The News Agents

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

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
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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.
The News Agents is a Global production.
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?
The News Agents is a Global Production.
The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/