Politicians are… weird. While it baffles us relentlessly – could it be a good thing? Sunak forgetting how to use a card machine, Rees-Mogg lounging in the commons and Truss, Truss-ing. The list goes on and on and on. So why are politicians the way they are? Dr. James Weinberg is a political academic at the University of Sheffield and author of Who Enters Politics And Why . He joins Marie Le Conte in The Bunker . “We’ve got this popular human fascination with politicians.” – James Weinberg. “I th...
Jul 09, 2023•23 min•Season 1Ep. 1009
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is the leading Democratic challenger to Biden for 2024. But is he actually a threat to the current President – or just a gift to Trump? And how much of a danger does he pose to US politics and society? Molly Jong-Fast is a columnist for Vanity Fair and the host of Fast Politics Pod . She shares her thoughts on the conspiracy peddling political hopeful with Gavin Esler in The Bunker. Listen to Molly’s podcast here: https://fastpoliticspod.com “RFK Jr is part of this tapestry...
Jul 08, 2023•24 min•Season 1Ep. 1008
On the first edition of Bunker Global: A closer look at Israel’s assault on Jenin, the fallout of the violent protests across France and the bounties placed on Hong Kong dissidents. Laura Makin-Isherwood , formerly London bureau chief of Feature Story News , and Anshel Pfeffer , a Jerusalem-based writer for Haaretz and the Economist , join Jacob Jarvis this week. Listen in to get you up to speed on what you need to know about news and politics from across the world. “The Jenin Brigade aren’t goi...
Jul 07, 2023•24 min•Season 1Ep. 1007
Productivity in Britain is down – is an army of middlemen partly to blame? Ros Taylor sits down with Giles Wilkes , senior fellow at the Institute for Government, to find out why we need to cut back on what he labels ‘crud’ to revitalise our economy. “Crud is artificial capitalism.” “The Conservatives did a lot of damage in the 80s and are now returning to the scene of the crime and asking who did this?” www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Ros Taylor. Producer: Liam Tait. Audio e...
Jul 06, 2023•21 min•Season 1Ep. 1006
The NHS was formed 75 years ago. As it celebrates its diamond anniversary, the service seems to be under more pressure than ever. Andrew Harrison is joined by Roy Lilley to celebrate the 75th birthday of the NHS and to ask, will it make it to 80? “The NHS is knackered isn’t it? Nobody can blame staff for wanting to leave.” “If we leave the NHS to get on with the job, it will roll up its sleeves and deliver.” “Virgin tried to come in and run the NHS like an airport, where are they now?” www.patre...
Jul 05, 2023•25 min•Season 1Ep. 1005
The Wagner Group made headlines with its 24-hour revolt against Vladimir Putin. Their leader, Yevgeny Prighozhin, is a shady character. Once a seller of hotdogs, he’s now made a career as a warlord, commanding thousands of troops in Ukraine and Africa. The mystery of Wagner is now clearing, says Ben Dalton , program manager for New America's Future Frontlines program. He joins Laura Makin-Isherwood in The Bunker to discuss how the group operates and how it harnesses the power of social media to ...
Jul 04, 2023•23 min•Season 1Ep. 1004
Sunak has a brand new immigration policy which looks just like the old one. Does anyone support it? With train strikes looming and an NHS staffing crisis, looks like we’re in for another summer of discontent. In international news, following a weekend of riots across France, we ask if President Macron has lost control. Plus updates on attacks on the Westbank and the latest on Ukraine. Arthur Snell joins Alex Andreou to map out the week ahead. “Sunak’s immigration policy is headline grabbing but ...
Jul 03, 2023•24 min•Season 1Ep. 1003
Psychedelic drugs are regularly in the news as a fresh generation of scientists researches them. Who knows how they might be used in future – but, historically, how have they shaped the world already? The negatives of substance use are obvious – but what other impacts are there? From ceremonial plant medicines to the war on drugs; their cultural significance cannot be understated. Dr Kasia Tomasiewicz is joined in The Bunker by Mike Jay to discuss his new book Psychonauts: Drugs and the Making o...
Jul 02, 2023•22 min•Season 1Ep. 1002
Washington, DC is home to the American political elite. Hordes of staff looking to make their names. Lobbyists and think tanks, all chasing a shot at success. The Trump years only intensified the culture - but has that changed the city for good or for worse? Ben Terris is a journalist for the Washington Post and the author of The Big Break: The Gamblers, Party Animals, and True Believers Trying to Win in Washington While America Loses Its Mind . He joins Arthur Snell in The Bunker to discuss why...
Jul 01, 2023•22 min•Season 1Ep. 1001
The Bunker panel show returns to mark our ONE THOUSANDTH edition. Can voters wean themselves off the dark thrills of our political Age of Chaos? And what’s the long view on Trump’s legal troubles? The Guardian’s Raf Behr and US politics expert Julie Norman join Jacob Jarvis and Andrew Harrison for a special celebration edition. Exciting changes are coming in The Bunker: a new look plus new strands and music coming soon. There’s never been a better time to back us on Patreon, so sign up now for s...
