The Rest Is Politics
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.
Episodes
Britain's Ticking Time Bomb: The Food Security Crisis
Could the UK be facing empty supermarket shelves by 2030? Are food distribution centres sitting ducks for drone warfare? And how has Britain got to a place where is has just 3 days to 3 weeks worth of food supplies?
This week, Caroline Lucas sits down with food security expert, Professor Paul Behrens from the University of Oxford.
To hear the full episode and the whole series as it drops, si
556. The US-China AI Arms Race and Badenoch vs. Rory’s Centrism
Is China quietly outsmarting the US in the AI arms race, and is Trump laying the pitch to challenge the results of the US midterms with his repeated, unfounded claims of Chinese election meddling? Why has Zelenskyy sacked his popular defence minister just as Ukraine is winning on the battlefield? Does Kemi Badenoch’s purge of Rory-adjacent centrists from the Conservative Party show she is even mor
555. Burnham’s Cabinet Purge and the Rough Sleeping Pledge
What does Andy Burnham’s purge of Starmer loyalists from the top of government tell us about how the new British prime minister will govern the UK? Why did Ed Miliband drop his ten-year Energy Security and Net Zero project to become Foreign Secretary? Can Burnham end rough sleeping nationally, after struggling to do so in Manchester?
Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and
The Secret Security Threat The Government Don’t Want Us To Know
Why did the government suppress a report written by senior intelligence officials which named climate and nature collapse as a national security threat? How could ecosystem collapse lead to empty super market shelves, water scarcity and increased risk of conflict? And, ultimately, why has this not become a bigger conversation among politicians?
Sign up here to watch the whole episode and the re
554. Burnham’s Worldview, Trump's Ceasefire Collapse, and Advising Count Binface
Can Andy Burnham's 'Makerfield test' survive contact with a world of Trump, China, and a raging Iran crisis? Why did every one of Netanyahu's promises to Trump about the war with Iran - from destroying the ballistic missile programme to fomenting revolution - turn out to be wrong? What advice does Alastair have for Count Binface in his fight against Nigel Farage in Clacton?
Join Rory and Alasta
553. Farage in Meltdown and The Killing of Ann Widdecombe
Has Nigel Farage finally hit his tipping point, and could Count Binface deliver the ultimate humiliation in Clacton? Why are police warning against speculation over the killing of Ann Widdecombe, and is Reform trying to weaponise her death? Was Rory Stewart aware of any of this during his twelve day silent retreat?
Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more.
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552. Trump's Red Card Saga and Germany's Far-Right Machine
What does Trump's shocking red card intervention reveal about how he wields power? Why doesn't his corruption seem to hurt him politically, despite adding $2.2 billion to his wealth in a single year in office, while so many Americans struggle to get by? Is Germany's firewall against the far right about to fall – and is the billionaire owner of the Telegraph pushing it over?
Join Alastair and Mehd
551. Will Farage’s Trumpian Resignation Stunt Backfire?
Is Farage's shock by-election gamble a Trumpian trick to bury the scandal over his finances? Why has the Murdoch press finally turned on Britain's most protected politician? Can Andy Burnham beat the media machine that swallowed Keir Starmer?
Join Alastair and Mehdi Hasan as they answer all these questions and more in this week's edition of Question Time.
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550. Will Farage's Extreme Wealth Be His Downfall?
How has Farage become the highest earning MP, while still claiming to be “for the everyday Briton”? Has Farage become part of the establishment? And how much more is there to discover about Farage’s £5 million "gift"?
Join Alastair and Cat Neilan, journalist at the Observer, as they answer all these questions and more.
To hear the whole of "Who Funds Reform?", sign up here at therestispoli
549. Mamdani’s Wrecking Ball and the Rise of Anti-Migrant Vigilantes
Is Zohran Mamdani becoming much more than a mayor and effectively running a shadow presidential campaign through the candidates he's backing? How significant is Australia’s new centrist party and could something similar be done in the UK? Are the anti-migrant protests and vigilantes in South Africa unique to the region, or part of a global populist pattern of scapegoating migrants for the failures
548. Burnham vs. Westminster and Trump’s Next Target
Will Andy Burnham’s plan for a ‘Number 10 North’ actually work in practice? What does Rory make of Burnham’s growth strategy? Who is Donald Trump’s next target in Latin America?
Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more.
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547. The Truth About Russian Oil, Net Zero, and North Sea Drilling
With the UK and Europe sweltering in yet another record-breaking heatwave, will we ever actually reach net zero? How close are we to a “lights out” scenario due to the Iran war, and how did we become so dependent on Russian oil? Is North Sea drilling for oil and gas a matter of national security, or an environmentally reckless fantasy?
Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions a
546. Keir Starmer Resigns: What Happens Next?
What does Keir’s Starmer’s exit as Prime Minister and leader of the Labour party mean for the UK? After his thumping victory against Reform UK last week, will Andy Burnham face a contest or a coronation on his path to becoming the country’s seventh prime minister since the Brexit referendum? What challenges will Burnham face in his attempt to turn things around for Labour and last longer than his
545. Burnham Beats Reform: Britain’s Next Prime Minister?
Has Andy Burnham’s huge victory against Reform in Makerfield shown the Labour Party how it can beat Farage? What does this defeat mean for the right, and how tricky will the coming months be for Andy Burnham? What does the Tory victory against the SNP in Aberdeen mean for British energy policy?
Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more.
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544. How Trump Is Weaponising AI and Martial Arts at the White House
Has Britain become a “vassal” state, dangerously dependent on the US for our most vital national security capabilities? What does Trump’s martial arts birthday event on the White House lawn tell us about the “banalisation” of his presidency in politics and the media? Will Alastair u-turn on his boycott of the World Cup and travel to the Americas if Scotland go far in the controversial competition?
543. The Disaster Britain Still Can't Escape and Trump’s Iran ‘Deal’
What is the true cost of Brexit? How have British and European far-right politics evolved since the historic Brexit referendum, and can liberal democracy survive it? Is it possible to see Trump’s Iran ‘deal’ as anything other than a defeat for the US?
Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more.
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542. Starmer Loses His Defence Secretary: What Next?
What does John Healey's shock resignation mean for Keir Starmer, whose position is already on the line ahead of Andy Burnham's crunch by-election in Makerfield? Who might replace Healey in one of the most important jobs in government, at one of the most dangerous moments in the UK's history? With NATO allies demanding higher spending on defence and Trump's America growing ever more unpredictable,
541. Trump’s World Cup Mess and Kushner’s Albania Deal
As the Trump administration blocks a referee from entering the US, is this the most political world cup of all time, and just how messy will it get? Can the Democrats flip the Senate, and would it actually stop Trump? Is Jared Kushner turning the Balkans into his personal property portfolio?
Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more in this week's edition of Question Ti
540. The Untold Iran Crisis, Henry Nowak, and Farage’s Politics of Rage
As Trump’s Iran disaster continues, are we facing a full-blown energy and economic crisis in the UK and beyond? Why are politicians refusing to be honest about the real cost of the Iran crisis? What does the far-right’s response to the Henry Nowak tragedy – from JD Vance to Rupert Lowe – tell us about post-truth populism?
Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more.
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539. Embezzlement, the Mandelson Texts, and Hasan Piker's UK Ban
What does the SNP embezzlement case reveal about how scandal-ridden British politics is? Is the banning of prominent left-wing American commentators Hasan Piker and Cenk Uygur a sensible decision or a serious threat to free speech? After Rory and Alastair discussed their most “evil” handshakes last week, who is the most “angelic” person they have each shaken hands with?
Join Rory and Alastair a
538. The Pope’s AI Warning and Alastair Reacts to Blair’s Attack
Is Pope Leo’s encyclical the most important contribution to the AI debate so far, and is he doing more to hold Silicon Valley to account than any Western government? What did Alastair say to Tony Blair about his explosive essay attacking the direction of Starmer’s government, the Labour Party, and net zero? Why does Rory think Blair is now closer to JD Vance than to the values that defined New Lab
Who Funds Reform? The Missing Millions
Who is the secretive billionaire bankrolling Reform — and what does he want? How did a brand new party raise and spend £17 million with no public explanation? As Farage inches toward power, who's really pulling the strings?
