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The Rest Is Politics: Leading

The Rest Is Politics: Leading

Goalhanger 194 Episodes Aug 23, 2026

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

203. The Man Taking On Infantino: UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin
203. The Man Taking On Infantino: UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin Aug 23, 2026 3046 How did UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin lead the revolt that tore apart Gianni Infantino's plan to privatise the World Cup? Is Infantino finished as FIFA President after alienating the European federations who once put him there? What does Infantino's courtship of Donald Trump - from the FIFA "Peace Prize" to the World Cup red card scandal  - reveal about the collision of football and polit
202. Is Peace in the Middle East Closer Than We Think? (A Palestinian & An Israeli's View)
202. Is Peace in the Middle East Closer Than We Think? (A Palestinian & An Israeli's View) Aug 16, 2026 4501 How do an Israeli who lost his parents on October 7th and a Palestinian whose brother died after torture in Israeli prisons come together to reject revenge and build a brotherhood for peace? Why do they believe lasting peace between Israel and Palestine could be just "two to four weeks away"? What can Britain do to help end a conflict it helped create? Alastair and Rory are joined by peace activi
201. How Westminster Breaks Politicians and Why Britain Isn't Ready for War
201. How Westminster Breaks Politicians and Why Britain Isn't Ready for War Aug 9, 2026 4586 Is Britain's military being left behind as drones and AI rewrite the rules of modern warfare? Is British politics broken beyond repair, and does Johnny Mercer's ruthless fight for veterans reveal what's really wrong with Westminster? Why did a man so obsessed with truth end up defending Boris Johnson?  Alastair and Rory are joined by Johnny Mercer, former Conservative MP, Cabinet Minister, a
200. Count Binface: Nigel Farage's Biggest Threat?
200. Count Binface: Nigel Farage's Biggest Threat? Aug 2, 2026 2526 Is Count Binface really Nigel Farage's biggest threat in Clacton, and has Farage already lost by turning "me against the establishment" into a battle against a bin? Does Binface's manifesto hide serious politics beneath the comedy? Could a joke candidate ever become a serious political force? Alastair and Rory are joined by Count Binface as they answer all these questions and more. __________
199. Is Trump's Chaos Pushing Iceland Towards the EU? (Prime Minister of Iceland, Kristrún Frostadóttir)
199. Is Trump's Chaos Pushing Iceland Towards the EU? (Prime Minister of Iceland, Kristrún Frostadóttir) Jul 26, 2026 3932 What are the real reasons Iceland has brought forward its vote on restarting accession talks with the EU? What lessons did the Prime Minister learn from watching Brexit unfold while living in the UK, and how have those experiences shaped her government's approach to Iceland's EU campaign? How did the Social Democrats go from three MPs to running the country? Alastair and Rory are joined by Kris
198. How Trump’s Imperial Presidency Really Works
198. How Trump’s Imperial Presidency Really Works Jul 19, 2026 3171 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)
197. The Billionaire Tax Debate (Gabriel Zucman) Jul 12, 2026 4300 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. __________ Go deeper into the world of The Rest Is Politics by signing up for our free newsletter HERE,
196. How America Talks Itself Into Endless Wars
196. How America Talks Itself Into Endless Wars Jul 5, 2026 4357 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)
195. Can the West Reclaim its Power from Trump? (Malcolm Turnbull) Jun 28, 2026 4232 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?
194. Is Putin Losing His Grip on Russia? Jun 21, 2026 3824 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?
193. James Cleverly: Why Has There Been A Radical Shift On The Right? Jun 14, 2026 4704 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. __________ Search IG.com to find out more and/or Look for IG in your app store. __________
192.  Are We On The Brink Of World War III? (Odd Arne Westad)
192. Are We On The Brink Of World War III? (Odd Arne Westad) Jun 7, 2026 3755 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. __________ Search IG.

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