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 ru...

Keir Starmer has faced down his first rebellion by removing the whip from 7 Labour rebels who voted with the SNP to end the cap on child benefits for families of more than two children.

Did Starmer overreact? Or does it look decisive? And is this really the policy he wants to hold out on? A decade old policy of Osborne austerity.

We speak directly to one of the rebels who lost the whip and ask what happens now.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Pro...

Kamala Harris raised a hundred million dollars in the day and a half since Joe Biden announced he wouldn't be standing for re-election.

She has now passed the delegate threshold to stand as the candidate - and as we record no one else has thrown their name into the ring.

Republicans are meanwhile having to accommodate the new reality of having the oldest candidate in the race.

Later, we look at the UK broadcasting landscape with Ofcom...

There is a dizziness to American politics right now - Vice President Kamal Harris raised 49 million dollars in the first twelve hours following Joe Biden's announcement that he would exit the race.

She spent ten hours hitting the phones to garner Democratic support and is insisting she must 'earn' the votes of the delegates. But is the race already sewn up? Or might other candidates throw their names in the mix? And how well do we ...

Chaos reigns in the Democratic party. In a virtually unprecedented move President Joe Biden has stepped aside from the presidential race weeks before he was due to become the Democrats’ candidate at their national convention in Chicago.

Biden has endorsed his VP Kamala Harris. But is she assured of the crown?

In a hastily assembled emergency podcast Jon, Emily and Lewis discuss the implications for the Dems, the election and the re...

This week on The Sports Agents, Gareth Southgate resigned following England's Euro 2024 final defeat, and the world's best golfers tee'd it up for the 152nd Open Championship...

The man who hired Gareth, former FA Managing Director Martin Glenn, joined Gabby & Mark for an insight into the process of finding his replacement and The Athletic's Jack Pitt-Brooke joined us in the studio to help assess the leading candidates.

After R...

Lewis is joined in the studio by one of the most senior women in British political history, former Labour Deputy Prime Minister, Harriet Harman.

Two weeks into a new Labour government, she joins us for an extended conversation about her political life and journey, her memories of working alongside Gordon Brown and Tony Blair, and her advice to her successors in the party.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Producer: Natalie Indge

Video Production: Sha...

It feels like the walls are finally closing in on President Biden. His closest political allies, the leaders of the Democratic Party in Congress, are abandoning him.

Every interview he does poses more questions than it answers. How long can he fight on? Jon, Lewis and Emily discuss.

Talking of Emily - have you ever thought she might need to get her head examined? Kari Lake, the Republican candidate for Senate in Arizona, thinks so...

Keir Starmer promised "national renewal" in today's King's Speech, where he outlined his policy plans for the next parliament.

So did we get our first glimpse of what Starmerism might look like? Is the state back? And do we now have the most interventionist government for decades?

Later in the show we return to Milwaukee and the Republican Party National convention. Emily is there speaking to senior party figures and asking where al...

Emily is live from the Republican Party National Convention in Milwaukee, a room full of "cranks and weirdos", as we react to the news that Ohio Senator J.D Vance will be Trump's running mate in the 2024 Presidential election.

What does Vance stand for? Will he change the trajectory of the campaign? And is he even more Trump than Trump himself?

Later in the show we discuss two men who have resigned from their jobs today. Welsh First...

Emily is in Milwaukee for the Republican Party National Convention, just 36 hours after an assassination attempt on their Presidential candidate Donald Trump.

As both he and President Biden call for unity, we ask whether the shooting on Saturday will help both candidates. Is it an easier race now for Trump? Has it ensured a stay of execution for Joe Biden? And how long will this new-found unity last?

Later in the show, historian and ...

Hours after Presidential candidate Donald Trump was shot at a rally in Pennsylvania, Jon and Lewis take a look at how the assassination attempt will impact the election in November.

Will it strengthen Trump's campaign? And does it mean Joe Biden will now definitely stand against him?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

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

The...

This week on The Sports Agents,

We reflected on England's run to today's Euro 2024 final, Lewis Hamilton's record 9th British GP win and Novak Djokovic turning on the centre court crowd at Wimbledon.

But you asked us to find out what's going on at Manchester United, after it emerged that the Women's side would be moved to 'portacabins' in order to accommodate the men - so we were joined by a host of guests including the former Head...

A week on from a Labour landslide in the 2024 General Election, Lewis and Emily answer the questions that have been bugging you over the past seven days.

They're asked why Tories are giving speeches in America, whether Reform are now getting too much media attention, and when the next General Election be held. That and much more.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Natalie Indge

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwe...

Last night, the pressure on Joe Biden ramped up a notch - George Clooney called on the President not to stand in November, through a piece in the New York Times.

It's being reported today he ran the op-ed past Barack Obama - who didnt try and dissuade him.

Nancy Pelosi - arguably the Dem's most formidably woman -suggested Biden should 'make his decision...as time was running out'.

And two senators spelled out the words the White Ho...

PM Starmer has just arrived in Washington to meet President Biden for the first time.

Arguably at a time when Biden needs Starmer more than Starmer needs the US president.

He’s there to talk NATO - and our commitment to Ukraine. But questions about our own defence spending will pursue him.

We’ll talk to the shadow foreign secretary Andrew Mitchell about Sir Keir's first week and the Tories last (in government for now). What lessons ...

A tale of two thinktanks - you lucky things.

Jon has spent the day at the Tony Blair Institute and Emily has been with the Popular Conservatives (PopCons), Liz Truss' former parish.

After the worst result in their history, how does the Conservative party rebuild?

And what lessons are those on the right of the party taking away from Thursday night's defeat? Lewis talks to former party treasurer and donor, Lord Michael Spencer, about...

Last night the final exit polls of the French election were revealed to a collective stunned gasp.

The far-right RN party of Marine Le Pen - and Jordan Bardella - is in third place.

Macron's centrist grouping is in second place - but the dominant bloc emerging is a collective of radical left parties - with the controversial figurehead of Jean-Luc Melenchon at its helm. Macron's PM has stayed on -for now - as caretaker.

But there i...

Now that PM Sir Keir Starmer has assembled his first cabinet, the first Labour cabinet in 14 years - who are the people now running the country? What will they do?

Just hours after becoming the Official Opposition, the Tories turn to their next task - who will be their next leader? Contenders have already started to hit the airwaves.

And the second round in France as the far-right National Rally edge closer to parliamentary power.

Ed...