The Rest Is Politics: Leading
The Rest Is Politics: Leading is a podcast where Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart interview politicians, leaders, intellectuals, and more. Guests discuss life, leadership, and the philosophy that has led them to success in their chosen field. The conversations cover key political events, global affairs, and big ideas shaping the world today, offering in-depth perspectives from those at the heart of change.
Episodes
198. How Trump’s Imperial Presidency Really Works
How does the most chaotic White House in history actually make decisions? How did Netanyahu sell Trump on a regime change war in Iran? Who is the only world leader Trump is truly afraid of?
Alastair is joined by Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, White House correspondents for the New York Times and authors of 'Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump' to discuss all t
197. The Billionaire Tax Debate (Gabriel Zucman)
Can the super rich ever be fairly taxed, or are there too many functioning tax havens? Can capitalism survive the ever growing disparity between the top 1% and the rest? Should billionaires exist at all?
Rory and Alastair are joined by economist Gabriel Zucman to answer all this and more.
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196. How America Talks Itself Into Endless Wars
What does the gap between American foreign policy rhetoric and reality reveal about the failures of its military interventions in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, and Iran? In an age of algorithm-driven political polarisation, can authentic political speech still break through, or has social media made Trump-style fragmentation impossible to overcome? Is Donald Trump an anomaly in American politics, or p
195. Can the West Reclaim its Power from Trump? (Malcolm Turnbull)
As Western nations become increasingly dependent on the US for AI, satellite infrastructure, and defence, are they sacrificing sovereignty in exchange for American security? Can middle powers such as Australia and the UK pursue genuinely independent foreign and defence policies when a Trump-led America prioritises its own interests? Is AUKUS a genuine security partnership, or is Australia bankroll
194. Is Putin Losing His Grip on Russia?
With war fatigue growing and polls showing increasing dissatisfaction with life in Russia, is Vladimir Putin beginning to lose control? What is really happening inside Russia today? And what is it like to report the truth from inside one of the world's most repressive states?
Alastair and Rory are joined by Steve Rosenberg, Russia Editor for BBC News, to answer all of these questions and more.
193. James Cleverly: Why Has There Been A Radical Shift On The Right?
What does James Cleverly think of Nigel Farage and Reform? How does Cleverly explain his unexpected exit from the Tory leadership race? What could the future of AI in Great Britain look like under different leadership?
Sir James Cleverly joins Rory and Alastair to answer all these questions and more.
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192. Are We On The Brink Of World War III? (Odd Arne Westad)
How similar is today's world to the months before the outbreak of World War I? Could Taiwan, India-China tensions, or an unforeseen crisis be the spark that sets the world ablaze? Are our leaders too consumed by domestic politics to prevent a catastrophic great power war?
Alastair and Rory are joined by Historian Odd Arne Westad to discuss all these questions and more.
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191. Is It Already Too Late to Control AI? (Anthropic Co-Founder, Jack Clark)
Why is one of AI's most powerful insiders scared of what he's building? Who's really in charge of the technology reshaping our world? Is it too late for governments to regulate it?
Rory and Matt Clifford are joined by Jack Clark, Co-Founder of Anthropic, to answer all these questions and more.
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190. How the Media Still Misunderstands Trump (Tina Brown)
Why does Trump understand the media better than the media understands him? Are tech billionaires like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos more dangerous to journalism than Rupert Murdoch ever was? What did Tina Brown see change in Trump from the '80s to now, and when did he turn "dark"?
Alastair and Rory are joined by Tina Brown, author of the Substack 'Fresh Hell' and former editor-in-chief of Tatler,
189. Rahm Emanuel: China, Technology, and the Future of the Democratic Party
Will Rahm Emanuel run to be the next President of the United States? What were the underlying policy disagreements regarding West Bank settlements that led to Benjamin Netanyahu publicly attacking Rahm Emanuel? And, what approach would he take to handle the conflict with Iran and modernise the United States' relationships with Europe?
Rory and Alastair are joined by American politician and dipl
188. Will AI Give China or the US Total Power? (William MacAskill)
Could artificial intelligence hand the US or China 99% of global economic and military power? What happens when millions of autonomous weapons systems are controlled by a single commander-in-chief? Has effective altruism's influence in Silicon Valley accelerated or slowed the race for artificial general intelligence?
Alastair and Rory are joined by William MacAskill to discuss all this and more
187. Yanis Varoufakis: How The 2008 Crisis Revived Far-Right Populism
Was the 2008 financial crisis as consequential as the 1929 Wall Street Crash? How did it pave the way for Trump, Brexit, and the rise of the far-right across Europe? Will the economic damage caused by Trump’s war with Iran outlast the conflict itself?
Rory and Alastair are joined by Yanis Varoufakis to discuss all this and more.
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186. President Aleksandar Vučić: Russia, China, and How Serbia Could Join the EU
How does President Vučić justify Serbia's geopolitical balancing act between Russia, China, and the European Union? Why does he warn that if the EU further delays enlargement, the United States might seize the opportunity to build its own sphere of influence in Southeastern Europe? Can Serbia join the EU without recognising Kosovo's independence, and what would that mean for Europe's future?
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185. Can Labour Win Back Scotland? (Anas Sarwar)
Does the Leader of Scottish Labour regret calling for Keir Starmer to resign over his appointment of Peter Mandelson as US Ambassador? In the upcoming election, would he consider putting Scottish Labour into a coalition with the Reform Party to defeat the SNP? How does he plan to tackle the rise of Islamophobia and the politics of despair that are increasingly gripping Scotland and the UK?
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184. President of Ukraine: Volodymyr Zelenskyy
At a time when the United States is threatening to withdraw from NATO, how can Europe maximise its power to deter Russia's threat? If Vladimir Putin were given the territory Donald Trump offered in his peace plan, what would his next move be? Why does the White House keep misunderstanding Putin’s real war aims?
Alastair Campbell is joined by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, to discuss
183. From Bradford to Westminster: Faith, Identity, and Power (Naz Shah)
How did Naz Shah’s experience growing up in Bradford and her experience with her family in the legal system influence her to go into politics? What does it mean for a political party to truly “stand for something” in modern Britain? How can faith influence politics in a secular society? Rory and Alastair are joined by Labour MP, Naz Shah, to discuss all this and more.
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182. Culture Wars, Identity, and What Needs To Change In Congress (Sarah McBride)
How are rights for trans people in the US improving or worsening under the Republican administration? What fundamentally needs to change in Congress to improve the state of politics? Are the Democrats doing enough to win back the American public?
Rory and Alastair are joined by US Congresswoman, Sarah McBride, to answer all this and more.
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181. Ai Weiwei: China, Censorship, and Dissidence Through Art
Why was Ai Weiwei kidnapped and held prisoner by the Chinese government? How did the 2008 Sichuan earthquake radicalise him into taking aim at the authorities through art? What’s behind Ai Weiwei’s belief that there is a serious censorship issue in the West?
Rory and Alastair are joined by Artist and Activist, Ai Weiwei, to answer all this and more.
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180. The Only European Leader Defying Trump? (Pedro Sánchez)
Why is Prime Minister Sánchez such an outlier in challenging Trump on everything from military spending to Gaza? What’s behind Spain’s recent economic success? How is Spain tackling the rising far-right? What are Pedro Sánchez’s lessons for Keir Starmer?
Alastair and Rory are joined by Pedro Sánchez, Prime Minister of Spain, to answer all this and more.
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179. President Stubb: Trump’s Unlikely Best Friend
How did President Stubb’s golfing talent lead him to fostering a close relationship with President Trump? Why was ‘Prime Minister’ the worst job ever? Why will the Global South define the new world order?
Rory and Alastair are joined by Finland’s President, Alexander Stubb, to answer all this and more.
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178. Gavin Newsom: The Next President Of The United States?
What happened on a ridiculous midnight phone call between Donald Trump and the Governor of California? Why does Gavin Newsom believe the President will be crushed in the mid-terms? What is Newsom’s tactic for trolling Trump? Will Newsom run for president in 2028?
Alastair and Rory are joined by Gavin Newsom, Governor of California, to answer all of this and more.
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177. Olaf Scholz: Putin, Power, and Far-Right Populism
Does the former German Chancellor think that Germany was wrong to rely on Russian gas in the run up to the war in Ukraine? What does Olaf Scholz think is behind the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany? Why will building respect help bring about a more equal and resilient society?
