The Rest Is Politics: Leading

The Rest Is Politics: Leading

The Rest Is Politics’ Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart interview politicians, leaders, intellectuals, and more. From inside and outside of politics, guests join Rory and Alastair to discuss life, leadership, and the philosophy that’s led them to success in their chosen field. Their conversations cover key political events, global affairs, and the big ideas shaping the world today, offering listeners in-depth perspectives from those at the heart of change. 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 newsletter, discount book prices on titles mentioned on the pod, and our members’ chatroom on Discord. Just head to therestispolitics.com to sign up, or start a free trial today on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/therestispolitics. For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com.

Episodes

196. How America Talks Itself Into Endless Wars

July 5, 2026 • 72 mins
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 part of a recurring historical cycle...
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195. Can the West Reclaim its Power from Trump? (Malcolm Turnbull)

June 28, 2026 • 70 mins
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 bankrolling American and British interests?...
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194. Is Putin Losing His Grip on Russia?

June 21, 2026 • 63 mins
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. __________ Search IG.com to f...
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193. James Cleverly: Why Has There Been A Radical Shift On The Right?

June 14, 2026 • 78 mins
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. __________ Instagram: @restispolitics Twitte...
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192. Are We On The Brink Of World War III? (Odd Arne Westad)

June 7, 2026 • 62 mins
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.com to find out more and/or Look fo...
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191. Is It Already Too Late to Control AI? (Anthropic Co-Founder, Jack Clark)

May 31, 2026 • 67 mins
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. __________ Search IG.com to find out more and/or Look for IG in your app store. __________ Instagram: ⁠@restispolitics⁠ Twit...
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190. How the Media Still Misunderstands Trump (Tina Brown)

May 24, 2026 • 72 mins
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, Vanity Fair, and The New Yorker, t...
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189. Rahm Emanuel: China, Technology, and the Future of the Democratic Party

May 17, 2026 • 73 mins
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 diplomat, Rahm Emanuel, to discuss all ...
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188. Will AI Give China or the US Total Power? (William MacAskill)

May 10, 2026 • 68 mins
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. __________ Search IG.com to...
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187. Yanis Varoufakis: How The 2008 Crisis Revived Far-Right Populism

May 3, 2026 • 77 mins
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. __________ Search IG.com to find out more and/or Look for IG in your app store. ______...
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186. President Aleksandar Vučić: Russia, China, and How Serbia Could Join the EU

April 26, 2026 • 66 mins
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? Rory and Alastair are joined by Aleks...
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185. Can Labour Win Back Scotland? (Anas Sarwar)

April 19, 2026 • 62 mins
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? Rory and Alastair are joined by Anas Sa...
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184. President of Ukraine: Volodymyr Zelenskyy

April 9, 2026 • 52 mins
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 all this and more. ______...
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183. From Bradford to Westminster: Faith, Identity, and Power (Naz Shah)

April 5, 2026 • 70 mins
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. __________ Search IG.com to find out more ...
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182. Culture Wars, Identity, and What Needs To Change In Congress (Sarah McBride)

March 29, 2026 • 65 mins
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. Search IG.com to find out more and/or Look for IG in your app store. Join The Rest I...
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181. Ai Weiwei: China, Censorship, and Dissidence Through Art

March 22, 2026 • 67 mins
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.  Search IG.com to find out more and/or Look for IG in ...
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180. The Only European Leader Defying Trump? (Pedro Sánchez)

March 15, 2026 • 75 mins
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.  Search IG.com to find out more and/or Look ...
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179. President Stubb: Trump’s Unlikely Best Friend

March 8, 2026 • 41 mins
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.  Search IG.com to find out more and/or Look for IG in your app store. Join The Rest Is ...
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178. Gavin Newsom: The Next President Of The United States?

March 1, 2026 • 54 mins
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.  Search IG.com to find out more and/or Look fo...
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177. Olaf Scholz: Putin, Power, and Far-Right Populism

February 22, 2026 • 59 mins
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.  Join The Rest Is Politics ...
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