The Bunker – News without the nonsense

Elon Musk’s calamitous time at Twitter, or X as he wants to call it, has wrecked the platform. But could he go as far as tanking the company entirely? Today in The Bunker, Chris Jones speaks with Ryan Broderick, tech journalist and writer of the Garbage Day substack, to find out if we could see the end of the site – and what impact its demise would have upon the Tesla chief’s other business ventures. • "On X, you can see family friendly adverts beside some of the most hateful content you can imagine.” – Ryan Broderick • “Purely right wing social media platforms just don’t work." – Ryan Broderick • “Elon Musk has never found a rake he didn’t want to step on." – Ryan Broderick www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and Presented by Chris Jones. Producer: Liam Tait. Art by James Parrett. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Private schools have been responsible for educating a broad spread of political leaders. What’s going on in this weird world of elite education? To make sense of public schools and their staggering influence within the UK government and beyond, Andrew Harrison talks to Robert Verkaik, author of Posh Boys: How English Public Schools Ruin Britain, in The Bunker. • “It’s bizarre when you think that one school can be as influential in the running of the government as Eton has.” – Robert Verkaik • “These schools' sole purpose is to advance the life chances of children who are already incredibly privileged… which ultimately undermines our democracy.” – Robert Verkaik Buy Posh Boys: How English Public Schools Ruin Britain 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 support independent bookshops too. www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Andrew Harrison. Producer: Eliza Davis Beard. Audio production: Alex Rees. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Artwork by James Parrett. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

All eyes will be on Boris Johnson as he faces the Covid Inquiry this week. What bombshells? Plus – Keir Starmer has made headlines over the weekend for his praise of Margaret Thatcher? What’s the Labour leader up to? We have the latest on the Government’s failing Rwanda plan – can Rishi Sunak ever escape the doomed policy? Finally we have the latest on the Israel Hamas conflict, are Israel’s allies losing patience with Netanyahu? “Nothing Johnson says this week will change the public perception of Boris Johnson.” – Ros Taylor “Going to war with a neighbouring country may not be the smartest thing to do during a pandemic.” – Alex Andreou "Johnson does have a history of dismissing female-led inquiries.” – Ros Taylor Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Alex Andreou with Ros Taylor. Producer: Liam Tait. Audio editor: Jade Bailey. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’ve all felt shame. But it’s more than an emotion – it’s also a political weapon. All manners of politicians, including recent figures like Trump and various Brexiteers, have utilised the feeling to pursue their ends. David Keen, the author of Shame: The Politics and Power of an Emotion, speaks to Alex Andreou to discuss the strength of shame and how it’s been used throughout history. www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Alex Andreou. Producer: Liam Tait. Audio production: Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Donald Trump is never out of trouble. And it’s hard to keep up with his latest wrongdoing. Jacob Jarvis is joined by Andrew Rudalevige, Thomas Brackett Reed Professor of Government at Bowdoin College and a visiting professor at LSE, to go over the five key areas of drama you need to understand in the run up to 2024. • “If Trump were convicted of all 90 of his current felonies, he'd’ be looking at something like 700 years in prison.” • “Any private citizen not named Donald J. Trump would inevitably get convicted for espionage and obstruction of justice in the classified documents case” www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis. Producer: Eliza Davis Beard. Audio production: Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Gun battles, mass graves, and explosions – that’s not a description of a battlefield, but of an illegal gold mine in South Africa. Gold mining propped up the nation’s economy for over a century, and still today countries like the UK trade millions for its gold. But a huge price crash in the late 90s put tens of thousands of miners out of a job. Since then, a literal criminal underworld has risen, operated by illegal miners named the Zama-Zamas, who risk their lives everyday in abandoned mine shafts that could collapse any minute. Kimon de Greef is a journalist who has investigated all this for The New Yorker. He joins Dipo Faloyin in the Bunker to explain what drives the Zama-Zamas and where their gold goes. • “Up until the end of apartheid, Gold was the bedrock of South Africa’s economy.” – Kimon de Greef. • “It’s like something out of the most dystopian science fiction, down there, but it’s real.” – Kimon de Greef. • “Gold really explains a lot of South Africa’s social history.” – Kimon de Greef. www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Dipo Faloyin. Written and Produced by: Chris Jones. Audio production: Alex Rees. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’ve all heard of ChatGPT. But what is the recent drama surrounding the lesser-known parent company OpenAI and its fired-then-reinstated CEO Sam Altman? Chris Jones gets the 411 on the controversy with The Bunker’s resident AI expert Dr Kate Devlin. •“We should be talking about the repercussions of our technology, and about how a small handful of people in a small part of America have huge amounts of global control.” – Dr Kate Devlin • “My fear is that they are going to be more focused on developing the technology rather than the ethicality of AI and its consequences for humanity.” – Dr Kate Devlin www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Chris Jones. Producer: Eliza Davis Beard and Liam Tait. Audio production: Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Artwork by James Parrett. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The far-right is often associated with angry white men — but their female counterparts might be even more dangerous. Dr Eviane Leidig, a postdoctoral fellow at Tilburg University and author of The Women of the Far Right: Social Media Influencers and Online Radicalization. She joins Marie Le Conte in The Bunker, to discuss how these women weaponise social media to disseminate extremist ideologies. Dr Eviane Leidig’s book: The Women of the Far Right: Social Media Influencers and Online Radicalization “These women are normalising and legitimising extreme ideas to mainstream audiences; they are not on fringe platforms, they are very much out in the open.” – Eviane Leidig “There is a moment in which all these women describe feeling deeply unhappy and depressed with their lives — they attribute this to feminism, and prescribe traditionalism as the antidote.” – Eviane Leidig Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Marie Le Conte. Producer: Eliza Davis Beard. Audio production: Jade Bailey. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What should we actually pay attention to in Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn Statement, away from the points he wants to spin? To make sense of the mini-budget, Alex Andreou is joined in The Bunker by Jo Michell, professor of economics at the University of the West of England, to take a closer look at the chancellor’s proposals. • "We shouldn’t treat taxes as a burden, but a responsibility.” – Jo Michell • “Longer term forecasts are completely unpredictable." – Jo Michell • “The government is against investment itself, just green investment." – Jo Michell Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Alex Andreou. Producer: Liam Tait. Audio editor: Jade Bailey. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The small period of post reshuffle harmony is over and Sunak’s party is back to doing what it does best: infighting. Could new Home Sec James Cleverly enrage backbenchers by moving away from the Rwanda plan? And Matt Hancock is back in the spotlight as he faces the Covid Inquiry. What can we expect from his testimony? Plus, the latest on the Israeli/Hamas ceasefire. Could it be extended? And finally, King Charles is heading to Dubai for COP28. Will the environmentalist monarch speak his mind or toe his government’s line? Ros Taylor is joined in The Bunker by Hannah Fearn to get you prepped for the week ahead. “Migration is 3 times higher than before Brexit, and that’s nothing to do with small boats.” – Hannah Fearn Reform UK is holding the door wide open for a Farage comeback." – Ros Taylor "There’s no evidence that migration is a do or die issue for Conservative voters.” – Hannah Fearn Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Ros Taylor and Hannah Fearn. Producer: Liam Tait. Audio editor: Jade Bailey. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tell us what you think of The Bunker in our Listener Survey – five respondents will get the Bunker mug or t-shirt of their choice. The Marvel Cinematic Universe may be teetering in 2023 — but for two decades it’s been the dominant force in Hollywood. Andrew Harrison is joined by Gavin Edwards, co-author of MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios, to discuss how its characters and storylines help to explain the chaos and drama of 21st Century politics. From Thanos’ economic failings to Captain America’s patriotism – enjoy a politics and comic book super-geek-out crossover. www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Andrew Harrison. Audio production: Alex Rees. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tell us what you think of The Bunker in our Listener Survey – five respondents will get the Bunker mug or t-shirt of their choice. President John F. Kennedy’s assassination remains a favourite topic for conspiracy theorists. How did the momentous event spark a new era in conspiratorial thinking? And what makes it persist 60 years on. Jacob Jarvis is joined by Tom Phillips, co-author of Conspiracy: A history of bollocks theories and how not to fall for them to discuss. www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis. Producer: Eliza Davis Beard. Audio production: Jade Bailey. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Artwork by James Parrett. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tell us what you think of The Bunker in our Listener Survey – five respondents will get the Bunker mug or t-shirt of their choice. It’s been ten years since China launched its colossal Belt and Road initiative, intended to usher in a new era of trade and economic growth. Has it achieved what it set out to? Or is progress starting to ebb? Alex Andreou is joined by George Magnus, an associate at the China Centre at Oxford University and author of Red Flags: Why Xi's China Is In Jeopardy, in The Bunker. • “People thought that the Belt and Road was a very planned and thought out centralised project from Beijing - it’s really nothing of the sort.” - George Magnus • “China sees the Belt and Road as fertile ground to get countries to align with its own governance priorities.” - George Magnus www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Alex Andreou. Producer: Eliza Davis Beard and Liam Tait. Audio production: Robin Leeburn. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Doctor Who: bold individualist, woke mouthpiece for wet BBC liberalism, interfering Galactic colonialist, sidekick to the Military Industrial Complex… or all and none of the above? For the show’s 60th birthday we discuss the politics of Who. Were the Daleks always Nazis? What’s the most politically dodgy story? Why do the Doctor’s politics keeping changing? And what can we expect from Ncuti Gatwa, the first black actor* to play the Doctor in an ongoing role? Our panel of dyed-in-the-scarf Time Lord experts: author and Who spin-off writer Jenny Colgan, the New Statesman and Paper Cuts regular Jonn Elledge, and Seth Thévoz of Oh God What Now? Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers Eliza Davis Beard, Chris Jones and Liam Tait. Art by James Parrett. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Jade Bailey. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production * Yes we know about Jo Martin. She was great, wasn’t she? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tell us what you think of The Bunker in our Listener Survey – five respondents will get the Bunker mug or t-shirt of their choice. David Cameron’s recent comeback baffled everyone – but just how strange is it? And how does it compare to the other PM’s actions after leaving Number 10? Rock and Roll Politics host Steve Richards and Seth Thevoz discuss the history of political comebacks – and whether these moves ever work out. “To come back to the heart of politics so suddenly and unexpectedly, since retiring under the most humiliating of circumstances, is one of the many extraordinary elements to this saga.” – Steve Richards “Prime Ministers are restless and angry with their successors.” – Steve Richards Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Seth Thévoz. Producer: Eliza Davis Beard and Chris Jones. Audio production: Jade Bailey. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Covid-19 inquiry is nowhere near halfway through, but already we’ve learned a lot. But there’s been so much to learn about how our government worked (or didn’t) during the pandemic that it’s been a little hard to comprehend. So before we hear the likes of Patrick Valance give evidence Alex Andreou sat down in the Bunker with Prof. Christina Pagel, Professor of Operational Research at UCL, to explain 7 key moments that we’ve seen so far and why they’re so important to notice. “How can we change the way that we do politics so we have serious people in charge?…I feel like we’ve not had that in years?” – Prof. Christina Pagel. “We’re really good at collecting stuff – we’re really bad at acting on it.” – Prof. Christina Pagel. “I find it incredible there were no safety precautions in number 10, and I find it incredible how little attention it’s had.” – Alex Andreou. “If you talk to people on that frontline they were absolutely overwhelmed… and they’re still recovering.” – Prof. Christina Pagel. Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Alex Andreou. Produced by: Chris Jones. Audio production: Jade Bailey. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s Autumn Statement week and the Tory press are baying for tax cuts. Will they get their wish? Plus a possible hostage deal in Gaza, Argentina’s new president looks like a Vegas Wolverine and talks like Trump, Musk finds a new way to screw up TwitteX… and Doctor Who is back! Alex Andreou sets out the week ahead with Andrew Harrison. Tell us what you think of The Bunker in our Listener Survey – five respondents will get the Bunker mug or t-shirt of their choice. “Inflation is down which just means prices are going up less fast… when people come to do their Christmas food shop, they will notice.” “Twitter is going about as well as a SpaceX launch” “Our print media is out of control. They are partisan to the point of being fact-free and it cannot continue.” Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Group Editor Andrew Harrison. Audio production by Jade Bailey. Assistant producer: Eliza Davis Beard. Music: Kenny Dickinson. Managing Editor Jacob Jarvis. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tell us what you think of The Bunker in our Listener Survey – five respondents will get the Bunker mug or t-shirt of their choice. On this week's Bunker Gold, let us take you back to September 2020… There’s an unseen epidemic of people dying while homeless, and journalist Maeve McClenaghan tells their stories in No Fixed Abode: Life and Death Among the UK's Forgotten Homeless. She tells Dorian Lynskey what she learned, how there was more to the 2010s explosion in rough sleeping than just austerity… and a radical solution to homelessness: give people places to live. • “From attending the funerals of homeless people I discovered how loved these people were” • “Dehumanisation drives the violence which homeless people experience” www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Dorian Lynskey. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producer Jacob Archbold. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tell us what you think of The Bunker in our Listener Survey – five respondents will get the Bunker mug or t-shirt of their choice. When we think of the mafia, we think of Tony Soprano and Don Corleone – men with gelled hair, tailored suits, cigars and machine guns. But today’s mobsters are increasingly young and social-media savvy. University of Essex criminology professor and author of Chasing the Mafia. 