The Rest Is Politics

269. Question Time: Orban in person, Biden's fragility, and the subtle art of focus groups

18 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Just how beneficial are focus groups to political parties? Will Biden's age cost him the US election? And why does Alastair hate vox pops so much? Jo...

268. The Tories' 'taxtopia' attack, Macron's gamble, and the politics of football

17 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How worried should Labour be about voter apathy? What is 'taxtopia'? Why is Liz Truss being brought up in the French election? Join Rory Stewart and ...

267. TRIP US: If Trump wins, what actually happens to America?

13 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

From killing wild horses to banning the abortion pill, join Anthony Scaramucci and Katty Kay as they take a deep dive into Project 2025 - the very lon...

266. Labour vs Conservatives: What do their manifestos reveal?

13 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How do the Labour and Conservative party manifestos compare? What are the key policies that will swing votes? What are the Greens and Liberal Democrat...

265. Starmer vs Sunak - Round 2: Who won ‘The Battle For Number 10’?

12 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Rory and Alastair give their immediate reaction to the Sky News leaders event. Who won, and, more importantly, will it have changed anyone’s vote? P...

264. Rishi Sunak’s defining moment

10 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Could Farage engineer a reverse takeover of the Tory Party? Why has Emmanuel Macron called a snap election? Are Labour losing votes to the Greens? Jo...

263. TRIP US: Donald Trump, Silicon Valley and Wall Street: Big Money's Deal with the Devil

06 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Why are Wall Street and Silicon Valley weighing in behind Donald Trump? Is it true that Joe Biden and Bill Ackman almost got into a fist fight? What's...

262. Modi loses his majority, Sunak takes on the Treasury, and Welsh Labour in crisis

05 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Where next for India after Modi loses his majority? How should Starmer have dealt with Sunak’s Labour tax claim? Is Rory going to vote Lib Dem on Ju...

261. Sunak vs Starmer: Who won?

04 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Who emerged victorious from the first leadership debate between Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer? Was ITV's format too restrictive? Where does the electio...

260. The return of Nigel Farage: does it matter?

03 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What do Nigel Farage's plans to run as an MP in Clacton mean for Rishi Sunak? Should Ed Davey tone down his campaign stunts? What comes next for South...

259. Can Trump still run for president?

31 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What is the political damage after Trump’s guilty verdict? How will Trump’s base react to his conviction? What does all of this mean for the futur...

258. DONALD TRUMP FOUND GUILTY

30 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What does Donald Trump's guilty verdict mean for the 2024 election? Do the nine Justices of the Supreme Court have too much power? What do Democrats r...

257. Diane Abbott, Nigel Farage, and how to plan a campaign

30 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Why can't Keir Starmer make a decision about Diane Abbott? How do parties prepare for an election with no warning? Why is Nigel Farage getting so muc...

256. Question Time: Will the podcast dynamic change after the election?

28 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Is it time for a new curriculum? Do the UK's creative industries receive enough funding in relation to the soft power they exude? Who is 'El Loco' in ...

255. Is Labour's lead narrowing?

28 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Is the gap between public opinion of Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak narrowing already? Have the Conservatives stolen Rory's idea for a compulsory nation...

254. Question Time: Is Biden alienating young voters?

24 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What is the international significance of Mexico's presidential election? Is Biden risking the support of young voters over his stance on Israel? And ...

253. TRIP US: Donald Trump vs. Keir Starmer: The end of the special relationship?

23 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Which states will decide the US election? Why does Wall Street love Donald Trump? Could we see the end of the UK's special relationship with America? ...

252. SUNAK CALLS GENERAL ELECTION

22 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Why has the PM called a general election for 4th July? Is Keir Starmer ready? Will the polls narrow or are we heading towards a landslide? Join Rory...

251. The Infected Blood Scandal

21 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Could the bill for the infected blood scandal fall on Labour? What makes politics so bad for mental health? Could Benjamin Netanyahu be arrested for w...

250. TRIP US: Why Trump won't go to jail

17 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What was it like to visit Michael Cohen behind bars? Why is it almost impossible for Trump to go to jail? How many good working hours does Joe Biden h...

249. Question Time: Political honeymoons - how quickly could the public turn on Keir Starmer?

15 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Are we sleepwalking into a crisis that could totally overwhelm our prisons? Why is the South West often forgotten in politics? Why do political honeym...

248. Battle lines are drawn: defections, defence, and David Gauke

14 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What is Rishi Sunak’s plan to win back voters? Why has Putin removed his ally as Russia’s defence minister? Has Labour’s embrace of a defecting ...

