The News Agents

The News Agents launched in 2022 and immediately felt like a show made by people who were tired of the usual constraints of broadcast news. Emily Maitlis, Jon Sopel, and Lewis Goodall all left the BBC to start this, and the freedom shows. Episodes run 30 to 50 minutes on weekday afternoons, covering the day's biggest stories with the kind of blunt analysis that would have gotten them stern emails from BBC editorial compliance. Maitlis is probably the biggest draw -- her interviewing during the Prince Andrew Newsnight saga became legendary, and she brings that same directness here. Sopel spent years as the BBC's North America editor, so his read on U.S. politics is informed by actual on-the-ground experience rather than cable news hot takes. Goodall rounds things out as the youngest voice with strong policy chops. The chemistry between the three is genuine and occasionally very funny, which helps when the subject matter gets heavy. With over 1,000 episodes and a 4.3-star rating, the show has built a loyal audience quickly. The coverage leans British and European, but they regularly tackle American and global stories too, especially when those stories have UK implications. Production is clean and professional -- Global, one of the UK's biggest media companies, backs the show. If you want your news delivered by people with serious journalism credentials who also happen to have strong opinions and aren't afraid to share them, this is the show. It's not neutral, but it's honest about where it stands, and the reporting underneath the commentary is solid.