Shows / The News Agents
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…
Episodes
- The News Agents
Would Jason Arday still be alive if he were white?
It's nearly a week on from the death of Jason Arday, the Cambridge professor who came under scrutiny after allegations of plagiarism were levelled against him…
- The News Agents
Are data centres going to crash the world economy?
Borrowing costs have hit new highs in some of the world's biggest economies. While Trump's war with Iran is behind some of rise, it's the AI effect that is…
- The News Agents
Has Trump fallen in love with his 'human printer'?
A leading Democrat was mid stump speech which he suddenly sent the crowd wild. It wasn’t his mention of Trump's failed Iran war. It wasn't an attack on his…
- The News Agents
The Hounding of Jason Arday
The chancellor of Cambridge University today has condemned the "racist feeding frenzy" around Jason Arday. Arday was found dead on Friday after a relentless…
- The News Agents
Farage beats the bin - so why are Reform MPs livid?
The people of Clacton will be relieved it’s over, but one candidate was conspicuously absent from the proceedings last night: Nigel Farage. He and his team…
The News AgentsIs English Cricket failing the REAL test? - The Sports Agents
The England Men’s test cricket team are in a hole. After a spectacular collapse at home to New Zealand which saw the end of Stokes, McCullum and the ‘Bazball’…
- The News Agents
Why is Reform threatening to jail the boss of Vodafone?
Not content with calling a former Defence Secretary a "traitor" and getting a ticking off from Nigel Farage, Zia Yusuf has outdone himself today. He's accused…
- The News Agents
Are Israeli settlers out of control in the West Bank?
"The West Bank is at breaking point" - the words of a top UN official at a Security Council meeting in New York last night. Settler violence has been ramping…
- The News Agents
The 'traitor' row tearing Reform apart
It turns out running a poll to ask Twitter whether Ben Wallace should be prosecuted for treason is perhaps not savvy politics. Zia Yusuf. the Reform home…
- The News Agents
Why does a leading Democrat want to cancel Thanksgiving?
Is the Democratic party fundamentally metamorphosing? After Abdul El-Sayed's victory in Michigan last week, attention is turning to another big test for the…
- The News Agents
What can Harold Wilson teach Andy Burnham?
A northern leader. A sudden change at the top. A cost of living crisis engulfing the country. A Labour party accused of tacking left. Not Andy Burnham in 2026…
- The News Agents
The toughest EFL Championship season ever? - The Sports Agents
Who does football really belong to? After the highest grossing world cup of all time, and as FIFA & UEFA accuse each other of selling football’s soul, Gabby…
- The News Agents
Why is Nigel Farage “too woke” for Kemi Badenoch?
24 hours on from the Tory neo-Nazigate , a curious development. The candidate himself, Joshua Bonehill-Paine, has now withdrawn from the election in Somerset…
- The News Agents
What was Kemi Badenoch thinking defending a convicted neo-Nazi?
UPDATE: Since publishing, the convicted antisemite Joshua Bonehill-Paine has withdrawn running as a Tory candidate, saying that if he carried on "other…
- The News Agents
How Spain's migrant crisis is emboldening the hard right
Why are hard right politicians now flocking to the tiny Spanish enclave of Ceuta off the coast of Morocco? And why is Europe so spooked? After tens of…
- The News Agents
Will Farage and Lowe team up or tear each other apart?
Nigel hates Rupert but needs him and Rupert wants Nigel to beg. Could Restore and Reform ever do a deal to take on the newly invigorated Labour party? Or is…
- The News Agents
Is a financial collapse coming worse than the Wall St crash?
Andy Burnham hasn't even been Prime Minister for two weeks, but the early verdict is positive. He's looked decisive, commanded the agenda and projected…
- The News Agents
Eddie Howe quits Newcastle... Why now? - The Sports Agents
As Eddie Howe dramatically quits Newcastle 3 weeks before the start of a new Premier League season, Mark Chapman & guests unpack the financial meltdown which…
- The News Agents
Why is MAGA trying to jail America's top doctor?
Dr Anthony Fauci became a world-renowned figure during Covid - one of America's top virologists with a lifetime of public service to his name. And yet, in a…
- The News Agents
Is Andy Burnham betting his premiership on fixing social care?
