The News Agents

59 million Americans have already gone to the polls ahead of election day - but tonight we find out if those predictions of a Blue Democrat wave are actually right. We’re joined by Piers Morgan to analyse where the MAGA movement is now. And we get his predictions for the races ahead.

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"If we lose Texas, we lose America." Those are the words of Ken Paxton, Trump's scandal-plagued candidate for the Texas Senate seat. He shouldn't be having to issue that warning. Texas has always been Trump county - there is no clear path to the White House for the Republicans without it. And yet, if the polls are right, the Democrats could be on course for an historic victory.

James Talarico has electrified voters with his brand of Christian populism, and even he seems more interested in criticising Elon Musk than Donald Trump. Is this the last stand for MAGA? And why are so many Texan Republicans starting to think about life after Trump? Lewis has a special report from Texas.

The News Agents is a Global production.

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

The News Agents are in Washington DC to begin their week of midterms coverage - and there's a huge story out of Michigan - as Democrat Haley Stevens switched sides this weekend to support the Republicans instead of fellow dem Abdul El-Sayed in the race for the Senate.

Stevens has long had a problem with El-Sayed - the man who defeated her in the Michigan primary for Senate. But her move yesterday left Democrats spitting blood.

Does Stevens have a point when she talks about the anti-semitic rhetoric that surrounds parts of his campaign? Or has she just blown her moral high ground by siding with a Trump puppet who has peddled in Islamophobia? And how much does this Michigan row reflect what’s happening more widely in the Democratic Party?

Later, the latest New York Times polls are looking a little too good for the Democrats. Will this make it harder to get out the vote? And how much leeway should we allow pollsters for their much vaunted “margin of error“?

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Trump's popularity is at record lows. What impact will this have on Americans going to vote in the midterm elections next week? Today we lay out the races to watch on Tuesday night, and ask whether Congress could really go Democrat. What will that mean for American foreign policy, for us, and for the presidential race of 2028? We’re joined by Miles Taylor - Trump's former state department Chief of Staff - now wanted for treason by the president.

The News Agents is a Global prodcution.

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

At just 11 years old, James McClean was making petrol bombs on the streets of Derry. Years later, he would be playing in the Premier League.

Growing up in the shadow of the Troubles, McClean's journey from the streets of Creggan to 103 caps for the Republic of Ireland and captaining Wrexham during their Hollywood rise has been anything but conventional.

In this special episode of The Sports Agents, McClean joins Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman to reflect on a remarkable life in football — from his Premier League career to the poppy controversy, the years of abuse from opposition supporters and his refusal to compromise on his beliefs.

Drawing on his autobiography The Walls, he opens up about his childhood, the pressures of professional football, his struggles with anger, the importance of family and the experiences that have shaped the man behind the headlines.

An honest and sometimes uncomfortable conversation about football, identity, loyalty and the price of standing by your convictions.

James McClean's autobiography The Walls, published by Sandycove is out now.

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Executive Producer: Adonis Pratsides

Senior Producer: David Finch

Video Producer: Sam Trudgill

Digital Content Producer: 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

The turn out of Arab voters in Israel’s election this week was unprecedented - 800 thousand, or 15 percent, of the country went to the polls. Many were driven there to oust Benjamin Netanyahu from power - the man they blame for security failures, inhumane policies, and rising crime.

Today, Netanyahu accused them of “stealing the election” and ordered the intelligence agencies to investigate whether Qatari money was boosting the Arab parties. Has he stolen straight from the Trump playbook? Will he disenfranchise the Arab vote? And will he tarnish any party that tries to work with them? It’s all part of a plan to stay in power.

Later, how the chancellor ended up in his own Thick of It moment.

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

If the Chancellor wanted to deliver a quiet budget then this was probably it. Even the opposition couldn’t find that many big ticket items to criticise, leaving Kemi Badenoch plaintively asking: "is that it?". Big decisions were delayed through taskforces and spending reviews into next year. Small measures will help small businesses, families with skyrocketing energy bills, the high street, and dads on paternity leave. But broadly this Budget contained tonnes of little things - small measures that won’t make much of a fiscal ripple. Is the Chancellor too hemmed in by Labour's red lines and the reverberations of Trump and Netanyahu's wars to really make a difference? And why is his PM still pushing on the Europe door? We ask Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds.

Later - Israel has voted, so why don't we know whether Netanyahu is finished or not?

