The Rest Is Politics - Episode 423 Summary

Title: Question Time: Glastonbury’s Israel fallout, New York’s socialist mayor and why NATO called Trump ‘daddy’
Host: Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart
Release Date: July 2, 2025

1. Introduction

In this episode of The Rest Is Politics, hosts Alistair Campbell and Rory Stewart delve into a range of pressing political issues both within the UK and internationally. From New York's surprising mayoral race outcome to controversial stances at the Glastonbury festival, and from U.S. foreign policy maneuvers to NATO's peculiar tributes, Campbell and Stewart provide insightful analysis and engaging debate on these topics.

2. Zoran Mamdani's Triumph in New York's Mayoral Race

Alistair Campbell opens the discussion by addressing the unexpected victory of Zoran Mamdani in the Democratic primary for New York's mayoral race, defeating the favored Andrew Cuomo.

• Impact on Global Politics and the Democratic Party:
  Cambridge notes: "Zoran Mamdani's win is a beacon of hope for progressives worldwide" (01:30).

• Campaign Strategies:
  Rory Stewart highlights Mamdani's grassroots approach, emphasizing his use of TikTok to engage voters, contrasting it with Cuomo's heavy reliance on traditional television advertising. Rory remarks: "Zoran came from nowhere and used essentially TikTok to cruise to victory over Cuomo" (02:40).

• Implications for UK Labour:
  The hosts predict that UK Labour may adopt similar progressive strategies, focusing on wealth taxes and a social democratic approach. Stewart suggests: "Mamdani senses that we're in a moment more comfortable with wealth taxes, and UK Labour will follow his example" (06:23).

3. Glastonbury's Support for Gaza and BBC Censorship

The episode shifts focus to Glastonbury Festival's stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict and allegations of BBC censorship.

• Festival's Political Statement:
  Campbell criticizes the impassioned yet divisive chants at Glastonbury, questioning the lack of proportionate outrage towards the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. He states: "Where is the outrage about thousands of kids? I just think it's sort of exasperating" (13:06).

• BBC's Role:
  The hosts argue that mainstream media, including the BBC, often ignores significant reports on Gaza, contributing to a skewed public perception. Campbell observes: "The very strong conclusion was, if anything, there is a very, very strong pro-Israel, anti-Palestinian bias" (13:48).

4. Trump's Involvement in the Rwanda-Congo Peace Deal

A significant portion of the discussion centers on President Donald Trump's role in brokering a peace deal between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

• Nature of the Peace Deal:
  Rory Stewart provides a comprehensive overview of the conflict's history and the peace negotiations. He explains: "The peace deal includes demobilization, reintegration, ceasefires, refugee return, and joint coordinating mechanisms for security" (18:24).

• Skepticism About Effectiveness:
  Both hosts express doubts about the deal's long-term viability, citing the exclusion of key groups like the M23 rebel faction. Campbell remarks: "They haven't done the work to give this deal a chance of sticking" (23:08).

• Trump's Motivations and Future Impact:
  The discussion critiques Trump's possible ulterior motives, such as securing access to Congo's mineral wealth. Rory opines: "Trump is phoning his big friends saying, I'm going to get the Nobel" (21:56).

5. U.S. Health Secretary's Withdrawal of Funding from Gavi

The hosts analyze the implications of the U.S. Health Secretary's decision to pull funding from Gavi, the Global Vaccine Alliance.

• Reasons Behind the Withdrawal:
  Campbell attributes the decision to the Health Secretary's vaccine skepticism and conspiracy theories. He states: "He's been a vaccine skeptic for an awful long time" (28:04).

• Global Health and Geopolitical Consequences:
  Stewart emphasizes the dire ramifications, predicting the premature deaths of 14 million people over five years due to the funding cut. He asserts: "This is one of the most simple, straightforward arguments for international development aid" (29:59).

• Broader Context of Aid Cuts:
  The discussion links this move to broader trends of reduced international aid, notably under the Trump and Musk administrations, exacerbating global health crises. Campbell warns: "Low and middle-income countries are now going to face a shock comparable in scale to a global pandemic" (31:45).

6. Sir John Major's Critique of Donald Trump

The episode features an examination of Sir John Major's recent speech criticizing President Trump and assessing the state of the UK-US special relationship.

• Content of the Speech:
  Major questions: "Is barbarianism now acceptable?" and "Has the law, human decency, and political morality been cast aside?" (35:22).

• Implications for the Special Relationship:
  Campbell and Stewart discuss whether Major's outspoken criticism signifies irreversible damage to UK-US ties. Major emphasizes: "We're beginning to elect leaders concerned only about national self-interest" (35:22).

• Impact on UK Policy:
  The hosts correlate Major's warnings with current UK policy shifts, such as increased defense spending at the expense of welfare and international aid, attributing some responsibility to Trump's destabilizing influence. Stewart reflects: "Populism creates violence, conflict forces an increase in defense spending" (36:28).

7. NATO Leader Mark Rutte's Reference to Trump as 'Daddy'

A particularly contentious topic is NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte's characterization of Trump as 'daddy,' examining its implications for international diplomacy.

• Context of the Comment:
  During a NATO summit, Rutte reportedly referred to Trump affectionately, which Campbell and Stewart find both humiliating and strategically flawed. Rutte's message in the transcript reads: "Donald, you have driven us to a really, really important moment for America and Europe and the world" (38:19).

• Critique of Diplomacy:
  The hosts criticize Rutte's approach, contrasting it with leaders like Angela Merkel and Theresa May, who maintained dignity and professional distance. Stewart argues: "Mark Rutte is ... making Trump feel that he's completely won, that he's totally vindicated in all his disgusting international behavior" (42:43).

• Long-term Consequences:
  They warn that such flattery undermines the credibility and effectiveness of international alliances like NATO, paving the way for inconsistent policies and weakened strategic positions. Campbell concludes: "It’s all the same story. Just remind people the message goes like this..." (37:43).

8. Conclusion

Alistair Campbell and Rory Stewart wrap up the episode by emphasizing the need for principled leadership and coherent policy-making in the face of destabilizing political figures and trends. They advocate for learning from emerging progressive successes, like Mamdani's campaign, to forge a more equitable and stable political landscape both domestically and internationally.

Notable Quotes:

• Rory Stewart on Mamdani's Victory:
  "Zoran came from nowhere and used essentially TikTok to cruise to victory over Cuomo." (02:40)

• Alistair Campbell on Media Bias:
  "The very strong conclusion was, if anything, there is a very, very strong pro-Israel, anti-Palestinian bias." (13:48)

• Sir John Major's Reflection:
  "Is might now right? Has the law, human decency and political morality been cast aside?" (35:22)

• Rory Stewart on NATO's Conduct:
  "Mark Rutte is ... making Trump feel that he's completely won, that he's totally vindicated in all his disgusting international behavior." (42:43)

This summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from Episode 423 of The Rest Is Politics, providing listeners with a comprehensive overview of the political debates and analyses presented by Campbell and Stewart.