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The Rest Is Politics: Leading

Goalhanger
Brexit
Donald Trump
Labour Party
Ukraine
Russia
Mental Health
Education
European Union
Social Media
Gaza
NATO
China
Polarization
United States
Artificial Intelligence
Climate Change
Boris Johnson
Margaret Thatcher
Alex Salmond
Populism

The Rest Is Politics’ Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart interview politicians, leaders, intellectuals, and more. From inside and outside of politics, guests join Rory and Alastair to discuss life, leadership, and the philosophy that’s led them to success in their chosen field. Their conversations cover key political events, global affairs, and the big ideas shaping the world today, offering list... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes214Founded4 years ago
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PoliticsGovernmentNews

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Artwork for The Rest Is Politics: Leading

Latest Episodes

Should Palestine Action stay banned? Why can't Britain just send small boats straight back to France? Can faith and public duty coexist in modern British politics?

Rory and Alastair are joined by the Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, to answer all th... more

Can Artificial Intelligence stay subordinate? Is Anthropic’s 100-Page constitution creating dangerous AI autonomy? Should AI models be granted legal personhood, rights, or financial compensation?

CEO of Microsoft AI, and co-founder and former head o... more

What did Gordon Brown learn from leading the UK through the global financial crisis? Why do so many citizens today not belong to any civic or religious group, and how does that impact our politics? How can middle powers come together to rival the str... more

Following Putin's war in Ukraine, how politically challenging was it committing Finland to join NATO? What was it like becoming the world's youngest sitting prime minister at 34? Why did a scandal over dancing at a private party become a national and... more

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Recent Guests

Mustafa Suleyman
British AI leader, co-founder of DeepMind, executive focused on AI safety and governance
Microsoft (Artificial Intelligence lead) / DeepMind (co-founder)
Episode: 208. Mustafa Suleyman: Is AI Actually Conscious?
Gordon Brown
Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Former UK Government
Episode: 207. Gordon Brown: How to Fix a Fracturing World
Sanna Marin
Prime Minister of Finland (former)
Finland government / Social Democratic Party
Episode: 206. How Putin's War Changed Finland Forever (Sanna Marin)
Anthony Scaramucci
Former White House Communications Director; author of All the Wrong Moves
SkyBridge Capital / Former Trump administration official
Episode: 205. Anthony Scaramucci: Why America Keeps Making the Same Mistakes
Dan Neidle
Tax lawyer and founder of a non-profit think-tank focused on tax policy
Episode: 204. Will a Wealth Tax Actually Fix Britain? (Dan Neidle)
Aleksander Čeferin
President of UEFA
UEFA
Episode: 203. The Man Taking On Infantino: UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin
Maoz Inon
Israeli peace activist, coauthor of The Future Is Peace
Mejdi Tours / Israeli peace movement
Episode: 202. Is Peace in the Middle East Closer Than We Think? (A Palestinian & An Israeli's View)
Aziz Abu Sarah
Palestinian peace activist, coauthor of The Future Is Peace
Mejdi Tours / Nazareth Peace Activism
Episode: 202. Is Peace in the Middle East Closer Than We Think? (A Palestinian & An Israeli's View)
Johnny Mercer
Former Conservative MP, Cabinet Minister, Veterans Minister, former soldier
UK Government / Conservative Party
Episode: 201. How Westminster Breaks Politicians and Why Britain Isn't Ready for War

Hosts

Rory Stewart
Co-host and interviewer drawing on political experience and governance insight
Alastair Campbell
Journalist, author, and political strategist bringing historical and policy context

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 9.5k ratings
  • Dan Neidle

    Brilliant episode. Absolutely fascinating discussion. Dan was very engaging and so clear in his explanations. Loved it.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TIEITM
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Another brilliant interview

    Loved the interview with the UEFA President. Thank you.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    chateau10
    Australiaa month ago
  • PM of Iceland - Calm rationality in a chaotic world - more voices like this please

    It was by like a sweeping breeze through a musty smelly room listening to Kristun 👏👏👏. I would love to hear more from the alternatives / balanced human thinkers who actually use words like “emotion” when discussing their consistents. Excellent episode 💥

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    IrishMJM
    Ireland2 months ago
  • Count Binface interview is a must!

