482. A Trumpian Year, the Politics of Hope and Highlights of 2025 - The Rest Is Politics Recap
Podcast: The Rest Is Politics
Published: 2025-12-25
Duration: 27 minutes
Summary
Rory and Alastair provide a critical analysis of Trump's presidency in 2025, highlighting its chaos and unpredictability while discussing personal and political highlights of the year.
What Happened
Alastair Campbell shares his surprise at how chaotic and extreme Trump's presidency has become in 2025, describing it as far worse than his first term. He points to Trump's undermining of the rule of law, his unpredictable behavior with foreign leaders, and the adverse effects of his policies, such as the increased budget for ICE and tariffs.
Rory Stewart agrees with Alastair's assessment of Trump's presidency, noting how it resembles a reality TV show with its unpredictability and shocking decisions. He highlights Trump's erratic relationships with other countries and leaders, particularly mentioning India's expectations and Trump's unexpected decisions regarding Israel and Syria.
Alastair and Rory discuss their personal highlights of 2025, with Alastair fondly recalling being invited to captain a football team in Sarajevo alongside Luka Modric. He also shares a unique experience of playing bagpipes to his favorite tree, which was part of an exhibition launched by King Charles.
Rory shares a personal morning ritual where he enjoys taking his children for croissants and coffee, highlighting these small moments as precious. He also mentions his discovery of a colorful river in Colombia, underscoring the simple joys of life.
The hosts discuss their favorite books of the year, with Alastair recommending 'If Russia Wins' by Carlo Masala and a self-published novel about AI by Robin Copeland. Rory praises Nick Harkaway's 'Titanium Noir' series and Matthieu Ricard's 'Notebook of a Wandering Monk', highlighting their thought-provoking narratives.
They also discuss their cultural experiences, with Alastair mentioning the National Theatre's play about an alcoholic and his sponsor, and Rory highlighting the Marie Antoinette exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum, which offered insights into historical celebrity culture.
In terms of campaigner of the year, Alastair praises Zora Mamdani for his strategic campaigning and rising political influence in New York. Rory highlights a campaign promoting prostate cancer testing, emphasizing its life-saving potential and personal impact on former Prime Minister David Cameron.
The episode concludes with a light-hearted discussion about their favorite films and TV shows of the year, with Alastair choosing a play filmed for cinema and Rory recommending 'Slow Horses' and 'The Diplomat', noting their engaging storylines and contemporary relevance.
Key Insights
- In 2025, Trump's presidency has become more chaotic and extreme compared to his first term, with significant increases in ICE's budget and unpredictable foreign policy decisions impacting international relations.
- The National Theatre's play about an alcoholic and his sponsor and the Marie Antoinette exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum provide cultural insights into addiction and historical celebrity culture, respectively.
- Zora Mamdani has gained recognition in 2025 for his strategic political campaigning in New York, while a campaign promoting prostate cancer testing has had a significant personal impact on former Prime Minister David Cameron.
- Books like 'If Russia Wins' by Carlo Masala and 'Notebook of a Wandering Monk' by Matthieu Ricard have been highlighted for their thought-provoking narratives, reflecting the diverse literary interests of the year.