The News Agents - USA

The Alaska Senate race shouldn't even be competitive. The Democrats haven't won there in almost two decades. But as a sign of how badly the Republicans are doing, Donald Trump has ordered his department of justice to pre-emptively sue the State in an attempt to block the certification of the Dem frontrunner Mary Peltola. The President is furious that Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan is having to share the ballot paper with another Dan Sullivan - an independent who critics are accusing of being a wrecking candidate trying to assist the Dems. Is this early temper tantrum a sign of just how bad the midterms could be for Trump and his party? And is it a worrying sign of a President looking increasingly unlikely to accept defeat?

Later - why the Dems are talking about Epstein, and why JD Vance's decision to back Vivek Ramaswamy's deplorable ad could come back to haunt him.

With Miles Taylor.

The News Agents USA is a Global Production.

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

Has Vivek Ramaswamy, close friend of JD Vance, just plunged to an all time low in American politics? He is scrapping in second place in the race to become Ohio's next governor, with rival Amy Acton, a former physician, primed to become the first Democrat in that role in two decades.

And the attack ad he has just released has been labelled by critics as "disgusting", "outrageous" and the "scummiest thing I've seen in politics". In it, Acton's estranged mother labels her daughter a liar with a "serious problem" who will only make the state worse. What the ad fails to mention is that Acton and her brother abused by their stepfather, and she was taken out of their care at the age of 12. How on earth did this advert ever make it to air? And can we be sure that it will backfire?

Later, a sneak preview of Miles Taylor's new documentary 'Corruptionland' - he takes us into the kind of sums that the Trump family has made since they’ve been back in power.

The News Agents USA is a Global Production.

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

Sean Spicer, Anthony Scaramucci, Karoline Leavitt. Donald Trump's history of press secretaries is enough to tell you that it's a job like no other - with unrelenting scrutiny from the press and the President. Enter Katie Zacharia, Trump's new pick for the job. She made her debut yesterday, and despite fielding only three questions, has become something of a Meme for her shaky first outing - fielding only three questions, failing to answer basics, and struggling to speak without constant reference to her notes. And that's before you even dig into her CV: is she actually a lawyer and why was she working in China? President Trump likes to project strength, but the press reviews of his new hire suggest she is fast becoming a major point of weakness for his administration. How long can she last?

Later, America's ambassador to Greece has been ousted by Trump after she was using her influence inside Trump world to get a donor to pay off her credit card bills. Kimberley Guilfoyle was once engaged to the President's son - so why did he choose to wield the knife?

With Miles Taylor.

The News Agents USA is a Global Production.

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

Things don’t look as rosy as they might in MAGAland. Texas Republican Ken Paxton was caught on tape blaming Trump’s Iran war for his own tough race. To be fair, Paxton may find he can sink this one on his own. But the picture is the same in many of the deep Red states where Trump is hindering not helping. Last night things came to a new peak with his suggestion that Iran should maybe bomb California. Will any of this tank MAGA chances in the mid terms?

Later, Miles Taylor joins us to discuss why the government has shut down the very bio security department keeping America safe from weapons of mass destruction.

The News Agents USA is a Global Production.

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

The Republicans cannot get over Jack Smith. The former special counsel who led two criminal cases against Donald Trump faced a barrage of attacks from GOP senators on the Judiciary Committee: "You make me want to throw up in my mouth"; "The most egregious abuse of power in the history of the Department of Justice"; "You are a total dirtbag."

But when they thought they had a smoking gun, the interrogation backfired spectacularly. Senator Eric Schmitt confused two basketball teams and alleged that Smith was at a game he never attended, in a state he wasn't in. Schmitt was trying to insinuate that Smith was secretly coordinating against Trump with a prosecutor in Georgia, but his "gotcha" humiliated only himself. Why is the GOP still so set on rehashing old, debunked allegations of political persecution against Donald Trump?

Later, gang rape allegations at Cornell University have shocked America and led Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to condemn a "culture of rape, sexual assault, and pedophilia" in elite institutions. Will it change anything?

The News Agents USA is a Global Production.

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

Has the GOP woken up to the drag anchor that Donald Trump is on their electoral fortunes? There are signs that MAGA is not the magnet it once was. A steady stream of Republicans have come out in recent days to criticise the President and his administration - on Iran, on beef prices, on Trump Jr's wedding, on ICE. The list goes on. It seemed for so long like diehard loyalty to Trump was an essential ingredient for the American Right - so why are so many hoping to enter Congress scrubbing mentions of him from their websites?

