The News Agents

This Friday, Jon and Lewis are back with more of your questions. Would the markets take fright at a Jeremy Corbyn or Nigel Farage premiership like they did with Liz Truss? Is the media biased towards Reform over the Lib Dems? And could we ever see Benjamin Netanyahu arrested?Later - it may feel like we are living in a uniquely settled world, but was there ever a time in the past century where things actually felt any calmer? You can visit our website here: https://thenewsagents.co.ukThe News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

The Championship kicks off this weekend but Sheffield Wednesday players and staff are still waiting to be paid. For the inside story of how the club fell apart, Mark is joined by Chris Powell, the assistant coach who left a few weeks ago. And it's not just Sheffield who are struggling - so who's next and how do we keep finding ourselves here? (02:00)Plus, we look back at this week's shows where we asked... Is Isak to Liverpool the last transfer saga? And should cricket ditch The Hundred? (18:30)

Labour's homelessness minister is facing fury from her own side and calls to resign - not for her track record in government but her track record as a landlord. Rushnara Ali, the MP for Bethnal Green and Stepney, rented out a four-bedroom townhouse in east London, and the tenants have gone to the press to complain about their treatment. One told the I newspaper that they received an email saying that the lease on their tenancy would not be renewed as Ms Ali was looking to sell the property - and yet just weeks after they left, they found that the house back on the rental market at nearly £700 a month more.To make matters worse, this practice is set to be banned under legislation being introduced by this government. The Tories are suggesting that she exploited her tenants and are accusing her of staggering hypocrisy. Can she survive? And how damaging is this for the government? Lewis speaks to the I's housing correspondent Vicky Spratt, who broke the story, and LBC's political correspondent Aggie Chambre.Later - will the much-anticipated meeting between Presidents Trump and Putin actually happen? And what would it mean for Ukraine? Mark Urban, host of the Crisis Room podcast, reads the runes.

Thousands of people have gathered in Hiroshima - including representatives from 120 countries - to come together with a renewed call for nuclear disarmament. America's use of the atom bomb on the Japanese city, followed by Nagasaki a few days later, remains the only time in human history that nuclear weapons have been deployed in armed conflict. To some, it was a decisive turning point in WW2 - the moment where the Axis powers realised they were destined for defeat. But to others, including Jeremy Corbyn, the attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki were crimes against humanity. Could both things be true?And why has the long shadow of the second world war made it so difficult for nations to look at their own histories objectively?The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

“The die has been cast. We're going for the full conquest of the Gaza Strip – and defeating Hamas." That was the quote from the Israeli Prime Minister's office given to media last night in Jerusalem. Despite mounting criticism of the plan, including from former military officials, politicians and the families of the hostages still in Hamas captivity, Benjamin Netanyahu appears determined to occupy the entirety of Gaza. Why is he ignoring the pleas, both domestically and internationally, not to escalate the conflict? Would it help or hinder his efforts to free the hostages and eliminate Hamas? And what would it mean for the dire humanitarian situation in the Strip, where famine has taken hold?Jon and Lewis speak to Husam Zomlot, the head of the Palestinian mission to the UK. You can visit our website here https://www.thenewsagents.co.uk/ The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

More protests at migrant hotels took place this weekend - with people trying to break into a hotel in Canary Wharf on Sunday. As things escalated, rumours started to swirl. Former chancellor Nadhim Zahawi posted that police had banned all protest outside the hotel- only for the Met to point out that no such ban existed. Another Conservative MP quoted a video claiming (incorrectly) to show an illegal Deliveroo worker getting a police escort. So why are some Tories spreading misinformation? And why are they talking about 'revolts' against the 'regime'? And, as Lewis returns from Japan we take a look at the rise of the far right in the recent Japanese election. Who is behind the party founded on YouTube and taking notes straight from Donald Trump?You can visit our website here https://www.thenewsagents.co.uk/ The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Why are more and more young people turning to God? A recent YouGov poll suggests the number has doubled in the past six years from 22% to 45% saying they now actively have faith.It's being called the “Quiet Revival“. It may be happening under the radar but the numbers suggest a revolution. Is it a response to covid, smart phones, or perhaps a crisis in masculinity? Or has atheism just had its day?We are at the Wildfires Christian festival to find out what's going on. You can visit our website here https://www.thenewsagents.co.uk/

