The News Agents

Epizode

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  Will the racism in Reform topple Nigel Farage? 16.10.2026 37min

  The day he was elected for the first time as MP for Clacton, Nigel Farage promised to root out the "few bad apples" from Reform. Farage told the country: "We’ll never have any of their type back in the organisation, you can have my promise on that”.ITV's latest piece undercover in Reform shows just how hollow that promise was. Their own MP Sarah Pochin condemns the "chauvinist" attitude in the party. A man who failed Reform's vetting for sharing Tommy Robinson posts reveals he was called up and asked to stand for the party. And, perhaps most damningly, Farage appears to defend a candidate accused of racism by one of Farage's own aides, refusing to take action beyond forcing an apology to be issued.Does ITV's reporting put to bed the idea that there are just a "few bad apples" in Reform? What about Reform appears to attract these "bad apples" in the first place? And could Nigel Farage get caught up in the fallout from what looks set to be a bombshell documentary this weekend?The News Agents is a Global Production.The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/
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  Why can't footballers stop using Snus? - The Sports Agents 15.10.2026 42min

  Manchester United’s Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid has left plenty to unpack — not least Lisandro Martinez’s explosive post-match comments. Mark Chapman and Nedum Onuoha react to the biggest talking points from another dramatic week in Europe.Then, we turn to something far less visible but increasingly common inside football: Snus and nicotine pouch use.Why has nicotine become so normal in dressing rooms? Why are players using it, and what happens when a habit that starts socially becomes something much harder to control?We hear from a former Premier League footballer speaking candidly about his own addiction to snus, explore how these behaviours spread through teams and academies, and ask whether snus is really the story — or simply one symptom of a much wider issue.From nicotine and gambling to nitrous oxide and the search for a release from the intensity of elite sport, this is a conversation about what happens away from the pitch — the dressing room culture which fuels addiction amongst footballers.📩 Got a question for The Sports Agents? https://forms.gle/9SBbW1SYWqXLKnRT7🖥️ Watch our full episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SportsAgentsPod📱Follow us on socials:TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@thesportsagentsInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/thesportsagents/X - https://x.com/sportsagentspod📥 Email: [email protected]💭 Take our listener survey: https://forms.gle/YMUvajQktqBuimgh6Executive Producer: Adonis PratsidesSenior Producer: David FinchVideo Producer: Sam TrudgillSocial Media Editor: Jasmine WissartTom Hughes is Editor for The News Agents podcast networkVicky Etchells is the Commissioning Editor for GlobalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The Sports Agents".👕 The Sports Agents have merch! You can buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-sports-agents
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  Racism, misogyny, Islamophobia - Is this the real Reform? 15.10.2026 38min

  ITV spent a year undercover with various elements of the Reform party. Last night, they published a taste of what is to come in the full programme this Sunday. The misogyny, racism, bigotry and stupidity is off the charts. Three councillors have resigned. Are they outliers? Or do they tell us what the party is really like? And is the Chairman right when he says this is just what ordinary Britain sounds like away from the cameras? We speak to former Reform insider Tim Montgomerie.The News Agents is a Global Production.The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/
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  Why is Elon Musk sabotaging Ukraine? 14.10.2026 31min

  Just days after Donald Trump signed a deal with Vladimir Putin to import Russian oil into America, Ukraine has been dealt a new blow from the US. Elon Musk has been accused of restricting the use of his Starlink devices - crucial satellites used by Ukraine in their war against the Kremlin. Why does it appear that MAGA seems intent on throwing the war for Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and, as Andy Burnham hosts Ukraine's president in Downing Street - is there anything he can do to repair the damage? We speak to Trump's former Special Representative for Negotiations with Ukraine, Kurt Volker.Later, the Prime Minister has insisted he won't do any deal with the Greens while their 'Zionism is racism' motion remains party policy. Does he really mean what he says?The News Agents is a Global Production.The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/
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  Why won't the Tories stop flogging Brexit? 13.10.2026 42min

  Andy Burnham seems set on bringing the UK closer to the EU. How much closer still isn't clear - but some in Labour are now talking up the possibility of reversing Brexit entirely. Some Red Wall MPs aren't happy with that, but if Downing Street is serious about getting some growth into the economy, wouldn't it be one of the obvious levers to pull? And given, as the PM says, the public has moved more quickly than Parliament on Brexit - why are the Tories digging in on never going back? We speak to Kemi Badenoch's PPS John Glen.Later, Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar's house was raided by US federal agents, just three weeks ahead of crucial midterm elections. The DOJ says it's part of a federal criminal investigation - but is it simply an abuse of power intended to swing vote back to the Republicans?The News Agents is a Global Production.The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/
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  Has Putin made Trump look like an idiot again? 12.10.2026 37min