247. Robert F Kennedy Jr: Donald Trump's Vice President?

09 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Could a member of the Kennedy clan team up with Donald Trump? What does a vice president actually do? How has a brain worm come into the media circus ...

246. What Britain thinks: Is the monarchy our greatest soft power asset?

08 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Are UK voters becoming increasingly comfortable with authoritarianism? Why is Thatcher the only past PM currently viewed as 'strong' by the public? Wh...

245. Are we really heading for a hung parliament?

07 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Is the Conservative brand damaging their politicians? Who is the SNP's new leader? What’s going on in South Africa? Join Rory and Alastair as the...

244. How to buy the White House

02 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Is there too much money in US politics? Why do people donate to presidential campaigns? Who are the two women vying to be Mexico’s next president? ...

243. Question Time: The worst political cliches, US voter suppression, and is the left-leaning media too 'worthy'?

01 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Will Robert F. Kennedy Jr. inadvertently help Donald Trump defeat Joe Biden? What do politicians really mean when they say "I've been very clear"? How...

242. Scotland in crisis, how to get an opposition MP to defect, and can Britain defend itself?

30 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Who will replace Humza Yousaf as First Minister of Scotland? Will more Conservatives defect to Labour? What's the real story behind the UK's defence s...

241. From White House To Courthouse: Trump On Trial

25 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Will Donald Trump's hush money trial derail his presidential bid? What's happening on college campuses in the US? Join Katty Kay and Anthony Scaramu...

240. Question Time: Should Britain nationalise its railways?

24 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How is Modi silencing journalists in India? What is the case for imposing a voting age limit? What does the Maldives changing relationship with China ...

239. The Rwanda ruling, Trudeau in trouble, and The Rest Is Politics: US edition

23 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What is the government’s plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda? What will happen next after the US Congress approves aid for Ukraine? Is Justin Trud...

238. Question Time: Liz Truss, climate change deniers, and why print media is so polarised

17 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What actions can government take to mitigate the impact of smartphones on the mental health of children? What are the advantages and disadvantages of ...

237. Iran, Israel, and the Middle East: Stopping the slide into all-out war

16 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How will Israel respond to Iran’s attack? What is Joe Biden’s long-term plan for Ukraine? What has Liz Truss' new book revealed about her short sp...

236. Question Time: The fight to be Donald Trump’s VP nominee

10 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Who will Trump pick as his running mate? How much do you know about ‘Project 2025’? What’s the story behind Angela Rayner’s tax affairs? Join...

235. What Britain really thinks of politics

09 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Are the Tories in danger of being overtaken by Reform UK? Should polling instruct or inform political decisions? Who is the country’s least popular ...

234. Question Time: Why New Labour introduced tuition fees, Thatcher and Blair’s canvassing secrets, and the greatest prime minister we never had

03 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Who would have been in Rory’s cabinet if he had won the 2019 Tory leadership contest? Who is the best prime minister we never had? How can we fix En...

233. From peerages to Putin: the fight against corruption in politics

02 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How can we root out corruption in politics, both at home and abroad? What’s caused the crisis in Israel around its ultra-Orthodox population? What r...

232. Question Time: ISIS-K vs Russia, radical reform of the NHS, and the fight against child poverty

28 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What is the wider significance of the terrorist attack in Moscow? Does the NHS need reform or spending increases? And why is the increase in child ...

231. Labour's struggle for economic vision and Haiti on the brink

27 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What's happening in Haiti? Why is Keir Starmer getting dragged into culture war politics? Is Rachel Reeves' economic plan for the country "underwhelmi...

230. Question Time: £91,000… Should MPs be paid more?

21 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Why do so few people know who the Lib Dem leader is? Should the arts feature more prominently in school curriculums? What are freeports and should we ...

229. Putin’s sham election, Sunak under threat, and the rift between France and Germany

20 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Who would Putin’s successor be? Could the Conservatives change leader again? Why is the Franco-German relationship deteriorating? Join Rory and Ala...

228. Question Time: The legacy of Theresa May, abolishing National Insurance, and Sweden joins NATO

14 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What will Theresa May be remembered for as PM? Who are the best and worst prime ministers of the post-war era? What is the significance of Sweden beco...

227. Biden’s aid port in Gaza, Tory defection to Reform, and a mole at the top of the IRA

13 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Are we witnessing a Biden resurgence after his State of the Union address? Will Tory MPs follow Lee Anderson to Reform UK? Who was the double agent at...

226. Question Time: Google vs OpenAI, the new Portuguese populist, and why do dictators hold elections?

07 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What happened with Google's AI chatbot 'Gemini' this week? Should incarcerated people have the right to vote? What is the point of dictators like Vlad...

