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•29 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•21 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 i...
Oct 25, 2023•24 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 La...
Oct 24, 2023•24 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•25 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 a...
Oct 22, 2023•19 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 “Liberali...
Oct 22, 2023•25 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 Pales...
Oct 21, 2023•22 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.patreo...
Oct 20, 2023•25 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 ti...
Oct 19, 2023•26 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,” - Yasc...
Oct 18, 2023•28 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•21 min•Season 1Ep. 1118
An Israeli ground invasion of Gaza appears imminent – what will this look like? Half a million Palestinians have already evacuated southern Gaza but their routes of escape remain unclear. How has the British government responded to the escalating conflict? Plus, what do the results of Poland’s election mean for the war in Ukraine? And finally, the Conservatives face a fight over Narine Dorries’s old seat in this week’s byelection. Can they hold on to it? Ros Taylor is joined in The Bunker by Gav...
Oct 16, 2023•23 min•Season 1Ep. 1117
In this week’s Bunker Gold, let us take you back to December 2022… Is the cost of having children making parenthood feel impossible? With childcare through the roof, insecure housing and the cost of living crisis starting to bite, it’s an anxious time for parents. Joeli Brearley , founder of Pregnant Then Screwed , joins Ros Taylor to highlight how the poor provision for parents harms us all. “Ironically I was sacked from a children's charity for wanting a baby.” “Every ten minutes a woman is pu...
Oct 15, 2023•20 min•Season 1Ep. 1116
How has drinking shaped the history of the UK? From temperance to licensing Britain’s relationship with hooch has defined our public debates. Senior lecturer in public health from the University of Stirling, Dr. James Nicholls joins Seth Thévoz in The Bunker to discuss our complex history with the hard stuff. “Social climbing happens in places where people drink.” – Dr. James Nicholls "Throughout our history women's drinking has always been condemned." – Dr. James Nicholls “The mortal panic over...
Oct 15, 2023•23 min•Season 1Ep. 1115
On the very far-right of the GOP is a small but very disruptive group called the House Freedom Caucus. What does it stand for and how much power does it actually wield?Matt Gaetz, Marjorie Taylor Greene and Jim Jordan are all high profile members – what do they want? Thomas Gift is founding director of the Centre on US Politics at University College London . He joins Andrew Harrison in The Bunker . “They don’t have a real coherent set of ideas.” “Many of these individuals just like being on came...
Oct 14, 2023•20 min•Season 1Ep. 1114
Germany’s far-right is on the rise. Alternative for Germany outperformed all expectations in this week's state elections, increasing their share of the vote across the country. To understand the AfD’s spike in popularity, Ros Taylor speaks to FT 's chief Germany correspondent Guy Chazan . “AfD was considered a regional party. This election changed that perception.” – Guy Chazan “It might already be too late to create a party that is a real rival to the AfD” – Guy Chazan “They oppose almost every...
Oct 13, 2023•19 min•Season 1Ep. 1113
Have central banks ever recovered from the global financial crisis? Alex Andreou sits down with Uuriintuya Batsaikhan, economist for Positive Money Europe , to find out if banks really are to blame for all of our financial woes. “Financial forecasting has become a wish for central banks rather than a goal.” – Uuriintuya Batsaikhan “High interest rates are a threat to green transition.” – Uuriintuya Batsaikhan “An independant bank that sets monetary policy for 20 countries is an unprecedented exp...
Oct 12, 2023•26 min•Season 1Ep. 1112
Straight after Keir Starmer’s keynote speech, Stella Creasy MP joined Jacob Jarvis to give her take on the Labour conference and what the leader of the opposition had to say. She gave her thoughts on policies, outlined her discussions at conference – with a key focus on Europe – and explained how she thinks voters can be persuaded to back Labour. www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis. Produced by Chris Jones. Audio production: Robin Leeburn. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarv...
Oct 11, 2023•18 min•Season 1Ep. 1111
Politics happens all around us, not just in London. Britain’s political map is far more varied than the city of Westminster. Rafael Behr joins Matt Chorley , author of Planes, Trains and Toilet Doors , on a whistle stop tour of the car parks, village halls and seaside towns that shaped our political landscape. "Nothing in politics is new. Everything has been done before and probably better.” – Matt Chorley “I like to take the piss out of politicians. It's a good way of hooking people into what's...
Oct 11, 2023•24 min•Season 1Ep. 1110
Barry Gardiner MP sits down with Jacob Jarvis to talk through Labour’s priorities, the shift in vibe at this year’s conference and the Tory shambles… Recorded in the Heathrow Lounge at Liverpool’s ACC on Monday morning, we put our fingers on the pulse of what is happening at the annual party gathering. Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis. Produced by Chris Jones. Audio production: Robin Leeburn. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andr...
