139. Speaker Kevin McCarthy: In Defence of Donald J. Trump

  • Leading

  • 16 June 2025

  • Posted by Alastair Campbell

  • 0

What is the logic behind Trump’s “chaotic” political strategy? Are Europe and America heading for a divorce? What did it feel like to get ousted as the Speaker of the House on a global stage? 


Rory and Alastair are joined by former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy to discuss all this and more. 


Sign up to Revolut Business today via: https://get.revolut.com/z4lF/leading, and add money to your account to get a £200 welcome bonus. This offer’s only available until 7th July 2025 and other T&Cs apply.


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


Social Producer: Celine Charles 

Assistant Producer: Alice Horrell

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

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.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

567. Who Really Benefits from AI and Will Data Centres Decide the Midterms?

Why is the backlash against data centres becoming one of the most combustible issues in US politics? What does an AI system's attempt to cheat, cover its tracks, and break into another company’s web... Continue

2 September 2026

Alastair Campbell’s diary: Trump says Europe is broken. My nine-country journey showed how idiotic he is

Football, lakes, trees, plus plenty of work – that’s my idea of a great holiday... Continue

2 September 2026

204. Will a Wealth Tax Actually Fix Britain? (Dan Neidle)

Why does tax expert Dan Neidle take Gabriel Zucman seriously as a thinker on inequality, but dismiss Gary Stevenson's warnings as populism? What did he uncover in Peter Mandelson's emails, and how did... Continue

31 August 2026

Becoming Burnham: People Pleasing, The Shadow Years and Losing to Jeremy Corbyn

Who are the political figures that shaped Andy Burnham? How far will the new PM go to be liked? And what impact did losing to Jeremy Corbyn's popularity 'tsunami' have on his career - and confidence? ... Continue

27 August 2026

566. Carney vs. Trump and Alastair’s Advice for Burnham’s First PMQs

Why is Mark Carney choosing economic pain over a deal on tariffs with Trump? As Palestinians prepare to vote for the first time in 20 years, why has Mahmoud Abbas decided that now is finally the momen... Continue

27 August 2026

565. Zelenskyy’s Corruption Problem and Is History Repeating Itself in Germany?

Why did Andy Burnham choose Kyiv, not Washington or Brussels, for his first foreign trip as Prime Minister? Is the tide at home turning against President Zelenskyy, and do fresh corruption scandals po... Continue

26 August 2026

203. The Man Taking On Infantino: UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin

How did UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin lead the revolt that tore apart Gianni Infantino's plan to privatise the World Cup? Is Infantino finished as FIFA President after alienating the European fed... Continue

24 August 2026

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 closets confident, friend and former colleague, Steve Rotheram – the ... Continue

20 August 2026