and broadcaster Ross Barkan. Does Mamdani represent a totally fresh start for the Democrats - or did he just get lucky with his opponents? And what lesson will the party take away if he’s victorious next week?The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Oct 28, 202536 min

Exclusive: George Santos on Trump's get out of jail free pass

Former Republican congressman George Santos was jailed for wire fraud and identity theft and began his 7 year sentence in the summer. On Friday, after a mere 87 days, it was commuted - by the president - and Santos walked free. Today he gives us the first UK interview since his commutation to explain his crimes, his appeal for clemency, and what it tells us about Trump's America in 2025.Later, what on earth is going on in the east wing of the White House?The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Oct 22, 202532 min

MAGA brands anti-Trump protestors 'American traitors'

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Saturday could see the largest mass demonstration in modern American history. The "No Kings" rallies across the country will see millions turn out to voice their discontent with Donald Trump and his administration's increasingly authoritarian actions. Robert De Niro is among those urging people to take to the streets, But senior MAGA figures are trying to discredit the whole thing before it's even started. They are describing it as a "Hate America" rally - demonstrators labelled "pro-Hamas", "Antifa", and "rabid". Will Donald Trump's base really buy that? Or should the White House be concerned about the swell of civil discontent? We speak to Bill McKibben, behind the group Third Path which is helping to organise the rallies. Later, Joe Rogan has condemned the way ICE is snatching an ever increasing number of people from the streets. Marjorie Taylor Greene has taken to CNN to criticise the lack of leadership on healthcare coming from her own party. When influential voices on the Right like those two are coming out rebuking the actions of the Trump administration, is that more likely to make him sit up and take notice?Visit our new website for more analysis and interviews from the team: https://www.thenewsagents.co.uk/ The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Oct 16, 202534 min

Trump puts his enemies on the stand

James Comey, former director of the FBI and Trump’s enemy number 1, has appeared in court this week to plead not guilty of lying to Congress. Trump has desperately sought his prosecution and said so out loud on numerous occasions. The President has struggled to find prosecutors who were even prepared to seek Comey's arrest. We talk to the FBIs former General Council, Andrew Weissmann, about the case for “vindictive prosecution“ and whether the justice system can survive Trumps overt politicisation. Later, who is JB Pritzker and why is he issuing a direct challenge to Trump?Visit our new website for more analysis and interviews from the team: https://www.thenewsagents.co.uk/ The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Oct 9, 202539 min

Trump wages war on the "enemy within"

On today’s episode, the jaw-dropping personal account from a former government employee whose life has been turned upside down by the US President. Miles Taylor finds himself the subject of an unprecedented executive order and faces accusations of "treason" from Donald Trump. His crime? Speaking out about the dangers he saw coming in the first administration. How did dissent become criminalised in America in 2025? And what is the message Trump is sending out to his military when he orders them to fight the 'enemy from within'?Later, Pete Hegseth on fat generals and ripping up the rules of war.The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Oct 1, 202534 min

Kimmel uncancelled: Is this a fight Trump can't win?

Late night comedian Jimmy Kimmel was taken off air “indefinitely" last week by his ABC bosses at a Disney. But last night he came back. And he had plenty to say. We analyse the show, the reaction from the audience - and Trump - and ask if comedians are showing us how to resist the silencing. Later, we talk to Congressman Hank Johnson about whether the fight back has begun in earnest.Visit our new website for more analysis and interviews from the team: https://www.thenewsagents.co.uk/ The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Sep 24, 202533 min

How Trump's free speech crackdown is angering the Right

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As more details emerge about the alleged killer of Charlie Kirk and more questions about his motivation, one thing is pretty clear - he is not obviously part of any "domestic terror network" of the kind Trump and his administration is now pursuing. Meanwhile, Tucker Carlson is going after the Attorney General for her threats to free (hate) speech. How did the administration get themselves into this mess?The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Sep 17, 202538 min

Are world leaders treating Trump like a useful idiot?

Donald Trump has told reporters (several times) that he is “ not thrilled “ by Benjamin Netanyahu's bombing of Hamas targets in Qatar. He’s told Netanyahu it’s “an unfortunate incident “. Just like he’s asked Putin nicely “not to bomb Ukraine“. When is Trump going to realise his words have little effect on either man? He’s failed to stop either war despite coming into office promising to stop them - is he proving once again he’s the TACO president? Is he actually scared of other strong men leaders?Later, we revisit the story Trump calls a “Democrat hoax “ - his relationship with Epstein now revealed in print form. We talk to the Republican strategist Doug Heye.The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Sep 10, 202533 min

Has RFK Jr declared a war on science?

Why has America's health secretary RFK Jr fired the head of America's public health body? He says she was taking the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in the wrong direction. She and her colleagues - who have resigned in protest - say they were uncomfortable following an anti-vax, anti-science direction of travel. Where will the MAHA project leave Americans? Will vaccines dry up? And does it even have Trump's support? We speak to Dr Mandy Cohen, who led the CDC until Trump's inauguration in January.Later, federal troops are coming onto Chicago's streets - a city described as a "hellhole" by the President despite having a lower murder rate than several cities governed by Republicans. Is Trump trying to create a private army under his control?The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Sep 3, 202539 min

Does America really "want a dictator"?