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

Andy Burnham clearly likes talking about Brexit. This weekend, he said he would welcome an "honest discussion" about the prospect of returning to freedom of movement with the EU. Yesterday, he was reiterating that he'd like to see us rejoining in his lifetime - though insisted that "the public are the bosses". But despite the warm words, it's not actually clear what he's proposing. And, indeed, Downing Street had to come forward to clarify that the PM isn't 'proposing' a return to freedom of movement - or indeed any other particular option - at this stage. Should Burnham be a bit clearer about what outcome he actually wants? Would moving closer to the EU be the easiest way to get some more growth into the economy? Or is there method in the vague position he currently occupies?

Later, on the eve of the Budget, Darren Jones - intensely involved in the Budgets of Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves - speaks to Jon and Emily about the challenges ahead for the Treasury, and how Labour can "meet the moment" in a perilous political climate.

The News Agents is a Global Production.

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

It has been a busy weekend of election watching with some stupendous results. In Belgrade, the Russian friendly Aleksandar Vucic conceded defeat when a grass roots student movement on an anti corruption platform ended his 12 year hold over Serbia. In Brazil, "Lula's Army" - a ten million strong WhatsApp group - helped the 80-year-old defeat the son of Trump's mate Jair Bolsonaro.

What does this mobilisation of the youth vote presage for elections in Israel tomorrow and for the American midterms next week? Is Trump a help or a hindrance to those leaders he vocally supports?

The News Agents is a Global Production.

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

On January 20 2025 Donald Trump marked the first day of his second term as president by signing an executive order creating a new taskforce: the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Led by Musk, who had spent more than $250m on Trump’s presidential campaign, DOGE was charged with slashing federal spending, cutting government waste and reducing the size of the workforce.

This Friday, Lewis is joined by Michael Lewis, bestselling author of The Big Short, Moneyball and The Blind Side, to discuss his latest book, Blockers: Rebels in the Deep State. It takes us inside Elon Musk’s DOGE through the stories of the civil servants who found themselves labelled as “blockers” as they tried to navigate Musk's leadership.

So, what happens when the people responsible for keeping government running become the very people standing in the way of those in power? Was DOGE ever really about efficiency? And who protects the Constitution when those sworn to uphold it are pushed aside?

The News Agents is a Global production.

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

Next week some 7 million Israelis will go to the polls to decide the future of their country and whether to boot out Benjamin Netanyahu - a man who has dominated their country for nearly three decades. It’s the first election since the massacre of October 7th and his destruction of Gaza. Will voters blame him for the terrorism on home soil? Or will they believe him best placed to defend their interests and security? Voters outside of Israel must all return home to vote - we speak to one, Ayala Panievsky, who is leaving tonight, about her hopes for the future.

Later, thousands of young protestors on the streets and a hard line response from the police in Tirana. Why is it all kicking off again in Albania? And can it really be traced back to Donald Trump again?

The News Agents is a Global production.

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

For more than two decades, Christian Horner was at the heart of Formula 1 — building Red Bull Racing into one of the most dominant teams in the sport, managing world champions and navigating the ruthless politics of the F1 paddock.

But behind the victories, rivalries and extraordinary success lies a story far more complicated than the trophies suggest.

The former Red Bull Racing team principal joins Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman for an in-depth interview on The Sports Agents ahead of the release of his autobiography Drive.

Horner reflects on his remarkable rise through Formula 1, his relationships with the sport’s biggest personalities, the battles fought behind closed doors and the extraordinary events that brought his time at Red Bull to an abrupt and controversial end.

From the pressures of leading an F1 powerhouse to the personal cost of life at the very top, this is a rare insight into the power, politics and personalities that shape Formula 1 — from a man who spent 20 years at the centre of it all.

Drive by Christian Horner is out now and available to buy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1911754785

Christian will be sharing stories from the book at the Cambridge Theatre in London on Monday 26th October. Tickets are available from the venue here: https://lwtheatres.co.uk/whats-on/christian-horner/

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Executive Producer: Adonis Pratsides

Senior Producer: David Finch

Video Producer: Sam Trudgill

Digital Content Producer: 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

There has always been a flamboyance to Donald Trump. His language, his hair, his addiction to the gay Anthem YMCA - but in recent weeks his chat on the campaign trail has become much more explicit. To cut to the chase, he’s spending more and more time talking about men’s arses. Is Trump becoming more unfiltered in his old age? Why does more and more of his recent attention seem to be fixed on the appearance of the men around him? Or is this all part of his consummate distraction project from the issues he really doesn’t want to discuss - the Iran war and the price of oil. We talk to his former homeland security chief of staff, Miles Taylor.

Later, why is Steve Witkoff - the man tasked with ending the war in Ukraine - praising Vladimir Putin as a "humanitarian"?

