joining me tonight are former mi6 intelligence officer, christopher steele and former speech writer for president obama, david litt. the perfect panel in mind of everything that is going on, but before that the latest bbc news. the veteran labour politician lord mandelson is expected to be named the new uk ambassador to the us. he served in multiple ministerial roles under prime ministers tony blair and gordon brown. a government source says it's sending someone with unrivalled political and policy experience, particularly on the crucial issue of trade. republicans in the us congress have said they have come up with a new stopgap funding bill to avert a looming government shutdown. they say the deal includes a suspension of the debt limit until 2027.

luigi mangione, who's accused of shooting dead the head of america's biggest health insurance company, has appeared in court in new york after being extradited from pennsylvania. he faces four federal charges, including stalking and murder, in addition to the state charges he was already facing. the french prime minister, francois bayrou, has praised the courage of gisele pelicot — following a mass rape trial in which her ex—husband and 50 other defendants were found guilty. dominique pelicot was jailed for 20 years for organising the repeated drugging and rape of his former wife by dozens of strangers over a decade. good evening we start with that breaking news that lord peter mandelson has been named as the new uk ambassador to the united states. he will replace the outgoing ambassador karen pierce. (boxed ambassador karen pierce. it is a political gamble. lord mandelson was a huge figure during the new labour years, but he has not served in government since then. he was last a minister under gordon brown, m years ago.

and within labour ranks it would be fair to see he is "loved and loathed in equal measure". not entirely to the taste of those on the left of the party. but it is an important appointment this. given the concern that focus that is always there on the special relationship. sir keir starmer in recent days has talked about resuming talks over a trade deal. and of course lord mandelson served as business secretary and also european commissioner for trade in brussels. christopher steele. the right man with red experience? i think he has useful experience in affairs and trade, i think it is a brave appointment given a social democratic is in favour of free trade on the other side. out of coat with donald trump. perhaps good person to

put forward the government's position on these things. lard position on these things. lord kim darroch _ position on these things. lord kim darroch had _ position on these things. lord kim darroch had quite - position on these things. lord kim darroch had quite an - kim darroch had quite an experience in washington, not to the taste of donald trump, soon after his cables were leaked, may be from the site, i do not know. will peter mandelson go into this knowing full well the risks he is taken? , ., , , taken? peter is obviously quite a risk taker. — taken? peter is obviously quite a risk taker, involved _ taken? peter is obviously quite a risk taker, involved with - taken? peter is obviously quite a risk taker, involved with the l a risk taker, involved with the eu as a trade commissioner, a high—stakesjob. he was high—stakes job. he was negotiating high—stakesjob. he was negotiating with china and other places. he doesn't go for the easyjobs. this certainly isn't that. difficult, competitive relationship going forward. particularly with the likes of nigel farage trying to undermine the government in the process. undermine the government in the rocess. ., ., process. david, he gave an interview — process. david, he gave an interview and _ process. david, he gave an interview and a _ process. david, he gave an interview and a podcast - interview and a podcast recently, for this appointment was made, in which he advised

his party to try and repair bridges with elon musk. and of course this week on our front pages here we have seen nigel farage alongside elon musk. is that the first port of call? it is an interesting question. i am sure _ is an interesting question. i am sure we will talk about this more — am sure we will talk about this more on — am sure we will talk about this more on the programme as we talk about— more on the programme as we talk about the united states congress. where exactly the power — congress. where exactly the power and influence are coming from _ power and influence are coming from in — power and influence are coming from in american politics right now_ from in american politics right now is— from in american politics right now is harder than ever to figure _ now is harder than ever to figure out, is it coming from elon— figure out, is it coming from elon musk? president trump? vice _ elon musk? president trump? vice president vance, sometimes on sociai— vice president vance, sometimes on social media but hasn't been spotted — on social media but hasn't been spotted much recently? he said they would try, i think that is doing — they would try, i think that is doing a — they would try, i think that is doing a lot of work in the sentence. it is reasonable people _ sentence. it is reasonable people for an incoming administration to try to build administration to try to build a relationship with the people coming — a relationship with the people coming in. i don't know how successful_ coming in. i don't know how successful it is going to be, i think— successful it is going to be, i think it — successful it is going to be, i think it will be an open question, a lot of helping

there _ question, a lot of helping there are what many people would — there are what many people would see as a best case scenario— would see as a best case scenario of a trump presidency, deregulation but not too much other— deregulation but not too much other craziness. and good for business _ other craziness. and good for business without being bad for all kinds — business without being bad for all kinds of other people. i don't — all kinds of other people. i don't know what we will see. certainly _ don't know what we will see. certainly i see the instinct to try and — certainly i see the instinct to try and i_ certainly i see the instinct to try and i think it is going to be increasingly difficult to keep— be increasingly difficult to keep trying given a number of things— keep trying given a number of things trump and musk have said they want— things trump and musk have said they want to do... things trump and musk have said they want to do. . ._ they want to do... there was a call between — they want to do... there was a call between keir _ they want to do... there was a call between keir starmer - they want to do... there was a call between keir starmer and | call between keir starmer and donald trump yesterday. he is “p donald trump yesterday. he is up multilateral is, a social democrat, that is a tricky combination when you are talking about donald trump. but donald trump has shown interest in a trade deal, if you were serious about avoiding tariffs, may be improving the relationship on trade, he would be a good person to send. i