    This podcast is great. The Count Binface episode? Exquisite. He's hilarious, yes. but more importantly, his stand against Farage as a protest for democratic integrity. Comedy with purpose. Maybe politics in Britain isn’t completely broken after all.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    *L*u*g*e*r*
    United States2 months ago
  • Wonderful show

    I particularly appreciate the respect and warmth between Rory and Alastair.

    I loved the Count Binface episode. It could be their best yet.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Goldenfish86
    United Kingdom2 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Engaging, with thoughtful interviews and clear, calm analysis.
Some listeners feel it balances criticism with constructive conversation.
A rare mix of candid questioning and civility that invites depth.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

208. Mustafa Suleyman: Is AI Actually Conscious?
Q: Over to you. Is that right?
Mustafa affirms the description of Claude's behavior, noting Claude is not truly conscious but is trained to simulate intent through guardrails, prompts, and post-training, and emphasizes the importance of clear, auditable behavior rather than anthropomorphizing the model.
204. Will a Wealth Tax Actually Fix Britain? (Dan Neidle)
Q: If wealth taxes won't fund the NHS effectively, what alternative tax reforms could fund robust public services?
A broader approach focusing on income tax, capital gains tax, and inheritance tax reforms, paired with improved efficiency and reform of the benefit system, could generate the necessary revenue to fund higher-quality public services without crippling growth.
204. Will a Wealth Tax Actually Fix Britain? (Dan Neidle)
Q: What is the practical difference between tax avoidance and tax evasion, and how does that relate to wealth tax proposals?
Tax evasion is illegal and involves dishonesty, potentially resulting in jail time; tax avoidance exploits legal gaps and can be controversial, but it's not criminal. Wealth tax proposals need to consider how to close avoidance opportunities while remaining enforceable and non-disruptive to growth.
205. Anthony Scaramucci: Why America Keeps Making the Same Mistakes
Q: What do you think people miss about Trump who don't know him personally?
Anthony explains Trump's charm as a tool that masks a more complex personality and a relentless focus on his own brand and political objectives, which outsiders may overlook when evaluating his policy outcomes.
201. How Westminster Breaks Politicians and Why Britain Isn't Ready for War
Q: What motivated you to enter politics with veterans' reform as a central goal?
He explains the system's failings and his desire to push for real change despite political risk, rather than engage in performative gestures.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Interests
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Rest Is Politics: Leading

What is The Rest Is Politics: Leading about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Two veteran interviewers explore leadership, policy, and global affairs through long-form conversations with politicians, academics, journalists, and thought leaders. Episodes spotlight real-world decision making, governance, ethics, and strategy across politics, economics, technology, and international relations. Guests range from former heads of government to AI researchers and reform advocates, with a distinctive emphasis on civically engaged, thoughtful dialogue that probes underlying motives, policy trade-offs, and long-term implications. A notable strength is the in-depth, unhurried interview style that blends personal anecdotes with structured analysis, often bridging cross-border perspectives and contrasting viewpoints. A recurring ... more

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1. The Rest Is Politics
2. The Rest Is Politics: US
3. The News Agents
4. The Rest Is Classified
5. The News Agents - USA

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The Rest Is Politics: Leading launched 4 years ago and published 214 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Rest Is Politics: Leading?

Recent guests on The Rest Is Politics: Leading include:

1. Mustafa Suleyman
2. Gordon Brown
3. Sanna Marin
4. Anthony Scaramucci
5. Dan Neidle
6. Aleksander Čeferin
7. Maoz Inon
8. Aziz Abu Sarah

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