  Donald Trump knows who his friends are and who his enemies are. And in 2026, with midterm elections just days away, Trump has decide his friend is Putin and his job is to lift sanctions to buy Russian oil - enriching the Kremlin in the process. He’s hoping it will bring down the price of diesel to convince consumers to vote for his party in the elections. But it’s a move that smacks of cowardice and in any case comes too late to change the price at the pumps. Meanwhile here we are grappling with the cost of Trump's war in Iran as we head into our own budget . We ask Helen Miller of the IFS what levers she’d pull to change the country’s fortunes.The News Agents is a Global Production.The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/
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  Polanski's by-election crash out - is he finished? 09.10.2026 38min

  For Polanski, this was supposed to be a defining moment. He chose to put his own leadership on the line in the seat vacated by Keir Starmer. Instead, Labour’s Sagal Abdi-Wali won with 45% of the vote. With questions over the Greens’ economic offer, internal divisions and the fallout from their controversial conference motion on Zionism, is this the moment Polanski’s movement meets the limits of its appeal? And what is the future of the party now?The News Agents is a Global Production.The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/
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  Premier League vs Man City | Nedum Onuoha: It feels like 'The End' - The Sports Agents 08.10.2026 43min

  After the boardroom drama of the last fortnight the Premier League is back and focus shifts to Manchester City’s players who face the court of public opinion for the first time since the guilty verdicts vs Liverpool at Anfield.It’s going to be a bear pit and, as Liverpool await, lifelong City fan Nedum Onuoha opens up for the first time about how the Manchester City financial case has changed his relationship with the club.He joins Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman to explore the pressure facing City’s players and your ideas for making Premier League spending rules fairer.Plus: Manchester United v Tottenham — already a must-win? And what is going on with Cristiano Ronaldo after he accuses his Portugal manager of broken promises while insisting his international career isn’t over.📩 Got a question for The Sports Agents? https://forms.gle/9SBbW1SYWqXLKnRT7🖥️ Watch our full episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SportsAgentsPod📱Follow us on socials:TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@thesportsagentsInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/thesportsagents/X - https://x.com/sportsagentspod📥 Email: [email protected]💭 Take our listener survey: https://forms.gle/YMUvajQktqBuimgh6Executive Producer: Adonis PratsidesSenior Producer: David FinchVideo Producer: Sam TrudgillSocial Media Editor: Jasmine WissartTom Hughes is Editor for The News Agents podcast networkVicky Etchells is the Commissioning Editor for GlobalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The Sports Agents".👕 The Sports Agents have merch! You can buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-sports-agents
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  Did Trump just lose it in Texas? 08.10.2026 49min

  Donald Trump’s latest campaign rally for the midterms was beset with hecklers as the president urged Texans to vote Republican.It was his third trip to the traditionally ruby red state this month alone. He made some characteristically inaccurate statements on stage, including calling Democratic senate candidate James Talarico a "christian who hates christianity", who also believes God is "transgender".So is Trump in panic-mode ahead of next months election? Jon and Lewis ask whether the President is starting to unravel as the polls turn against him across the country.Later, Emily speaks with Evan Gershkovich, the American journalist who spent 16 months in a Russian jail.The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/
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  Has Kemi decided Reform are a bunch of racists? 07.10.2026 36min

  Kemi Badenoch's speech to the Tory party conference was much trailed for its tax cuts and its economic adventurism. What was not expected, however, was the manner in which she would choose to sock it to Reform. Drawing on her own family experiences, she called out the ethno-nationalism of the parties on her right, swearing she would not “unite with THAT”. This on the same day the Reform party - marking its own homework - declared no wrongdoing over the polling scandal exposed by Channel 4 News and Verbatim. Is Kemi winning new friends? Or is the party still deluded about its popularity?The News Agents is a Global Production.The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/
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  How a ketamine-fuelled gang rape case divided America 06.10.2026 37min

