Podcast Summary: The Rest Is Politics – Episode 491
"Trump at Davos: Rory and Alastair React"
Release Date: January 21, 2026
Hosts: Alastair Campbell & Rory Stewart
Overview
In this special episode, Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart share their candid, immediate reactions after witnessing Donald Trump's much-anticipated speech at Davos. Both hosts attended the event in person and discuss their firsthand impressions, dissecting the substance (and lack thereof) of Trump's remarks, his demeanor, and the wider implications for international relations, particularly in relation to Europe, NATO, Greenland, and global leadership. The conversation is characterized by their signature balance of sharp critique and agreeable disagreement, providing thought-provoking analysis peppered with wit and direct commentary.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Atmosphere & Experience at Davos
[02:31–03:09]
- Rory and Alastair relay their experiences queuing for hours and securing prime seats behind notable figures like Marco Rubio and Al Gore.
- The episode opens with Alastair expressing horror at the event:
- Alastair Campbell: "That was one of the most horrific events I've attended in my entire life." (03:36)
- Jokes about how Alastair joined Rory in line under false pretenses set a personal, irreverent tone.
2. Trump’s Delivery: Style vs. Substance
[03:10–04:39; 05:35–07:11]
- Rory notes the bizarre disconnect between Trump’s authoritarian language and his rambling, almost flat manner of delivery:
- Rory Stewart: "If you look at the words, it's very fascist... But the delivery is very flat, often very boring, very rambling, very mild mannered." (03:23)
- Alastair describes the speech as “his greatest hits: a ramble of lies, misrepresentations, Sleepy Joe Biden, and all the stuff that he does all the time.” (04:14)
3. Host Reactions—Heckling and Frustration
[04:44–05:13]
- Alastair tried to heckle and fact-check Trump in real time, especially after an offensive remark about Somali intelligence:
- Alastair Campbell: "When he said Somalis... It's even higher than their IQ." (04:54)
- Rory and Alastair describe the awkwardness and social discomfort among elite audience members.
4. Trump’s Narcissism & Falsehoods
[07:11–08:40]
- Both hosts meticulously catalog the litany of falsehoods and exaggerations: U.S. investment numbers, military spending, claims about Britain’s oil reserves, supposed lack of wind farms in China.
- Alastair Campbell: "Polls are not good for him right now. His stuff on living standards was untrue... No country has ever seen anything like this before. Not true." (08:11)
5. America versus the World: A Narrative of Contempt
[08:40–09:46]
- Rory identifies the core of Trump’s worldview as rooted in contempt and transactionalism: America owes nothing, has given everything, and deserves more in return.
- Rory Stewart: "America has done everything for the world. Nobody's done anything for us." (08:41)
- Discussion about Trump’s repeated claim that NATO wouldn't help the U.S., countered by Alastair with the historical fact of Article 5 after 9/11.
- Alastair Campbell: "I shouted 9/11." (08:57)
6. Greenland (and Iceland) Obsession
[09:46–12:17]
- The breaking news from the speech: Trump appears to take military force "off the table" for Greenland, but the hosts note this is more mafia shakedown than genuine restraint.
- Trump’s frequent mention of both Greenland and Iceland—possibly a mistake, possibly not—troubles the hosts:
- Rory Stewart: "He could not have said more frequently, we're having Greenland. Except he didn't just say, we're having Greenland. He repeatedly said... we want Iceland." (10:59)
7. Performance, Power, and Appeasement
[12:17–13:43]
- The performative nature of Trump’s visit: extraordinary security, deliberate queuing, overflow rooms, and the overall intimidation strategy.
- Alastair worries about a climate of appeasement in the room and in international politics, contrasting it with British tradition of dissent.
8. Trump's Policy Themes: Trade, Tariffs, and Vindictiveness
[13:43–14:42]
- Rory outlines Trump’s simplistic worldview: high tariffs as a panacea, dismissing renewables and migration, and relentless threatening of allies.