225. George Galloway returns, 'omnishambles' budgets, and the plight of Sudan

06 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How did George Galloway use Gaza to win in Rochdale? What is the impact of compulsory voting on Australian politics? What is happening in Sudan? Join...

224. Question Time: Liz Truss' 'deep state' comments, disability policy, and Shamima Begum

29 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Is it fair that Shamima Begum has been declared stateless? Should Labour prioritise disability policy more? Has taxpayers money paid for Liz Truss' tr...

223. Islamophobia, chaos in the House of Commons, and the North Korean election

28 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What do Lee Anderson’s inflammatory comments mean for the Tory party? Is it possible for Parliament to have a united front on Israel-Gaza? Will Nort...

222. Question Time: Banning phones in schools and parliament, citizens' assemblies, and American isolationism

22 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Should mobiles be banned from schools and the House of Commons? What is Labour's grand plan for citizens' assemblies really about? Is there growing Ru...

221. The Killing of Alexei Navalny

21 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What happened at the Munich Security Conference? Will Putin ever be held accountable? How will Trump fund his legal problems and a presidential campai...

220. Sunak's by-election disaster, Reform UK gains momentum, and political crisis in Rochdale

16 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Will the rise of Reform UK be the downfall of the Conservatives? How consequential are Labour's by-election victories? Who will win in Rochdale? Join...

219. Question Time: Vladimir Putin’s strategy, Labour’s selection headache, and VAT on private schools

15 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Will Azhar Ali still stand as a Labour candidate in the Rochdale by-election? How revealing was Tucker Carlson's interview with Vladimir Putin? Why do...

218. Could the Democrats replace Joe Biden? What’s next for Imran Khan? Why are young people deserting British conservatism?

14 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What do Trump’s Nato threats mean for Europe? Could Pakistan’s military have the final say in the election? Why are young people turning against t...

217. Question Time: How to cover Israel-Gaza, Labour’s £28bn green investment, and Taylor Swift vs Donald Trump

08 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Why is Labour rolling back its pledge on green investment? What does Biden’s sanction against Israeli settlers mean in reality? Who is our one liste...

216. King Charles, Sunak’s £1000 bet, and the future of North Korea

07 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How was a deal finally agreed to get power sharing back in Northern Ireland? Is Rishi Sunak focusing too much on his media appearances? Why has Kim Jo...

215. Question Time: An election in May, combatting homelessness, and investigating think tanks

01 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How are anonymous donors keeping Britain’s political parties afloat? Should the public know where think tanks get their funding from? How worried sh...

214. Israel in court, attacks on American soldiers, and the problem with polling

31 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What is the significance of the I.C.J. Ruling on Israel? How much control does Iran really have over its proxies? Should Labour brace itself for a sha...

213. Question Time: Standing up to Netanyahu, why Starmer would work with Trump, and the differences between Sunni and Shia

25 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Will the West come to terms with the idea that Netanyahu is not interested in a two state solution? Is 'populism' patronising? Would Starmer tread a f...

212. Why Trump's return wasn't inevitable

24 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How much do you know about the Russian propaganda forced on the population in occupied Ukraine? Where did it all go so wrong for Ron DeSantis? What on...

211. Question Time: Taiwan’s new president, Macron's successor, and the difference between Tories and Conservatives

18 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How did Ecuador’s notorious gang leader escape from prison? What does Taiwan’s new anti-Beijing president mean for the country’s future? When is...

210. Is the Middle East sliding into a wider regional conflict?

17 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Should there have been a vote on the UK airstrikes in Yemen? How has the Post Office scandal moved from activism to politics, and could there be anoth...

209. Question Time: What happens when privatisation goes wrong?

11 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Is it possible to be politically active as a civil servant? How did private finance initiatives contribute to the Post Office scandal? Is a transfer ...

208. History's warning to Labour, the Post Office scandal, and Bangladesh's battle for power

10 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How should the fallout of the Post Office scandal be handled? Why do the polls always swing towards the Tories as an election nears? What's going on i...

207. Question Time: Fighting British corruption, Japan's economic conundrum, and a Premier League team in Belfast

04 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Should Labour create an anti-corruption department if it wins the next election? How great a threat does AI pose to elections in 2024? Is soft power a...

206. How to fix the honours system, chaos in the Red Sea, and Taiwan at a crossroads

03 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What should we make of Liz Truss's resignation honours? How does Iran use proxies to attack the US and Israel? Why was the election in the Democratic ...

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...