The News Agents - USA

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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/

How should Democrats be feeling today about their Senate candidate for Maine? Graham Platner has a Nazi tattoo, a dodgy past and quite a lot of baggage. But his fans call him an authentic voice that’s ready to shake up the election in a seat they just can’t seem to win. We ask journalist and broadcaster Mehdi Hasan what’s going on in the Democratic Party more widely - and as turmoil strikes the heart of Americas legendary 60 minutes show - where is the backbone to US media companies? The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Trump wanted taxpayer money set aside for a 'slush fund' critics feared would be used to payout millions for his January 6th allies. But in a rare act of defiance, Republicans have killed off the plan before it could become reality. Why did Trump’s own party draw the line here? Was it a principled stand, a political calculation, or a sign that some Republicans are growing nervous about defending everything linked to January 6th? And Has Trump pushed Republicans too far this time? Later, Congressman Suhas Subramanyam joins us to discuss the Department of Justice's handling of the Epstein files. The News Agents USA is a Global Production. The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Ken Paxton - Texas Attorney General - and a politician with a string of sleaze investigations behind him - has just been anointed by Trump as the Texas Senate candidate. Has Trump made a terrible mistake here? Why are the Democrats licking their lips? And is a blue seat in a deep red state starting to seem possible? Later, Philadelphia congressman Brendan Boyle on Trump’s slush fund, the mid term races, and his urgent warning to British voters. The News Agents USA is a Global Production. The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Donald Trump announced a $1.776bn new scheme this week labelled an 'anti-weaponisation fund' to compensate citizens who've been mistreated by the US justice system. Who could the President have in mind as in need of compensation? How about the January 6th rioters? Well they are stepping forward in their droves to state their intentions to claim millions from the IRS - and Trump seems to be cheering them on. Critics say he's using the money to keep his own private militia on retainer - are they right? And why did Trump secure 'forever' immunity for him and his family from tax audits? Later, in a rare act of rebellion, Republican Congressmen stripped out $1bn worth of funding for Trump's ballroom from a Bill going through the legislature that was supposed to be about immigration enforcement funding. Trump has doubled down on the ambitions for the ballroom - talking about a drone port on the roof and a military base. But will the GOP get increasingly jittery about the exorbitant costs and the gaudy nature of…

Did Trump really mean to tell Americans he wasn't thinking of their financial situation "at all" when he went to war with Iran? He repeated it several times so we can assume it was no slip of the tongue. The democrats are delighted. His allies are dismayed. Expect that line to get played on a loop. But has Trump stopped worrying about the economy for everyone except his own family? And has he given up on the midterms? Later, Politico's Jonathan Martin joins Jon in the studio. What's Trump playing at? Is the base still with him? And is the American media doing enough to hold him to account? The News Agents USA is a Global production. The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Overnight in Indiana ,Trump showed the grasp he still has over the Republican Party where the candidates he’d endorsed for the State Senate won their primaries against the moderate Republicans that had stood up to his attempts to gerrymander. It's remarkable in itself that Trump was at all invested in the races - these are local politicians earning $33,000 a year - and yet his influence proved key. What does this tell us about how the midterms will play out? Meanwhile, Marco Rubio has announced the end of the Iran war as if it were obvious to all of us. Are we about to see some actual progress in the conflict in the Middle East? A peace deal? An actual signed contract? Or is Trump just playing for time before his next big stunt? The News Agents is a Global Production. The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Fiona Hill served in Donald Trump's first administration and is one of the most authoritative voices on geopolitics. She advised on his Russia strategy and matters of national intelligence - before becoming a witness in his impeachment in 2019. She has worked up close and personal with the President. And, as the war in Iran rages, and Putin continues to try and chisel Trump away from Europe's position on Ukraine, she came into the News Agents studio to try and make sense of the new age of international turmoil ushered in by Trump's second term. What does she understand about the Putin-Trump relationship? Is the President compromised? Is Trump a fundamentally different man now compared to his first term? And is he backsliding America into territory similar to Russia? The News Agents - USA is a Global Production. The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Voters in Virginia have approved changes to their electoral map which essentially makes it easier for Democrats to win. Republicans argue they’ve been disenfranchised - and they’re right: It’s ugly. It’s unfair. But it’s not illegal. What’s more, they've already done the same thing in the red state of Texas. So are democrats finally learning how to play dirty? Is it enough to win? And are they prepared to go low as a response to Trump - even if it creates a moral vacuum and erodes democracy in the 250th anniversary year of the republic. The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Has Trump’s erratic behaviour and threatening rhetoric over the last few weeks rendered him unfit for office? The question seems an obvious one to House Democrats - who are petitioning to remove him under 25th amendment. They won’t succeed. No one ever has. But it raises a bigger question of how many and for how long those around Trump are prepared to stand by and do nothing. Miles Taylor was in the DHS in Trump's first term. He became a whistleblower - now being investigated by Trump's DOJ for 'treason' for telling the world what went on. He is with us on today’s episode and takes us into the conversations he’s having behind the scenes with Republican legislators right now. The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Besides Trump's threat to eliminate Iran, something else remarkable happened this week. A string of Republican Congressmen finally found the courage in themselves to come forward and criticise that threat. Trump's actions in the Middle East are a disaster for his colleagues. Gas prices are up, the affordability agenda is in tatters, and America looks on course for a humiliating military defeat to an old adversary. Is this the catalyst for widespread rebellion in the Republican party? Jon speaks to Marc Short, Trump's director of legislative affairs, about what happens now in Iran - and to the Republican's in the midterms later this year. The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Things just aren’t going well for Donald Trump right now. Forget the Iran war, his spectacular NATO fallout, rising gas prices, Trump’s just heard that the construction of his 90,000ft ballroom will have to be paused after a judge told him he was the White House steward and not its owner. The affordability crisis in America is spiking as his poll numbers are tanking. Is he looking for a speedy way out? A diversion? We speak to Congressman Jim Himes, the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee. The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Vast sums of money was traded before President Trump's now famous attempt to announce an Iran peace deal on Monday. The speculation was that those with prior knowledge had capitalised by insider trading. Today we’re joined by Nobel Prize winning economist Paul Krugman to explain why this sounds highly plausible, and why there’s no ethics investigation even if it’s true. Later - was Meta and Google deliberating trying to harm children by getting them addicted to the their sites? A jury finds the companies liable in a historic ruling. The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