- Rory Stewart: "Tariffs are personal vindictiveness... any form of trade deficit was the United States being ripped off." (13:29)
9. Leadership Responses—Carney, Starmer, and the “Middle Powers”
[14:42–16:49]
- Contrasting Trump’s bluster with Mark Carney’s statesmanlike speech at Davos, which offered a clear, honest worldview.
- The need for “middle powers”—EU, UK, and others—to unite in the face of U.S. (and Chinese) dominance.
- Alastair Campbell: "Carney hit the note. Absolutely." (21:16)
10. Europe at a Crossroads—Unity or Division?
[16:49–18:48]
- Rory and Alastair warn that Trump’s strategy is to divide European allies, using differential tariffs and sowing weakness.
- Rory Stewart: "What we need is joint statements... and the European Union needs courage." (17:08)
- Discussion of possible EU enlargement strategy as a response.
11. The Reality of Trump’s Support and the MAGA Base
[19:23–20:02]
- The danger isn’t only Trump, but the persistence of his narrative—one an “entrepreneurial Trump successor could win again on this mad message.”
- Rory Stewart: "Let’s not just think, we just wait out Trump... this monster is inarticulately rambling... that is believed by, I don’t know, 30, 40% of the U.S. population." (19:23)
12. Market Manipulation and the “Circus”
[21:48–22:32]
- Alastair raises concerns about how insiders might be leveraging Trump's market-moving remarks for financial gain.
13. Closing Reflections—A Dark Day
[22:32–22:55]
- They close with references to Moisés Naím’s “three Cs”: crime, corruption, cruelty—emphasizing the cruelty they witnessed at Davos.
- Alastair Campbell: "I wish more people in that room had been as horrified as I was." (22:48)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Alastair Campbell: "That was one of the most horrific events I've attended in my entire life." (03:36)
- Rory Stewart: "If you look at the words, it's very fascist... But the delivery is very flat, often very boring, very rambling, very mild mannered." (03:23)
- Alastair Campbell: "His greatest hits: a ramble of lies, misrepresentations, Sleepy Joe Biden, and all the stuff that he does all the time." (04:14)
- Alastair Campbell: "I shouted 9/11." (08:57)
- Rory Stewart: "America has done everything for the world. Nobody's done anything for us." (08:41)
- Rory Stewart: "He could not have said more frequently, we're having Greenland... He repeatedly said... we want Iceland." (10:59)
- Alastair Campbell: "I think we're living in a really dangerous mindset. And I just think Carney hit the note. Absolutely." (21:16)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 02:31 — Rory and Alastair arrive at Davos, describe the crowd and atmosphere.
- 03:36 — Alastair’s horror at the speech.
- 04:44 — Alastair tries to heckle; audience reactions.
- 07:11 — Systematic falsehoods in Trump’s statements.
- 08:41–08:57 — Core Trump narrative and the NATO/9-11 retort.
- 10:17–12:17 — Greenland/Iceland obsession and underlying strategy.
- 13:29 — Tariffs as Trump's foreign policy tool.
- 16:24–17:08 — The "middle powers" and EU unity.
- 18:48 — Mark Carney’s speech and alternative leadership approach.
- 19:23 — Danger of Trump's worldview persisting.
- 22:32 — Market manipulation theme emerges.
- 22:48 — Final thoughts: cruelty and cowardice in the room.
Analysis and Tone
The hosts balance exasperation and satire with pointed critique, often using anecdotes and personal interactions at Davos to illustrate the sense of normalization and appeasement pervading elite circles in the face of Trump's bravado. They warn of growing global instability driven by Trump's rhetoric and the dangers of both European disunity and political complacency. Mark Carney is presented as a counter-model of seriousness and integrity, in contrast with Trump’s unserious, ego-driven style.
Useful For
- Anyone seeking quick, in-depth context on Trump's Davos speech and its broader implications.
- Listeners wanting succinct outlines of elite, insider reactions to major world events.
- Readers curious about UK and European perspectives on the current U.S. administration and world order.
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