The Rest Is Politics US: Hosts, Rankings, and Podcast Guide

When a hit UK political podcast launches an American spinoff, listeners on both sides of the Atlantic take notice. The Rest Is Politics US appeared in 2024–2025 without much fanfare, but its promise to pull back the curtain on White House inner circles has drawn a growing audience.

Production Company: Goalhanger ·
Host (related): Anthony Scaramucci ·
Platforms: Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts ·
Subscription: Available (including Founding Members)

Here is a quick overview of the essential details.

Is the rest of politics liberal?

Political leanings of the UK hosts

• Alastair Campbell served as a strategist for Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair; Rory Stewart was a Conservative MP and cabinet minister under David Cameron (YouTube (podcast channel)).
• Together they represent a cross-party dynamic rather than a single liberal agenda.

How the US version approaches balance

• The US spinoff is hosted by Anthony Scaramucci, a former Trump administration official.
• Its description promises to explore “secrets from inside the White House inner circles” and “the intricacies of United States society”.
• The tone suggests a centrist or insider perspective rather than a partisan slant.

The pattern shows a balanced approach across both versions, each offering a distinct political vantage.

Does Gary Lineker own The Rest is Politics?

Goalhanger’s role in production

• The podcast is produced by Goalhanger, a media company co-founded by Gary Lineker (Wikipedia (encyclopedia)).
• Goalhanger also produces other popular podcasts, including The Rest Is Football.

Gary Lineker’s association with Goalhanger

• Lineker is a co-founder of Goalhanger, but available sources do not confirm that he personally owns The Rest Is Politics.
• Ownership likely rests with Goalhanger as a corporate entity rather than an individual.

What are the top 10 political podcasts?

Current leading political podcasts by downloads

• Industry rankings often place The Daily (The New York Times), Pod Save America, and The Ben Shapiro Show among the top political shows.
• The Rest Is Politics (UK) frequently appears in top 10 political podcast lists, according to multiple platform charts.

Where The Rest Is Politics US stands among them

• According to Rephonic (podcast analytics platform), the US version ranks #133 in Spotify’s United States/Top Podcasts chart, #25 in United States/News, and #41 in Apple News/Politics (United States).
• On Apple Podcasts, it sits at #94 in United States/News overall.
• These numbers place it well within the top 100 political shows, though still behind established leaders.

The pattern: the US version is climbing but hasn’t yet reached the top-tier status of its UK counterpart. Expect further movement as the show builds its American audience.

Where is Charlie Kirk’s podcast ranked?

Charlie Kirk Show ranking metrics

• Charlie Kirk’s podcast is a conservative commentary show with a large following.
• Data from the Top Podcasts By Weekly Average Downloads – July 2025 places it inside the top 100 (specific rank not public).

Comparison to The Rest Is Politics US

• While Kirk’s show targets a conservative audience with daily hot takes, The Rest Is Politics US positions itself as an insider-access political analysis podcast.
• In terms of chart performance, Kirk’s show likely holds a higher overall ranking due to its longer run, but the US spinoff is gaining momentum.

What’s the #1 podcast in the world right now?

Current global #1 podcast: The Joe Rogan Experience

• As of mid-2025, The Joe Rogan Experience consistently leads global charts by weekly average downloads, according to industry trackers.

Where political podcasts fit

• Political shows like The Daily and Pod Save America regularly make the top 10 overall.
• Political commentary remains one of the highest-performing categories, with many shows in the top 100.

The trade-off: political podcasts command loyal audiences but rarely unseat general-interest giants like Rogan. For The Rest Is Politics US, the real competition is among the top-ranked news and politics shows, not the global #1.

Three podcasts, one pattern: chart positions reflect age, audience size, and political leaning.

Why this matters: the US version is still building its footprint. Its Spotify News ranking (#25) shows strong niche traction, but it lags behind Charlie Kirk’s established top-100 overall position.

Timeline: from UK launch to US spinoff

The implication: the spinoff arrived roughly two to three years after the UK original, capitalizing on the brand’s success without rushing to market.

What we know and what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

• UK hosts: Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart.
• US version is available on Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Podcasts.
• Goalhanger is the production company.
• The podcast’s Spotify description emphasizes White House insider access.

What’s unclear

• Exact launch date of the US version.
• Whether Gary Lineker directly owns the podcast.
• Full list of regular US hosts (only Anthony Scaramucci is indicated).
• Subscription pricing for ad-free tiers and Founding Members.

“The Rest Is Politics: US uncovers secrets from inside the White House inner circles as well as taking a wider look at the intricacies of United States society.”

Spotify (podcast platform)

“The Rest Is Politics is a British podcast and television series hosted by Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart. It launched in March 2022.”

Wikipedia (encyclopedia)

For listeners in the United States, the choice is clear: if you want insider perspectives from a former Trump administration official, The Rest Is Politics US delivers a fresh angle. For those preferring a cross-party UK lens, the original remains the gold standard. The US spinoff is still early in its journey, and its chart trajectory suggests growth potential—but it needs more transparency on pricing and hosts to fully compete with established political shows.

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Listeners curious about how the format translates across the Atlantic will find a detailed guide to the US spinoff that covers the unique episode structure and platform availability.

Frequently asked questions