The Rest Is Politics: Leading

Latest Episodes:

120. The New President of Syria: Trump, Palestine, and having a $10 million bounty on your head (Ahmed al-Sharaa) Feb 10, 2025

Show notes

How did Ahmed al-Sharaa go from an imprisoned al-Qaeda fighter to the leader of Syria? What is the psychological impact of living a secret life for over twenty years? What is the future of Syria?

Ahmed al-Sharaa joins Rory and Alastair to discuss all this and more.

TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to receive early access to Question Time episodes to live show tickets, enjoy ad-free listening for both TRIP and Leading, receive our exclusive newsletter, benefit from discount book prices on titles mentioned on the pod, and join our members’ chatroom on Discord. Just head to therestispolitics.com to sign up, or start a free trial today on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/therestispolitics.

Instagram: @restispolitics

Twitter: @RestIsPolitics

Email: restispolitics@gmail.com

Translators - Ibrahim Kadouni & Gerard Russell

Hani Tayfour - Director (RealStudio Production)

Siham Alobede Technical supervisor (RealStudio Production)

Ahmad Jalal Alkilani - Cameraman (RealStudio Production)

Hasan Ajlany - DOP

Hassan Jabri - Sound Engineer

Mohamad Hamami - Sound Technician Assistant

Bilal Altabakh - Lighting Technician

Chahine Jebara - Lighting Technician

Hadi Alali - Local Producer

Video editor: Josh Smith

Assistant producer: Alice Horrell

Producers: Nicole Maslen

Senior Producer: Dom Johnson

Head of Content: Tom Whiter

Exec Producers: Tony Pastor, Jack Davenport

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

119. Tommy Vietor: How Democrats can fight Trump Feb 03, 2025

Show notes

How did Barack Obama become President? What was Hillary Clinton's huge mistake in 2016? How corrupt really is American politics today?

Pod Save America host and former Barack Obama speechwriter, Tommy Veitor, joins Rory and Alastair to answer all these questions and more.

TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, receive our exclusive newsletter, enjoy ad-free listening to both TRIP and Leading, benefit from discount book prices on titles mentioned on the pod, join our Discord chatroom, and receive early access to live show tickets and Question Time episodes. Just head to therestispolitics.com to sign up, or start a free trial today on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/therestispolitics.

Instagram: @restispolitics

Twitter: @RestIsPolitics

Email: restispolitics@gmail.com

Assistant Producers: Alice Horrell

Video Editor: Josh Smith

Social Producer: Jess Kidson

Producers: Nicole Maslen

Senior Producer: Dom Johnson

Head of Content: Tom Whiter

Exec Producers: Tony Pastor, Jack Davenport

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

118. Ex-Head of Mossad: Hamas, Ceasefire, and Netanyahu (Uzi Arad) Jan 27, 2025

Show notes

What’s the relationship between intelligence agencies and the politicians they serve? How does Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu react in a crisis? How confident should we be that the ceasefire will last?

Alastair and Rory are joined by former Head of Mossad Intelligence and National Security Advisor to Benjamin Netanyahu, Uzi Arad, to discuss all this and more.

TRIP Plus:

Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, receive our exclusive newsletter, enjoy ad-free listening to both TRIP and Leading, benefit from discount book prices on titles mentioned on the pod, join our Discord chatroom, and receive early access to live show tickets and Question Time episodes.

Just head to therestispolitics.com to sign up, or start a free trial today on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/therestispolitics.

Instagram:

@restispolitics

Twitter:

@RestIsPolitics

Email:

restispolitics@gmail.com

Video Editor: Josh Smith

Assistant Producer: India Dunkley + Alice Horrell

Social Producer: Jess Kidson

Producer: Nicole Maslen

Senior Producer: Dom Johnson

Head of Content: Tom Whiter

Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

117. Is the UN fit for purpose? (Tom Fletcher) Jan 20, 2025

Show notes

As the US retreats from the international stage, who is going to fill the gap? What will the ‘peace processes of the future’ look like? Who has more power, the tech giants or political leaders?

Rory and Alastair are joined by the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator at the UN, Tom Fletcher, to answer all these questions and more.

TRIP Plus:

Just head to therestispolitics.com to sign up, or start a free trial today on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/therestispolitics.

Instagram:

@restispolitics

Twitter:

@RestIsPolitics

Email:

restispolitics@gmail.com

Video Editor: Kieron Leslie

Assistant Producer: India Dunkley + Alice Horrell

Social Producer: Jess Kidson

Producer: Nicole Maslen

Senior Producer: Dom Johnson

Head of Content: Tom Whiter

Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

116. Is AI the answer to human suffering? (James Manyika) Jan 13, 2025

Show notes

How can AI help solve global problems such as poverty, hunger, and disease? Is there a hidden dark side to this new technology? What is in store for the future of artificial intelligence?

