About The Rest Is Politics: Leading
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...
The Rest Is Politics: Leading episodeslatest 50
#205205. Anthony Scaramucci: Why America Keeps Making the Same Mistakes
· 1:00:53
Why does Anthony Scaramucci think Osama bin Laden is “winning”, and what has the War on Terror really cost America? From letting China into the WTO to bailing out the banks in 2008, how did America's own leaders pave...
#204204. Will a Wealth Tax Actually Fix Britain? (Dan Neidle)
· 1:06:35
Why does tax expert Dan Neidle take Gabriel Zucman seriously as a thinker on inequality, but dismiss Gary Stevenson's warnings as populism? What did he uncover in Peter Mandelson's emails, and how did he expose Nadhim...
#203203. The Man Taking On Infantino: UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin
· 50:46
How did UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin lead the revolt that tore apart Gianni Infantino's plan to privatise the World Cup? Is Infantino finished as FIFA President after alienating the European federations who once...
#202202. Is Peace in the Middle East Closer Than We Think? (A Palestinian & An Israeli's View)
· 1:15:01
How do an Israeli who lost his parents on October 7th and a Palestinian whose brother died after torture in Israeli prisons come together to reject revenge and build a brotherhood for peace? Why do they believe lasting...
#201201. How Westminster Breaks Politicians and Why Britain Isn't Ready for War
· 1:16:26
Is Britain's military being left behind as drones and AI rewrite the rules of modern warfare? Is British politics broken beyond repair, and does Johnny Mercer's ruthless fight for veterans reveal what's really wrong...
#200200. Count Binface: Nigel Farage's Biggest Threat?
· 42:06
Is Count Binface really Nigel Farage's biggest threat in Clacton, and has Farage already lost by turning "me against the establishment" into a battle against a bin? Does Binface's manifesto hide serious politics beneath...
#199199. Is Trump's Chaos Pushing Iceland Towards the EU? (Prime Minister of Iceland, Kristrún Frostadóttir)
· 1:05:32
What are the real reasons Iceland has brought forward its vote on restarting accession talks with the EU? What lessons did the Prime Minister learn from watching Brexit unfold while living in the UK, and how have those...
#198198. How Trump’s Imperial Presidency Really Works
· 52:51
How does the most chaotic White House in history actually make decisions? How did Netanyahu sell Trump on a regime change war in Iran? Who is the only world leader Trump is truly afraid of? Alastair is joined by Maggie...
#197197. The Billionaire Tax Debate (Gabriel Zucman)
· 1:11:40
Can the super rich ever be fairly taxed, or are there too many functioning tax havens? Can capitalism survive the ever growing disparity between the top 1% and the rest? Should billionaires exist at all? Rory and...
#196196. How America Talks Itself Into Endless Wars
· 1:12:37
What does the gap between American foreign policy rhetoric and reality reveal about the failures of its military interventions in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, and Iran? In an age of algorithm-driven political polarisation...
#195195. Can the West Reclaim its Power from Trump? (Malcolm Turnbull)
· 1:10:32
As Western nations become increasingly dependent on the US for AI, satellite infrastructure, and defence, are they sacrificing sovereignty in exchange for American security? Can middle powers such as Australia and the...
#194194. Is Putin Losing His Grip on Russia?
· 1:03:44
With war fatigue growing and polls showing increasing dissatisfaction with life in Russia, is Vladimir Putin beginning to lose control? What is really happening inside Russia today? And what is it like to report the...
#193193. James Cleverly: Why Has There Been A Radical Shift On The Right?
· 1:18:24
What does James Cleverly think of Nigel Farage and Reform? How does Cleverly explain his unexpected exit from the Tory leadership race? What could the future of AI in Great Britain look like under different leadership?...
#192192. Are We On The Brink Of World War III? (Odd Arne Westad)
· 1:02:35
How similar is today's world to the months before the outbreak of World War I? Could Taiwan, India-China tensions, or an unforeseen crisis be the spark that sets the world ablaze? Are our leaders too consumed by...
#191191. Is It Already Too Late to Control AI? (Anthropic Co-Founder, Jack Clark)
· 1:07:25
Why is one of AI's most powerful insiders scared of what he's building? Who's really in charge of the technology reshaping our world? Is it too late for governments to regulate it? Rory and Matt Clifford are joined by...
#190190. How the Media Still Misunderstands Trump (Tina Brown)
· 1:12:57
Why does Trump understand the media better than the media understands him? Are tech billionaires like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos more dangerous to journalism than Rupert Murdoch ever was? What did Tina Brown see change in...
#189189. Rahm Emanuel: China, Technology, and the Future of the Democratic Party
· 1:13:16
Will Rahm Emanuel run to be the next President of the United States? What were the underlying policy disagreements regarding West Bank settlements that led to Benjamin Netanyahu publicly attacking Rahm Emanuel? And...
