The Rest Is Politics

Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart are an unlikely duo. Campbell was Tony Blair's attack-dog communications chief; Stewart is a former Conservative minister who once walked across Afghanistan on foot. They come from opposite ends of British politics, and yet their chemistry on The Rest Is Politics is genuinely warm. The show drops twice a week, with episodes running anywhere from 40 minutes to well over an hour, and it has racked up more than 550 episodes since launching in 2022. The format is simple: pick a few topics from the week's news, hash them out, and occasionally reveal something about how government actually works from the inside. Campbell brings Labour's perspective and a blunt, confrontational style. Stewart is more measured, prone to historical tangents, and surprisingly candid about the failures of his own party. When they disagree, it feels genuine rather than performed, and when they agree, you can tell it surprised them as much as anyone. They cover UK politics primarily, but the show has expanded into international territory -- Ukraine, the Trump administration, European security debates, Middle East policy. The Goalhanger production team has also spun off related shows covering US politics and leadership interviews. With a 4.3-star rating from nearly 700 reviews, The Rest Is Politics has become one of the most popular political podcasts in the English-speaking world. It's the rare show where two former political enemies model something that feels increasingly hard to find: a real conversation between people who disagree.