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.

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.

Latest

337. Trump Returns: What Now?

Did Trump win it or did the Democrats blow it? What are the implications of a second Trump presidency for America and the rest of the world? Has rightwing populism delivered a fatal blow to l... Continue

336. 8am: TRUMP WINS

Head to The Rest is Politics Youtube channel now for live coverage of the final twists and turns of the US presidential election, between 8pm-midnight GMT on Tue 5th Nov, again from 5am-9am G... Continue

335. 6am: Trump On The Brink

Head to The Rest is Politics Youtube channel now for live coverage of the final twists and turns of the US presidential election, between 8pm-midnight GMT on Tue 5th Nov, again from 5am-9am G... Continue

334. 11pm: US Election Countdown Begins

Head to The Rest is Politics Youtube channel now for live coverage of the final twists and turns of the US presidential election, between 8pm-midnight GMT on Tue 5th Nov, again from 5am-9am G... Continue

LIVE NOW: US Election 2024

Head to Youtube now for live coverage of the election, from 8pm-midnight UK time and then again from 5am. Search for ‘The Rest Is Politics’ on YouTube or go toyoutube.com/watch?v=sAmC9FDX... Continue

Alastair Campbell’s diary: I think Trump will lose, but I know he won’t concede

Fuelled by lies and Elon Musk mania, Trump would turn a straightforward democratic event into a legal marathon... Continue

Alastair Campbell’s diary: President Trump. It doesn’t bear thinking about

Historians will analyse this election, and the phenomenon of Trump, for the rest of time... Continue

106. Michael Lewis: Donald Trump, Sam Bankman-Fried, and the future of the USA

What do Silicon Valley, Wall Street, and Washington DC all have in common? Why has Donald Trump made the impact he has in the US? What was Sam Bankman-Fried really like to work alongside? Ror... Continue