The News Agents

With Gabby & Mark being shuttled around the USA (first class), Nedum Onuoha takes the reins of today’s show alongside football writer Julien Laurens and it’s explosive!

The boys pull no punches after England’s abject surrender against Argentina in the World Cup semi-final. Julien's explains why he thinks England have a "loser’s generation” and Nedum reveals why head coach Thomas Tuchel is to blame f...

The last minute defeat by Argentina was a hard cross to bear if you’re an England fan. But what happened afterwards propelled the game into a whole different sphere. Argentine players paraded a banner that fans threw onto the pitch calling for Las Malvinas to be returned to Argentina.

It is a highly political message. The kind FIFA is normally quick to ban. But at the time of writing FIFA has said nothing. Why? And what happen...

There were tears, there was gags, there were plenty of World Cup references. Keir Starmer's final PMQs had something of the last day of school about it as he and Kemi Badenoch shared some rare bonhomie and Starmer reflected on his time in No 10.

Tributes to Ann Widdecombe were paid at the start of Starmer's last trip to the Chamber, and there was a rare friendly atmosphere in parliament with MPs clearly keen to show that there is co...

Maradonna's 'Hand of God'. The Falklands war. The Beckham hissy fit. The religion of Messi. The backdrop to tomorrow's World Cup semi-final is steeped in intensity and passion - so much so that the FBI has judged it to be the highest risk match of the tournament. Just how much is riding on tomorrow’s game - and how do the geopolitics of our two nations affect what happens on the pitch? We speak to Gary Lineker who was playing...

The murder of Ann Widdecombe has sent shockwaves through Westminster and beyond. News came today that counter terror police have now taken over the investigation following "new information and evidence". So what has changed? What have detectives found? And how do police steer the fine line between informing the public and telling us too much too soon? We talk to the host of the Crime Agents podcast, Andy Hughes.

Later, how does this...

Recently, the Tory leader, Kemi Badenoch, has seemed particularly exercised by one woman on Labour's front bench. Yes, Bridget Phillipson, the Education Secretary and one of Keir Starmer's closest allies, has become something of an obsession for the Leader of the Opposition. Interviews come and interviews go, yet somehow Badenoch always seems to find a way to bring Phillipson into the conversation.

Much of the hostility stems from P...

Can Gianni Infantino survive his friendship with Donald Trump?

The presidents of both FIFA and the USA have been busy this week ensuring that USA could field top scorer Folarin Balogun in their Quarter-final match against Belgium.

Trump’s incredible intervention into football has rocked the sport and left FIFA’s credibility in tatters - particularly after England defender Jarell Quansah’s own red card ban is extende...

The bad news isn't stopping for Reform and Nigel Farage. He's facing fresh questions about the timeline surrounding the £5m gift from a crypto billionaire. The police are investigating a separate donation made to Robert Jenrick (who has described the claims as a politically motivated smear). The party has urged volunteers to divert from the Greater Manchester mayoral contest - in an effort to shore up Nigel Farage in a contest agai...

Within hours of the Farage resignation statement all the main parties made it clear they would not be fighting his by-election and called the whole attempt a gimmick. Unity amongst the parties is a rare beast indeed - but they've all found their common enemy in a man who appears to resist transparency or accountability. What happens to the Clacton circus now? And more pressingly, what is the process for parliamentary scrutiny if th...

Nigel Farage says he's "never been angrier in his life". He's accusing the media of intimidating his family. He's claimed standards are being weaponised to go after him. And for that, he's asking the people of Clacton to stomach a by-election and re-elect him as their MP. Farage is framing it as a 'People vs The Establishment' contest - but is it more of a smokescreen to move the conversation away from the growing questions around ...

Jon has woken up in Mexico City with a fever dream about an epic England win and a football shirt covered in beer and tequila. Elsewhere the game doesn’t feel quite so beautiful - after it emerged that Trump's political meddling got a red card overturned for US player, Folarin Balogun.

Why did the FIFA president cave to Trump's swagger and pressure? How has it left the players feeling as they head into the next stages? And wha...

It feels different this time around. Donald Trump's second term is more ferocious, more feral, more imperial. There are two chroniclers of the Court of Trump who know this better than anyone. And they have just published 'Regime Change' - the authoritative account of the White House under Trump 2.0.

Their access is remarkable. Inside accounts of the discussions, arguments, and fawning taking place inside the incredibly small circle ...

After Harry Kane got them out of jail against DR Congo, Nedum believes this is the start of a glorious run for England at the FIFA World Cup.

It’s Mexico next at the iconic Azteca stadium, altitude, pollution, and an army of noisy fans await. Nedum & Gabby discuss performing at altitude, Mexican welcoming committees and what makes this the “hardest game that can be played at this tournament”

Elsewhere the guys r...

Nigel Farage has become the face of Direct Bullion. Not a surprise to those of you buying gold, perhaps, but it probably is to those who don’t. And it earned him £270,000 in the process.

He’s also amassed a five-house property portfolio (three undeclared) and then there’s the small matter of the 5 million crypto donation. Again undeclared.

How is this sitting with a man who voted against the Employment Rights Act an...

Everyone understands the need to leave on a high - whether it’s Prime Ministerial legacy or a sense of completing the job.

But the new defence investment plan that Starmer's signed off leaves Burnham with an unexploded bomb in the shape of a five billion pound debt.

Does Burnham stick to the plan? Or does he rip it up? And how does he fill the hole if he goes along with it?

We ask TUC secretary general Paul Nowak what unions wan...

How do you interview someone who’s been gagged? That’s the task we set ourselves on today’s episode. Sarah Wynn-Williams - a former Facebook executive turned whistleblower author - is not allowed to talk about Facebook, or her book, Careless People. She’s not allowed to.

She’s not even allowed to discuss the lawsuit that’s been slapped on her. Or how she’s finally responded with one of her o...

Andy Burnham has made his first prime ministerial speech to the nation, even though he’s not yet PM. He spoke of the need for a "circuit break". Handing power back to people locally. Taking it away from Westminster. It was dynamic, bold and it was energising. But is Britain ready for electric shock therapy? And how does devolution not end up with badly run parts of the country becoming even worse off?

Later, what state is the ...

After Scotland’s humbling at the hands of Brazil, Mark has his say on FIFA’s “crap way to qualify for the knockout stages of a World Cup”...

Former USMNT, Spurs & Aston Villa Goalkeeper Brad Friedel joins Gabby & Mark to talk about the sporting miracle which is inspiring Mauricio Pochettino and his USA team’s belief that they can go all the way at their home world cup.

And with qualifiers set to ...