This four part series, made in collaboration with The Observer’s Slow Newscast will explore the money, donors and power networks behind Reform UK.
To hear all four episo
537. Indicting Trump, Israeli Prisons, and Rory vs. Ed Miliband
What connects Trump’s Cuba blockade and Ben Gvir’s abuse of flotilla activists? As Richard Tice denies climate change science, will reality catch up with Reform UK – and what is Rory’s issue with Ed Miliband’s approach to net zero? Who is the most evil person Rory and Alastair have ever shaken hands with?
Join Alastair and Rory as they answer all these questions and more in this week's edition
536. Is Trump’s Corruption Machine Reaching New Extremes?
Has the scale of Donald J. Trump’s corruption become too big to prosecute? Is the US Constitution now a roadmap to tyranny instead of a protection against it? Why do 72% of Gen Z think things will only get worse, and can mainstream politics win them back?
Join Alastair and Rory as they answer all these questions and more.
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Struggling or Snowflakes? The Gen Z Mental Health Story
What's behind the rise in young people being diagnosed with mental health problems? Are members of Gen Z less resilient than older generations? Or are they a product of a society that has failed them? Has therapy culture gone too far? Or not far enough? Why are so many young people out of work? Is it laziness? Is something deeper at play?
This week in The Gen Z Story, Vicky Spratt is joined by
535. The Ebola Outbreak and the British Far-Right’s Next Move
Are Xi and Putin playing Trump? How serious is the new Ebola outbreak, especially after Trump's and Britain's severe cuts to international aid? With Tommy Robinson explicitly telling his supporters to support Reform UK, the Conservative Party, and other right-wing parties ahead of 2029, is this a deliberate strategy to infiltrate mainstream politics and normalise far-right extremism?
Join Rory
534. Is Wes Streeting Trying to Sabotage Andy Burnham?
By re-igniting the Brexit debate, is Wes Streeting deliberately trying to sabotage Andy Burnham's chances in a Leave-voting area, or is he forcing Labour to finally confront reality? Does Hungary's new leader Magyar offer a playbook for defeating Reform UK – by exposing Farage's wealth, mysterious funding sources, and corruption? Is Gary Stevenson correct to say the centre-left is relying on outda
533. Andy Burnham's Big Gamble: Can He Beat Reform?
What is Alastair’s plea to Labour politicians, after this week’s turmoil? After Wes Streeting’s resignation from the cabinet, will he still run against the ‘King of the North’, Andy Burnham, and how bruising would a leadership contest be for the government? How risky is this for Burnham, and can he beat Reform in Greater Manchester?
Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and
532. The Trump-Xi Showdown and Putin’s Conscription Con
As Trump becomes the first American president to visit China in nearly a decade, will the summit bring any positive developments, or will it further deepen global disorder? Will Trump sacrifice Taiwan's security to gain concessions from Xi on Iran? With Russia losing 30,000 troops per month and Putin resorting to deceiving African workers into combat, are his war efforts finally collapsing?
Joi
531. Starmer on the Brink: What Next?
As Starmer’s cabinet begin turning against him, how long can he cling on to power? By challenging Starmer without a clear plan for what comes next, are Labour MPs unleashing a chaos they cannot control? As Wales and Scotland shift dramatically towards Plaid Cymru, the Scottish National Party, and Reform UK – are we witnessing the end of both Labour and the Conservatives as national parties?
Joi
Enraged or Engaged? Angela Rayner on The Gen Z Story
Former Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, joins Alastair Campbell and Vicky Spratt to discuss the Gen Z story as she sees it. Listen to hear her thoughts on the success of The Green Party, the allure of characters like Gary Stevenson and Zack Polanski, the hopelessness of young people, the danger of binary politics and short-term thinking, as well as her push for the government to reconnect wit
Divided or Dependent? The Real Gen Z Story
Are the challenges faced by Gen Z unique or have we seen them before? Do workplaces need a Gen Z strategy, or is there something bigger at play? And, why does it feel like young people's attitudes are becoming more traditional?
