The sky is no longer the limit for entrepreneurs as they set their sights on space. SpaceX has made science fiction ideas a reality but who could be next in line to be the biggest name in space? Dr. Casey Handmer, the founder of Terraform Industries, takes Dr. Kate Devlin on a voyage through the world of space based start-ups looking to make their millions in space. “SpaceX is one or two competitive startups away from losing market share.” “Politics is negotiable but physics is not.” “Super geek...
Jun 11, 2023•20 min•Season 1Ep. 981
Biden proudly told the world his debt ceiling deal averted “economic collapse”. He’s not wrong – but is he in the clear yet? Professor Larry J White has taught Economics at New York University for over 40 years. He joins Jacob Jarvis in the Bunker to discuss what the deal entails, how it will impact the nation and what concerns Biden still has economically. “This was truly uncharted territory that has been avoided.” – Larry J White “It is, I'll have to use an economic term, NUTS!” – Larry J Whit...
Jun 10, 2023•23 min•Season 1Ep. 980
The assassination of Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme remains an unsolved mystery. How did a lone gunman manage to murder him during the height of the Cold War, and why? Ros Taylor welcomes Jan Stocklassa to the Bunker to discuss his documentary, The Man Who Played With Fire , which attempts to answer once and for all: who killed Olof Palme? “There is a 37 year long cover up at the root of this investigation.” “He was not a run of the mill Swede, he wasn’t afraid to provoke people around the gl...
Jun 09, 2023•22 min•Season 1Ep. 979
Andy Street took a risk in leaving his role as managing director of John Lewis to become West Midlands mayor. He’s one of two Tory combined authority mayors, a role he describes as “trailblazing”. But despite his party loyalty, he hasn’t shied away from criticising Westminster – especially when it comes to Levelling-up. He sat down with Hannah Fearn in The Bunker to discuss his priorities and time in office. “For me, it wasn’t about representing the party in Westminster. It was first and foremos...
Jun 08, 2023•27 min•Season 1Ep. 978
Sugar became a modern-day bogeyman during austerity. Why? And how did it come to represent personal responsibility? And who has been most instrumental in the fight against it? Hannah Fearn is joined by Karen Throsby , author of new book Sugar rush: Science, politics and the demonisation of fatness , to explore the disastrous consequences of the fight on sugar. “Sugar became the perfect scapegoat for austerity.” “The war on obesity is a failure on its own terms.” “The language of conflict of food...
Jun 07, 2023•25 min•Season 1Ep. 977
George Soros is a holocaust survivor, one of the world’s richest people and the creator of the Open Society. He’s also given away $32 billion in his lifetime. So why is it that he incurs so much hate, not just from the American right but his own country, Hungary, too? Daniel Bessner is associate professor of international studies at Washington University and co-host of American Prestige podcast. He joins Gavin Esler in The Bunker to discuss. “He likes to repeat in his books that he has ‘an incre...
Jun 06, 2023•22 min•Season 1Ep. 976
This week Johnson and Sunak play the blame game over the Covid inquiry. Will a trip to the USA help Rishi escape the shadow of the former PM? Plus, Labour is embroiled in infighting this week as the Jamie Driscoll drama plays out – can Starmer ignore it? Plus we’ve got the latest on the tragic train crash in India, updates from Ukraine and we ask the question, why is China drilling a hole to hell? Ros Taylor joins Jacob Jarvis to map out the week ahead. “Johnson is enjoying provoking Sunak.’ – R...
Jun 05, 2023•20 min•Season 1Ep. 975
The death penalty is supported by a large number of Brits. Why are so many people obsessed with it? And how does politics change how we see the role of the law? Seth Thévoz is joined by Lizzie Seal, professor of criminology at the University of Sussex to explore the fascination with this ultimate punishment. “Popular support for the death penalty goes up following well-publicised social disorder.” “In the mid 20th century, the death penalty represented public order.” “Labour governments were mor...
Jun 04, 2023•23 min•Season 1Ep. 974
The US isn’t delivering on its pledges to reverse climate change. The Willow Project in Alaska, labelled by some as a “carbon bomb”, is a key example of that. But with global energy supply chains so massively disrupted by the war in Ukraine, are these kinds of projects justified? Michael Gerrard is the founder of the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia Law School. He joined Arthur Snell in the Bunker to discuss why pushing through new climate laws is so difficult. “We ARE NOT on the ...
Jun 03, 2023•23 min•Season 1Ep. 973
The ministerial code is a set of rules members of Government are expected to abide by. But they don’t all manage it. Is it fit for purpose? And have ministers become more unscrupulous – or do we just have higher expectations than we used to? Tim Durrant of the Institute for Government tells Ros Taylor that the system, tested to its limits during Boris Johnson’s premiership, works better than you might think. “We need to know that information coming from the government is honest and true.” – Tim ...
