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The Rest Is Politics

Goalhanger
Donald Trump
Ukraine
Iran
Israel
Labour Party
Keir Starmer
Gaza
Artificial Intelligence
Russia
China
European Union
United States
Andy Burnham
Nigel Farage
Brexit
NATO
JD Vance
Climate Change
Rupert Murdoch
Trump

Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart break down current affairs in the UK and abroad. The Rest Is Politics analyses the latest international news, provides debate on global issues, and reveals secrets from Westminster, whilst bringing back the lost art of disagreeing agreeably. With insider perspectives and expert analysis, The Rest Is Politics is the go-to podcast for anyone seeking intelligent, en... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes654Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsGovernmentNews

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Latest Episodes

To hear the full episode, and the whole series, sign up at therestispolitics.com

How did Andy Burnham learn about the Manchester Arena bombing? Would he still have tried to become PM had Keir Starmer let him stand in the Gorton and Denton byelection... more

Did Iceland's rejection of EU membership talks repeat the same mistakes as Britain's Remain campaign, and does it hand a dangerous propaganda win to Farage, Putin, and the wider anti-European right? As Russia warns of "consequences" over British miss... more

Why is the backlash against data centres becoming one of the most combustible issues in US politics? What does an AI system's attempt to cheat, cover its tracks, and break into another company’s website reveal about our ability to keep these systems ... more

Who are the political figures that shaped Andy Burnham? How far will the new PM go to be liked? And what impact did losing to Jeremy Corbyn's popularity 'tsunami' have on his career - and confidence?

Join Alastair Campbell and Steve Rotheram as they... more

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Recent Guests

Isabelle Stanley
Writer of the podcast's brilliant newsletter
Newsletter team
Episode: 568. MAGA's Plan to Make Britain Look Broken and Iceland's 'Brexit' Moment
Steve Rotheram
Metro Mayor of Liverpool City Region, close ally of Burnham
Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
Episode: Becoming Burnham: People Pleasing, The Shadow Years and Losing to Jeremy Corbyn
Steve Rotherham
Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region
Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
Episode: 564. Burnham’s Media Machine and West Bank Settler Impunity
Shoshana Campbell
Special expert guest on Afghanistan; wife of Rory Stewart
Turquoise Mountain (working in Afghanistan)
Episode: 563. Britain’s Afghanistan Shame and the Jason Arday Tragedy
Caroline Lucas
Former leader of the Green Party, climate series creator
Green Party
Episode: Will Climate Action Go Backwards Under Burnham?
Aminath Shauna
Former Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Technology in the Maldives
Maldives Government (former)
Episode: The Truth About Climate Migration – It's More Complicated Than You Think
Alex Randall
Leading expert in climate-driven migration and displacement
Climate Outreach
Episode: The Truth About Climate Migration – It's More Complicated Than You Think
Count Binface
Comedic political candidate who ran for Parliament
Independent candidate (satirical campaign)
Episode: 560. Trump's Hamas Disarmament 'Deal' and Europe's FIFA Boycott
Gerald Knaus
Migration policy expert; founder of the European Stability Initiative
European Stability Initiative
Episode: 559. Who Really Benefits from the Ceuta Migration Crisis?

Hosts

Alastair Campbell
Host and political commentator; prominent voice in UK politics.
Rory Stewart
Co-host, former diplomat and author with deep regional experience in policy discussions.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 40.9k ratings
  • Brilliant. Helpful.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    VeryShari
    2 months ago
  • Depends on a fragile alchemy

    Never again have Mehdi Hasan as co-host, please, since he wrecks the show’s voice, for the same reason that the American spinoff is cringe-inducing. This podcast has been wonderful precisely because Alastair is retired (and a long way from ever being ‘Malcolm Tucker’ again), and Rory has always been temperamentally an outsider. Neither of them is mindlessly ‘in the thick of it.’ Both are genuinely reflective. Both are able to fairly consider questions from outside the frenzied feeding zone insid... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Audrain
    United States2 months ago
  • Repeat, repeat

    Can Alastair please stop repeating words. Especially at the start of sentences.

    But also, very much enjoying Mehdi.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    doublledd
    Australia2 months ago
  • Arrogant Mehdi Hasan

    How arrogant of Mehdi Hasan to say he knows why he doesn’t like Starmer but most people don’t know why they don’t! Personally for me it was making going after disabled benefits as a top priority.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Missnisssy
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Heavily left leaning

    Too left leaning perspective and therefore very biased opinions. Need more moderate voices on this show.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Scarletshay
    Australia2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Polished hosting with informed guests; occasionally polarizing perspectives.
Critiques of bias exist, yet many praise the analytical depth and civil discourse.
Balanced, thoughtful debates but some listeners crave more diverse viewpoints.

Chart Rankings

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

568. MAGA's Plan to Make Britain Look Broken and Iceland's 'Brexit' Moment
Q: What did Ipsos in the UK find about American views of Britain?
One in four Americans think British society is broken, rising to 37% among Republicans, with over half of Americans unable to name who the British Prime Minister is, indicating a concerning level of disengagement and negative sentiment towards Britain.
Becoming Burnham: People Pleasing, The Shadow Years and Losing to Jeremy Corbyn
Q: Where did his ambition and drive come from to become a politician?
The discussion traces Burnham's ascent from Cambridge through the ranks, highlighting the momentum of leadership campaigns and the pull of public service, while noting how strategic moves and alliances influenced his path.
563. Britain’s Afghanistan Shame and the Jason Arday Tragedy
Q: Should the British government recognize the Taliban? And should we have an ambassador there to reflect Britain's interests?
There is no straightforward answer; recognition could have practical implications for aid and diplomacy, but engaging with the Taliban without formal recognition may better protect humanitarian access and aid distributions. The hosts suggest continuing aid and engagement while navigating moral and strategic constraints.
Will Climate Action Go Backwards Under Burnham?
Q: How do you reconcile optimism about renewables with concerns about affordability and fairness in transition?
Highlight co-benefits like cheaper public transport and better air quality, ensure policies are progressive (avoiding regressive costs), and explain how market dynamics can drive faster adoption without heavy subsidies in the long run.
Will Climate Action Go Backwards Under Burnham?
Q: What would you propose as the core message of a National Emergency Briefing to the public?
Frame the briefing around practical, local impacts and the broader benefits of resilience, emphasizing how climate action improves daily life rather than presenting it as a distant, abstract policy.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Rest Is Politics

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

This show centers on sharp, wide-ranging political debate and international affairs, blending insider Westminster insights with global policy analysis. Episodes frequently unpack UK political reform, devolution, and social policy, while also examining climate leadership, migration, and security dynamics around the world. A distinctive strength is the duo's ability to juxtapose policy detail with personal storytelling, often featuring guests who bring on-the-ground or expert perspectives to complex problems. Listeners can expect thoughtful disagreement, data-informed arguments, and a mix of serious analysis with accessible, sometimes humorous, moments. The format often includes guest experts, policymakers, or regional leaders to illuminate h... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Rest Is Politics?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Rest Is Politics:

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

How many episodes of The Rest Is Politics are there?

The Rest Is Politics launched 5 years ago and published 654 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?

Recent guests on The Rest Is Politics include:

1. Isabelle Stanley
2. Steve Rotheram
3. Steve Rotherham
4. Shoshana Campbell
5. Caroline Lucas
6. Aminath Shauna
7. Alex Randall
8. Count Binface

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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