The Rest Is Politics

493. Trump Insults NATO Troops

23 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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...

492. Should Europe Boycott the World Cup? (Question Time)

23 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Could Trump’s continued Greenland threats spark international boycotts of the World Cup? Does Robert Jenrick’s chaotic defection to Reform strengt...

491. Trump at Davos: Rory and Alastair React

21 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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? A...

490. Trump’s Greenland Ultimatum: What Next?

21 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Is the US now an adversary for Europe? Has Europe's appeasement strategy failed? How should NATO respond if appeasement is no longer an option? Joi...

Will AI End Humanity?

15 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

If there is even a 1% chance that AI could destroy us, should we keep building it? Are we creating machines that will one day outthink humanity? And i...

489. Musk's AI Deepfake Disgrace & JD Vance's Minnesota Lies (Question Time)

15 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Will the UK ban 'X' over explicit, nonconsensual deepfake images of women and children generated using its AI tool? What does JD Vance's outburst agai...

488. Is Iran on the Edge of Revolution?

13 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Could the Iran protests finally break the Supreme Leader’s brutal reign, or will the regime's deadly crackdown contain the unrest? If the US interve...

China Vs USA: Who Will Win the AI Race?

08 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Who really controls AI; governments, corporations, or no one at all? Is AI becoming a new kind of global arms race? And, can we keep humans in charge ...

487. Is Starmer Rethinking His Approach to Europe? (Question Time)

08 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

What do Keir Starmer’s comments on 'closer alignment' with the EU single market actually mean? After the Bondi terror attack, how can a centrist gov...

486. Does Maduro’s Capture Put Greenland at Risk?

06 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Is Venezuela the start of something bigger? If this isn’t regime change, what does Trump actually want? And, has Trump just handed Putin a win?  J...

485. Trump Says America will Run Venezuela

03 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Trump has announced that Venezuela will now be run by Washington as US forces have captured Nicolás Maduro and taken him to stand trial in New York. ...

484. War in Europe, Trump's Destruction of Institutions, and Britain’s National Treasures (Question Time)

01 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Will Europe go to war with Russia in 2026? Should National Service be introduced next year? How will AI continue to develop? Should the G20 be moved? ...

483. The Future of British Politics, How The World Order Is Changing, and The Power of History

31 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What does this year look like for the future of British politics? How is the global order going to be reshaped? And will the power of historical narra...

482. A Trumpian Year, the Politics of Hope and Highlights of 2025

25 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What surprised Rory and Alastair most about 2025? Why does Trump's presidency feel even more chaotic than expected? And who gets their vote for campai...

481. Polanski, Macron & al-Sharaa: The Best & Worst Politicians of 2025

24 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Who deserves the title of UK politician of the year - and who gets worst? What was the most consequential moment of Trump's presidency so far? And can...

Will AI Take Our Jobs? (Ep 2)

19 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is AI a genuine productivity revolution, or just another tech bubble? Are any jobs safe from the advent of AI? And, can the UK harness the innovation,...

480. Trump, China, and the Scramble for Latin America (Question Time)

18 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What’s really driving Trump’s interventions in Venezuela and the rest of Latin America – oil, drugs, or democracy? Is Labour failing on its prom...

479. Russian Influence in Britain: How Exposed Are We?

17 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Why are Britain’s top military and intelligence chiefs sounding the alarm about Putin’s influence and future plans? How deeply has Russia already ...

How Will AI Change The World? (Ep 1)

12 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How will AI reshape the way we live, earn, and design our lifestyles over the next decade? With investment in AI increasing a billion fold the last 12...

478. Farage’s Crypto Megadonor and the Graduate Jobs Disaster (Question Time)

11 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Why has a crypto billionaire living in Thailand donated £9 million to Nigel Farage's party, Reform UK? With a graduate jobs crisis in full swing and ...

477. How Trump’s Security Strategy Destroys The Old World Order

10 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Has Trump's 2025 National Security Strategy officially upended 80 years of American foreign policy? Why does it warn of Europe's "civilisational erasu...

476. Polanski’s Problem, Westminster’s Russia Blind Spot, and Justice Without Juries? (Question Time)

04 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Are the Greens selling an economic vision they can’t explain? Should Britain ditch juries in some trials? And, how far has Russian influence seeped ...

475. The Budget Backlash – and Trump’s Plan to Profit from Peace in Ukraine

03 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is the media too negative about Reeves and Starmer, or are they simply out of ideas? What has the relentless Budget turmoil and fallout done to alread...

Introducing: The Rest Is Science

02 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Forget what you think you know about reality. The Rest Is Science is a mind-bending new show from Goalhanger that tears down familiar ideas… time, r...

