The News Agents
Global
Emily Maitlis, Jon Sopel and Lewis Goodall – three of the UK’s top journalists – host an award-winning daily news podcast: The News Agents.
They’re not just here to tell you what's happening, but why. Expect astute analysis and explanation of the day's news – and a healthy dose of scepticism and the ability to laugh at it all when needed.
Episodes are available every weekday afternoon. You can listen to The News Agents on Alexa, just say "Alexa ask Global Player to play The News Agents"
The News Agents is a Global Player Original podcast.
For advertising opportunities on this podcast email: dax@global.com
You can visit our website here https://www.thenewsagents.co.uk/
They’re not just here to tell you what's happening, but why. Expect astute analysis and explanation of the day's news – and a healthy dose of scepticism and the ability to laugh at it all when needed.
Episodes are available every weekday afternoon. You can listen to The News Agents on Alexa, just say "Alexa ask Global Player to play The News Agents"
The News Agents is a Global Player Original podcast.
For advertising opportunities on this podcast email: dax@global.com
You can visit our website here https://www.thenewsagents.co.uk/
Episodes
Mentioned books
103 snips
Mar 27, 2026 • 48min
Special Report: Why MAGA hates Britain
Liz Truss, former British Prime Minister and international political figure, appears in coverage as a CPAC speaker. The conversation traces CPAC’s shift from triumphalism to unease. It highlights growing anti‑Britain rhetoric, fears about Islamism, and a transatlantic network amplifying alarmist claims. The tone moves from sunny optimism to a darker, exclusionary politics.
Mar 27, 2026 • 28min
Are football's new 'Ultras' a force for good? - The Sports Agents
Andy Hughes, investigative journalist who has gone undercover on football hooliganism, joins to unpack Scotland's ultras. He explores their community-building, skill-sharing and tifos. He also probes risks: online radicalisation, mob mentality and where passion can tip into violence. Short, sharp and focused on the culture and its dangers.
126 snips
Mar 26, 2026 • 35min
How Trump lost control of the Iran war
Steve Reed, UK Housing Secretary tackling foreign interference rules in donations. Negin Sharagi, Iranian activist and director of the Azadi Network on Women, Life, Freedom. They discuss Trump's claims about Iran, Iran's leverage over the Strait of Hormuz and global energy risks. Conversation covers how the war has silenced protests and the UK’s moves to curb hostile political funding.
74 snips
Mar 25, 2026 • 46min
McSweeney's missing Mandelson messages
Ibram Kendi, scholar of racism and author, unpacks the rise and harms of Great Replacement theory. Agi Chombray, deputy political editor, breaks down the McSweeney phone transcript, missing Mandelson messages and the political fallout. Short, sharp takes on disappearing messages, timelines and how these stories feed public cynicism.
108 snips
Mar 24, 2026 • 32min
Are Trump's friends getting filthy rich on his “peace deal“?
Sudden, massive trades in oil and S&P minutes before a Trump announcement spark insider-trading alarms. Anonymous prediction markets and opaque betting platforms come under scrutiny. Debate over whether the move was meant to calm markets or enrich allies. Discussion of backchannels for talks with Iran, possible US envoys, and the regional risks around the Strait of Hormuz.
103 snips
Mar 23, 2026 • 44min
Has Trump invented his peace deal with Iran?
A surprise presidential post claims breakthrough talks with Iran, then Tehran immediately denies it, sparking a market rally and oil-price gyrations. Conversation explores whether the message was sincere, strategic brinkmanship, or market manipulation. Discussion also covers UK government reactions, trade implications with the US, and local security incidents linked to regional tensions.
123 snips
Mar 20, 2026 • 40min
The case for Trump's war in Iran
Dr Muhannad Saloom, an international politics and security academic based in Doha, explains why he sees a coherent US-Israeli military strategy against Iran. He describes daily life under strikes and argues the campaign aims to degrade Iran’s forces and nuclear capabilities. He discusses regime impacts, surveillance of enriched uranium, and whether military pressure can force surrender or long-term constraints.
18 snips
Mar 20, 2026 • 22min
How Morocco snatched Senegal's AFCON crown - The Sports Agents
Steven Caulker, former Sierra Leone international, offers a player’s perspective on the AFCON fallout. Zayn Naabi, sports commentator and pod co-host, breaks down CAF’s ruling and its legal quirks. They debate the slow ruling, medal awkwardness, historical precedents and political influence in African football. Short, sharp takes on what this controversy means for the game.
199 snips
Mar 19, 2026 • 43min
Is Iran winning the war?
A sharp rundown of escalating strikes and damaged Gulf energy infrastructure. A look at asymmetric Iranian tactics and why control of shipping lanes matters. Debate over US military options, political divides at home, and the risk of wider escalation. Comparisons to 1970s energy shocks and the global fallout for markets, airlines and European economies.
80 snips
Mar 18, 2026 • 41min
Why do the Conservatives have a problem with Muslims praying in public?
Alan Rusbridger, former editor of The Guardian and investigative journalist, joins to unpack a New World probe into GB News and Ofcom. He discusses how the investigation scored widespread impartiality failures. Short, sharp takes cover why regulators seem reluctant to act and what parliamentary scrutiny might do next.
