21 Apr 2026
524. Starmer’s Mandelson Mess and the Iranian Nuclear ThreatDid Starmer show a fatal lack of judgement and curiosity about Peter Mandelson’s suitability for public office? How and why did Trump destroy years of successful Iranian nuclear ‘containment’ policy? Four years into the Sudan war, what does the failure of peace efforts reveal about the unravelling of the world order?
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.
20 Apr 2026
185. Can Labour Win Back Scotland? (Anas Sarwar)Does the Leader of Scottish Labour regret calling for Keir Starmer to resign over his appointment of Peter Mandelson as US Ambassador? In the upcoming election, would he consider putting Scottish Labour into a coalition with the Reform Party to defeat the SNP? How does he plan to tackle the rise of Islamophobia and the politics of despair that are increasingly gripping Scotland and the UK?
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.
Alastair Campbell’s diary: Finding a ray of hope in Trump’s dark new era
At Davos, Nigerian-American Salome Agbaroji's poetry urged leaders not to cower in the face of populism... Continue
365. Trump’s Mafia World Order
How many ‘early warning signs of fascism’ are we seeing in the US? Has Trump delivered a fatal blow to America’s soft power around the world? Why does Alastair admire Prince Harry and h... Continue
118. Ex-Head of Mossad: Hamas, Ceasefire, and Netanyahu (Uzi Arad)
What’s the relationship between intelligence agencies and the politicians they serve? How does Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu react in a crisis? How confident should we be that t... Continue
Alastair Campbell’s diary: Who’s really to blame for populism?
In pinning the blame for Trump, Brexit and the world’s woes on voters, we give politicians a free pass... Continue
363. The Return of Donald J. Trump
What did the inauguration tell us about how extreme Trump 2.0 is going to be? What is Netanyahu’s endgame for Gaza – peace or perpetual war? Why has Starmer launched an inquiry into the S... Continue
117. Is the UN fit for purpose? (Tom Fletcher)
As the US retreats from the international stage, who is going to fill the gap? What will the ‘peace processes of the future’ look like? Who has more power, the tech giants or political le... Continue
362. Question Time: Labour’s education error and Blair’s mistake on mental health
Why are students protesting in Serbia? Is Labour right to scrap financial support for Latin in state schools? What does Alastair think about Tony Blair’s comments on mental health?Join Rory... Continue