25 Dec 2025
482. A Trumpian Year, the Politics of Hope and Highlights of 2025What surprised Rory and Alastair most about 2025? Why does Trump's presidency feel even more chaotic than expected? And who gets their vote for campaigner of the year?
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
22 Dec 2025
167. Faith, Depression, and Finding Calm in the Chaos (Professor Mark Williams)From Parliament to Prison, how can people find calm in chaotic environments? How does one cope with grief during the festive period? What are some successful ways to combat depression?
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
11: Gary Lineker: Politics, football and the BBC
Gary Lineker is regularly told to 'stick to football'. Now, after recently tweeting his views on the Government’s refugee policy, the Match Of The Day presenter sits down with Alastair and ... Continue
114. Question Time: Banks in crisis, Imran Khan, and Blair on The Simpsons
Could Labour inherit a junior doctor problem? What can be done about the rising costs of childcare? And what do Rory and Alastair really see in each other? Rory and Alastair answer all these ... Continue
113. Iraq: the fallout, Scotland at a crossroads, and ‘sneaky beakies’
In a week where we've had bank bailouts and a meeting where Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping hinted at a dangerous anti-western alliance, is there much to feel positive about? Join Rory and Alas... Continue
10: Rahima Mahmut: The Uyghur Genocide
How much do you know about what's happening to the Uyghurs in Xinjiang, China?Alastair is joined by Rahima Mahmut, an Uyghur artist, activist, and the chair of 'Stop Uyghur Genocide' to explo... Continue
It's 20 years since the invasion of Iraq - but what is its legacy?Tony Blair said to Parliament in March 2003 that what happened in Iraq would ‘determine the pattern of international politi...
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20 years on from the invasion of Iraq, Rory speaks to Alastair about the build up, aftermath, and legacy of the event.The second episode in this series, 'Iraq: The Legacy', will be released t...
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9: Bernie Sanders: A fight for equality
Longest serving independent Senator of the United States Bernie Sanders has spent his life fighting for the rights of working people. Today, he joins Rory and Alastair to discuss income inequ... Continue
110. Gary Lineker, BBC in crisis, and small boats
After an extraordinary and bizarre week where a tweet from Gary Lineker led to a crisis at the national broadcaster, Rory and Alastair try to make sense of the BBC’s handling of the situati... Continue