The Rest Is Politics

30 Jul 2026

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

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.

Leading

27 Jul 2026

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, and how have those experiences shaped her government's approach to Iceland's EU campaign? How did the Social Democrats go from three MPs to running the country?

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.

Latest

511. Is Blair Undermining Starmer on Iran? (Question Time)

Why is Tony Blair criticising Starmer’s approach to Trump’s warmongering in the Middle East? Should European leaders be calling out Trump’s lies more directly? What is actually unfolding inside ... Continue

Alastair Campbell’s diary: Trump’s dark legacy – the world now sees America as worse than China

MAGA has made the land of the free more of a global danger than a repressive surveillance state that spies, steals and kills... Continue

510. How The Iran War Is Spiralling Into a Global Crisis

Has Trump unleashed a sequence of events nobody in the world can control? How serious are the global consequences? Is this war even more dangerous than the Iraq war? Join Rory and Alastair as they an... Continue

179. President Stubb: Trump’s Unlikely Best Friend

How did President Stubb’s golfing talent lead him to fostering a close relationship with President Trump? Why was ‘Prime Minister’ the worst job ever? Why will the Global South define the new wo... Continue

The Future of Warfare: Anthropic vs Open AI

Is Europe sleepwalking into American AI dependency? Are we building toward a world where AI genuinely thinks for itself? And as AI becomes the backbone of modern warfare, who's really in control? Joi... Continue

509. Labour’s Polanski Problem and the Student Loans Scandal (Question Time)

Does the Gorton and Denton by-election result suggest Labour has been underestimating the threat of the Green Party? Is the UK's tuition fee system less like a loan and more like a punishing graduate ... Continue

508. Is Starmer Sleepwalking into War with Iran?

Is Keir Starmer sleepwalking into a war Britain never agreed to fight? What are Trump's real objectives in attacking Iran? How far will Iran's retaliation go? Join Rory and Alastair as they answer al... Continue

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 ... Continue