We bring you a UK exclusive interview with a genuine WWE icon - Triple H! Mark Pougatch sits down with 'Hunter' to discuss what makes President Trump a 'genius', why wrestling is more real than you might think behind the scenes, and to pay tribute to the late Hulk Hogan. (5:30)Plus, a taste of this week's special interview with Tom Brady, the seven-time Super Bowl winner who rewrote American sporting history, and is now a minority owner of Birmingham City FC. And we reacted to the Lionesses winning the Euros again (is this the new normal?!) with ex-England goalkeeper Karen Bardsley (a huge Hannah Hampton fan!) and The Guardian's Suzy Wrack. (1:00) Watch our full episodes on YouTube at @sportsagentspodTikTok: @thesportsagentsInstagram: @thesportsagentsX: @sportsagentspodExecutive Producer: Adonis PratsidesProducer: Sophie PenneyVideo Producer: Sam TrudgillSocial Media Editor: Calum ScotlandGuest Booker: Kirsty GiddingsTom Hughes is Editor for The News Agents podcast networkVicky Etchells is the Commissioning Editor for GlobalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The Sports Agents".The Sports Agents have merch! You can buy yours now here!

Exclusively on The News Agents, we speak to top democrat Jamie Raskin. He's here on a mission to find out if free speech is under threat in Europe. It's a big talking point in the MAGASphere - he's visiting with the judiciary committee. So why did he find himself shouted down at a public event by one Nigel Farage?Later, we talk to Bafta winning actor Adeel Akhtar - famed for Four Lions- about his latest play about money, family, and politics - The Estate. You can visit our website here https://www.thenewsagents.co.uk/ The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

After a ninety minute crisis cabinet meeting - driven by the appalling scenes of starvation in Gaza - Keir Starmer emerged with a plan: the UK would recognise Palestine by September. If Israel hadn't changed its behaviour before then. So, is statehood for Palestine an end goal for UK foreign policy? Or just a punishment for Israel? And what happens if there ARE moves towards peace in the next six weeks - is that rewarded by the UK stepping back from its pledge? We talk to global historian Peter Frankopan about what “recognition“ really means. And ask Emily Thornberry where it leaves her party.You can visit our website here www.thenewsagents.co.uk The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Nigel Farage is no stranger to harsh criticism from his political rivals, but never before has he been linked to prolific paedophile Jimmy Savile.That is, until now.Cabinet minister Peter Kyle has accused the Reform UK leader of being “on the side” of Savile after Farage said he would repeal the government's online safety act. Farage has now demanded an apology - but Kyle's doubled down. Are Labour brushing over the genuine unease that many people have about the online safety act? And is their rhetoric making Farage look like the grown up in the room? Later, did Starmer do enough to defend his friend Sadiq Khan after Trump called him a “nasty person?”The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

A wave of anti-migrant protests and counter-protests took place at migrant hotels around the country this weekend, with police being drafted in from all around. So, how close are we to another summer of riots? We sent The Crime Agent's Andy Hughes down to the protests in Epping as tensions in the community have been escalating for weeks. Later, how safe are the new online age verification measures brought in for the Online Safety Act? The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

This Friday, Jon is joined by Tina Brown - former editor of Vanity Fair and The New Yorker - to discuss her run ins with Jeffrey Epstein, the fallout from the Epstein files, and what this could all spell for President Trump. You can read Tina's substack 'Fresh Hell' here: https://tinabrown.substack.com/ The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

England are into the Euros final again! Last time, as soon as they won the Lionesses sent a letter to Downing Street demanding equal access to PE for girls. If they wrote again this time, what should they ask for to make football more inclusive for women? Gabby figures it out with Vice Chair of Kick It Out, Chris Paouros, and author of "Get Your Tits Out For The Lads", Sally Freedman. (06:30)Plus we share our favourite bits from this week's episodes - how will Marcus Rashford fit in at Barcelona? Can we start comparing Scottie Scheffler to Tiger Woods? And will teenage sensation Michelle Agyemang fire the Lionesses to Euros glory? (01:00)Watch our full episodes on YouTube at @sportsagentspodTikTok: @thesportsagentsInstagram: @thesportsagentsX: @sportsagentspodExecutive Producer: Adonis PratsidesProducer: Sophie PenneyVideo Producer: Sam TrudgillSocial Media Editor: Calum ScotlandGuest Booker: Kirsty GiddingsTom Hughes is Editor for The News Agents podcast networkVicky Etchells is the Commissioning Editor for GlobalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The Sports Agents".The Sports Agents have merch! You can buy yours now here!

