Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart break down current affairs in the UK and abroad.
The Rest Is Politics analyses the latest international news, provides debate on global issues, and reveals secrets from Westminster, whilst bringing back the lost art of disagreeing agreeably. With insider perspectives and expert analysis, The Rest Is Politics is the go-to podcast for anyone seeking intelligent, engaging discussions on British and global politics.
The Rest Is Politics Plus: Join with a FREE TRIAL at therestispolitics.com for exclusive bonus content including Rory and Alastair’s first ever miniseries, early access to episodes and live show tickets, ad free listening, our exclusive newsletter, discount book prices on titles mentioned on the pod, and our members chatroom.
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Social Producer: Celine Charles
Lead Video Editor: Josh Smith
Assistant Producer: Daisy Alston-Horne
Producer: Evan Green
Exec Producer: Chris Sawyer
General Manager: Tom Whiter
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Is Farage imitating Trump with his desire to deport 600,000 migrants from the UK? How is the media whipping up a toxic debate on immigration? Why is Labour still trying to ape Reform, rather than fighting back? Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more. Join The Rest Is Politics Plus: Start your FREE TRIAL at therestispolitics.com to unlock exclusive bonus content – including Rory and Alastair’s miniseries – plus ad-free listening, early access to episodes and live sho...
Rory and Alastair answer listener questions, delving into why the Liberal Democrats struggle for national recognition despite their electoral success, examining their strategy and media coverage. They also discuss the potential for a centrist political force in the UK and criticize the shift of figures like Robert Jenrick within the Conservative Party. The conversation extends to US politics, expressing concerns about Donald Trump's authoritarian tendencies and the impact of redistricting on political polarization, before touching on cuts to UK prison education and the debate around Somaliland's recognition.
Is appeasing Trump and Putin a recipe for disaster in Europe , or simply a pragmatic approach? Why was JD Vance so silent in Zelensky's second White House visit? With mass protests on the streets of Tel Aviv, is Netanyahu losing the Israeli public — and his own army? Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more. Join The Rest Is Politics Plus: Start your FREE TRIAL at therestispolitics.com to unlock exclusive bonus content – including Rory and Alastair’s miniseries – plus a...
This episode dissects the recent Trump-Putin summit in Alaska, characterized by global anxiety and an unexpected lack of a formal deal. Rory and Alistair examine why the meeting proved disastrous for Trump's image yet a strategic victory for Putin, who leveraged the event to legitimize his regime and avoid key concessions like a ceasefire. The discussion also touches on the differing visions for peace in Ukraine, Trump's unconventional diplomatic style, and Europe's challenging position in navigating these complex geopolitical dynamics.
Is Starmer too afraid to take on Farage? What does Germany’s turn away from Israel signal? And, how much should kids know about geopolitics? Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more. The Rest Is Politics Plus: Join with a FREE TRIAL at therestispolitics.com for exclusive bonus content including Rory and Alastair’s first ever miniseries, early access to episodes and live show tickets, ad free listening, our exclusive newsletter, discount book prices on titles mentioned o...
Alistair Campbell and Rory Stewart dissect the anticipated Trump-Putin summit, highlighting the potential for Ukraine to be sidelined and Europe's security jeopardized by Trump's consistent "America First" approach. They then pivot to the modern battlefield, detailing the significant impact of drones in the Ukraine war. The hosts also scrutinize JD Vance's recent UK visit, questioning the diplomatic strategy of engaging potentially dangerous figures, before concluding with a robust debate on the UK government's proscription of Palestine Action and the escalating humanitarian crisis and press repression in Gaza.
Alastair is joined by historian and co-host of Goalhanger’s Journey Through Time, Sarah Churchwell, to discuss their new series on the History of The National Rifle Association. How did The National Rifle Association go from a sportsman’s organisation set up to improve marksmanship following the civil war to a for-profit group fighting gun regulation? Why did a convicted killer become one of the most influential figures in modern gun politics? How did the NRA gain so much control over the Americ...
Can Starmer’s deal with Macron really fix the Channel crisis? Is Colombia’s fragile peace falling apart amid a booming drug trade? And, could AI replace mental health support lines? Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more. The Rest Is Politics Plus: Join with a FREE TRIAL at therestispolitics.com for exclusive bonus content including Rory and Alastair’s first ever miniseries, early access to episodes and live show tickets, ad free listening, our exclusive newsletter, d...