  How did a woman who consented to sex with one man end up being allegedly raped by seven? Why was her 'availability' shared on a frat house Snapchat group? And what do newly released phone transcripts tell us about what went on in the subsequent weeks? We delve into the horrifying Cornell University rape case that has divided America and ask how Trump has, once again, decided where the nation’s sympathy should lie.Later, why is it all kicking off on the streets of France and Spain? Student protests have created violent clashes with police. And the Spanish demands for better housing have led to a snap election. What is it all about?The News Agents is a Global Production.The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/
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  Have the Greens just voted for a de facto ban on Jews? 05.10.2026 42min

  The Greens have become the first UK political party to call for a one state solution in Israel - and passed a motion asserting that "Zionism is fundamentally incompatible with anti racist principles, equality and justice". The conference in Brighton voted to "support the establishment of a single democratic Palestinian state" - but rejected an amendment which would have clarified that the motion would "not be used to pressure, proscribe or discipline members based on affiliation with Jewish community institutions, such as synagogues... that describe themselves as Zionist".Why have they gone further than Palestinian leaders? Are British Jews who attend synagogues now seen by the party as "racist"? And why are Greens singling out the one Jewish state - without asking equal questions of the legitimacy of the establishment of others?Jon and Emily speak to Guardian columnist and Unholy podcast co-host Jonathan Freedland.The News Agents is a Global Production.The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/
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  Special Report: Has Zack Polanski peaked? 02.10.2026 1h 2min

  The Green party has growing pains. Its conference in Brighton this year is bustling - even despite members being urged to spend their time campaigning in Holborn and St Pancras this weekend. There's a big media presence. And there's a lot to celebrate; not least the local election results and that pivotal Gorton and Denton by-election win earlier this year.But that's only one side of the picture. Zack Polanski's approval rating has plummeted. Stories about his tax affairs and CV have dogged the Greens for many months. Andy Burnham has turned the Labour ship around. And a motion at this conference, that 'Zionism is Racism', has dominated the coverage as the party headed down to Brighton. Even the party's former leader has criticised the motion, warning that it could be seen "as a sign that Jewish people aren’t welcome in the party."So how do the Greens and Zack Polanski regain that sense of momentum? How can they reclaim the sense of insurgency that saw them inflicting such serious damage to Keir Starmer just a few short months ago? Or has the Green bubble simply burst?Lewis and Jon have this special report from Green party conference in Brighton.The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/
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  Is Man City case keeping Andy Burnham awake? - The Sports Agents 01.10.2026 32min

  The Manchester City case has become a political story.As calls grow for City’s owners to be removed, Prime Minister Andy Burnham says he would be sorry to see them go.Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman are joined by Telegraph sports writer Owen Slot and The News Agents’ Jon Sopel to examine the latest fallout, what happens next for Manchester City — and what the case now means for the Premier League, its owners and the British government.📩 Got a question for The Sports Agents? https://forms.gle/9SBbW1SYWqXLKnRT7🖥️ Watch our full episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SportsAgentsPod📱Follow us on socials:TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@thesportsagentsInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/thesportsagents/X - https://x.com/sportsagentspod📥 Email: [email protected]💭 Take our listener survey: https://forms.gle/YMUvajQktqBuimgh6Executive Producer: Adonis PratsidesSenior Producer: David FinchVideo Producer: Daniel AihieSocial Media Editor: Jasmine WissartTom Hughes is Editor for The News Agents podcast networkVicky Etchells is the Commissioning Editor for GlobalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The Sports Agents".👕 The Sports Agents have merch! You can buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-sports-agents
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  WTF went on at RAF Fairford? 01.10.2026 53min

  It's still not clear what happened at Fairford in the early hours of Sunday morning. Or why the five suspects arrested in connection with the incident were released on bail - a move even Donald Trump has criticised. But it is increasingly clear that Iran was involved. The News Agents sat down with the Head of Counter Terrorism Policing, Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, for an exclusive interview about the growing threat posed by Iran on British soil, the rise of extremism and foreign-sponsored terror on our streets, and whether Palestine Action should have been proscribed as a terrorist organisation.And later, after the botched execution of Christa Pike in Tennessee, can the death penalty ever be justified?The News Agents is a Global Production.The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/
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  Andy Burnham’s dirty political secret 30.09.2026 41min

