The Rest Is Politics

12 Nov 2026

588. Is Britain Prepared for Cyber Warfare and The ‘Plot’ to Undermine the UN

As supermarket fridges are hacked and bomb threats are called in, how is AI accelerating the rate of cyberattacks, and can Britain’s defences keep up? Who is in the running to become the next UN Secretary-General, and what will the appointment mean for the future of the organisation and the international order? Following the ANC’s worst-ever performance in South Africa’s local elections, has corruption finally caught up with the ruling party, and can it tackle the country's deepening unemployment crisis?

Two men who’ve been at the heart of the political world – former Downing Street Director of Communications and Strategy Alastair Campbell and cabinet minister Rory Stewart – join forces from across the political divide.

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Leading

9 Nov 2026

214. What Can The UK Learn From How South Africa Ended Apartheid? (Paul van Zyl)

How can politicians rebuild trust after decades of division? How do you get political enemies to sit down at the same table? What are some of Nelson Mandela's best - and funniest - moments?

Every Monday, Rory and Alastair interrogate, converse with, and interview some of the world’s biggest names – from both inside and outside of politics – about life, leadership, or leading the way in their chosen field.

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Latest

199. Is Trump’s Chaos Pushing Iceland Towards the EU? (Prime Minister of Iceland, Kristrún Frostadóttir)

What are the real reasons Iceland has brought forward its vote on restarting accession talks with the EU? What lessons did the Prime Minister learn from watching Brexit unfold while living in the UK, ... Continue
Leading

Britain’s Ticking Time Bomb: The Food Security Crisis

Could the UK be facing empty supermarket shelves by 2030? Are food distribution centres sitting ducks for drone warfare? And how has Britain got to a place where is has just 3 days to 3 weeks worth of... Continue
The Rest Is Politics

556. The US-China AI Arms Race and Badenoch vs. Rory’s Centrism

Is China quietly outsmarting the US in the AI arms race, and is Trump laying the pitch to challenge the results of the US midterms with his repeated, unfounded claims of Chinese election meddling? Why... Continue
The Rest Is Politics

Alastair Campbell’s diary: My night with the homeless showed me that Burnham must end rough sleeping

The new PM must be radical – including on Britain’s place in Europe... Continue
The New World

555. Burnham’s Cabinet Purge and Rough Sleeping Pledge: Will He Succeed?

What does Andy Burnham’s purge of Starmer loyalists from the top of government tell us about how the new British prime minister will govern the UK? Why did Ed Miliband drop his ten-year Energy Secur... Continue
The Rest Is Politics

198. How Trump’s Imperial Presidency Really Works

How does the most chaotic White House in history actually make decisions? How did Netanyahu sell Trump on a regime change war in Iran? Who is the only world leader Trump is truly afraid of?  Alastair... Continue
Leading

196. How America Talks Itself Into Endless Wars

What does the gap between American foreign policy rhetoric and reality reveal about the failures of its military interventions in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, and Iran? In an age of algorithm-driven poli... Continue
Leading

550. Will Farage’s Extreme Wealth Be His Downfall?

How has Farage become the highest earning MP, while still claiming to be “for the everyday Briton”? Has Farage become part of the establishment? And how much more is there to discover about Farage... Continue
The Rest Is Politics