Why are the UK, France and Canada finally recognising a Palestinian state? Why is Trump punishing Brazil, India, and Switzerland with tariffs? Should Starmer’s Labour be less cautious and more populist in the way it communicates with the country? Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more. The Rest Is Politics Plus: Join with a FREE TRIAL at therestispolitics.com , for exclusive bonus content including Rory and Alastair’s first ever miniseries The Real JD Vance, early acc...
Can Zelensky survive a war abroad while fighting enemies at home? What does Epstein’s circle reveal about power, secrets and how justice really works? And, is addiction a personal failure or a rigged system designed to keep us hooked? This week, Alastair is joined by Katty Kay, host of The Rest is Politics US, to discuss all of this and more. The Rest Is Politics Plus: Join with a FREE TRIAL at therestispolitics.com , for exclusive bonus content including Rory and Alastair’s first ever miniserie...
Will the West turn the tide on Gaza or is it too little, too late? What are the pictures Netanyahu doesn't want Trump to see? Are Israel's aid drops purely performative? Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more. The Rest Is Politics Plus: Join with a FREE TRIAL at therestispolitics.com , for exclusive bonus content including Rory and Alastair’s first ever miniseries The Real JD Vance, early access to Question Time episodes and live show tickets, ad free listening for bo...
Is Netanyahu escalating conflict to distract from scandal? How is toxic masculinity taking hold among young men? Is Japan’s youth driving a new wave of nationalism? Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more. The Rest Is Politics Plus Join with a FREE TRIAL at therestispolitics.com , for exclusive bonus content including Rory and Alastair’s first ever miniseries The Real JD Vance, early access to Question Time episodes and live show tickets, ad free listening for both TRI...
What did Alastair make of Jeffrey Epstein when he met him? Just how dangerous is AI in an unregulated world of tech bro billionaires? Why do Rory and Alastair disagree on votes for 16 year-olds? Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more. The Rest Is Politics Plus: Join with a FREE TRIAL at therestispolitics.com , for exclusive bonus content including Rory and Alastair’s first ever miniseries The Real JD Vance, early access to Question Time episodes and live show tickets,...
Does Trump already see himself as America’s king? Have he and Vance swapped ideology for a medieval approach to politics? Will reality finally catch up with the MAGA coalition? Join Rory and Alastair as they answer questions exclusively from members of The Rest Is Politics Plus . The Rest Is Politics Plus: Join with a FREE TRIAL at therestispolitics.com , for exclusive bonus content including Rory and Alastair’s first ever miniseries The Real JD Vance, early access to Question Time episodes and ...
Has the West lost its moral voice on Gaza? Can Britain and France rebuild trust on migration after Brexit? And, where are today’s Bob Geldofs — and why won’t they speak up? Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more. The Rest Is Politics Plus: Join with a FREE TRIAL at therestispolitics.com , for exclusive bonus content including Rory and Alastair’s first ever miniseries The Real JD Vance, early access to Question Time episodes and live show tickets, ad free listening for...
Is Starmer falling into Trump's defence spending trap? What's the bigger threat to the European democracies: Putin or populism? Why has a Labour-affiliated union suspended Angela Rayner, a trade unionist Deputy PM? Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more. The Rest Is Politics Plus: Join with a FREE TRIAL at therestispolitics.com , for exclusive bonus content including Rory and Alastair’s first ever miniseries The Real JD Vance, early access to Question Time episodes an...
Is JD Vance Trump's most dangerous heir? Would a JD Vance presidency be even more dangerous than Trump 2.0? How historically unusual is it for a Vice President to be so prominent in an administration? Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more in this extract from the fourth episode of their first ever miniseries, available in full right now on The Rest Is Politics Plus . The Rest Is Politics Plus: Join with a FREE TRIAL at therestispolitics.com , for exclusive bonus cont...
This episode of The Rest Is Politics Question Time delves into several pressing political issues. Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart discuss the impact of potential new parties from Jeremy Corbyn and Elon Musk on vote splitting and broken political systems. They critically examine the crisis in the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system, linking it to economic stagnation and Labour's fiscal challenges. Other topics include the Conservative Party's evolving stance on Gaza, climate change impacts and political responses, the dynamics around Rachel Reeves' emotional moment in Parliament, Bosnia's future EU prospects, and personal takes on recent films and books.
Is the Israeli government creating a prison camp for Palestinians in Rafah? Why did the BBC drop its documentary investigating Israel’s destruction of Gaza’s healthcare system? How is Trump still getting played by Netanyahu and Putin? Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more. The Rest Is Politics Plus: Join with a FREE TRIAL at therestispolitics.com , for exclusive bonus content including Rory and Alastair’s first ever miniseries The Real JD Vance, early access to Quest...