474. Does Reeves' Budget Really Change Anything? What It Means For You

26 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Was this 'the most leaked Budget' of all time? Has Rachel Reeves managed to balance the demands of the public, the markets, industry, and her party? C...

473. Europe vs. Trump: Competing Visions for a Ukraine Peace Deal (Question Time)

26 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What happens to global leadership when the US ghosts the G20 and COP, and can middle powers really keep the world moving? Is Britain ignoring a major ...

472. Is Trump’s Peace 'Plan’ Forced Surrender for Ukraine?

23 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Who is really behind the White House 'peace plan' for Ukraine: Trump or Putin? Why isn't Europe taking the threat from Russia more seriously, and doin...

471. Rory Stewart: How the Government Tried to Silence Me on Lockdowns

21 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Why did Boris Johnson and the British government not only fail to listen, but actively try to suppress early warnings about the pandemic? How did grou...

470. China vs Japan, the BBC at Breaking Point, and The Future of Satire (Question Time)

20 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is Japan provoking China, or responding to a real threat over Taiwan? What does the BBC’s credibility crisis reveal about Britain’s fight over tru...

469. Is Starmer Out of Moves? Asylum Gamble, Tax Chaos, and Open Infighting

19 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

After a week of turmoil, can Labour recover their support or are they already doomed to lose the next election? Are Shabana Mahmood's immigration refo...

468. Starmer in Crisis: Sabotage From Within? (Question Time)

12 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Has Keir Starmer lost control of his own team? Is Gen Z actually the most informed generation yet, or are they cripplingly cynical? And, why is Afric...

467. The Mamdani Method Explained: Could It Shock Britain?

12 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How did a thirty four-year old democratic socialist win over New York, and can he actually follow through on his promise to transform the city? What d...

466. Crisis Engulfs the BBC: Is this a Coordinated Attack?

10 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Why have the BBC’s Director General and Head of News both suddenly resigned? Is this an internal 'coup' at the BBC or a 'concerted' attack by its us...

Murdoch's Succession Battle and the Fight for Fox News

07 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What are the key differences between Murdoch's children, particularly Lachlan and James? How do the internal family conflicts of the Murdochs mirror t...

465. Andrew’s Disgrace, Newsnight, and a Centrist Win in the Netherlands (Question Time)

06 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How much transparency should we demand from the monarchy? Do the latest Dutch results show that populism is fracturing, or simply mutating? And, did X...

464. Labour’s Tax Timebomb, Climate Backsliding, and Sudan’s Forgotten War

05 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is this the Budget that breaks Labour, or can Reeves walk the tightrope? Why does the general public increasingly think we’re overreacting to climat...

The Monster He Made: Murdoch, Trump, and the Price of Power (Part 4)

03 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What was the nature of the relationship between Fox News and Donald Trump? What, or who, caused Rupert Murdoch's marriage to Wendi Deng to end? What w...

463. Question Time: How Truth Became Optional In Trump’s America

30 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How serious are Trump’s hints about serving a third term? Is the US sleepwalking into a civil war? And does the Labour Party really understand rura...

462. Starmer Hits Rock Bottom: Will He Break His Manifesto to Survive?

29 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What does Labour’s unprecedented collapse in Wales really mean? If Putin takes Ukraine, which European neighbour is next? What can Starmer learn fro...

The Phone-Hacking Scandal: How Murdoch's UK Empire Fell (Part 3)

25 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What was the phone-hacking scandal and how did it escalate into a major crisis? How was Alastair himself implicated? What did Rupert Murdoch's marriag...

461. Question Time: The Tel Aviv Fan Ban & Japan’s New Thatcher

23 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This episode has been edited to remove a discussion on the China spy case. The Rest Is Politics wishes to make clear that Mr Christopher Cash and Mr C...

460. Inside Trump’s Gaza-Ukraine Playbook: Who Profits from Peace?

21 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is Trump selling peace to the highest bidder? Is the Farage surge in Wales a warning shot for Westminster? Why is the UK going backwards again on ment...

A Deal With the Devil? Murdoch and New Labour (Part 2)

16 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What was the nature of Rupert Murdoch's relationship with Margaret Thatcher? What led to News Corp's near-collapse in the late 1980s, and how did the ...

459. Question Time: Reform's Potential Upside, Why Bad News Sells & Reasons To Stay Hopeful

15 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Who’s offering hope in politics today? Where are the real environmental success stories? And what one law would Rory and Alastair make a reality? ...

458. Can Trump's Peace Deal Actually Work?

14 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Has Trump really brought a “new dawn” to the Middle East? How can one of the most broken places on earth begin to be rebuilt? And is Argentina mou...

The Rise of Rupert Murdoch: Making of a Mogul (Part 1)

09 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Why is Rupert Murdoch considered such an influential figure? What was his childhood and family like growing up in Australia? How did he establish his ...