This is the story that Trump just can't escape. The White House has pushed back after reports that the President was told in May that he was among hundreds of names mentioned in the Epstein Files. As the pressure mounts, and Trump's attempts to deflect the story fail, can he ‘fake news' his way out of it? Or could the MAGA faithful finally turn on the President?

For the last two weeks, Donald Trump has been trying to make the Epstein story go away after he claimed there were no missing files and there was nothing more to see. Now, Ghislaine Maxwell - the former partner of Jeffrey Epstein, and the only person to serve jail time for his crimes - has been summoned to a meeting with the US justice department. Why? What information could she offer up that she hasn't before? Do they want her to name names? Or take Trump's name out of the frame? And might she walk free if she does? Later, the broadcaster and journalist Mehdi Hasan found himself in a room with self described fascists. Young American men that want him deported. He joins us to tell us what happened next. The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

“Let them eat burgers“ - Israel's PM Netanyahu has popped up on a Canadian fratcast talking about his favourite fast food and weighing up the merits of the Double Whopper. Across the border, Gazans are starving to death - UN estimates suggest a thousand have been shot in the meagre food distribution queues. Many more are facing malnutrition and critical levels of hunger. We keep being told that 80 percent of Israelis are against the war - so why hasn't it stopped? We speak to Ayala Panievsky.Later, Hunter Biden rants at George Clooney and Barack Obama's team for trying to bring his father down. It's a three hour long interview. An act of loyalty? Or stupidity?And, why is Nigel Farage providing the most memorable moment of the Tory reshuffle?The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Donald Trump has filed two defamation suits of ten billion dollars each against Rupert Murdoch's Wall Street Journal. The newspaper claimed Trump sent a lurid birthday note to the grim dead paedophile Jeffrey Epstein - something Trump has vehemently denied. Why is Trump trying to kill the Epstein story now? And why won't his MAGA base let it die? Later, has environment secretary Steve Reed really stopped water bosses bonuses? Or are they just taking home their millions in a different way?The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

This Friday, Jon and Lewis answer your questions about the Afghan data leak - what were the legal loopholes? Why hasn't the Speaker resigned? And is there a situation where you'd ever disobey a super injunction? Later, why is the Labour party at war with Diane Abbott? And is the story of the couple caught having an affair at a Coldplay concert really a public interest story worth our attention?The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

As almost 100,000 fans head to Wembley Stadium to watch Oleksandr Usyk fight Daniel Dubois to become the undisputed world heavyweight champion, Gabby and Mark are joined by boxing reporter, Steve Bunce, who never fails to make us laugh! (09:00)Plus, Gabby and Mark look back at the best bit from this week's shows! Watch our full episodes on YouTube at @sportsagentspodTikTok: @thesportsagentsInstagram: @thesportsagentsX: @sportsagentspodExecutive Producer: Adonis PratsidesProducer: Sophie PenneyVideo Producer: Sam TrudgillSocial Media Editor: Calum ScotlandGuest Booker: Kirsty GiddingsTom Hughes is Editor for The News Agents podcast networkVicky Etchells is the Commissioning Editor for GlobalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The Sports Agents".The Sports Agents have merch! You can buy yours now here!

Last night the Prime Minister chucked four of his more rebellious MPs out of the parliamentary Labour Party. Technically, he 'removed the whip' which means that for now they cannot call themselves Labour MPs. Was he right to move against them? Does it make him stronger or weaker in his job? And what message does it send out about how Starmer wants to govern? Later, why were key intelligence figures not informed of the Afghan data breach? And did the government mislead the courts over the severity of the situation?The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Questions are still mounting after the super-injunction imposed on The News Agents - to stop us reporting the story of a catastrophic data breach that put up to 100,000 Afghan allies at risk - was lifted.Who bears the heaviest burden of responsibility for creating this mess?Emily, Jon and Lewis discuss the questions that the Tories, who imposed the super injunction in 2023, need to face up to - and why Labour, who upheld the super-injunction for nearly a year, must also be held accountable.The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

