On our latest panel edition: The COVID inquiry exposed an undeniably toxic culture of pseudo machismo underpinning Downing Street – how did it come to this? Plus, we discuss the politicisation of online dating, and whether our political leanings are the new measure of “hot or not”. Joining Podmasters’ own Batman and Robin Andrew Harrison and Jacob Jarvis are Oh God, What Now? regular Marie Le Conte and Why? presenter Dr. Anna Machin for a double date in The Bunker. “If you can get to the top of ...
Nov 12, 2023•44 min•Season 1Ep. 1147
American politics is in chaos – but in many respects the US was born that way. Throughout the late 1700s the federalist party constantly fought with the anti-federalists over their opposing desires for the future. But is partisan politics really a problem? Or is it a necessity for a democratic system to function? Seth Thevoz is joined by bestselling historian and Pulitzer Prize finalist H.W. Brands – whose new book: Founding Partisans: Hamilton, Madison, Jefferson, Adams and the Brawling Birth o...
Nov 11, 2023•35 min•Season 1Ep. 1146
Russia’s use of private military companies (PMCs) is no secret, despite Vladimir Putin’s best efforts. Wagner is the most infamous but after Yevgeny Prighozin’s downfall, another has taken its place – Redut PMC. Where does its loyalties lie? How powerful is it? And who’s in charge? Dr Marina Miron is a post-doctoral researcher at the War Studies Department at King's College London. She joins Laura Makin-Isherwood in The Bunker. “Now that Wagner is out of the picture, it seems like Redut is takin...
Nov 10, 2023•31 min•Season 1Ep. 1145
Spotify dominates the music industry – but artists struggle to profit from the platform. What if that power balance shifts? Although the streaming platform is on track to reach one billion users by 2027. Can the streamer perfect the mix of corporate profits, customer satisfaction and pay musicians more than a fraction of a penny per play? Andrew Harrison is joined in The Bunker by music business and tech journalist Dr. Eamonn Forde to discuss Spotify's uncertain future. “Spotify was created to c...
Nov 09, 2023•33 min•Season 1Ep. 1144
The BBC’s Ros Atkins regularly goes viral for his news explainers. In our latest episode, he joins Ros Taylor to discuss the art of communication in a changing media environment. Whether you’re talking about a complex political issue, or an email to your boss, it’s vital to be able to communicate effectively and clearly. Where do we begin, are there systems to use in constructing our explanations and what makes an explanation effective? Atkins reveals all in his new book The Art of Explanation. ...
Nov 08, 2023•36 min•Season 1Ep. 1143
The Israel-Hamas War is the latest horrific episode in what seems like an intractable political-religious conflict. But could there be a political way out of these generational hatreds? Middle East Analyst and member of the NATO Defence College Foundation Jason Pack believes there IS a solution – and it could come from the most unexpected source. He explains a possible post-war future for Gaza to Andrew Harrison. Why?, the brand new podcast taking you to the edge of knowledge. Available on all g...
Nov 07, 2023•30 min•Season 1Ep. 1142
With the final King’s Speech before the election due, is there any point to Sunak’s plans anymore? What can we expect from the government’s agenda – and can any of its goals even be achieved? Plus the latest on the Israel-Hamas conflict – will growing calls for a ceasefire or pause be heeded? Finally, Trump is expected to testify in one of his many court cases, what should we expect? Jacob Jarvis is joined in The Bunker by Alex Andreou to get you prepped for the week ahead. ‘“The Conservatives a...
Nov 06, 2023•31 min•Season 1Ep. 1141
On this Bonfire night special Bunker Gold, let us take you back to November 2020… Was Guy Fawkes really “the last honest man to enter Parliament”, as we keep hearing on Twitter? Or a fore-runner of today’s religiously radicalised terrorists? Why is a villain of the Gunpowder Plot acclaimed as a hero by some in 2020? Nick Holland, author of The Real Guy Fawkes, tells Jude Rogers why Guy Fawkes persists as a symbol… and what we misunderstand about a man who almost murdered thousands in a 17th cent...
Nov 05, 2023•20 min•Season 1Ep. 1140
From Obama’s tan suit to the Emperor’s new clothes – we’ve always been fascinated by politicians’ wardrobes. But should we care at all what they wear? Marie Le Conte is joined by fashion writer and political commentator, Derek Guy aka "The Menswear Guy" on Twitter to find out. "I don’t like the respectability politics of clothing. Your character isn’t determined by how you dress.” – Derek Guy "I would agree. I’m a bit of a snob.” – Derek Guy “You don’t know if somebody earnestly loves something ...
Nov 05, 2023•31 min•Season 1Ep. 1139
The notion of American patriotism has become increasingly controversial — and linked to violence. With no clear-cut definition of patriotism, the notion has been co-opted by far-right extremist groups such as the Proud Boys and Oathkeepers. Sam Jackson is the author of Oath Keepers: Patriotism and the Edge of Violence in a Right-Wing Anti Government Group, he joins Chris Jones in The Bunker to discuss how the concept has been warped. Book link: http://cup.columbia.edu/book/oath-keepers/978023119...
