1.8 Million Views, Streams and Downloads in 24 Hours for Emergency Iran Episodes of The Rest Is Politics and The Rest Is Politics: US
In the immediate aftermath of the US bombing of Iran, The Rest Is Politics and The Rest Is Politics: US released emergency live episodes - drawing over 1.8 million views, streams, and downloads across platforms in under 24 hours.
Audiences tuned in at scale via YouTube, Spotify, and podcast platforms, with over 50,000 watching live at peak. Nearly a quarter of all YouTube views came via television, highlighting the rapidly blurring line between podcasts and traditional broadcast. Many more caught up via the audio feeds released just hours later.
Rory Stewart and Alastair Campbell spoke on why the US entered Israel’s war with Iran, questioning whether it marked the beginning of a wider conflict and what it meant for global stability. Meanwhile, Katty Kay and Anthony Scaramucci spoke on the real reason Trump decided to get involved in the war, whether it could break apart his MAGA coalition, and what happens next.
Tony Pastor, Co-Founder of Goalhanger, said: “Once again, we’re seeing that in moments of fast-breaking news, audiences turn to podcasts for explanation and analysis. A recent Reuters Institute report confirmed The Rest Is Politics as the UK’s top-ranked news podcast and on Sunday, we saw clear evidence of why. Both our UK and US editions went live in the immediate aftermath of the bombing in Iran, offering timely insight and commentary. What’s particularly striking is how many people chose to watch these episodes on their television. The line between podcast and TV show is blurring – and it’s happening faster than ever.”
About Goalhanger
Goalhanger is the UK’s largest independent podcast producer and the biggest outside the US. We make chart-topping, story-first shows across history, politics, sport, business, entertainment, current affairs, and audio drama, reaching tens of millions around the world each month. Our podcasts include The Rest Is History, The Rest Is Politics, Empire, The Rest Is Entertainment, The Rest Is Politics: US, Leading, The Rest Is Money, Journey Through Time, The Rest Is Football, Sherlock & Co., The Rest Is Classified, The Rest Is Football: Daly Brightness, and We Have Ways of Making You Talk. In 2024 alone, our programmes were downloaded over 400 million times. But Goalhanger is more than just a podcast network. We’re a new-generation cultural media brand producing across YouTube, live events, and long-form audio. From in-depth interviews and cultural commentary to immersive storytelling, everything we create is rooted in trust, talent, and curiosity. Goalhanger is shaping the future of media, one great conversation at a time. Read more here: https://www.goalhangerpodcasts.com/
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