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

466. Crisis Hits the BBC: Is this a Coordinated Attack?

Why have the BBC’s Director General and Head of News both suddenly resigned? Is this an internal 'coup' at the BBC or a 'concerted' attack by its usual enemies? How is American-style polari... Continue
The Rest Is Politics

466. Crisis Engulfs the BBC: Is this a Coordinated Attack?

Why have the BBC’s Director General and Head of News both suddenly resigned? Is this an internal 'coup' at the BBC or a 'concerted' attack by its usual enemies? How is American-style polari... Continue
The Rest Is Politics

The malign right can’t be allowed to destroy the BBC

Panorama made mistakes but this ‘scandal’ is the work of populists trying to control the airwaves. They won’t rest... Continue
The New European

161. Putin, Trump, and 500 Years of Resisting Russia (Radek Sikorski)

What was it like for Radek Sikorski to be a refugee in the UK from communist Poland in the 80s? How will the war in Ukraine come to an end? Why is populism on the rise in Europe and how do we... Continue
Leading

Murdoch’s Succession Battle and the Fight for Fox News

What are the key differences between Murdoch's children, particularly Lachlan and James? How do the internal family conflicts of the Murdochs mirror the TV show Succession? What will Rupert M... Continue
The Rest Is Politics

465. Andrew’s Disgrace, Newsnight, and a Centrist Win in the Netherlands (Question Time)

How much transparency should we demand from the monarchy? Do the latest Dutch results show that populism is fracturing, or simply mutating? And, did Xi embarrass Trump?  __________ Join Ror... Continue
The Rest Is Politics

464. Labour’s Tax Timebomb, Climate Backsliding, and Sudan’s Forgotten War

Is this the Budget that breaks Labour, or can Reeves walk the tightrope? Why does the general public increasingly think we’re overreacting to climate breakdown? Why aren’t Elon Musk’s p... Continue
The Rest Is Politics

Alastair Campbell’s diary: Elon Musk’s role in funding fascism

What Musk calls free speech, I call the promotion of fascism. The Tesla CEO needs to leave our politics alone... Continue
The New European