Rory and Alastair are joined by Olaf Scholz, former German chancellor, to answer all this and more.
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176. How Close Are We To War With Iran? (Robert Malley)
How does the former US Special Representative for Iran think US-Iranian relations will improve? Is there a method to Trump’s madness when it comes to foreign policy? Why does Robert believe the “two-state solution” for Israel and Palestine is dead?Alastair and Rory are joined by Robert Malley, architect of the 2015 Iran Nuclear deal, to answer all this and more.
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175. Ex-Director of GCHQ: China, Russia, and the Threats Facing the UK (Jeremy Fleming)
Do Russia or China represent a bigger risk to UK national security? Why are we underestimating the threat posed by cybercriminals? Who holds the real power - ministers or spies?
Rory and Alastair are joined by Jeremy Fleming, formerly of GCHQ and MI5, to answer all this and more.
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174. Taking On Europe's Last Dictator: The Fight Against Lukashenko and Putin
How did Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya go from being a housewife to leading a Belarussian government in exile? How did Aleksandr Lukashenko become the last dictator in Europe? Why was Segei, Sviatlana’s husband, imprisoned for opposing the Putin-backed regime?
Alastair and Rory are joined by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya who, along with Bill Browder, is part of a two part series featuring those standing
173. The man Putin can’t silence: Bill Browder and sanctioning Russia
How did the “biggest capitalist in Eastern Europe” become the primary target of the Russian state? Why was Bill Browder’s friend Sergei Magnitsky killed in Russian prison? Why did Putin really start the war in Ukraine?
Rory and Alastair are joined by Bill Browder to answer all this and more.
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172. Neil Kinnock: Trump, Thatcher, and Why Labour Lost In 1992 (Part 2)
Why did Neil Kinnock believe the fight against Margaret Thatcher was an existential one? What would Kinnock do to tackle the threat posed to Labour by reform? Why did Labour lose the 1992 election?
Alastair and Rory are joined by former Labour leader Neil Kinnock to answer all this and more.
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171. Neil Kinnock: A Labour Rebel’s Path To Power (Part 1)
Whilst an early career MP, why did Neil Kinnock rebel against the Labour Party so regularly? As Labour leader, how did Kinnock take on militant and the ‘ultra-left’ within the Labour Party? What regrets does Kinnock have about the way he responded to the Miners’ strikes?
Rory and Alastair are joined by former Labour leader Neil Kinnock to answer all this and more.
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170. President of Moldova, Maia Sandu: Holding the Line Between Democracy and Putin
How did Maia Sandu fight Russian disinformation in Moldova? What is it like to have a war in the country next door? Will the European Union accept Moldova with Russian troops in the country?
Rory and Alastair travel to Moldova to speak with President Maia Sandu to discuss all this and more.
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169. Jimmy Wales: Wikipedia vs. Musk, AI, and the Battle for Truth
Who gave us an encyclopedia in our pockets? Why is the statement that Donald Trump is the "worst president in US history" allowed on his Wikipedia page? How do Brazilians and Americans differ on the history of the airplane?
Rory Stewart and Alastair Campbell are joined by the creator of Wikipedia, Jimmy Wales, to discuss all this and more.
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168. A Climate Special: Populism, Security, and Leadership
Can the planet sustain infinite economic growth, or is GDP a flawed metric? Is the UK genuinely decarbonising, or is it simply outsourcing its pollution? How can politicians defeat the populist narrative that Net Zero is too expensive?
In this Climate Special, we hear the best bits from Rory and Alastair's interviews with Professor Dieter Helm, Mark Carney, Caroline Lucas, Ed Miliband, and Emm
167. Faith, Depression, and Finding Calm in the Chaos (Professor Mark Williams)
From Parliament to Prison, how can people find calm in chaotic environments? How does one cope with grief during the festive period? What are some successful ways to combat depression?
Rory and Alastair are joined by clinical psychologist and ordained Minister, Mark Williams, to answer all these questions and more.
Please note, this podcast episode contains some discussion of suicidal idea
166. John Swinney: Identity, Independence, and The Future of Scotland
What is the future of the Scottish independence movement? How does the SNP rebuild trust and support for independence after a series of bruising scandals? Why did the Scottish First Minister feel disrespected by a series of Conservative Prime Ministers?
