The Rest Is Politics
Episodes
205. How to combat populism, debating Bill Gates, and David Cameron on the world stage (Part 2)
28 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What stopped the Middle East from descending into regional conflict following the events of October 7th? Why did 2023 see so many coups across the Sah...
204. Scotland's pivotal role, the moment everything changed, and whether to serve under Starmer (Part 1)
27 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Would Rory serve in a Keir Starmer Labour cabinet? How important is Scotland in the next election? What was the most under-appreciated political momen...
203. Question Time: How dangerous is Giorgia Meloni?
21 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Should Joe Biden choose a new running mate? Who is the real Giorgia Meloni? Which reality TV show would Rory and Alastair appear on? Learn more about ...
202. How Labour should fight the election, taking on the British press, and Orbán's future far-right axis
20 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Who actually is Michelle Mone? Does Starmer need to be braver in how he respond to attacks from his opponents? How much power does Viktor Orbán have ...
201. Question Time: Could the Tories remove Rishi Sunak?
14 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Could Nigel Farage be the next Conservative Party leader? What is happening in Myanmar? How do Rory and Alastair deal with public criticism? Listen t...
200. The Israeli settler movement, Ukraine blockaded, and Putin's perpetual power
13 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Is the West moving to a more critical place concerning the Israel-Gaza war? Can Sunak's Rwanda policy be lawfully implemented? What is the relationshi...
199. Question Time: Why the infected blood scandal still haunts today’s politics
07 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How uncomfortable are the left with Starmer’s praise of Margaret Thatcher? Does Sunak’s stance on legal migration undermine British universities? ...
198. King Charles on the world stage, Argentina's Brexit, and the real Henry Kissinger
06 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How did King Charles perform at COP? Is Milei more Reagan than Trump? Who was the real Henry Kissinger? Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all thi...
197. Question Time: Should Labour be bolder on Brexit?
30 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Why do politicians avoid discussing the benefits of migration? Do broadcasters allow the agenda do be shaped by the right wing press? What party would...
196. Why are the far-right on the rise?
29 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Should Britain give the Elgin Marbles back to Greece? Will people be financially better off following Hunt's Autumn statement? Why have populists like...
Introducing... The Rest Is Entertainment
28 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In their new podcast TV maestro and hugely successful author Richard Osman, along with The Guardian's razor-sharp columnist Marina Hyde unravel the my...
195. Question Time: Is Sunak's Rwanda plan doomed to fail?
23 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Why was Sam Altman fired from OpenAI? Would a secret ballot have saved a soft Brexit? What options are left for Rishi Sunak after supreme court’s Rw...
194. Autumn statements, Putin's progress, and why advertisers are pulling out of X
22 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How does inheritance tax work? How have voters reacted to the ceasefire vote? Are Putin's prospects improving in the Russia-Ukraine war? Join Rory an...
193. What makes the Tory right so powerful?
16 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Why do the ERG and the right wing of the Tory party hold so much power over their leadership? Could a universal basic income work? How often do Rory a...
192. What David Cameron’s return means for Israel-Gaza
15 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What does David Cameron's appointment as Foreign Secretary mean for the UK's policy towards Israel and Palestine? What happened at the pro-Palestinian...
191. Braverman sacked and Cameron returns
13 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The emergency pod button has been pushed as David Cameron returns to politics and Suella Braverman has been sacked. TRIP Plus: Become a member of Th...
190. Question Time: Should WhatsApp messages stay private?
09 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What makes Parliament the most poisonous place to work? Should MPs listen to their SpAds? Was the Freedom of Information Act a mistake? Join Alastair...
189. The King's Speech, performative cruelty, and Argentina
08 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How have voters responded to President Biden's intervention in the Middle East? Was Sunak's summit on AI a success? Who will be the next Argentinian p...
188. Question Time: What the Covid Inquiry says about Britain
02 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Does Britain’s relationship with the USA prevent independent decision making? What does conservatism mean to Jordan Peterson? How do you disagree ag...
187. The Left and Israel
01 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Has Keir Starmer caused lasting damage to his leadership over his stance on Israel-Gaza? What will Biden be saying behind the scenes to other world le...
186. Question Time: Nigel Farage’s plan to become Tory leader
25 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Will Nigel Farage’s prophecy of becoming the next Conservative leader come true? Should we accept the Taliban's rule in Afghanistan? How much of a p...
