The News Agents

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 spooking some market analysts. A huge surge in corporate borrowing for AI development and data centre building has led to fears that there are risks involved in betting on an artificial intelligence boom - and investors are demanding higher returns on their lending as a result.

Data centres have become increasingly under the political spotlight too. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro - a recent cheerleader of AI - has changed tack and is now placing tight restrictions on data centre development in his State. Closer to home, Scotland is home to an almighty row about a proposed site near Fife - with campaigners claiming it could demand more energy than half of Scottish homes. If AI growth starts to stutter, and the public and politicians turn on the Big Tech developers, could our economies experience a collapse akin to the 2008 crash?

Later, why Volodymyr Zelenskyy has experienced arguably his toughest day since Russia's invasion - and is facing fresh calls to hold an election.

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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 tariffs, or his failed cost of living policies. It was the moment he let slip that the only thing Trump is interested in is his ballroom and his "travel with Natalie". So who is Natalie Harp? Why have Democrats been pushing unsubstantiated innuendo about the President and his aide? And could this turn into a real political headache for Trump? Or have the Democrats just turned a bit... Trumpian?

Later, was Reform's Tim Montgomerie too outspoken? He’s been unceremoniously suspended after his latest candid tweet that said about Zia Yusuf what many others were thinking - he’s wandered off the reservation a little too far. Is there any room in Nigel Farage's Reform for dissent? Or is it little more than a cult of personality?

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The chancellor of Cambridge University today has condemned the "racist feeding frenzy" around Jason Arday. Arday was found dead on Friday after a relentless slew of articles querying the veracity of his academic work and life story. Was it really in the public interest to scrutinise every aspect of his life - even after he'd resigned from his post? Or did the controversy around Jason Arday's appointment become a bloodsport for the British media? Would he have faced anything like the same level of hostility if he had been white?

Later, why are Albanians taking to the street every night in such great numbers to demand the toppling of their government? And why are the Trump family so intimately involved?

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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 will say he was advised not to attend because of a security threat, Essex police deny any such advice.

Nonetheless, in a surprise to absolutely no one, Farage won the Clacton by-election, seeing off a record 33 other candidates. But just how impressive was the victory? Is Farage’s win really as big as he’d have us believe? Or is it even more hollow than the bin he defeated?

And, with the by-election behind him, attention now turns to the investigation into his £5 million in donations, which was swiftly reopened once the results were in. What happens next for Farage? And what does the Clacton result really tell us about his political future?

The News Agents is a Global Production.

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

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’ era earlier this summer England now face a must win series against Pakistan.

But guess what?

Their new test coach, who has never coached a test team, is in New Zealand and it’s all got Mark Chapman feeling a bit down about his favourite sport. Nedum, Gabby & Mark are joined by Wisden editor Lawrence Booth to discuss an ECB omni shambles and the immediate future, however bleak, of England Men’s test cricket team.

In happier news the EFL kicks off this weekend and the guys bring you all the big stories which should be on your radar as The Championship, League One & League Two curtain raisers.

Elsewhere Stuart Broad’s viral solar eclipse commentary at The Hundred and Gabby’s incredible impression of a Birmingham accent will delight and offend in equal measure.

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Executive Producer: Adonis Pratsides

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Tom Hughes is Editor for The News Agents podcast network

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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 Vodafone of aiding and abetting the "invasion of Britain" by handing out SIM cards to British charities - one such charity works with migrants in Calais. In an open letter today he's told the Vodafone board a Reform government would jail them if this happened under their watch. Is it actually Zia Yusuf who needs his SIM card taken off him?

Later, Karoline Leavitt has decided that with two toddlers in her life she doesn't have the capacity to work for a third in the White House. How much or a loss will she be to MAGA?

The News Agents is a Global Production.

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

"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 up. Two Palestinian homes have been under siege with the weekend, with families warning that their supplies are running out. The IDF has denounced the “illegal, reprehensible and unacceptable” establishment of settler outposts inside West Bank villages but doesn't seem to be doing much to dismantle them. Why is the violence on the rise? Are the Israeli elections fuelling extremist action? And can anything be done to stop it? We speak to the Jerusalem-based reporter Noga Tarnopolsky.

Later, fifty police chiefs from across the UK have warned that the early release of PC Andrew Harper's killers would undermine police morale and faith in the justice system. Andy Burnham is scrambling to find a solution to his first major test as Prime Minister. But should we be wary of our police forces wading into politics on this scale?

The News Agents is a Global Production.

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

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 affairs spokesman has today been slapped down by his leader Nigel Farage for labelling the former Tory defence secretary a "traitor" for allowing thousands of Afghans into the country. Farage has said the language is "over the top" and that Yusuf will be getting a "ticking off". A poll today has Reform at their lowest since the 2024 general election. Are Reform crashing out hard? Why is it that after getting so much right - it now seems like they are getting everything wrong?

Later, comedian and host of the Screen Rot podcast Jacob Hawley has been campaigning to save the high street for years. Today, Andy Burnham announced plans to stop rogue vape shops, barbers and confectionary stores from popping up all over the place. Did he nick the idea from Jacob's podcast? Jacob is on tour this autumn with a new show, 'Fighting Age Man'.

The News Agents is a Global Production.

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

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 Democratic Socialists in Wisconsin. There, the progressive candidate is being dragged for old social media posts suggesting she wanted to cancel Thanksgiving. Is the Dem new breed too woke? Or are they exactly what the party needs to breathe new life into the fight against Trump?

Later, why is Ukraine pummelling the Russian equivalent of Amazon - Wildberries - and is the tactic working? Jon speaks to the New York Times reporter Nataliya Vasilyeva who has been taking a close look at what's going on.

The News Agents is a Global Production.

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

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, but Harold Wilson in 1963.

Considering his priorities and his focus, Burnham would do well to learn the lessons from Labour's last great northern leader. A four-time election winner, a progressive pioneer, a comms master, who shaped the country in his image.

Nick Thomas-Symonds was until recently the Minister in charge of our relations with the EU. He'd been on the Labour frontbench for 11 years - but Burnham's ascendance brought an end to his time in government.

A close ally of Starmer's, he's also a respected historian and a biographer of Labour PM's past. We asked him into the News Agents studio, to look at politics through an historical and contemporary lens: what were those last days of in the Starmer bunker like? Why has the European question dogged British politics? How will Starmer be remembered? And what can Andy Burnham learn from one of the political geniuses of the 20th century?

The News Agents is a Global Production.

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