The News Agents is a Global Production.

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

Four years of war, an estimated 450,000 deaths – and yet Donald Trump says Russia’s actions in Ukraine have been “fine”.

The US president continues to unravel, on camera, as his personal ratings plummet to new lows (just 31% at the latest count) and the Republican Party readies itself for a disastrous midterm election result in November. Once again, Zelensky is on the receiving end of Trump's mood.

So why has Trump turned his back so dramatically on Zelensky? And what's he bargaining for with his love in for Putin? And could it all just be jealously?

The News Agents is a Global production.

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

After the horrifying scenes of violence and destruction all over France this weekend the Prime Minister has this morning called for partial curfews. Are these protests organic frustration amongst the young over rising costs and falling wages? Or is there a political movement afoot here? And is this something the rest of Europe is catching?

Later, former Home Office minister Mike Tapp is fresh back from Dunkirk ,Calais and Piddington. What’s the true picture of the immigration problem- and is he right to call it a crisis?

The News Agents is a Global Production.

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

The day he was elected for the first time as MP for Clacton, Nigel Farage promised to root out the "few bad apples" from Reform. Farage told the country: "We’ll never have any of their type back in the organisation, you can have my promise on that”.

ITV's latest piece undercover in Reform shows just how hollow that promise was. Their own MP Sarah Pochin condemns the "chauvinist" attitude in the party. A man who failed Reform's vetting for sharing Tommy Robinson posts reveals he was called up and asked to stand for the party. And, perhaps most damningly, Farage appears to defend a candidate accused of racism by one of Farage's own aides, refusing to take action beyond forcing an apology to be issued.

Does ITV's reporting put to bed the idea that there are just a "few bad apples" in Reform? What about Reform appears to attract these "bad apples" in the first place? And could Nigel Farage get caught up in the fallout from what looks set to be a bombshell documentary this weekend?

The News Agents is a Global Production.

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

Manchester United’s Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid has left plenty to unpack — not least Lisandro Martinez’s explosive post-match comments. Mark Chapman and Nedum Onuoha react to the biggest talking points from another dramatic week in Europe.

Then, we turn to something far less visible but increasingly common inside football: Snus and nicotine pouch use.

Why has nicotine become so normal in dressing rooms? Why are players using it, and what happens when a habit that starts socially becomes something much harder to control?

We hear from a former Premier League footballer speaking candidly about his own addiction to snus, explore how these behaviours spread through teams and academies, and ask whether snus is really the story — or simply one symptom of a much wider issue.

From nicotine and gambling to nitrous oxide and the search for a release from the intensity of elite sport, this is a conversation about what happens away from the pitch — the dressing room culture which fuels addiction amongst footballers.

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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

ITV spent a year undercover with various elements of the Reform party. Last night, they published a taste of what is to come in the full programme this Sunday. The misogyny, racism, bigotry and stupidity is off the charts. Three councillors have resigned. Are they outliers? Or do they tell us what the party is really like? And is the Chairman right when he says this is just what ordinary Britain sounds like away from the cameras? We speak to former Reform insider Tim Montgomerie.

The News Agents is a Global Production.

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

Just days after Donald Trump signed a deal with Vladimir Putin to import Russian oil into America, Ukraine has been dealt a new blow from the US. Elon Musk has been accused of restricting the use of his Starlink devices - crucial satellites used by Ukraine in their war against the Kremlin. Why does it appear that MAGA seems intent on throwing the war for Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and, as Andy Burnham hosts Ukraine's president in Downing Street - is there anything he can do to repair the damage? We speak to Trump's former Special Representative for Negotiations with Ukraine, Kurt Volker.

Later, the Prime Minister has insisted he won't do any deal with the Greens while their 'Zionism is racism' motion remains party policy. Does he really mean what he says?

The News Agents is a Global Production.

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

Andy Burnham seems set on bringing the UK closer to the EU. How much closer still isn't clear - but some in Labour are now talking up the possibility of reversing Brexit entirely. Some Red Wall MPs aren't happy with that, but if Downing Street is serious about getting some growth into the economy, wouldn't it be one of the obvious levers to pull? And given, as the PM says, the public has moved more quickly than Parliament on Brexit - why are the Tories digging in on never going back? We speak to Kemi Badenoch's PPS John Glen.

Later, Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar's house was raided by US federal agents, just three weeks ahead of crucial midterm elections. The DOJ says it's part of a federal criminal investigation - but is it simply an abuse of power intended to swing vote back to the Republicans?

The News Agents is a Global Production.

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