Vicky Spratt, investigates the question: How bad are things really for young people? This week she is joined by generations expert, Professor Bobby Duffy.
To hear th
530. Is Starmer the Next Joe Biden? Rory and Alastair React to Local Elections
Will Keir Starmer survive presiding over seismic Labour losses in the local elections, and if he doesn’t who should replace him? Do historic Reform and Green wins for Farage and Polanski confirm the death of two-party politics in the UK? Did the Ed Davey’s Lib Dems and Kemi Badenoch’s Conservatives actually perform better than expected?
Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions
529. Antisemitism, Polarisation, and How the King Outplayed Trump
How is polarisation fuelling antisemitism, and how should religious and political leaders respond? What can politicians learn from the King’s speech to Congress about how to challenge Trump? Is Russia's security partnership model collapsing across Africa?
Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more in this week's edition of Question Time.
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528. Trump vs. Germany and Farage’s £5m ‘Gift’
As Trump threatens to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany, has European appeasement of Trump officially failed? Will historic local election losses for Labour trigger a change of Prime Minister? Why has Nigel Farage faced such little scrutiny on his £5 million ‘gift’ from a Thai-based crypto billionaire?
Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more.
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Lucky or Left Behind? The Gen Z Money Story
Is Gen Z the most informed generation in history, or the most financially trapped? Is a university degree still worth it, or have we sent too many people to study the wrong things? Has Britain gone from a meritocracy to an inheritocracy, where the “Bank of Mum and Dad” are more essential than ever?
Vicky Spratt, Housing and Society Correspondent, investigates the Gen Z story and how bad are th
527. Are American Tech Billionaires Threatening British Democracy?
Given Palantir’s controversial manifesto – described by some as having “techno-fascist” tendencies – why is the UK Government expanding its work with the company? Why has the Foreign Office closed its international humanitarian law unit, and what does this say about the UK's commitment to international law? Is the government doing enough to address mental health issues, particularly among young pe
526. Trump's Orwellian Maths and the King's Special Relationship Mission
Is the so-called ‘special relationship’ between America and Britain already broken, and is it even worth saving? How can the UK and Europe achieve independence from the US on defence, tech and nuclear? Is Trump's comical mathematical illiteracy actually a serious threat to democracy?
Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more.
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525. JD Vance vs. the Pope and the Far-Right Funding Machine (Question Time)
Why do Trump and JD Vance keep arguing with the Pope about theology? Who is funding the British and European far-right? As nationalism grows in Scotland and Wales, did devolution make this inevitable?
Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more.
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524. Starmer’s Mandelson Mess and the Iranian Nuclear Threat
Did Starmer show a fatal lack of judgement and curiosity about Peter Mandelson’s suitability for public office? How and why did Trump destroy years of successful Iranian nuclear ‘containment’ policy? Four years into the Sudan war, what does the failure of peace efforts reveal about the unravelling of the world order?
Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more.
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523. The Starmer-Mandelson Scandal: Lying or Incompetence?
Can Starmer survive if it emerges he was previously told about Mandelson's failed vetting? Is he developing a pattern of blaming others when things go wrong? Will this lead Labour MPs to start questioning their leader ahead of crucial local elections?
Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more.
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Beating Populism: How To Fight Back
Are we living in a 1930s moment in history? How can leaders fight back against populism? And is Franklin D Roosevelt the answer?
Join Alastair Campbell and Liam Byrne for part 2 of their discussion on why populism is winning and how to beat it.
To hear the whole Populism series, sign up at therestispolitics.com
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Producer: India
522. Has Hungary Shown Britain How to Beat Farage? (Question Time)
Is Trump's brand now toxic for the global far-right populist movement? Why are crypto billionaires pouring millions into Reform UK? Are we witnessing the death of two-party politics across not just England but Scotland and Wales, too?
Join Alastair and Rory as they answer all of these questions and more.
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521. Trump’s Naval Blockade: Is America Becoming a Rogue State?