Andy Burnham has set out plans to fix England’s struggling social care system - promising a new National Care Service, cross-party talks and a review designed…
- The News Agents
Should Polanski be arrested for his Farage Insta post?
Reform UK has referred Green party leader Zack Polanski to the police for "inciting murder" after a post he shared on social media. The image, shared and then…
- The News Agents
Burnham's best mate on what the PM does now
It's hard to think of a political alliance as tightly bonded as Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram. Both northern MPs who vacated Westminster to lead their…
- The News Agents
Could Andy Burnham be the most important PM since Thatcher?
There's been a flurry of policy announcements in Andy Burnham's first week as PM - but there is something more significant in the words he has been using to…
- The News Agents
Are Farage and Polanski already yesterday's men?
Whisper it quietly - but are we witnessing the strange rebirth of good, old-fashioned two party politics? Andy Burnham and Kemi Badenoch are now the only party…
- The News Agents
Xavi Simons: TRUTH about Barcelona, the original WONDERKID & Why Spurs feel different - The Sports Agents
Spurs & Netherlands star Xavi Simons sits down with Gabby for an exclusive, in depth interview. As he recovers from the ACL injury which robbed him of a place…
- The News Agents
HackGPT: How AI escaped the lab and went rogue
Have we just crossed the AI Rubicon? OpenAI has revealed that one of its models was involved in an "unprecedented cyber incident". One of its AI programs…
- The News Agents
Burnham's bloodbath of the Starmerites
Andy Burnham has gathered his cabinet, with several prominent Starmer allies shown the door and Burnham loyalists taking their place around the table. The cost…
- The News Agents
Prime Minister Burnham - Labour's last hope?
This week started like so many others - with a brand new British Prime Minister. At least Andy Burnham had the grace to acknowledge the speed with which this…
- The News Agents
Why Starmer failed - and what Burnham needs to get right
On the day that Keir Starmer prepares to hand over the reins to the King of the North, Westminster is still reeling from the murder of Ann Widdecombe. This…
- The News Agents
Did Thomas Tuchel cost England a World Cup Final? - The Sports Agents
With Gabby & Mark being shuttled around the USA (first class), Nedum Onuoha takes the reins of today’s show alongside football writer Julien Laurens and it’s…
- The News Agents
Will Argentina be punished for their Falklands stunt?
The last minute defeat by Argentina was a hard cross to bear if you’re an England fan. But what happened afterwards propelled the game into a whole different…
- The News Agents
Starmer hands the torch to Burnham - does he have a plan?
There were tears, there was gags, there were plenty of World Cup references. Keir Starmer's final PMQs had something of the last day of school about it as he…
- The News Agents
Gary Lineker on the most toxic rivalry on Earth
Maradonna's 'Hand of God'. The Falklands war. The Beckham hissy fit. The religion of Messi. The backdrop to tomorrow's World Cup semi-final is steeped in…
- The News Agents
Was Ann Widdecombe the victim of a political assassination?
The murder of Ann Widdecombe has sent shockwaves through Westminster and beyond. News came today that counter terror police have now taken over the…
- The News Agents
Bridget Phillipson: "Spiteful class warrior" and proud
Recently, the Tory leader, Kemi Badenoch, has seemed particularly exercised by one woman on Labour's front bench. Yes, Bridget Phillipson, the Education…
- The News Agents
The day Infantino & Trump BROKE the World Cup - The Sports Agents
Can Gianni Infantino survive his friendship with Donald Trump? The presidents of both FIFA and the USA have been busy this week ensuring that USA could field…
- The News Agents
Is Nigel Farage's career unravelling before our eyes?
The bad news isn't stopping for Reform and Nigel Farage. He's facing fresh questions about the timeline surrounding the £5m gift from a crypto billionaire. The…
- The News Agents
Farage vs Binface: How Nigel humiliated himself
Within hours of the Farage resignation statement all the main parties made it clear they would not be fighting his by-election and called the whole attempt a…
- The News Agents
The temper tantrum that triggered Farage's by-election
Nigel Farage says he's "never been angrier in his life". He's accusing the media of intimidating his family. He's claimed standards are being weaponised to go…
- The News Agents
Has Trump just trashed his own World Cup?