Jun 30, 2023•58 min•Season 1Ep. 1000
The news media is driven by clicks more than ever before. Who is winning the war for online attention? Brands like Vice and Gawker initially won the race – but are old-school papers dominating the online space again now? Ben Smith is the former editor-in-chief for Buzzfeed News , runs the news outlet Semafor , and is author of Traffic: Genius, rivalry, and delusion in the billion-dollar race to go viral . He joins Jacob Jarvis in The Bunker. “If you were a journalist covering politics in the mid...
Jun 29, 2023•19 min•Season 1Ep. 999
The NHS has been squeezed by successive Governments. The Covid-19 pandemic only worsened the crisis, highlighting the need for Parliament to focus on fixing our health service. Dr. Julia Grace Patterson is the author of Critical: Why the NHS is Being Betrayed and How We Can Fight for it – and says that politicians are doing nowhere near enough to fix the issue. She joins Hannah Fearn in The Bunker . Find a copy of the book here: https://harpercollins.co.uk/pages/critical “Health care is, unfo...
Jun 28, 2023•24 min•Season 1Ep. 998
Patriotism could be the antidote to the divisions created by Brexit. Can you be a proud patriot even when you don’t agree with your country? Will patriotism ever cast off it’s sinister connotations of nationalism? Ros Taylor is joined in The Bunker by Sunder Katwala, author of How to Be a Patriot: Why love of country can end our very British culture war , to explore what British patriotism means in an increasingly globalised age. “Dangerous patriotism is the version that says it's them or us.” “...
Jun 27, 2023•24 min•Season 1Ep. 997
The Russian revolution ended as quickly as it started, where does this leave Putin and the war in Ukraine? Rishi Sunak’s failure to deliver his 5 key pledges could prove to be his downfall as byelections loom. Plus we’ve got the results from the Greek election, an update on Britain’s cat pupil hysteria and a review of Boris Johnson’s latest rant for the Daily Mail. Hannah Fearn joins Alex Andreou to map out the week ahead. “If Putin can’t control the people and media what does he have left?” - H...
Jun 26, 2023•32 min•Season 1Ep. 996
Edmund Burke’s principles have influenced generations of conservative thinkers and politicians. But who was this architect of modern day conservatism? Joining Seth Thévoz in The Bunker to reflect on Burke’s legacy is Richard Bourke, Professor of the History of Political Thought and author of Empire and Revolution: The Political Life of Edmund Burke . “Burke was a defender of the right to rebel against a despotic government.” “Modern radical conservative movement looks nothing like Burke’s conser...
Jun 25, 2023•21 min•Season 1Ep. 995
There are more guns than people in America. How does this obsession shape US society? Gavin Esler is joined by Jennifer Carlson, author of new book Merchants of the Right: Gun Sellers and the Crisis of American Democracy , to explore the US fascination with guns, the people who are selling them, and how they shape a right -wing ideology. “There’s a feeling that you can’t rely on collective security so you need a gun.” “Gun policy is made at the state level, meaning it is very hard to regulate.” ...
Jun 24, 2023•24 min•Season 1Ep. 994
How alarming is China's tech ambition – and is there any limit to their quest for industrial dominance? From contentious recruitment policies, corporate espionage and not to mention the ten thousand meter hole they’re drilling into the centre of the earth, the nation seems desperate to bolster its position. Alex Andreou is joined in The Bunker by Dr Rogier Creemers to understand Xi’s quest for scientific world domination. “China needs technology but doesn’t want to pay for it.” “If you think you...
Jun 23, 2023•25 min•Season 1Ep. 993
Two years ago, Saudi Arabia announced it was creating a city of the future: known as The Line. Is it actually going to happen? The proposed 110-mile-long smart city of skyscrapers would be fueled by green energy and controlled by Artificial Intelligence. While the urban experiment is currently under development, many believe that the city is just a sci-fi dream that will never see the light of day. Joining Ros Taylor in The Bunker today is Matthew Blunderfield , the host of architecture podcast ...
Jun 22, 2023•22 min•Season 1Ep. 992
From earthquakes to terrorism – we live in a world of constant crisis. But are we prepared for it? Drawing on a wealth of experience as a former public servant and Director of GCHQ, Sir David Omand’s new book How to Survive a Crisis: Lessons in Resilience and Avoiding Disaster addresses responses to some of the greatest crises in recent memory. He joins Doomsday Watch podcast host Arthur Snell In The Bunker. “We must be future-proof to crisis, but we are more vulnerable than ever.” “The world of...
Jun 21, 2023•26 min•Season 1Ep. 991
“Essex man” is a notorious caricature of Thatcherite Brits. How did the Conservatives win over the county? And where – if any – were pockets of resistance? Marie Le Conte is joined by Tim Burrows, author of new book The Invention of Essex: The Making of an English County , to explore the class dynamics and unexpected cultural politics of this much maligned county. “There’s a feeling that people from Essex came up the social ladder too quickly.” “Home ownership has a lot to do with Conservatism i...
