View source for The Rest Is Politics

{{Short description|British podcast}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox podcast
| title = The Rest Is Politics
| image = The Rest is Politics logo.jpg
| caption =
| hosting = [[Alastair Campbell]]<br/>[[Rory Stewart]]
| genre = Talk
| format = {{hlist|Audio [[podcast]]}}
| length = 30–50 minutes
| language = English
| production =
| num_episodes =
| began = {{Start date|2 March 2022}}
| audio format =
| video format =
| ended =
| provider =
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| website =
| fetchwikidata = ALL
}}
'''''The Rest Is Politics''''' is a British [[podcast]] and television series hosted by [[Alastair Campbell]] and [[Rory Stewart]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ft.com/content/65068db6-4340-43e6-b2a8-38c983805989 |title=Rory Stewart and Alastair Campbell's odd-couple podcast |last=Sturges |first=Fiona |date=28 March 2022 |website=www.ft.com |publisher=[[Financial Times]] |access-date=27 December 2022 |archive-date=20 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220420230007/https://www.ft.com/content/65068db6-4340-43e6-b2a8-38c983805989 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=times25>{{cite web |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-25-best-podcasts-2022-the-rest-is-politics-the-news-agents-jj56wf5fh |title=The 25 best podcasts of 2022: from The Rest is Politics to The News Agents |last=Marriot |first=James |date=21 December 2022 |website=www.thetimes.co.uk |publisher=[[The Times]] |access-date=27 December 2022 |archive-date=27 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221227100135/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-25-best-podcasts-2022-the-rest-is-politics-the-news-agents-jj56wf5fh |url-status=live }}</ref> It launched in March 2022,<ref name="GuardianSawyer">{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/mar/05/paperless-podcast-review-ukrainecast-the-rest-is-history-the-rest-is-politics |title=The week in audio: Paperless; Weekend; Ukrainecast; The Rest Is History – review |last=Sawyer |first=Miranda |date=6 March 2022 |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=27 December 2022 |archive-date=27 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221227151405/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/mar/05/paperless-podcast-review-ukrainecast-the-rest-is-history-the-rest-is-politics |url-status=live }}</ref> and has since become one of the leading political podcasts in the United Kingdom.<ref name="times25"></ref> The podcast is produced by [[Goalhanger Podcasts]].<ref name="GuardianSawyer"></ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://pressgazette.co.uk/podcasts/news-agents-podcast-downloads/ |title=The News Agents podcast hits 10 million downloads |last=Turvill |first=William |date=8 December 2022 |website=pressgazette.co.uk |publisher=[[Press Gazette]] |access-date=27 December 2022 |archive-date=27 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221227151406/https://pressgazette.co.uk/podcasts/news-agents-podcast-downloads/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Campbell and Stewart generally discuss contemporary news and politics, with a strong focus on UK politics, but also international developments, such as foreign elections and humanitarian catastrophes. An American edition was launched in April 2024 with [[Anthony Scaramucci]] and [[Katty Kay]] hosting.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://thepoliticswatcher.com/pages/articles/international/2024/4/25/rest-politics-navigating-intersection-rest-politics |title=The Rest is Politics: Navigating the Intersection of Rest and Politics |date=24 April 2024 |work=The Politics Watcher |access-date=26 April 2024}}</ref>
==Background==
Both [[Alastair Campbell]] and [[Rory Stewart]] are former political figures, and both left their respective parties because of their opposition to more extreme elements in them. Their podcast is aimed at "disagreeing agreeably", seeking a more temperate and informed political debate.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/dec/29/hear-here-uncontrolled-substances-cerebral-podcast |title=Best podcasts of the week: The rise and fall of the Silicon Valley brand that made antidepressants 'cool' |last1=Duggins |first1=Alexi |last2=Verdier |first2=Hannah |last3=Richardson |first3=Hollie |last4=Lindlar |first4=Charlie |date=29 December 2022 |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=21 January 2023 |archive-date=21 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121101435/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/dec/29/hear-here-uncontrolled-substances-cerebral-podcast |url-status=live }}</ref>
Campbell is a journalist, political strategist, and mental health activist, known for his work as communications chief for [[Tony Blair]]. A former member of the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]], Campbell was expelled after having publicly stated that he had voted for the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] in the [[2019 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|2019 European Parliament elections in the United Kingdom]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/may/28/labour-expels-alastair-campbell-from-party |title=Labour expels Alastair Campbell from party |date=28 May 2019 |work=The Guardian |access-date=21 January 2023 |archive-date=8 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210408085850/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/may/28/labour-expels-alastair-campbell-from-party |url-status=live }}</ref> Stewart is an academic, author, former diplomat and politician.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rory Stewart |url=https://jackson.yale.edu/person/rory-stewart/ |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs |language=en-US}}</ref> A former member of the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]], Stewart served as [[Minister of State for Development and Africa|international development secretary]] and [[Minister of State for Prisons and Probation|prisons minister]] under [[Theresa May]]. He represented [[Penrith and The Border (UK Parliament constituency)|Penrith and The Border]] in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom]] for around nine years. In 2019, after [[Boris Johnson]] was elected leader of the Conservatives, Stewart resigned from the cabinet. He was part of the [[2019 suspension of rebel Conservative MPs]] for having rebelled against Johnson's approach to [[Brexit]]. He later also resigned his party membership.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/tory-rory-stewart-sacked-text-19428060|title=Tory Rory Stewart sacked by text while he accepted politician of the year award|last=Bloom|first=Dan|date=4 September 2019|website=Daily Mirror|access-date=21 January 2023|archive-date=8 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190908235520/https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/tory-rory-stewart-sacked-text-19428060|url-status=live}}</ref>