Jun 02, 2023•20 min•Season 1Ep. 972
How secure do you feel in your job? From manufacturing plants to corporate boardrooms, the rise of artificial intelligence has sent shockwaves through the working population. Dr. Kasia Tomasiewicz sits down with Dr. Kate Devlin to talk about how our lives will change in an AI-driven economy. “If essays can be answered with AI, we’re not asking students the right questions.” “Who are we to say the best relationships are between two humans?” “The bigger question regarding AI is who gets to profit ...
Jun 01, 2023•23 min•Season 1Ep. 971
Tens of thousands of people are demanding an end to leasehold laws in England and Wales. They say they’re trapped by an avalanche of bills, whilst freeholders rake in the cash. Both Labour and the Tories (after A LOT hesitation) have vowed to reform leasehold laws. But how could they do it? It’s an issue that could turn many at the ballot box in next year’s general election. Harry Scoffin is a campaigner for Commonhold Now and joins Hannah Fearn in The Bunker . “Labour don’t think the Tories are...
May 31, 2023•23 min•Season 1Ep. 970
The Tories are in-fighting over supermarket price caps – can they agree on anything? And Boris Johnson is back sulking over Covid, will he stop acting like a teenager? Plus we’ve got the latest from Ukraine, the Turkish election results, and Biden’s proposed debt ceiling deal. Hannah Fearn joins Jacob Jarvis to give you the stories to look out for in the week ahead. “Boris Johnson is acting like a walking sulk.” – Jacob Jarvis “It makes me incredibly angry that the Tories are treating the remova...
May 30, 2023•19 min•Season 1Ep. 969
Emmett De Monterey was born with cerebral palsy, and as he grew up he realised that he was gay. He joins Alex Andreou to discuss his new book Go The Way Your Blood Beats about the challenges of facing two forms of prejudice, one against his disability and the other his sexuality. How do you fight to be seen in a world that refuses to see you? “As a teenager I would have liked to have read a book about these experiences.” “I wasted a lot of time internalising the narrative that I needed to be fix...
May 29, 2023•23 min•Season 1Ep. 968
It’s 60 years this month since National Service was abolished – but the idea remains popular. Could it ever work again, or is it just a pipe dream sustained by right-wing cranks? Jude Rogers is joined by Professor of History Richard Viven, author of National Service: Conscription in Britain 1945-1963, to explore the boredom, terror, and nostalgia of life under compulsory conscription. “Military service was a bit like the workhouse for the poor, it was the last option.” “There was always more ted...
May 28, 2023•25 min•Season 1Ep. 967
The Proud Boys may not be proud no more after four of its members have been found guilty of seditious conspiracy. The neo-fascist group is accused of leading the Jan 6th assault on the capitol and has heavy links to Trump and other influential, right-wing figures. But just how deep does their power lie? And is that power flailing? And talking of the right wing, why is America still so captivated by Fox News, even post-Tucker Carlson? Gavin Esler is joined in the Bunker by Juliet Jeske , Proud bo...
May 27, 2023•23 min•Season 1Ep. 966
Around 12,000 people in England and Wales volunteer as magistrates. That means they can sentence people to up to a year in prison. Yet they have barely any training and no legal qualifications. Penelope Gibbs , the director of Transform Justice, tells Ros Taylor about the problems with relying on a self-selecting, middle-class magistracy who may never have seen inside a jail. They talk about the difficulties in trying to hold remote hearings during the pandemic and how a cash-strapped system str...
May 26, 2023•25 min•Season 1Ep. 965
Can Sadiq Khan really clean up London? From the Met to the air, the Mayor of London has a tough road ahead of him. He speaks to Andrew Harrison to discuss his new book: Breathe and plans to tackle the climate crisis, the controversial ULEZ expansion and how a boy from Tooting ends up a fan of Liverpool FC. “We don’t want money from the ULEZ. We want people walking, cycling or using public transport.” “As Mayor I chose to tackle climate issues, Boris Johnson chose to bury his head in the sand.” “...
May 25, 2023•30 min•Season 1Ep. 964
Sherine Tadros reported from war zones across the world. She joins Alex Andreou to discuss her new book Taking Sides: a memoir about love, war, and changing the world . How has she managed to stay hopeful after so much tragedy? And how can her story of personal strength inspire us to keep going against the odds? “It is our instinct to survive that makes our story less believable.” “When you show strength in the face of great difficulty people often don’t believe you.” “I’m not saying that traged...
May 24, 2023•26 min•Season 1Ep. 963
Following politics is tough, especially if you want to keep your blood pressure at a healthy level. So how can you keep a cool head? Ros Taylor speaks to The Guardian ’s Rafael Behr about his new book: Politics: A Survivor’s Guide: How to Stay Engaged without Getting Enraged. Raf opens up about his own journey and shares how we can find hope amidst the chaos. “Remain rallies were very twee, maybe they should have been more French?” “Post Brexit politics is like trench warfare where politics is t...
