Suella Braverman wants to make it harder for people to call themselves a refugee. She's in Washington setting out her case for a major overhaul of the UN Refugee Convention - signed in 1951 in the aftermath of the Second World War (but updated continually since). She says the numbers of people crossing the channel now make it unsustainable. Is she right? And where are her numbers coming from....Also today we speak to Naomi Klein on the war against objective truth - her new book is about being confused with a conspiracy theorist. And Lewis is back from the Lib Dem conference and an interview with Ed Davey.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson-SmithYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Rishi Sunak and his lectern are promising 'long term decisions for a brighter future'. But just whose future is getting brighter? Plans for HS2 are in chaos after rumours the PM might be about to ditch the wildly over-budget rail project. He's called environmental policies heavy handed - and ditched some of those targets. And now his ministers are starting to suggest that inheritance tax could be 'deeply punitive'. Will that be axed too? And we discuss the outlier poll for ABC news which gives Trump a 10 point lead over Biden in a presidential election.[Clip credit: Trevor Phillips on Sky News]Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson-SmithYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Gordon Smart was the editor of The Scottish Sun, and deputy editor of the Sun. But before that, he was the paper's showbiz editor who got to know very well, among others, Russell Brand. He sits down with Emily and Lewis to talk about the man that's been accused of sexual assault and rape, as well as debauchery in tabloid journalism and showbiz in the 2000s and 2010s.Russell Brand denies all allegations of sexual impropriety.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson-SmithYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

92 year old Rupert Murdoch is stepping down as chairman of News Corp, the owner of The Sun, The Times and Fox News - he was in charge of his media empire for 70 years.In true Succession style, his eldest son, Lachlan takes over. Emily and Lewis ask one of his former prodigal sons, Gordon Smart - who once was deputy editor of The Sun and editor of The Scottish Sun - about the man who used to be his boss. And later, we discuss the ramifications of Rishi Sunak's changes to his net-zero policies.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson-SmithYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Zac Goldsmith, one time energy minister, who resigned from Rishi Sunak's government, has accused his old boss of delivering a 'moment of shame' after he revealed plans to adjust (water down) his commitment to green policies. Rishi Sunak was propelled into explaining his new position in a hastily arranged press conference after details were leaked to the BBC. What effect will these changes have environmentally, economically, and politically. And why are Tory MPs now tearing strips off each other? We speak to Lord Greg Barker - former energy minister and Anna Valero who advises the chancellor.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson-SmithYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Youtube has announced it's demonetising Russell Brand's video content on its site - in other words, pulling the ads from the content he makes. The BBC and Channel 4 have said they are withdrawing 'some' Russell Brand content. But in an age where Brand can reach 6.5 million subscribers and sell out Wembley, does any of this stuff really hurt him? Also today, we hear from the son of Jimmy Lai - the world's richest political prisoner -and British citizen - who has stood up for Democracy against Chinese dictators. Why hasnt the UK government done more to fight for his freedom?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson-SmithYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Emily and Jon host a weekly podcast; giving you everything you need to know about the world of US politics and how it affects you.Episodes are available every Tuesday exclusively on Global Player and all other platforms every Wednesday.Find the latest episode of News Agents USA here on Global Player.

**CW: This podcast includes discussions of rape and sexual assault**This weekend saw the culmination of an extraordinary piece of investigative journalism that began four years ago. In 2019 Russell Brand - now accused of rape and sexual assault by women featured in the Sunday Times and Dispatches investigation - began a path of reinvention as a “ wellness guru “, eschewing main stream media platforms for a YouTube following of over six million. So was the defensive reaction by so many of his fans already baked in? We discuss with Rosamund Urwin and Louisa Compton who broke the story.Later, just when you thought it was safe to go back to your mortgage broker, Liz Truss is back. She’s unrepentant, she’s back on the tax cutting path and she says none of what happened was her fault...Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson-SmithYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

There is no money left.The reason Britain can afford less and less is apparently because we have no money. It's why we can't spend on schools, on hospitals, on defence. But what if it's not actually about scarcity at all?Today, Lewis reimagines our state's finances and argues why we need to talk about wealth.And - it's the first time in US history that a sitting President's child has been criminally prosecuted. Lewis talks to Olivier Knox of the Washington Post about what it means for Joe Biden and his bid to be re-elected ahead of Donald Trump now that his son Hunter is now facing serious jail time, should he be found guilty. Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson-SmithYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Penny Mordaunt, the Leader of the House of Commons, has accused the Leader of the Opposition of having no balls. No, she seriously did - comparing Sir Keir Starmer to flip flop beach Ken. But beach Ken, as it happens, is currently talking to Europol at The Hague trying to work out a plan to stop small boats by treating people smugglers like terrorists. The Tories say it will make us a dumping ground for migrants. We discuss. And as former presidential candidate Mitt Romney quits the US Senate, we ask what this tells us about US politics.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson-SmithYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