Later, the curious case of Susan Collins and an FBI investigation that Trump shut down. The Dems say that "the jig is up" for the Maine veteran. Could it swing the Senate?

The News Agents USA is a Global Production.

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

With the midterms approaching, President Trump has once again raised the stakes, with FBI Director Kash Patel saying he is open to sending federal agents into polling stations. The comments have sparked alarm among Democrats, who fear the Trump administration could take increasingly aggressive steps to assert control over the coming elections.

Just a week ago, Trump was offering every American adult $5,000 if Republicans won the midterms. So how have things escalated so quickly? And do dire poll numbers increase the chances of Trump taking even more drastic action as November approaches?

The News Agents USA is a Global Production.

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

In a characteristic break with US political tradition, President Trump is holding a two-day event in Dallas, Texas ahead of the upcoming midterms. The problem? No one seems to want to go. Dallas is a deeply red state. It's packed with reporters, activists and campaigners. So why aren't republicans turning up? And what does that tell us about what to expect from the midterms?

The News Agents USA is a Global production.

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

It's quite a claim, but Bernie Sanders has suggested that some Democrats would rather lose the Senate than support Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan and Angie Nixon in Florida.

These firebrand progressive candidates, Sanders claims, are too much of a threat to oligarchy and the US relationship with Israel for a minority of establishment Democrats to get behind. Is he right? And if so, what does it say about the depth of division in the party? Or is this really about who gets the presidential nomination in 2028?

Later, the Pulitzer prize winning biographer Kai Bird on how Donald Trump learnt the dark arts from Roy Cohn - and how Cohn has defined America's politics today.

The News Agents USA is a Global Production.

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

As the USA and Canada head towards a prolonged economic confrontation, we look at Trump’s escalating tariffs on Canada, Mark Carney’s decision to hit back, and what a trade war between two of the world’s most integrated economies could mean for American consumers, businesses and their wider alliance.

Then there’s China. Trump is trying to squeeze Beijing while keeping the broader US-China relationship from spiralling — but China is also Iran’s biggest trading partner and a major buyer of Iranian oil. That puts Trump’s new economic pressure on Tehran on a collision course with his attempts to manage relations with Xi.

Later, we discuss another Trump war. This time his war on mail-in ballots.

The News Agents USA is a Global production.

The crew of the USS Abraham Lincoln have been at sea for over nine months without docking for a port call. Sailors are reporting grimy conditions, rotting food, and deteriorating mental health. Some have even allegedly taken to trying to throw themselves overboard. President Trump is dismissing the concerns - saying the deployment is "not nearly long enough". Families are urging him to take some accountability and respect Navy staff. Why is the Trump administration now facing a battle with its own military?

Later, another surprise DSA win in Florida left one of Trump's first term foes on the political scrapheap - and why Trump keeps getting so tetchy at the mention of Natalie Harp.

With Miles Taylor.

The News Agents USA is a Global Production.

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

It was a mixed night for progressive Democrats in primaries yesterday. They chalked up some wins, but the Wisconsin gubernatorial hopeful Francesca Hong was probably the highest profile left wing candidate up in a contest - she'd been leading in the polls but ended up falling short to the more moderate Jason Crowley. Notably, neither AOC nor Bernie Sanders took up the invitations to endorse her campaign - and after a series of gaffes along the way they may feel vindicated.

In fact, AOC has been tailoring her messaging and her platform, arguably playing down the more radical side of her politics and playing up her winning track record. A recent poll had her as the preferred presidential candidate for Democrats in New Hampshire. Does she have a real shot?

Later, the problems with Donald Trump's plane bait and switch story. And why Truth Social premium (costing $100,000 a month) might become a whole can of worms.

With Miles Taylor.

The News Agents USA is a Global Production.

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

The Michigan Senate race primary between two Democrat candidates was so tight that by midday it still hadn’t been officially called. But it looks like the progressive, Muslim candidate of the Left has edged it over his AIPAC backed opponent. Abdul El-Sayed is a charismatic orator already being compared in tone to Obama.

But is the Democrat party already splitting before a critical midterm election? And could it cost them the Senate? Later, why is alleged domestic abuser Max Miller still standing for the Republican party in Ohio? Has Trump now set the blueprint for any politician facing charges of abuse or violence who believe they can win if they just show resilience?

The News Agents USA is a Global Production.