It's not the first time Donald Trump has overreached, but his latest assertion is that he has the right to do whatever he wants. Trump wants total control - of universities, the police and anyone he perceives to be a threat. He's 'fired' Lisa Cook, the first Black woman to serve on the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors. The FBI have raided John Bolton's home. Are there any signs anywhere of any checks on Trump? Or is America sliding towards a dictatorship? Later, we're joined by Patrick Gaspard - Obama’s 2008 national political director. He's the informal advisor to Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic Party’s nominee for New York mayor. Visit our new website for more analysis and interviews from the team: https://www.thenewsagents.co.uk/The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Aug 27, 202549 min

Do Dems have to sound like Trump to beat him?

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We start with the fallout from the unorthodox, perhaps undignifying diplomatic spectacle at the White House earlier this week. We are a million miles away from any peace deal in Ukraine, let alone any concrete shape of the 'security guarantees' Donald Trump has suggested may hypothetically be offered by the US in the event that Europe puts boots on the ground in Ukraine. And yet, already, prominent MAGA voices are coming forward to sound the alarm about American involvement in another foreign war. What do those warnings mean for how Donald Trump confronts the most pressing global crisis?Later, Gavin Newsom has clearly irritated the President - and Fox News - with his social media imitation of Donald Trump. He's started TWEETING IN ALL CAPS!! and thanking followers for their attention to this matter. It's a novel approach, and does appear to have boosted his personal ratings as speculation heightens that he's eyeing up the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028. Is it effective? Or is it just a bit cringey? And is he mocking Trump? Or imitating him?Get the latest news and analysis on our website: https://thenewsagents.co.ukThe News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Aug 20, 202533 min

Trump's Cultural Revolution: the dismantling of truth

Why is a Texas politician camped out in an undisclosed location, hiding from the FBI, and fearing that democracy is on the line? Jolanda Jones tells us about the extraordinary standoff taking place in her state.But first - what is Trump doing to crime figures, jobs numbers, museum archives and the Ivy League universities? A common theme is emerging - the President rewriting history like an authoritarian bored and irritated by fact. He’s been firing officials and replacing them with others who’ll massage the numbers in his favouring. He’s been threatening institutions and pressuring them to stump up cash. Is anyone confused by what the goal is here? Is Trump having to resort to make believe in his attempt to Make America Great Again?You can visit our website here https://www.thenewsagents.co.uk/ The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Aug 13, 202541 min

Why don't Americans trust Trump on Epstein?

Trump's inner circle are heading to the Vice President's residence for what was supposed to be a secret summit to discuss the administration's strategy regarding the Epstein crisis that has engulfed the President.Polling shows that the American public are increasingly convinced that Trump is hiding something, and CNN says his team are now weighing up whether to publish recordings of the interview with Ghislaine Maxwell and the deputy attorney general Todd Blanche.JD Vance has insisted the President has been "transparent" about Epstein, but Trump's recent actions suggest a man desperate to move the conversation on. He appeared on the White House roof in surreal scenes, shouting answers to the press about lavish plans to build a ballroom on the estate. And in Texas, his Republican allies are now pursuing Democrats resisting efforts to carve up the electoral map in the State -- with calls to get the FBI involved in tracking them down and forcing them back to the State legislature.What will it take for Donald Trump to get out of the political quagmire he has created - and which is now damaging his project?You can visit our website here https://www.thenewsagents.co.uk/ The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Aug 6, 202534 min

Why the Trump administration is not a reliable ally to Britain

On this week's episode of The News Agents USA Jon is joined in the studio by Jamie Raskin, a congressman and senior figure in the Democratic Party, who led the impeachment of Donald Trump after January 6th.In an exclusive interview he discusses the future of the democratic party, free speech, the relationship between Trump and the UK, his role in ousting Joe Biden as the party's nominee for President in 2024, and his recent spat with Nigel Farage.The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Jul 31, 202535 min

Will shutting down Congress kill the Trump-Epstein story?

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In an unprecedented move, Mike Johnson - the Speaker of the House has just shut Congress for the summer and sent legislators home early to stop them passing a bipartisan bill calling for the release of files on Jeffrey Epstein. Mike Johnson is scared of Donald Trump. But what is Donald Trump so scared of? And why can’t he make this Epstein story go away? We’re joined by the reporter that’s followed all the twists and turns of the Epstein saga, scandal and conspiracy - The Bulwark's Will Sommer. And we ask why the late night Steve Colbert show has been cancelled.The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Jul 23, 202533 min

The conspiracy theory Trump can't kill

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Does the Democratic Party need fresh blood? New ideas? Perhaps a whole new populist approach to politics? That’s the interview you’ll be hearing with Saikat Chakrabarti - the young tech millionaire hoping to unseat Nancy Pelosi next year who believes that the Dems are dead unless they seriously reinvent. But we begin with the problem that simply won’t go away for Trump. The Epstein files and how it’s splitting the MAGA base. What happens when you unleash a conspiracy theory on the world you just can’t shut down?The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Jul 16, 202539 min