185. Global perceptions of Israel-Gaza, Labour-Lib Dem bad blood, and Chinese economic crisis
24 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Would an Israeli ground invasion shift international perceptions of the conflict? Why is Labour unhappy with the Lib Dems? Is China teetering on the b...
184. Question Time: Why Britain Needs Shorter Prison Sentences
18 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How do we solve the prisons crisis in the UK? Will Johnson and Sunak face charges for their lack of cooperation with the Covid inquiry? Should the Lib...
183. Israel-Gaza: What Happens Next
17 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What is the next stage in the war between Israel and Hamas? How important is Joe Biden's impending visit? Is it possible to be both victim and oppress...
182. Palestine, Gaza, and Israel
17 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What's it like to live in Gaza? What are the key differences between the PLO, the PA, Fatah and Hamas? How far away are we from the diplomatic high po...
181. Israel, invasion, and the trap laid by Hamas
13 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Does Hamas actually want Israel to invade Gaza? Is there a danger that this tragic situation will strengthen the hand of the ultra-nationalist Israeli...
180. Question Time: Is Suella Braverman pretending to be right-wing?
11 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Would Keir Starmer embrace proportional representation? Is the Tory right just a group of political entrepreneurs using their hardline views to climb ...
179. Is Keir Starmer ready to be Prime Minister?
10 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Is Labour ready for government? What's causing the SNP malaise? Did an AI deepfake video contribute to the outcome of the Slovakian election? Join Ro...
178. Israel At War
09 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How did Hamas launch one of the largest invasions on Israeli territory in recent history? What happens now? Will this conflict have geo-political rami...
177. Question Time: A new centrist party, mafia politics in New Jersey, and was Jesus a socialist?
04 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How corrupt is US politics? Will we see a new centrist party in the UK? How did Tony Blair overcome nerves at the dispatch box? Join Rory Stewart and ...
176. Can the Tory Party be saved?
03 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What actually happens behind the scenes at a Conservative or Labour Party Conference? What would it take to get the Conservative Party back to the cen...
175. Question Time: The Power of Rupert Murdoch
27 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What is Rupert Murdoch's legacy in the world of media and politics? What did Rory discuss with First Minister of Scotland, Humza Yousaf? Why have ther...
174. Scrapping HS2, ‘Ukraine fatigue’, and 'Vive le Roi!'
26 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Is Angela Rayner more popular than Keir Starmer? What’s going on in Poland and why is one of Ukraine's strongest allies seemingly waning in its supp...
173. Question Time: Corbyn's expulsion from Labour, Belgium's sex education crisis, and how would Blair fare as PM today?
20 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Was Keir Starmer right to expel Jeremy Corbyn from the Labour party? Why is sex education causing protests in Belgium? How would Tony Blair's Labour c...
172. Liz Truss returns, Putin's Western puppets, and Rory at the United Nations
19 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What have we learnt on the first anniversary of Britain's catastrophic experiment with Trussonomics? Join Rory and Alastair as they discuss Libya, the...
Politics On the Edge (Extract)
14 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Rory’s book is officially in print! As a Friday bonus, here’s an extract from the audiobook version for you to enjoy. The complete audiobook is...
171. Question Time: The return of Liz Truss, Slovakia's answer to Viktor Orbán, and Starmer's popularity waning?
13 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Has Slovakia got the new Orbán? How can Liz Truss save the west? Is Starmer’s popularity weaning? Join Rory Stewart and Alastair Campbell as they ...
170. Prison escape, a test for Australian democracy, and spooks in Westminster?
12 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What was it like for Rory as a prisons minister when prisoners escaped? Are there Chinese spies working in Westminster? What's happening with The Voic...
169. Question Time: Imagining Labour’s first 100 days in power, Australia’s Indigenous Voice referendum, and compulsory politics in schools
06 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Do MPs talk enough about their mental health? What will be the outcome of Australia’s Indigenous Voice Referendum? Should politics be a compulsory p...
168. Crumbling Britain, a ruthless reshuffle, and Jeremy Corbyn’s ‘beautiful ears’
05 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Who’s to blame for the UK’s crumbling infrastructure? Has Starmer’s shadow cabinet reshuffle strengthened his hand? Why is Rory such a fan of Je...
