The Rest Is Politics

16 Feb 2026

501. Is Starmer Too Soft on Trump? Inside the Munich Security Conference

Why did Trump's Secretary of State Marco Rubio 'love bomb' Europe at the Munich Security Conference, and how did it compare to JD Vance's infamous 'enemy within' speech this time last year? Is Europe united enough in the face of Trump 2.0? Has Starmer failed to grasp the scale of the rupture posed by Trump's new world order, or is he trying to buy time?

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

16 Feb 2026

176. How Close Are We To War With Iran? (Robert Malley)

How does the former US Special Representative for Iran think US-Iranian relations will improve? Is there a method to Trump’s madness when it comes to foreign policy? Why does Robert believe the “two-state solution” for Israel and Palestine is dead?Alastair and Rory are joined by Robert Malley, architect of the 2015 Iran Nuclear deal, to answer all this and more.

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

41. Reid Hoffman: Bankrolling Biden to beat Trump, the “PayPal Mafia”, and Musk’s messiah complex

How does life in Silicon Valley compare to the United Kingdom? What was it like working with Elon Musk and Peter Thiel starting PayPal? Is the future of AI as bleak as it seems?Rory and Alast... Continue

184. Question Time: Why Britain Needs Shorter Prison Sentences

How do we solve the prisons crisis in the UK? Will Johnson and Sunak face charges for their lack of cooperation with the Covid inquiry? Should the Liberal Democrats run their campaign on rejo... Continue

183. Israel-Gaza: What Happens Next

What is the next stage in the war between Israel and Hamas? How important is Joe Biden's impending visit? Is it possible to be both victim and oppressor?Join Rory and Alastair as they answer ... Continue

Alastair Campbell’s Diary: What Yuval Noah Harari can teach us about Israel and Gaza

Harari believes prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu should accept responsibility, vow to see the crisis through, and then go... Continue

182. Palestine, Gaza, and Israel

What's it like to live in Gaza? What are the key differences between the PLO, the PA, Fatah and Hamas? How far away are we from the diplomatic high point of the Oslo Accords?On today's episod... Continue

40. Minette Batters: The Most Powerful Farmer in Britain

70% of British land is agricultural - yet we don't speak about farming much. What is the politics of the UK's farming industry? How has Brexit affected British produce and trade? And what is ... Continue

181. Israel, invasion, and the trap laid by Hamas

Does Hamas actually want Israel to invade Gaza? Is there a danger that this tragic situation will strengthen the hand of the ultra-nationalist Israeli right? How should the international comm... Continue

180. Question Time: Is Suella Braverman pretending to be right-wing?

Would Keir Starmer embrace proportional representation? Is the Tory right just a group of political entrepreneurs using their hardline views to climb the greasy pole? Is a wealth tax the only... Continue