Goalhanger Podcasts is owned by former [[England national football team|England]] footballer [[Gary Lineker]], and also produces the podcasts ''[[The Rest is History (podcast)|The Rest Is History]]'', hosted by [[Dominic Sandbrook]] and [[Tom Holland (author)|Tom Holland]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2022/06/gary-lineker-goalhanger-expand-podcast-output-wme-1235032991/ |title=Gary Lineker's Goalhanger To Expand Podcast Output After Signing With WME |last=White |first=Peter |date=17 June 2022 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |access-date=21 January 2023 |archive-date=21 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121101435/https://deadline.com/2022/06/gary-lineker-goalhanger-expand-podcast-output-wme-1235032991/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Battleground'' hosted by [[Saul David]] and Patrick Bishop, ''We Have Ways Of Making You Talk'' hosted by [[Al Murray]] and [[James Holland (author)|James Holland]], ''The Rest Is Money'', hosted by [[Robert Peston]] and [[Steph McGovern]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sawyer |first=Miranda |date=2023-09-02 |title=The week in audio: Finn and the Bell; Animal; The Rest Is Money – review |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/sep/02/finn-and-the-bell-erica-heilman-rumble-strip-radiolab-review-animal-radio-4-the-rest-is-money-robert-peston-steph-mcgovern-goalhanger |access-date=2024-01-03 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> ''The Rest is Football'', hosted by [[Gary Lineker]], [[Alan Shearer]], and [[Micah Richards]], and ''The Rest is Entertainment'', hosted by [[Richard Osman]] and [[Marina Hyde]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sawyer |first1=Miranda |title=The week in audio: The Rest Is Entertainment; History for You With Douglas and Hugh and more |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/dec/02/the-rest-is-entertainment-richard-osman-marina-hyde-review-history-for-you-with-douglas-and-hugh-seven-deadly-psychologies-eight-years-hard-labour |access-date=21 December 2023 |work=Guardian |date=2 December 2023}}</ref>
==Format==
The podcast ordinarily releases two episodes every week: a "main" episode and a "question time" episode. The main episodes last around 30 to 50 minutes, and involve Campbell and Stewart discussing contemporary events and news stories, mostly from the United Kingdom. During the question time episodes, they answer questions from listeners. The questions are not limited to topics formerly discussed on the podcast, and include news stories not discussed on the main episodes as well as the hosts' political careers. The theme music that starts and ends each episode is "A Diabolical Caper", written by composer Luke Richards. On some occasions, the podcast releases "emergency" episodes, reacting to major news events, such as the resignations of [[Sajid Javid]] and [[Rishi Sunak]],<ref>{{cite podcast |url=https://shows.acast.com/the-rest-is-politics/episodes/special-sunak-and-javid-resign |title=SPECIAL:SUNAK AND JAVID RESIGN |website=[[Acast]] |publisher=Goalhanger Podcasts |host=Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart |date=5 July 2022 |time= |access-date=21 January 2023 |archive-date=21 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121204005/https://shows.acast.com/the-rest-is-politics/episodes/special-sunak-and-javid-resign |url-status=live }}</ref> which sparked the [[July 2022 United Kingdom government crisis]] that culminated in the resignation of [[Boris Johnson]]; the [[October 2022 United Kingdom government crisis]] which resulted in the dismissal of [[Kwasi Kwarteng]] and resignation of [[Liz Truss]]; and the first [[2024 United States presidential debates|2024 United States presidential debate]] between [[Joe Biden]] and [[Donald Trump]].<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1xrMBJcYqo |title=Why Joe Biden must step down |date=2024-06-28 |last=The Rest Is Politics |access-date=2024-06-29 |via=YouTube}}</ref>
===The Rest Is Politics: Election Special===
Ahead of the [[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024 general election]], ''The Rest Is Politics'' was announced in [[Channel 4]]'s coverage line-up, presenting alongside [[Emily Maitlis]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Waterson |first=Jim |date=2024-04-22 |title=Emily Maitlis and The Rest Is Politics to host Channel 4 election night coverage |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2024/apr/22/emily-maitlis-and-the-rest-is-politics-host-channel-4-election-night-coverage |access-date=2024-04-22 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
{{Episode table |background=#B30407 |overall=5 |title=20 |titleT=Guest(s) |aux2=10 |aux2T=Running time |airdate=18 |aux4=15 |aux4T=Link |country=U.S. |episodes=
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 1
| RTitle          = N/A
| Aux2            = 46:00
| OriginalAirDate = {{start date|2024|5|29}}
| Aux4            = [https://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-rest-is-politics-election-special/on-demand/77059-001 Episode]
| ShortSummary    = In the first episode, Alastair and Rory dissect the results of their exclusive poll, which shows Labour's lead is narrowing, and discuss [[Rishi Sunak]]'s national service policy.
