The Rest Is Politics

369. Question Time: China’s DeepSeek, Ambassador Mandelson, and misogyny in politics

07 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What’s the danger of China’s DeepSeek? Why are male and female politicians still treated differently? Are politicians right to appease leaders the...

368. Trump's Plan for Gaza

06 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What exactly does Trump mean by "taking over" Gaza? How have others reacted to Trump's proposals? How serious is he? Join Rory and Alastair as they a...

367. Rory vs JD Vance, recording from Damascus, and Trump’s tariffs

05 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Why are Rory and Alastair in Damascus? What’s going on with JD Vance? Has there been a twist in the German election? Join Rory and Alastair as they...

366. Question Time: Why do dictators bother with sham elections?

30 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What stops billionaires spending their money in their lifetime? How can you stay engaged with politics without sacrificing mental health? Who are the ...

365. Trump's Mafia World Order

29 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How many ‘early warning signs of fascism’ are we seeing in the US? Has Trump delivered a fatal blow to America’s soft power around the world? Wh...

364. Question Time: America’s waning power, Alastair vs. Meta, and the existential threat of depopulation

23 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Musk, Zuckerberg, and Trump – who’s controlling who? Does populist isolationism actually make a country weaker? Could Farage actually be Prime Min...

363. The Return of Donald J. Trump

22 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What did the inauguration tell us about how extreme Trump 2.0 is going to be? What is Netanyahu’s endgame for Gaza – peace or perpetual war? Why h...

362. Question Time: Labour’s education error and Blair’s mistake on mental health

16 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Why are students protesting in Serbia? Is Labour right to scrap financial support for Latin in state schools? What does Alastair think about Tony Blai...

361. Gaza, Israel, and Ceasefire

15 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How can Gaza be rebuilt after any ceasefire is agreed? What are the ‘six deadly sins’ of the liberal centre? What should we make of Starmer’s AI...

360. Question Time: Assad’s People - Syria, Torture, and Justice

09 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Are the media ignoring what’s happening in Gaza? Should the UK be boycotting the cricket in Afghanistan? And, how worried should we be about democra...

359. Starmer vs. Musk: Why the richest man in the world turned against the Prime Minister

08 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What's behind Musk's spiral into the far right? Is Robert Jenrick veering into Enoch Powell territory? Is Austria on the precipice of a new form of fa...

358. Question Time: Political translators, Boris Johnson, and politicians to watch in 2025

02 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What are Rory and Alastair's funny translation stories? Could Boris Johnson ever have a comeback? And are there any politicians to watch out for in 2...

357. Political New Year's resolutions, Elon Musk, and what happens next in Taiwan?

01 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What should Labour’s new year resolution be? How worried should we be about Elon Musk? Could China move on Taiwan in 2025? Join Rory and Alastair ...

356. Georgia, Russia, and the fight for democracy - An interview with the President of Georgia

27 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Will Georgia’s President accept the inauguration of her successor on the 29th of December? If she does, will Georgia be handed over to Russia? Is th...

355. How to start a campaign, Gisele Pelicot, and the biggest surprise of 2024

26 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Why has the environment fallen off the political agenda? What events caught geopolitical experts off guard in 2024? And, what advice would Alastair gi...

354. Nigel Farage, dad-dancing populists, and the worst politician of the year

25 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Who was the worst politician of the year? What was the biggest political moment of 2024? What was the most under-discussed moment of the year?  Join...

353. Question Time: Celeb politicians, Chinese spies, and Ireland vs. Israel

19 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Why is Israel shutting its embassy in Ireland? Who is the alleged Chinese spy linked to Prince Andrew? Will the UK ever have a Donald Trump-style lead...

352. How to solve the small boats crisis

18 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Will Labour be able to deliver on their promises on immigration? What is the thinking behind some of Trump's cabinet picks? Could German politics swin...

351. Question Time: Geopolitics in Crisis

12 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Why did the president of South Korea announce martial law this week? What does the result of the Romanian elections spell for Europe? How can Georgia ...