#188188. Will AI Give China or the US Total Power? (William MacAskill)
· 1:08:14
Could artificial intelligence hand the US or China 99% of global economic and military power? What happens when millions of autonomous weapons systems are controlled by a single commander-in-chief? Has effective...
#187187. Yanis Varoufakis: How The 2008 Crisis Revived Far-Right Populism
· 1:17:59
Was the 2008 financial crisis as consequential as the 1929 Wall Street Crash? How did it pave the way for Trump, Brexit, and the rise of the far-right across Europe? Will the economic damage caused by Trump’s war with...
#186186. President Aleksandar Vučić: Russia, China, and How Serbia Could Join the EU
· 1:06:22
How does President Vučić justify Serbia's geopolitical balancing act between Russia, China, and the European Union? Why does he warn that if the EU further delays enlargement, the United States might seize the...
#185185. Can Labour Win Back Scotland? (Anas Sarwar)
· 1:02:26
Does the Leader of Scottish Labour regret calling for Keir Starmer to resign over his appointment of Peter Mandelson as US Ambassador? In the upcoming election, would he consider putting Scottish Labour into a coalition...
#184184. President of Ukraine: Volodymyr Zelenskyy
· 52:04
At a time when the United States is threatening to withdraw from NATO, how can Europe maximise its power to deter Russia's threat? If Vladimir Putin were given the territory Donald Trump offered in his peace plan, what...
#183183. From Bradford to Westminster: Faith, Identity, and Power (Naz Shah)
· 1:10:53
How did Naz Shah’s experience growing up in Bradford and her experience with her family in the legal system influence her to go into politics? What does it mean for a political party to truly “stand for something” in...
#182182. Culture Wars, Identity, and What Needs To Change In Congress (Sarah McBride)
· 1:05:09
How are rights for trans people in the US improving or worsening under the Republican administration? What fundamentally needs to change in Congress to improve the state of politics? Are the Democrats doing enough to...
#181181. Ai Weiwei: China, Censorship, and Dissidence Through Art
· 1:07:57
Why was Ai Weiwei kidnapped and held prisoner by the Chinese government? How did the 2008 Sichuan earthquake radicalise him into taking aim at the authorities through art? What’s behind Ai Weiwei’s belief that there is...
#180180. The Only European Leader Defying Trump? (Pedro Sánchez)
· 1:15:26
Why is Prime Minister Sánchez such an outlier in challenging Trump on everything from military spending to Gaza? What’s behind Spain’s recent economic success? How is Spain tackling the rising far-right? What are Pedro...
#179179. President Stubb: Trump’s Unlikely Best Friend
· 41:42
How did President Stubb’s golfing talent lead him to fostering a close relationship with President Trump? Why was ‘Prime Minister’ the worst job ever? Why will the Global South define the new world order? Rory and...
#178178. Gavin Newsom: The Next President Of The United States?
· 54:04
What happened on a ridiculous midnight phone call between Donald Trump and the Governor of California? Why does Gavin Newsom believe the President will be crushed in the mid-terms? What is Newsom’s tactic for trolling...
#177177. Olaf Scholz: Putin, Power, and Far-Right Populism
· 59:04
Does the former German Chancellor think that Germany was wrong to rely on Russian gas in the run up to the war in Ukraine? What does Olaf Scholz think is behind the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany? Why...
#176176. How Close Are We To War With Iran? (Robert Malley)
· 1:08:48
How does the former US Special Representative for Iran think US-Iranian relations will improve? Is there a method to Trump’s madness when it comes to foreign policy? Why does Robert believe the “two-state solution” for...
#175175. Ex-Director of GCHQ: China, Russia, and the Threats Facing the UK (Jeremy Fleming)
· 1:10:07
Do Russia or China represent a bigger risk to UK national security? Why are we underestimating the threat posed by cybercriminals? Who holds the real power - ministers or spies? Rory and Alastair are joined by Jeremy...
#174174. Taking On Europe's Last Dictator: The Fight Against Lukashenko and Putin
· 29:11
How did Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya go from being a housewife to leading a Belarussian government in exile? How did Aleksandr Lukashenko become the last dictator in Europe? Why was Segei, Sviatlana’s husband, imprisoned...
#173173. The man Putin can’t silence: Bill Browder and sanctioning Russia
· 50:53
How did the “biggest capitalist in Eastern Europe” become the primary target of the Russian state? Why was Bill Browder’s friend Sergei Magnitsky killed in Russian prison? Why did Putin really start the war in Ukraine?...
#172172. Neil Kinnock: Trump, Thatcher, and Why Labour Lost In 1992 (Part 2)
· 1:04:25
Why did Neil Kinnock believe the fight against Margaret Thatcher was an existential one? What would Kinnock do to tackle the threat posed to Labour by reform? Why did Labour lose the 1992 election? Alastair and Rory are...