The government admitted today that the superinjunction which for two years prevented us from reporting on a “catastrophic” data breach which put the lives of 100,000 Afghans at potentially lethal risk by the Taliban was “constitutionally unprecedented”.The Defence secretary stood up in the Commons to issue an apology to those Afghans whose data had been leaked, and said that it had been “deeply uncomfortable” to have kept parliament - and the public - in the dark.On the day that the story finally became public, John Healey came in to speak exclusively to Lewis, the first journalist to be issued with a superinjunction by the MoD.You can listen to Lewis's special episode on the story that the government spent two years from preventing us from telling here: https://www.globalplayer.com/podcasts/episodes/7DrsZBQ/

For nearly two years the government has taken The News Agents and other journalists to a secret court to prevent us from reporting a story of huge public interest. In August 2023 Lewis was told of a massive data breach at the Ministry of Defence - a dataset including the names and contact details of 18000 applicants to the ARAP programme, the scheme for Afghans who had helped the British armed forces in the 20 year war in the country. These people were already at risk of reprisal from the Taliban and now their details were out there, provided courtesy, in effect, of the British government. Including family members, nearly 100,000 people were affected. This led to a constitutionally unprecedented super-injunction, where the government forbade us from reporting the story, under threat of prison. We can now finally tell you the full extraordinary story as to what has happened - The News Agents were the only media organisation there every step of the way, in a case of huge importance to our politics, to the thousands of Afghans affected - and potentially to the way our democracy works in the years to come.

More in Common's latest research of 20 thousand people suggests nearly 90 percent of us have little or no trust in politicians. 70 percent of voters think this country is on the wrong track, and the prevailing word used to describe Britain is 'broken'. What does that mean for main stream political parties? How do they convince people politics can improve their lives? And will the next electoral race be between populists on the left and populists on the right? We dig into the 7 political tribes as described by More in Common's Luke Tryl and ask the man who wants to lead the Green Party - Zack Polanski why he believes Ecopopulism is the only answer to Reform UK.You can take More In Common's quiz to find out which political tribe you are here: https://www.moreincommon.org.uk/seven-segments/ The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

It would be an exaggeration to say the vultures are already circling the wagon - but there are already conversations taking place about Keir Starmer's future. Bloomberg and Sky have both reported that sources in Labour are already contemplating the prospect of a move against the PM next May after the local elections.Absolutely crucial to those results will be Wales. Labour has never been out of power since devolution in Wales - more than a quarter of a century ago. But if polling is to be believed, that could. all be about to change. Reform and Plaid Cymru, the Welsh independents, both appear to be edging ahead of Labour. And if that happens it could be a huge problem - both an existential challenge for Welsh Labour, and possibly for the PM himself. The stakes couldn't be much higher. And with that in mind, Lewis sat down with Eluned Morgan, the First Minister of Wales. In a wide-ranging interview, she talks frankly about her relationship with Keir Starmer, where she thinks Labour needs to move to stop the haemorrhaging of support, and gives one of the most frank assessments yet of Israel's actions in Gaza from a senior Labour figure. The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

More bonus content from our new-look weekend edition! The British & Irish Lions are soon to face Australia in the big three Tests, after wrapping up their warm-up games. So Gabby caught up with former Lions & England flanker, James Haskell to talk about Henry Pollock, where the team need to improve, what it's like to get a late call up like Owen Farrell and almost killing Rory Best on Tour. If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual assault support is available. You can contact The Survivors Trust on 0808 801 0818 or online for confidential help.You can watch our full episodes on YouTube here!Executive Producer: Adonis PratsidesProducer: Sophie PenneyVideo Producer: Sam TrudgillSocial Media Editor: Calum ScotlandGuest Booker: Kirsty GiddingsTom Hughes is Editor for The News Agents podcast networkVicky Etchells is the Commissioning Editor for GlobalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The Sports Agents".The Sports Agents have merch! You can buy yours now here!

Gregg Wallace's friends have been telling newspapers that his "autistic hypersensitivity" meant that he had an “oddity of filters and boundaries", including an inability to wear underwear or any tight clothing. Gregg himself has complained that the BBC neglected its duty of care to him and his recently diagnosed autism. Fifty more people have come forward this week to complain to the BBC about his alleged over-sexualised behaviour on Masterchef. Does Gregg Wallace believe he's the real victim here? Why is he selling wellness consultation? And why did those around him who saw what he was doing not stop him? Later, is Iran a threat to Britain on UK soil? How should the government respond to Iran - as diplomatic state or terrorist organisation?The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Last night on X, Elon Musk's AI chatbot - Grok - started imitating Hitler in its responses to user questions. Was this intentional? Did Musk really command his AI tool to spew out anti-semitic takes? And will this lead to any sort of regulation over AI?Later, we discuss the upcoming doctors strike. Health Secretary Wes Streeting has warned resident doctors the public "won't forgive" them, and despite a pay rise of 29% over the last three years they will still walk out at the end of the month.The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