  How much does it cost to top the Premier League? A secret £830 million, it seems. Manchester City, and its billionaire Abu Dhabi owners, have been found guilty of a scheme to hide millions pumped into the club, breaking UK spending rules – and possibly a few laws too. It's a problem that kicked off in the beautiful game, but is landing now in politics.In Burnham's celebrated first speech at the Labour Party conference as leader he spoke against big corporations trampling on the average person. So will he stand with his city's big investors, or with those who feel wronged by Man City's financial actions? And how much is his legacy as Greater Manchester Mayor now tarnished by accusations of dirty money?The News Agents is a Global Production.The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/
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  Did Andy Burnham just deliver one of the great political speeches? 29.09.2026 33min

  Andy Burnham promised a speech of substance and he was true to his word. Big announcements on social care, the triple lock, electoral reform, the water industry, the EU - all tied together in a deeply emotional and passionate speech about his vision for Britain.If anyone in Labour had any lingering doubts about toppling Keir Starmer, Burnham put those to bed in an hour and ten minutes on stage in Liverpool. Will it be enough to save Labour? Has his pledge to end the triple lock to fund social care become a stick to beat him with? Has he delivered on the promise to bring back hope?Later, we speak to Scotland Secretary Douglas Alexander - who has written conference speeches since 1991 - on where Burnham's efforts ranked.The News Agents is a Global Production.The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/
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  Burnham’s first conference - is there really hope again? 28.09.2026 35min

  There's a surprising buoyancy at Labour conference this year. For all the warnings of the grim economic backdrop and the myriad challenges facing Andy Burnham, his message of 'Hope Again' does seem to have registered, at least with the party faithful at Liverpool.But John Healey couldn't really sell sunlit uplands in his speech today - he was at pains to point out that this is NOT the 1990s. And a potential diesel export ban from Donald Trump could make things a whole lot bleaker. Can Burnham sail through this conference on vibes?And if his government is so keen on growing the economy, why can't they say where they stand on another runway at Heathrow? We speak to Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander.The News Agents is a Global Production.The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/
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  How the Royal family gets away with it 25.09.2026 36min

  What if King Charles did tell Earl Spencer that "we’ll forget [Diana] soon enough" in the days after her death? It's one word against another but the public discourse seems pretty settled - that Diana's brother is at best misremembering, at worst lying.How much has the Palace spin team forged that narrative? If you read the Palace statement closely, you'll notice that it never outright denies the claim, even if it does point out that "the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason"."Never complain, never explain" is the motto associated with the Buckingham Palace media strategy. But they do complain. And they do explain - just not often publicly.Andrew Lownie's bombshell biography of Andrew Moutbatten-Windsor - 'Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York' - shone a light on Andrew's relationship with Epstein before the release of the Epstein files. He has reported on and written about the Firm for years, but - unlike much of the Royal rota - they would much rather he didn't.In the week where the Royals find themselves dragged into yet another scandal, he sat down with Lewis to explore how the press operation around the King works, why he believes Spencer, and what Andrew thinks now.The News Agents is a Global Production.The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/
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  Andy Murray, Andre Agassi, Arthur Fery: Laver Cup All-Access Pass | The Sports Agents - The Sports Agents 24.09.2026 48min

  The Sports Agents are at the Laver Cup 2026 in London for a special episode with three generations of tennis stars.Andy Murray joins Gabby Logan for a wide-ranging conversation about life after tennis, the intensity of competing at the very top, and how his relationship with the game has changed.Murray is joined by one of the biggest names in the history of the sport, Andre Agassi, who reflects on rivalry, pressure, longevity and what it takes to survive at the highest level.And with Wimbledon Semi-Finalist Arthur Fery also joining the show, we look ahead to the next generation trying to make their mark.From two Grand Slam greats to one of Britain’s emerging talents, this is tennis past, present and future at the Laver Cup.Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 1:32 Andre Agassi 16:28 Arthur Fery 26:30 Andy Murray📩 Got a question for The Sports Agents? https://forms.gle/9SBbW1SYWqXLKnRT7🖥️ Watch our full episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SportsAgentsPod📱Follow us on socials:TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@thesportsagentsInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/thesportsagents/X - https://x.com/sportsagentspod📥 Email: [email protected]💭 Take our listener survey: https://forms.gle/YMUvajQktqBuimgh6Executive Producer: Adonis PratsidesSenior Producer: David FinchVideo Producer: Sam TrudgillSocial Media Editor: Jasmine WissartTom Hughes is Editor for The News Agents podcast networkVicky Etchells is the Commissioning Editor for GlobalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The Sports Agents".👕 The Sports Agents have merch! You can buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-sports-agents