This week on The News Agents USA: Sean Spicer: Trump's Press Secretary on Trump, truth and 2024

We sit down with Boris Johnson's director of communications, Lee Cain.

In the last 48 hours Rishi has accused Starmer of being a threat to national security and a delight for Putin, a work-shy sloth who clocks off at 6pm, and a leader who's going to rig the electoral system forever more.

Is this the sound of a man who thinks his campaign is going to plan?

Perhaps the problem began long long before Rishi Sunak called the election - or even got into power.

We ask the man who presided over Boris Johnson's 2019 campaign - Director of Comms Lee Cain - if he accepts the rot set in with him. The lies, the Covid parties, the narcissism - and the opportunities missed by the last Conservative PM to hold onto his massive majority.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Zeynel Can Yuce

Video Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly, Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!

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

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Live from Paris, Lewis and Jon react to the news that the far-right have stormed the French parliamentary elections in the first round - putting Macron in severe peril and the radical right, formed decades ago from the embers of Nazism, at the top of power in France.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Video Production: : Rory Symon

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!

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

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Jon and Lewis in France ahead of the first round of the French elections, which could see the far-right of French politics became the main political force in France.

And we report from Birmingham, following round an independent candidate who thinks he has a chance of beating Labour MP Shabana Mahmood. He's pretty controversial, and for good reason.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Video Production: : Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!

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

https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

This week on The Sports Agents,

We asked if the media actually has any responsibility to help build the confidence of the England National team, after Harry Kane and other members of the squad responded to recent criticism of their performances at Euro 2024...

Conor Coady - part of Gareth Southgate's last two England squads for major tournaments - joined Gabby & Mark for insight into the 'meticulous' nature of the England manager, how difficult social media has made it for players to ignore abuse while stuck in a Euros camp and which young players are ready to step up and lead in the absence of some of the old guard.

Later, as a flurry of 'swap deals' for academy graduates between Premier League clubs for eye-catching transfer fees made headlines, Professor of Applied Sports Finance at UCFB, Rob Wilson, explored how 'fair market value' for a player is actually determined.

And we heard from PFA Managing Director Maheta Molango, on the state of the current transfer market, the welfare of the young footballers at the centre of these deals and if strike action is inevitable.

Remember, you can send your questions, story suggestions or thoughts on the weekend's action to us - thesportsagents@global.com.

New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

With now less than a week to go, we answer your General Election questions.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Video Production: : Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!

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

https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

This was a TV debate unlike any other. Excruciating doesn’t even cover it.

Whilst Trump confidently lied his way through the facts, Biden barely reached the end of his sentences without meandering off into a far distant phrase.

It was painful to watch and it will raise serious questions now amongst senior Democrats. Can they, must they replace Joe Biden as their presidential candidate?

And if so who will be the first top figure to say it out loud?

We take you through the most painful moments of the night and the conversations after the debate and ask if the voters will forgive this more easily - or if it’s time to take drastic action to save the Democratic Party from disaster in November.

Editor: Gabriel Radus

Video Production: Shane Fennelly

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

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents USA"

Find our store here: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

A week today your Twitter feed will be filing up with dogs at polling station memes.

Yes dear listeners the marathon is almost done.

On today's episode we will be looking at two TV debates - last night we saw the prime ministerial candidates on stage for the last time.

Tonight it’s the turn of the US presidential candidates in Atlanta, Georgia. Do these debates ever change minds or just let audiences get things off their chest?

We will hear from the Trump campaign team and ask if the stakes are higher for Biden or Trump, or Sunak or Starmer?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Zeynel Can Yuce

Social Media: Jacob Paul

Video Production: : Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!

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

https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

The latest numbers from More in Common suggest that Nigel Farage may come to regret his comments over Putin and the Ukraine war.

Reform has slipped back in the polls - and one in four voters believe that Farage is sympathetic to Putin.

How will any of this play into the way people vote for his party next week?

But we start with the gambling scandal.

Keir Starmer has become the latest party leader to dispatch a candidate for betting - after Ipswich candidate Kevin Craig was found to have placed a bet on himself losing. North of the border, the Conservatives Scottish Secretary has come under fire for his own political flutter - even though it was not done with any inside knowledge. Are we in danger of descending into moral panic over any gambling?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Zeynel Can Yuce

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: : Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!

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

https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

We will be telling the extraordinary story of Julian Assange in this episode - how he gained such legendary status - and whether he was more saint or sinner - as he leaves Belmarsh prison and heads to his new life in Australia.

But we have to start with the latest twist in the gambleshambles as, you’ve guessed it, Rishi Sunak has now bowed to the inevitable pressure and pulled his support from two candidates who admitted to making an ill advised bet on the date of the election.

Why could the whole country see this coming except the PM?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Zeynel Can Yuce

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: : Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!

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

https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Why is the Mail having a go at Nigel Farage and why is Nigel Farage having a go at Boris Johnson? These three are now firm 'frenemies' - calling each other 'morally repugnant' and calling in the lawyers...

What does it tell us about the power on the right of British politics? And is Farage now regretting his 'Putin friendly' comments?

Later, the Gambleshambles has reached the dizzy heights of second most damaging gaff for the election campaign amongst members of the public.

Why has the cut through been so strong?

And why hasn't anyone in Tory HQ managed this scandal better?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: : Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!

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

https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Joe Biden's electoral victory leads to partying in the streets, President Trump finds out about his defeat while golfing, and the Trump administration continues to pretend he won reelection.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Curtis Sittenfeld reads her story from the November 2, 2020, issue of the magazine. Sittenfeld is the author of one short-story collection, “You Think It, I’ll Say It,” and six novels, including “Prep,” “Eligible,” and “Rodham,” which came out earlier this year. 

Is misinformation on Facebook an impediment to ending the pandemic?

President Biden even said that platforms like Facebook, by harboring skepticism about the shots, were killing people.

Facebook immediately rejected the criticism, but who is right?

Guest: Cecilia Kang, a correspondent covering technology and regulatory policy for The New York Times. 

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Background reading: 

• Mr. Biden’s blunt statement about Facebook capped weeks of frustration in the White House over the spread of vaccine disinformation on social media.
• In response, Facebook called on the administration to stop “finger-pointing.”

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.