How do you go from calling Donald Trump “Hitler” to becoming his most loyal ally? Why did JD Vance abandon the thoughtful, Christian conservative image that made him famous? And what does his transformation reveal about how power really works in Trump’s America? Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more in Part 3 of their first ever miniseries, The Real JD Vance, exclusively for members of The Rest Is Politics Plus . New episodes every Friday morning. Claim your FREE TRI...
Rory and Alastair answer listener questions on topics including the surprise win of socialist Zoran Mamdani in the New York mayoral primary and its potential impact on UK Labour, the controversy surrounding Palestine solidarity displays at Glastonbury and related media coverage, and the implications of Trump taking credit for a Congo-Rwanda peace deal while pursuing a Nobel Prize. They also discuss the US Health Secretary's decision to cut funding for global vaccination programs and former Prime Minister John Major's strong criticism of Donald Trump, before analyzing the dynamics and questionable flattery at the recent NATO summit.
What have the Labour government achieved since the general election one year ago? What are the hardest challenges Keir Starmer must face? How has Donald Trump monetised the Presidency of the United States? Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more. The Rest Is Politics Plus: Join with a FREE TRIAL at therestispolitics.com , for exclusive bonus content including Rory and Alastair’s first ever miniseries The Real JD Vance, early access to Question Time episodes and live sh...
What do we know about the billionaire tech bros backing Vance who hate democracy? Is Vance the political face of a revolution for the super rich? Is he a voice for the Rust Belt, or an avatar for Silicon Valley? Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more in Part 2 of their first ever miniseries, The Real JD Vance, exclusively for members of The Rest Is Politics Plus . Claim your FREE TRIAL at therestispolitics.com . The Rest Is Politics Plus: Join with a FREE TRIAL at the...
How much do you really know about the geopolitics of Iran and the Middle East? Have British MPs made a mistake with the Assisted Dying Bill? What does the King say when he meets politicians? Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all this and more in today's episode of Question Time. The Rest Is Politics Plus: Join with a FREE TRIAL at therestispolitics.com , for exclusive bonus content including Rory and Alastair’s first ever miniseries The Real JD Vance, early access to Question Time episodes a...
Has Trump really helped agree peace between Israel and Iran, and how long will it last? Were last night's strikes from Iran on a US base merely performative? How real is the chance of Supreme Leader Khamenei falling? The Rest Is Politics Plus: Join with a FREE TRIAL at therestispolitics.com , for exclusive bonus content including Rory and Alastair’s first ever miniseries The Real JD Vance, early access to Question Time episodes and live show tickets, ad free listening for both TRIP and Leading, ...
Why has the US entered the Israel-Iran war? Is this the beginning of a wider war? What does this all mean for the world? Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more. The Rest Is Politics Plus: Join with a FREE TRIAL at therestispolitics.com , for exclusive bonus content including Rory and Alastair’s first ever miniseries The Real JD Vance, early access to Question Time episodes and live show tickets, ad free listening for both TRIP and Leading, our exclusive newsletter, di...
Delve into the surprising political transformation of JD Vance, from a vehement never-Trumper to a leading figure in the Trump movement and potential Vice President. This episode examines his difficult background, his controversial book "Hillbilly Elegy," and his views on class, poverty, and the opioid crisis, exploring what drives his ambition and shifting ideology.
What does the murder of politicians in Minnesota tell us about the state of American politics? What is the newly appointed Chief of MI6 going to know about the world? Is there a more divisive issue than immigration in the UK today? Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more. The Rest Is Politics Plus: Become a member for exclusive bonus content, early access to Question Time episodes to live show tickets, ad-free listening for both TRIP and Leading, our exclusive newslett...
Rory Stewart and Alastair Campbell discuss the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel, analysing Netanyahu's communication strategy, the role of international law, and global reactions, particularly Trump's impact on the G7. They also delve into the recent Casey report on UK grooming gangs, examining systemic failures, the nature of the abuse, and the report's recommendations amidst political debate and public opinion shifts.
Hosts Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart analyze Israel's recent strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities and leadership. They discuss Prime Minister Netanyahu's long-term objectives, the military effectiveness of the attack, and the complex, often ambiguous, role of the Trump administration. The conversation explores Iran's potential responses, the implications under international law, and how the event might impact Iran's nuclear ambitions and the broader regional stability in an era of waning US influence.