The government has studiously avoided ruling out a wealth tax this week. Minister after minister has refused to knock down the suggestion, despite the Chancellor having dismissed the idea as recently as April. So what's changed? Could a levy on wealthy individuals be on the cards for October's budget? Would it even raise any money - or is Rachel Reeves in danger of scaring wealth creators out of Britain? We speak to the incoming director of the IFS, Helen Miller. And later, why the failure to produce an 'Epstein client list' is sending MAGA crazy - and why bad bosses who try and gag their employees are due a reckoning.The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Labour used to be the party that leapt to the defence of the BBC. So why was the Culture Secretary this weekend calling for heads to roll, saying she was "exasperated" at the broadcaster, and refusing to express confidence its director general Tim Davie? The BBC has admitted to failings in its Glastonbury coverage, which saw it stream one act chanting "death to the IDF" - despite the corporation later admitting it had deemed them "high risk" before the festival. But those admissions don't appear to have satisfied the government. Is Labour falling out of love with the BBC? And should the BBC be worried? Jon and Emily discuss with Sir Craig Oliver, former BBC News editor turned Downing Street director of politics and communications.Later, on the twentieth anniversary of the 7/7 bombings, which killed 52 people, injured more than 700, and led to the largest criminal investigation in British history - have we learnt the lessons from the tragedy? Yasmin Khan, a human rights campaigner and friend of the de Menezes family, appears in the Netflix documentary 'Attack on London', and came in to News Agents HQ. The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Twelve months ago, the Conservatives suffered the worst general election result in their near 200 year history and Keir Starmer took up the mantle at Downing Street. It's been turbulent - from riots sweeping the UK, to party divisions and economic uncertainty. This Friday, Jon and Lewis answer your questions about the Prime Minister's first year in office and look back on how his government is doing. The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Welcome to the new-look weekend edition with fresh interviews and content! With the Tour de France starting this weekend Gabby and Mark try to get their heads around the immense physical and mental challenge of winning one of the world's toughest races. They speak to the winner of the 2024 Tour de France Femmes, Kasia Niewiadoma (06:15), ex-pro cyclist, Adam Blythe, and former Team Sky nutritionist, Nigel Mitchell (21:30). You can watch our full episodes on YouTube here!Executive Producer: Adonis PratsidesProducer: Sophie PenneyVideo Producer: Sam TrudgillSocial Media Editor: Calum ScotlandGuest Booker: Kirsty GiddingsTom Hughes is Editor for The News Agents podcast networkVicky Etchells is the Commissioning Editor for GlobalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The Sports Agents".The Sports Agents have merch! You can buy yours now here!

Keir Starmer did a round of interviews this morning in a show of support for his Chancellor. And the reason was clear. After she cried in the Commons chamber yesterday the bond markets started to panic. If Rachel Reeves leaves the government, so the theory goes, her fiscal rules, her commitment to economic discipline, could be revisited. So after a bumpy week - for both Reeves and the government - has she proved to be unsackable?And if it is the same Rachel Reeves who is to blame for some of the policy blunders made in the first twelve months of Keir Starmer's premiership - is that a problem?We speak to Wes Streeting about that, as well as if he'd ever be tempted to take Ozempic...The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

There is much we still don't know or understand about today. Was Rachel Reeves upset by an altercation with the Speaker? Was the issue something more personal? Was she exhausted after the fruitless and demoralising failure of her welfare reform bill? But the sight of the Chancellor at lunch time today fighting back tears at the PM's side was pretty surreal. She looked wounded, fragile and hurt - and inevitably, it's started speculation she does not have the Prime Minister's full confidence. The markets are queasy - reflecting a panic that the government is looking less stable. Could the PM be about to sack his own Chancellor? And - how does he reassert his authority for the job he needs to do if the Labour MPs are now directing policy? We talk to Keir's former chief of staff Sam White.The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

