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The Bunker
The Bunker
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Your daily need to know on news and politics. Every weekday morning The Bunker cuts through the noise to make sense of... more

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Episodes

“It’s Syria’s future now” – This Is Not A Drill crossover edition

• A special crossover with The Bunker’s geopolitics partner podcast This Is Not A Drill. Assad’s stunning fall ends a tyrannical 53-year... more

11 Dec 2024 · 46 minutes
French politics is in chaos. What will happen next?

• Get 20% off annual Patreon support for The Bunker in our Black Friday sale. The perfect gift to ask... more

10 Dec 2024 · 31 minutes
The Road to Damascus – Start Your Week with Ros Taylor and Jacob Jarvis

• Get 20% off annual Patreon support for The Bunker in our Black Friday sale. The perfect gift to ask... more

09 Dec 2024 · 35 minutes
Has the Bank of Mum and Dad broken Britain?

• Get 20% off annual Patreon support for The Bunker in our Black Friday sale. The perfect gift to ask for! If... more

06 Dec 2024 · 47 minutes
Can anything stop Musk bankrolling Farage into power?

• Get 20% off annual Patreon support for The Bunker in our Black Friday sale. The perfect gift to ask... more

05 Dec 2024 · 31 minutes
Could Kamala Harris run for President again? – with The Guardian’s David Smith

• Get 20% off annual Patreon support for The Bunker in our Black Friday sale. The perfect gift to ask... more

04 Dec 2024 · 36 minutes
Labour’s messaging is a mess. Here’s how to fix it.

• Get 20% off annual Patreon support for The Bunker in our Black Friday sale. The perfect gift to ask for!  From... more

03 Dec 2024 · 39 minutes
Don’t call it a comeback! – Start Your Week with Gavin Esler and Jacob Jarvis

• Get 20% off annual Patreon support for The Bunker in our Black Friday sale. The perfect gift to ask... more

02 Dec 2024 · 34 minutes
Shop horror: Are Britain’s high streets dying?

• Get 20% off annual Patreon support for The Bunker in our Black Friday sale. The perfect gift to ask... more

29 Nov 2024 · 37 minutes
Inside the assisted dying debate with ITV’s Paul Brand – plus, Could Jeremy Clarkson rally a new opposition? — Panel edition

• Get 20% off annual Patreon support for The Bunker in our Black Friday sale. The perfect gift to ask for! Back... more

28 Nov 2024 · 54 minutes
How the 'manosphere' helped Trump win over young men

• Get 20% off annual Patreon support for The Bunker in our Black Friday sale. The perfect gift to ask... more

27 Nov 2024 · 36 minutes
Red Pills and Chills – Is The Matrix the most dangerous movie of modern times?

• Get 20% off annual Patreon support for The Bunker in our Black Friday sale. The perfect gift to ask... more

26 Nov 2024 · 32 minutes
The assisted dying vote explained — Start Your Week with Ros Taylor and Hannah Fearn

• Get 20% off annual Patreon support for The Bunker in our Black Friday sale. The perfect gift to ask... more

25 Nov 2024 · 29 minutes
Can Congress hold Trump to account at all? – A deep dive from American Friction

• Get 20% off annual Patreon support for The Bunker in our Black Friday sale. The perfect gift to ask... more

23 Nov 2024 · 34 minutes
Israel-Hamas: How might Trump end the war?

Donald Trump seems like a hardline ally of Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli right. But could his unpredictable nature and... more

22 Nov 2024 · 32 minutes
Why Elon Musk’s ‘DOGE’ plan is doomed to fail

• Get 20% off a year’s Patreon support for The Bunker in our Black Friday sale. The perfect gift to ask... more

21 Nov 2024 · 37 minutes
Emission control: Does carbon capture really work?

• Get 20% off a year’s Patreon support for The Bunker. The perfect gift to ask for! Carbon capture is a highly... more

20 Nov 2024 · 33 minutes
Can London become the AI capital of the world?

Keir Starmer has vowed to make London the AI capital of the world. But is that truly possible? Silicon Valley... more

19 Nov 2024 · 28 minutes
Shout out to my X – Start Your Week with Gavin Esler and Jacob Jarvis

As people flee X, or Twitter for the rest of us, what is Musk up to – and how’s his... more

18 Nov 2024 · 34 minutes
MAGA Bing! How The Sopranos explains Donald Trump

Donald Trump feels like a TV character – and if you’re a Sopranos fan, you might have noticed a similarity... more