Jon has woken up in Mexico City with a fever dream about an epic England win and a football shirt covered in beer and tequila. Elsewhere the game doesn’t feel…
- The News Agents
Why everything you feared about Trump is true
It feels different this time around. Donald Trump's second term is more ferocious, more feral, more imperial. There are two chroniclers of the Court of Trump…
- The News Agents
What makes Mexico 'INVINCIBLE' at the Azteca & Maresca's Man City - The Sports Agents
After Harry Kane got them out of jail against DR Congo, Nedum believes this is the start of a glorious run for England at the FIFA World Cup. It’s Mexico next…
- The News Agents
Why can’t Nigel Farage be clear about his finances?
Nigel Farage has become the face of Direct Bullion. Not a surprise to those of you buying gold, perhaps, but it probably is to those who don’t. And it earned…
- The News Agents
Is Starmer trying to screw Burnham before he even starts?
Everyone understands the need to leave on a high - whether it’s Prime Ministerial legacy or a sense of completing the job. But the new defence investment plan…
- The News Agents
Exclusive: The whistleblower silenced by Facebook hits back
How do you interview someone who’s been gagged? That’s the task we set ourselves on today’s episode. Sarah Wynn-Williams - a former Facebook executive turned…
- The News Agents
Can Andy Burnham's revolution fix Britain?
Andy Burnham has made his first prime ministerial speech to the nation, even though he’s not yet PM. He spoke of the need for a "circuit break". Handing power…
- The News Agents
Q&A special: Burnham's coup, his future cabinet and "duplicitous" colleagues
On the week of Keir Starmer's resignation as Prime Minister, Jon and Lewis host a special Q&A edition of The News Agents, answering the questions you have…
- The News Agents
How Pochettino convinced USA they can win the World Cup - The Sports Agents
After Scotland’s humbling at the hands of Brazil, Mark has his say on FIFA’s “crap way to qualify for the knockout stages of a World Cup”... Former USMNT…
- The News Agents
How will Burnham deal with Trump?
Overnight, President Trump offered his first slither of a thought on the incoming prime minister Andy Burnham, calling him “extremely liberal" and a mayor of a…
- The News Agents
Is Kemi Badenoch too brutal for her own good?
Kemi Badenoch looked like - not for the first time - she was going to make the Chancellor cry in the Commons today. She accused her of treachery and betrayal…
- The News Agents
What will Burnham's Britain actually look like?
You’re going to hear from a staunch Burnham ally today - a blunt speaking man at the heart of his last leadership campaign - and an MP who recently lost the…
- The News Agents
Starmer resigns - is Burnham unstoppable?
And just like that, Keir Starmer became the sixth British prime minister to resign in ten years - triggering a leadership contest it’s increasingly likely no…
- The News Agents
Burnham batters Reform - next stop Number 10?
Overnight in Makerfield, Andy Burnham showed how to win more than fifty percent of the vote on the Labour ticket. It was political smack for his party. A…
- The News Agents
Why is Trump now handing over billions to Iran?
Once you’ve listened to Trumps friends slag off his deal with Iran , you can’t help wondering what his critics will say. In one fell swoop, Trump has lifted…
- The News Agents
Are Tuchel's England the 'Entertainers' now? - The Sports Agents
England are used to a winning start in tournaments... but are we used to it being this... FUN? The 3 Lions beat Croatia 4-2 in their World Cup opener and…
- The News Agents
Special Report: How the Makerfield by-election could change everything
Whatever happens in Makerfield in the next 24 hours, the outcome will be momentous. If Andy Burnham wins, we could see him challenge Keir Starmer for Prime…
- The News Agents
How political violence and conspiracy became mainstream in Britain
10 years on from the murder of MP Jo Cox, there is a grim warning from her sister Kim Leadbeater: the atmosphere in politics now is "probably worse"…
- The News Agents
Will Starmer's social media ban for kids really happen?
In what feels like one of the few genuinely radical decisions of his premiership, Keir Starmer has announced an almost complete ban on social media for the…
- The News Agents
Starmer in shambles: Can he last the week?
Armed Forces minister Al Carns and a couple of junior frontbenchers followed the Defence Secretary John Healey in resigning from government last night…
- The News Agents
Is John Healey’s resignation a fatal blow for Keir Starmer?
Around lunch time today, as The News Agents were battling their own excitement in the shape of a fire drill, the Defence Secretary suddenly resigned without…