350. Assad in Moscow, Trump meets Zelensky, and Farage’s secret strategy

11 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Is there hope for Syria? What’s next for France? And, why does Nigel Farage have a spring in his step? Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all th...

349. The Fall of Assad: What's next for Syria?

08 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Who are the Syrian rebels that have captured the capital? Why has the Assad regime collapsed so quickly? What's next for Syria, and the Middle East? ...

348. Syria, Afghanistan, and The Rest Is Classified

06 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It has been thirteen years since Bashar al-Assad triggered a civil war which would kill hundreds of thousands of people and devastate Syria. Recent e...

347. Question Time: Biden’s Pardon is Unforgivable

05 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Is Starmer right to dismiss the two million people calling for a general election? What are Georgia’s chances of EU integration? And, if they were h...

346. The Battle for Syria

04 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Who are the Syrian rebels who have attacked Aleppo? Will Keir Starmer's reset be enough to convince the public? Why is the French government on the br...

345. TRIP US: The Golden Age of Corruption

29 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Is the United States entering a new age of corruption? Why are Democrats staying silent? What will be different about a second Trump term? This week,...

344. Question Time: Should MPs vote with their conscience or constituents?

28 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Is there anything wrong with being an isolationist government? How far has ‘woke’ been weaponised by the far-right? Will Rory ever go on reality T...

343. What Happens Next: Israel vs. the International Criminal Court

27 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How has the world responded to the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant for top Israeli officials? What does Trump have planned for the war i...

342. Question Time: Farmer vs Starmer, courting China, and the purpose of COP

21 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How would Alastair tweak the so-called “tractor-tax” to appease British farmers? Is Keir Starmer spending too much time abroad? And will internati...

341. Biden vs. Trump: A fight for the future of Ukraine

20 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Is Biden’s move on missiles too little too late for Ukraine? Who will be in Donald Trump’s White House team? Why are business leaders growing tire...

340. Question Time: Assisted Dying, Texting Macron, and the Politics of Scandal

14 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Are Alastair and Rory starry-eyed about Australian politics? What have Alastair and Macron been texting about? And, what does the world look like wit...

339. Trump, the Middle East, and Ukraine

13 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How will the president elect deal with the Israel-Gaza conflict? Does the US election result spell doom for Zelensky? What’s going on in Germany? J...

338. Trump beyond America: what’s next?

09 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Who will Trump appoint to his cabinet? Did wishful thinking cloud the election? And, what do the next four years look like for Taiwan, Ukraine and the...

337. Trump Returns: What Now?

06 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Did Trump win it or did the Democrats blow it? What are the implications of a second Trump presidency for America and the rest of the world? Has right...

336. 8am: TRUMP WINS

06 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Head to The Rest is Politics Youtube channel now for live coverage of the final twists and turns of the US presidential election, between 8pm-midnight...

335. 6am: Trump On The Brink

06 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Head to The Rest is Politics Youtube channel now for live coverage of the final twists and turns of the US presidential election, between 8pm-midnight...

334. 11pm: US Election Countdown Begins

05 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Head to The Rest is Politics Youtube channel now for live coverage of the final twists and turns of the US presidential election, between 8pm-midnight...

333. Kemi Badenoch, Tory Party Leader

03 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What should we expect from the new leader of the Conservative Party? Does Badenoch spell trouble for Labour? How will she reflect on her role as the f...

332. Rachel Reeves' Budget: How does it affect you?

31 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Is Labour's first budget a success or failure for the new government? How does it compare to previous budgets? Did Rachel Reeves alter her proposals f...

331. Question Time: Murdoch or Musk — who has more power?

30 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Why does the UK ignore Irish politics? Should Labour implement Leveson 2, and what should your 7 year-old ask a Tory MP, according to Alastair? Join ...

330. The US Election: One week to go

29 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

With one week to go until the US election, what media outlets can you trust? Is Australia immune to the populist wave that seems to be sweeping Europe...

