The News Agents

Yevgeny Prigozhin is apparently dead, two months after he marched the Wagner mercenary group to Moscow in a mutiny that appeared to be a very embarrassing weekend for Vladimir Putin.

Yesterday, a private plane crash also killed nine others, including his right hand man, the co-founder of the Wagner group, Dmitry Utkin.

So what actually happened? Was it an act of revenge from Putin? And is he now stronger than ever?

Jon and Lewis speak to Alicia Kearns MP, the chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee and ask foreign affairs expert Tim Marshall about the future for Russia.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Producer: Will Gibson-Smith

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

The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Covid is back in the news - there is a new mutation of Omicron which is potentially more infectious than the last.

Some are sounding the alarm. We talk about whether you should be worried (spoiler -probably not). But while it's in the news we thought we'd examine a question long lurking at the sidelines of the Covid news story - where did it come from?

Is the lab leak theory increasingly credible? Plenty in Washington, including big elements of the Biden administration think so. And if it is - why are we not talking about it? What might be the biggest story of our time?

Lewis talks to a leading expert who sits on SAGE and a journalist who has done the running on the story from the very beginning.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Producers: Rory Symon and Alex Barnett

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Producer: Will Gibson-Smith

92 year old Rupert Murdoch is stepping down as chairman of News Corp, the owner of The Sun, The Times and Fox News - he was in charge of his media empire for 70 years.

In true Succession style, his eldest son, Lachlan takes over. Emily and Lewis ask one of his former prodigal sons, Gordon Smart - who once was deputy editor of The Sun and editor of The Scottish Sun - about the man who used to be his boss.

And later, we discuss the ramifications of Rishi Sunak's changes to his net-zero policies.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Planning Producer: Alex Barnett

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Producer: Will Gibson-Smith

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

The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Two massive by-election losses in Tory heartland. Are Rishi Sunak's hopes of holding onto his premiership next year in tatters?

They may still win Tamworth and Mid Bedfordshire back in next year's general election, but that doesn't arrest the growing expectation that there is a distinct possibility the Conservatives could soon face electoral annihilation.

We speak to Lara Spirit, editor of The Times' Red Box, to understand the political implications for the Tories and Sunak in the wake of last night's results.

And - a voice from each party.

Tory MP Robin Walker, who, despite campaigning in Mid Beds is still confident his party can recover (though one might say there's a slight falter in his voice);

Lib Dem Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper tries to dampen her party's disappointment;

and Labour shadow secretary Peter Kyle, who led the Labour campaign in Mid Beds has a thing or two (or three) to say about the Lib Dem's campaign - which he calls 'filth'.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Planning Producer: Alex Barnett

Social Media Producer: Phoebe Dampare-Osei

Video Producers: Rory Symon & Ben Bate

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

England's women's football team reach the World Cup final, beating the hosts Australia. But with the highest paid footballer in the equivalent of the Premier League paid less in a year than some male players get in a week, will this prove a watershed moment in attempts by many to push for greater financial parity? We speak to Kieran Maguire, football economist.

And back in the world of Westminster - what does falling inflation mean? A governmental success in one of their key targets, or is this the calm before the storm with wages and public sector - both inherently inflationary - rising. We speak to editor of Red Box, Lara Spirit.

commentary courtesy of BBC Sport.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Planning Producer: Alex Barnett

Video Producer: Will Gibson-Smith

The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.