The Rest Is Politics: Leading

Latest Episodes:

190. How the Media Still Misunderstands Trump (Tina Brown) May 24, 2026

Show notes

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 Trump from the '80s to now, and when did he turn "dark"?

Alastair and Rory are joined by Tina Brown, author of the Substack 'Fresh Hell' and former editor-in-chief of Tatler, Vanity Fair, and The New Yorker, to discuss all these questions and more.

Find out more about Truth Tellers here.

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Instagram: ⁠@restispolitics⁠

Twitter: ⁠@restispolitics⁠

Email: ⁠therestispolitics@goalhanger.com⁠

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Social Producer: Celine Charles

Video Editor: Josh Smith, Joe Petit

Assistant Producer: Daisy Alston-Horne

Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen

General Manager: Tom Whiter

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189. Rahm Emanuel: China, Technology, and the Future of the Democratic Party May 17, 2026

Show notes

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, what approach would he take to handle the conflict with Iran and modernise the United States' relationships with Europe?

Rory and Alastair are joined by American politician and diplomat, Rahm Emanuel, to discuss all this and more.

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Instagram: @restispolitics

Twitter: @restispolitics

Email: therestispolitics@goalhanger.com

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Social Producer: Celine Charles

Video Editor: Bruno Di Castri

Assistant Producer: Daisy Alston-Horne

Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen

Exec Producer: Chris Sawyer

General Manager: Tom Whiter

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188. Will AI Give China or the US Total Power? (William MacAskill) May 10, 2026

Show notes

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 altruism's influence in Silicon Valley accelerated or slowed the race for artificial general intelligence?

Alastair and Rory are joined by William MacAskill to discuss all this and more.

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You can purchase William MacAskill's book Doing Good Better here.

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Instagram: @restispolitics

Twitter: @restispolitics

Email: therestispolitics@goalhanger.com

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Social Producer: Celine Charles

Video Editor: Josh Smith

Assistant Producer: Daisy Alston-Horne

Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen

Exec Producer: Chris Sawyer

General Manager: Tom Whiter

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187. Yanis Varoufakis: How The 2008 Crisis Revived Far-Right Populism May 03, 2026

Show notes

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 Iran outlast the conflict itself?

Rory and Alastair are joined by Yanis Varoufakis to discuss all this and more.

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Social Producer: Celine Charles

Video Editor: Josh Smith

Assistant Producer: Daisy Alston-Horne

Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen

Exec Producer: Chris Sawyer

General Manager: Tom Whiter

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186. President Aleksandar Vučić: Russia, China, and How Serbia Could Join the EU Apr 26, 2026

Show notes

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 opportunity to build its own sphere of influence in Southeastern Europe? Can Serbia join the EU without recognising Kosovo's independence, and what would that mean for Europe's future?

Rory and Alastair are joined by Aleksandar Vučić, President of Serbia, to discuss all this and more.

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Social Producer: Celine Charles

Videographer: James Clayden,

Video Editor: Josh Smith, Vasco Andrade

Assistant Producer: Daisy Alston-Horne

Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen

Exec Producer: Chris Sawyer

General Manager: Tom Whiter

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185. Can Labour Win Back Scotland? (Anas Sarwar) Apr 19, 2026

Show notes

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 with the Reform Party to defeat the SNP? How does he plan to tackle the rise of Islamophobia and the politics of despair that are increasingly gripping Scotland and the UK?

Rory and Alastair are joined by Anas Sarwar, Leader of the Labour Party in Scotland, to discuss all these questions and more.

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Instagram: @restispolitics

Twitter: @restispolitics

Email: therestispolitics@goalhanger.com

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Social Producer: Celine Charles

Video Editor: Josh Smith

Assistant Producer: Daisy Alston-Horne

Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen

Exec Producer: Chris Sawyer

General Manager: Tom Whiter

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184. President of Ukraine: Volodymyr Zelenskyy Apr 09, 2026

Show notes

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 would his next move be? Why does the White House keep misunderstanding Putin’s real war aims?

Alastair Campbell is joined by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, to discuss all this and more.

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Social Producer: Celine Charles

Video Editor: Vasco Andrade

Videographer: James Clayden

Assistant Producer: Daisy Alston-Horne

Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen

Exec Producer: Chris Sawyer

General Manager: Tom Whiter

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183. From Bradford to Westminster: Faith, Identity, and Power (Naz Shah) Apr 05, 2026

Show notes

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 modern Britain? How can faith influence politics in a secular society?
Rory and Alastair are joined by Labour MP, Naz Shah, to discuss all this and more.

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Social Producer: Celine Charles

Video Editor: Josh Smith, Adam Thornton

Producer: Alice Horrell

Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen

General Manager: Tom Whiter

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182. Culture Wars, Identity, and What Needs To Change In Congress (Sarah McBride) Mar 29, 2026

Show notes

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 win back the American public?

Rory and Alastair are joined by US Congresswoman, Sarah McBride, to answer all this and more.

Search IG.com to find out more and/or Look for IG in your app store.

Join The Rest Is Politics Plus: Start your free trial at therestispolitics.com to unlock exclusive bonus content – including Rory and Alastair’s miniseries – plus ad-free listening, early access to episodes and live show tickets, an exclusive members’ newsletter, discounted book prices, and a private chatroom on Discord.

Social Producer: Celine Charles

Video Editor: Josh Smith

Producer: Alice Horrell

Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen

Head of Politics: Tom Whiter

Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport

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181. Ai Weiwei: China, Censorship, and Dissidence Through Art Mar 23, 2026

Show notes

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 a serious censorship issue in the West?

Rory and Alastair are joined by Artist and Activist, Ai Weiwei, to answer all this and more.

Search IG.com to find out more and/or Look for IG in your app store.

Join The Rest Is Politics Plus: Start your free trial at therestispolitics.com to unlock exclusive bonus content – including Rory and Alastair’s miniseries – plus ad-free listening, early access to episodes and live show tickets, an exclusive members’ newsletter, discounted book prices, and a private chatroom on Discord.

Social Producer: Celine Charles

Video Editor: Josh Smith + Bruno Di Castri

Producer: Alice Horrell

Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen

Head of Politics: Tom Whiter

Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport

Advertise with us: Partnerships@goalhanger.com

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