The Rest Is Politics

12 Nov 2026

588. Is Britain Prepared for Cyber Warfare and The ‘Plot’ to Undermine the UN

As supermarket fridges are hacked and bomb threats are called in, how is AI accelerating the rate of cyberattacks, and can Britain’s defences keep up? Who is in the running to become the next UN Secretary-General, and what will the appointment mean for the future of the organisation and the international order? Following the ANC’s worst-ever performance in South Africa’s local elections, has corruption finally caught up with the ruling party, and can it tackle the country's deepening unemployment crisis?

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

9 Nov 2026

214. What Can The UK Learn From How South Africa Ended Apartheid? (Paul van Zyl)

How can politicians rebuild trust after decades of division? How do you get political enemies to sit down at the same table? What are some of Nelson Mandela's best - and funniest - moments?

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

569. Farage’s Foreign Funding Scandal and Germany’s Far-Right Breakthrough

As the Alternative for Germany party secured its best ever election result in Saxony-Anhalt, is the country about to get its first far-right state premier since the Nazi Party, and will Chancellor Fri... Continue
The Rest Is Politics
497 campbell books

Alastair Campbell’s diary: Books are the key to understanding the world. That’s why Putin wants to burn them

Putin wants an all-out attack on Ukraine's culture - and on the things that make life bearable in horrific times... Continue
The New World

205. Anthony Scaramucci: Why America Keeps Making the Same Mistakes

Why does Anthony Scaramucci think Osama bin Laden is “winning”, and what has the War on Terror really cost America? From letting China into the WTO to bailing out the banks in 2008, how did Americ... Continue
Leading

Becoming Burnham: The Manchester Arena Call, Westminster Plotting, and Keir vs Andy

To hear the full episode, and the whole series, sign up at therestispolitics.com How did Andy Burnham learn about the Manchester Arena bombing? Would he still have tried to become PM had Keir Starmer... Continue
The Rest Is Politics

568. MAGA’s Plan to Make Britain Look Broken and Iceland’s ‘Brexit’ Moment

Did Iceland's rejection of EU membership talks repeat the same mistakes as Britain's Remain campaign, and does it hand a dangerous propaganda win to Farage, Putin, and the wider anti-European right? A... Continue
The Rest Is Politics

567. Who Really Benefits from AI and Will Data Centres Decide the Midterms?

Why is the backlash against data centres becoming one of the most combustible issues in US politics? What does an AI system's attempt to cheat, cover its tracks, and break into another company’s web... Continue
The Rest Is Politics

Alastair Campbell’s diary: Trump says Europe is broken. My nine-country journey showed how idiotic he is

Football, lakes, trees, plus plenty of work – that’s my idea of a great holiday... Continue
The New World

204. Will a Wealth Tax Actually Fix Britain? (Dan Neidle)

Why does tax expert Dan Neidle take Gabriel Zucman seriously as a thinker on inequality, but dismiss Gary Stevenson's warnings as populism? What did he uncover in Peter Mandelson's emails, and how did... Continue
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