Explore every episode of the podcast The News Agents

The Green party has growing pains. Its conference in Brighton this year is bustling - even despite members being urged to spend their time campaigning in Holborn and St Pancras this weekend. There's a big media presence. And there's a lot to celebrate; not least the local election results and that pivotal Gorton and Denton by-election win earlier this year.

But that's only one side of the picture. Zack Polanski's approval rating has plummeted. Stories about his tax affairs and CV have dogged the Greens for many months. Andy Burnham has turned the Labour ship around. And a motion at this conference, that 'Zionism is Racism', has dominated the coverage as the party headed down to Brighton. Even the party's former leader has criticised the motion, warning that it could be seen "as a sign that Jewish people aren’t welcome in the party."

So how do the Greens and Zack Polanski regain that sense of momentum? How can they reclaim the sense of insurgency that saw them inflicting such serious damage to Keir Starmer just a few short months ago? Or has the Green bubble simply burst?

Lewis and Jon have this special report from Green party conference in Brighton.

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

The Manchester City case has become a political story.

As calls grow for City’s owners to be removed, Prime Minister Andy Burnham says he would be sorry to see them go.

Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman are joined by Telegraph sports writer Owen Slot and The News Agents’ Jon Sopel to examine the latest fallout, what happens next for Manchester City — and what the case now means for the Premier League, its owners and the British government.

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Executive Producer: Adonis Pratsides

Senior Producer: David Finch

Video Producer: Daniel Aihie

Social Media Editor: Jasmine Wissart

Tom Hughes is Editor for The News Agents podcast network

Vicky Etchells is the Commissioning Editor for Global

You 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: https://store.global.com/collections/the-sports-agents

It's still not clear what happened at Fairford in the early hours of Sunday morning. Or why the five suspects arrested in connection with the incident were released on bail - a move even Donald Trump has criticised. But it is increasingly clear that Iran was involved. The News Agents sat down with the Head of Counter Terrorism Policing, Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, for an exclusive interview about the growing threat posed by Iran on British soil, the rise of extremism and foreign-sponsored terror on our streets, and whether Palestine Action should have been proscribed as a terrorist organisation.

And later, after the botched execution of Christa Pike in Tennessee, can the death penalty ever be justified?

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How much does it cost to top the Premier League? A secret £830 million, it seems. Manchester City, and its billionaire Abu Dhabi owners, have been found guilty of a scheme to hide millions pumped into the club, breaking UK spending rules – and possibly a few laws too. It's a problem that kicked off in the beautiful game, but is landing now in politics.

In Burnham's celebrated first speech at the Labour Party conference as leader he spoke against big corporations trampling on the average person. So will he stand with his city's big investors, or with those who feel wronged by Man City's financial actions? And how much is his legacy as Greater Manchester Mayor now tarnished by accusations of dirty money?

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Andy Burnham promised a speech of substance and he was true to his word. Big announcements on social care, the triple lock, electoral reform, the water industry, the EU - all tied together in a deeply emotional and passionate speech about his vision for Britain.

If anyone in Labour had any lingering doubts about toppling Keir Starmer, Burnham put those to bed in an hour and ten minutes on stage in Liverpool. Will it be enough to save Labour? Has his pledge to end the triple lock to fund social care become a stick to beat him with? Has he delivered on the promise to bring back hope?

Later, we speak to Scotland Secretary Douglas Alexander - who has written conference speeches since 1991 - on where Burnham's efforts ranked.

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There's a surprising buoyancy at Labour conference this year. For all the warnings of the grim economic backdrop and the myriad challenges facing Andy Burnham, his message of 'Hope Again' does seem to have registered, at least with the party faithful at Liverpool.

But John Healey couldn't really sell sunlit uplands in his speech today - he was at pains to point out that this is NOT the 1990s. And a potential diesel export ban from Donald Trump could make things a whole lot bleaker. Can Burnham sail through this conference on vibes?

And if his government is so keen on growing the economy, why can't they say where they stand on another runway at Heathrow? We speak to Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander.

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What if King Charles did tell Earl Spencer that "we’ll forget [Diana] soon enough" in the days after her death? It's one word against another but the public discourse seems pretty settled - that Diana's brother is at best misremembering, at worst lying.

How much has the Palace spin team forged that narrative? If you read the Palace statement closely, you'll notice that it never outright denies the claim, even if it does point out that "the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason".

"Never complain, never explain" is the motto associated with the Buckingham Palace media strategy. But they do complain. And they do explain - just not often publicly.