think there is certainly something to that. the hard thing — something to that. the hard thing with trump, republican in congress — thing with trump, republican in congress right now seeing this as we — congress right now seeing this as we speak, what trump once is not always— as we speak, what trump once is not always best articulated in terms — not always best articulated in terms of— not always best articulated in terms of policy, he wants flattery— terms of policy, he wants flattery and filthy, and sometimes he just wants political allies, we could see ourselves in a world six months from _ ourselves in a world six months from now— ourselves in a world six months from now where trump is saying trade, _ from now where trump is saying trade, in — from now where trump is saying trade, in the realm of the precedented, mr musk would like this particular favour for his companies, these social media laws _ companies, these social media laws don't _ companies, these social media laws don't apply with the view of twitter of mask. i don't think— of twitter of mask. i don't think anyone enclosing donald trump — think anyone enclosing donald trump or— think anyone enclosing donald trump or even must know how they— trump or even must know how they will— trump or even must know how they will approach the immense amount— they will approach the immense amount of power they will have.

ithink— amount of power they will have. i think they are excited about it lrut— i think they are excited about it but i— i think they are excited about it but i don't know they have quite — it but i don't know they have quite tested the limits. the one — quite tested the limits. the one thing that is quick to everyone right now is that nothing _ everyone right now is that nothing is terribly clear to anyone _ nothing is terribly clear to an one. ,., , nothing is terribly clear to an one. , , . anyone. governing is difficult as we are _ anyone. governing is difficult as we are going _ anyone. governing is difficult as we are going to _ anyone. governing is difficult as we are going to discuss. i as we are going to discuss. republican lawmakers... have said a deal has been reached on a stopgap funding bill, to avert a partial government shutdown. the bill is reported to extend funding for three months and to include the suspension of the debt limit until 2027. the continuing resolution as it is known must be passed by congress by the end of week to prevent many government offices from shutting down in the run—up to christmas — including border patrol and the national parks service. more than two million federal workers would not receive paycheques. the stopgap bill earlier appeared to have been derailed by elon musk and donald trump. the house speaker mikejohnson

told fox news he had been on a text chain with elon musk, the efficiency tsar, throughout tuesday to explain how finally balanced the vote would be. by wednesday musk was using x to tweet repeatedly his disgust. "any member of the house or senate who votes for this outrageous spending bill deserves to be voted out in two years!" 15 minutes later, this criminal bill bill must not pass. not until late evening did donald trump weigh in on truth social: "sounds like the ridiculous and extraordinarily expensive continuing resolution . plus, is dying fast. david, politics is about learning to code, to get a spending bill through democratic votes, it was clear some republicans were not going to vote for this, why blow it up to vote for this, why blow it up if 24—hour is lighter you are going to it back and pass

it? , , ., , , it? this bill in fairness i think the _ it? this bill in fairness i think the republicans i it? this bill in fairness i l think the republicans and it? this bill in fairness i - think the republicans and mask and trump are different to the bill that— and trump are different to the bill that was going to be past 24 hours _ bill that was going to be past 24 hours ago... it bill that was going to be past 24 hours ago. . ._ of 24 hours ago... it is the art ofthe 24 hours ago... it is the art of the deal, _ 24 hours ago... it is the art of the deal, then. - 24 hours ago... it is the art of the deal, then. it - 24 hours ago... it is the art of the deal, then. it is - 24 hours ago... it is the art of the deal, then. it is an i 24 hours ago... it is the art. of the deal, then. it is an art of the deal, then. it is an art of a deal _ of the deal, then. it is an art of a deal we _ of the deal, then. it is an art of a deal we will _ of the deal, then. it is an art of a deal we will see - of the deal, then. it is an art of a deal we will see if- of the deal, then. it is an art of a deal we will see if it - of a deal we will see if it passes _ of a deal we will see if it passes. there are absolutely some — passes. there are absolutely some reasons why if you are donald — some reasons why if you are donald trump, he threw the debt limit _ donald trump, he threw the debt limit into— donald trump, he threw the debt limit into there, he is trying to avoid _ limit into there, he is trying to avoid a _ limit into there, he is trying to avoid a political fight a few— to avoid a political fight a few months into the beginning of his— few months into the beginning of his second term. i think there _ of his second term. i think there is— of his second term. i think there is some intelligence to that, — there is some intelligence to that, one _ there is some intelligence to that, one of the things democrats like me probably should — democrats like me probably should stop doing is pretending donald — should stop doing is pretending donald trump isn't smart, he is about— donald trump isn't smart, he is about certain things. where i think— about certain things. where i think this _ about certain things. where i think this is particularly harmful, the continuing resolution at the end of the year. — resolution at the end of the year. the _ resolution at the end of the year, the cr, is essentially a vehicle — year, the cr, is essentially a vehicle of— year, the cr, is essentially a vehicle of all of the bills that— vehicle of all of the bills that need to come into law that