#171171. Neil Kinnock: A Labour Rebel’s Path To Power (Part 1)
· 1:12:29
Whilst an early career MP, why did Neil Kinnock rebel against the Labour Party so regularly? As Labour leader, how did Kinnock take on militant and the ‘ultra-left’ within the Labour Party? What regrets does Kinnock...
#170170. President of Moldova, Maia Sandu: Holding the Line Between Democracy and Putin
· 1:09:05
How did Maia Sandu fight Russian disinformation in Moldova? What is it like to have a war in the country next door? Will the European Union accept Moldova with Russian troops in the country? Rory and Alastair travel to...
#169169. Jimmy Wales: Wikipedia vs. Musk, AI, and the Battle for Truth
· 1:13:05
Who gave us an encyclopedia in our pockets? Why is the statement that Donald Trump is the "worst president in US history" allowed on his Wikipedia page? How do Brazilians and Americans differ on the history of the...
#168168. A Climate Special: Populism, Security, and Leadership
· 59:55
Can the planet sustain infinite economic growth, or is GDP a flawed metric? Is the UK genuinely decarbonising, or is it simply outsourcing its pollution? How can politicians defeat the populist narrative that Net Zero...
#167167. Faith, Depression, and Finding Calm in the Chaos (Professor Mark Williams)
· 1:05:25
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? Rory and Alastair are joined by...
#166166. John Swinney: Identity, Independence, and The Future of Scotland
· 1:14:54
What is the future of the Scottish independence movement? How does the SNP rebuild trust and support for independence after a series of bruising scandals? Why did the Scottish First Minister feel disrespected by a...
#165165. Anna Wintour: Culture, Influence, and the Power of Decisive Leadership
· 1:13:54
Why should everybody get fired at least once? As the former Editor-in-chief of American Vogue, how does Anna Wintour use fashion as a cultural and economic force? Why is Anna’s leadership style defined by the speed of...
#164164. Zack Polanski: Do The Greens Have What It Takes?
· 1:19:42
Why has Green party membership exploded since Zack Polanski became leader in September? What radical economic reforms is he fighting for? Why have the Greens stopped talking about the environment? Alastair and Rory are...
#163163. Prison Reform, Masculinity, and Restorative Justice (James Graham and Jacob Dunne)
· 1:10:22
Jacob Dunne killed someone as a teenager, how did he seek forgiveness from his victim’s parents? What is restorative justice? How did Jacob’s experience of the criminal justice system compel him to become a campaigner...
#162162. Gareth Southgate: Patriotism, Leadership, and How To Inspire Young Men
· 1:01:41
What invaluable life-lessons did Gareth Southgate learn by missing a high profile penalty in the Euro 96 semi-finals? Does the former England manager see a future for himself in politics? How should we teach resilience...
#161161. Putin, Trump, and 500 Years of Resisting Russia (Radek Sikorski)
· 57:53
What was it like for Radek Sikorski to be a refugee in the UK from communist Poland in the 80s? How will the war in Ukraine come to an end? Why is populism on the rise in Europe and how do we fight it? Rory and Alastair...
#160160. Michael Gove: Education, Brexit, and Trump (Part 2)
· 1:10:36
What is Michael Gove's lasting legacy on education in the UK? Would he have come to his position on Brexit if it weren't for Dominic Cummings? Is Nigel Farage's Reform a better chance for the UK than Labour? Rory and...
#159159. Michael Gove: My Journey From Left to Right (Part 1)
· 55:42
How did Michael Gove go from campaigning for Labour leader Michael Foot in 1983 to becoming a Conservative MP? What is the impact that Rupert Murdoch has had on public life? What do Michael and Rory disagree about when...
#158158. Baroness Hale: The Supreme Court, Boris Johnson, and the ECHR
· 1:08:04
How did it feel to take on then Prime Minister Boris Johnson when Baroness Hale ruled his suspension of Parliament "unlawful"? Why does the Trump administration present such a threat to the international rule of law?...
#157157. Ukraine, Diplomacy, and the Future of Europe (Dmytro Kuleba)
· 1:04:10
What is the current position of Ukraine in the Ukraine-Russia war? How delicate is diplomacy with Europe and with the US for the Ukrainian government? What are the differences between working with world leaders such as...
#156156. Defence Secretary, John Healey: Is Britain Ready For War?
· 1:15:08
What tactic did Donald Trump steal from Gordon Brown? What can we learn from when Labour beat UKIP in the 2012 Rotherham by-election when it comes to taking on Farage? As a New Labour alumnus, why does John Healey think...
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The Rest Is Politics: Leading has published 212 episodes so far. This page carries the 50 most recent, newest first.
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What is the latest episode of The Rest Is Politics: Leading?+
The most recent episode is "205. Anthony Scaramucci: Why America Keeps Making the Same Mistakes", published on 6 Sep 2026. New episodes appear here as soon as they go out on the programme's feed.
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