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

There are good signs that Ukraine seems to now be winning the war against Russia - and for Volodymyr Zelenskyy, there are even better signs that Ukraine is winning the battle the battle for hearts and minds with MAGA. Now long ago Laura Loomer, the hard-right MAGA cheerleader with the ear of Donald Trump, was accusing Ukraine of starting the conflict, regurgitating Russian propaganda, and generally denigrating the cause of Kyiv.

That's all changed. In something of a damascene conversion, she's been to Ukraine, interviewed Zelenskyy, and is now shouting from the rooftops about the nobility of the Ukrainian cause and the lies coming out of Moscow. Trump has been posting approvingly about her content, and was glowing about a recent meeting with the Ukrainian President. Sean Hannity too, another Trump whisperer, was practically hero worshipping him when he came on Fox News. So is MAGA finally rowing in behind the country it has so publicly clashed with in Trump's second term? And why?

Later, why Todd Blanche's confirmation as Attorney General is on the ropes - and why this week could be the worst of his life whatever the outcome.

Jon is joined again this week by Miles Taylor.

The News Agents USA is a Global Production.

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

Pete Hegseth took an absolute pummelling in the Senate as he tried to make the continued case for Trump's war in Iran. It wasn't just the Democrats getting exasperated - Louisiana Senator John Kennedy said the situation was as serious as "four strokes and a heart attack" - and lambasted the lack of "straight answers" coming from the Secretary of War.

Trump insisted yesterday that Iran's threats over the Strait of Hormuz "won't have any impact" on him - but is that wishful thinking? Republicans are getting increasingly itchy to bring this thing to a close. So far, Trump's shown no sign of backing down, but could they force his hand? Jon discusses with Miles Taylor.

Later, why 'Blue MAGA" is taking over the Democratic party - and how Andy Burnham and Ed Miliband should try and handle the White House.

The News Agents USA is a Global Production.

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

ICE agents have been instructed to immediately suspend vehicle stops during enforcement operations nationwide. It follows two fatal shootings in Texas and Maine over the last week. Are things getting out of control again? Or are ICE about to double down? And how are Americans reacting? Former Chief of Staff at Homeland Security, Miles Taylor joins us.

Later, we look back the strange legacy of Senator Lindsey Graham. How did he go from Trump critic to ally? And what was his impact on US politics?

The News Agents is a Global Production.

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

There were so many signs that Graham Platner was a flawed candidate. A history of offensive social media posts, A tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol. A sexting scandal. And last month, a series of ex-partners accusing Platner of erratic and angry behaviour. But it wasn't until this week, when a woman told CNN that she had been sexually assaulted by Platner, that his position became untenable as the Democrat vying for a Senate seat in Maine. He denies the allegations - and has hit out at a "political establishment" trying to bring him down. But is the truth that the Dems should have cut him loose much sooner? In the search for authenticity, did the party embrace someone it should have been much more wary of? And, like with Biden, have they jeopardised their chances in Maine by leaving the search for a replacement until the last minute?

Later, is Mitch McConnell alive? That's the question one GOP Congressman was unable to answer earlier this week. The 84-year-old has been in hospital for weeks and there has been a series of recent incidents prompting fresh concerns about his health. Some MAGA figures are demanding proof of life. Why does America's political system keep churning out octogenarians?

The News Agents USA is a Global Production.

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

President Donald Trump made more than $1bn last year from business dealings in cryptocurrency. This week's disclosure shows his crypto earnings now far overshadow income from his real estate business.

On this week's episode we ask why nobody seems to have too much of a problem with it?

Later, we discuss this week's Supreme Court judgments, where Trump's plan to over-turn the right to birthright citizenship failed.

The News Agents USA is a Global production.

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

There was something of a political earthquake in New York overnight. Three left wing Democratic candidates, endorsed by Mamdani, sweeping out established Congressional characters and hailing in a new era of progressive politics in the Big Apple.

Mamdani's political stardust shows little sign of waning - is he now the most powerful figure in his party? And what does that mean for the future of the Dems?

We speak to Ben Rhodes, one of Barack Obama's closest aides during his presidency, and author of a new book 'All We Can Say' - a history of America through political speeches - about the magic of Mamdani, and the malice of Donald Trump.

The News Agents USA is a Global Production.

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

"Congratulations to all!" Read the President's tweet on truth social. Nominally, this was about the end of the (self-imposed) Iran war. But it’s also possible Trump was congratulating himself on his 80th birthday, which somehow managed to hijack the 250th Independence Day anniversary.

So why was there a cage fight on the White House lawn? What does Joe Rogan really make of Trump now? And why - if there's a ceasefire - are the Iranians insisting the Strait of Hormuz remains closed.

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