15 Nov 2024 · 39 minutes
Freeports: saviours of trade or political smoke and mirrors? – with Dmitry Grozoubinski

Freeports! They were going to be a huge Brexit benefit (they weren’t). Boris Johnson said we couldn’t have them while... more

14 Nov 2024 · 31 minutes
Why don't men eat fruit? – The strange politics of food

How did the food we eat get so political? Are men really refusing to eat strawberries because they’re too ‘girly’?... more

13 Nov 2024 · 33 minutes
Will the Chris Kaba verdict change armed policing? – Ex-Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe on a crisis in the Met

When a jury cleared a firearms officer of murdering Black Londoner Chris Kaba, it triggered protests and intense scrutiny of... more

12 Nov 2024 · 42 minutes
Revengers Assemble – Start Your Week with Ros Taylor and Andrew Harrison

Donald Trump starts building his cabinet, only sycophants need apply and score-settling is on the agenda. Will Britain need to... more

11 Nov 2024 · 36 minutes
What’s it like to move into the White House?

Recorded before we knew the election result would come so quickly – we wondered: what is it actually like to... more

10 Nov 2024 · 29 minutes
Boom or bust? What Trump means for the world economy

As Donald Trump prepares for his return to the White House, the world is gearing up for another term full... more

08 Nov 2024 · 33 minutes
Trump won. So, what went wrong for Harris?

Out early for everyone! Americans face the reality of four more years under Donald Trump. But how did we get... more

06 Nov 2024 · 46 minutes
Election ’24: The US media failed. Here’s why

Falling circulations, trivial stories, shrinking budgets, squandered trust? It’s worse than that, says US media analyst and academic Jeff Jarvis.... more

06 Nov 2024 · 37 minutes
Charm offensive: How does charisma shape global politics?

From Obama’s effortless cool aura to Zelenskyy’s stoic defiance, charm and charisma have shown themselves to be game-changers in politics.... more

05 Nov 2024 · 37 minutes
America on a knife edge – Start Your Week with American Friction’s Nikki McCann Ramírez

There’s only one story this week: the US Presidential Election, with Harris and Trump neck-and-neck and democracy itself at stake.... more

04 Nov 2024 · 39 minutes
The Big Budget Breakdown: What it really means – with Ros Taylor and the IFG's Giles Wilkes

Rachel Reeves’ first budget has caused quite the stir. But what aspects were really surprising – and important? What was... more

01 Nov 2024 · 32 minutes
Halloween special – Why are we still obsessed with the paranormal?

As science answers more and more questions, you’d imagine our obsession with the paranormal would diminish. Yet we’re still obsessed... more

31 Oct 2024 · 36 minutes
What will the US election result mean for Ukraine?

With a new president due to be elected in America, what impact would each candidate have on the war in... more

30 Oct 2024 · 36 minutes
What we learnt from Putin’s latest global power play

Last week’s BRICS Summit was Vladimir Putin latest ploy to strengthen an anti-western alliance. But despite the united front, behind... more

29 Oct 2024 · 30 minutes
The Moments of Truth – Start Your Week with Ros Taylor and Andrew Harrison

It’s a week of big decisions: Labour’s first budget, the Tories choose their leader, and the last desperate week of... more

28 Oct 2024 · 31 minutes
Will Musk's robot fantasy be a dream or a Terminator nightmare?

The future is here—or is it? Last week, Tesla’s “We, Robot” event introduced us to Optimus, Elon Musk’s AI-powered humanoid... more

27 Oct 2024 · 31 minutes
Harris vs. Trump – Why are the polls so tight?

The race between Trump and Harris is so tight that nobody wants to call it. But from afar, it can... more

25 Oct 2024 · 36 minutes
Taster – ‘Why do people join cults?’ – from the new series of Why? with Emma Kennedy

A bonus excerpt from the new series of our science and psychology podcast, Why? In Episode One: Most of us... more

24 Oct 2024 · 11 minutes
Election Eyewitness – Inside the Tory downfall and Labour landslide with Anushka Asthana of ITV News

General Election 2024: Was Starmer lucky, ruthless or both? Was there any way back for the Tories after that disastrous... more

24 Oct 2024 · 33 minutes
Trump’s criminal conspiracy case: Investigating the Georgia charges

Georgia is a key battleground in the US election – and was central to Trump’s push against the 2020 result.... more

23 Oct 2024 · 25 minutes
Undercover with the Far-Right – How C4 film-makers infiltrated the extremist underground

What is it like to wear a hidden camera among neo-fascist extremists? Or at a rally for far-right groups from... more

22 Oct 2024 · 32 minutes
Revenue, I’m miserable now – Start Your Week with Gavin Esler and Jacob Jarvis

It’s the last full week before the Budget and of course the press is losing its cool over a raft... more

21 Oct 2024 · 32 minutes
Mordor Mystery – Why does the far-right love The Lord Of The Rings?

JD Vance says The Lord Of The Rings shaped his politics. Italy’s Georgia Meloni used to dress as a hobbit... more

18 Oct 2024 · 33 minutes
Work from groan – Why bosses should stop obsessing over returning to the office

As pressure to return to the office continues to grow, could we be witnessing the end of flexible working? Despite... more

17 Oct 2024 · 37 minutes
The coming storms? — How hurricane conspiracy theories went mainstream

Whenever there’s a crisis in America, conspiracy theories follow. The response to Hurricane Helene has highlighted the growing mainstream acceptance... more

16 Oct 2024 · 28 minutes
Is Badenoch-Jenrick the greatest gift Labour could ask for? – with Steve Richards

The Conservative leadership race has taken an unexpected turn, with Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick emerging as the final two... more

15 Oct 2024 · 32 minutes
Taking care of business – Start Your Week with Ros Taylor and Jacob Jarvis

After Starmer’s 100 days milestone, focus is turning to a major investment summit this week. Will he manage to keep... more

14 Oct 2024 · 32 minutes
Elon Musk’s Twitter two years on: How X was handed to the far-right

Two years after Elon Musk's $44 billion Twitter takeover, the platform has become a hotbed for alt-right content. Having lost... more

11 Oct 2024 · 36 minutes
Electric cars – Why do right-wingers hate them?

All new cars sold in Britain will be electric by 2030 if we stick to Government plans. But instead of... more

10 Oct 2024 · 34 minutes
From American Psycho to Donald Trump: How yuppies shaped US politics

Yuppies, successful and affluent young urban professionals, were a notable demographic in 1980s America. Newsweek declared 1984 the year of... more

09 Oct 2024 · 31 minutes
China’s broken economy is a global problem. Can Xi Jinping fix it?

China’s economy has been described as “unsustainable” after a model of massive growth in recent decades begins to fail. How... more

08 Oct 2024 · 30 minutes
Gray matter – Start Your Week with Gavin Esler and Ros Taylor

The news to look out for this week: Why did Sue Gray have to go and what will her departure... more

07 Oct 2024 · 32 minutes
The dirty history of political freebies – with Seth Thévoz

Starmer and his Cabinet caught hell for accepting donations of clothes, accommodation, tickets to see Taylor Swift and Arsenal, and... more

04 Oct 2024 · 37 minutes
How Putin’s war ended the Russian business boom

After the fall of the Soviet Union, a new Russia emerged – one that was open for business. Over the... more

03 Oct 2024 · 29 minutes
Why is America hooked on the death penalty?

The death penalty is a fixture of the American penal system – with 27 states still implementing it. Since it... more

02 Oct 2024 · 28 minutes
The PR dark arts explained: 'I got dictators and oligarchs the news stories they wanted'

Who ensures that dictators and oligarchs get good press? Who feeds the media fake stories that serve the ends of... more

01 Oct 2024 · 36 minutes
From Here to Maternity – Start Your Week with Ros Taylor and Jacob Jarvis

Tory conference is upon us and the leadership candidates are trying to outdo each other with audacious comments and weird... more

30 Sep 2024 · 30 minutes
American Friction teaser: The NYT's chief White House correspondent on Biden, Trump and Harris

What’s the feeling been like in the White House since Biden dropped out of the race? And how is Harris... more

28 Sep 2024 · 13 minutes
What would a post-Trump Republican Party look like?

If Donald Trump wins in November, the Republican Party will remain his plaything. But what if he loses? Can the... more

27 Sep 2024 · 40 minutes
Make Trains Great Again: Can Labour bring our railways back from the brink?

The problems with our rail network are clear to anybody who’s been on a train lately. It’s a colossal challenge... more

