Leading

Goalhanger

The Rest Is Politics

  • 54 minutes 4 seconds
    178. Gavin Newsom: The Next President Of The United States?

    What happened on a ridiculous midnight phone call between Donald Trump and the Governor of California? Why does Gavin Newsom believe the President will be crushed in the mid-terms? What is Newsom’s tactic for trolling Trump? Will Newsom run for president in 2028? 


    Alastair and Rory are joined by Gavin Newsom, Governor of California, to answer all of this and more. 


    Search IG.com to find out more and/or Look for IG in your app store.


    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, an exclusive members’ newsletter, discounted book prices, and a private chatroom on Discord.


    Social Producer: Celine Charles

    Video Editor: Lorcan Moullier 

    Producer: Alice Horrell

    Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen

    Head of Politics: Tom Whiter

    Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport

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

    2 March 2026, 12:00 am
  • 59 minutes 4 seconds
    177. Olaf Scholz: Putin, Power, and Far-Right Populism

    Does the former German Chancellor think that Germany was wrong to rely on Russian gas in the run up to the war in Ukraine? What does Olaf Scholz think is behind the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany? Why will building respect help bring about a more equal and resilient society? 


    Rory and Alastair are joined by Olaf Scholz, former German chancellor, to answer all this and more. 


    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, an exclusive members’ newsletter, discounted book prices, and a private chatroom on Discord.


    Social Producer: Celine Charles

    Video Editor: Josh Smith + James Clayden

    Producer: Alice Horrell

    Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen

    Head of Politics: Tom Whiter

    Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport

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

    23 February 2026, 12:00 am
  • 1 hour 7 minutes
    176. How Close Are We To War With Iran? (Robert Malley)

    How does the former US Special Representative for Iran think US-Iranian relations will improve? Is there a method to Trump’s madness when it comes to foreign policy? Why does Robert believe the “two-state solution” for Israel and Palestine is dead?
    Alastair and Rory are joined by Robert Malley, architect of the 2015 Iran Nuclear deal, to answer all this and more.


    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, an exclusive members’ newsletter, discounted book prices, and a private chatroom on Discord.


    Social Producer: Celine Charles

    Video Editor: James Clayden

    Producer: Alice Horrell

    Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen

    Head of Politics: Tom Whiter

    Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport

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

    16 February 2026, 12:00 am
  • 1 hour 10 minutes
    175. Ex-Director of GCHQ: China, Russia, and the Threats Facing the UK (Jeremy Fleming)

    Do Russia or China represent a bigger risk to UK national security? Why are we underestimating the threat posed by cybercriminals? Who holds the real power - ministers or spies?


    Rory and Alastair are joined by Jeremy Fleming, formerly of GCHQ and MI5, to answer all this and more. 


    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, an exclusive members’ newsletter, discounted book prices, and a private chatroom on Discord.


    Social Producer: Celine Charles

    Video Editor: Josh Smith

    Producer: Alice Horrell

    Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen

    Head of Politics: Tom Whiter

    Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport

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

    9 February 2026, 12:00 am
  • 29 minutes 11 seconds
    174. Taking On Europe's Last Dictator: The Fight Against Lukashenko and Putin

    How did Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya go from being a housewife to leading a Belarussian government in exile? How did Aleksandr Lukashenko become the last dictator in Europe? Why was Segei, Sviatlana’s husband, imprisoned for opposing the Putin-backed regime? 


    Alastair and Rory are joined by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya who, along with Bill Browder, is part of a two part series featuring those standing up to Putin. 


    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, an exclusive members’ newsletter, discounted book prices, and a private chatroom on Discord.


    Social Producer: Celine Charles

    Video Editor: Josh Smith

    Producer: Alice Horrell

    Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen

    Head of Politics: Tom Whiter

    Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport

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

    6 February 2026, 12:00 am
  • 50 minutes 53 seconds
    173. The man Putin can’t silence: Bill Browder and sanctioning Russia

    How did the “biggest capitalist in Eastern Europe” become the primary target of the Russian state? Why was Bill Browder’s friend Sergei Magnitsky killed in Russian prison? Why did Putin really start the war in Ukraine? 


    Rory and Alastair are joined by Bill Browder to answer all this and more. 


    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, an exclusive members’ newsletter, discounted book prices, and a private chatroom on Discord.


