The News Agents - USA

They unpack Trump’s surprising dominance in Indiana state races and how his PAC money reshaped local primaries. They debate a reported Iran memorandum and whether recent pauses signal real diplomacy or political theater. They also explore rising gas prices, GOP midterm risks, and shifting political loyalties in Middle America.

Fiona Hill, former senior US national intelligence official who advised on Russia policy and testified in 2019, joins to unpack geopolitics. She discusses US–Israel ties and shifting Middle East priorities. She explores Trump’s rapport with Putin and other strongmen, how praise and disinformation give foreign leverage, and why traditional White House restraints feel weaker now.

A heated look at redistricting battles from Virginia to Texas and how map changes tilt power. Discussion of the Supreme Court rulings that reshaped gerrymandering. Examination of Democrats adopting hardball tactics and the rising pugilist wing within the party. Debate over national stakes, Florida threats, voting-rights erosion, and the moral consequences of fighting dirty.

Has Trump’s erratic behaviour and threatening rhetoric over the last few weeks rendered him unfit for office? The question seems an obvious one to House Democrats - who are petitioning to remove him under 25th amendment. They won’t succeed. No one ever has. But it raises a bigger question of how many and for how long those around Trump are prepared to stand by and do nothing.Miles Taylor was in the DHS in Trump's first term. He became a whistleblower - now being investigated by Trump's DOJ for 'treason' for telling the world what went on. He is with us on today’s episode and takes us into the conversations he’s having behind the scenes with Republican legislators right now.The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Marc Short, former White House legislative director and Mike Pence chief of staff now leading a conservative think tank. He discusses Trump's Iran rhetoric and its domestic political fallout. He examines economic hits from higher oil prices and shifting GOP donor support. He reflects on White House dynamics, aides being discarded, and the risks to Republican midterm prospects.

Jim Himes, U.S. Congressman and ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, offers inside perspective on congressional briefings and legal-strategic questions around Iran. He criticizes limited notice and unclear objectives. He warns about reckless timelines, fractured alliances, congressional war powers, and political fallout as economic pain reshapes priorities.

Paul Krugman, Nobel Prize–winning economist and New York Times columnist, weighs in with sharp analysis. He discusses suspicious pre-announcement trading tied to Trump's Iran claim. He explains how market moves and oil shocks from a Hormuz shutdown could ripple globally. He also considers why investigations seem unlikely.

A split emerges within MAGA over Trump’s approach to a possible war with Iran. A former adviser weighs in on NATO, allied reluctance and whether the Strait of Hormuz should be reopened. The conversation probes messaging to families, the risk of ground forces, and whether hardline voices are driving party direction.

John Bolton, former U.S. National Security Advisor and hardline Iran hawk, discusses the Iran conflict and U.S. strategy. He critiques preparation and argues regime change remains the aim. Conversation covers vulnerabilities in the Strait of Hormuz, risks of stopping short, and how political calculations shape military moves.

They probe why strikes on Iran happened and why official explanations keep shifting. They explore whether the action counts as a war and who gets to decide. They examine MAGA backlash and whether the Republican base might peel away. They consider how rising gas prices and economic pain could reshape midterm politics and what that means for control of Congress.