Pete Hegseth is a Fox News anchor now hoping to lead the US military. He’s Donald Trump pick to be Secretary of Defence. Leaving aside the allegations of sexual assault and work place drunkenness - which he denies - and the profound lack of experience, does he have what it takes? And will he get through his senate confirmation?

Later, a life long friend of Joe Biden tells us why the President still thinks he could have beat Trump in 2024. How will Joe Biden be remembered? The legacy starts now.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Executive Producer: Louis Degenhardt

Producers: Natalie Indge & Rory Symon

Digital Editor: Michaela Walters

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

Digital Journalist: Michael Baggs

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in America here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents

The News Agents USA now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents-usa

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

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

Why does it already feel as if Trump is President? Last night, he gave an hour long press conference at Mar-a-Lago and we suddenly remembered what it's going to be like. On the bingo card: Greenland, Canada, Panama Canal, and the January 6th protesters. Little mention of either the cost of living or immigration but hey, early days.

On today's episode we hear from two sides of the Republican party - the MAGA wing and the WTF wing - and we try once again to figure out what Donald Trump actually means versus what he just says.

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

Editor: Tom Hughes

Executive Producer: Louis Degenhardt

Producers: Natalie Indge & Rory Symon

Digital Editor: Michaela Walters

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

Digital Journalist: Michael Baggs

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in America here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents

The News Agents USA now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents-usa

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

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

In today's episode we have a Newsagents - Ruthie's Table 4 mash up. We’ve been chatting to Bill Clinton's strategist and Democratic supremo James Carville at the River cafe with Ruthie Rogers. What should Democrats have done differently? What was Joe Biden's mistake? And what’s the way back?

But first, we kick off with the settlement ABC News just made to Donald Trump of 15 million dollars after he complained about an interview. Is the media ready to hold power to account this time around? Or is big business just happier to roll over?

You can hear the full conversation with James Carville and Ruthie Rogers on Ruthie's Table 4 podcast in the new year.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Executive Producer: Louis Degenhardt

Producer: Natalie Indge 

Digital Editor: Michaela Walters

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

Digital Journalists: Michael Baggs

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in Florida here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents 

The News Agents USA now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents-usa

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

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

Donald Trump has done his first sit down TV interview with NBC News and it was largely a calm affair. Oddly he offered unity across the aisle. But he has made it clear that he wants to stop those born to illegal immigrants from claiming us citizenship. Would he change the constitution to do this?

Later, did the left of the Democratic Party let ideology get in the way of a winning strategy? We speak to the author of Morning After the Revolution, Nellie Bowles.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Executive Producer: Louis Degenhardt

Producer: Natalie Indge 

Digital Editor: Michaela Walters

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

Digital Journalists: Michael Baggs

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in Florida here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents 

The News Agents USA now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents-usa

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/

Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8

Joe Biden decided late on Sunday to pardon his only surviving son, Hunter Biden who was convicted on gun charges earlier this year. It might have been the spectre of the incoming FBI Chief Kash Patel that spurred his choice. Or a sense that he ultimately had nothing to lose politically (and everything to lose personally) if he did not.

How have Democrats responded after repeated promises that President Biden would respect the law and wouldn't pardon his son? We speak to Chair of the Harriz Walz Campaign Rep Jasmine Crockett.

Later, Republican Strategist Mike Murphy joins us to talk through the latest Trump picks and the shape of things to come in America 2025.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Executive Producer: Louis Degenhardt

Producer: Natalie Indge 

Digital Editor: Michaela Walters

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

Digital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob Paul

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in Florida here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents 

The News Agents USA now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents-usa

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/

Three weeks on from Donald Trump's historic comeback, the clamour for answers about where it all went wrong within the Democrat party is reaching a fever pitch. Kamala Harris has released a message to supporters urging them not to let anyone 'take their power' - but with her party consigned to another four years out of the White House, how can they rebuild and reconnect with the voters who deserted them at the ballot box? Jon and Emily speak to former Congressman and ally of Nancy Pelosi, Steve Israel.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Executive Producer: Louis Degenhardt

Producer: Natalie Indge 

Digital Editor: Michaela Walters

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

Digital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob Paul

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in Florida here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents 

The News Agents USA now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents-usa

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/

Later in the episode we will hear from James Orr - the Cambridge University theologian and academic who was one of JD Vance’s guiding voices and a close confidant.

But we start with the world of wrestling - what does it tells us about Donald Trump’s cabinet picks? And, how many of them have faced, or continue to face, allegations of sexual harassment ?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Executive Producer: Louis Degenhardt

Producer: Natalie Indge 

Digital Editor: Michaela Walters

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

Digital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob Paul

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in Florida here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents 

The News Agents USA now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents-usa

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/

Donald Trump has named a Fox News anchor as his pick for Defence Secretary. And the former governor of South Dakota, known better in this country as the woman who shot her own dog, is set to be his head of Homeland Security. What do his picks tell us about the direction of travel of the incoming administration? And why has he had to appoint not one, but two heads to run the Department of Government Efficiency?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Executive Producer: Louis Degenhardt

Producer: Natalie Indge 

Digital Editor: Michaela Walters

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

Digital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob Paul

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in Florida here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents 

The News Agents USA now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents-usa

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/

Emily, Jon and Lewis bid farewell to the United States by answering your questions on the US election.

So what next for Kamala Harris? Why didn't the celebrity endorsements work for the Democrats? And is there any way Donald Trump could stand for a third term?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Executive Producer: Louis Degenhardt

Producer: Natalie Indge 

Digital Editor: Michaela Walters

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

Digital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob Paul

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in Florida here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents 

The News Agents USA now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents-usa

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/

The Democrats are only just beginning to digest what went wrong and what a Trump presidency might mean for America for the second time around. But in Britain and Europe alarm bells are already off the charts. What does Trump mean for Starmer, for populism and for national security? Do we have to start doing more without Americas help?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Executive Producer: Louis Degenhardt

Producer: Natalie Indge 

Digital Editor: Michaela Walters

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

Digital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob Paul

You can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in Florida here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFE

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents 

The News Agents USA now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents-usa

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/