111. Angela Merkel: Putin, Trump, and Europe’s future

  • Podcast

  • 9 December 2024

  • Posted by Alastair Campbell

  • 6

What lessons on leadership does Angela Merkel have after 16 years served as Chancellor of Germany? Does she have any regrets from her tenure? What was it like being in East Germany when the Berlin wall fell? And what should Europe do to ensure the future security of Ukraine?


Rory and Alastair are joined by ex-Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel, to discuss all this and more.


TRIP Plus:

Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, receive our exclusive newsletter, enjoy ad-free listening to both TRIP and Leading, benefit from discount book prices on titles mentioned on the pod, join our Discord chatroom, and receive early access to live show tickets and Question Time episodes.

Just head to therestispolitics.com to sign up, or start a free trial today on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/therestispolitics.


Instagram:

@restispolitics

Twitter:

@RestIsPolitics

Email:

restispolitics@gmail.com


Assistant Producer: India Dunkley

Producer: Nicole Maslen

Senior Producer: Dom Johnson

Head of Content: Tom Whiter

Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport

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

6 responses to “111. Angela Merkel: Putin, Trump, and Europe’s future”

  1. A very interesting and illuminating interview. Thank you!

    But I do wish there had been an option to hear Frau Merkel’s responses in German.

  2. Hi Alastair

    This was a great listen but I’d be really interested to watch a video version with the German audio and English subtitles (for when my German fails me….).

    I realise the dubbing was needed for the podcast, (and the parts where I heard the original German were dubbed well), but you always lose some nuance when things are translated and not in the original voice.

    Kind regards
    Andrea

  3. Commenting from Portugal, the view from here of Merkel has always been one of “fear”, contempt, but also admiration of this big political figure. Heavily associated with austerity, even if seen as a symbol of stability.
    Such insightful conversation as this one gives us a better look into her mind. I guess in some things really brave, in others with an uncertain legacy.

  4. Thanks for this interesting interview. As a former conference interpreter, I was disappointed that you didn’t acknowledge the person who did the interpreting. Was it AM’s former trusted interpreter at the AA ? AM herself always acknowledged and thanked her interpreter(s) if she had the opportunity to do so.
    Did you synch the interpretation differently after the interview as the English soundtrack on the podcast always finished before AM, or was it voiced over afterwards ?
    Listening with a professional ear, I find the interpretation very competent but the interpreter is not a native speaker of English which detracts slightly from the overall performance.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

463. Question Time: How Truth Became Optional In Trump’s America

How serious are Trump’s hints about serving a third term? Is the US sleepwalking into a civil war? And does the Labour Party really understand rural Britain?  Join Rory and Alastair as t... Continue

30 October 2025

462. Starmer Hits Rock Bottom: Will He Break His Manifesto to Survive?

What does Labour’s unprecedented collapse in Wales really mean? If Putin takes Ukraine, which European neighbour is next? What can Starmer learn from Ireland’s new president, Catherine Co... Continue

29 October 2025

159. Michael Gove: My Journey From Left to Right (Part 1)

How did Michael Gove go from campaigning for Labour leader Michael Foot in 1983 to becoming a Conservative MP? What is the impact that Rupert Murdoch has had on public life? What do Michael a... Continue

27 October 2025

The Phone-Hacking Scandal: How Murdoch’s UK Empire Fell

What was the phone-hacking scandal and how did it escalate into a major crisis? How was Alastair himself implicated? What did Rupert Murdoch's marriage to Wendi Deng mean for his family's for... Continue

25 October 2025

The Phone-Hacking Scandal: How Murdoch’s UK Empire Fell (Part 3)

What was the phone-hacking scandal and how did it escalate into a major crisis? How was Alastair himself implicated? What did Rupert Murdoch's marriage to Wendi Deng mean for his family's for... Continue

25 October 2025

461. Question Time: China’s Spy Web, the Tel Aviv Fan Ban, and Japan’s New Thatcher

Why did Britain drop a clear Chinese spying case? Was banning Maccabi Tel Aviv fans the right call? What does Prince Andrew’s latest downfall reveal about the royals? Join Rory and Alastai... Continue

23 October 2025

460. Inside Trump’s Gaza-Ukraine Playbook: Who Profits from Peace?

Is Trump selling peace to the highest bidder? Is the Farage surge in Wales a warning shot for Westminster? Why is the UK going backwards again on mental health? Join Rory and Alastair as the... Continue

22 October 2025

Alastair Campbell’s diary: Dear young Republicans, JD Vance is no role model

Students in the US believe the UK has a free speech problem and the vice president is spinning this myth as a reality... Continue

22 October 2025

Article

Posted by