457. Is Trump Planning Regime Change?

08 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Why is Trump attacking Venezuelan ships? Are the Greens turning protest into real political power? And, will France create a sixth Republic?  The ...

456. Antisemitism, How the Tories Lost Britain, and Gaza

07 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Why is antisemitism on the rise in the UK? Can Trump’s Gaza plan ever provide a just and lasting peace? Why does Rory think the Conservative Party i...

455. Question Time: Is Europe Already At War With Russia?

01 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is Europe already at war with Russia — without admitting it? Are the Netherlands still a serious player in Europe? And, should national parks be res...

454. Starmer's Farage Fightback and Trump's Unworkable Gaza Plan

30 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is it too late for Starmer to turn things around? Is Labour talking too much about immigration, and not enough about the cost of living? How can Trump...

453. Trump’s Far Right Allies in Germany: Is History Repeating Itself?

25 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Just how close is the far right to taking power in Europe and the UK? Why is Germany the perfect starting point for far-right agitators? Is Europe’s...

452. Question Time: America’s New Martyr and Westminster’s Hidden Spies

24 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is Charlie Kirk becoming America’s new martyr for the far right? How deep does Chinese spying go in Western politics? And,  is Moldova the next tar...

451. Is Trump Destroying the UN?

23 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is it time to move the United Nations headquarters out of New York? Will recognising Palestine as a state make any difference to the plight of Gaza? W...

450. Question Time: How Gen Z Took Down the Government

17 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

**Content Notice: this episode contains discussion of murder-suicide, rape and sexual violence** How did a corruption scandal in Nepal trigger a yo...

449. Starmer Loses Control: Will Andy Burnham Challenge the PM?

16 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As Trump arrives in the UK after the Mandelson-Epstein debacle, are Starmer’s days numbered as PM? If he can’t turn things around, who could repla...

448. Question Time: Mandelson’s Epstein Disgrace, Kirk’s Assassination, and Trump’s Illegal Boat Strike

11 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Why did Peter Mandelson become so mesmerised by the rich and famous? What does Charlie Kirk’s assassination mean for the future of American politics...

447. Is Starmer Sleepwalking Britain into Farage’s Hands?

10 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Has Starmer’s reshuffle shifted Labour to the right, and frozen out the left? Will Farage ultimately lose control of Reform UK? Why has the French g...

446. Israel Bombs Qatar: Where Does Impunity End?

09 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is Netanyahu’s illegal bombing of Doha yet another death knell for international law? Why is the West’s response so lacklustre? Is Trump secretly ...

445. Starmer's Deputy PM Quits: The Return of Chaos in British Politics?

05 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Just how damaging is Angela Rayner’s dramatic exit for the UK government? Has Starmer gone too early with his cabinet reshuffle? What does this mean...

444. Question Time: Can Labour Reinvent Itself?

03 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Why is Gaza the deadliest place for journalists? Is Farage copying Trump by silencing the press?And, Is Britain’s Online Safety Act censorship or pr...

443. China’s Plot to Topple Trump: How to Bring Down a Superpower

02 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How is China forging a new world order beyond Trump’s isolationist America? Is Trump’s sudden turn against India uniting Xi, Putin, and Modi – f...

442. Question Time: Trump's Plot To Cancel The Midterms

27 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is Trump edging the U.S. toward military rule? Can Gaza survive famine amid total collapse? Will Ukraine resist Putin if Western backing falters? J...

441. The Reality of Farage’s Mass Deportation Fantasy

26 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 L...

440. Question Time: How To Start A Centrist Party

20 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Why do the Lib Dems still fly under the radar? Is Trump quietly setting the stage for an authoritarian takeover? And, why does Alastair swear so much?...

439. The Pro-Putin President: Are Zelensky and Europe sleepwalking into disaster?

19 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 H...

438. Inside the Trump-Putin Summit: What Really Happened in Alaska?

16 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What does 'no deal' mean for Ukraine and Europe? What was agreed behind closed doors? How will Zelensky respond? Join Rory and Alastair as they unp...

437. Question Time: Farage vs Corbyn: The UK's Next Prime Minister?

13 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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?  Jo...

436. Is Trump Gifting Ukraine to Putin?

12 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Have Zelensky and Europe lost all leverage over Trump and Putin? What’s behind Vance’s ‘odd relationship’ with UK foreign secretary David Lamm...

The Gun Lobby Responsible for Trump: Journey Through Time

10 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 Th...

435. Question Time: The Migrant Return Plan, Colombia’s Drug Cartels, and Will Rory Join Corbyn’s New Party?

06 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 r...

434. Why the West is Finally Recognising Palestine

05 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Why are the UK, France and Canada finally recognising a Palestinian state? Why is Trump punishing Brazil, India, and Switzerland with tariffs? Should ...