    Social Producer: Celine Charles

    Video Editor: Josh Smith

    Producer: Alice Horrell

    Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen

    Head of Politics: Tom Whiter

    Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport

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

    2 February 2026, 12:00 am
  • 1 hour 4 minutes
    172. Neil Kinnock: Trump, Thatcher, and Why Labour Lost In 1992 (Part 2)

    Why did Neil Kinnock believe the fight against Margaret Thatcher was an existential one? What would Kinnock do to tackle the threat posed to Labour by reform? Why did Labour lose the 1992 election?


    Alastair and Rory are joined by former Labour leader Neil Kinnock to answer all this and more.


    Join The Rest Is Politics Plus: Start your free trial at therestispolitics.com to unlock exclusive bonus content plus ad-free listening, early access to episodes and live show tickets, an exclusive members’ newsletter, discounted book prices, and a private chatroom on Discord.


    Social Producer: Celine Charles

    Video Editor: Adam Thornton 

    Producer: Alice Horrell

    Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen

    Head of Politics: Tom Whiter

    Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport

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

    26 January 2026, 12:00 am
  • 1 hour 12 minutes
    171. Neil Kinnock: A Labour Rebel’s Path To Power (Part 1)

    Whilst an early career MP, why did Neil Kinnock rebel against the Labour Party so regularly? As Labour leader, how did Kinnock take on militant and the ‘ultra-left’ within the Labour Party? What regrets does Kinnock have about the way he responded to the Miners’ strikes? 


    Rory and Alastair are joined by former Labour leader Neil Kinnock to answer all this and more. 


    Join The Rest Is Politics Plus: Start your free trial at therestispolitics.com to unlock exclusive bonus content plus ad-free listening, early access to episodes and live show tickets, an exclusive members’ newsletter, discounted book prices, and a private chatroom on Discord.


    Social Producer: Celine Charles

    Video Editor: Josh Smith

    Producer: Alice Horrell

    Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen

    Head of Politics: Tom Whiter

    Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport

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

    19 January 2026, 12:00 am
  • 1 hour 9 minutes
    170. President of Moldova, Maia Sandu: Holding the Line Between Democracy and Putin

    How did Maia Sandu fight Russian disinformation in Moldova? What is it like to have a war in the country next door? Will the European Union accept Moldova with Russian troops in the country? 


    Rory and Alastair travel to Moldova to speak with President Maia Sandu to discuss all this and more.


    ________________

    Social Producer: Celine Charles

    Video Editor: Josh Smith

    Assistant Producer: Daisy Alston-Horne

    Producer: Alice Horrell

    Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen

    Head of Politics: Tom Whiter

    Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport

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

    12 January 2026, 12:05 am
  • 1 hour 13 minutes
    169. Jimmy Wales: Wikipedia vs. Musk, AI, and the Battle for Truth

    Who gave us an encyclopedia in our pockets? Why is the statement that Donald Trump is the "worst president in US history" allowed on his Wikipedia page? How do Brazilians and Americans differ on the history of the airplane?


    Rory Stewart and Alastair Campbell are joined by the creator of Wikipedia, Jimmy Wales, to discuss all this and more.


    For Leading listeners, there’s free access to the Wordsmith Academy - plus their report on the future of legal skills. Visit https://www.wordsmith.ai/politics


    Social Producer: Celine Charles

    Video Editor: Adam Thornton

    Assistant Producer: Daisy Alston-Horne

    Producer: Alice Horrell

    Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen

    Head of Politics: Tom Whiter

    Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport

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

    5 January 2026, 12:50 am
  • 59 minutes 55 seconds
    168. A Climate Special: Populism, Security, and Leadership

    Can the planet sustain infinite economic growth, or is GDP a flawed metric? Is the UK genuinely decarbonising, or is it simply outsourcing its pollution? How can politicians defeat the populist narrative that Net Zero is too expensive?


    In this Climate Special, we hear the best bits from Rory and Alastair's interviews with Professor Dieter Helm, Mark Carney, Caroline Lucas, Ed Miliband, and Emma Pinchbeck.


    For Leading listeners, there’s free access to the Wordsmith Academy - plus their report on the future of legal skills. Visit https://www.wordsmith.ai/politics


    Social Producer: Celine Charles

    Video Editor: Josh Smith

    Assistant Producer: Daisy Alston-Horne

    Producer: Alice Horrell

    Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen

    Head of Politics: Tom Whiter

    Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport

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

    29 December 2025, 12:00 am
  • More Episodes? Get the App