Alastair and Rory are joined by Scottish First Minister John Swinney to answer all this and more.
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165. Anna Wintour: Culture, Influence, and the Power of Decisive Leadership
Why should everybody get fired at least once? As the former Editor-in-chief of American Vogue, how does Anna Wintour use fashion as a cultural and economic force? Why is Anna’s leadership style defined by the speed of her decision making?
Rory and Alastair are joined by Fashion icon Anna Wintour to answer all this and more.
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164. Zack Polanski: Do The Greens Have What It Takes?
Why has Green party membership exploded since Zack Polanski became leader in September? What radical economic reforms is he fighting for? Why have the Greens stopped talking about the environment?
Alastair and Rory are joined by Zack Polanski, leader of the Green Party, to answer all this and more.
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163. Prison Reform, Masculinity, and Restorative Justice (James Graham and Jacob Dunne)
Jacob Dunne killed someone as a teenager, how did he seek forgiveness from his victim’s parents? What is restorative justice? How did Jacob’s experience of the criminal justice system compel him to become a campaigner for this alternative idea of justice? How does James Graham believe drama encourages us to have the difficult conversations necessary to build a better world?
Rory and Alastair a
162. Gareth Southgate: Patriotism, Leadership, and How To Inspire Young Men
What invaluable life-lessons did Gareth Southgate learn by missing a high profile penalty in the Euro 96 semi-finals? Does the former England manager see a future for himself in politics? How should we teach resilience and leadership to the next generation of men?
Alastair and Rory are joined by former England manager Sir Gareth Southgate to answer all this and more.
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161. Putin, Trump, and 500 Years of Resisting Russia (Radek Sikorski)
What was it like for Radek Sikorski to be a refugee in the UK from communist Poland in the 80s? How will the war in Ukraine come to an end? Why is populism on the rise in Europe and how do we fight it?
Rory and Alastair are joined by Radek Sikorski, Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, to answer all this and more.
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160. Michael Gove: Education, Brexit, and Trump (Part 2)
What is Michael Gove's lasting legacy on education in the UK? Would he have come to his position on Brexit if it weren't for Dominic Cummings? Is Nigel Farage's Reform a better chance for the UK than Labour?
Rory and Alastair are joined by Michael Gove for a second episode answering all these questions and more.
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159. Michael Gove: My Journey From Left to Right (Part 1)
How did Michael Gove go from campaigning for Labour leader Michael Foot in 1983 to becoming a Conservative MP? What is the impact that Rupert Murdoch has had on public life? What do Michael and Rory disagree about when it comes to Israel?
Alastair and Rory are joined by former Cabinet Minister Michael Gove to answer all this and more.
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158. Baroness Hale: The Supreme Court, Boris Johnson, and the ECHR
How did it feel to take on then Prime Minister Boris Johnson when Baroness Hale ruled his suspension of Parliament "unlawful"? Why does the Trump administration present such a threat to the international rule of law? The ‘Spider Woman’ has been at the centre of the legal battle for women’s rights, how have these changed in the past 50 years?
Rory and Alastair are joined by Baroness Hale, the fi
157. Ukraine, Diplomacy, and the Future of Europe (Dmytro Kuleba)
What is the current position of Ukraine in the Ukraine-Russia war? How delicate is diplomacy with Europe and with the US for the Ukrainian government? What are the differences between working with world leaders such as Donald Trump, Boris Johnson, and Joe Biden?
Rory and Alastair are joined by the former Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba (2022-2024) to discuss all this and more.
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156. Defence Secretary, John Healey: Is Britain Ready For War?
What tactic did Donald Trump steal from Gordon Brown? What can we learn from when Labour beat UKIP in the 2012 Rotherham by-election when it comes to taking on Farage? As a New Labour alumnus, why does John Healey think there was more patience for change in 1997 compared to 2024?
Rory and Alastair are joined by John Healey, The Secretary of State for Defence, to discuss all this and more.
155. Mike Pompeo On Russia, Trump, and China
Why does the former Secretary of State think the US is going too soft on Russia and China? What was it like working closely with President Trump? Why did Putin invade Europe under Obama and Biden, but not Trump?
Alastair and Rory are joined by Mike Pompeo, former US Secretary of State and CIA-Director, to discuss all this and more.
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154. Maro Itoje: Inequality, Identity, and Hope
How do we tackle global poverty and fight for change? What qualities are needed in a leadership role? Is the Labour government delivering on the issue of inequality in the UK?
Rory and Alastair are joined by captain of the England Rugby team, Maro Itoje, to discuss all this and more.
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153. The Man Who Invented The World Wide Web (Tim Berners-Lee)
Tim Berners-Lee could be one of the richest men on the planet, why did he forfeit such large profits to make the World Wide Web a free and open space? How do we reclaim the internet from social media companies taking away our sovereignty? Have tech giants like Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk thanked Tim for his invention?
Rory and Alastair are joined by Sir Tim Berners-Lee to discuss
152. "A War on Children": A Generation in Gaza at Risk (James Elder)
Why is the humanitarian situation in Gaza the worst that James Elder has ever seen? What does the process of rebuilding Gaza look like? How do the people working on the ground not lose hope?
UNICEF spokesperson James Elder joins Alastair and Rory to answer all these questions and more.
To donate to UNICEF UK's Gaza appeal visit unicef.uk/gaza-podcast. £30 could help provide life-saving the
151. Prime Minister of Norway: On Trump, Tech, and Brexit Lessons (Jonas Gahr Støre)
Why is the nation with the world’s richest sovereign wealth fund not ‘universally happy’? What can the UK learn from Norway’s relationship with the EU? Is Jonas Gahr Støre really standing between Trump and a Nobel Peace Prize?
Alastair and Rory are joined by The Prime Minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr Støre, to discuss all this and more.
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150. Nicola Sturgeon: What Really Happened In The Scottish Referendum (Part 2)
How did the media and Westminster impact the Scottish Referendum? Why are spin rooms "utterly pointless" in Nicola's view? Is misogyny in politics as bad as it used to be, or getting worse due to social media?
Rory and Alastair are joined by Nicola Sturgeon for part 2 of their interview to answer all these questions and more.
Visit HP.com/politics to find out more.
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149. Nicola Sturgeon: On Margaret Thatcher, Alex Salmond, and the Push for Independence (Part 1)
What is the difference between class distinctions in Scotland and the rest of the UK? How did Nicola Sturgeon's childhood in Scotland inform her politics? What was Margaret Thatcher's influence on Nicola's career?
Rory and Alastair are joined by former Leader of the SNP and First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, to answer all these questions and more.
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148. The President of Guyana: The Fastest Growing Economy in the World (Irfaan Ali)
How does Guyana balance its unprecedented economic growth, largely due to oil discoveries, with environmental sustainability? How does Guyana perceive and address the historical scar left by slavery? What has happened to West Indies cricket, and how does the future look?
Alastair is joined by President of Guyana, Ifraan Ali, to answer all these questions and more.
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147. I Thought It Was a Prank - Then I Was Chancellor: Jeremy Hunt (Part 2)
What was it like to be handed the reins to the economy following the Liz Truss mini-budget collapse? How did Jeremy Hunt feel fighting an election that he knew the Conservatives would lose? How would Thatcher have dealt with Trump?
Alastair and Rory are joined by former Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to answer all this and more.
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146. The Rise and Fall of The Conservative Party: Jeremy Hunt (Part 1)
How did Jeremy Hunt lose the Conservative leadership race to Boris Johnson? What does the longest serving Health Minister think will fix the NHS? What does Jeremy Hunt really think of Kemi Badenoch’s leadership?
Alastair and Rory are joined by former Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to answer all this and more.
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145. Gary Stevenson: Masculinity, Money, and the Myth of Meritocracy (Part 2)
How did Gary become a multimillionaire by the age of 25? How big a difference can a wealth tax make on regular people's lives? Have centrist politics failed on the economy?
Rory and Alastair are joined by author of The Trading Game, Gary Stevenson, to answer all these questions and more.
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144. Gary Stevenson: From Teenage Drug Dealer to Millionaire Trader (Part 1)
How did Gary Stevenson go from being expelled for drug dealing, to one of the most successful traders in London? How does class and privilege play into the world of finance in the UK? What could men do differently to deal with their mental health at work?
Rory and Alastair are joined by author of The Trading Game, Gary Stevenson, to discuss all this and more.
