The Rest Is Politics

30 Jul 2026

558. The ‘Cockroach’ Uprising and Should We Stop Data Centres?

Is Modi's power finally cracking as the Cockroach Janta Party's mass protests force a minister to resign for the first time in over a decade? Does the new US-Saudi uranium deal risk triggering a fresh wave of nuclear proliferation across the Middle East and beyond? If AI data centres are the foundation of future defence and security, can Britain build them without wrecking its water supplies and climate targets?

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

539. Embezzlement, the Mandelson Texts, and Hasan Piker’s UK Ban

What does the SNP embezzlement case reveal about how scandal-ridden British politics is? Is the banning of prominent left-wing American commentators Hasan Piker and Cenk Uygur a sensible decision or a... Continue

538. The Pope’s AI Warning and Alastair Reacts to Blair’s Attack

Is Pope Leo’s encyclical the most important contribution to the AI debate so far, and is he doing more to hold Silicon Valley to account than any Western government? What did Alastair say to Tony Bl... Continue

Alastair Campbell’s diary: My airport row with a Trump supporter

It started badly – and when he said the UK was unreliable, I lost it... Continue

191. Is It Already Too Late to Control AI? (Anthropic Co-Founder, Jack Clark)

Why is one of AI's most powerful insiders scared of what he's building? Who's really in charge of the technology reshaping our world? Is it too late for governments to regulate it? Rory and Matt Clif... Continue

Who Funds Reform? The Missing Millions

Who is the secretive billionaire bankrolling Reform — and what does he want? How did a brand new party raise and spend £17 million with no public explanation? As Farage inches toward power, who's r... Continue

537. Indicting Trump, Israeli Prisons, and Rory vs. Ed Miliband

What connects Trump’s Cuba blockade and Ben Gvir’s abuse of flotilla activists? As Richard Tice denies climate change science, will reality catch up with Reform UK – and what is Rory’s issue w... Continue

536. Is Trump’s Corruption Machine Reaching New Extremes?

Has the scale of Donald J. Trump’s corruption become too big to prosecute? Is the US Constitution now a roadmap to tyranny instead of a protection against it? Why do 72% of Gen Z think things will o... Continue

Alastair Campbell’s diary: I asked an audience of building experts if Starmer should stay – you’ll be amazed by the response

If you listen to the 24/7 media blah factory right now, you’d think you it would be a landslide for the PM to quit... Continue