26 Sep 2024 · 35 minutes
How did grifters like Trump take over the GOP?

Donald Trump and his allies are clearly motivated by money just as much as politics. How did these chancers go... more

25 Sep 2024 · 35 minutes
Can we solve the small boat crisis? – immigration barrister Colin Yeo and Ros Taylor discuss

The small boat crisis isn’t going away. Keir Starmer says he wants to solve the problem by stopping the gangs... more

24 Sep 2024 · 30 minutes
Labour Conference Special! – Start Your Week with Steve Richards

It’s Keir Starmer’s first Labour Party Conference as Prime Minister – what’s the vibe like and what should we be... more

23 Sep 2024 · 24 minutes
NHS crisis report: The key points you need to know

The Lord Darzi review on the state of the NHS painted a dire picture of our healthcare system. And while... more

20 Sep 2024 · 31 minutes
“Tough old bird with an iPhone” – Carol Vorderman on Twitter wars and fixing Britain

Carol Vorderman has made a remarkable journey from Countdown maths guru to one of the most popular and forthright political... more

19 Sep 2024 · 41 minutes
The truth about Britain’s relationship with Germany – Ros Taylor speaks with expert Wolfgang Munchau

The relationship between the UK and Germany survived Brexit better than many expected – but are we as close to... more

18 Sep 2024 · 28 minutes
What would a Gaza ceasefire actually look like? – Gavin Esler asks Daniel Levy

A ceasefire in the Hamas-Israel conflict still feels painfully far off. If one were to be secured – what would... more

17 Sep 2024 · 35 minutes
What Trump assassination bid means – Start Your Week with Zöe Grünewald and Andrew Harrison

Yesterday’s unprecedented second assassination attempt on Donald Trump will take over the election agenda this week but will it change... more

16 Sep 2024 · 31 minutes
Grenfell Inquiry: The crucial details and lessons – with Pete Apps and Hannah Fearn

The final report into the Grenfell Tower fire was released last week. It unequivocally states that the tragedy was the... more

13 Sep 2024 · 33 minutes
Does the US care about the ‘special relationship’? – The FT’s Gideon Rachman and Gavin Esler discuss

While America may be Britain’s most important ally, we are just one of many special relationships the US maintains worldwide.... more

12 Sep 2024 · 31 minutes
How Harris embarrassed Trump in the TV debate – American Friction teaser

After Harris and Trump’s election debate clash, do you want to know what actually mattered from their showdown? In a... more

11 Sep 2024 · 14 minutes
Understanding Xi Jinping: How China’s supreme leader rose to power

We hear a lot about the personalities of infamous figures like Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un –... more

11 Sep 2024 · 36 minutes
US Presidential debates: The weird history from Kennedy-Nixon to Trump-Harris

US presidential debates are part spectacle, part showdown, and sometimes total sh*tshow. What is it about American politics that lends... more

10 Sep 2024 · 33 minutes
In sickness and in health – Start Your Week with Ros Taylor and Hannah Fearn

In a busy week ahead of conference recess, look out for a major report on the state of the NHS... more

09 Sep 2024 · 30 minutes
Understanding the strange death of Hollywood

Something is going terribly wrong with Hollywood. The movie industry is shrinking, its revenue is down and its employees are... more

06 Sep 2024 · 35 minutes
A.I. is burning the planet – What you need to know

Scare stories about Artificial Intelligence are everywhere – but its colossal environmental impact is startlingly underreported. How exactly does the... more

05 Sep 2024 · 28 minutes
'Trump's destruction of the GOP haunts me' – former Republican adviser speaks

The US Republican Party used to be known as the party of law and order. Now it’s headed by a... more

04 Sep 2024 · 34 minutes
Is Starmer bringing the Big State back in Britain?

Keir Starmer has promised change – but what form will it take? And could it mean the return to the... more

03 Sep 2024 · 29 minutes
Commons People — Start Your Week with Gavin Esler and Ros Taylor

Summer is coming to a close, kids are returning to school, Parliament is back and there’s no shortage of problems... more

02 Sep 2024 · 30 minutes
Is A.I. coming for your job?

We used to think that machines would only take over manual work. Now A.I. looks capable of anything. Will work... more

01 Sep 2024 · 35 minutes
The Bunker
Understanding Xi Jinping: How China’s supreme leader rose to power
The Bunker
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Description

We hear a lot about the personalities of infamous figures like Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un – but relatively... more