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143. Iraq, Trump, and America’s Slide to Authoritarianism (Congressman Seth Moulton)
How did Congressman Moulton keep fighting the Iraq war when he thought it was a mistake? Is there anyone who can stop Trump, or is he an absolute monarch? Have substandard politicians used military service as a get-out-of-jail-free card?
Rory and Alastair are joined by Congressman Seth Moulton to discuss all this and more.
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142. The Truth About Net Zero's Credibility (Emma Pinchbeck)
Why are the British paying more for energy than anywhere else in Europe? How does society navigate the anxiety of having children during the climate crisis? What does the UK government need to do in order to speed up our transition to green energy?
Rory and Alastair are joined by the Chief Executive of the Climate Change Committee and former CEO of Energy UK, Emma Pinchbeck, to answer all these
141. The President of Cyprus: Iran, Israel, and the Cyprus Issue (Nikos Christodoulides)
What role does Cyprus play in the Middle East conflicts? How can Europe and the United Kingdom strengthen their relations during this tumultuous time? How can governments fight corruption?
Rory and Alastair are joined by Nikos Christodoulides, the President of Cyprus, to discuss all this and more.
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140. The Next President of France? Gabriel Attal on Macron, Le Pen, and Israel-Iran
Why has Macron become so unpopular? Where is the discussion of international law when it comes to the conflict between Israel and Iran? Why can’t the French and the English coordinate to stop the small boats crisis?
Alastair and Rory are joined by former French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal to discuss all this and more.
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139. Speaker Kevin McCarthy: In Defence of Donald J. Trump
What is the logic behind Trump’s “chaotic” political strategy? Are Europe and America heading for a divorce? What did it feel like to get ousted as the Speaker of the House on a global stage?
Rory and Alastair are joined by former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy to discuss all this and more.
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138. The Anxious Generation: How Silicon Valley Has Rewired Our Brains (Jonathan Haidt)
What are the biggest lies we're being told about social media? How does unregulated social media help Trump and authoritarian regimes? How do you beat an addiction to your phone?
Jonathan Haidt joins Rory and Alastair to discuss all this and more.
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137. Jacinda Ardern: Why I Stepped Down as Prime Minister of New Zealand
How should New Zealand navigate their complex web of alliances as the relationship between China and the US deteriorates? Jacinda Ardern was considered a beacon of hope when she came to office in 2017, how did she navigate this pressure? To what extent is politics about personal gratification and the pursuit of power?
Alastair and Rory are joined by the former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Ja
136. Ed Miliband: Farage, Starmer and The Fight for Net Zero (Part 2)
How did Ed Miliband recover from Labour’s 2015 defeat and decide to remain in politics? Can the Energy Secretary win the argument for Net Zero against the likes of Tony Blair and Nigel Farage? Is it possible to be in politics and be a good parent?
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135. Ed Miliband: Blair, Brown, and Battling his Brother (Part 1)
How did Ed Miliband’s childhood being raised by survivors of the Holocaust shape his politics? How did his role mediating between Blair and Brown earn Ed the moniker ‘Emissary from planet F***’? What was it like to take on his own brother in the Labour leadership race?
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134. Palestine's Most Popular Politician: Marwan Barghouti's Son on Occupation, Resistance, and Hope
Who, instead of Hamas, could represent a peaceful Palestinian leadership? Why does Marwan Barghouti remain the most popular leader in Palestine despite being in jail for over 20 years, a period during which more than 50% of the population was not yet born? How do the Occupied territories remain hopeful during the ongoing war in the region?
Rory and Alastair are joined by Marwan Barghouti's son,
133. Trump vs. Europe: Flattery, Pushback, and Powerplays (Congressman Jim Himes)
Will Europe ever trust the US again? What is the future of the Democratic party? What does the signal chat leak tell us about the psychology of the Trump administration?
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132. Former Head of MI6: Russia, China, and Trump (Sir Alex Younger)
What is the real job of a spy? What is the role of the UK’s intelligence community in Trump’s new world order? How does the relationship between politicians and intelligence services work?
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131. The Global Health Crisis: USAID cuts, Trump, and the limits of AI (Atul Gawande)
How many people are going to die as a result of American support for USAID programs being removed? What are the limits of thinking of AI as the silver bullet for healthcare? How do we bring the doubling of the human lifespan to everyone alive without bankrupting our societies?