Andrew Lownie's bombshell biography of Andrew Moutbatten-Windsor - 'Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York' - shone a light on Andrew's relationship with Epstein before the release of the Epstein files. He has reported on and written about the Firm for years, but - unlike much of the Royal rota - they would much rather he didn't.

In the week where the Royals find themselves dragged into yet another scandal, he sat down with Lewis to explore how the press operation around the King works, why he believes Spencer, and what Andrew thinks now.

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The Sports Agents are at the Laver Cup 2026 in London for a special episode with three generations of tennis stars.

Andy Murray joins Gabby Logan for a wide-ranging conversation about life after tennis, the intensity of competing at the very top, and how his relationship with the game has changed.

Murray is joined by one of the biggest names in the history of the sport, Andre Agassi, who reflects on rivalry, pressure, longevity and what it takes to survive at the highest level.

And with Wimbledon Semi-Finalist Arthur Fery also joining the show, we look ahead to the next generation trying to make their mark.

From two Grand Slam greats to one of Britain’s emerging talents, this is tennis past, present and future at the Laver Cup.

Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 1:32 Andre Agassi 16:28 Arthur Fery 26:30 Andy Murray

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Executive Producer: Adonis Pratsides

Senior Producer: David Finch

Video Producer: Sam Trudgill

Social Media Editor: Jasmine Wissart

Tom Hughes is Editor for The News Agents podcast network

Vicky Etchells is the Commissioning Editor for Global

You 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: https://store.global.com/collections/the-sports-agents

On the eve of Andy Burnham’s first party conference as Prime Minister, Tony Blair has entered centre stage - to talk about rejoining the EU. Is he nudging Burnham towards his own goal? Or putting unnecessary hurdles in the new PM's way? And what is the state of the relationship between them? We talk to The New Statesman’s Tom McTague.

And, as a new mega MRP poll lands suggesting the current number of parliamentary seats each party would win if the election were held tomorrow, we analyse why a snap election is so unlikely.

The News Agents is a Global Production.

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"I made a small error and I've apologised and it will be put right in the second edition, but that's it." That's what Earl Spencer told Lorraine this morning. The error in question is about Piers Morgan. In his new book, Spencer claims that Morgan published a hidden camera photo of Diana in 1993 while working for the Daily Mirror. The big problem with that? Morgan didn't join the Mirror until 1995. He's launched legal action against Diana's brother - and speaks to Jon and Emily.

Later, Andy Burnham will be pleased that his first face to face with Donald Turmp went off without any major hiccup. Their meeting on the sidelines of the UN was actually pretty chummy in large part - so why is the UK now having to rethink its plan for the Chagos Islands as a result?

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It wasn’t meant to happen like this. When Trump decided to ban three news organisations from the White House in his latest iteration of an old man sulk, he didn’t expect the rest of the press to back them. But they have. No one took up the reins to lead the press pool - so last night went unfilmed. And various news outlets have decided not to take Trump audio either. Which is why, in a magnificent volte-face Trump ended up crashing socialist Mayor Mamdani's press conference in New York so he could find the cameras. He looks ridiculous. He knows he’s going to lose in the courts. So why are his enablers still pretending everything makes sense?

Later, why are London gangs creating their own video game out of real gang violence? An exclusive report from the streets of London by The Crime Agents Andy Hughes.

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

Trump’s war on the media has been deepening for decades - whether it’s been litigation, doxxing, intimidation or simply a ban on access - we kind of feel like we’ve seen it all before. But today one thing happened that changed all that - the broadcast media joined ranks and fought back.

After three major outlets - CNN, MS Now and Politico - were shut out of the White House, other outlets pulled their participation from the pool team. They're refusing to cover his visit to New York. So has Trump’s move spectacularly backfired?

Later, why is the German chancellor calling his own ejection result a ‘disaster’? And does it mean he’s going to follow Keir Starmer out of his own job?

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

Opinion polls are supposed to tell us what the public thinks. But what happens when the people commissioning, funding and promoting those polls have a political interest in the results?

The latest controversy surrounding Reform UK has put the polling industry under an uncomfortable spotlight. Allegations that polling commissioned by Reform was funded through an overseas company and that the party's involvement was not disclosed when the results were published have prompted investigations. Reform denies any wrongdoing, while two senior party officials have stepped down.

This Friday, Luke Tryl from More In Common joins us to explore the power that political polling has, if it can change the course of an election, and how much should we really trust the numbers?

The News Agents is a Global Production.

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

The story of Hull City owner Acun Ilicali is one of the most extraordinary in the Premier League...

TV star turned media mogul turned football club owner, Acun is a force of nature — and in this special episode of The Sports Agents, Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman meet the man himself, live and direct from Istanbul.

