• 21 minutes 22 seconds
    Becoming Burnham: Thatcher, Hillsborough, and the Anger that Shaped Him | Part 1

    To hear the full episode and the series as it drops, sign up up at therestispolitics.com


    Alastair is joined by Andy Burnham’s closest confidant, friend and former colleague, Steve Rotheram – the Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region to discuss… 


    Who really is Andy Burnham, and how is he going to change Britain? How have events like Hillsborough, and Thatcher’s Northern neglect shaped him? And, how does he contend with his imposter syndrome, his ‘Catholic guilt complex’, and his restless desire to be liked?


    Producer: India Dunkley

    Researcher: Miranda Crawford

    Video Editor: Josh Smith

    Social Producer: Celine Charles

    Executive Producer: Emily Kent Smith

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    20 August 2026, 10:55 pm
  • 1 hour 1 minute
    564. Burnham’s Media Machine and West Bank Settler Impunity

    Is Burnham’s Britain’s first ‘TikTok Prime Minister’ and what does that mean for accountability, old-fashioned journalism, and the Westminster lobby? Why are violent Israeli settlers able to act with impunity against Palestinians in the West Bank, and is Israel effectively annexing the territory? Should young people spend the last two weeks of their summer holidays thinking about the challenges facing the world?


    Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more in this week's edition of Question Time.


    Get involved with Politika’s Policy Ideas for Positive Change ⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠. The competition is open to all 16–18 year olds in the UK, and submissions close on 20th September 2026.

    __________

    Enjoy Rory and Alastair’s interview with Maoz Inon and Aziz Abu Sarah by searching ‘Leading’ on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube.

    Go deeper into the world of The Rest Is Politics by signing up for our free newsletter HERE, featuring exclusive interviews, analysis and weekend reads from Alastair and Rory.

    Summer sale is HERE: Get an annual membership for an extra 20% off with code SUMMER26 That's ad-free listening, every bonus episode, and full access to our exclusive members' series. Sale ends August 31st, so grab it before summer's over.

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    __________

    Becoming Burnham Trailer Editor: Dylan Bonham

    Social Producer: Celine Charles

    Video Editor: Josh Smith

    Assistant Producer: Daisy Alston-Horne

    Producer: Evan Green

    Exec Producer: Bella Soames

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    19 August 2026, 11:00 pm
  • 1 hour 9 minutes
    563. Britain’s Afghanistan Shame and the Jason Arday Tragedy

    Five years after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Taliban takeover, why has not a single Western government marked the anniversary of a war that cost thousands of lives and trillions of dollars? Why has Russia's last liberal anti-war party been banned ahead of next month's Duma elections, and is it a sign of Putin's strength or his weakness? What does the media frenzy that engulfed Jason Arday before his death reveal about how quickly we strip vulnerable people of their humanity?

    Join Rory, Alastair and Shoshana Stewart, as they answer all these questions and more.

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    Enjoy Rory and Alastair’s interview with Maoz Inon and Aziz Abu Sarah by searching ‘Leading’ on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube.

    Go deeper into the world of The Rest Is Politics by signing up for our free newsletter HERE, featuring exclusive interviews, analysis and weekend reads from Alastair and Rory.

    Join The Rest Is Politics Plus. Start your free trial at therestispolitics.com to unlock exclusive bonus content – including Rory and Alastair’s miniseries – plus ad-free listening, early access to episodes and live show tickets, exclusive newsletters, discounted book prices, and a private chatroom on Discord.

    The Rest Is Politics is powered by Fuse Energy. Stop overpaying for energy. Switch at fuseenergy.com/politics and get a free TRIP+ subscription.

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    Email: [email protected]

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    Social Producer: Celine Charles

    Video Editor: Josh Smith, Vasco Andrade

    Assistant Producer: Daisy Alston-Horne

    Producer: Evan Green

    Executive Producer: Bella Soames

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    18 August 2026, 11:00 pm
  • 52 minutes 57 seconds
    Will Climate Action Go Backwards Under Burnham?

    Should Andy Burnham deliver a covid style national emergency briefing to inform the public about the climate emergency? How do we foster cross-party consensus on the climate emergency? And, can we balance the need to build data centres and protect the environment? 


    Join Alastair Campbell, Rory Stewart and Caroline Lucas as they discuss all of these questions and more.


    To watch Caroline’s four part series on climate as a national security threat, sign up at therestispolitcs.com



    ⁠⁠⁠⁠Read the redacted Joint Intelligence Committee Report here⁠⁠⁠⁠


    ⁠⁠⁠⁠Find out more about the National Emergency Briefing here.⁠⁠⁠⁠


    Producer: India Dunkley

    Researcher: Evie Townend

    Video Editor: Josh Smith, Vasco Andrade

    Social Producer: Celine Charles

    Executive Producer: Bella Soames

    General Manager: Tom Whiter

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    13 August 2026, 11:00 pm
  • 1 hour 6 minutes
    562. The Right’s War With Itself and Burnham’s Prisons Challenge

    With Nigel Farage and Rupert Lowe trading blows, is the British right tearing itself apart, and will Kemi Badenoch destroy the Conservative Party by chasing Reform and Restore voters rather than the centre ground? With prisons at breaking point and reoffending rates soaring, why aren’t governments honest about the real causes of the crisis, or the solutions? As the Rhine falls to record lows and Germany's economy takes the hit, is this the clearest sign yet that the climate crisis is now an economic one?


    Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more.

    __________

    Enjoy Rory and Alastair’s interview with Johnny Mercer by searching ‘Leading’ on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube.

    Go deeper into the world of The Rest Is Politics by signing up for our free newsletter HERE, featuring exclusive interviews, analysis and weekend reads from Alastair and Rory.

    Summer sale is HERE: get an annual membership for an extra 20% off with code SUMMER26. That's ad-free listening, every bonus episode, and full access to our exclusive members' series. Sale ends August 31st, so grab it before summer's over.

    The Rest Is Politics is powered by Fuse Energy. Stop overpaying for energy. Switch at fuseenergy.com/politics and get a free TRIP+ subscription.

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    Social Producer: Celine Charles

    Video Editor:  Lorcan Moullier, Bruno Di Castri

    Assistant Producer: Daisy Alston-Horne

    Producer: Evan Green

    Exec Producer: Bella Soames

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    12 August 2026, 11:00 pm
  • 56 minutes 52 seconds
    561. How Trump’s Chaos Keeps Splintering the World Order

    As a new military alliance between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan the first sign that America's allies no longer trust its guarantees? Why are politicians refusing to admit how fast America is burning through its Patriot missiles in Iran? With suspected Russian drones probing Europe, is the Kremlin about to test NATO like never before?

    Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more.

    __________

    Enjoy Rory and Alastair’s interview with Johnny Mercer by searching ‘Leading’ on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube.

    Go deeper into the world of The Rest Is Politics by signing up for our free newsletter HERE, featuring exclusive interviews, analysis and weekend reads from Alastair and Rory.

    Join The Rest Is Politics Plus. Start your free trial at therestispolitics.com to unlock exclusive bonus content – including Rory and Alastair’s miniseries – plus ad-free listening, early access to episodes and live show tickets, exclusive newsletters, discounted book prices, and a private chatroom on Discord.

    The Rest Is Politics is powered by Fuse Energy. Stop overpaying for energy. Switch at fuseenergy.com/politics and get a free TRIP+ subscription.

    Sponsored by Lloyds. Need to make sense of where your money's going? We can help with personalised isnights into your spending, powered by AI. Just search 'spending insights' in your Lloyds app today.

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    Instagram: @restispolitics

    Twitter: @restispolitics

    Email: [email protected]

    __________

    Social Producer: Celine Charles

    Video Editor: Josh Smith, Caroline Kaye

    Assistant Producer: Daisy Alston-Horne

    Producer: Evan Green

    Exec Producer: Bella Soames

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    11 August 2026, 11:00 pm
  • 21 minutes 2 seconds
    The Truth About Climate Migration – It's More Complicated Than You Think

    To hear the whole episode and catch up on the rest of the series, which includes a deep dive into food security, water scarcity and the suppressed national security report, sign up at therestispolitics.com


    Are people really migrating because of changes in the climate? Who pays when a nation is destroyed by a crisis it didn't cause? And what does it cost, financially and emotionally,  to leave home for good?


    Join Caroline Lucas, Alex Randall and Aminath Shauna as they discuss all of these questions and more. 


    ⁠⁠⁠Read the redacted Joint Intelligence Committee Report here⁠⁠⁠


    ⁠⁠⁠Find out more about the National Emergency Briefing here.⁠⁠⁠


    ⁠Discover Climate Outreach's work here⁠


    Producer: India Dunkley

    Video Editor: Gabriella Gibbs, Oli Ortega

    Social Producer: Celine Charles

    General Manager: Tom Whiter

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    6 August 2026, 10:55 pm
  • 1 hour 51 seconds
    560. Trump's Hamas Disarmament 'Deal' and Europe's FIFA Boycott

    As Trump's Board of Peace unveils a plan to disarm Hamas, will the group now give up its weapons and what would this mean for Gaza's future? Amid an escalation of violence on the West Bank and with settlements continuing to grow, why does the US President appear not to care? In the wake of the Gianni Infantino revelations, does the head of FIFA actually hate football?

    Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more in this week's edition of Question Time.

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    Watch Rory and Alastair’s interview with Count Binface by searching ‘Leading’ on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube.For a chance for your thoughts on the climate to be discussed in our Q&A with Caroline Lucas, fill in our survey HERE.

    We want to know what you think about the climate crisis! For a chance for your thoughts on the climate to be discussed in our Q&A with Caroline Lucas, fill in our survey HERE.

    The TRIP+ summer sale is HERE. Get an annual membership for an extra 20% off with code SUMMER26. That's ad-free listening, every bonus episode, and full access to our exclusive members' series. Sale ends August 31st, so grab it before summer's over.

    Go deeper into the world of The Rest Is Politics by signing up for our free newsletter HERE, featuring exclusive interviews, analysis and weekend reads from Alastair and Rory.