Introducing... The Rest Is Money
31 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Does money really make the world go round? Economics, business and finance have long been subjects we leave to the stockbrokers, hedge fund managers a...
167. Question Time: How to rig an election, Scotland's golden goose, and the least impressive president of all time
30 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How did Mnangagwa win the Zimbabwe election? Who is the least impressive world leader Rory and Alastair have met? What makes a good political memoir? ...
166. Vladimir Putin, Narendra Modi, and absolute populist power
29 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What will happen to Wagner operations in Africa now that Yevgeny Prigozhin is dead? How dangerous is Modi's rhetoric for India and the world? Who has ...
165: Question Time: Populism in Portugal, texting David Cameron, and a challenger to Trump?
23 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Is Portugal the exception to the populist wave? Are reshuffle rumours ever to be trusted? How possible is a one-nation Tory revival? Listen as Rory a...
164. The Trial of Lucy Letby, the domination of the dollar, and politicians vs. lawyers
22 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Why are lawyers being targeted for taking on immigration cases? How significant is the BRICS 'New Development Bank'? Are left-of-centre western govern...
163. Question Time: Privatisation vs. Nationalisation
16 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Are UFO sightings a purely English-speaking phenomenon? Should we give more or less praise to privatisation? What's Dominic Cummings up to now? Join ...
162. Small boats, Zimbabwe since Mugabe, and Trump's anti-mafia indictment
15 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What is the best way to confront the crisis of small boats in the Channel? How has Zimbabwe changed since the rule of Robert Mugabe? Why are the Torie...
161. Question Time: Rebuilding the Tory brand, Macron’s successor, and the militarisation of Mexico
09 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Is the Tory brand damaged beyond repair? Does Macron have a succession plan? What tempts governments to bring in the military? Listen as Rory and Ala...
160. White House or jail? The future of Donald J. Trump
08 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Will Donald Trump end up in prison or back in the White House? Why is the gap between politics and the legal arena becoming ever narrower? Is Net Zero...
159. Question Time: Sweden's Quran-burning crisis, Farage vs. the banks, and what is 'the establishment'?
03 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What would Rory do if he was Sweden’s Minister of Foreign Affairs? Are we paying Nigel Farage too much attention? Should MPs be allowed to rebel aga...
158. Sunak's net zero culture war, Africa's 'coup belt', and a new strategy for the German far-right
01 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Why are Rishi Sunak and other politicians of the right looking to weaponise net zero? How should the international community respond to the rising num...
157. Question Time: Knocking over Liz Truss, Oxbridge dominance, and life under the Taliban
27 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Should MPs be able to vote electronically? Is Oxbridge as dominant as it used to be in British society? Are opinion polls just the junk food of politi...
156. Labour on the defensive, Machismo in Spain, and Israel on a knife-edge
26 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What is the existential threat to democracy that's unfolding in Israel? Why is Labour on the policy defensive after defeat in Uxbridge? Is Spain now t...
155. Sunak slides to defeat in Selby and Somerton
21 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How happy should Labour be with Thursday's by-election results? Can Sunak take some solace from holding on in Uxbridge? Will these constituencies be L...
154. Question Time: Ben Wallace, intellectual PMs, and the fight for the Israeli flag
20 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Will Rory run for London Mayor next year? What will Ben Wallace's political legacy look like? Why are left and right fighting over the Israeli flag? ...
153. How radical would Labour be in power?
19 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Would Keir Starmer be radical or conservative as prime minister? Is enough being done to combat the current heatwave affecting much of the world? What...
152. The Power of Prigozhin
18 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
From a Siberian penal colony to the gold mines of the Central African Republic, who is Yevgeny Prigozhin and how did he become one of the most famou...
151. Question Time: Feargal Sharkey on water pollution, drug legalisation, and fishing
13 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Is it too late to save our rivers? How should the government approach drug testing at festivals? Which political journalists were in attendance at Geo...
150. Sunak’s path to victory, Trump’s stance on Ukraine, and the future of Palestine
12 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Is there any way that Sunak can win the next election? Would a second Trump presidency decisively change the course of the Ukraine conflict? What's th...
149. Question Time: How to end a civil war, psychedelic treatments, and will the Orkney Islands join Norway?
06 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Why are the Orkney islands looking to explore options around joining Norway? Are psychedelics the future of mental health treatment? Does the path to ...