After a lull in the Bro Wars - the sequel. This time Trump is threatening not only to remove Musk's government subsidies but even have him deported. Why? It all goes back to Musk's criticism of Trump's massive spending bill - which gives the wealthy tax cuts and removes Medicaid for 17 million Americans - and would add 3 trillion dollars to America's ballooning deficit. Could Musk start his own party? Will he really prove a political force against Trump? Which speaks louder in America - wealth or executive office? Later, how shit is Britain? Should we accept the declinist narrative of the country being broken? Or is it being exploited by creepy xenophobes? We speak to Labour MP and former pollster Chris Curtis.The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Tomorrow, Labour MPs will be asked to vote on the rejigged welfare reform bill. Senior Labour politicians Sadiq Khan and Andy Burnham still don't think it's worth the paper it's written on. But the whole debacle has thrown up a bigger question about Starmer's leadership and authority. Does anyone really understand what's in the PM's mind or what he is trying to achieve? We speak to the Starmer whisperer, Tom Baldwin. Later, Glastonbury, Bob Vylan and the BBC. And how has Wimbledon now become a symbol of Britain's decline?The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

This Friday, Lewis is joined in the studio by the newest members of the 'agents' family. Neil Basu is former head of Counter Terrorism Policing and Andy Hughes is an investigative journalist who's been covering crime for two decades. They look back on 2017, a year which the UK experienced a series of devastating terrorist attacks, to talk about what it takes to catch a terrorist, and why some slip through the net. You can listen to The Crime Agents here: https://www.globalplayer.com/podcasts/42L4DG/ The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

This week on The Sports Agents...A big exclusive ahead of the Euros with two of England's defending champions, Lauren Hemp & Niamh Charles, Gabby goes behind the scenes at Wimbledon (10:30) and after England's historic comeback we ask ex-England bowler Steven Finn if 5-day cricket is too long? (19:30)You can watch our full episodes on YouTube here. Got a question for The Sports Agents? Email us at thesportsagents@global.comNew episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

Remember how there was going to be no row back and no change to the government welfare reform bill? Well, now it seems there might be...Starmer's team are talking about the importance of “conversations with colleagues“ after an amendment signed by 120 Labour MPs showed them how easily they could lose a major vote on Tuesday. Those conversations are code - as is “listening mode“. Are we about to see a climb down? A change of policy? Or watch the whole bill disappear? We talk to Douglas Alexander about the direction of the bill, the party and our trade deal with Trump. The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

The atmosphere here at the NATO summit has been little short of obsequious towards President Trump. Leaders have worked out that if they want US buy-in to NATO they have to commit to Trump's spending demands, and flatter him into believing he is the only person who can make things happen. Well, so far it seems to be working. The US has renewed its commitment to defending other NATO countries. And the language has been expletive free. But why are NATO leaders refusing to mention Russian aggression? Will they just end up looking scared? We talk to Estonia's defence secretary and the global historian, Peter Frankopan, author of Silk RoadsThe News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

We're at the Nato summit in The Hague where Europe's leaders were hoping to put defence spending and Ukraine top of the agenda. That's before Donald Trump derailed things by swearing on the White House lawn. He's very cross that Israel and Iran aren't listening to him, and his insistence that a ceasefire is underway. Can he will a war to end just by saying it? Or are we learning how little control Trump really has over world events?The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Has Trump now decided he would like to topple Iran's leadership? He's let his cabinet tell the world that the only game here was to stop Iran becoming nuclear competent. Yet, overnight his motivation seems to have changed. Does this change the whole scenario and make an end game much harder? And what kind of conversations is Starmer now having with his inner circle about whether these strikes on Tehran are even legal?Later, the complicated response of Iranian people as their cities are being bombed. Do they welcome the chance to see the regime fall. Or will they rally to the flag?The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Trump did it - he attacked Iran. Overnight, US armed forces attacked three of Iran's nuclear development sites. Trump claims to have obliterated the nascent Iranian nuclear capabilities. Israel's PM Benjamin Netanyahu is jubilant. European leaders are uneasy. The whole world is holding its breath.What happens now? Can we even know? What does it mean for the region, for Europe and the world? And what should the British government do? Lewis and Jon discuss in a special Sunday episode, on a day when an already volatile world seemed to get that bit less certain.The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Chris Patten has done it all. Conservative cabinet minister under Thatcher and Major, our last Governor of British Hong Kong, then back home overseeing policing reform in Northern Ireland, EU Commissioner in Brussels, Chairman of the BBC, Chancellor of Oxford University, you name it, Patten has more chance than anybody of having done it. But his sort of Tory Party is one which increasingly feels consigned to history. What does it mean for Britain's future if there are no successors to the sort of politics he embodied? Now in his 80th year, Lewis went to Patten's salubrious Barnes home, to discuss a remarkable career in national and international politics. He talks the future of China, the Iran conflict, Starmer's handling of Trump and how Farage is Britain's biggest pub bore.The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