329. Question Time: Technology, privacy, and the battle for the NHS

23 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Will disability benefits ever be means tested? Could cross party collaboration fix the national health crisis? And how are Alastair and Rory staying h...

328. Could Russia interfere in the US election?

22 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Will the killing of the Hamas leader change the course of the war in Gaza? What is Labour’s plan for the NHS? Could Elon Musk be found guilty of buy...

327. Question Time: What does peace look like in the Middle East?

16 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What is the point of the House of Lords today? Does Elon Musk have presidential ambitions? How bad do Downing Street comms have to get before Alastair...

326. Labour's first 100 days, the Tory leadership race, and Japan

15 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How have the first 100 days of the new Labour government gone? Who will be the next leader of the Tory party? What is happening in Japanese politics r...

325. Question Time: Are the Tories dead or sleeping?

09 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How many civilian casualties is too many: what defines a proportionate war? What makes a good civil servant according to Alastair and Rory. And, why s...

324. Israel at War: One Year On

08 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How has the political landscape of the Middle East changed in the year since Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel? Why has Keir Starmer reshuffl...

323. Question Time: How it feels to become “the story”

02 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Why are so many young men supporting the AFD in Germany? Would Trump be welcome on TRIP? And who, out of the pair, has the best Dame Maggie Smith stor...

322. Israel vs Hezbollah: Iran’s next move

01 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What does the killing of Hezbollah’s leader mean for the Middle East? Who will be Labour’s next cabinet secretary? How did the far right win in Au...

321. Question Time: Why do politicians leak to the press?

25 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Was the recent election in Brandenburg really a “huge success” for the far-right AfD? Why are MPs allowed to be on their phones in the House of Co...

320. Labour’s struggle to define itself, Hezbollah vs. Israel, and understanding Long Covid

24 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Does Starmer’s government lack a strategic vision? Are we on the brink of a wider war in the Middle East? Why has society turned a blind eye to thos...

319. TRIP US: The Only State Trump Needs to Win

19 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

*To hear the full episode, search The Rest is Politics US wherever you get your podcasts.* How far do voters trust Donald Trump? Should the US have m...

318. Question Time: Does America really care about the ‘special relationship’?

18 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Why has Turkey decided to join BRICS? Is New York Mayor, Eric Adams, in trouble? And what happens when the mics are turned off? Join Rory and Alastai...

317. How to save the NHS

17 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How are Labour planning to reform the NHS? Are the West being too slow to help Ukraine? Should social media be banned for children? Join Rory and Alas...

316. Why Kamala Harris Still Has a Problem

12 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What does Kamala Harris need to do next? How would Republicans react to a Trump loss? Would Harris ever debate Trump on Fox News? Join Katty Kay and ...

315. Question Time: Should we fine people for missing doctor's appointments?

11 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Is conflict brewing on the Horn of Africa? Should we fine people for missing hospital appointments? And, why do escalators pose an existential threat ...

314. Trump stumbles - but did Harris see him off?

11 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Will Tuesday’s US presidential debate be remembered as a turning point in the campaign? Why was Donald Trump so off-message? Did Kamala Harris miss ...

313. Why Starmer needs to be unpopular

10 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Can Labour make the unpopular popular? Will any change come from the Grenfell inquiry? How worrying is China’s influence in Africa? Join Rory and Al...

312. Is America Ready for Gun Reform?

05 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How has Donald Trump tied him self in knots over abortion? Why is there a growing gender divide in politics? Has Kamala Harris reached the end of her ...

311. Question Time: Should Labour ban smoking?

03 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Is Brazil right to suspend X? Why have the press been calling our Deputy PM ‘Angela Raver’? And what is the history of No. 10’s Larry the Cat? ...

310. The rise of Germany’s far-right

03 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Who will be the next French Prime Minister? How serious is the threat of Germany’s far right? Should school inspections scrap single-word reviews? J...