|LineColor        = B30407
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 2
| RTitle          = N/A
| Aux2            = 47:00
| OriginalAirDate = {{start date|2024|6|4}}
| Aux4            = [https://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-rest-is-politics-election-special/on-demand/77059-002 Episode]
| ShortSummary    = Alastair and Rory discuss a recent poll that looks particularly damning for the Tories, and look at both Sunak and [[Starmer]]'s latest election pledges.
|LineColor        = B30407
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 3
| RTitle          = N/A
| Aux2            = 47:00
| OriginalAirDate = {{start date|2024|6|11}}
| Aux4            = [https://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-rest-is-politics-election-special/on-demand/77059-003 Episode]
| ShortSummary    = Alastair and Rory ask what impact the [[D-Day]] fiasco will have on Rishi Sunak.
|LineColor        = B30407
}}
}}
===Special guests===
{{See also|Leading (podcast)}}
The podcast hosts special guests, interviewing active and retired politicians on their careers and current events. In January 2023, Goalhanger began a new podcast series, ''[[Leading (The Rest is Politics)|Leading]]'', for Campbell and Stewart to interview their special guests and to invite non-political figures as guests. Since ''Leading'' released, ''The Rest Is Politics'' did not invite any special guests, with the exception of [[Israel]]i public intellectual [[Yuval Noah Harari]] and [[State of Palestine|Palestinian]] ambassador [[Husam Zomlot]] during the [[Israel–Hamas war]]. The following public figures have been interviewed on the podcasts' special episodes:
{{Episode table |background=#B30407 |overall=5 |title=20 |titleT=Guest(s) |aux2=10 |aux2T=Running time |airdate=18 |aux4=15 |aux4T=Link |country=U.S. |episodes=
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 1
| RTitle          = [[Tony Blair|Sir Tony Blair]]
| Aux2            = 54:59
| OriginalAirDate = {{start date|2022|6|29}}
| Aux4            = [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/tony-blair-on-the-uks-relegation-battle/id1611374685?i=1000568059189 link at Apple Podcasts]
| ShortSummary    = Sir Tony Blair, former [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom]], discusses UK's [[Foreign policy of the United Kingdom|international stature]] after [[Brexit]], the future of the [[National Health Service|NHS]], technology, [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] after [[Jeremy Corbyn]]'s [[Labour Party leadership of Jeremy Corbyn|leadership]], and the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|Russian invasion of Ukraine]].
|LineColor        = B30407
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 2
| RTitle          = [[Keir Starmer|Sir Keir Starmer]]
| Aux2            = 47:29
| OriginalAirDate = {{start date|2022|7|20}}
| Aux4            = [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/keir-starmer-on-rebuilding-labour-tory-leadership-and/id1611374685?i=1000570527909 link at Apple Podcasts]
| ShortSummary    = Sir Keir Starmer, the [[Leader of the Opposition (United Kingdom)|Leader of Her Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition]] and Leader of the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]], discusses [[Keir Starmer as Leader of the Opposition|his Labour leadership]], his economic policy [[Economic effects of Brexit|post-Brexit]], the [[July–September 2022 Conservative Party leadership election|Conservative party leadership election]], [[Elections in the United Kingdom#Electoral reform|electoral reform in the UK]] and the [[UK constitution]].
|LineColor        = B30407
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 3
| RTitle          = [[William Hague, Baron Hague of Richmond|Lord Hague of Richmond]]
| Aux2            = 50:53
| OriginalAirDate = {{start date|2022|8|3}}
| Aux4            = [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/william-hague-on-boris-johnson-blair-and-brexit/id1611374685?i=1000574888532 link at Apple Podcasts]
| ShortSummary    = Lord Hague of Richmond, the former [[Foreign Secretary|UK foreign secretary]] and former [[Leader of the Opposition (United Kingdom)|Leader of Her Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition]], discusses his tenures as [[William Hague#Leadership of the Conservative Party|leader of the opposition]] and as [[William Hague#Foreign Secretary|foreign secretary]], [[Boris Johnson]]'s [[July 2022 United Kingdom government crisis|resignation]], [[House of Lords]] [[Reform of the House of Lords|reform]], [[Brexit]], and retiring from politics.