148. France on fire, Thames Water troubles, and NHS privatisation
05 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What's happening in France? How did Thames Water become saddled with debt? Are we on course for inevitable NHS privatisation? Join Alastair and Ror...
147. Question Time: The next global superpower, a royal panic, and Rory on Austerity
29 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How did Rory get stuck in the royal panic room? Why do Labour politicians attend Murdoch parties? Which country will be the next global superpower? R...
146. Putin vs. Prigozhin, the power of Lebedev, and the battle for Southeast Asia
28 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Is this the beginning of the end for Vladimir Putin? Did Boris Johnson overrule MI6 during his time as Prime Minister? Will Sunak be able to control i...
145. Putin under threat as Wagner mutiny
24 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As Wagner Group mercenaries led by Yevgeny Prigozhin apparently rebel against the Russian Army, what impact could this have on the war with Ukraine an...
144. Question Time: The War On Drugs, a Tory Green Party, and Long Covid
22 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Is class still the biggest dividing line in Britain? Why do we not hear enough about the impact of Long Covid? Would the Green Party ever shift to the...
143. The world looks to Beijing, Putin vs. Africa, and Rory's sliding Brexit doors
21 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What have we learnt from Brexit, 7 years on? Has Antony Blinken’s trip to Beijing eased tensions between China and the US? What is Africa’s role i...
142. Is this the end for Boris Johnson?
15 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In a damning report, Boris Johnson has been condemned for lying to parliament over parties held in Downing Street during the pandemic. In today's eme...
141. Question Time: Labour greatest hope, what a Trump presidency would mean for Ukraine, and should we ban vaping?
15 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What would a Trump victory in 2024 mean for the war in Ukraine? Should the UK government take action on vaping? Is Labour pursuing the 'ming vase' str...
140. Johnson and Sunak at war, Sturgeon's arrest, and the death of Silvio Berlusconi
14 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Are we on the brink of Tory civil war? What is the legacy of Silvio Berlusconi? Why has China pivoted to Latin America? Join Alastair and Rory as the...
139. BORIS JOHNSON RESIGNS
09 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In an emergency podcast, Rory and Alastair react to the news that Boris Johnson is standing down as a Conservative MP with immediate effect after an i...
138. Question Time: The Bullingdon Club, democracy vs. capitalism, and overcoming foot-and-mouth
08 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Should Rory and Alastair switch allegiance to the Liberal Democrats? Why is there no happy news? What was handling the foot and mouth disease crisis l...
137. Government taking itself to court, avoiding war with China, and Polish protests
07 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Should the government be taking itself to court over the covid inquiry? Rory and Alastair disagree (just about) agreeably on this one. Also, how is th...
136. Question Time: Johnson vs. Stewart, protests in Serbia, and are think tanks actually influential?
01 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Did John Major lose in 1997, or did Tony Blair win? Would building on golf courses in London solve the housing crisis? How useful is the Freedom of In...
135. Spanish politics explained and a deep dive into AI
31 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Artificial Intelligence: is it the future of humanity, or the beginning of the end? Rory and Alastair take a deep dive into the subject and the politi...
134. Question Time: Solving sewage, building on the Green Belt, and the most intimidating person in politics
25 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Should we start building on the Green Belt? Is there a fun side to politics? Why don't ministers resign anymore without being pushed? Tune in to hear...
133. Suella's speeding, Japan in focus, and what's the point of the G7?
24 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How was the G7 formed, and what is the point of it today? What will the consequences be for Suella Braverman following her speeding scandal? How does ...
But What Can I Do? (Extract)
19 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Have you heard? Alastair has written a book! 'But What Can I Do?' is out now. As a Friday bonus, here's an extract from the audiobook version for you...
132. Question Time: How to reform prisons, Macron vs. Clinton, and what is the Privy Council?
18 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Was Hillary Clinton arrogant in her comments about Emmanuel Macron? What's the best way to reform UK prisons? How much do you know about sporrans? Tu...
131. Erdoğan fights on, 'Clause IV on steroids', and the fall of military rule
17 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What next for Turkey? How does Starmer aim to reform Labour? Why should we be paying attention to events in Thailand? Tune in to hear Rory and Alasta...
130. Question Time: Bumping into Boris Johnson, the Hong Kong handover, and One-nation Tories vs. Blairites
11 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Do manifestos matter? What exactly is a free port? Is there a real difference between One-nation Conservatives and Blairites? Join Alastair and Rory ...