May 23, 2023•29 min•Season 1Ep. 962
Suella Braverman has had a busy week with speeding ticket drama. Can the Home Secretary outrun another controversy or is this the end of the track? And with the Northern Irish council election in favour of Sinn Féin, is the future of Éire up for grabs? Plus we’ve got the results from the Greek elections, the latest from Ukraine and rumours of Boris Johnson’s continued downfall. Alex Andreou joins Andrew Harrison to map out the week ahead. “Suella Braverman is a world champ at getting sacked and ...
May 22, 2023•26 min•Season 1Ep. 961
The Freemasons are often blamed when things go wrong. But are they behind a global conspiracy or are they just a glorified men’s drinking club? Siân Pattenden is joined by historian John Dickie, author of The Craft: How the Freemasons Made the Modern World , to discover the truth behind this secretive fraternal group who have been blamed for everything – from corrupting the police to the global financial crash. “They have nothing to do with stonemasons but still use their symbols as moral metaph...
May 21, 2023•25 min•Season 1Ep. 960
America has a gun problem, and not just inside its own borders. Thousands of guns cross into Mexico every year, fuelling an epidemic of violence between drug cartels. Ioan Grillo is the author of ‘Blood Gun Money: How America Arms Gangs and Cartels’. He’s spent time with gun manufacturers, speaking to FBI agents and at murder scenes to decipher just how deep the issue lies. He joined Seth Thevoz in the Bunker from Mexico City. “Suddenly there were no longer just gang members with shaved heads an...
May 20, 2023•28 min•Season 1Ep. 959
It’s time to celebrate the birthplace of democracy with a Greek election! With more than 30 parties and coalitions vying for votes, the stage is set for political chaos. Isn’t democracy wonderful? Alex Andreou speaks to journalist and correspondent for ERT, Evdoxia Lymperi, to try and understand one of the year’s most unpredictable elections. “This is a mute election, nobody is willing to speak to the pollsters.” “Greeks are not Germans. They have no tradition of coalition governments.” www.patr...
May 19, 2023•22 min•Season 1Ep. 958
The overnight Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021 shocked the world. But who is behind the hardline regime running the country? After 20 years of insurgency against the US-backed government in Kabul, how have they changed since they were last in power? Doomsday Watch host Arthur Snell is joined by Hassan Abbas , author of The Return of the Taliban Afghanistan after the Americans Left , to explore the factions vying for power and which international countries have their eyes on Afghanistan. “...
May 18, 2023•32 min•Season 1Ep. 957
How do we stop terrorists before they act? Are our security services operating with expert proficiency or is it just luck? The answer is unfortunately a mix of both, but that’s no reason to despair. Hannah Fearn speaks to The Independent's home affairs editor Lizzie Dearden about her book, Plotters: The UK Terrorists Who Failed , to get an insight into British terror attacks that were stopped in their tracks. “The pool of people susceptible to terrorism grew during the lockdown.” “Security servi...
May 17, 2023•27 min•Season 1Ep. 956
Despite endless scandals and psychodramas, the Tories keep getting into power. So why are the British obsessed with the Conservative Party? And will we ever get rid of them? Seth Thevoz is joined by Samuel Earle, author of Tory Nation: How One Party Conquered Britain , to ask how one party came to dominate our political imagination. “The election numbers seem more like a rigged casino than a functional democracy.” — Samuel Earle “The House of Lords seems to go against the grain of a liberal demo...
May 16, 2023•28 min•Season 1Ep. 955
Battle lines were drawn this week as the Conservatives held two conferences – whose side are you on? In the blue corner Suella Braverman and a whole host of unsavoury fringe figures from the National Conservatism Movement. In the other blue corner it’s the Conservative Democratic Organisation aka the ‘bring back Boris brigade’ led by Nadine Dorries. Plus the Turkish election – is Erdogan’s time up? And yes, we’ll be talking about Eurovision. Alex Andreou joins Ros Taylor to explore the week ahea...
May 15, 2023•30 min•Season 1Ep. 954
How do you tell if a politician is lying? Their lips are moving. That’s what the old joke would have us believe anyway. Rob Burley was a senior producer on some of the BBC’s flagship political shows so he knows what makes a good (and disastrous) political interview. Ros Taylor talks to Rob about his new book, Why Is This Lying Bastard Lying to Me?: Searching for the Truth on Political TV , to find out the tricks used by politicians to get away with their little white lies. “Paxman just had enoug...
May 14, 2023•26 min•Season 1Ep. 953
Right wing extremists are often considered lone wolves. But platforms like 4chan have made it easier than ever for extremist communities to grow. Alex Andreou speaks to best-selling author Jeffrey Toobin about his latest book, Homegrown: Timothy McVeigh and the Rise of Right-Wing Extremism , which explores the connection between the Oklahoma City bomber and the rise of modern day far right extremism. “It’s easy for extremists to find each other. That plot to kidnap the governor of Michigan was h...
May 13, 2023•25 min•Season 1Ep. 952