This is the story of a man who lost his parents in a tragic car accident, saw his marriage collapse, faced financial ruin in his early twenties — and somehow emerged to create a global media empire.

Acun tells us about the energy of the people which drew him to Hull City, how he inherited a club divided from its supporters, and how he set about rebuilding that bond.

It’s been a wild ride for Acun & Hull City, from surviving relegation to League One on goal difference to winning promotion to the top tier and upsetting the Premier League’s big boys - expect passion, energy and the ultimate underdog story in this very special episode of The Sports Agents.

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Executive Producer: Adonis Pratsides

Senior Producer: David Finch

Video Producer: Sam Trudgill

Social Media Editor: Jasmine Wissart

Tom Hughes is Editor for The News Agents podcast network

Vicky Etchells is the Commissioning Editor for Global

You 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: https://store.global.com/collections/the-sports-agents

Buckingham Palace has said it doesn't comment on book releases as a matter of principle. And yet it has commented on a new book - from Princess Diana's brother - in a way that has sparked off a news cycle.

Earl Spencer claims in his new book that in a heated row with Charles in the preparation for Diana's funeral, the then Prince spat out "Rest assured, we'll forget her soon enough". The Palace's response: "His Majesty is mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and colour memory in ways others do not recognise, even many years after such a loss."

Why has the Palace chosen to pick this public spat? Why are the Royal family unable to go a week at the moment without descending into some form of internecine warfare? And should this sort of family squabble even be published in the first place?

Later, the EU's love affair with Canada has caused Donald Trump to sit up and pay attention. He's threatening to stop trade with Europe if it feels "hostile" to America. Mark Carney says that "no one is going to dictate our culture." So what happens now?

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Six weeks out from the budget some of the critics are already circling - warning the new Prime Minister not to play it safe as “a traditional tax and spend PM with better TikTok". Is Burnham in control of events? Or is the economy being thrown further off course by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea closing off?

Later, pussycat impersonator, and leader of the Workers Party George Galloway, is back and standing in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election. Will this split the Green vote?

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

It's referendum day in Piddington. A symbolic gesture that would see it "ceding from the UK" over their frustration with the setting up of of an asylum centre on their doorstep. They’ve argued that 1250 single foreign men is too much for their modest village of 350 to handle. But now - guess who’s coming to the rescue? Danny Tommo and his masked Patriot Platform - seemingly backed by Reform's Sarah Pochin, who's said protestors would "not be unwelcome" in the village. Is this what the people of Piddington wanted?

Later, Donald Trump has told us all not to worry about the myriad warnings coming out about AI and its potential to kill us all. He's got the ultimate guardrail. And it turns out, it's him. Should we all sleep easier tonight?

The News Agents is a Global Production.

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

£36m donations are like busses for Reform - you wait ages for one and then two come along at once. Reform's £72m haul this weekend dwarfs the money raised by all the other parties - it is a simply unprecedented level of funding for British politics. There are complications. Are the donations within the rules? Could Labour change the rules to prevent them? And most importantly - can it actually make a difference? Could two crypto billionaires potentially swing an election for Nigel Farage?

Later, Anthony Scaramucci on how Trump is raking it in from crypto - and where American democracy has gone wrong.

The News Agents is a Global production.

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

Is 9/11 the most consequential event of our lifetimes? It's hard to think of another moment that so completely turned the world on its axis and rewired the assumptions that a generation had come to take for granted.

The immediate human toll was unfathomably tragic - this was the most deadly terrorist attack in history, leaving thousands dead. But what came next - and how profoundly it changed politics, American foreign policy, global warfare, and civil liberties - has radically reshaped our world.

In this episode, 25 years on from that fatal morning in New York, Jon and Emily, along with Miles Taylor - who was spurred into US politics as a result of the events of that day - explore how we're still living in the world that 9/11 made.

The News Agents is a Global Production.

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

Conor Benn’s super fight against Ryan Garcia in Las Vegas has brought the issue of Performance Enhancing Drugs in sport back into the spotlight.

While both boxers deny ever having taken PEDs, both have failed drugs tests and it remains a complex and emotive issue, particularly in potentially lethal sports such as boxing.

On this episode of The Sports Agents we have the whole conversation and not just the convenient parts of it...

Larry Olubamiwo was a British heavyweight contender before he failed a drugs test and he became a pariah. Larry joins Mark & Nedum to talk about why he chose to use PEDs, how he got away with it for so long and why he wouldn’t change a thing.

Boxing journalist Tris Dixon joins the conversation as the guys reflect on why boxers who fail tests continue to be rewarded with million-dollar purses?