Oct 10, 2023•19 min•Season 1Ep. 1109
The United Nations was founded to help maintain international peace and security. The Security Council in particular is supposed to uphold those pledges. But its power and influence is dwindling. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a looming war over Taiwan and unrest in Africa is some proof of that. So what can it do to regain the power it has lost, and is there still a place in the world for the UN? Richard Gowan is the UN Director of Crisis Group in New York. He sits down in The Bunker with Ros Tay...
Oct 10, 2023•23 min•Season 1Ep. 1108
Following a weekend of brutal attacks on Israel, the prospect of a ground invasion of Gaza looms. We take a look at Hamas’s actions, how Netanyahu will respond, and the international reaction to the violence. Plus, we preview the Labour Conference as Starmer and his team present their views for the future of the country. How will Starmer’s speech stand up to Sunak’s? Jacob Jarvis is joined in The Bunker by Alex Andreou to get you prepped for the week ahead. “It will be tricky for Netenyahu to ba...
Oct 09, 2023•24 min•Season 1Ep. 1107
In this week’s Bunker Gold we revisit an out of this world episode from May 2022… As scientists seek extraterrestrial life, what would we do if we actually found it? How would we manage first contact, and could we even communicate with aliens? Franck Marchis , a senior planetary astronomer from the SETI Institute , unpacks the prospect with Andrew Harrison – and the idea aliens might already know we’re here, but we’re too boring for them to care. “The most important question is intelligent life....
Oct 08, 2023•30 min•Season 1Ep. 1106
From PM’s holidaying at Chequers to the salacious escapades of Downton Abbey, country houses hold a special place in the public imagination. While these very big houses in the country are often considered to be relics of the past, their influence looms over modern politics. Dr. Kasia Tomasiewicz speaks to Professor Kate Retford, head of school of historic studies at Birbeck University, to find out how these country homes guide our political climate. “The relationship between the country house an...
Oct 08, 2023•28 min•Season 1Ep. 1105
Country music and political statements often go hand in hand. And many artists find success by charging their songs with political messages – Jason Aldean’s controversial single ‘Try That in a Small Town’ being a recent example. Jonathan Bernstein is a senior research editor at Rolling Stone and joins Dorian Lynskey in The Bunker to discuss the complicated relationship between country music and politics. “It’s never a good sign when an artist is accused of releasing a pro-lynching song.” – Jon B...
Oct 07, 2023•25 min•Season 1Ep. 1104
In this week’s Bunker Global, Seth Thévoz is joined by Bradley Hope , the author of The Rebel and The Kingdom , to discuss the totalitarian state of North Korea and the unlikely rebels leading the charge against Kim Jong Un. “North Korea can publicly strike and kill people in the most bone chilling way.” “We should be grateful that people take risks to show us the truth. Some just go too far.” "Pyongyang feels like an alien world compared to London or New York." BOOK LINK: https://www.penguinran...
Oct 06, 2023•24 min•Season 1Ep. 1103
Funding for Ukraine has become a point of contention among the GOP. The Freedom Caucus, led by Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz, has pushed against money to help the nation’s war effort – and this was excluded in a recent budget bill, in order to facilitate a deal. How did the Republican caucus get here, and how far are they willing to go? Andrew Harrison is joined by associate professor of politics and international relations at UCL, Dr. Julie Norman , to explain the complicated situation unfolding i...
Oct 05, 2023•19 min•Season 1Ep. 1102
The UK is no stranger to getting political decisions wrong – especially in foreign policy. Broadcaster and author Steve Richards , of Rock & Roll Politics , writes in his new book Turning Points that the decisions made by post-war leaders are often bewildering but also intensely complicated. He joins Gavin Esler in The Bunker for a very honest discussion on why that is. “It seems to me with Britain – it reaches turning points and fails to turn.” – Steve Richards “Eden went mad almost over Su...
Oct 04, 2023•25 min•Season 1Ep. 1101
The infected blood scandal of the 1970s and 80s saw almost 5,000 people in the UK contract HIV or hepatitis C due to contaminated NHS blood products. Over 2,800 have died and tens of thousands of lives have been affected, yet no organisation or individual has ever been held to account. Ros Taylor is joined by Caroline Wheeler , the political editor of the Sunday Times and author of the new book Death in the Blood: The inside story of the NHS infected blood scandal. Death in the Blood: https://ww...
Oct 03, 2023•21 min•Season 1Ep. 1100