Rory and Alastair are joined by Senior Vice President of Google, James Manyika, to answer all these questions and more.

TRIP Plus:

Just head to therestispolitics.com to sign up, or start a free trial today on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/therestispolitics.

Instagram:

@restispolitics

Twitter:

@RestIsPolitics

Email:

restispolitics@gmail.com

Video Editor: Kieron Leslie

Assistant Producer: India Dunkley + Alice Horrell

Social Producer: Jess Kidson

Producer: Nicole Maslen

Senior Producer: Dom Johnson

Head of Content: Tom Whiter

Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

115. Ben Wallace: Britain's mistake in Ukraine, Trump vs. NATO, and visiting Iran with Jeremy Corbyn Jan 06, 2025

Show notes

Why do some soldiers make bad politicians? What's the West doing wrong in terms of its policy towards the Ukraine War? How can Keir Starmer turn around the public perception of his Labour government?

On today's episode of Leading Rory and Alastair are joined by Ben Wallace, Secretary of State for Defence from 2019 to 2023. Tune in to hear the former Tory minister answers all these questions and more.

TRIP Plus:

Just head to therestispolitics.com to sign up, or start a free trial today on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/therestispolitics.

Instagram:

@restispolitics

Twitter:

@RestIsPolitics

Email:

restispolitics@gmail.com

Video Editor: Kieron Leslie

Assistant Producer: India Dunkley + Alice Horrell

Social Producer: Jess Kidson

Producer: Nicole Maslen

Senior Producer: Dom Johnson

Head of Content: Tom Whiter

Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

114. The future of Wales (Eluned Morgan) Dec 30, 2024

Show notes

How did Morgan’s upbringing as the daughter of a priest set her off on a path to become Welsh First Minister? What does a former member of the European Parliament think happened with Brexit? How has the devolved parliament tackled the NHS?

Rory and Alastair are joined by the first minister of Wales, Eluned Morgan, to discuss all this and more.

TRIP Plus:

Just head to therestispolitics.com to sign up, or start a free trial today on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/therestispolitics.

Instagram:

@restispolitics

Twitter:

@RestIsPolitics

Email:

restispolitics@gmail.com

Assistant Producer: India Dunkley + Alice Horrell

Social Producer: Jess Kidson

Producer: Nicole Maslen

Senior Producer: Dom Johnson

Head of Content: Tom Whiter

Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

113. How likely is World War 3? (Ian Bremmer) Dec 23, 2024

Show notes

What does Musk’s de-facto role as ‘co president’ say about the impact of Big Tech on the disintegration of the international order? How can we approach solving some of the world's biggest conflicts? Is there room for hope in an increasingly tense and fragmented world?

Rory and Alastair are joined by American political scientist, Ian Bremmer, to answer all these questions and more.

TRIP Plus:

Just head to therestispolitics.com to sign up, or start a free trial today on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/therestispolitics.

Instagram:

@restispolitics

Twitter:

@RestIsPolitics

Email:

restispolitics@gmail.com

Assistant Producer: India Dunkley + Alice Horrell

Social Producer: Jess Kidson

Producer: Nicole Maslen

Senior Producer: Dom Johnson

Head of Content: Tom Whiter

Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

112. Bill Clinton: Putin, Palestine, and Trump Dec 16, 2024

Show notes

Does Bill Clinton feel that the current Israel-Hamas war could have been avoided if former Palestinian President Yasser Arafat had accepted the peace deal in 2001? Does he regret allowing China to join the World Trade Organisation? Was Hillary Clinton unfairly attacked during her presidential campaign? And what is Putin going to do next?

Rory and Alastair are joined by 42nd US President, Bill Clinton, to discuss all this and more.

TRIP Plus:

Just head to therestispolitics.com to sign up, or start a free trial today on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/therestispolitics.

Instagram:

@restispolitics

Twitter:

@RestIsPolitics

Email:

restispolitics@gmail.com

Assistant Producer + Editor: Becki Hills

Producer: Nicole Maslen

Senior Producer: Dom Johnson

Head of Content: Tom Whiter

Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

111. Angela Merkel: Putin, Trump, and Europe's future Dec 09, 2024

Show notes

What lessons on leadership does Angela Merkel have after 16 years served as Chancellor of Germany? Does she have any regrets from her tenure? What was it like being in East Germany when the Berlin wall fell? And what should Europe do to ensure the future security of Ukraine?

Rory and Alastair are joined by ex-Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel, to discuss all this and more.

TRIP Plus:

Just head to therestispolitics.com to sign up, or start a free trial today on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/therestispolitics.

Instagram:

@restispolitics

Twitter:

@RestIsPolitics

Email:

restispolitics@gmail.com

Translator: Dorothee Kaltenbach

Assistant Producer: India Dunkley

Producer: Nicole Maslen