As Trump unleashes yet more global economic turmoil with his aggressive Strait of Hormuz blockade, is he creating a state of ‘permanent emergency’ and reshaping the world order in ways nobody can predict? Why did JD Vance give up on negotiations with Iran after just 21 hours, and why is the 'ceasefire' already collapsing? What surprised Alastair most about his interview with the President of Ukrai
520. Orbán Ousted: Is The Tide Turning Against Far-Right Populism?
Does Hungary ousting its far-right prime minister prove rightwing populists and autocrats can be beaten around the world, from Trump and Farage to Netanyahu and Milei? Does JD Vance have the midas touch, after his desperate last-ditch efforts last week to get Orbán re-elected? What does Orbán’s departure mean for Putin, Ukraine, and European unity?
Join Alastair as he reacts to the end of Vikto
519. Trump's NATO Threat & a Critical Election in Hungary (Question Time)
Following Trump's threats to remove the US from NATO, is the alliance effectively finished? After nearly two decades in power, could Viktor Orbán finally be unseated in Hungary's upcoming election? Has Keir Starmer learned the lessons from the Democrats' 2024 loss ahead of May's local elections?
Join Dominic Sandbrook and Alastair Campbell as they answer all these questions and more.
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518. Is Trump a Fascist and is His War on Iran Unwinnable?
Has Trump crossed the line from right-wing populist to fascist? Is he fighting a war with Iran he cannot win? Is Iraq being dragged in against its will?
Join Dominic Sandbrook and Alastair Campbell as they answer all these questions and more.
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The Real Reasons Populism Is Taking Over
What is populism, and why is it so attractive to voters? Which human instincts do populists tap into to get votes? And what does a populist-led country look like?
Alastair is joined by Liam Byrne, MP who served in both Blair and Brown's government, and who has been conducting deep research into the rise of populism.
To hear the full episode, sign up at therestispolitics.com
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517. Is Trump Plotting Regime Change in Cuba? (Question Time)
Does Trump already have one eye on regime change in Cuba, as the US faces strategic failure in the Iran war? Who is more dangerous to the world right now, Putin or Netanyahu? Should Starmer be doing more to protect children from the harms of social media, and what does his slow approach to this issue reveal about his style of government?
Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions
516. Trump’s Iran Delusion and the Limits of American Power
Why has opposition to the Iran war been so muted within Trump’s America, and how is the US uniquely insulated from the worst impacts of the war? Do American tech billionaires now pose a serious threat to British democracy – alongside Iran, Russia, and China? Should the UK follow in the footsteps of South Australia and ban political donations entirely?
Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all t
Nineteen Eighty-Four: Dominic Sandbrook on Big Brother, Surveillance, and Fear (The Book Club)
Why is 1984 as relevant today as when it was published? Who is Big Brother, and why is he so powerful? What was George Orwell's intention when creating the world of 1984, and what does it tell us about politics today?
Alastair Campbell is joined by Dominic Sandbrook to delve into the fascinating story behind the writing of 1984, the world it was born of, and the novel itself.
Learn more about
515. Starmer’s Foreign Aid Betrayal, Islamophobia & Australia’s Far Right (Question Time)
Are the UK government’s aid cuts more extreme than those made under austerity and Trump? What can Britain learn from South Australia's landslide against the far-right? Have the Tories & Reform adopted a strategy of Islamophobia?
Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more.
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514. Who Is Profiting from Trump's Iran Catastrophe?
Are Russia, Israel, and Iran itself the real winners from Trump and Netanyahu’s war? Is Starmer right to resist more British involvement in the war? Will the Gulf states realign with Europe and ‘middle powers’ as a result of America’s latest exploits in the Middle East?
Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more.
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513. Inside Iran: The Country Trump Cannot Control? (Question Time)
Why are the US and the West as a whole so bad at understanding the cultures of other countries, including Iran, and what do they miss as a result? How will the Iran war unfold over the next six months? Has Trump unleashed a war he ultimately cannot control or end?
Rory, Alastair, and Iran expert Karim Sadjadpour answer all these questions and more.
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512. Trump’s Iran Disaster and the GB News Propaganda Machine
Is Russia the biggest winner from Trump’s war with Iran? Is GB News little more than a propaganda machine for Reform UK? How toxic is England's water and why does it have the only fully privatised water and sewerage system in the world?
Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more.
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511. Is Blair Undermining Starmer on Iran? (Question Time)
Why is Tony Blair criticising Starmer’s approach to Trump’s warmongering in the Middle East? Should European leaders be calling out Trump’s lies more directly? What is actually unfolding inside Iran right now?
Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more.
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510. How The Iran War Is Spiralling Into a Global Crisis
Has Trump unleashed a sequence of events nobody in the world can control? How serious are the global consequences? Is this war even more dangerous than the Iraq war?
Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more.
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The Future of Warfare: Anthropic vs OpenAI
Is Europe sleepwalking into American AI dependency? Are we building toward a world where AI genuinely thinks for itself? And as AI becomes the backbone of modern warfare, who's really in control?
Join Rory Stewart and Matt Clifford as they answer all of these questions and more.
For the full AI series, sign up at therestispolitics.com
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509. Labour's Polanski Problem and the Student Loans Scandal (Question Time)
Does the Gorton and Denton by-election result suggest Labour has been underestimating the threat of the Green Party? Is the UK's tuition fee system less like a loan and more like a punishing graduate tax? As America retreats from the world stage under Trump, could the UK seize the moment to reassert itself as a cultural superpower?
Join Alastair and Rory as they answer all these questions and m
508. Is Starmer Sleepwalking into War with Iran?
Is Keir Starmer sleepwalking into a war Britain never agreed to fight? What are Trump's real objectives in attacking Iran? How far will Iran's retaliation go?
Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more.
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507. The Ayatollah Is Killed - REACTION
With the confirmation of the death of Iran's Supreme Leader confirmed, where does this leave the regime? Who is being targeted in Iran's retaliation attacks and how have Iranians reacted? Is Trump's bet on regime change his biggest gamble yet?
Rory and Alastair discuss.
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506. Trump Attacks Iran: What Happens Now?
As Tehran launches retaliatory strikes against Israel and US military bases, how dangerous is this moment for the Middle East and the wider world? Are the attacks an attempt by Trump to shift attention away from the Epstein files? Will any of this lead to regime change in Iran?
Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more.
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505. Are Trump and Putin Underestimating Ukraine?
On the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, what's the reality on the ground? Why is Trump still calling the shots on negotiations with Russia, given the huge withdrawal of US military aid? Why are Ukrainians tired of being praised for their resilience?
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504. Is Trump Losing His Tariffs War? (Question Time)
Will Trump escalate his global acts of aggression in response to the dramatic Supreme Court ruling? How will the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten Windsor change the course of British royal history? Will Labour’s SEND reforms in the schools white paper strengthen inclusion in mainstream schools or risk stripping essential legal protections from children with special needs?
Join Rory and Alastair as
Why Trump Wants Greenland
Why has Donald Trump considered invading Greenland? How does he think it will benefit him? What is the role of China in the Arctic? And what animals have Russia trained to spy for them?
Listen as Alastair and Kenneth R. Rosen answer these questions and more.
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503. Andrew’s Arrest: What Next?
Why has the disgraced Andrew Mountbatten Windsor been arrested? How damaging is this unprecedented moment for the royal family? How effective was King Charles’ response?
Join Alastair and the former Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Lord Falconer, as they answer all these questions and more.
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502. How Nigel Farage Gets Away With It (Question Time)
Why is Reform UK's leader not being properly challenged by the press, and how does he get away with it? What does this reveal about the international populist playbook? How can our democracies be better protected?
Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more.
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501. Is Starmer Too Soft on Trump? Inside the Munich Security Conference
Why did Trump's Secretary of State Marco Rubio 'love bomb' Europe at the Munich Security Conference, and how did it compare to JD Vance's infamous 'enemy within' speech this time last year? Is Europe united enough in the face of Trump 2.0? Has Starmer failed to grasp the scale of the rupture posed by Trump's new world order, or is he trying to buy time?
Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all
The Battle for the Arctic
One of the most important political issues of our time - the battle for the Arctic. Why is Russia so dominant there? Why does Trump really want Greenland? And why is Climate Change right at the heart of this?Join Alastair and author Kenneth R. Rosen in the first episode of our new members-only miniseries on the battle for geopolitical control of the icy north, the polar war.
To hear the full ep
500. Japan, China, and the Fight for Taiwan (Question Time)
Are Japan and China closer to conflict over Taiwan, after the landslide victory for Japan's 'Iron Lady', Sanae Takayichi? Does Trump’s crumbling American-Hispanic vote explain his extreme reaction to Bad Bunny's historic, Spanish-only Super Bowl performance? Is the Winter Olympics a sign sport is the only thing that can make us feel good right now?
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499. Is It Game Over for Starmer?
As Starmer begins to lose his key aides and allies, is his departure from Number 10 now a matter of when, not if? Is the UK actually becoming ungovernable? Will the latest revelations about the level of Epstein’s global influence bring a reckoning for politics and society as a whole?
Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more.
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498. Alastair Reacts to Starmer-Mandelson Turmoil
How should the government and politics as a whole respond to the latest revelations about the scale of Epstein's influence, and Mandelson's abuse of power? If Starmer goes, who and what comes next? Do the events of the last week make a Farage-led Reform government more likely?
As Starmer's top aid Morgan McSweeney resigns, Alastair shares his honest thoughts on the shattering events of the last
497. Is Trump Plotting Regime Change in Iran? (Question Time)
Is Trump deliberately wielding chaos as a negotiating tactic with Iran? When did it become acceptable for world leaders to openly interfere in each other's elections, as seen with Orbán's international campaign support? How vulnerable is Starmer's position heading into the Gorton and Denton by-election?
Join Rory and Alastair as they discuss all these questions and more.
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496. Mandelson’s Disgrace: How Epstein Poisoned Our Politics
What do Peter Mandelson's ties to Jefferey Epstein reveal about the influence of the rich and powerful in British politics? Why did so many prominent figures continue associating with and supporting Jefferey Epstein after his conviction in 2008? How do wealthy elites exploit political systems, and what structural reforms can protect democracies from corruption?
Join Rory and Alastair as they
495. Terror in Minnesota: The Putinisation of America (Question Time)
*This episode contains content that may not be suitable for younger listeners*
What do the killings of protesters by ICE in Minnesota reveal about the state of democracy and truth in the Trump era? Is there still a viable political future for a Conservative centrist movement in British politics? Can rhetoric and political communication genuinely change the course of history?
Join Rory and Al
494. Carney’s Trump Fightback and the Starmer-Burnham Fallout
Can the 'middle powers' escape Trump's grip and build a world beyond American and Chinese dominance? What is the 'Board of Peace' and why is Trump its chairman for life? Is Starmer’s ‘control-freakery’ shooting Labour in the foot?
Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more.
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What If the AI Revolution Isn’t Real?
Is AI a revolution, or just another slow-moving general technology? Are we mistaking hype for inevitability? And, can a technology this unreliable really reshape civilisation?
Rory Stewart and Matt Clifford are joined by award winning computer scientist, Arvind Narayanan.
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493. Trump Insults NATO Troops
Why has Trump chosen to denigrate the sacrifice of allied soldiers? Are Keir Starmer and other NATO leaders finally reaching a breaking point with the US President? And what does this mean for the future of the Western alliance at such a critical moment?
Join Alastair and Anthony Scaramucci, Trump’s former Communications Director and co-host of The Rest is Politics US, as they answer all these
492. Should Europe Boycott the World Cup? (Question Time)
Could Trump’s continued Greenland threats spark international boycotts of the World Cup? Does Robert Jenrick’s chaotic defection to Reform strengthen or weaken the Conservatives? How stable is the ceasefire in Syria, and should it be celebrated as a major victory for Trump?
Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more.
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491. Trump at Davos: Rory and Alastair React
What does Trump's rambling speech to world leaders at Davos mean for Greenland? Are Europe and the UK ready to act together against Trump's threats? And what lessons does Mark Carney's approach to Trump offer on how middle powers should respond to Trump's brazen foreign policy?
Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more.
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