    The Rest Is Politics is powered by Fuse Energy. Stop overpaying for energy. Switch at fuseenergy.com/politics and get a free TRIP+ subscription.

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    Email: [email protected]

    __________

    Social Producer: Celine Charles

    Video Editor: Lorcan Moullier, Caroline Kaye

    Assistant Producer: Daisy Alston-Horne

    Producer: Evan Green 

    Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen

    Executive Producer: Emily Kent Smith

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    5 August 2026, 11:00 pm
  • 1 hour 3 minutes
    559. Who Really Benefits from the Ceuta Migration Crisis?

    Why did 50,000 people risk their lives in an attempt to cross the Morocco-Spain border? What do the pictures emerging from the enclave of Ceuta reveal about the bigger migration story? Why did right-wing figures across the world, from Donald Trump to Elon Musk and Giorgia Meloni, all weigh in?

    Alastair and Rory are joined by immigration expert Gerald Knaus as they answer all these questions and more.

    __________

    Watch Rory and Alastair’s interview with Count Binface by searching ‘Leading’ on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube.

    We want to know what you think about the climate crisis! For a chance for your thoughts on the climate to be discussed in our Q&A with Caroline Lucas, fill in our survey HERE.

    Go deeper into the world of The Rest Is Politics by signing up for our free newsletter HERE, featuring exclusive interviews, analysis and weekend reads from Alastair and Rory.

    Join The Rest Is Politics Plus. Start your free trial at therestispolitics.com to unlock exclusive bonus content – including Rory and Alastair’s miniseries – plus ad-free listening, early access to episodes and live show tickets, exclusive newsletters, discounted book prices, and a private chatroom on Discord.

    The Rest Is Politics is powered by Fuse Energy. Stop overpaying for energy. Switch at fuseenergy.com/politics and get a free TRIP+ subscription.

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    _________

    Instagram: @restispolitics

    Twitter: @restispolitics

    Email: [email protected]

    __________

    Social Producer: Celine Charles

    Video Editor: Josh Smith, Bruno Di Castri

    Assistant Producer: Daisy Alston-Horne

    Producer: Evan Green 

    Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen

    Executive Producer: Emily Kent Smith

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    4 August 2026, 11:00 pm
  • 16 minutes 24 seconds
    Data Centres vs. Drinking Water: What Matters To Us Most?

    To hear the full episode, which includes an interview with global water expert, Sandra Postel, sign up at the therestispolitics.com


    With the government quietly categorising data centres as ‘critical infrastructure’, could we ever be in a situation where data centre water supply is prioritised over the water that comes out of our taps? Why do we no have clear data that tells just how much water data centres use? And why are so many data centres being built in areas which are already water stressed? 


    Join Caroline Lucas and Ollie Hayes as they all of these questions and more. 


    ⁠⁠Read the redacted Joint Intelligence Committee Report here⁠⁠


    ⁠⁠Find out more about the National Emergency Briefing here.⁠⁠


    Find Sandra Postel's book here


    Read Global Action Plan's AI Data Centre Water Report Here


    Producer: India Dunkley

    Video Editor: Kieron Leslie

    Social Producer: Celine Charles

    General Manager: Tom Whiter

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    30 July 2026, 10:55 pm
  • 58 minutes 29 seconds
    558. The 'Cockroach' Uprising and Should We Stop Data Centres?

    Is Modi's power finally cracking as the Cockroach Janta Party's mass protests force a minister to resign for the first time in over a decade? Does the new US-Saudi uranium deal risk triggering a fresh wave of nuclear proliferation across the Middle East and beyond? If AI data centres are the foundation of future defence and security, can Britain build them without wrecking its water supplies and climate targets?

    Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more in this week's edition of Question Time.

    __________

    Enjoy Rory and Alastair’s interview with Kristrún Frostadóttir, Prime Minister of Iceland, by searching ‘Leading’ on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube.

    Go deeper into the world of The Rest Is Politics by signing up for our free newsletter HERE, featuring exclusive interviews, analysis and weekend reads from Alastair and Rory.

    Join The Rest Is Politics Plus. Start your free trial at therestispolitics.com to unlock exclusive bonus content – including Rory and Alastair’s miniseries – plus ad-free listening, early access to episodes and live show tickets, exclusive newsletters, discounted book prices, and a private chatroom on Discord.

    The Rest Is Politics is powered by Fuse Energy. Stop overpaying for energy. Switch at fuseenergy.com/politics and get a free TRIP+ subscription.

    🌏 Upgrade your online protection with an all-in-one security app! Get an exclusive NordVPN deal + 4 months extra here ➼ nordvpn.com/restispolitics. It’s risk free with NordVPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee!

    __________

    Instagram: @restispolitics

    Twitter: @restispolitics

    Email: [email protected]

    __________

    Social Producer: Celine Charles

    Video Editor: Adam Thornton, Bruno Di Castri

    Assistant Producer: Daisy Alston-Horne

    Producer: Evan Green

    Exec Producer: Chris Sawyer

    General Manager: Tom Whiter

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    29 July 2026, 11:00 pm
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