Nov 04, 2023•33 min•Season 1Ep. 1138
Questions over Iran’s involvement in the Israel-Hamas conflict have run rampant since the terrorist attacks of October. How would the nation benefit from chaos in the Middle East and what would it take for Iran to join the war? Today in The Bunker, Alex Andreou sits down with Dr Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House, to ask: what does Iran want? “Iran is not a natural partner with Hamas, they have significant religious differences.” – Dr Sanam Vakil...
Nov 03, 2023•31 min•Season 1Ep. 1137
Are tech giants out of control? Our media landscape is dominated by tech titans with unlimited resources and little to no oversight. Does anyone have a plan to deal with this lack of regulation? Ros Taylor sits down with, senior research fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School and author of Techlash, Tom Wheeler to discuss his vision of digital governance. “Certain men of wealth can do as they please." – Tom Wheeler “We need a new federal agency that is created to deal with the realities of modern ...
Nov 02, 2023•32 min•Season 1Ep. 1136
Prisons across England and Wales are at breaking point. If the system does not change, experts say the number of people living in squalor in overcrowded facilities will only increase. What are the government’s plans to change the system? And can it be fixed? Danny Shaw is a crime, justice and policing commentator and ex-BBC Home Affairs Correspondent. He joins Ros Taylor in The Bunker. “What’s really bad is that the entire criminal justice system feels broken.” – Danny Shaw “I think both Labour ...
Nov 01, 2023•32 min•Season 1Ep. 1135
The far-right could seize power in the next French presidential election. Marine Le Pen has been flying the flag for the anti-immigration Nation Rally Party ever since her father Jean-Marie Le Pen stepped down in 2011. Despite multiple failed attempts at election, her popularity has been increasing in the polls - and it looks like 2027 could be her year. So what’s behind her success and what would France under Le Pen’s presidency look like? Paul Smith is an Associate Professor in French History ...
Oct 31, 2023•32 min•Season 1Ep. 1134
After a weekend of communication blackouts, circumstances grow more dire for Palestinians. With little hope of a ceasefire, how will the Israel Hamas conflict develop this week? Meanwhile, the UK is hosting a summit on the danger of A.I. but is it too little too late? Plus the latest on the US presidential race — and Dominic Cummings faces a grilling from the Covid Inquiry. Ros Taylor is joined in The Bunker by Gavin Esler to get you prepped for the week ahead. “This war has already been going o...
Oct 30, 2023•29 min•Season 1Ep. 1133
On this week's Bunker Gold, a classic interview from 2022... Lisa Nandy talks to Dorian Lynskey about the people and places left behind in modern Britain – and how to empower them. The shadow secretary of state for communities and local government discusses the communities that give her hope, the missteps of recent Governments and what shifts she’d like to see – as outlined in her new book All In: How We Build a Country That Works. “Everywhere you go there is this feeling that everything is fall...
Oct 29, 2023•33 min•Season 1Ep. 1132
Despite all odds, Goths have continued to thrive and evolve from Siouxsie and the Banshees to Wednesday Adams. But what political and social conditions created the Goth movement? And how has the extravagant subculture survived all this time? Frontman of The Membranes and author of The Art of Darkness, John Robb, joins Alex Andreou in our extra spooky early Halloween edition of The Bunker. “You can't create a culture darker than the way the people in power run it already.” – John Robb “Goths read...
Oct 29, 2023•36 min•Season 1Ep. 1131
Chinese President Xi Jinping says the future destiny of mankind relies on how well the US and China get along. But with growing tensions rising around Taiwan and military exercises becoming more frequent in the Indo-Pacific, is war just on the horizon? Oriana Skylar Mastro is a Center Fellow of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, Stanford University And the author of “Upstart: How China Became a Great Power.” She joins Chris Jones in The Bunker. https://global.oup.com/academi...
Oct 28, 2023•30 min•Season 1Ep. 1130
Since its conception in 1993, the European Union has faced multiple political attacks and crises. But it has prevailed through it all… so far. With a convergence to right-wing populism happening around the world, can its fight to uphold democracy continue? Dermot Hodson is the author of Circle of Stars: A History of the EU and the People Who Made It and a Professor of Political Economy and Digital Technologies at Loughborough University London. He joins Alex Andreou in The Bunker to discuss how ...
Oct 27, 2023•36 min•Season 1Ep. 1129
Russian Oligarchs routinely use a process in English courts to silence their critics. It’s called Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation or SLAPPs for short. David Hooper is a veteran lawyer and author of Buying Silence How oligarchs, corporations and plutocrats use the law to gag their critics. He’s no stranger to this expensive process and says it makes it too easy for billionaires to launder their reputation. He joins Ros Taylor in The Bunker. https://www.bitebackpublishing.com/books...
Oct 26, 2023•28 min•Season 1Ep. 1128
Amazon is so dominant that the US government wants to break it up. Jeff Bezos’s empire has been described as an e-commerce monopoly – that harms consumers, sellers and the retail landscape. Senior lecturer at Lancaster University, Dr. Renaud Foucart, joins Ros Taylor in The Bunker to find out how a US court decision could impact online shopping around the world. “You cannot open a small business and compete with Amazon. You would need billions to even consider it.” – Dr. Renaud Foucart “There is...
Oct 25, 2023•31 min•Season 1Ep. 1127
The UK’s housing crisis will be a pivotal issue at the next election. Labour Party politicians have laid out their plans to solve it – but can they be trusted to deliver? And what makes their policies different to the current government? Harry Scoffin is a prominent campaigner on housing and the co-founder of Commonhold Now. He joins Hannah Fearn in the Bunker. “Housebuilders are not necessarily going to get us to the promised land and if they do – it’ll come at a price.” – Harry Scoffin “If Lab...
Oct 24, 2023•31 min•Season 1Ep. 1126
Rishi Sunak has had prank calls and wake-up calls in recent days. How will he try to turn things around in the coming days? And just how badly are the Tories reacting to the by-election results? It’s a year into the PM’s tenure, could it be much worse? Plus, we look at the latest from Israel and Gaza, and concerns of wider conflict in the Middle East. Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis with Alex Andreou. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio product...
Oct 23, 2023•32 min•Season 1Ep. 1125
In this week’s Bunker Gold, let us take you back to August 2022… With workers on strike and services cancelled, why are Britain’s railways such a mess? And how can they be fixed? Tom Haines-Doran, research fellow at Leeds University and author of Derailed: How to Fix Britain’s Broken Railways, joins Ros Taylor to discuss the problems with the UK’s train system, and what needs to happen for our railways to get back on track. • “Once a new Prime Minister is in place we could see a lot more strike ...
Oct 22, 2023•27 min•Season 1Ep. 1124
From the Romans to 9/11, fear has been used to influence our political landscape. But, what makes fear so potent and how does it continue to shape the world? Alex Andreou speaks to Robert Peckham, author of Fear: An Alternative History of the World, to find out if we can ever move beyond horror politics. “Fear has been weaponized throughout history since records began.” – Robert Peckham “Fear can be used motivationally and can quickly turn into stigmatising politics.” – Robert Peckham “Liberalis...
Oct 22, 2023•32 min•Season 1Ep. 1123
President Joe Biden’s visit to Israel was a clear indication of US support for Netanyahu's war with Hamas – but he also signalled a need for caution in the region. With the possibility of a second Trump presidency on the horizon, is the US’s hands-on approach to the Middle East sustainable? Associate professor of politics and international relations at UCL, Dr. Julie Norman, joins Chris Jones in The Bunker to look at Biden’s visit and the future of conflict in the middle east. “The Israel Palest...
Oct 21, 2023•30 min•Season 1Ep. 1122
Russian propaganda has evolved since the invasion of Ukraine. Dr. Ian Garner, historian and author of Z Generation: Into the heart of Russia's fascist youth, joins Andrew Harrison in The Bunker to discuss Putin’s propaganda, how it has changed and why it works so well. “They are the pioneers of multiplatform large scale disinformation.” – Ian Garner “That metaphor of ‘firehose of falsehoods’ doesn’t quite explain the scale of what Russia is doing.” – Ian Garner Support us on Patreon: www.patreon...
Oct 20, 2023•32 min•Season 1Ep. 1121
Money talks – and that’s particularly true in politics. Will we ever know where the cash that influences our politicians comes from? Seth Thévoz speaks to Peter Geoghegan, writer of the popular substack Democracy for Sale, about the shadowy organisations and flows of cash that influence our political institutions in The Bunker. “The Tufton Street crowd is very influenced by what’s happening in the states.” – Peter Geoghegan “Labour promises to crack down on dark money have been watered down time...
Oct 19, 2023•34 min•Season 1Ep. 1120
How important is your identity to your political beliefs? Yascha Mounk, the author of The Identity Trap argues that over the past decades, a healthy appreciation for the culture has transformed into an obsession. He joins Ros Taylor in the Bunker to explain why he thinks we need to move beyond individuality for the collective good. “I don’t think woke is a useful term.” - Yascha Mounk “There's a set of new ideas that are largely untested, but have taken on tremendous power very quickly,” - Yasch...
Oct 18, 2023•36 min•Season 1Ep. 1119
David Cameron pushed his “big society” plan during his time as prime minister – but it didn’t work very well. Was it always doomed to fail? Seth Thevoz speaks to Peter John, head of the School of Politics and Economics at King’s College London, about the history and legacy of this policy position – as well as the lessons we can learn from it. “The big society didn’t seem to stack up with wider policy changes.” “The critics were out really from the start.” “It proved to be embarrassing, and becam...
Oct 17, 2023•28 min•Season 1Ep. 1118