You can see Larry in his new film Tales from the Trap, check out the trailer here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9YnxKj-ydg

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Executive Producer: Adonis Pratsides

Senior Producer: David Finch

Video Producer: Sam Trudgill

Social Media Editor: Jasmine Wissart

Tom Hughes is Editor for The News Agents podcast network

Vicky Etchells is the Commissioning Editor for Global

You 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: https://store.global.com/collections/the-sports-agents

“If the Republicans win, you win with us and you get $5,000”. That's what Donald Trump told an audience of Republicans in Dallas last night. The 'Trump dividend' would cost America more than a trillion dollars. Critics are already announcing that the offer is illegal, And Democrats are bragging that this is a sign of just how desperate Donald Trump is ahead of the midterms which are looking bleak. So why's he done it? Could it work? Or will Americans see through such a naked attempt to buy their voters?

Later, Nigel Farage has created the mother of all headaches for his hard right allies in France. Did he get them to agree to a migrant deal that contained a lot more than they bargained for by having two different versions of the agreement - one English, one French?

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It’s easy to paint Britain as a post-industrial nation in decline, plagued by crime and high taxes. Indeed, many do. But there’s a new power to Britain’s role on the world stage as America abandons its former allies. Whether it’s Ukraine, security, or now sanctions against West Bank settlers, Britain is in the ascendance - and not overly concerned about moving in a different direction to the US.

Have we decided that Trump is no longer important to our big decisions? Are we living in a post-American world? We speak to former foreign office SpAd Ben Judah who's arguing exactly that.

Later, what Ed Conway can’t explain about world trade, the global debt market and the UK economy isn’t worth knowing. He’s with the News Agents to talk about Trade World and where the next economic crash will come from.

The News Agents is a Global production.

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

The Israeli government has reacted with anger to the British foreign secretary’s planned ban on products from Israeli settlements.

Ed Miliband described himself in the commons as a proud British Jew, but one unafraid to criticise the heinous behaviour of Netanyahu's government towards Palestinian communities in the West Bank.

Has the UK government gone too far? Or not far enough? And what will it do to relations with Israel’s closest ally, Donald Trump?

Later - why were Harry and Meghan hearing from the King's sources at the same time we were? Why can’t the royal family just text each other. And what does it all mean for relations in the monarchy?

The News Agents is a Global production.

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

"Boo hoo". That was the reaction from Robert Jenrick, who wants to be Reform's Chancellor, to the videos showing a female heckler having her hair pulled and being beaten with a stick by Reform delegates at the party's conference in Birmingham. Lee Anderson has suggested a whip round for a new walking stick for one of the supporters involved.

Reform is quick to point to the deluge of threats Nigel Farage faces - so why won't the party condemn political violence when it is carried out by its own supporters?

Later, a new group - Patriot Platform - caused chaos in Dover and Portsmouth this weekend, mixing anti-migrant protest with direct action and intimidation, wearing balaclavas and stopping traffic. Who are they? HOPE not hate's Joe Mulhall has been monitoring the group and came into the studio.

The News Agents is a Global Production.

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

Reform conference in Birmingham was supposed to revivify Nigel Farage and his party. After unrelenting scrutiny over his undeclared £5m gift from Christopher Harborne, a parliamentary standards investigation, and a Clacton by-election which descended into farce, Farage needed this moment to get back on the front foot, set the terms of the media coverage, and show the country what Reform would look like in power.

But a Channel 4 News investigation has changed all that. Undercover filming captured two party officials trying to facilitate foreign donations - a potential criminal offence. Reform and the individuals involved deny wrongdoing, but two of Farage's closest allies have quit, and Farage is once again clouded in a stench of sleaze.

Can he turn it around and regain control of the narrative - or are we witnessing the beginninf of the end for one of Britain's most polarising politicians?

Lewis has this special report from Reform conference in Birmingham.

The News Agents is a Global Production.

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

Not long ago, women’s boxing was a different sport.

Banned in most countries and ridiculed in the rest, female fighters fought in the shadows.

Until one night in 1996.

That night Deirdre Gogarty, a painfully shy Irish woman and Christy Martin, a raging knockout artist from the coalfields of West Virginia spent 12 unforgettable minutes in each other's company and changed everything.

Their fight put women’s boxing on the map and it was the fight that inspired boxing icon Katie Taylor to pursue her dream.

As Katie Taylor prepares to bring the curtain down on her incredible career, Gabby & Mark are joined by her hero, Deirdre Gogarty to tell the story of the rise of women’s boxing - a fight for recognition which takes us from pub car parks and basement bars to Croke Park and 80,000 adoring fans.

