Q&A Special: Harry and Meghan, Trump's midterm chaos, and another Farage by-election?

**Jon Sopel** (0:02)
This is a Global Production. Have we been drinking? Sounds like it.

**Lewis Goodall** (0:07)
This question comes from Michael, who is currently on holiday truffle hunting in Tuscany. God, and they say our listeners are out of touch. Why do you think the right are so good at creating influences and commentators, but the left are so bad at it?

**Jon Sopel** (0:22)
Have you got any thoughts on the Supreme Court's ruling regarding mail-in votes, particularly with regards to the midterms?

**Lewis Goodall** (0:29)
Magur and this movement which is coalesced around Trump, but is bigger than Trump, sees itself as a transnational political movement. It sees itself as a kind of saviour movement for the West.

**Jon Sopel** (0:42)
We are now going to get to Michael's question, who won't be listening because he is truffle hunting in Tuscany. Welcome to a special question and answer edition of The News Agents.

**Lewis Goodall** (0:55)
We should have some music for that, shouldn't we? We should have some sound effects.

**Jon Sopel** (0:59)
I think we're banned. I think that's not an option.

**Lewis Goodall** (1:02)
OK, well, let's gloss over that quickly. Sean Haggerty has sent the first question for today's show. And it says this, do you think Farage will call another by-election if it starts to look like the standards committee will say he broke the rules? That's a serious start, isn't it? We normally have something a bit more light-hearted.
Another failure from this tim-pop production crew of ours.

**Jon Sopel** (1:25)
Well, I can answer this question in three words. Please God, no.
I mean, just not another bloody Clacton by-election because that could then presage the way for another Clacton by-election after that one.

**Lewis Goodall** (1:38)
Well, it becomes a sort of two-month, bi-monthly thing or something.

**Jon Sopel** (1:41)
Yeah, exactly.

**Lewis Goodall** (1:42)
Yeah, I mean, I suppose. I mean, why not? I mean, you know, hacks like to go to the seaside, don't they? Although it's a little bit more, I mean, Clacton in August, a little bit more appealing than Clacton. In October. Yes, yes. Always appealing, of course. Always, always.

**Jon Sopel** (1:55)
Always appealing. And not about journey from Nipple Street Station.

**Lewis Goodall** (1:57)
Although Essex is one of my lesser favourite counties, I have to say. Essex. No offence to people in Essex.

**Jon Sopel** (2:01)
You know, it's a bit flat, what you think?

**Lewis Goodall** (2:02)
It's a bit flat. It's a bit much, isn't it?

**Jon Sopel** (2:05)
I don't think we're dealing with the issue.

**Lewis Goodall** (2:08)
I know, but because it's a little bit of a boring question, I'm making it into a more interesting question. Sorry, Sean, which is your favourite county? What's your favourite county, Jon?

**Jon Sopel** (2:16)
Oh, I don't know. I've got others. I've got sort of all sorts.

**Lewis Goodall** (2:20)
It's not going to be Northamptonshire, is it? Let's be honest.

**Jon Sopel** (2:22)
No, Northamptonshire is also a bit boring.

**Lewis Goodall** (2:24)
The rows of the counties, they call it.

**Jon Sopel** (2:25)
Derbyshire is lovely.

**Lewis Goodall** (2:26)
Derbyshire is lovely. North Yorkshire?
I can't get on the wrong side of Derbyshire again.

**Jon Sopel** (2:32)
Oh, no.

**Lewis Goodall** (2:33)
After last time. Earwash, earwash, mouthwash. I think the correct answer, what is the correct answer to that question?

**Jon Sopel** (2:39)
Cornwall.

**Lewis Goodall** (2:40)
Yeah, that's a bit of a basic bitch answer, isn't it, Cornwall?

**Jon Sopel** (2:42)
What do you mean it's a basic bitch answer?

**Lewis Goodall** (2:44)
It just is a little bit basic saying Cornwall. Cornwall is lovely, but I just think it's lovely.

**Jon Sopel** (2:47)
So what's wrong with saying it's lovely?

**Lewis Goodall** (2:48)
You could say some, maybe one of the abolished ones like Rutland, be really like, take that Ted Heath and 1972 Local Government Reorganisation Act. No, I mean that shit. I mean, that doesn't even exist. That's basically Heathrow Airport. That's just absolutely, that's a waste of time. Absolutely awful. I think the right answer must be, I tell you what I think is quite an underappreciated one, Herefordshire. I think all those Welsh Marches ones along there, I think they're very, very, very nice, very lovely.

**Jon Sopel** (3:13)
Sean, I'm sorry we've totally, utterly, completely ignored your question.
Blame it on Lewis. Welcome to The News Agents.

**Lewis Goodall** (3:20)
Norfolk's awful as well. The News Agents.

**Jon Sopel** (3:29)
It's Jon.

**Lewis Goodall** (3:30)
It's Lewis.

**Jon Sopel** (3:30)
What about the East Riding?

**Lewis Goodall** (3:32)
Well, let's not talk about your past.

**Jon Sopel** (3:35)
Okay. Well, let's just crack on then, shall we?