433. Question Time: Epstein’s Inner Circle, Ukraine’s Zelensky Backlash, and Destroying the Addiction Economy

30 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Can Zelensky survive a war abroad while fighting enemies at home? What does Epstein’s circle reveal about power, secrets and how justice really work...

432. Trump, Starmer, and Gaza: Is The Tide Turning Against Israel?

30 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 p...

431. Question Time: Netanyahu’s Survival, Deadly Clashes in Syria, and Japan’s "Deep State"

23 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

430. Murdoch, Epstein, and AI Billionaires: Is Trump Losing Control?

22 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

The Real JD Vance: How Trump Ditched Ideology (Part 5)

17 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

429. Question Time: Gaza, Genocide, and Global Hypocrisy

16 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 — an...

428. Rory vs. Alastair: Are we spending too much on defence?

15 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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-affil...

427. The Real JD Vance: Heir to the MAGA Throne (Part 4)

11 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

426. Corbyn's Comeback, Musk's New Party and The Broken SEND System

09 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is Corbyn’s new party a bold move — or a boost for the Tories? Can Labour fix SEND — or are vulnerable kids being left behind? Is Bosnia ready f...

425. Israel, Gaza, and the Definition of Genocide

08 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is the Israeli government creating a prison camp for Palestinians in Rafah? Why did the BBC drop its documentary investigating Israel’s destruction ...

424. The Real JD Vance: From Never Trumper to Vice President (Part 3)

03 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How do you go from calling Donald Trump “Hitler” to becoming his most loyal ally? Why did JD Vance abandon the thoughtful, Christian conservative ...

423. Question Time: Glastonbury’s Israel fallout, New York’s socialist mayor and why NATO called Trump ‘daddy’

02 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Has ‘impartiality’ become a cover for moral failure in Palestine? Why does Trump want a Nobel peace price? And, why is the head of NATO calling Tr...

422. Things Can Only Get Better? Starmer's Stormy First Year

01 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What have the Labour government achieved since the general election one year ago? What are the hardest challenges Keir Starmer must face? How has Dona...

421. The Real JD Vance: The Power Behind The Man (Part 2)

27 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 h...

420. Question Time: The History of Iran vs. the West

25 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

419. What next for Trump, Israel, and Iran? | Peace vs. Regime Change

24 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 perfor...

418. Trump Bombs Iran: What Happens Now?

22 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

417. The Real JD Vance: America’s Next President? (Part 1)

19 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Will JD Vance be America's next president, or its first king? What explains his journey from vehement never-Trumper to Trump’s Vice President and he...

416. Question Time: What the Head of MI6 Really Does

18 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

415. Iran, Israel, and Trump: War in the Middle East

17 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Are we heading for all-out war between the US, Netanyahu and the Iranian regime? Is the West betraying international law in its support of Israel's pr...

414. Israel vs. Iran: What Happens Next

13 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Why has Benjamin Netanyahu's government launched an attack on the Iranian military? Is this the start of a new, larger war in the Middle East? What is...

413. Question Time: How to solve Britain’s immigration question

11 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Why does the BBC give Reform so much air time? Should there be a global refugee coalition? And, should we be surprised that AI might gaslight us? J...

412. Is Trump Starting a Civil War? | LA Protests

10 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Are the LA protests the perfect gift for Trump, and does pushing back just add fuel to his fire? What does Musk’s exit mean for the MAGA coalition? ...

411. Question Time: Gaza’s Aid Blocked, Trump’s Power Tested & Dominic Cummings’ Big Mistake

04 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What was the most significant event of geopolitics in the last 30 years? Are Dominic Cummings' comments about the "broken" Westminster model valid? An...

410. China, Russia, and Cyberwarfare: Is the UK preparing for the wrong war?

03 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is Labour exaggerating the threat from Russia and missing the real risks? Does the world beyond the West now prefer China over the US? What does Polan...

409. Question Time: Trump's Golden Dome, Gaza's Global Outcry and Starmer's Prison Gamble

28 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How should global leaders deal with Trump? Why have the UK, France and Canada chosen now to speak out against Israel? Are young women being taken for ...

408. Broken Britain: Farage’s Plot to Outflank Labour

27 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is Reform UK’s growing appeal a product of Farage’s populism, or Labour’s failure to articulate a gripping national story? What’s behind Trump...

407. Question Time: The U-turn Starmer Can’t Avoid

21 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Just how extreme will Merz’s immigration curb get? Can the Labour Party still identify as centre-right? And should the men guilty of felling the Syc...

406. Biden, Springsteen, and Trump: Dancing in the Dark

20 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What does Trump’s outburst against Bruce Springsteen and Joe Biden tell us about his psychology? Why has he lifted sanctions on al-Sharaa’s Syria,...