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.

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Leading

5 Oct 2026

209. Shabana Mahmood: Palestine Action, Faith and What I Told Starmer

Is the government's ban on Palestine Action lawful, or overreaching? Why can't Britain just send small boats straight back to France? Can faith and public duty coexist in modern British politics?

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

219. Question Time: Vladimir Putin’s strategy, Labour’s selection headache, and VAT on private schools

Will Azhar Ali still stand as a Labour candidate in the Rochdale by-election? How revealing was Tucker Carlson's interview with Vladimir Putin? Why do politicians seem to see apologising as a... Continue
The Rest Is Politics

218. Could the Democrats replace Joe Biden? What’s next for Imran Khan? Why are young people deserting British conservatism?

What do Trump’s Nato threats mean for Europe? Could Pakistan’s military have the final say in the election? Why are young people turning against the Conservatives in Britain? Join Rory an... Continue
The Rest Is Politics

Alastair Campbell’s Diary: Laura Trott’s car crash economics get a free ride

The reaction to her catastrophic interview would have been inescapable if Trott were a Labour minister... Continue
The New European

59. Robert Sapolsky: The psychology behind Donald Trump, the science of stress, and the illusion of ‘free will’

Why do we get stressed? What are the psychological differences between conservatives and liberals? Is free will a myth?Rory and Alastair are joined by scientist Dr Robert Sapolsky to answer a... Continue
Leading

Into the Lions’ Den of private education … to a friendlier reception than I expected

I very rarely get nervous before speaking in public, but confess to feeling a little more anxious than usual this morning, ahead of a speech to the Independent Schools' Bursars Association. Three hun... Continue
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217. Question Time: How to cover Israel-Gaza, Labour’s £28bn green investment, and Taylor Swift vs Donald Trump

Why is Labour rolling back its pledge on green investment? What does Biden’s sanction against Israeli settlers mean in reality? Who is our one listener in Tuvalu?Rory and Alastair answer al... Continue
The Rest Is Politics

216. King Charles, Sunak’s £1000 bet, and the future of North Korea

How was a deal finally agreed to get power sharing back in Northern Ireland? Is Rishi Sunak focusing too much on his media appearances? Why has Kim Jong Un said unification with the South is ... Continue
The Rest Is Politics

Alastair Campbell’s Diary: Derek Draper and the Dalai Lama

The point of life is to live it and Derek embodied this... Continue
The New European