The News Agents

Donald Trump has been indicted again. But this time, it was the full works, including obligatory mugshot. This mugshot, of a scowling, glowering Trump appeared all over social media, at Trump's own hand, as he returned to Twitter (currently ridiculously known as X) to urge his followers to "NEVER SURRENDER!"

Jon makes an unusual appearance on a Friday, but couldn't resist it in the wake of the legal nightmare the US now finds itself inhabiting. He joins Lewis to discuss what's different about this indictment, what next and why Trump seems to draw vitality and strength from something as incredible as being arrested.

You can hear about the GOP debate and the Trump saga on The News Agents USA - listen here.

And Lewis talks to the King of the Dance himself, Sir Matthew Bourne, choreographer extraordinaire about his new production of Romeo Juliet in London's Saddlers Wells, the return of homophobia and why the government never seems to understand the arts.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Planning Producer: Alex Barnett

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Producer: Will Gibson-Smith

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

The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Yevgeny Prigozhin is apparently dead, two months after he marched the Wagner mercenary group to Moscow in a mutiny that appeared to be a very embarrassing weekend for Vladimir Putin.

Yesterday, a private plane crash also killed nine others, including his right hand man, the co-founder of the Wagner group, Dmitry Utkin.

So what actually happened? Was it an act of revenge from Putin? And is he now stronger than ever?

Jon and Lewis speak to Alicia Kearns MP, the chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee and ask foreign affairs expert Tim Marshall about the future for Russia.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Producer: Will Gibson-Smith

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

The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

It's 75 days since Nadine Dorries announced she was standing down as an MP with "immediate effect"... but she's still the MP for Mid Bedfordshire and getting paid for it.

Since announcing she'd go in June, Dorries has received calls to go from local councils, politicians and even the Prime Minister. She's also been criticised for effectively going missing. So what has she been up to?

And tonight is a big night in American politics - it's the first debate to choose the Republican candidate for the 2024 election and one very familiar face won't be there.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Producer: Will Gibson-Smith

The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Mason Greenwood won't play for Manchester United again.

Greenwood was one of the most exciting talents in world football two years ago, before he was arrested and charged for attempted rape, coercive control and assault. The charges were dropped by the CPS in February this year.

The final decision on Greenwood's place at the club was announced yesterday, with a "mutual deicison" that he will be leaving. But just last week, there were rumours of a plan to bring the player back. So what happened? And what changed?

Jon and Lewis talk to The Athletic's Adam Crafton, who has the inside story of what went on at Manchester United last week and we hear from TV presenter and fan of the club, Rachel Riley.

Later, we take a look at the government's stance on small boats crossing the channel. Sunak said months ago that stopping the boats would be attainable. It seems he's now changed his tune.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Planning Producer: Alex Barnett

Video Producer: Will Gibson-Smith

The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

It's debate night in Milwaukee tonight. The big hitters of the Republican Party will all be there, fighting it out in the first chance to be on the same stage together. That is, all bar one, notable frontrunner; former President Donald Trump.

Emily and Jon will be in your The News Agents: USA feeds tomorrow morning (Thursday) digesting the overnight debate. See you then!

Lucy Letby has been given a whole life order for her crimes. She joins only a small group of prisoners to be given a sentence so severe that they can never be considered for parole. But she wasn't in court today to hear it for herself. She chose not to appear, much to the victims' families fury.

The Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition want the law to be changed to force criminals to face their days of reckoning in person. It sounds simple - but is it? Lewis discusses with a former Old Bailey judge and a victim of the Manchester Arena Attacks whose own cowardly perpetrator also refused to confront the court.

And after the Lionesses' near miss in Sydney we ask why politicians always sound so weird when talking about football. We talk to the politico's politico and genuine football obsessive, Lord Danny Finkelstein.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Producer: Will Gibson-Smith

Covid is back in the news - there is a new mutation of Omicron which is potentially more infectious than the last.

Some are sounding the alarm. We talk about whether you should be worried (spoiler -probably not). But while it's in the news we thought we'd examine a question long lurking at the sidelines of the Covid news story - where did it come from?

Is the lab leak theory increasingly credible? Plenty in Washington, including big elements of the Biden administration think so. And if it is - why are we not talking about it? What might be the biggest story of our time?

Lewis talks to a leading expert who sits on SAGE and a journalist who has done the running on the story from the very beginning.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Producers: Rory Symon and Alex Barnett

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Producer: Will Gibson-Smith

It's A-level results day and the message from the Education Secretary is to urge students not to worry too much about the results, that no-one will ask about them in 10 years' time.

The PM has also said that there are plenty of other options available to those who didn't get the grades they need. But is this really the message for ministers to send to kids who have been studying for these things for years?

And would they be saying the same to their own kids? We also analyse whether this was the year to revert to a 2019 marking system, with a generation still deeply affected by the pandemic.

Jon and Lewis also discuss the life and broadcasting legacy of chat show king Michael Parkinson who has died at the age of 88. He invented the chat show format for UK television. We talk through the changes in TV which have taken place over the last half century and why we won't see Parky's like again.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Planning: Alex Barnett

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Will Gibson-Smith & Rory Symon

England's women's football team reach the World Cup final, beating the hosts Australia. But with the highest paid footballer in the equivalent of the Premier League paid less in a year than some male players get in a week, will this prove a watershed moment in attempts by many to push for greater financial parity? We speak to Kieran Maguire, football economist.

And back in the world of Westminster - what does falling inflation mean? A governmental success in one of their key targets, or is this the calm before the storm with wages and public sector - both inherently inflationary - rising. We speak to editor of Red Box, Lara Spirit.

commentary courtesy of BBC Sport.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Planning Producer: Alex Barnett

Video Producer: Will Gibson-Smith

The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

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

Episodes are available every Tuesday exclusively on Global Player and all other platforms every Wednesday.

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