As Mark says: “That’s one of the best interviews we’ve ever done”

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Executive Producer: Adonis Pratsides

Senior Producer: David Finch

Video Producer: Sam Trudgill

Social Media Editor: Jasmine Wissart

Tom Hughes is Editor for The News Agents podcast network

Vicky Etchells is the Commissioning Editor for Global

You 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: https://store.global.com/collections/the-sports-agents

After a bit of will he won't he, Zack Polanski has thrown his hat into the ring and announced he will stand in Keir Starmer's old seat of Holborn and St Pancras (subject to the approval of the local Green party).

It's a high stakes move for the Green leader. If he wins, in what should normally be a relatively safe Labour seat, he'll puncture Andy Burnham's argument that he can persuade Left voters to stick with Labour. But if he loses, it's Polanski's authority that will come under the spotlight. He's already been hit by a string of negative stories and plummeting poll ratings - could the north London contest make or break him?

Later, is Germany about to elect a far-right party on Sunday? The AfD have been on the march in the east of the country and look poised to win in the State elections in Saxony-Anhalt. Could it become the party's blueprint for a new breed of extremist politics in one of Europe's most powerful nations?

The News Agents is a Global Production.

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

Andy Burnham faced Kemi Badenoch for his first PMQs and while she chose to open the session with some innuendo, the hard questions soon came. Burnham has shown himself adept at diagnosis but less quick to nail his solutions to the mast. How long does he have to NOT answer questions when debt is rising and the economic headwinds are moving against him? Is he prepared to spell out - in this summer of optimism - where the pain might fall and trade offs might be made? And why are some commentators comparing him to Liz Truss? Is he being unfairly blamed for a wider global trend not of his making?

Later, why is a Massachusetts jury unable to decide if a woman who killed her three young children is guilty of murder? The trial of Lindsay Clancy has divided America - with many supporters believing her the victim of postnatal psychosis. How does the law deal with that?

The News Agents is a Global Production.

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It's the first day back at school - and Keir Starmer suddenly announces he’s out. He'd sad he'd stay as an MP just a few weeks ago - so why the change of heart? Is it a cheeky bid to wrestle the headlines from his successor? Or is he just trying to get out of Burnham's way? And what happens now to his Camden seat - will Zack Polanski try and win it for the Greens? And if he can’t - or won’t - where does that leave his party? It’s only day one of term and yup it’s all kicking off.

Later, why has America's Army Secretary just left the job complaining about Pete Hegseth? Well we can probably guess why - but what happens now? What direction does the US military take now - as it struggles to keep up with Trump's Iran flip flops. And has Hegesth himself got pretensions for the presidency?

The News Agents is a Global Production.

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

In this special Q&A edition of the show, Jon and Lewis answer your questions.

They discuss how long the Burnham bounce will last, whether Trump will attempt to cancel the midterms, and if Harry and Meghan's return will complete reshape the Royal Family (and even make Lewis a monarchist in the process)?

Plus, is there any chance Nigel Farage calls ANOTHER by-election in Clacton?

The News Agents is a Global production.

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

An explosive statement from Atletico Madrid described themselves as the "only victims" in the ongoing transfer saga surrounding their wantaway striker Julian Alvarez. Ian Wright has publicly criticised the way Arsenal have handled Gabriel Martinelli's reported exit this summer... but does every transfer saga NEED to cast someone as the villain?

British football Agent Saif Rubie, who handled Yoane Wissa's controversial transfer to Newcastle last summer, joins Gabby and Nedum to discuss the narratives that are spun and where the blame lies in reality.

And later, we're joined by Frank Warren to reflect on the story of British boxing’s next great Heavyweight hope - 21-year-old Moses Itauma - who could become the second youngest heavyweight world champion in history, behind only Mike Tyson this weekend.

Plus, reaction to the PFA awards and why Nedum declines to attend.

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Executive Producer: Adonis Pratsides

Senior Producer: David Finch

Video Producer: Samuel Trudgill

Social Media Editor: Jasmine Wissart

Tom Hughes is Editor for The News Agents podcast network

Vicky Etchells is the Commissioning Editor for Global

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

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The last two years has seen a meteoric rise for Labour's Miatta Fahnbulleh. From backbench MP, she has just joined Burnham's cabinet as the new Energy Secretary, taking over from Ed Miliband. Today, she joined us in the studio to talk about why she quit Starmer's government, the changes Labour needs, and her return as a front bench MP.

And, with a Labour leadership contest always somewhere on the horizon, we ask could Miatta Fahnbulleh one day make history and be the first woman to lead the Labour party?

The News Agents is a Global production.

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

Dolly Parton always avoided talking politics. She said you could find her opinions in her songs. She wrote about abortion, female rights, heartbreak, and wandering eyes. And yet, across America today Democrats have expressed their adoration whilst Republican president Trump lowered the flags to half-mast.

How did Dolly Parton unite people across the political divide? What is it about her that captured the hearts of a deeply polarised America? And is there a lesson that progressive politicians can learn from how she did politics?

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Rupert Lowe has a lot to be grateful to Elon Musk for. Last month, on Joe Rogan’s podcast, he credited Musk with helping to restore free speech on X. And it was Musk who publicly backed Lowe and promoted him as a political alternative to Nigel Farage - paving the path for Restore Britain.

But it would appear that Musk has also been helping to line the Restore Britain leader’s pockets. This year, Lowe is on course to earn as much from the social media platform X as he does from his salary as an MP for Great Yarmouth, after a surge in income from posts that include demands for mass deportations. So, should our Members of Parliament be making money from monetising their outrage?

Later, we are joined by Sir Anthony Seldon to talk about the his latest book - Sunak at 10. Will Rishi Sunak be the last Tory Prime Minister? And how will history look back on his legacy?

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

It’s happening again. Six years after Harry and Meghan fled Britain for California, citing the relentlessness of the British press, the reaction to their homecoming has been fevered. Why can’t we leave them alone? And do they really want to be? What does it mean for the House of Windsor? And why is Harry the only senior figure in public life seemingly without state backed security these days? Jon and Lewis dissect.

AND the US and Canada are at war - sort of. Why have the latest tariff talks collapsed and what does it tell us about how Donald Trump sees the world?

Oh - and why Andy Burnham doesn’t need to wear a tie to visit Kyiv.

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

How has a Trump family luxury development sparked a protest movement so large that it is threatening to bring down a European Prime Minister? Well that's exactly what has happened in Albania. A proposed 4 billion euro resort complex in on of the country's most cherished nature spots has led to the largest demonstrations seen there in over three decades.

Dubbed the 'Flamingo Revolution' because of the threat to Albania's birds, the capital Tirana is seeing nightly marches - sometimes attracting hundreds of thousands of people. What started off as an environmental cause has become something much bigger, with the movement demanding mass resignations and an end to what critics see as a lack of transparency, democratic backsliding and even corruption. What happens now could shape the country's future for years to come. Lewis has a special report from Albania.

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

It’s almost upon us.

A mere month after the World Cup Final, we are staring down the barrel of a brand new Premier League football season and Gabby, Mark & Nedum are as excited as a bunch of rowdy kids on Christmas eve.

Join the guys as they break down the most unpredictable Premier League season ever. We are talking about the Big 6 - who will be Mikel Arteta’s rival this season, how can Maresca replace Pep and how are Spurs part of the Big 6 after narrowly avoiding relegation…twice?!

It is the first time a Premier League season will kick off without a Klopp, Fergie, Wenger or Pep as an unprecedented NINE new Managers will take to the dugout for the first time and Nedum has concerns about almost all of these young pups.

Elsewhere there’s a raft of new rules for Gabby & Mark to make sense of before they host Match of the Day this weekend, and the newly promoted sides come under the spotlight as Ipswich Town spend money like a sailor on shore leave.

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Executive Producer: Adonis Pratsides

Senior Producer: David Finch

Video Producer: Samuel Trudgill

Social Media Editor: Jasmine Wissart

Tom Hughes is Editor for The News Agents podcast network

Vicky Etchells is the Commissioning Editor for Global

You 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: https://store.global.com/collections/the-sports-agents

It's nearly a week on from the death of Jason Arday, the Cambridge professor who came under scrutiny after allegations of plagiarism were levelled against him. Even after his resignation, media coverage scrutinised his work, personal achievements and medical conditions. Former students and class mates were chased for interviews and the story continued to grow. At a vigil for Arday on Monday, Lord Simon Woolley told how just days before his death Arday had told him that he was being 'hounded to death.'

In the immediate aftermath of his death there was a question over whether there might be a reckoning in the media about the role it played as the story unfolded. But, with some doubling down on the coverage, others issuing statements of apology, and others simply moving on, are we learning the wrong lessons from the death of Jason Arday? And where is the line between pursuing the truth and a witchhunt? We're joined by FT associate editor and columnist Stephen Bush.

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Borrowing costs have hit new highs in some of the world's biggest economies. While Trump's war with Iran is behind some of rise, it's the AI effect that is spooking some market analysts. A huge surge in corporate borrowing for AI development and data centre building has led to fears that there are risks involved in betting on an artificial intelligence boom - and investors are demanding higher returns on their lending as a result.

