Rephonic
Artwork for The Rest Is Politics

The Rest Is Politics

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

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes666Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsGovernmentNews

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Rest Is Politics

Latest Episodes

Why have we stopped talking about the risk of nuclear war when the risk is greater than ever? What is a ‘nuclear winter’ and why are nuclear exchanges such extreme risks for the future of humanity? And should the UK be investing in nuclear weapons – ... more

As the far-right Alternative for Germany wins another regional election, wiping out the ruling Christian Democratic Union in former Chancellor Angela Merkel's own backyard, will Friedrich Merz face the same fate as Keir Starmer and lose his job? New ... more

As Burnham meets Trump face-to-face for the first time at the UN General Assembly, will he adopt Mark Carney’s or Keir Starmer’s approach to dealing with the US President? With Carney receiving a standing ovation in the European Parliament and champi... more

Episode 2 is available right now for TRIP Plus members. Sign up at therestispolitics.com

What can the Aztec Empire's catastrophic failure to understand Cortés and the Spanish conquistadors teach us about the threat AI poses today? Why does Yuval Noa... more

Key Facts

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

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Yuval Noah Harari
Author of Sapiens and public intellectual
Author, public intellectual
Episode: The Greatest Threat Humans Just Can’t Stomach with Yuval Noah Harari
Ed Miliband
Former Prime Minister and Labour Party Leader, UK Foreign Secretary
Labour Party / UK Government
Episode: 571. Rory and Alastair Challenge Ed Miliband on Israel-Palestine
Keir Mather
MP for Selby and junior minister at the Department of Transport
Labour Party
Episode: "Our Generation Was Lied To": Two Gen Z MPs on Fixing Politics
Rosie Wrighting
PPS at the Ministry of Defence and MP for Kettering
Labour Party
Episode: "Our Generation Was Lied To": Two Gen Z MPs on Fixing Politics
Paul Rondsheimer
Senior executive at BILT Seitung; hosts Germany-focused podcast
BILT Seitung
Episode: 569. Farage’s Foreign Funding Scandal and Germany’s Far-Right Breakthrough
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

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
  • 👍

    Engaging and insightful

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    hard to focus
    United Statesa month ago
  • Arday is not a martyr

    What is so disturbing about the Jason Arday affair is not simply the possibility that one man embellished his life story( as so many politicians have done in a way in which you both identify), but the possibility that some of the most horrifying allegations of racist persecution attached to that story were untrue. Arday described a campaign of terror involving a severed pig’s head, bullets and bananas in the post, mutilated animals and corrosive substances sent to his family, physical assault an... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Annannnxxxx
    United Statesa month ago
  • Fun

    Alistair has an amazing skill, he knows what Trump is thinking. I’m sure he knows it so well, he even knows it before Trump has thought it.

    Rory, lives in an “if” world. The world would be better “if” everyone else was perfect.

    Good light entertainment

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Stewart T.
    New Zealanda month ago
  • Receiving advertisement, even though paying monthly to avoid advertisements… Seems a bit of a scam

    👎🏻

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    JessyMauve
    United Statesa month ago
  • Brilliant. Helpful.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    VeryShari
    2 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

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Greatest Threat Humans Just Can’t Stomach with Yuval Noah Harari
Q: What policy options should the UK or Europe consider to stay sovereign in an AI-driven world?
Harari outlines three main options—accepting US vassalage, rejoining and integrating with Europe, or building independent AI capabilities; he also highlights an open-source alternative as a potential fourth path, each with significant costs and strategic implications.
The Greatest Threat Humans Just Can’t Stomach with Yuval Noah Harari
Q: Why is the speed of AI development a problem for governance?
Because AI operates on a superhuman timescale, governments struggle to understand and regulate it in real time, which could lead to a loss of control if policy does not keep pace with technological change.
571. Rory and Alastair Challenge Ed Miliband on Israel-Palestine
Q: So, Ed, we had well over a thousand questions from listeners... what does Britain hope to achieve with these sanctions?
Miliband explains the sanctions are deliberately targeted at the illegal occupation, designed to pressure the authorities responsible for settlement expansion while avoiding a broad de-legitimization of Israel, and emphasizes building coalitions with partners to support a two-state framework.
569. Farage’s Foreign Funding Scandal and Germany’s Far-Right Breakthrough
Q: There's talk about banning the AfD. Is that a feasible strategy, or could it backfire politically?
Experts debate a ban's effectiveness; while it might appear to be a solution, it could push the party underground or inflame anti-establishment sentiments, potentially strengthening support and alienating voters who feel threatened by the status quo.
569. Farage’s Foreign Funding Scandal and Germany’s Far-Right Breakthrough
Q: Paul, how are we meant to understand Merz's failure? Is he the German equivalent of Keir Starmer, in that the basic problem is he doesn't know how to communicate?
The consensus is that Merz struggles with charismatic leadership and public resonance, not just policy; communication gaps contribute to his challenges, making it hard to mobilize broader support even if reforms are technically aligned with party goals.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

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

Where can I find podcast stats for The Rest Is Politics?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Rest Is Politics. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Rest Is Politics and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Rest Is Politics get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Rest Is Politics, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Rest Is Politics?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Rest Is Politics, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The Rest Is Politics have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Rest Is Politics has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

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 666 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Rest Is Politics?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Rest Is Politics?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Rest Is Politics from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Rest Is Politics?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Rest Is Politics. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Rest Is Politics?

Recent guests on The Rest Is Politics include:

1. Yuval Noah Harari
2. Ed Miliband
3. Keir Mather
4. Rosie Wrighting
5. Paul Rondsheimer
6. Isabelle Stanley
7. Steve Rotheram
8. Steve Rotherham

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days