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130. The Prime Minister of Australia: Trump, China, and Social Media (Anthony Albanese)
What is the impact of Trump and China on the Australian election on 3rd May? How has the Australian government taken on social media companies to protect young users? How did Prime Minister Anthony Albanese track down and reunite with his long lost father?
Alastair and Rory are joined by Anthony Albanese, the Australian Prime Minister, to answer all this and more.
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129. Trump’s America: Fear, Polarisation, and The Future (Ezra Klein)
How does a society defined by liberty and revolution become so easy to censor? Is polarisation something that has been done to us as an active political strategy or did we do this to ourselves? How did the Silicon Valley CEOs’ friction with their workers drive them towards camp MAGA?
Alastair and Rory are joined by Ezra Klein, coauthor of Abundance: How We Build A Better Future, to discuss all t
128. Whips, Chaos, and secrets from Westminster (Simon Hart)
Why do the wrong people become MPs? How can we transform Westminster into a modern day workplace? How did Simon Hart’s time at The Countryside Alliance inform his politics?
Rory and Alastair are joined by the ex-Tory Chief Whip, Simon Hart, to discuss all this and more.
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In
127. Donald Trump vs American Freedom: Who Wins? (Moises Naim)
Is this the end of democracy in the USA? Following the election of Trump, could democracy in America die? How did Moises Naim come up with his three p’s; Populism, Polarisation, and Post-truth?
Alastair and Rory are joined by Moises Naim, journalist and former Venezuelan minister, to answer all these questions and more.
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126. Israel, Gaza, and the United Nations (Francesca Albanese)
What role does the UN play in the Occupied Palestinian territories? What is the responsibility of Western media when it comes to covering issues surrounding Israel and Palestine? How did Francesca Albanese’s Southern Italian heritage inform her passion for fighting injustice?
Rory and Alastair are joined by Francesca Albanese, the Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in the Palestini
125. Peter Kyle: AI, grief, and the power of Elon Musk
5 consecutive UK Prime Ministers have declared that the UK will become an AI Superpower, why is Keir Starmer any different? Why does no one have ‘big ideas’ anymore? And, how did Peter Kyle’s experience of grief shape the politician he is today?
Rory and Alastair are joined by Peter Kyle, the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, to discuss all this and more.
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124. The Man Who Got To Trump (Michael Wolff)
How did Michael Wolff manage to penetrate and expose Trump’s inner circle multiple times? Will the Murdoch empire survive the death of its Patriarch? Who’s really in charge in the White House?
Rory and Alastair are joined by journalist and author, Michael Wolff, to discuss all this and more.
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123. Canada Decides: Who will be the next Prime Minister? (Chrystia Freeland and Mark Carney)
Why do both former Bank of England governor, Mark Carney, and former Canadian deputy Prime Minister, Chrystia Freeland, think they’re best placed to lead Canada? How will either take on Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre if they win the Liberal party leadership elections on March 9th? What do they think about the ‘existential threat’ to Canada that is President Donald Trump?
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122. How Europe can survive Trump (Frans Timmermans)
Are Trump and Putin carving up the world? How should the EU adapt to this new world? What imagination is needed on the political left?
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121. Yulia Navalnaya: The Woman Who Could Bring Down Putin
Why did Yulia’s husband, Alexei Navalny, return to Russia, knowing he’d be imprisoned? Is there any credible opposition to Putin left? What does the West get wrong about Putin’s Russia?
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120. The New President of Syria: Trump, Palestine, and having a $10 million bounty on your head (Ahmed al-Sharaa)
How did Ahmed al-Sharaa go from an imprisoned al-Qaeda fighter to the leader of Syria? What is the psychological impact of living a secret life for over twenty years? What is the future of Syria?
Ahmed al-Sharaa joins Rory and Alastair to discuss all this and more.
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119. Tommy Vietor: How Democrats can fight Trump
How did Barack Obama become President? What was Hillary Clinton's huge mistake in 2016? How corrupt really is American politics today?
Pod Save America host and former Barack Obama speechwriter, Tommy Veitor, joins Rory and Alastair to answer all these questions and more.
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