The News Agents

The French Far Right leader Marine Le Pen is barred from standing in the country's next presidential election following her conviction for embezzlement. She’s beginning an emergency appeal straight away, and her party says “democracy has been executed“ in France today. Will that conviction silence them? Or could it be a rocket boost to their electoral fortunes?

Plus, we have an exclusive interview with International barrister Philippe Sands on what happens when the law and politics clash, why Trump may cancel the next elections - and his new book '38 Londres Street: On Impunity, Pinochet in England and a Nazi in Patagonia'.

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The White Lotus - now in its third series has proved a recipe for a smash hit. Take a fabulously wealthy bunch of characters. Make most of them dreadful. And watch them fight it out in a tropical paradise. We’re joined in today’s episode by one of this series stars, Jason Isaacs AKA Tim Ratliff, to discuss whether getting roles now depends on your political persuasions. And whether it pays to be outspoken in MAGA America.

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

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No sooner had the Chancellor sat down after her Spring Statement than Donald Trump announced to the world that he was slapping 25% tariffs on all cars imported into America. Car manufacturers are livid - and scared. And the OBR has warned that if the US goes further and imposes blanket tariffs, they could wipe out any short term prospect of growth in the British economy. With her room for manoeuvre already tight, could Rachel Reeves now have to rip up her latest plans? Are tax rises on the way? And is the UK going to be knocked about at the whim of Donald Trump and whatever he decides next?

Later, as the White House condemns criticism of the Yemen Signal security breach as “a witch hunt“, could it be that the US President is actually feeling more than a little bruised at the fallout from the revelations?

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

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Today, the Prime Minister was asked to directly express his confidence in the Chancellor. He did so without missing a beat. But how much support does Reeves have more widely in government, in her party and in the country at large?

Later, as Trump's defence secretary insists no war plans were leaked when a group chat on the cusp of bombing Yemen accidentally invited a journalist to join. The journalist in question then publishes the war plans he received. Like shooting fish.

Don’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:

https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents