Former Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson’s two-hour sit down with Vladimir Putin has grabbed headlines worldwide. But can we really learn anything from it? Jacob Jarvis talks to Ian Garner, a historian of Russian culture and the author of Z Generation: Into the Heart of Russia’s Fascist Youth, to discuss how to interpret the interview – and what the Russian leader really should have been asked. • “Putin’s character was on display – he does tend to be very patronising. He’ll openly mock people for a...
Feb 13, 2024•24 min•Season 1Ep. 1222
Benjamin Netanyahu’s power is faltering. From losing international support, to the charges of fraud and bribery that he’s facing – pressure is mounting on the Israeli leader. So how much power does he have left and could this rift with President Biden be the final nail in the coffin? Chris Jones is joined by Politico ’s senior foreign affairs correspondent Nahal Toosi , who recently wrote: The US Is Dealing With an Israeli Leader Who’s Losing Control. Nahal Toosi’s Politico column: https://www.p...
Feb 13, 2024•20 min•Season 1Ep. 1221
This week: By-elections will prove yet another test for Sunak – but things aren’t smooth sailing for Labour either. Plus, updates as Israel strikes Rafah – what will this mean for the conflict? And, Trump latest as he delivers controversial comments on Russia. Alex Andreou joins Jacob Jarvis to tee up the week ahead. • “The level of defeat in these by-elections matters” – Alex Andreou • “Michael Gove defending you feels like one of the four horsemen of the Tory apocalypse” – Alex Andreou •“There...
Feb 12, 2024•28 min•Season 1Ep. 1220
The US life expectancy is at its lowest point in more than two decades – and behind that of some so-called ‘developing nations’? Why is this the case – and is anything being done about it? To answer these questions, Gavin Esler speaks to Dr Steven Woolf, lead author of the J ournal of the American Medical Association ’s report on health outcomes in the United States. • “It would be easy to blame this on a single cause such as the obesity epidemic, the opioid epidemic, guns: these are all big pro...
Feb 09, 2024•20 min•Season 1Ep. 1219
We like to imagine society is structured by rationality and reason. But, really, isn’t everything a matter of chance? Ros Taylor talks to Brian Klaas, associate professor of global politics at UCL, about his new book Fluke: Chance, chaos and why everything we do matters, in The Bunker and to discuss how randomness shapes our lives. Buy Fluke by Brian Klaas through our affiliate bookshop and you’ll help fund The Bunker by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org’s fees help supp...
Feb 08, 2024•22 min•Season 1Ep. 1218
Britain’s knife crime crisis is regularly called a “pandemic” in the media. But just how serious is the problem? Who suffers from it most? And does any political party have the right idea of how to combat it? To answer these questions, Andrew Harrison speaks to Dr James Alexander of London Metropolitan University’ s criminology department. • “Knife crime is reported as a black issue, which is a problem with the media. It is more widespread than that, it is about poverty, it is about these people...
Feb 07, 2024•24 min•Season 1Ep. 1217
Russia’s presidential election doesn’t take place until March – yet we already know the result. Vladimir Putin will beat the other 3 ‘candidates’ with ease to retake his place as president. But does that mean the vote doesn’t matter at all? Or could we still learn something from the result? Chris Jones talks to András Tóth-Czifra, fellow in the Eurasia program at the Foreign Policy Research Institute and author of Controlling the Narrative: A Roadmap to Russia’s 2024 Presidential Election, in Th...
Feb 06, 2024•20 min•Season 1Ep. 1216
This week: Rwanda rows continue as James Cleverly drags the Church of England into the migration dispute. Plus – Could Liz Truss make a return to frontline politics with the launch of her Popular Conservatism project? And in the Middle East, the RAF and the US air force continue their offensive against Houthi Rebel targets. Is the military campaign making a difference? • "Dragging the Church of England into the culture war seems risky.” – Ros Taylor • “The Home Secretary’s feud with the church i...
Feb 05, 2024•22 min•Season 1Ep. 1215
Tucker Carlson’s getting weirder. Hard to believe it, we know. From promoting shamed conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ return to interviewing indictment riddled Donald Trump last year, he’s not shying away from controversy. What is Carlson’s end game and how much power does he have, not just through media ventures but in US politics too? Nikki McCann Ramirez is a politics reporter for Rolling Stone magazine and has watched more Carlson content than most could bear. She joins Jacob Jarvis in The Bu...
Feb 02, 2024•26 min•Season 1Ep. 1214
British politics can be laughable. But can poking fun at it actually spark change? Marie Le Conte speaks to professional prankster Oobah Butler , whose viral videos have amassed tens of millions of views online and caused real-world action in their aftermath. • “There’s something really lame about a prank. It’s quite a disarming thing to use. If it’s not punching upwards, it can’t be funny fundamentally. It’s fun to mess with institutions that ‘deserve it’ in a way that is beneath them – you’re ...
Feb 01, 2024•22 min•Season 1Ep. 1213
Sir Winston Churchill’s legacy is often discussed – but is usually more complex than conversations suggest. Some call him one of the greatest Britons of all time – in India, however, he is regarded as one of the key villains of imperial rule. Ahir Shah is joined by historian Walter Reid , fellow of the Royal Historical Society and author of Fighting Retreat: Churchill and India , to discuss how Churchill is remembered. • “Churchill was racist because he constantly belittled India. ” – Walter Rei...
Jan 31, 2024•29 min•Season 1Ep. 1212
Jürgen Klopp impressed the football world with his honest reasons for quitting as Liverpool manager. But how come so few politicians know how to quit when they’re ahead? Andrew Harrison talks to Oh God What Now regular Seth Thévoz about the history of political exits – and the times when leaders from Harold Wilson to Thatcher, Major and Blair just couldn’t let go. •“Even politicians who’ve said ‘I am definitely standing down’ find all sorts of creative reasons to hang on to power just a little b...
Jan 30, 2024•26 min•Season 1Ep. 1211
It’s a bad Brexit news week as new regulations are put in place. Plus, Sunak’s woes continue – but Hunt’s going to try and help him out. And we discuss the latest from conflicts and elections across the globe, including Trump being made to look like a loser. • “The government is once again farming out its problems caused by Brexit to companies.” – Alex Andreou • “The last thing Sunak needs is to be seen as being helped by Labour because his own back benches are too fractious” – Alex Andreou • “I...
Jan 29, 2024•26 min•Season 1Ep. 1210
Hit reality TV show The Traitors reveals how great some people are at lying – and how bad others are at detecting it. What lessons can we take from Claudia Winkleman’s backstabbing parlour game about the world of politics? Today in The Bunker , Ahir Shah speaks with The Guardian ’s Zoe Williams to find out which of our politicians would flourish or flounder under the pressure. Stay tuned until after the credits for Ahir’s slightly spoilery final thoughts leading into the final two episodes. • “T...
Jan 26, 2024•29 min•Season 1Ep. 1209
The US election is being fought on many fronts, but what does the American public really care about most? Is it the economy, is it immigration, or is it simply the name of the person who sits in the Oval Office? Susan Davis is a political correspondent for NPR and host of the NPR Political Podcast. She joins Alex Andreou in The Bunker to discuss how the likely candidates will campaign on the most important issues. • “There’s a sense of nostalgia for Trump… people think ‘my life was better under ...
Jan 25, 2024•33 min•Season 1Ep. 1208
What do people care most about at the moment – and how will this affect their votes in the upcoming general election? From immigration to the NHS, the economy to defence, there’s plenty for voters to think about. Ros Taylor speaks to Ben Walker, senior data journalist at the New Statesman and co-founder of Britain Elects . •“The priority amongst all Britons is not immigration, not the NHS, but still for solutions on the cost of living.” – Ben Walker •“The reality of politics is that feelings mat...
Jan 24, 2024•23 min•Season 1Ep. 1207
Few TV dramas have had such an instant seismic effect as ITV’s miniseries on the Horizon scandal, Mr Bates vs The Post Office . How do searing stories of miscarriages of justice make it to screen in a ruthless television environment? And what makes them so effective at concentrating public outrage and forcing change? Simon Heath , CEO and Creative Director of World Productions, was Executive Producer of Line of Duty and the acclaimed Hillsborough drama Anne . He tells Andrew Harrison what makes ...
Jan 23, 2024•28 min•Season 1Ep. 1206
“Ron DeSanctimonious” is out of the Presidential running meaning a two-way race between Trump and Nikki Haley in this week’s New Hampshire Primary. Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea start to filter through to the economy. The Lords get ready to savage the Rwanda Plan. And NASA opens up a can of asteroid dust – what could possibly go wrong? Gavin Esler sets out the week ahead for Andrew Harrison. Presented by Andrew Harrison. Audio production by Jade Bailey. Art by James Parrett. Lead pro...
Jan 22, 2024•23 min•Season 1Ep. 1205
Donald Trump once said he could shoot someone on 5th Avenue and his supporters wouldn’t care. Not only does polling suggest that could be true – but since he was criminally indicted (not for shooting anyone) his loyalists have stuck by him. Thomas Gift is the founding director of UCL’s centre on US politics and he joins Jacob Jarvis in The Bunke r to discuss what he believes are the five types of Trump voters. • “Trump supporters have been likened to a cult … and I don’t think that’s far off.” –...
Jan 19, 2024•28 min•Season 1Ep. 1204
Migration is one of the most divisive issues in the UK – socially, politically, and economically. But a lot of the information we consume is propaganda, and many of the assumptions made are wrong. Hein de Haas , author of How Migration Really Works, offers Ros Taylor insights which could lead to effective migration policy. • “The overall contribution of recent migration has been positive rather than negative.” – Hein de Haas • “There is actually no difference between Left and Right wing governme...
Jan 18, 2024•22 min•Season 1Ep. 1203
The 2024 US Presidential election will likely see Biden and Trump back on the ballot. And, if previous elections are anything to go by, Russia will play a key role in manipulating things in Trump’s favour. Joseph Webster, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and editor of the China-Russia report, joins Gavin Esler in The Bunker , to discuss what Russia seeks to gain out of a Trump presidency, and how they might just get it. • “Gasoline prices are a major determinant in U.S. elections. Anything ...
Jan 17, 2024•18 min•Season 1Ep. 1201
Young people, particularly young men, are increasingly becoming radicalised toward the far-right. Often chronically online and extremely vulnerable to manipulation, just how big of a risk do they pose? And what can be done about it? Alex Andreou joins Cynthia Miller-Idriss , founding director of the Polarisation and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab (PERIL) at the American University in Washington, DC, in The Bunker . • “The far-right is really a spectrum for supremacist ideologies; which in...
Jan 16, 2024•20 min•Season 1Ep. 1200
PM Rishi Sunak faces the commons today to explain military action against Houthi Rebels. Plus – the Rwanda bill is back. Will the Conservatives be satisfied with the latest draft? Across the pond – The Republican Party caucuses in Iowa. Is a Trump victory inevitable? And finally President Biden has congratulated Lai Ching-te following his victory in the Taiwan election, how will Beijing respond? • "You simply cannot notify your enemies that you’re about to take military action." – Alex Andreou •...
Jan 15, 2024•30 min•Season 1Ep. 1199
A special crossover episode with This Is Not A Drill , our geopolitics podcast. Why are UK and US navies defending Western shipping against missile attacks and hijacks from rebels in the poorest country in the Middle East? The battle between the Yemeni government and the Houthi militia threatens to spill over into a wider regional conflict – and Iran is fanning the flames. What happens next? Gavin Esler talks to Helen Lackner , author of Yemen In Crisis , to find out who the Houthi are, what the...
Jan 12, 2024•24 min•Season 1Ep. 1198
Brainwashing has been utilised as a political tool for centuries. How exactly is it weaponised today? Daniel Pick , author of Brainwashed: A New History of Thought Control, discusses the history and contemporary manifestations of thought control with Alex Andreou , in The Bunker . • “Brainwashing seeks both to decimate and damage the mind – and to infiltrate ideas and to organise ideologies in a systematic way.” – Daniel Pick • “Behavioural units exist within governments, including Downing Stree...
Jan 11, 2024•28 min•Season 1Ep. 1197
Internet culture has changed a lot since the last general election – so the way politicians use it will have to evolve too. Facebook may no longer be the king of social media, but have Sunak and Starmer mastered Tiktok, Instagram or YouTube? Today in The Bunker , Ros Taylor speaks with professor of digital politics at Sheffield University, Kate Dommett, about the tricks politicians will be using to win your votes. • "Political parties are trying to reach out to younger voters and they aren’t usi...
Jan 10, 2024•24 min•Season 1Ep. 1196
Once known as the Brexit Party, Reform UK wants to mortally wound the Tories in the General Election. Do its recent poll spikes show real support for Richard Tice’s vociferously anti-migration, anti-woke party? Should the Tories really worry – and should Labour? And could those fanciful stories about Nigel Farage joining the Tories and taking over as leader really come true? Legendary journalist and broadcaster Michael Crick explains it all to Andrew Harrison. Buy One Party After Another: The Di...
Jan 09, 2024•29 min•Season 1Ep. 1195
Rishi Sunak faces more backbench backlash as Parliament returns. Plus – will an emergency summit give closure to the 700 victims of the Post Office scandal? Finally in a year of vital elections, how will the Taiwan election shape global politics? • “Sunak should not be pandering to the party faithful. That’s not governing.” – Ros Taylor • “We’re looking at three byelections in just eight days. It doesn’t look good for the Conservatives.” – Alex Andreou • “Why has it taken an ITV drama to get the...
Jan 08, 2024•26 min•Season 1Ep. 1194
There’s pretty much only one certainty in US politics in 2024: chaos. Trump faces a reckoning with the law, but is still very much in the running for the presidency. Meanwhile scrutiny against Biden ramps up. How will these controversies play out? Joining Gavin Esler in The Bunker to discuss all of this is senior editor at The Dispatch and host of the Advisory Opinions podcast, Sarah Isgur . • “Asteroids hit every day, but yes, it’s going to be Biden vs Trump.” – Sarah Isgur • “I have no idea wh...
Jan 05, 2024•23 min•Season 1Ep. 1193
Britain’s damaged economy will dominate this election year but it’s a sprawling topic. We’ve broken it down into five key issues to keep an eye on in 2024 – from the endless battle over tax cuts to the still-dire cost of living crisis, from the mortgage timebomb to the unforeseen consequences of AI. Former advisor to Vince Cable and now senior fellow at the Institute for Government Giles Wilkes lays out the issues for Andrew Harrison. • “Tax cuts don’t win elections.” — Giles Wilkes • “Debt is n...
Jan 04, 2024•35 min•Season 1Ep. 1192