129. Sunak at a crossroads, weaponising 'woke', and the Wagner Group
10 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Have the local elections changed how Sunak will run Number 10? What's going on with the Wagner Group and Vladimir Putin? How did the coronation attend...
128. Local Elections: Who's the real winner?
05 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Was this a win for Starmer? Or should he be disappointed? What does this tell us about next year's general election? Alastair and Rory have hit the e...
127. Question Time: Communists in Austria, the collapse of First Republic, and the political power of Ben and Jerry's
04 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What role do corporations play in political activism? Could the local elections results push forward a general election? Are communists having a resur...
126. King Charles III's coronation, the geopolitics of net-zero, and the power of oracy
03 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This Saturday May 6th, the UK will celebrate the coronation of King Charles III. But what is the political impact of such an event? And what is the re...
125. Question Time: Murdoch mayhem, the politics of nepotism, and Alastair Campbell MP?
27 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Will Alastair ever stand as an MP? What's going on with Rupert Murdoch at Fox News? How prevalent is nepotism in UK politics? Rory and Alastair answe...
124. Politicians vs. civil servants, evacuating Sudan, and Diane Abbott
26 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What does Dominic Raab's resignation tell us about the battle between civil servants and ministers? How did Rory lead an evacuation during his time in...
123. DOMINIC RAAB RESIGNS
21 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Why has Dominic Raab resigned as Deputy Prime Minister and what does it mean for the future of the Conservative government? Join Rory and Alastair as...
122. Question Time: Leaking Liz Truss, the funniest person in politics, and ‘Killing Thatcher’
20 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Is leaking a way to get ahead in politics? What did Paddy Ashdown do to Rory? Should Joe Biden run for President again? Listen as Alastair and Rory an...
121. Chaos in Sudan, Biden vs. Sunak, and the fall of Braverman?
19 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Is the Special Relationship between the UK and the US falling apart? How can the world come to Sudan's aid? And is Suella Braverman finally on her las...
120. Question Time: Macron and Xi Jinping, the rise of the right, and Tony Blair vs. UFOs
13 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Why is France trying to boost its ties with China? How do you define populism? Does Rory have any plans to present more history and travel documentari...
119. Starmer's most controversial move yet, the truth behind Vladimir Putin, and the Good Friday Agreement
12 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Has Keir Starmer lost Labour the moral high ground after his attack on Rishi Sunak? What is Vladimir Putin really like behind closed doors? Will pea...
118. Question Time: Democracy under threat, rampant sewage, and campaign songs
06 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Is the decline of local news destroying the fabric of our democracy? Should there be a cabinet position dealing with AI? Should private schools deal w...
117. Trump's indictment, Dover delays, and Sanna Marin loses
05 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How will Donald Trump's arraignment unfold? What is happening at the border between the United Kingdom and France? What was the significance of King C...
116. Question Time: Corbyn and Cummings, Cool Britannia, and Ofsted
30 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What's the story about Cummings and Corbyn on the podcast? Should GB News be considered a news channel? How did Britpop and Cool Britannia affect the ...
115. France on fire, fake Korean cash, and a new Scottish nationalism
29 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Would Labour ever endorse Scottish independence? Why is France on fire? And how did Matt Hancock and Kwasi Kwarteng end up talking to a fake Korean co...
114. Question Time: Banks in crisis, Imran Khan, and Blair on The Simpsons
23 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Could Labour inherit a junior doctor problem? What can be done about the rising costs of childcare? And what do Rory and Alastair really see in each o...
113. Iraq: the fallout, Scotland at a crossroads, and ‘sneaky beakies’
22 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In a week where we've had bank bailouts and a meeting where Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping hinted at a dangerous anti-western alliance, is there much t...
112. Iraq: The Legacy
16 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It's 20 years since the invasion of Iraq - but what is its legacy? Tony Blair said to Parliament in March 2003 that what happened in Iraq would ‘de...
111. The Iraq War
15 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
20 years on from the invasion of Iraq, Rory speaks to Alastair about the build up, aftermath, and legacy of the event. The second episode in this ser...
110. Gary Lineker, BBC in crisis, and small boats
11 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
After an extraordinary and bizarre week where a tweet from Gary Lineker led to a crisis at the national broadcaster, Rory and Alastair try to make sen...