How the Epstein files have turned MAGA against Trump

Donald Trump's cheerleaders and media outriders are apoplectic with his administration. After months of anticipation that the attorney general Pam Bondi would release an Epstein 'client list' - the names of wealthy individuals that the disgraced paedophile billionaire had blackmailed for influence - a joint DOJ and FBI memo this week dismissed the idea that any such list even existed. Not normally shy to answer questions, the President appeared apoplectic too, with a journalist who asked about his handling of the Epstein affair - all lending to the feeling that Trump is reeling from the wave of anger coming his way from him own base. How has a conspiracy become the breaking point between Trump and his cheerleaders? We discuss with Anna Merlan, senior reporter at Mother Jones and author of 'Republic of Lies'.Later, as armed officers swept through a park in LA in scenes that have been described as "disgraceful" and "dystopian" - is ICE now acting like a lawless militia?The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Jul 9, 202531 min

Will Trump's big beautiful bill bankrupt America?

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Trump squeaked his spending bill through the Senate last night with the casting vote of his VP. Three Senators voted against it. Many more had threatened to vote against it but were either won round or scared into it. Elon Musk says it will bankrupt America and wants to take the political fight to any vulnerable Senator who disagrees. Would he really start his own political party? And who would Republicans fear more if so - Trump or Musk? Later, would Trump have gone to jail if he hadn’t won the presidency? We speak to the lawyer at the side of special counsel Jack Smith today, Alex Whiting.The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Jul 2, 202538 min

Mamdani for Mayor? How a New York race reset the Democrats

Zohran Mamdani is just 33 years old. His victory over (tarnished) Democrat royalty Andrew Cuomo for the New York mayoral primaries is exciting a lot of younger folk. Is his pitch a potential blueprint for how democrats start to win again? Or was he just running against a terrible candidate? Later, strategist Doug Heye about how traditional republicans feel now about Trump's foreign policy.The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Jun 26, 202530 min

Can the federal government survive President Trump?

Michael Lewis, author of The Big Short and Who is Government, joins Emily in the studio to talk about whether American's have fallen out of love with their government, and what happens when you dismantle it? The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Jun 17, 202527 min

Steve Bannon on LA raids, Elon Musk and tax cuts for billionaires

As tensions in LA spills out, President Trump is sending the armed forces onto the streets of the city. It's against the wishes of California's governor, who has warned that "democracy is under assault". Jon an Emily are joined by the architect of Trump's 2016 victory and host of host of the War Rooms, Steve Bannon.Is Trump enacting the mass deportation he promised? Or is he manufacturing a crisis that will allow him to access more emergency - executive power? Later, should Elon Musk be deported? Should Trump be giving tax cuts to billionaires? And which British politicians is he watching most closely? The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Jun 11, 202538 min

Trump's Big, Beautiful, Disgusting Abomination (Bill)

For months, Donald Trump has been heralding his "Big, Beautiful" spending bill - a key piece of his agenda, containing tax cuts for the rich and benefits cuts for the vulnerable. It will also add trillions to America's debt - to the point that some are now sounding the alarm, warning of a "debt bomb" about to hit the US economy. What the White House didn't bet on was that one of those leading critics would be Elon Musk - who's turned fire on his former boss in spectacular fashion, calling the legislation a "disgusting abomination" and ominously warning Senators that voters will fire those politicians who "betray America". Will his words spook Republicans into defying Donald Trump? And how will the President react to Musk's missives?Later, we speak to Evan Osnos, New Yorker writer and author of new book 'The Haves and Have-Yachts: Dispatches on the Ultrarich". It's a firsthand insight into the lives of America's new oligarchy now running America - what does it tell us about the forces driving voters and how can the Democrats respond? The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Jun 4, 202537 min

Why does Trump want to tear down Harvard?

Not content with demanding government oversight of Harvard's teaching and appointments, Donald Trump has directed his government to cease all federal funding of America's most prestigious university. And in a wider blow to academia, US embassies around the world have been ordered to suspend scheduling appointments for student visas. Social media vetting will be stepped up for those hoping to step foot on an American campus. Why is Donald Trump so fixated on the higher education institutions that have made the US world leaders in so many sectors? We speak to one Harvard scholar who is leading the calls for his university not to cave in to the pressure.Later, as Trump accuses Putin of "playing with fire", could he finally be serious about slapping tough new sanctions on Russia? And what does America's intelligence community make of the way he's conducting himself on the world stage?The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

May 28, 202539 min

Joe Biden and the cancer cover-up conspiracy

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Gone are the days when a presidential cancer diagnosis would be greeted with kind words and warm wishes. It took less than 24 hours for the White House administration to try and turn the illness into the latest smoking gun on what Biden had or hadn’t told the public whilst he was president. But should the Democrats take some blame for what’s happening now? We talk to the former Biden policy adviser Jamie Ruben. Later, where is Trump now on Israel and Russia - and what’s going on with James Comey and those sea shells?Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:https://linktr.ee/thenewsagentsThe News Agents now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agentsThe News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

May 20, 202538 min