The News Agents

In an extended interview, Jon speaks to Layla Moran, the only MP with Palestinian heritage and the Lib Dem MP for West Oxford and Abingdon.

She talks about her family in Gaza, peace talks and how hope gets her through everyday.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Producers: Jack McKay & Arvind Badewal

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

Did former Health Secretary Matt Hancock think the best person to decide who should live and die during the pandemic was... Matt Hancock?

That was the accusation levelled by former NHS England Chief Executive Simon Stevens in the Covid inquiry. Luckily, the hypothetical situation never materialised but how happy do we feel about politicians playing god?

And… as the deputy cabinet secretary describes a Downing Street in which not a day went by without rules being breached, we ask whether it’s time for an amnesty on all those citizens still facing fines and trials?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Producers: Rory Symon & Arvind Badewal

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

How should the police be responding to the government’s call to arrest more people on "hate marches" (sic Suella).

Do laws need to change? Do specific chants cross the legal line? And what is the terror threat like over all in the UK right now?

We have an extended interview with Met commissioner Sir Mark Rowley on protest, policing and public trust.

In response to Sir Mark's comments about the Attorney General's Office, an AGO spokesperson said: "There has been no delay in the charging process for the two women who were arrested on suspicion of displaying images in support of Hamas.

"CPS received a complete version of the police report in the early hours of this morning – this was passed on to AGO at midday today for permission to consent to prosecute and this is being dealt with this evening as a matter of urgency."

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Planning Producer: Alex Barnett

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Producers: Rory Symon & Arvind Badewal

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

https://www.globalplayer.com/videos/2JsSa9qnmyY/

So, three guesses whose WhatsApps gave us our episode title today.

That’s right, Dominic Cummings was up in front of the Covid inquiry where we were given a glimpse of his affection for cabinet colleagues...

We also heard from No10 Comms director Lee Cain - his pal - together they paint a picture of the dysfunction that dominated decision making in the early months of Covid.

What do the WhatsApp messages really tell us? And is any of this helping those who want resolution and an explanation for their loved one’s deaths?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Producers: Rory Symon & Arvind Badewal

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

Emily and Jon host a weekly US politics podcast; giving you everything you need to know about the world of US politics and how it affects you.

Episodes are available every Tuesday, on Global Player.

Find the latest episode of News Agents USA here on Global Player.

Israel began a prolonged ground invasion in northern Gaza this weekend, it continued targeted airstrikes in the region and temporarily cut off communications there. It says it wants to eliminate Hamas "surgically", but with so many civilians killed, what is Israel's endgame?

Emily and Jon speak to Mark Regev - a senior adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and former Israeli ambassador to the UK.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Producers: Rory Symon & Arvind Badewal

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

Is Suella Braverman nailed on to be the next Tory leader?

Will Donald Trump win the presidency from a prison cell?

And...when are The News Agents going on tour?

Emily, Jon and Montana correspondent Lewis Goodall answer your questions in this special edition of The News Agents.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Video Producers: Rory Symon & Ben Bate

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

Last night - after Israel's Prime Minister addressed the nation - the troops went into Gaza.

It was a raid that paved the way for what Netanyahu promised would be the ground invasion to come.

But what is the end game here? And are any of Israel's allies prepared to try and stop them? We talk to the Economist's Defence Editor Shashank Joshi about how Israel is preparing for war and what the end game might be.

Also - has Keir Starmer done enough to reassure large Muslim communities - and others - he understands their pain over the loss of life in Gaza? What do they need to hear him say if a ground war begins?

And the US finally have a Speaker. And it's a guy that frankly, no one has ever heard of. Who is he?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Planning Producer: Alex Barnett

Video Producers: Rory Symon & Ben Bate

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

Labour Muslim MPs have had a long meeting with leader Keir Starmer in which they expressed their discontent with their leader for not explicitly calling on Israel to do more to save civilian life in Gaza.

He’s also seen at least 23 councillors step down over their frustration with Labour's position.

Does the Labour leader need to do more to offer reassurance to Muslim voters and MPs?

And why is it so problematic to ask for a ceasefire?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Planning Producer: Alex Barnett

Video Producers: Rory Symon & Ben Bate

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

Rishi Sunak’s premiership is almost one year old. Is this where the Tory party wants to be 12 months out from an election?

Can a party that’s been in power for 13 years win again? And what has to happen to make that possible?

We talk to Ben Riley-Smith author of The Right to Rule and political editor of The Telegraph.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Planning Producer: Alex Barnett

Social Media Producer: Phoebe Dampare-Osei

Video Producers: Rory Symon & Ben Bate

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