The first resignation over the Iran war came yesterday. Oddball Joe Kent, Director of counter-terrorism, said he disagreed with President Trump's war. Are others starting to feel the same? Loud voices in MAGA are telling Trump he’s got it wrong. What happens now? We talk to Jason Greenblatt, White House special envoy to the Middle East during Trump's first term, about what Trump is trying to achieve in Iran - and whether he is losing the room. The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Despite being at war, America's commander in chief President Trump has been busy hosting election-style campaign events ahead of important midterm elections. It was billed as an "affordability tour", a chance for Trump to hammer home the ways in which his presidency will make voters feel better off. But predictably, at a rally in Kentucky, Trump went off script. He used the platform to repeatedly slam GOP Congressman Thomas Massie, mock Barack Obama, and declare that America had in fact already won the conflict in the Middle East. US public opinion on the war already makes alarming reading for the White House - and that's before the huge spike in oil prices really filters through to the weekly shop or at the gas pumps. Has his decision to strike Iran wrecked his best shot at keeping voters on side? Later - John Bolton on how Trump has fumbled his Iran "excursion", and why Marco Rubio needs insoles...

Why did Trump decide to strike Iran? Was it the US that started the war? Is it even a war? Listening to senior figures in the administration and in MAGA it's not entirely clear. The accounts are confused, contradictory, and seem to change by day. What is clearer is that the American public don't support the action. Polling suggests only one in four Americans back the strikes - and a series of Trump influencers have reacted with fury to the move. This is another war from the President who pledged to end them. With the midterms critical for Trump's future, could this intervention become a massive own goal if gas prices rise and voters turn away from the GOP? This week, Jon is joined by Michael D. Shear, the Pulitzer Prize winning New York Times correspondent. And later - James Talarico electrifies Democrats in Texas, but is talk of turning the State blue premature? Or does Talarico represent a generational shift in the party? The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Has the DOJ withheld documents from the Epstein files that relate to allegations against President Trump? That's the accusation from senior Democrats after an NPR investigation found that more than 50 pages of FBI interviews and notes from a conversation with a woman who accused Trump of sexual abuse when she was a minor were removed from the dataset. California Congressman Robert Garcia is calling it "the largest government cover up in modern history". The White House says that President Trump has been "totally exonerated on anything relating to Jeffrey Epstein". So what's actually going on? We speak to the editor of The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, about Epstein, the State of the Union address, and the state of journalism in the era of Trump. The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Senator Mark Kelly is a former astronaut, a Navy pilot, and was almost Kamala Harris VP pick. Now he’s weighing up a run for the presidency himself in 2028. He came into the News Agents studio this lunchtime to tell us why Trump is helping his cause by threatening to have him “hanged“ and why it’s important for European leaders, including Starmer, to push back on Trump’s bullying. The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Trump is trying his best to manifest good polling numbers. But the raw numbers as they stand are dire for the President. This week, we talk to top pollster Doug Sosnik, who was at Bill Clinton’s side for six years, about political shamelessness, polling and 'the Epstein class'. The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

In an exclusive interview with Emily, Amy Wallace - who co-authored Virginia Giuffre's posthumous memoir - warns that lives are being put in danger by the way that the US department of justice has handled the Epstein files. Why are victims' names appearing unredacted but possible perpetrators are having their names concealed, and testimony against them omitted entirely? Donald Trump has told America to move on and focus on something "people care about". Does the President's feeble attempt to draw a line under the Epstein files only strengthen the resolve to get to the bottom of the scandal and bring about justice? The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

The actor Billy Crudup, known for The Morning show, Jay Kelly, and Almost Famous, is bringing the Western to the London stage in High Noon. It's an allegory of McCarthyism and Hollywood’s “black list ". This week, he joined Emily in the studio to discuss why he’s drawn to stories of moral cowardice and why he finds it so easy to speak up right now. The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

