Twenty-five years after 9/11, does terrorism still pose an existential threat to humanity? How do ordinary people become extremists — and why is it a mistake to generalise about the “type” of person who joins a terror organisation? What opportunities did the chaos of ISIS’ caliphate present to otherwise unlikely recruits?
This week, Rory is joined by Iraqi ... Show More
Nov 12
588. Is Britain Prepared for Cyber Warfare and The ‘Plot’ to Undermine the UN
As supermarket fridges are hacked and bomb threats are called in, how is AI accelerating the rate of cyberattacks, and can Britain’s defences keep up? Who is in the running to become the next UN Secretary-General, and what will the appointment mean for the future of the organisat ... Show More
1 h
Nov 11
587. Will a Weakened Trump Make the World More Dangerous?
Following the disastrous midterm results for the Republicans, where will Trump turn his attention for the last two years of his presidency, and what will the MAGA movement look like without him? With Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang admitting an affair with a suspected Chinese spy, what d ... Show More
57m 34s
Apr 2024
69. The brutal truth about net zero and how to vanquish climate populists, with Dieter Helm
Is net zero 2030 impossible to achieve - and is it a mistake to pursue it? Should governments be more brutal with climate investment? Are events like COP a waste of time?
Rory and Alastair are joined by Britain’s leading energy economist, Professor Dieter Helm, to answer all the ... Show More
1h 14m
Jan 2024
53. Seb Coe: Corruption, gender, and the geopolitics of sport
Will doping ever be defeated in sport? What was it like going from world class runner to government whip? Are the Tories finished in Britain?
In the first Leading episode of 2024, Rory and Alastair are joined by Seb Coe to discuss all this and more.
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1h 1m
May 2025
132. Former Head of MI6: Russia, China, and Trump (Sir Alex Younger)
What is the real job of a spy? What is the role of the UK’s intelligence community in Trump’s new world order? How does the relationship between politicians and intelligence services work? TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, receive our ... Show More
1h 7m