BREAKING NEWS: Rishi Sunak’s SpAd has hit back at Keir Starmer's ‘Inaction Man‘ gag and called him - wait for it - a ‘man of action’. But first, Labour is voting against the government’s bill to build more new homes. Why? Because the Tories say they would rip up old EU environmental regulation to get morew homes built. Do we really have to choose between the two? Conservatives argue the ‘nutrient neutral ‘ regulations are out dated. Labour says it’s ridiculous to wait 13 years for a solution which then endangers the land. And Later we give the Lib Dems the right to respond to the row over the by-election in Nadine Dorries' old seat.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson-SmithYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

"The battle for the General Election is getting started" - that was the message from Labour's Deputy Leader today. Angela Rayner made also a promise to change anti-strike laws within the first 100 days of a Labour government, in her speech to the TUC.So on the day that Labour gets serious about the next election, Emily hears from Labour's Peter Kyle - the new Shadow Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology.He's also running their campaign in the Mid Bedfordshire by-election and claims the Lib Dems there have launched "personal attacks" on the Labour candidate there.The Lib Dems say no personal attacks have been made. A source said:  "People in Mid Bedfordshire are disappointed that Labour have chosen a London councillor as a candidate to represent their rural towns and villages. After Nadine Dorries, people want a local MP, not someone who has been parachuted in." And could there be a spy for China in Parliament? If so, how did they get there and what damage could be done? Christopher Steele, former head of the Russia desk at MI6 joins Emily in the studio.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson-SmithYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Emily and Jon host a weekly podcast; giving you everything you need to know about the world of US politics and how it affects you.Episodes are available every Tuesday exclusively on Global Player and all other platforms every Wednesday.Find the latest episode of News Agents USA here on Global Player.

*CW: This episode contains discussions about suicide* More than a hundred of you - our listeners - have been in touch to share your own experiences with mental health care (or lack of it) in this country. Collectively, you paint a picture of a system in crisis, a pandemic particularly amongst the young which we cannot deal with. We hear from Roman Kemp - who's called on the government to put mental health provision in all our schools. And we talk to those working on the front line who offer their understanding of brain chemistry - where it's going wrong and what's happening in our society.Samaritans have helplines open to all callers including young people 24/7. They also respond to emails and have an online chat system that uses volunteers and not bots. You can find Samaritans by calling 116 123.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson-SmithYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

David Lammy, the next Foreign Secretary?This felt like the week when Labour really began to be treated as a government-in-waiting. One area which has barely been considered is how the party will handle foreign policy, Britain’s place on the world stage. David Lammy, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, talks to Lewis at length about what he wants to do if he gets that top job and his political journey. Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson-SmithYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

How does a man wearing red and white check trousers escape from a prison underneath a moving truck?Daniel Khalife - as we record - is still on the run. So where has he gone, how did he do it and what are the implications of the whole saga?Also on today's episode - Chris Pincher resigns as an MP, Britain (sort of) rejoins the... via the Horizon project) and we discuss abortion laws in Mexico.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson-SmithYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Could Suella's new Illegal Immigration Act be about to backfire horribly on the Home Office? Over the last year, money to house asylum seekers has come from the Department for International Aid. It's taken nearly 30 percent of their budget or just over £3.7billion. But the introduction of the new law - which criminalises asylum seekers - means that the government is no longer allowed under OECD rules to spend Aid money on them. Instead - the money looks like it may have to come from the Home office itself. Yup - all the money this government would prefer to be spending on policing, anti-terror, fire services etc. Was this a big fat own goal? Or is the government prepared to break international rules to avoid the change?Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson-SmithYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

A government poster warning us "MOST SCHOOLS ARE UNAFFECTED" by lethal crumbling concrete may not offer the reassurance the Department for Education is aiming for. Indeed it was a gift to Labour - whose comms department instantly retorted with "Most swimmers not at risk of sharks". So what has happened to capital spending on schools since the Conservatives came to power? And what on earth is going on inside Number 10?Later, we look at why Birmingham City Council has gone bust.... with our own resident Brummie.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson-SmithYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Emily and Jon host a weekly podcast; giving you everything you need to know about the world of US politics and how it affects you.Episodes are available every Tuesday exclusively on Global Player and all other platforms every Wednesday.Find the latest episode of News Agents USA here on Global Player.

The blame for the school concrete scandal has landed right at the Prime Minister's feet - after a former civil servant from the Department for Education revealed it was Chancellor Sunak that cut the funding for rebuilding schools five years ago. But it's his Education Secretary - Gillian Keegan - who's conducting the political heat today after a sweary off-mic rant which she is almost certainly now regretting. In fact she gave a subsequent apology ON mic. The News Agents are back - yes all three - asking what it means for our children's education - and how damaging it is to the Sunak government. And as Keir Starmer shuffles his top team, we ask what it tells us about Labour's priorities a year out from an election.Editor: Tom HughesSenior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickPlanning Producer: Alex BarnettSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Producer: Will Gibson-SmithYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.