people — that need to come into law that people don't want to negotiate peace — people don't want to negotiate peace by piece, you put it into one big — peace by piece, you put it into one big bill that must pass, four— one big bill that must pass, four corners, this is all extremely bipartisan staff, some _ extremely bipartisan staff, some of it is deal—making but it is— some of it is deal—making but it is bipartisan, to have it burn— it is bipartisan, to have it burn up— it is bipartisan, to have it burn up a _ it is bipartisan, to have it burn up a lot of things are not going — burn up a lot of things are not going to — burn up a lot of things are not going to happen that would have otherwise happen, a lot of those _ otherwise happen, a lot of those people would like and americans would benefit from won't — americans would benefit from won't get past, more than that ithink— won't get past, more than that i think it — won't get past, more than that i think it is _ won't get past, more than that i think it is the process, even if you — i think it is the process, even if you love _ i think it is the process, even if you love this outcome, what happens — if you love this outcome, what happens the next time all the time — happens the next time all the time after that or after that. christian. _ time after that or after that. christian, he said politics is learning _ christian, he said politics is learning how to count, it is suddenly— learning how to count, it is suddenly we go from the number system _ suddenly we go from the number system we have now to base six number — system we have now to base six number system because elon musk decided _ number system because elon musk decided it— number system because elon musk decided it at random. gn number system because elon musk decided it at random.— decided it at random. on truth social, it is _

decided it at random. on truth social, it is very _ decided it at random. on truth social, it is very good - decided it at random. on truth social, it is very good deal- decided it at random. on truth social, it is very good deal he l social, it is very good deal he says. your daily reminder he is not the president yet. already pulling the strings by social media. the debt ceiling is an important issue because quite clearly if you are coming into government you want room and space to be able to cut taxes, which is what he wants to do, which is what he wants to do, which will cost the federal government. shifting the argument to 2027 is when and that may be is the reason they played hardball yesterday. the inability of _ played hardball yesterday. tie: inability of some western governments to agree budgets, we had that in france the other week, france doesn't have a budget, neither does the united states, rememberthe budget, neither does the united states, remember the first time we went through sequestration when i was still in government, we were trying to do business with the american government with the american government with serious security and diplomatic issues, difficult to do, i remember going to

washington and not knowing whether people would be able to attend meetings or not. it is dysfunctional, it should be fundamental that the government management budget should be agreed at the beginning of the fiscal year. agreed at the beginning of the fiscal year-— fiscal year. just across over here, fiscal year. just across over here. we — fiscal year. just across over here, we have _ fiscal year. just across over here, we have been - fiscal year. just across over here, we have been talkingj here, we have been talking about spending here in the uk today and particularly growth. were only getting the growth of the united states is getting at the united states is getting at the moment, that would be good for the prime minister but what is i think is concerning, interest rates are stuck at 4.75, which doesn't help growth, the interest is up at the highest level since 1998. that will clearly be worrying the treasury because that means you have the cut spending further perhaps, go back and raise taxes.— raise taxes. yes and the government _ raise taxes. yes and the government bonds, - raise taxes. yes and the government bonds, the | raise taxes. yes and the - government bonds, the gap between britain and germany has widened again so the economic

situation in britain is very difficult and it doesn't look as though it is going to improve any time soon. particularly as you say growth, a driver of it, also productivity which hasn't really improved in the last 15 years in this country. that is what lies at the heart of the problem. what lies at the heart of the problem-— what lies at the heart of the roblem. ~ ., ,, ., , ., problem. we will take a short break, around _ problem. we will take a short break, around the _ problem. we will take a short break, around the world - problem. we will take a short break, around the world and. break, around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

the chief prosecutor in france's biggest rape trial, which concluded today, believes the trial and the publicity that surrounded it will "fundamentally change the relationship between men and women in france". 51 men have all been found guilty of aggravated rape. all but two of them are now in jail for what they did to this one grandmother — 72—year—old gisele pelicot. her ex husband dominique —

the man she married in 1973 — was given the longest sentence — 20 years — for drugging his wife and allowing dozens of strangers to come into the home and rape her repeatedly over a ten—year period. 0utside court, gisele pelicot�*s supporters chanted — "shame, has changed sides". and that is down to the courage she showed through three months of harrowing testimony. she gave up her anonymity, she fought for the videos of the rapes to be shown in court — "so that society could see what was happening". after the sentences were read out, gisele thanked her supporters, saying they had given her the strength to attend the trial every day. i want to express my deepest gratitude to all the people who have supported me throughout this ordeal. i was overwhelmed by your support and i drew from to come back every day to face these long days of hearings. i wanted to open the doors of

this trial last september so that society could see what was happening. i have never regretted this decision. i have confidence now and our capacity collectively to find a better future in which men and women alike can 1520 00:16:16,1