The News Agents

“Violent gangs", "bloodthirsty criminals", "roving gangs of wild youths", "drugged out maniacs". These may sounds like scenes from a Charles Dickens novel, but they are the words used by Donald Trump to describe Washington DC, as he announced he was sending the National Guard in to the capital.

As recently as May, President Trump was proclaiming a sharp drop in crime in the city. Indeed, the official statistics suggest DC has made significant improvements in safety in the past couple of years. So why is he declaring a war on crime, and taking such drastic action, when the evidence doesn't back him up?

Later, a dispatch from Lewis in Las Vegas - already hit by a drop in tourism, and now seeing the effects of AI, which has already started to transform the town. Is it a sign of things to come for us all? And, if so, should we be scared?

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In just a few days time, Vladimir Putin is set to set foot on American soil for the first time in a decade. He's been invited to Alaska by Donald Trump, a man desperate to claim that he has brought the conflict in Ukraine to an end.

There is just one problem with that. Putin hasn't offered any significant concessions, and Ukraine and its allies are demanding that no Ukrainian territory seized by Russian soldiers during the war is given up - a red line it looks like Trump is set to ignore. Ukraine's President Zelenksyy, as it stands, isn't even invited to take part in the talks. It all lends itself to the perception that Putin is going to play Trump - and then paint Zelenskyy as the obstacle to peace. Will Trump buy it?

Later, Jon speaks to a man who knows Putin well. Mikhail Kasyanov was Russia's Prime Minister under President Putin in the early 2000s. He tried to run against Putin, became a target of the regime, and has become an outspoken critic of the Kremlin in exile. He explains why he believes that Alaska summit is destined for failure - and Trump should cancel it.

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

This Friday, Jon and Lewis are back with more of your questions. Would the markets take fright at a Jeremy Corbyn or Nigel Farage premiership like they did with Liz Truss? Is the media biased towards Reform over the Lib Dems? And could we ever see Benjamin Netanyahu arrested?

Later - it may feel like we are living in a uniquely settled world, but was there ever a time in the past century where things actually felt any calmer?

You can visit our website here https://www.thenewsagents.co.uk/

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

The Championship kicks off this weekend but Sheffield Wednesday players and staff are still waiting to be paid. For the inside story of how the club fell apart, Mark is joined by Chris Powell, the assistant coach who left a few weeks ago. And it's not just Sheffield who are struggling - so who's next and how do we keep finding ourselves here? (02:00)

Plus, we look back at this week's shows where we asked... Is Isak to Liverpool the last transfer saga? And should cricket ditch The Hundred? (18:30)

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Executive Producer: Adonis Pratsides

Producer: Sophie Penney

Video Producer: Sam Trudgill

Social Media Editor: Calum Scotland

Guest Booker: Kirsty Giddings

Tom Hughes is Editor for The News Agents podcast network

Vicky Etchells is the Commissioning Editor for Global

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Labour's homelessness minister is facing fury from her own side and calls to resign - not for her track record in government but her track record as a landlord. Rushnara Ali, the MP for Bethnal Green and Stepney, rented out a four-bedroom townhouse in east London, and the tenants have gone to the press to complain about their treatment. One told the I newspaper that they received an email saying that the lease on their tenancy would not be renewed as Ms Ali was looking to sell the property - and yet just weeks after they left, they found that the house back on the rental market at nearly £700 a month more.

To make matters worse, this practice is set to be banned under legislation being introduced by this government. The Tories are suggesting that she exploited her tenants and are accusing her of staggering hypocrisy. Can she survive? And how damaging is this for the government? Lewis speaks to the I's housing correspondent Vicky Spratt, who broke the story, and LBC's political correspondent Aggie Chambre.

Later - will the much-anticipated meeting between Presidents Trump and Putin actually happen? And what would it mean for Ukraine? Mark Urban, host of the Crisis Room podcast, reads the runes.

You can visit our website here https://www.thenewsagents.co.uk/

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

Thousands of people have gathered in Hiroshima - including representatives from 120 countries - to come together with a renewed call for nuclear disarmament.

America's use of the atom bomb on the Japanese city, followed by Nagasaki a few days later, remains the only time in human history that nuclear weapons have been deployed in armed conflict.

To some, it was a decisive turning point in WW2 - the moment where the Axis powers realised they were destined for defeat. But to others, including Jeremy Corbyn, the attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki were crimes against humanity. Could both things be true?

And why has the long shadow of the second world war made it so difficult for nations to look at their own histories objectively?

You can visit our website here https://www.thenewsagents.co.uk/

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

“The die has been cast. We’re going for the full conquest of the Gaza Strip – and defeating Hamas." That was the quote from the Israeli Prime Minister's office given to media last night in Jerusalem.

Despite mounting criticism of the plan, including from former military officials, politicians and the families of the hostages still in Hamas captivity, Benjamin Netanyahu appears determined to occupy the entirety of Gaza.

Why is he ignoring the pleas, both domestically and internationally, not to escalate the conflict? Would it help or hinder his efforts to free the hostages and eliminate Hamas? And what would it mean for the dire humanitarian situation in the Strip, where famine has taken hold?

Jon and Lewis speak to Husam Zomlot, the head of the Palestinian mission to the UK.

You can visit our website here https://www.thenewsagents.co.uk/

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

More protests at migrant hotels took place this weekend - with people trying to break into a hotel in Canary Wharf on Sunday. As things escalated, rumours started to swirl. Former chancellor Nadhim Zahawi posted that police had banned all protest outside the hotel- only for the Met to point out that no such ban existed. Another Conservative MP quoted a video claiming (incorrectly) to show an illegal Deliveroo worker getting a police escort. So why are some Tories spreading misinformation? And why are they talking about 'revolts' against the 'regime'?

And, as Lewis returns from Japan we take a look at the rise of the far right in the recent Japanese election. Who is behind the party founded on YouTube and taking notes straight from Donald Trump?

You can visit our website here https://www.thenewsagents.co.uk/

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

Why are more and more young people turning to God? A recent YouGov poll suggests the number has doubled in the past six years from 22% to 45% saying they now actively have faith.

It's being called the “Quiet Revival“. It may be happening under the radar but the numbers suggest a revolution. Is it a response to covid, smart phones, or perhaps a crisis in masculinity? Or has atheism just had its day?

We are at the Wildfires Christian festival to find out what’s going on.

You can visit our website here https://www.thenewsagents.co.uk/

We bring you a UK exclusive interview with a genuine WWE icon - Triple H!

Mark Pougatch sits down with 'Hunter' to discuss what makes President Trump a 'genius', why wrestling is more real than you might think behind the scenes, and to pay tribute to the late Hulk Hogan. (5:30)

Plus, a taste of this week's special interview with Tom Brady, the seven-time Super Bowl winner who rewrote American sporting history, and is now a minority owner of Birmingham City FC. And we reacted to the Lionesses winning the Euros again (is this the new normal?!) with ex-England goalkeeper Karen Bardsley (a huge Hannah Hampton fan!) and The Guardian's Suzy Wrack. (1:00)

Watch our full episodes on YouTube at @sportsagentspod

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Executive Producer: Adonis Pratsides

Producer: Sophie Penney

Video Producer: Sam Trudgill

Social Media Editor: Calum Scotland

Guest Booker: Kirsty Giddings

Tom Hughes is Editor for The News Agents podcast network

Vicky Etchells is the Commissioning Editor for Global

You 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 here!