|LineColor        = B30407
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 4
| RTitle          = [[Mark Drakeford]]
| Aux2            = 47:38
| OriginalAirDate = {{start date|2022|9|16}}
| Aux4            = [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/mark-drakeford-on-labour-success-tory-pms-and-welsh/id1611374685?i=1000579634739 link at Apple Podcasts]
| ShortSummary    = [[First Minister of Wales|Welsh first minister]] Mark Drakeford discusses [[Welsh Labour]], [[Welsh nationalism|Welsh]] and [[Scottish nationalism]], [[Devolution in the United Kingdom|devolution]], and his proficiency in Latin.
|LineColor        = B30407
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 5
| RTitle          = [[Edi Rama]]
| Aux2            = 55:51
| OriginalAirDate = {{start date|2022|9|23}}
| Aux4            = [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-rest-is-politics/id1611374685?i=1000580376054 link at Apple Podcasts]
| ShortSummary    = [[Prime Minister of Albania|Albanian prime minister]] Edi Rama discusses the [[Accession of Albania to the European Union|European Union]], [[Vladimir Putin]], [[Angela Merkel]], [[English Channel migrant crossings (2018–present)|English Channel migrant crossings]] and his career as an artist, sportsperson, and politician.
|LineColor        = B30407
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 6
| RTitle          = [[François Hollande]]
| Aux2            = 41:34
| OriginalAirDate = {{start date|2022|10|27}}
| Aux4            = [https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/fran%C3%A7ois-hollande-on-putin-obama-and-brexit/id1611374685?i=1000584030740 link at Apple Podcasts]
| ShortSummary    = Former [[President of France|French president]] François Hollande discusses [[Vladimir Putin]], [[Xi Jinping]], [[Angela Merkel]], [[Emmanuel Macron]], the importance of [[political parties]], and the [[far right in France]].
|LineColor        = B30407
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 7
| RTitle          = [[Julia Gillard]]
| Aux2            = 53:08
| OriginalAirDate = {{start date|2022|11|4}}
| Aux4            = [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/julia-gillard-on-rishi-sunak-compulsory-voting-and/id1611374685?i=1000585024521 link at Apple Podcasts]
| ShortSummary    = Former [[Prime Minister of Australia|Australian prime minister]] Julia Gillard discusses [[women in government]], her [[Misogyny Speech]], [[Politics of Australia|Australian political system]], [[Monarchy of Australia|monarchy]], and [[Electoral system of Australia#Compulsory voting|compulsory voting]].
|LineColor        = B30407
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 8
| RTitle          = [[Helen Clark]]
| Aux2            = 01:00:17
| OriginalAirDate = {{start date|2022|12|2}}
| Aux4            = [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/ex-new-zealand-pm-helen-clark-on-monarchy-extreme-poverty/id1611374685?i=1000588416909 link at Apple Podcasts]
| ShortSummary    = Former [[Prime Minister of New Zealand|New Zealand prime minister]] and [[United Nations Development Programme|UNDP administrator]] Helen Clark discusses [[populism]], her tenure as prime minister and UNDP administrator, and [[Monarchy of New Zealand|New Zealand's monarchy]].
|LineColor        = B30407
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 9
| RTitle          = [[Yuval Noah Harari]]
| Aux2            = 48:27
| OriginalAirDate = {{start date|2023|10|13}}
| Aux4            = [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/israel-invasion-and-the-trap-laid-by-hamas/id1611374685?i=1000631234308 link at Apple Podcasts]
| ShortSummary    = [[Israel|Israeli]] public intellectual Yuval Noah Harari discusses the [[2023 Israel–Hamas war]]. Harari has also appeared on ''[[Leading (podcast)|Leading]]'' separately.
|LineColor        = B30407
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 10
| RTitle          = [[Husam Zomlot]]
| Aux2            = 01:03:14
| OriginalAirDate = {{start date|2023|10|13}}
| Aux4            = [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/palestine-gaza-and-israel/id1611374685?i=1000631537810 link at Apple Podcasts]
| ShortSummary    = [[State of Palestine|Palestinian]] ambassador to the UK Husam Zamlot discusses the [[2023 Israel–Hamas war]] and [[Israeli–Palestinian peace process]].
|LineColor        = B30407
}}
}}
==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}{{Alastair Campbell}}{{DEFAULTSORT:Rest is Politics, The}}
[[Category:2022 podcast debuts]]
[[Category:Audio podcasts]]
[[Category:British podcasts]]
[[Category:Goalhanger Podcasts]]
[[Category:Interview podcasts]]
[[Category:Political podcasts]]