The Rest Is Politics

1 Oct 2026

576. How Xi is Outplaying Trump and Tensions in Northern Ireland

As Trump becomes the first American president to personally welcome a visiting head of state off a plane since JFK greeted Harold Macmillan in 1962, did his summit with President Xi signal improving US-China relations, or does Xi have his counterpart in an economic chokehold? With the standoff between protesters and members of the pro-British Protestant Orange Order in Northern Ireland showing no sign of resolution, is the region's fragile peace in danger of unravelling? And as violence erupts in Ethiopia, is Africa's second most populous country on the brink of civil war – and does it risk dragging other regional actors into a wider conflict spanning the Horn of Africa and the Gulf?

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

28 Sep 2026

208. Mustafa Suleyman: Is AI Actually Conscious?

Can Artificial Intelligence stay subordinate? Is Anthropic’s 100-Page constitution creating dangerous AI autonomy? Should AI models be granted legal personhood, rights, or financial compensation?

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

207. Gordon Brown: How to Fix a Fracturing World

What did Gordon Brown learn from leading the UK through the global financial crisis? Why do so many citizens today not belong to any civic or religious group, and how does that impact our politics? Ho... Continue
Leading

The Greatest Threat Humans Just Can’t Stomach with Yuval Noah Harari

Episode 2 is available right now for TRIP Plus members. Sign up at therestispolitics.com What can the Aztec Empire's catastrophic failure to understand Cortés and the Spanish conquistadors teach us ... Continue
The Rest Is Politics

572. Trump’s Next Middle East Crisis and Reform’s £72m Megadonation

Is the Houthi’s seizure of one of the world's most critical waterways the clearest proof yet that Trump's Iran war has become a catastrophe? With the very people building AI now calling for a pause,... Continue
The Rest Is Politics
498 campbell orr

Alastair Campbell’s diary: The right wing media hounded Jason Arday and ignored James Orr. It’s obvious why

When a real scandal comes along, some parts of the press just can’t bring themselves to acknowledge it... Continue
The New European

571. Rory and Alastair Challenge Ed Miliband on Israel-Palestine

Why has Ed Miliband gone further than any previous foreign secretary in confirming the occupation of the Palestinian territories as illegal and placing sanctions on Israeli settlements in the West Ban... Continue
The Rest Is Politics
Cadogan x post image

Join Alastair Campbell and Mishal Husain live at Cadogan Hall

Persevilience: The word the world needs now is the title of Alastair Campbell’s new book. It is also the starting point for a conversation with... Continue
The New European

206. How Putin’s War Changed Finland Forever (Sanna Marin)

Following Putin's war in Ukraine, how politically challenging was it committing Finland to join NATO? What was it like becoming the world's youngest sitting prime minister at 34? Why did a scandal ove... Continue
Leading

“Our Generation Was Lied To”: Two Gen Z MPs on Fixing Politics

To hear the full series “The Gen Z Story”, sign up at the restispolitics.com – use your student email for a discount How do you get older colleagues to take you seriously when you become an MP ... Continue
The Rest Is Politics