309. Trump's Secret Weapon

30 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Who has returned as Donald Trump's secret weapon? What's happening in Georgia? Is Kamala Harris making a mistake over the upcoming presidential debate...

308. Question Time: Can you be friends with someone you totally disagree with politically?

29 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Why have so many kids been excluded from school since the pandemic? How should the world respond to the ‘gender apartheid’ in Afghanistan? And how...

307. Starmer put to the test, Modi's visit to Ukraine, and tragedy unfolds in Sudan

28 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Does Starmer have a plan to fix the UK? Why did Modi visit Ukraine? What is really happening in Sudan and when will it receive more coverage in the in...

306. Did Kamala Harris' speech scare Trump?

23 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Was Kamala Harris' closing speech at the Democratic National Convention powerful enough to shake the Republicans? Who were the most successful speaker...

305. The Obamas takedown Donald Trump

21 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Has Michelle Obama given up on her own plea that "when they go low we go high"? How will male voters respond to the idea of the first US First Gentlem...

304. Question Time: Could Trump try and subvert the US election results?

21 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Why is there civil unrest in Slovakia and Bulgaria? Are they legitimate tools at Trump’s disposal to subvert an election result? Do we have the tech...

303. The speech Joe Biden never wanted to give (Live from the Democratic National Convention)

20 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How have the Democratic Party united behind Kamala Harris so quickly? What are some of the core principles of Project 2025? Was Joe Biden's farewell s...

302. It’s Trump’s Race to Lose

15 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Is Trump setting the stage to reject another loss in November? Why did Kamala Harris sideline Josh Shapiro as her VP pick? What does it mean to be a R...

301. Question Time: Iran’s retaliation, Labour "press bias" and an Olympic hangover

14 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Is the press softer on Labour? How left-wing would a Harris/Walz government be? Was MI5 aware of crimes committed by a British agent? And how should F...

300. Why Ukraine invaded Russia, the Musk-Trump love-in, and Rory’s visit to Afghanistan

13 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Why is Elon Musk lashing out against Scotland’s First Minister? What are the tactics behind Ukraine’s advance on Russia? How worried should we be ...

299. The Secret Behind Trump's Silence

08 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Has Kamala Harris chosen the right person as her running mate? Why has Donald Trump stayed quiet in response? How much do celebrity endorsements impac...

298. Question Time: Venezuela’s fate, Hezbollah’s response, and how prisoner swaps really work

07 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What impact have US sanctions had on Venezuela? Is Tom Tugendhat a Tory Keir Starmer? How should Hezbollah respond to attacks without risking domestic...

297. Far-right chaos, Harris’ running mate, and Bangladesh’s power vacuum

06 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What is fuelling the far-right riots spreading across England? Who is Kamala Harris’ new running mate? Why has Bangladesh’s prime minister fled th...

296. Could Donald Trump drop out?

01 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What will the impact be of Trump's nightmare week? Will he make it to polling day? Why do evangelicals stick by him no matter what? Join Katty Kay an...

295. Question Time: Israel vs. Hezbollah, legalising cannabis, and Kamala Harris' Middle East strategy

31 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Will the attack on the Golan Heights push Israel and Hezbollah into war? How does Harris’ approach to the Middle East differ from Trump's? How do Ro...

294. Labour’s defining moment and the next Tory leader

30 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Is Labour planning austerity 2.0? Who is in the running to be the next Conservative leader? Should politics play a role at the Olympics? Join Rory a...

293. Trump’s Next Move

25 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How will Donald Trump frame Kamala Harris as ‘dangerously liberal’? What has changed since the last time a woman ran for president? How will Ameri...

292. Question Time: China’s army in Europe, Just Stop Oil behind bars, and Andrew Tate

24 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Where do you stand on Just Stop Oil protestors being sentenced? What could come of China’s military drills in Belarus? What drives young men towards...

291. The Rise of Kamala Harris

23 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How much do you really know about Kamala Harris? Why isn't Venezuela the Saudi Arabia of Latin America? Should we view Rwanda differently to other aut...