This week on The Sports Agents...Does the government actually have a good reason for the £2.5bn from the Chelsea FC sale not helping millions of children worldwide? And was former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich poisoned? (03:30)How do you train a horse for Royal Ascot? A full behind the scenes episode from one of Britain's best yards, which trained the late Queen's horses. (13:30)And what is it like to race for 24 hours in Le Mans? How do you stay awake for the night driving? (20:30)In response to the comments made in this podcast Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: “The Government is determined to see the proceeds from the sale of Chelsea Football Club reach humanitarian causes in Ukraine, following Russia's illegal full-scale invasion. We are deeply frustrated that it has not been possible to reach agreement on this with Mr Abramovich so far. While the door for negotiations will remain open, we are fully prepared to pursue this through the courts if required, to ensure people suffering in Ukraine can benefit from these proceeds as soon as possible.”You can watch our full episodes on YouTube here. Got a question for The Sports Agents? Email us at thesportsagents@global.comNew episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

Sir Keir Starmer has put his cabinet on alert for a possible US attack on Iran. Just 24 hours after insisting Donald Trump had given no indication he was about to “get involved” in the conflict between Israel and Iran, the Prime Minister called a COBRA meeting to review how Britain might respond to a major escalation. Would Starmer be able to say no to Trump? What might Trump ask us to do? And how did we get here in under a week?Later, we are joined by the Hungarian deputy foreign minister to discuss their welcome of Netanyahu, NATO, Ukraine and whether Hungarians are falling out of love with Viktor Orban.The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Later on this episode we're joined by author of 'Sapiens' and 'Nexus' - Yuval Noah Harari - to talk politics and AI. But we begin with war. The speed of the escalation between Iran, Israel, and the US has been staggering. Trump is flirting with entering a war he doesn't want, with an enemy he may not be able to control. At the heart of this conflict are questions over Iran's ability to make nuclear weapons. Netanyahu believes it's an imminent threat. Trump's own administration didn't believe this back in March. So what's actually changed? And is Iran actually nuclear ready? We discuss with Iranian analyst and former state department advisor Vali Nasr.The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Louise Casey's report on grooming gangs is incredibly tough reading. She details, over 200 pages, the repeated failings of local authorities, police forces, government departments and indeed the legal system, which treats the victims of the most horrific abuse as somehow culpable. She was tasked to look into the issue following a clamour for a national inquiry earlier this year. Bundled up in those calls - propelled by Elon Musk - was the claim that Pakistani men were responsible for the vast majority of "group-based" child sexual exploitation offences. Baroness Casey has looked at that claim. She has found a comprehensive failure of adequate data gathering, although from the records of three police forces says there is an "over-representation" of Asian and Pakistani men. She is concerned about the politicisation of the debate, the risks of racists hijacking the issue, and most profoundly, about fixing a system which still sees girls subject to heinous abuse at the hands of male predators.Baroness Casey came in to speak to Emily and Lewis, as the Prime Minister backed her call for a new national inquiry. The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

What is Israel's end game in Iran? Does it genuinely believe Iran is making nuclear weapons - or is this about overthrowing the whole regime? Did Trump make Iran more dangerous when he ripped up the diplomatic deal Obama had forged with the country? And will Trump end up dragging America into a brand new Middle East war? We talk to CNN correspondent and Ex Files host, Christiane Amanpour and ask how Iranians themselves are feeling about the prospect of their own leaders being toppled. Later, why is abortion still technically illegal in England and Wales. And does the law need to change? Tomorrow MPs will be given a free commons vote. We ask Labour backbencher Stella Creasy why pressure from America is making her bring this amendment now.The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

The last two decades have led to the last 24 hours: Israel, going for broke and launching an all out assault on Iran's nuclear programme. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu claims he is trying to prevent a “nuclear holocaust.” But why now? And in acting in this way will Israel succeed in halting an Iranian nuclear weapon or guarantee it?PLUS Lewis talks at length to Zia Yusuf, the former Reform Chairman about that weekend, where he resigned and unresigned in the space of 72 hours. Is Reform really about to storm Westminster, or rather is it its best disguised joke?The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/