The deadline to release the Epstein files is now over a month old. Last night, a congressional committee confirmed Ghislaine Maxwell would appear before it in a hearing on February 9th. Although she may choose to say little. The vote in Congress last November created a legal obligation on the government to release the Epstein files. So what happens now if the justice department refuses to comply? Later, how Gavin Newson rose through the Democrat ashes to lead the polls as the front runner in 2028. What has he discovered in how to deal with Trump? The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

It's a week since Renee Nicole Good was shot by an ICE agent whilst in her car in Minnesota. Since then, protests have erupted around the country, schools in Minneapolis have closed, and last night saw a second shooting by an ICE agent. Is the immigration law enforcement now just a political weapon? And, as Trump threatens martial law, is ICE deliberately trying to provoke conflict in Minnesota? We're joined by Semifore's Ben Smith. The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

The plan to taken down Venezuelan leader, Nicolas Maduro, was months in the making. And yet, when it did finally happen, it not only took Caracas by surprise but even Washington was stunned by the speed of the incursion. What does the operation in Venezuela tell us about how Trump might be planning to take over other territories? Why has he got his eyes on oil tanks, and is he prepared to go battle with Putin? We speak to The Crisis Room's Marc Polymeropoulos. Later, Tim Walz has ended his campaign to run for Minnesota governor after ongoing fraud accusations became the focus of Republicans. Are fraud claims a new effective weapon for MAGA to attack the Democrats? The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Trump's inner circle may be wondering this week why they gave Vanity Fair exclusive access and close up photos for the magazine. The portrait is unflattering to say the least. And highly revelatory. Will it change how Trump sees those around him? And why is the MAGA aesthetic so central to the brand? Also - Trump speaks to the nation about the economy. Why’s he had to make up all his figures? The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Affordability is the word that Zohran Mamdani made the centre of his New York mayoral campaign after watching the Democrats lose so badly in 2024. But now it’s the Republicans and President Trump that have to convince voters the economy is going in the right direction. And 70 percent of them no longer trust Trump to get it right. What does this mean for the midterms? Later, why the Supreme Court could be about to hand Trump the power he craves to fire whoever he fancies. We talk to Slate' s Mark Joseph Stern. The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

The story of the affair between journalist Olivia Nuzzi and Health Secretary RFK Junior has been called the least important and most important story of our times. What does it tell us about MAGA culture, journalistic ethics and the power of click bait versus deep dive investigation? Why is America so obsessed with her story? Later, has a leaked recording of Pete Hegseth, Secretary of WAR, opened him up to accusations of war crimes? And what happens to those who speak out against Trump's extra judicial killings? The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

The former FBI director James Comey has walked free after his indictment was thrown out by a judge who decided the presiding attorney was actually invalid. It’s a tricky moment for Donald Trump, who had pursued his enemies in the hope of putting behind bars people who he called “bad” - and led to accusations of “vindictive prosecution“ by the President. But already, the administration's ire has turned to its next victims - former astronaut and Arizona senator Mark Kelly. A decorated, highly respected military man who finds himself facing a possible court martial for sedition after Pete Hegseth's latest outburst. What effect are these arrests and investigations having on America's institutions? And after the resignation of outspoken congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, is Trump starting to lose his grip on his own base? We talk to the New York Times journalist Mark Landler. The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Last night both houses of Congress overwhelmingly voted to force the justice department to release the Epstein files. We could see the contents made public within days. But the vote itself, long resisted by Trump, has left the President looking weaker and more friendless amongst the MAGA base than he’s ever been. Is he starting to look like a lame duck President? And are Republicans imagining a MAGA world that comes after Trump? Or will they quickly revert to fealty? Later, the college professor in exile from America after being targeted by death threats for his academic work on Antifa. The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Donald Trump has told Fox News he has an "obligation" to sue the BBC - claiming the broadcaster "defrauded the public" in the way a Panorama episode misleadingly edited a clip of his January 6th speech. The dispute has made it on to Joe Rogan's podcast, and the BBC is being hauled into the 'fake news' category by MAGA commentators. How serious is President Trump in his threats? And could he bankrupt the BBC? Jon and Emily speak to Andrew Weissmann, law professor and former FBI general counsel. The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

After a year in the wilderness for the Democrats, last nights electoral victories have given many a taste of winning again. Races in Democratic strongholds like New York, California, New Jersey and Virginia may not have been a shock - but the scale of the victories and the size of the turnouts has put a spring back into the step of those who’d given up hope. Today we discuss what Zohran Mamdani, Gavin Newsom, Abigail Spanberger and others are getting right. And whether it’s a useful predictor for what happens next? The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

A week out from the New York mayoral contest we speak to a good friend of Zohran Mamdani - journalist and broadcaster Ross Barkan. Does Mamdani represent a totally fresh start for the Democrats - or did he just get lucky with his opponents? And what lesson will the party take away if he’s victorious next week? The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/