290. JOE BIDEN DROPS OUT

21 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What happens next as Joe Biden withdraws from the 2024 US presidential race? Should the Democrats have an open convention? Would Kamala Harris be able...

289. TRIP US: The Week Trump Won?

18 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What does Trump’s new running mate mean for the direction of the Republican Party? Have the Democrats given up on a 2024 win? Is there anything now ...

288. Is Labour's King's Speech bold enough?

18 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What legislation did Keir Starmer's government put forward in the state opening of Parliament? Do the bills go far enough? Where does Labour go from h...

287. Trump’s VP, Labour vs. China, and the King’s Speech

16 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How has a man who once called Trump ‘America’s Hilter’ now become his running mate? What does a Labour government mean for UK-China relations? W...

286. Trump Assassination Attempt: The Aftermath

14 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Will the Trump rally shooting change the course of the US election? Are we entering an era of further political violence and polarisation? What goes o...

285. TRIP US: DONALD TRUMP SHOT

14 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Has Donald Trump’s attempted assassination won him the race? Are we descending into an era of new political violence? What can we expect from the Re...

284. TRIP US: Biden’s Last Stand

11 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Who are the Democrats speaking out against Joe Biden? What happens to NATO if Donald Trump gets elected? Could next week be the president’s crunch p...

283. Did Reform UK create a fake general election candidate?

10 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Does the Prime Minister hold constituency surgeries? Did Ed Davey's campaign tactics work? How has the South African election results affected the cou...

282. Starmer’s first week, Le Pen’s loss in France, and Iran’s new president

09 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What has Keir Starmer’s new cabinet promised so far? What’s next for France after voters mobilised to stop Marine Le Pen’s far-right party from ...

281. How one night transformed British politics

05 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What happens now? How radical will Starmer’s Labour be in government? Would a change of the voting system only further strengthen the far right? In...

280. Starmer’s Labour Landslide - 3:30am update

05 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What should we make of Labour’s landslide election win? How big a force can Reform UK become in UK politics? Where next for the Tory Party? Join Ro...

279. The Day Britain Decides

03 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What do politicians actually do on polling day? How does it feel to hear you’re the next prime minister? Should we care that The Sun has backed Labo...

278. Question Time: How reliable are the polls?

03 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What happens at Number 10 when there is a change of government? Are polls a help or hinderance to the parties pre-election day? What are the benefits ...

277. What stands in the way of a Labour landslide?

02 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Which party has had the most effective campaign? Is there any way out for Macron in his fight against the far right and far left? Why are the Democrat...

276. Why Joe Biden must step down

28 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

"Last night was a game changer. And the change that now has to come is to produce another game changer, which is a new Democratic candidate." In an e...

275. TRIP US: Advantage Trump: Will the Democrats move to replace Joe Biden?

28 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What repercussions will Joe Biden's stumbling performance in the first presidential debate have on the race for the White House? Join Katty Kay and ...

274. Sunak vs Starmer: The Final Showdown

26 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Who won the final leadership debate? Did Rishi Sunak's more aggressive tactics pay dividends? What will Team Starmer make of his performance in Nottin...

273. Question Time: Julian Assange, firing your friends, and why Labour should raise taxes

26 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

***TRIP post debate livestream - 9.30pm - Wednesday June 26th: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ya1K0WSvOAk*** How will history remember Julian Assang...

272. Sunak’s betting scandal, Farage in trouble, and will Rory vote Green?

25 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How damaging is the election betting scandal for the Tories? Do Reform UK have a women problem? Is Emmanuel Macron facing electoral oblivion? Join Ro...

271. TRIP US: Biden really losing Hispanic and Black voters?

20 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Why are Black and Hispanic voters increasingly warming to Donald Trump? How will Trump and Biden prepare for their first debate? What is Biden’s pla...

270. Will Israel go to war with Hezbollah?

20 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How important is Putin’s visit to North Korea? What will the consequences be of a war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon? How worrying is Germa...