'Ndrangheta, Memories and Journeys Anna Sergi joins Rafael Behr in The Bunker to discuss the changing landscape of the Italian mafia. • “They are constantly jeopardising secrecy. They are showing the criminal network." – Anna Sergi • “Violence seems cool for the younger generations of the mafia. Showing the cult of violence on TikTok or Instagram gets attention. ” – Anna Sergi Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Rafael Behr. Producer: Eliza Davis Beard. Audio production: Jade Bailey. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tell us what you think of The Bunker in our Listener Survey – five respondents will get the Bunker mug or t-shirt of their choice. As religious fanatics surge to megachurches across the United States, how do those in charge garner such cult-like devotion? Inspiring total obedience from their followers, some have even made supporters abandon families to support their religious pursuits. How do these groups form, and what about the U.S culture makes them thrive? Adam Morris, author of American Messiahs: False Prophets Of A Damned Nation, joins Dr Seth Thévoz in the Bunker. American Messiahs Book Link • “Messiah’s offer members salvation from the here and now, they see the established religions as offering no comfort.” – Adam Morris • “These types of figures are uniquely amenable to the U.S, due to the societal structure, migrant population etc.” – Adam Morris • “Obedience to the leader is important, but also an obedience to the movement is necessary in these quasi-communist communes.” – Adam Morris www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Seth Thévoz. Produced by: Adam Wright. Audio Editor: Simon Williams. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tell us what you think of The Bunker in our Listener Survey – five respondents will get the Bunker mug or t-shirt of their choice. The Supreme Court has shot down the government’s plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda. But Rishi Sunak is determined to see his policy through, even if it means defying the European Court of Human Rights. So what next for the controversial plan? Ros Taylor is joined in The Bunker by legal academic and head of the research at UK in a Changing Europe, Joelle Grogan to look at the fallout of the court decision. • “The supreme court found that Rwanda was unsafe for the policy, not that it was unlawful.” – Joelle Grogan • "The law cannot claim something is safe when it is not factually safe.” – Joelle Grogan • “A majority of Rwanda alternatives are also facing their own migration crisis.” – Joelle Grogan www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Ros Taylor. Producer: Liam Tait. Audio editor: Simon Williams. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tell us what you think of The Bunker in our Listener Survey – five respondents will get the Bunker mug or t-shirt of their choice. Things are bad for Elon Musk. From the slow motion car crash at Twitter to his mission to eradicate the woke mind virus. Where did it all go wrong for the Tesla CEO and how has his politics warped his view of the world? Marie Le Conte is joined in The Bunker by tech journalist for Bloomberg and co-host of Elon Inc. Max Chafkin to discuss the divisive politics of the world’s richest man. “Elon Musk is a weird mix of Taylor Swift and Warren Buffet” – Max Chafkin “The Twitter acquisition has been disastrous, not just from a financial standpoint but a personal disaster too.” – Max Chafkin “If you had to come up with his formula for success, over-promising is a huge part of it.” – Max Chafkin Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Marie Le Conte. Producer: Liam Tait and Eliza Davis Beard. Audio editor: Robin Leeburn. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tell us what you think of The Bunker in our Listener Survey – five respondents will get the Bunker mug or t-shirt of their choice. Disasters shape the course of politics – and financial crises have heavily impacted Labour’s policies over time. A century ago, the Labour party had almost no economic experts within its ranks. Since then it has battled crises like the great depression of the 30s and more recently the economic crash of 2007. How has this changed the party? Dr. Christopher Kirkland is a lecturer in politics at York St. John University and the author of Labour’s Economic Ideology Since 1900 Developed Through Crises. He joins Alex Andreou in The Bunker. • “Back to 1929-31…the Labour party only had one recognisable expert in terms of finance.” – Dr. Christopher Kirkland • “What Attlee did and the Labour Party did is they offered something optimistic.” – Dr. Christopher Kirkland • “Blair wanted to present something different - hence the term ‘New Labour’.” – Dr. Christopher Kirkland www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Alex Andreou. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production: Alex Rees. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tell us what you think of The Bunker in our Listener Survey – five respondents will get the Bunker mug or t-shirt of their choice. The Barclay brothers were one of the most influential pairings in political life in recent decades. Born into a normal family, the duo became powerful, broadsheet newspaper owning billionaires. Despite that, very little is actually known about them. Professor Jane Martinson is the Marjorie Deane Professor of Financial Journalism at City University of London and author of You May Never See Us Again: The Barclay Dynasty: A Story of Survival, Secrecy and Succession. She joins Andrew Harrison in The Bunker. Buy You May Never See Us Again here and help the podcast through our affiliate link. • “Although they owned loads of newspapers, no one really knew anything about them.” – Jane Martinson • “They should have been one of Britain's greatest success stories… but it has not ended that way.” – Jane Martinson www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Group Editor Andrew Harrison. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production: Alex Rees. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s finally happened – Suella Braverman has been fired. In a speedy extra recording, Ros Taylor gives Jacob Jarvis her thoughts on the latest news. Then in our usual programming Ros and Alex Andreou discuss the other stories to look out for this week. There is the latest on the Israel-Hamas conflict – the US has told Israel to stop targeting hospitals but will Netanyahu heed the warning? And Joe Biden will be meeting with Xi Jingping for the first time in over a year. Can the two leaders restore the fractured relationship between the superpowers? “Nobody on Sunak’s side wanted Braverman to resign on her own terms.” – Ros Taylor "There's a huge difference between a few bad apples in a huge protest and a group that shows up purely to cause trouble.” – Alex Andreou Tell us what you think of The Bunker in our Listener Survey – five respondents will get the Bunker mug or t-shirt of their choice. Why? - the brand new podcast taking you to the edge of knowledge. Available on all good podcast players or visit whypodcast.co.uk Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Alex Andreou with Jacob Jarvis and Ros Taylor. Producer: Liam Tait. Audio editor: Jade Bailey. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week's Bunker Gold arrives out of the smog, from 2022... Dirty air filing homes across the UK is leading to an increase in asthma and lower life expectancy. But just how filthy is it? And are we doing anything meaningful about it? Ros Taylor talks to David Green, senior research fellow in the aerosol science team at Imperial College London. “Scientists have found particles from polluted air in unborn babies.” “Some of the highest levels of pollution are experienced in cars.” “Government anti-pollution measures benefit the public purse in the long term because we spend less on things like childhood development.” “Outside of London, industrial hubs contribute a huge level of air pollution – Port Talbot’s factories make it the most polluted place in the UK.” 🚨 Help us make The Bunker better! 🧑🏼‍💻 Answer our new LISTENER SURVEY 📋 And you could win a Bunker mug or t-shirt 👕: https://www.patreon.com/posts/help-us-make-our-92573016 Written and presented by Ros Taylor. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Jade Bailey. Music: Kenny Dickinson. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On our latest panel edition: The COVID inquiry exposed an undeniably toxic culture of pseudo machismo underpinning Downing Street – how did it come to this? Plus, we discuss the politicisation of online dating, and whether our political leanings are the new measure of “hot or not”. Joining Podmasters’ own Batman and Robin Andrew Harrison and Jacob Jarvis are Oh God, What Now? regular Marie Le Conte and Why? presenter Dr. Anna Machin for a double date in The Bunker. “If you can get to the top of the food chain by being revolting, great! Just be sure you trust the people around you.” – Dr. Anna Machin “I've ended up dating a card carrying Tory. Not just a voter.” – Marie Le Conte Why? – the brand new podcast taking you to the edge of knowledge. Available on all good podcast players – visit whypodcast.co.uk to find it Tell us what you think of The Bunker in our Listener Survey https://www.patreon.com/posts/help-us-make-our-92573016 – five respondents will get the Bunker mug or t-shirt of their choice. www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Jacob Jarvis with Andrew Harrison, Marie Le Conte and Anna Machin. Producers: Eliza Davis Beard and Liam Tait. Audio production: Simon Williams. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

American politics is in chaos – but in many respects the US was born that way. Throughout the late 1700s the federalist party constantly fought with the anti-federalists over their opposing desires for the future. But is partisan politics really a problem? Or is it a necessity for a democratic system to function? Seth Thevoz is joined by bestselling historian and Pulitzer Prize finalist H.W. Brands – whose new book: Founding Partisans: Hamilton, Madison, Jefferson, Adams and the Brawling Birth of American Politics explores exactly that. “Partisanship seems to be inevitable in a democratic system of competitive politics.” – H.W. Brands “There are lots of people on the conservative right who think the current government is out of control.” – H.W. Brands “If partisanship ever disappears, that's going to be a system of something much worse.” – H.W. Brands. Tell us what you think of The Bunker in our Listener Survey: https://www.patreon.com/posts/help-us-make-our-92573016 – five respondents will get the Bunker mug or t-shirt of their choice. Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Seth Thevoz. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production: Jade Bailey. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Russia’s use of private military companies (PMCs) is no secret, despite Vladimir Putin’s best efforts. Wagner is the most infamous but after Yevgeny Prighozin’s downfall, another has taken its place – Redut PMC. Where does its loyalties lie? How powerful is it? And who’s in charge? Dr Marina Miron is a post-doctoral researcher at the War Studies Department at King's College London. She joins Laura Makin-Isherwood in The Bunker. “Now that Wagner is out of the picture, it seems like Redut is taking its place.” – Dr. Marina Miron “I don’t think there is a lot of resistance to PMCs in Russia, especially in the public sphere.” – Dr. Marina Miron “Redut started recruiting from prisons, only when Wagner finished.” – Dr. Marina Miron Listen to our brand new science podcast WHY? – taking you on adventures to the edge of knowledge – at whypodcast.co.uk Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Laura Makin-Isherwood. Producers: Chris Jones and Eliza David Beard. Audio production: Jade Bailey. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Spotify dominates the music industry – but artists struggle to profit from the platform. What if that power balance shifts? Although the streaming platform is on track to reach one billion users by 2027. Can the streamer perfect the mix of corporate profits, customer satisfaction and pay musicians more than a fraction of a penny per play? Andrew Harrison is joined in The Bunker by music business and tech journalist Dr. Eamonn Forde to discuss Spotify's uncertain future. “Spotify was created to compete with illegal music services like Napster.” – Dr. Eamonn Forde “Apple was slow to streaming, Steve Jobs always felt that it was a ridiculous idea to ‘rent’ music” – Dr. Eamonn Forde “The CD market had a phenomenal growth curve that was completely unsustainable.” – Dr. Eamonn Forde Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Andrew Harrison. Producer: Liam Tait. Audio editor: Jade Bailey. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The BBC’s Ros Atkins regularly goes viral for his news explainers. In our latest episode, he joins Ros Taylor to discuss the art of communication in a changing media environment. Whether you’re talking about a complex political issue, or an email to your boss, it’s vital to be able to communicate effectively and clearly. Where do we begin, are there systems to use in constructing our explanations and what makes an explanation effective? Atkins reveals all in his new book The Art of Explanation. "Two things I ask when building a video: what's essential and what’s interesting?” – Ros Atkins "You just can’t do quality analysis without proper understanding of the whole story.” – Ros Atkins Art of Explanation by Ros Atkins: https://geni.us/TAOEBOOK Written and presented by Ros Taylor. Audio production: Alex Rees. Production: Liam Tait and Adam Wright. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Israel-Hamas War is the latest horrific episode in what seems like an intractable political-religious conflict. But could there be a political way out of these generational hatreds? Middle East Analyst and member of the NATO Defence College Foundation Jason Pack believes there IS a solution – and it could come from the most unexpected source. He explains a possible post-war future for Gaza to Andrew Harrison. Why?, the brand new podcast taking you to the edge of knowledge. Available on all good podcast players. Visit whypodcast.co.uk to find it Listen to Jason Pack on the Disorder podcast: https://linktr.ee/disorderpod Read more on this topic in The Road to Middle East Peace Runs Through Doha – Jason Pack on foreignpolicy.com • “Netanyahu has committed himself to eradicating Hamas, but Hamas is an ideology, more than a group.” – Jason Pack • “Hamas created Netanyahu as much as he was created by Hamas.” – Jason Pack • “The key to long term peace is a coalition of Arab States… The Qataris are the lynchpin.” – Jason Pack www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Group Editor Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers Eliza Davis Beard, Chris Jones and Liam Tait. Art by James Parrett. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the final King’s Speech before the election due, is there any point to Sunak’s plans anymore? What can we expect from the government’s agenda – and can any of its goals even be achieved? Plus the latest on the Israel-Hamas conflict – will growing calls for a ceasefire or pause be heeded? Finally, Trump is expected to testify in one of his many court cases, what should we expect? Jacob Jarvis is joined in The Bunker by Alex Andreou to get you prepped for the week ahead. ‘“The Conservatives are a party that has given up on governing.” – Alex Andreou “We know we’ve run out of spaces in prisons, so harsher sentences are pointless.” – Alex Andreou “The environmentalist King Charles reading out a regressive fossil fuel policy will be fascinating to watch.” – Alex Andreou Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bunkercast Why? - the brand new podcast taking you to the edge of knowledge. Available on all good podcast players - visit whypodcast.co.uk to find it Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis and Alex Andreou. Producer: Liam Tait. Audio editor: Jade Bailey. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this Bonfire night special Bunker Gold, let us take you back to November 2020… Was Guy Fawkes really “the last honest man to enter Parliament”, as we keep hearing on Twitter? Or a fore-runner of today’s religiously radicalised terrorists? Why is a villain of the Gunpowder Plot acclaimed as a hero by some in 2020? Nick Holland, author of The Real Guy Fawkes, tells Jude Rogers why Guy Fawkes persists as a symbol… and what we misunderstand about a man who almost murdered thousands in a 17th century atrocity. “Guy Fawkes is a complicated figure – so both political sides can claim him.” “It’s estimated he’d gathered enough gunpowder to destroy Parliament 25 times over.” Presented by Jude Rogers. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producer Jacob Archbold. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From Obama’s tan suit to the Emperor’s new clothes – we’ve always been fascinated by politicians’ wardrobes. But should we care at all what they wear? Marie Le Conte is joined by fashion writer and political commentator, Derek Guy aka "The Menswear Guy" on Twitter to find out. "I don’t like the respectability politics of clothing. Your character isn’t determined by how you dress.” – Derek Guy "I would agree. I’m a bit of a snob.” – Derek Guy “You don’t know if somebody earnestly loves something or if they’re being paid by a brand." – Derek Guy Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Marie Le Conte. Producer: Liam Tait. Audio editor: Jade Bailey. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The notion of American patriotism has become increasingly controversial — and linked to violence. With no clear-cut definition of patriotism, the notion has been co-opted by far-right extremist groups such as the Proud Boys and Oathkeepers. Sam Jackson is the author of Oath Keepers: Patriotism and the Edge of Violence in a Right-Wing Anti Government Group, he joins Chris Jones in The Bunker to discuss how the concept has been warped. Book link: http://cup.columbia.edu/book/oath-keepers/9780231193450 “Patriotism is used as a political weapon”. “There’s no clear and thick analytical definition of patriotism - it’s more a form of strategic communication or persuasion”. “I don’t see any reason that we should be confident that another January 6th insurrection couldn’t happen again”. Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Chris Jones. Producer: Eliza Davis Beard. Audio producer: Jade Bailey. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Questions over Iran’s involvement in the Israel-Hamas conflict have run rampant since the terrorist attacks of October. How would the nation benefit from chaos in the Middle East and what would it take for Iran to join the war? Today in The Bunker, Alex Andreou sits down with Dr Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House, to ask: what does Iran want? “Iran is not a natural partner with Hamas, they have significant religious differences.” – Dr Sanam Vakil “There is a concern that escalation can come not because of choice but because of mistakes." – Dr Sanam Vakil “Iran is exploiting deep divisions between the global north and south over this war.” – Dr Sanam Vakil www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Alex Andreou. Producers: Liam Tait and Eliza Davis Beard. Audio editor: Simon Williams. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are tech giants out of control? Our media landscape is dominated by tech titans with unlimited resources and little to no oversight. Does anyone have a plan to deal with this lack of regulation? Ros Taylor sits down with, senior research fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School and author of Techlash, Tom Wheeler to discuss his vision of digital governance. “Certain men of wealth can do as they please." – Tom Wheeler “We need a new federal agency that is created to deal with the realities of modern tech.” – Tom Wheeler “The internet is the largest ungoverned space in the world.” – Tom Wheeler https://www.brookings.edu/books/techlash/ www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Ros Taylor. Producer: Liam Tait. Audio editor: Simon Williams. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Prisons across England and Wales are at breaking point. If the system does not change, experts say the number of people living in squalor in overcrowded facilities will only increase. What are the government’s plans to change the system? And can it be fixed? Danny Shaw is a crime, justice and policing commentator and ex-BBC Home Affairs Correspondent. He joins Ros Taylor in The Bunker. “What’s really bad is that the entire criminal justice system feels broken.” – Danny Shaw “I think both Labour and the Conservatives have had an arms race to be tough on criminal justice.” – Danny Shaw “There isn’t just a shortage of capacity, there just aren’t enough prison officers.” – Danny Shaw www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Ros Taylor. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production:Alex Rees. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The far-right could seize power in the next French presidential election. Marine Le Pen has been flying the flag for the anti-immigration Nation Rally Party ever since her father Jean-Marie Le Pen stepped down in 2011. Despite multiple failed attempts at election, her popularity has been increasing in the polls - and it looks like 2027 could be her year. So what’s behind her success and what would France under Le Pen’s presidency look like? Paul Smith is an Associate Professor in French History and Politics at Nottingham University, he joins Chris Jones in The Bunker. “Le Pen wants to be a disruptive Trump-like figure for the EU.” – Paul Smith “Le Pen doesn’t care about a Frexit. Brexit has taught everyone in Europe that they shouldn’t leave the EU.” – Paul Smith www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Chris Jones. Producer: Liam Tait. Audio production: Alex Rees. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After a weekend of communication blackouts, circumstances grow more dire for Palestinians. With little hope of a ceasefire, how will the Israel Hamas conflict develop this week? Meanwhile, the UK is hosting a summit on the danger of A.I. but is it too little too late? Plus the latest on the US presidential race — and Dominic Cummings faces a grilling from the Covid Inquiry. Ros Taylor is joined in The Bunker by Gavin Esler to get you prepped for the week ahead. “This war has already been going on for years.” – Gavin Esler “We can’t spot shallow fakes, nevermind deep fakes.” – Gavin Esler Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Ros Taylor and Gavin Esler. Producer: Liam Tait. Audio editor: Jade Bailey. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's Bunker Gold, a classic interview from 2022... Lisa Nandy talks to Dorian Lynskey about the people and places left behind in modern Britain – and how to empower them. The shadow secretary of state for communities and local government discusses the communities that give her hope, the missteps of recent Governments and what shifts she’d like to see – as outlined in her new book All In: How We Build a Country That Works. “Everywhere you go there is this feeling that everything is falling apart.” “People know that this country could be better… they’re very angry that for a long time they’ve been saying things haven’t been working.” “People need hope. There’s got to be hope on the horizon.” “Change is inevitable. People won’t put up with the system anymore.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Dorian Lynskey. Producers: Jet Gerbertson and Alex Rees . Assistant producer Kasia Tomasiewicz. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. Lead producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. The Bunker is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Despite all odds, Goths have continued to thrive and evolve from Siouxsie and the Banshees to Wednesday Adams. But what political and social conditions created the Goth movement? And how has the extravagant subculture survived all this time? Frontman of The Membranes and author of The Art of Darkness, John Robb, joins Alex Andreou in our extra spooky early Halloween edition of The Bunker. “You can't create a culture darker than the way the people in power run it already.” – John Robb “Goths read books. The punk period in the late 70s nobody read books!” – John Robb “Goth was influenced by a lot of black music: disco, dub, funk is all there in goth rock.” – John Robb BOOK LINK https://manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526173201/ Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Alex Andreou. Producer: Liam Tait. Audio editor: Jade Bailey. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chinese President Xi Jinping says the future destiny of mankind relies on how well the US and China get along. But with growing tensions rising around Taiwan and military exercises becoming more frequent in the Indo-Pacific, is war just on the horizon? Oriana Skylar Mastro is a Center Fellow of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, Stanford University And the author of “Upstart: How China Became a Great Power.” She joins Chris Jones in The Bunker. https://global.oup.com/academic/product/upstart-9780197695067?cc=us&lang=en& “Beijing is unhappy with the status quo and America wants things to stay exactly the same now, forever.” – Oriana Skylar Mastro. “Beijing likes to do dangerous things, to rock the boat.” – Oriana Skylar Mastro “I think the military power the US needs to avoid war is so awesome that we might not be able to achieve it.” – Oriana Skylar Mastro. Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written, presented and produced by Chris Jones. Audio production: Jade Bailey. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 the EU endures, and of course, Brexit. “As soon as the Maastricht Treaty was signed, it was clear something was different.” – Dermot Hodson. “With every crisis we’re told it’s about to collapse.” – Dermot Hodson. “If we look at Donald Tusk’s elections it’s a minor miracle… because by many standards that was not a free and fair election.” – Dermot Hodson Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Alex Andreou. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production: Alex Rees and Jade Bailey. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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/buying-silence “The courts seem to take the view that it’s not their fault they’re oligarchs.” – David Hooper. “The whole court process is pretty scandalous, it needs resetting.” – David Hooper. “Once the roubles were put on the table, people were perfectly happy to act for Prigozhin.” – David Hooper. Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Ros Taylor. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production: Robin Leeburn. Assistant Producer: Adam Wright. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 is an agreement across the US political spectrum that they need to deal with big tech monopolies.” – Dr. Renaud Foucart “Arguably, Amazon is the thing that saved the unique traditional bookshop.” – Dr. Renaud Foucart www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Ros Taylor. Producer: Liam Tait. Audio editor: Robin Leeburn. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 Labour gets into power and they want to do something with the greenbelt they need to act on it straight away.” – Harry Scoffin www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Hannah Fearn. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production: Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 production: Jade Bailey. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 action take place.” • “The Government has deliberately shifted the cost of running the railways onto passengers.” • “It’s extraordinary the Government would put up prices 13% after a year of turmoil on the railways.” • “Railway workers really do have some power.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Ros Taylor. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. Music: Kenny Dickinson. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Additional sound effects from www.zapsplat.com and AlienXXX via Freesound.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices