2 Apr 2026
The Real Reasons Populism Is Taking OverWhat is populism, and why is it so attractive to voters? Which human instincts do populists tap into to get votes? And what does a populist-led country look like?
The Rest Is Politics
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
30 Mar 2026
182. Culture Wars, Identity, and What Needs To Change In Congress (Sarah McBride)How are rights for trans people in the US improving or worsening under the Republican administration? What fundamentally needs to change in Congress to improve the state of politics? Are the Democrats doing enough to win back the American public?
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
Alastair Campbell’s Diary: Brexiteers’ Singapore-on-Thames promise was a con
Deceitful Brexiters always knew that a post-Brexit Britain and Singapore would be deeply incompatible... Continue
68. Israel-Gaza: How the conflict divided Britain and the US, with Ed Kessler
What makes international conflicts turn domestic? Does Qatar play the key role in bringing peace to the Middle East? Is there a generational split in the West over Israel-Gaza?On today's epis... Continue
Who would have been in Rory’s cabinet if he had won the 2019 Tory leadership contest? Who is the best prime minister we never had? How can we fix England and Wales' struggling universities?...
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233. From peerages to Putin: the fight against corruption in politics
How can we root out corruption in politics, both at home and abroad? What’s caused the crisis in Israel around its ultra-Orthodox population? What really happened in the story of crypto’s... Continue
Alastair Campbell’s Diary: The Tories deserve to be annihilated at the election
It might even be better for the Conservatives too, but I am less concerned about them than I am about Britain... Continue
67. A Tale of Two Spies: The former heads of MI5 and MI6 on the Iraq War, double agents, and the IRA
Should spies be allowed to break the law while undercover? What should the relationship between government and intelligence look like? Do we overestimate or underestimate the power and reach ... Continue
A tale of two spy chiefs, and their views on past, present and future
If the four people in the picture above was a pop group, they might be called The Podspooks, or the Polispooks ... on either flank me and my podcast co-host Rory Stewart, in the middle former MI5 dir... Continue
232. Question Time: ISIS-K vs Russia, radical reform of the NHS, and the fight against child poverty
What is the wider significance of the terrorist attack in Moscow? Does the NHS need reform or spending increases? And why is the increase in child poverty not being discussed in the media?... Continue