Data centres have become increasingly under the political spotlight too. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro - a recent cheerleader of AI - has changed tack and is now placing tight restrictions on data centre development in his State. Closer to home, Scotland is home to an almighty row about a proposed site near Fife - with campaigners claiming it could demand more energy than half of Scottish homes. If AI growth starts to stutter, and the public and politicians turn on the Big Tech developers, could our economies experience a collapse akin to the 2008 crash?

Later, why Volodymyr Zelenskyy has experienced arguably his toughest day since Russia's invasion - and is facing fresh calls to hold an election.

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

A leading Democrat was mid stump speech which he suddenly sent the crowd wild. It wasn’t his mention of Trump's failed Iran war. It wasn't an attack on his tariffs, or his failed cost of living policies. It was the moment he let slip that the only thing Trump is interested in is his ballroom and his "travel with Natalie". So who is Natalie Harp? Why have Democrats been pushing unsubstantiated innuendo about the President and his aide? And could this turn into a real political headache for Trump? Or have the Democrats just turned a bit... Trumpian?

Later, was Reform's Tim Montgomerie too outspoken? He’s been unceremoniously suspended after his latest candid tweet that said about Zia Yusuf what many others were thinking - he’s wandered off the reservation a little too far. Is there any room in Nigel Farage's Reform for dissent? Or is it little more than a cult of personality?

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The chancellor of Cambridge University today has condemned the "racist feeding frenzy" around Jason Arday. Arday was found dead on Friday after a relentless slew of articles querying the veracity of his academic work and life story. Was it really in the public interest to scrutinise every aspect of his life - even after he'd resigned from his post? Or did the controversy around Jason Arday's appointment become a bloodsport for the British media? Would he have faced anything like the same level of hostility if he had been white?

Later, why are Albanians taking to the street every night in such great numbers to demand the toppling of their government? And why are the Trump family so intimately involved?

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

The people of Clacton will be relieved it’s over, but one candidate was conspicuously absent from the proceedings last night: Nigel Farage. He and his team will say he was advised not to attend because of a security threat, Essex police deny any such advice.

Nonetheless, in a surprise to absolutely no one, Farage won the Clacton by-election, seeing off a record 33 other candidates. But just how impressive was the victory? Is Farage’s win really as big as he’d have us believe? Or is it even more hollow than the bin he defeated?

And, with the by-election behind him, attention now turns to the investigation into his £5 million in donations, which was swiftly reopened once the results were in. What happens next for Farage? And what does the Clacton result really tell us about his political future?

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

The England Men’s test cricket team are in a hole. After a spectacular collapse at home to New Zealand which saw the end of Stokes, McCullum and the ‘Bazball’ era earlier this summer England now face a must win series against Pakistan.

But guess what?

Their new test coach, who has never coached a test team, is in New Zealand and it’s all got Mark Chapman feeling a bit down about his favourite sport. Nedum, Gabby & Mark are joined by Wisden editor Lawrence Booth to discuss an ECB omni shambles and the immediate future, however bleak, of England Men’s test cricket team.

In happier news the EFL kicks off this weekend and the guys bring you all the big stories which should be on your radar as The Championship, League One & League Two curtain raisers.

Elsewhere Stuart Broad’s viral solar eclipse commentary at The Hundred and Gabby’s incredible impression of a Birmingham accent will delight and offend in equal measure.

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Executive Producer: Adonis Pratsides

Senior Producer: David Finch

Video Producer: Samuel Trudgill

Social Media Editor: Jasmine Wissart

Tom Hughes is Editor for The News Agents podcast network

Vicky Etchells is the Commissioning Editor for Global

You 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: https://store.global.com/collections/the-sports-agents

Not content with calling a former Defence Secretary a "traitor" and getting a ticking off from Nigel Farage, Zia Yusuf has outdone himself today. He's accused Vodafone of aiding and abetting the "invasion of Britain" by handing out SIM cards to British charities - one such charity works with migrants in Calais. In an open letter today he's told the Vodafone board a Reform government would jail them if this happened under their watch. Is it actually Zia Yusuf who needs his SIM card taken off him?

Later, Karoline Leavitt has decided that with two toddlers in her life she doesn't have the capacity to work for a third in the White House. How much or a loss will she be to MAGA?

The News Agents is a Global Production.

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

"The West Bank is at breaking point" - the words of a top UN official at a Security Council meeting in New York last night. Settler violence has been ramping up. Two Palestinian homes have been under siege with the weekend, with families warning that their supplies are running out. The IDF has denounced the “illegal, reprehensible and unacceptable” establishment of settler outposts inside West Bank villages but doesn't seem to be doing much to dismantle them. Why is the violence on the rise? Are the Israeli elections fuelling extremist action? And can anything be done to stop it? We speak to the Jerusalem-based reporter Noga Tarnopolsky.