Jun 20, 2023•25 min•Season 1Ep. 990
How do you solve a problem like Boris Johnson? Sunak needs to escape the shadow of his predecessor but reciting his 5 goals doesn’t seem to be cutting it. Could a potential mortgage bailout be enough to get the general public back onside? Plus we’ve got the reaction to that Party Gate video, the latest on Ukraine's counter offensive, and Labour's resurgence in Scotland. Gavin Esler joins Alex Andreou to map out the week ahead. “If Sunak doesn’rt get a grip he will be the 4th conservative leader ...
Jun 19, 2023•27 min•Season 1Ep. 989
As the Lords come under scrutiny, we’re joined by one of the good ones – Lord Alf Dubs joins Dorian Lynskey in the Bunker to discuss how his own experience as a holocaust survivor impacts his politics, the failure of consecutive home secretaries and how the Lords should be modernised under Starmer’s Labour party. “Right wing parties across Europe exploit the asylum issue for their own shabby political ends.” “The Lords appointment system worked well, until you get a PM like Johnson who totally a...
Jun 18, 2023•24 min•Season 1Ep. 988
Xylazine, also known as Tranq, is causing a horrific wave of drug deaths across America. It’s mixed with the opioid named fentanyl to cause a cheaper, longer-lasting, yet more dangerous high. Perhaps the most shocking effect is its ability to rot the flesh around the injection site. Megan Cohen is the founder of The Grace Project in Philadelphia. She runs an outreach scheme on Kensington Avenue, home to the largest open air drugs market on the East Coast. She joined Alex Andreou in The Bunker to...
Jun 17, 2023•22 min•Season 1Ep. 987
If you haven’t tried our new press review show PAPER CUTS yet, here’s a taster of today’s episode. This time it’s the Mail and Telegraph’s Johnson-related meltdown, the majesty of Glenda Jackson and much more as comedian Fin Taylor and writer-historian Alex von Tunzelmann join Andrew Harrison under a huge pile of newsprint. Hear the full episode here . We’re out mid-morning every Monday, Wednesday and Friday to look at the the day’s best headlines, wildest stories and weirdest opinions. Subscrib...
Jun 16, 2023•7 min•Season 2Ep. 1
Our view of hackers has been warped by movie portrayals of hoodie-wearing computer whizzes. But what are they really like? These keyboard bashers have uncovered some of the world's darkest secrets – and even come close to destroying the internet. But why do they do it? Scott Shapiro searches for answers in his new book Fancy Bear Goes Phishing: The Dark History of the Information Age, in Five Extraordinary Hacks . He joins Dorian Lynskey in The Bunker. “The hackers that I’ve spoken to, they’re b...
Jun 16, 2023•20 min•Season 1Ep. 986
Cars are making us unhappy and unhealthy. From poor air quality, to mind numbing commutes and gridlocked city centres. Can anything be done to change car culture – or are we already on a highway to hell? Ros Taylor sits down with journalist and author of Carmageddon , Daniel Knowles, to discuss the rise of automobiles and asks if it’s too late to course correct. “The problem to the average driver isn’t you, it’s everything else. ” “I think the car industry likes the idea of reducing civilian dea...
Jun 15, 2023•19 min•Season 1Ep. 985
The question ‘What does it mean to be European?’ is challenging for many Brits, post-Brexit. Author Ben Judah says politics is pushing an ever-changing Europe apart. Ben attempts to remind people what Europe is away from politics in his new book, This is Europe. He joins Hannah Fearn in the Bunker. “Europe’s a lot of things. It can be an idea or a whole theatre for political action but I wanted to focus on the people” – Ben Judah “It was very important to me to show that Europe is much wider tha...
Jun 14, 2023•21 min•Season 1Ep. 984
Theresa May is often ranked alongside the worst Prime Ministers ever. But, does she still get off lightly? And have we forgotten just how bad she was because of the chaos that’s come since? Tim Bale, professor of politics at Queen Mary University London, joins Seth Thevoz in The Bunker to refresh our memories. “I don’t think she was ever destined to be a great Prime Minister.” – Tim Bale “Circumstance did combine to make it very difficult for her.” – Tim Bale “Clearly those she took with her fro...
Jun 13, 2023•24 min•Season 1Ep. 983
The Johnson rebellion promised a bang but delivered a whimper over the weekend. What now? Can Starmer capitalise on the Conservative Party chaos? Across the pond, Donald Trump is set for a day in a Miami courtroom – what should we expect? Plus we’ve got more on Nicola Sturgeon’s arrest and the latest from Ukraine’s counter offensive. Alex Andreou joins Jacob Jarvis to map out the week ahead. “Organising a coup takes a lot of work which I don’t think Johnson was willing to do.” – Alex Andreou “Jo...
Jun 12, 2023•24 min•Season 1Ep. 982
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
