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Artwork for The Rest Is Politics

The Rest Is Politics

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

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes634Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
GovernmentNewsPolitics

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Artwork for The Rest Is Politics

Latest Episodes

Could the UK be facing empty supermarket shelves by 2030? Are food distribution centres sitting ducks for drone warfare? And how has Britain got to a place where is has just 3 days to 3 weeks worth of food supplies?

This week, Caroline Lucas sits do... more

Is China quietly outsmarting the US in the AI arms race, and is Trump laying the pitch to challenge the results of the US midterms with his repeated, unfounded claims of Chinese election meddling? Why has Zelenskyy sacked his popular defence minister... more

What does Andy Burnham’s purge of Starmer loyalists from the top of government tell us about how the new British prime minister will govern the UK? Why did Ed Miliband drop his ten-year Energy Security and Net Zero project to become Foreign Secretary... more

Why did the government suppress a report written by senior intelligence officials which named climate and nature collapse as a national security threat? How could ecosystem collapse lead to empty super market shelves, water scarcity and increased ris... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Richard Nugee
former senior British Army officer, Lieutenant General
British Army
Episode: The Secret Security Threat The Government Don’t Want Us To Know
Arthur Snell
former British diplomat and security expert
Diplomacy/Security
Episode: The Secret Security Threat The Government Don’t Want Us To Know
Mehdi Hassan
Anglo-American journalist and co-host on the episode
Independent media / Al Jazeera English contributor
Episode: 552. Trump's Red Card Saga and Germany's Far-Right Machine
Kat Neilan
Reporter on the Westminster series, journalist
The Guardian / Westminster reporting
Episode: 550. Will Farage's Extreme Wealth Be His Downfall?
Dan Jørgensen
European Commissioner for Energy and All Things Climate
European Commission
Episode: 547. The Truth About Russian Oil, Net Zero, and North Sea Drilling
Katherine Blakelock
Former UKIP member involved in Brexit-era financing decisions
Brexit-era political donor/party founder
Episode: Who Funds Reform? The Missing Millions
Aaron Banks
Early donor to UKIP and Leave.eu, controversial figure
UKIP/Leave.eu donor
Episode: Who Funds Reform? The Missing Millions
Lee Anderson
Member of Parliament introduced as Reform UK ally
Parliamentary politics
Episode: Who Funds Reform? The Missing Millions
Ben Habib
Businessman and donor to Conservative Party, later involved with Brexit Party
Unspecified (political donor)
Episode: Who Funds Reform? The Missing Millions

Hosts

Rory Stewart
Host and co-host with Alastair Campbell; long-running political commentator with grounding in Westminster and governance.
Alastair Campbell
Co-host; veteran political strategist and commentator with deep Westminster experience.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 40.4k ratings
  • 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 Kingdom21 days ago
  • Rory Stewart protects billionaire wealth

    The inability of the podcast to take wealth taxes seriously whilst advocating for raising income tax is gross

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    _benmoose
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Fantastic mini series

    Really enjoyed the mini series exposing reforms funding strategy. I fear you may get their believers protesting but great work

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kingcantona1966
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Leck

    Definitely don’t want another election as would be between Reform and Labour!!

    Rory should stop being manipulative and encouraging it.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    LeDocBud
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • STOP VOCAL FRY

    Good podcast excellent content made unlistenable because of Rory's insistence on VOCAL FRY - it's absolutely awful -

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lara for Gaza
    United Kingdoma month ago

Listeners Say

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

Guests appreciate the depth and data-driven context of discussions.
The Gen Z coverage and outsider perspectives are a strong differentiator.
High-quality guests and timely topics are frequent positives.
Listeners value the candid, no-nonsense debates between hosts.
Some criticisms note perceived bias or imbalance in viewpoints.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

556. The US-China AI Arms Race and Badenoch vs. Rory’s Centrism
Q: Why did Zelenskyy fire his defense minister, and what does that say about Ukraine's command and control during the war?
The discussion frames the firing as part of a power struggle within Ukraine's leadership, with the defense minister and the commander-in-chief represented as pursuing different strategic visions, ultimately leading Zelenskyy to reshuffle to align the military leadership under new conditions.
556. The US-China AI Arms Race and Badenoch vs. Rory’s Centrism
Q: Did China interfere in the US election, or were they trying to influence it in some way?
The hosts acknowledge questions about Chinese involvement, with one host noting limited evidence of direct interference but highlighting ongoing cyber activity and influence operations that could affect perceptions and political narratives.
550. Will Farage's Extreme Wealth Be His Downfall?
Q: Kat, is Reform a company or a political party, and what implications does that have for donations and transparency?
In practice, it's treated similarly to other parties for declaring donations, and being a limited company mainly affects governance and direction rather than donation reporting.
547. The Truth About Russian Oil, Net Zero, and North Sea Drilling
Q: How can we sell the long-term benefits of net zero without alienating people over costs?
Dan argues that even if the transition costs are felt now, the long-term savings from renewables and grid improvements will reduce bills and increase energy security, and policy tools like tax adjustments and grid investments are essential to ease public concerns.
536. Is Trump’s Corruption Machine Reaching New Extremes?
Q: Is Donald Trump the most corrupt president the United States has ever had?
Yes. There are contenders, but Trump's combination of private-sector leverage, poaching money from outside traditional government channels, and systematic use of pardons and lawsuits marks a new, more expansive form of corruption.

Audience Metrics

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

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Gender Skew
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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?

A politics-focused show that blends sharp analysis with candid debates on current events in the UK and internationally. Episodes commonly probe political funding, leadership dynamics, and governance, while weaving in Gen Z perspectives and data-driven context from researchers and journalists. Noteworthy is the duo's willingness to challenge each other and guests alike, offering historical insight, cross-Atlantic parallels, and probing scrutiny of power, money, and policy. Listeners can expect balanced, argument-driven conversations that mix investigative context, personal anecdotes, and timely political theatre, often featuring guests ranging from donors and policymakers to academics and investigative reporters. This mix makes it helpful fo... 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 4 years ago and published 634 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. Richard Nugee
2. Arthur Snell
3. Mehdi Hassan
4. Kat Neilan
5. Dan Jørgensen
6. Katherine Blakelock
7. Aaron Banks
8. Lee Anderson

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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