Later, fifty police chiefs from across the UK have warned that the early release of PC Andrew Harper's killers would undermine police morale and faith in the justice system. Andy Burnham is scrambling to find a solution to his first major test as Prime Minister. But should we be wary of our police forces wading into politics on this scale?

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It turns out running a poll to ask Twitter whether Ben Wallace should be prosecuted for treason is perhaps not savvy politics.

Zia Yusuf. the Reform home affairs spokesman has today been slapped down by his leader Nigel Farage for labelling the former Tory defence secretary a "traitor" for allowing thousands of Afghans into the country. Farage has said the language is "over the top" and that Yusuf will be getting a "ticking off". A poll today has Reform at their lowest since the 2024 general election. Are Reform crashing out hard? Why is it that after getting so much right - it now seems like they are getting everything wrong?

Later, comedian and host of the Screen Rot podcast Jacob Hawley has been campaigning to save the high street for years. Today, Andy Burnham announced plans to stop rogue vape shops, barbers and confectionary stores from popping up all over the place. Did he nick the idea from Jacob's podcast? Jacob is on tour this autumn with a new show, 'Fighting Age Man'.

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

Is the Democratic party fundamentally metamorphosing? After Abdul El-Sayed's victory in Michigan last week, attention is turning to another big test for the Democratic Socialists in Wisconsin. There, the progressive candidate is being dragged for old social media posts suggesting she wanted to cancel Thanksgiving. Is the Dem new breed too woke? Or are they exactly what the party needs to breathe new life into the fight against Trump?

Later, why is Ukraine pummelling the Russian equivalent of Amazon - Wildberries - and is the tactic working? Jon speaks to the New York Times reporter Nataliya Vasilyeva who has been taking a close look at what's going on.

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

A northern leader. A sudden change at the top. A cost of living crisis engulfing the country. A Labour party accused of tacking left. Not Andy Burnham in 2026, but Harold Wilson in 1963.

Considering his priorities and his focus, Burnham would do well to learn the lessons from Labour's last great northern leader. A four-time election winner, a progressive pioneer, a comms master, who shaped the country in his image.

Nick Thomas-Symonds was until recently the Minister in charge of our relations with the EU. He'd been on the Labour frontbench for 11 years - but Burnham's ascendance brought an end to his time in government.

A close ally of Starmer's, he's also a respected historian and a biographer of Labour PM's past. We asked him into the News Agents studio, to look at politics through an historical and contemporary lens: what were those last days of in the Starmer bunker like? Why has the European question dogged British politics? How will Starmer be remembered? And what can Andy Burnham learn from one of the political geniuses of the 20th century?

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

Who does football really belong to?

After the highest grossing world cup of all time, and as FIFA & UEFA accuse each other of selling football’s soul, Gabby Mark & Nedum debate who sport belongs to and surprise, surprise it aint the fans.

But are supporters in the stands really just props for a TV product or do they still have a genuine stake in the sports they pay so much to follow?

Elsewhere as the opening weekend of the Championship looms large, the guys tell the tale of Lincoln City with CEO Liam Scully. For the first time in 65 years The Imps will kick a ball in the second tier of English football and it is all thanks to a miracle FA Cup run a decade ago.

📩 Got a question for The Sports Agents? https://forms.gle/9SBbW1SYWqXLKnRT7

🖥️ Watch our full episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SportsAgentsPod

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Executive Producer: Adonis Pratsides

Senior Producer: David Finch

Video Producer: Samuel Trudgill

Social Media Editor: Jasmine Wissart

Tom Hughes is Editor for The News Agents podcast network

Vicky Etchells is the Commissioning Editor for Global

You 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: https://store.global.com/collections/the-sports-agents

24 hours on from the Tory neo-Nazigate , a curious development. The candidate himself, Joshua Bonehill-Paine, has now withdrawn from the election in Somerset council - only to find himself promoted by the Conservative leader herself to a national advisory role.

Why is 'no gaffes' Kemi choosing this eccentric hill to make her point - and what in fact is it? Meanwhile, she’s given an interview ruling out any future pact with Reform - and lambasting THEIR leader as "too woke". All ok, Kemi?

Later, the singer Tulisa was the victim of a sting 13 years ago by the Sun on Sunday. It nearly destroyed her life. She tells Emily why she wants to make this kind of journalism illegal - and the petition she’s begun to change the way newspapers are regulated.

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