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

The Monster He Made: Murdoch, Trump, and the Price of Power

What was the nature of the relationship between Fox News and Donald Trump? What, or who, caused Rupert Murdoch's marriage to Wendi Deng to end? What were the consequences of Fox News promotin... Continue
The Rest Is Politics

The Monster He Made: Murdoch, Trump, and the Price of Power (Part 4)

What was the nature of the relationship between Fox News and Donald Trump? What, or who, caused Rupert Murdoch's marriage to Wendi Deng to end? What were the consequences of Fox News promotin... Continue
The Rest Is Politics

160. Michael Gove: Education, Brexit, and Trump (Part 2)

What is Michael Gove's lasting legacy on education in the UK? Would he have come to his position on Brexit if it weren't for Dominic Cummings? Is Nigel Farage's Reform a better chance for the... Continue
Leading

463. Question Time: How Truth Became Optional In Trump’s America

How serious are Trump’s hints about serving a third term? Is the US sleepwalking into a civil war? And does the Labour Party really understand rural Britain?  Join Rory and Alastair as t... Continue
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462. Starmer Hits Rock Bottom: Will He Break His Manifesto to Survive?

What does Labour’s unprecedented collapse in Wales really mean? If Putin takes Ukraine, which European neighbour is next? What can Starmer learn from Ireland’s new president, Catherine Co... Continue
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159. Michael Gove: My Journey From Left to Right (Part 1)

How did Michael Gove go from campaigning for Labour leader Michael Foot in 1983 to becoming a Conservative MP? What is the impact that Rupert Murdoch has had on public life? What do Michael a... Continue
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The Phone-Hacking Scandal: How Murdoch’s UK Empire Fell

What was the phone-hacking scandal and how did it escalate into a major crisis? How was Alastair himself implicated? What did Rupert Murdoch's marriage to Wendi Deng mean for his family's for... Continue
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The Phone-Hacking Scandal: How Murdoch’s UK Empire Fell (Part 3)

What was the phone-hacking scandal and how did it escalate into a major crisis? How was Alastair himself implicated? What did Rupert Murdoch's marriage to Wendi Deng mean for his family's for... Continue
The Rest Is Politics