The News Agents

A week on from the attack in Southport, cities across the UK are burning as disinformation spreads and far right groups gather to riot.

Lewis and Jon analyse Kier Starmer's response - how can the government get control of the situation? And how much is Elon Musk and social media to blame for the spread of the riots?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Producers: Natalie Indge & Zeynel Can Yuce

Digital Editor: Michaela Walters

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon & Shane Fennelly

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"

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

https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

After an unforgettable first week at the Paris Olympics,The Sports Agents return to round up the big interviews from their first week in Paris...

Gold medal rowers Hannah Scott and Lola Anderson joined Gabby & Mark, in our Team GB House studio, to reflect on a nail-biting photo-finish win and wanting to shatter the traditional image of what a female athlete 'looks like'.

Sky Sports boxing commentator Andy Clarke was on hand to try to explain GB boxing's disastrous Olympics so far and the bigger question which hangs over boxing's future as an Olympic sport at all.

Plus, synchronised divers Noah Williams and Scarlett Mew Jensen reveal what it's really like to hit the pool at speeds of over 30mph.

Search for The Sports Agents to listen to these interviews in full, plus so much more insight and reaction to the Games.

New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

This Friday we answer your questions.

Which upcoming elections will Jon and Emily be staying up to watch? Will Huw Edwards have to pay back his BBC salary? And could Kamala Harris serve three terms as President?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Producers: Natalie Indge & Zeynel Can Yuce

Digital Editor: Michaela Walters

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon & Shane Fennelly

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"

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

https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Trump turned up at the national association of black journalists yesterday and they just laughed at him. He took questions from a panel and found himself saying Kamala Harris had “turned herself black“. Cue hoots of outraged derision. And a former president complaining about the “horrible“ questions. Is there any strategy here or is it all going a bit wrong ?

Later, should the English Defence League be a proscribed terror group or would that give too much credence to a bunch of thugs? We talk to the former head of counter terrorism about the impact of these knife edge decisions. And we hail the release of Wall street journalist Evan Gershkovich - held in a Russian cell on trumped up spying charges.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Producers: Natalie Indge & Zeynel Can Yuce

Digital Editor: Michaela Walters

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon & Shane Fennelly

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"

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

https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Last night police in Southport were pelted with bricks and rocks as hundreds of people gathered in protest outside a mosque - after disinformation about the suspect of the stabbing attack was spread online.

Today we talk about the power of ‘disinfluencers’ and the menace they create - for money, power or clicks - destabilizing vulnerable communities at a time of grief.

How should we deal with ‘shared’ misinformation? And what responsibility do our leaders have to make sure conspiracies aren’t spread through their words?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Producers: Natalie Indge & Zeynel Can Yuce

Digital Editor: Michaela Walters

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"

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

https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

We’ve spent the afternoon at the Treasury with the chancellor. How does she justify scrapping the cap on social care? Why is she wasting money by cancelling transport schemes we need ? And what are the taxes that ARE going up that she won’t rule out? We have the full interview.

Later, an exclusive look with Reeves around the bathroom that all the former chancellors have used. Spoiler alert - it’s a urinal…

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producers: Natalie Indge & Zeynel Can Yuce

Digital Editor: Michaela Walters

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon & Shane Fennelly

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"

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

https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

The Tory leadership window has just closed and six MPs have thrown their names in. On one side of the party sits Tom Tugendhat and Mel Stride. On the other, Priti Patel, Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch. James Cleverly sits somewhere in the middle and Suella Braverman is now nowhere to be seen.

We talk to former Tory chairman, Lord Chris Patten, about the shape of his old party now. And ask Henry Hill - at Conservative Home - to read the tea leaves.

Later, the next in our thrilling 'US Presidential Election movies you might have missed' series. This one stars James Spader and John Cusack. Can you guess?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Producers: Natalie Indge & Zeynel Can Yuce

Digital Editor: Michaela Walters

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"

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

https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

All week long The Sports Agents have been building up to the start of The 2024 Paris Olympics...

London Mayor Sadiq Khan sat down with Gabby to reflect on the real legacy of London 2012, why he wants to bring the Games back to the capital and as more and more international sporting events come to the UK, if Premier League games will go the other way?

Earlier in the week, Andy Anson - British Olympic Association Chief Executive - explained what makes brand 'Team GB' so unique in world sport. And the former Olympian Jack Buckner, now head of UK Athletics, explained how the sport can evolve to protect its own future, despite a 'golden generation' of British athletes.

Got a question about the Olympics for Gabby & Mark - email (or send a voice-note) to us at [email protected]

New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

Is it sexist to call Kamala by her first name? What happens to the election if Trump loses? Who’s the best president America never had? 

After a full on crazy week in America we answer your questions.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Producers: Natalie Indge & Zeynel Can Yuce

Digital Editor: Michaela Walters

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"

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

https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

It was an act of supreme selflessness. And one of utmost urgency. Joe Biden acknowledged both things in his speech to the nation last night confirming he wouldn’t seek re-election. His rhetoric was rousing. But his speech faltering. He confirmed for many why he had to go, and left questions as to what happens in this final stretch of his presidency.

Later, why are some Labour candidates accusing the Independent “pro Gaza“ MPs of running “toxic” electoral campaigns?

In response to our interview with Heather Iqbal, The Workers Party said:

"The Workers Party was closely associated with a number of Independent candidates who stood on a platform opposed to the genocide unfolding in Gaza. Our candidates and those with whom we were most closely associated polled a quarter of a million votes.

In Manchester our supporters were the victim of a hit and run attack in May, during the general election in Littleborough a female campaigner of ours was assaulted outside the polling station and in Birmingham masked men attacked our canvassers with machetes and bats in Sutton Coldfield. No other party receieved this sort of violent harassment. All cases are reported in local and national media if you Google them, and all were caught on CCTV."

Editor: Tom Hughes

Producers: Natalie Indge & Zeynel Can Yuce

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Digital Editor: Michaela Walters

Video Production: Shane Fennelly

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"

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

https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents