The Bunker – News without the nonsense

The death penalty is supported by a large number of Brits. Why are so many people obsessed with it? And how does politics change how we see the role of the law? Seth Thévoz is joined by Lizzie Seal, professor of criminology at the University of Sussex to explore the fascination with this ultimate punishment. “Popular support for the death penalty goes up following well-publicised social disorder.” “In the mid 20th century, the death penalty represented public order.” “Labour governments were more likely to be sympathetic to abolition.” www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Seth Thévoz. Producers: Kasia Tomasiewicz. and Alex Rees. 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 US isn’t delivering on its pledges to reverse climate change. The Willow Project in Alaska, labelled by some as a “carbon bomb”, is a key example of that. But with global energy supply chains so massively disrupted by the war in Ukraine, are these kinds of projects justified? Michael Gerrard is the founder of the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia Law School. He joined Arthur Snell in the Bunker to discuss why pushing through new climate laws is so difficult. “We ARE NOT on the trajectory that we want to be.” – Michael Gerrard “The US climate commitments are not really legally binding.” – Michael Gerrard “The Supreme Court has become somewhat of an impediment.” – Michael Gerrard. “In the US there have been efforts going back to 2004 to hold oil and gas responsible for climate change.” – Michael Gerrard. www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Arthur Snell Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production: Simon Williams. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The ministerial code is a set of rules members of Government are expected to abide by. But they don’t all manage it. Is it fit for purpose? And have ministers become more unscrupulous – or do we just have higher expectations than we used to? Tim Durrant of the Institute for Government tells Ros Taylor that the system, tested to its limits during Boris Johnson’s premiership, works better than you might think. “We need to know that information coming from the government is honest and true.” – Tim Durrant “Ministers have a huge amount of power in public life and therefore it’s incumbent that they merit that.” – Time Durrant “I think you could almost argue that the removal of Boris Johnson was proof of the system working”. – Tim Durrant “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with expecting political leaders to be good people.” – Tim Durrant www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Ros Taylor. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production: Simon Williams Music by Kenny Dickinson. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How secure do you feel in your job? From manufacturing plants to corporate boardrooms, the rise of artificial intelligence has sent shockwaves through the working population. Dr. Kasia Tomasiewicz sits down with Dr. Kate Devlin to talk about how our lives will change in an AI-driven economy. “If essays can be answered with AI, we’re not asking students the right questions.” “Who are we to say the best relationships are between two humans?” “The bigger question regarding AI is who gets to profit from it?” Support us on Pateron: www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Kasia Tomasiewicz. 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

Tens of thousands of people are demanding an end to leasehold laws in England and Wales. They say they’re trapped by an avalanche of bills, whilst freeholders rake in the cash. Both Labour and the Tories (after A LOT hesitation) have vowed to reform leasehold laws. But how could they do it? It’s an issue that could turn many at the ballot box in next year’s general election. Harry Scoffin is a campaigner for Commonhold Now and joins Hannah Fearn in The Bunker. “Labour don’t think the Tories are being genuine on this issue.” – Harry Scoffin “How is it right that in this 21st century when you buy a flat you still don’t own it.” – Harry Scoffin “Being ripped off is being ripped off! Exploitation is wrong!” – Harry Scoffin “The way the Tories are going about this issue, they will be out of power for an entire generation.” – Harry Scoffin www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Hannah Fearne Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production: Simon Williams Music by Kenny Dickinson. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Tories are in-fighting over supermarket price caps – can they agree on anything? And Boris Johnson is back sulking over Covid, will he stop acting like a teenager? Plus we’ve got the latest from Ukraine, the Turkish election results, and Biden’s proposed debt ceiling deal. Hannah Fearn joins Jacob Jarvis to give you the stories to look out for in the week ahead. “Boris Johnson is acting like a walking sulk.” – Jacob Jarvis “It makes me incredibly angry that the Tories are treating the removal of liberties as a game.” – Hannah Fearn “Erdogan is proposing a ‘volunteer’ return of Syrian refugees which is very worrying.” – Hannah Fearn Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis with Hannah Fearn. Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio producer: 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

Emmett De Monterey was born with cerebral palsy, and as he grew up he realised that he was gay. He joins Alex Andreou to discuss his new book Go The Way Your Blood Beats about the challenges of facing two forms of prejudice, one against his disability and the other his sexuality. How do you fight to be seen in a world that refuses to see you? “As a teenager I would have liked to have read a book about these experiences.” “I wasted a lot of time internalising the narrative that I needed to be fixed.” “My mother knew that the world outside the family home would be harsh.” www.patreon.com/bunkercast Go The Way Your Blood Beats is released on the 6th of July. Book link: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/451111/go-the-way-your-blood-beats-by-monterey-emmett-de/9780241570531 Written and presented by Alex Andreou. Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio editor: Alex Rees. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s 60 years this month since National Service was abolished – but the idea remains popular. Could it ever work again, or is it just a pipe dream sustained by right-wing cranks? Jude Rogers is joined by Professor of History Richard Viven, author of National Service: Conscription in Britain 1945-1963, to explore the boredom, terror, and nostalgia of life under compulsory conscription. “Military service was a bit like the workhouse for the poor, it was the last option.” “There was always more tedium over terror.” “National Service is not meant to be a social service.” Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Jude Rogers. Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio editor: Jade Bailey. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Proud Boys may not be proud no more after four of its members have been found guilty of seditious conspiracy. The neo-fascist group is accused of leading the Jan 6th assault on the capitol and has heavy links to Trump and other influential, right-wing figures. But just how deep does their power lie? And is that power flailing? And talking of the right wing, why is America still so captivated by Fox News, even post-Tucker Carlson? Gavin Esler is joined in the Bunker by Juliet Jeske, Proud boys expert and host of Decoding Fox News podcast. “Right-wing authoritarianism is very much what they’re drawn to.” – Juliet Jeske “McInnes was just this angry bigoted racist man who thought starting a group would be a good idea.” – Juliet Jeske “This is all about masculinity and they think they’re saving the Western world.” – Juliet Jeske “You’ll see something that’s not true on FOX and within 24 hours GOP politics will push the exact same thing.” – Juliet Jeske Written and presented by Gavin Esler Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production: Alex Rees Music by Kenny Dickinson. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Around 12,000 people in England and Wales volunteer as magistrates. That means they can sentence people to up to a year in prison. Yet they have barely any training and no legal qualifications. Penelope Gibbs, the director of Transform Justice, tells Ros Taylor about the problems with relying on a self-selecting, middle-class magistracy who may never have seen inside a jail. They talk about the difficulties in trying to hold remote hearings during the pandemic and how a cash-strapped system struggles to deliver justice. “The training for magistrates is woeful, and I and others have been saying that for years.” – Penelope Gibbs “There used to be really feisty magistrates who would speak out but gradually their independence has been ground down.” – Penelope Gibbs “It’s an incredibly closed and untransparent system.” – Penelope Gibbs “What happens in magistrates court is pretty hidden most of the time.” – Penelope Gibbs Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Ros Taylor Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production: Jade Bailey. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Can Sadiq Khan really clean up London? From the Met to the air, the Mayor of London has a tough road ahead of him. He speaks to Andrew Harrison to discuss his new book: Breathe and plans to tackle the climate crisis, the controversial ULEZ expansion and how a boy from Tooting ends up a fan of Liverpool FC. “We don’t want money from the ULEZ. We want people walking, cycling or using public transport.” “As Mayor I chose to tackle climate issues, Boris Johnson chose to bury his head in the sand.” “Cressida Dick didn't have a credible plan to address issues in the MET. ” Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bunkercast You can purchase Sadiq's book here: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/452035/breathe-by-khan-sadiq/9781529152784 Written and presented by Andrew Harrison. Recorded at Spiritland Studios. 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

Sherine Tadros reported from war zones across the world. She joins Alex Andreou to discuss her new book Taking Sides: a memoir about love, war, and changing the world. How has she managed to stay hopeful after so much tragedy? And how can her story of personal strength inspire us to keep going against the odds? “It is our instinct to survive that makes our story less believable.” “When you show strength in the face of great difficulty people often don’t believe you.” “I’m not saying that tragedies don’t hurt but there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.” www.patreon.com/bunkercast BOOK LINK: https://scribepublications.co.uk/books-authors/books/taking-sides-9781914484254 Written and presented by Alex Andreou. Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio editor: Alex Rees. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Following politics is tough, especially if you want to keep your blood pressure at a healthy level. So how can you keep a cool head? Ros Taylor speaks to The Guardian’s Rafael Behr about his new book: Politics: A Survivor’s Guide: How to Stay Engaged without Getting Enraged. Raf opens up about his own journey and shares how we can find hope amidst the chaos. “Remain rallies were very twee, maybe they should have been more French?” “Post Brexit politics is like trench warfare where politics is the Western Front and nothing is moving.” “Lee Anderson, what is he afraid of? That he's not being respected enough?” Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bunkercast BOOK LINK: https://atlantic-books.co.uk/book/politics-a-survivors-guide/ Written and presented by Ros Taylor. Producer: Liam Tait. Audio producer: 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

Suella Braverman has had a busy week with speeding ticket drama. Can the Home Secretary outrun another controversy or is this the end of the track? And with the Northern Irish council election in favour of Sinn Féin, is the future of Éire up for grabs? Plus we’ve got the results from the Greek elections, the latest from Ukraine and rumours of Boris Johnson’s continued downfall. Alex Andreou joins Andrew Harrison to map out the week ahead. “Suella Braverman is a world champ at getting sacked and coming back 5 minutes later.” – Andrew Harrison “The Conservative dream of a whole nation playing golf when nobody collects the bins is impossible.” – Alex Andreou “We might be looking at Sinn Féin in the north and south of Ireland, which is extraordinary.”– Alex Andreou Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Andrew Harrison with Alex Andreou. Producers: Kasia Tomasiewicz and Liam Tait. Audio producer: 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 Freemasons are often blamed when things go wrong. But are they behind a global conspiracy or are they just a glorified men’s drinking club? Siân Pattenden is joined by historian John Dickie, author of The Craft: How the Freemasons Made the Modern World, to discover the truth behind this secretive fraternal group who have been blamed for everything – from corrupting the police to the global financial crash. “They have nothing to do with stonemasons but still use their symbols as moral metaphors.” “The secrets are extraordinarily mundane.” “It’s not the content of the secrets, it's the rituals and sense of togetherness that matter.” www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Siân Pattenden. Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio editor: Simon Williams. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

America has a gun problem, and not just inside its own borders. Thousands of guns cross into Mexico every year, fuelling an epidemic of violence between drug cartels. Ioan Grillo is the author of ‘Blood Gun Money: How America Arms Gangs and Cartels’. He’s spent time with gun manufacturers, speaking to FBI agents and at murder scenes to decipher just how deep the issue lies. He joined Seth Thevoz in the Bunker from Mexico City. “Suddenly there were no longer just gang members with shaved heads and tattoos; these were paramilitary organisations with AK47s.” — Ioan Grillo “The level of destruction has increased exponentially.” — Ioan Grillo “For the Mexican cartels the easiest source of guns is the US, there’s a huge supply there and they’re relatively cheap.” — Ioan Grillo “The bloodshed they unleash down here with these weapons, it’s unbelievable.” — Ioan Grillo www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Seth Thevoz. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production: Alex Rees. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s time to celebrate the birthplace of democracy with a Greek election! With more than 30 parties and coalitions vying for votes, the stage is set for political chaos. Isn’t democracy wonderful? Alex Andreou speaks to journalist and correspondent for ERT, Evdoxia Lymperi, to try and understand one of the year’s most unpredictable elections. “This is a mute election, nobody is willing to speak to the pollsters.” “Greeks are not Germans. They have no tradition of coalition governments.” www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Alex Andreou. Producer: Liam Tait and Kasia Tomasiewicz. 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 overnight Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021 shocked the world. But who is behind the hardline regime running the country? After 20 years of insurgency against the US-backed government in Kabul, how have they changed since they were last in power? Doomsday Watch host Arthur Snell is joined by Hassan Abbas, author of The Return of the Taliban Afghanistan after the Americans Left, to explore the factions vying for power and which international countries have their eyes on Afghanistan. “The US were spending billions of dollars on a state-building project.” “The Taliban are not one ‘thing’ but many different factions.” “The Pakistani military has influence over the Old Guard in Afghanistan.” www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Arthur Snell. Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio editor: Simon Williams. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How do we stop terrorists before they act? Are our security services operating with expert proficiency or is it just luck? The answer is unfortunately a mix of both, but that’s no reason to despair. Hannah Fearn speaks to The Independent's home affairs editor Lizzie Dearden about her book, Plotters: The UK Terrorists Who Failed, to get an insight into British terror attacks that were stopped in their tracks. “The pool of people susceptible to terrorism grew during the lockdown.” “Security services were so focused on stopping people from joining Isis that more attacks happened in the UK.” “So many terrorists receive a mental health diagnosis at the point of criminal conviction.” www.patreon.com/bunkercast Book Link: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Homegrown/Jeffrey-Toobin/9781668013571 Written and presented by Hannah Fearn. Producer: Liam Tait. Audio editor: Alex Rees. 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

Despite endless scandals and psychodramas, the Tories keep getting into power. So why are the British obsessed with the Conservative Party? And will we ever get rid of them? Seth Thevoz is joined by Samuel Earle, author of Tory Nation: How One Party Conquered Britain, to ask how one party came to dominate our political imagination. “The election numbers seem more like a rigged casino than a functional democracy.” — Samuel Earle “The House of Lords seems to go against the grain of a liberal democratic society, yet it’s still here.” — Samuel Earle “Conservatives don’t like to see themselves as ideological people.” — Samuel Earle. Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Seth Thevoz. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production: Jade Bailey. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Artwork by James Parrett. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Battle lines were drawn this week as the Conservatives held two conferences – whose side are you on? In the blue corner Suella Braverman and a whole host of unsavoury fringe figures from the National Conservatism Movement. In the other blue corner it’s the Conservative Democratic Organisation aka the ‘bring back Boris brigade’ led by Nadine Dorries. Plus the Turkish election – is Erdogan’s time up? And yes, we’ll be talking about Eurovision. Alex Andreou joins Ros Taylor to explore the week ahead. “Boris wasn’t there which isn’t unusual as it wasn’t a paid gig.” – Alex Andreou “We’ve gone ‘high skill high wage’ economy to a ‘let’s all pick some apples’ economy’” – Alex Andreou “Unhappiness following the local council elections was subsided by the Coronation but now it's back with a vengeance.”– Alex Andreou Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Ros Taylor with Alex Andreou. Producers: Kasia Tomasiewicz and Liam Tait. Audio producer: 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

How do you tell if a politician is lying? Their lips are moving. That’s what the old joke would have us believe anyway. Rob Burley was a senior producer on some of the BBC’s flagship political shows so he knows what makes a good (and disastrous) political interview. Ros Taylor talks to Rob about his new book, Why Is This Lying Bastard Lying to Me?: Searching for the Truth on Political TV, to find out the tricks used by politicians to get away with their little white lies. “Paxman just had enough, he decided he wasn’t going to play by the rules .” “Robin Day revolutionised TV interviews in 1958 and it’s gone downhill since then.” “The morning after the Brexit referendum the BBC told me not to look into the 350m bus claims.” www.patreon.com/bunkercast Book Link: https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/why-is-this-lying-bastard-lying-to-me-searching-for-the-truth-on-political-tv-rob-burley?variant=40188508504142 Written and presented by Ros Taylor. Producer: Liam Tait. Audio editor: Alex Rees. 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

Right wing extremists are often considered lone wolves. But platforms like 4chan have made it easier than ever for extremist communities to grow. Alex Andreou speaks to best-selling author Jeffrey Toobin about his latest book, Homegrown: Timothy McVeigh and the Rise of Right-Wing Extremism, which explores the connection between the Oklahoma City bomber and the rise of modern day far right extremism. “It’s easy for extremists to find each other. That plot to kidnap the governor of Michigan was hatched over Facebook chat.” “The federal government has not done enough to challenge the idea that all terrorists are Islamic radicals.” “McVeigh did act alone, but he was part of a larger political force in the US.” www.patreon.com/bunkercast Book Link: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Homegrown/Jeffrey-Toobin/9781668013571 Written and presented by Alex Andreou. Producer: Liam Tait. Audio editor: Alex Rees. 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

Donald Trump took over the phrase fake news – but dodgy journalism was an issue long before him. Has the media always been misleading? And how do we tell the difference between bad and fake journalism? Jacob Jarvis is joined by Andie Tucher, author of Not Exactly Lying: Fake News and Fake Journalism in American History, to discover the 300-year-old roots of fake news and why some journalists can’t admit it when they mess up. “Journalists make mistakes all the time – the reporting on Iraq being a key example.” “Sin of omissions can be as consequential as active misinformation.” “There are huge limits on journalists, who often don’t like saying that.” “Fake journalism is much more worrying than fake news.” Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bunkercast Book Link: http://cup.columbia.edu/book/not-exactly-lying/9780231186353 Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis. Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio editor: Jade Bailey. 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

David Cameron entered 10 Downing Street 13 years ago. Since he and his right hand man George Osborne got their hands on power it's safe to say things haven’t been going well. Political journalist Steve Richards, of BBC and Rock & Roll Politics fame, joins Andrew Harrison in The Bunker to discuss this gruesome twosome and the pain caused by austerity and Brexit that they are both intrinsically linked to. “Cameron’s left this horrible horrible mess that was wholly avoidable and we are still living with the consequences.” “Cameron sold himself very effectively and it's a really interesting case study in how easy it is to mesmerise the media.” “What has followed has been so chaotic – so it’s easy to forget that the seeds were sown in the Cameron era.” www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis . Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production: Robin Leeburn. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Antisocial behaviour is constantly put under the spotlight by politicians. But what really causes it? Nick Pettigrew, author of Anti-Social, talks to Ros Taylor about what pushes it, how politicians try to shift responsibility for them onto individuals – and why shaming punishments don’t work. “Young people are as likely to be victims of antisocial behaviour as they are the causes of it.” “The safety net is more important than enforcement, someone with an investment in where you live is less likely to offend.” “Cleaning off graffiti in orange jumpsuits only isolates offenders further — it’s the modern stocks.” “If you deal with entrenched poverty antisocial behaviour will disappear overnight.” www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Ros Taylor. Producers and audio editors: Robin Leeburn and Simon Williams. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Police came out in force for the Coronation. Can the Met ride out accusations of heavy handedness? And the Tories are still reeling from their local elections trouncing, how worried should they be? Plus, there's news from the US, Ukraine and the Home Office’s handling of refugees from Sudan. Hannah Fearn joins Jacob Jarvis to map out the news for the week ahead. “Labour most feared Penny Mordaunt, and the coronation proves she is one to watch.” – Hannah Fearn “Labour can’t rest on their laurels, council elections show general mood rather than voting intention.” – Hannah Fearn “The Bring Back Boris thing could have troubled Sunak for longer if not for the coronation shifting focus.” – Hannah Fearn www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Jacob Jarvis with Hannah Fearn. Produced by Kasia Tomasiewicz with Liam Tait. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production: Robin Leeburn. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

King Charles III has just been crowned. What kind of king has he become? How has he handled the rift with Harry, and the Andrew problem? And has he managed to control his quick temper? Former Guardian royal correspondent Stephen Bates tells Ros Taylor that predictions Charles would ‘meddle’ in politics have been wide of the mark. They talk about whether the royal family will shrink further in the coming years, and if its remaining working members are now content to be dutiful but unexciting. QUOTES ‘The one thing that kills off the institution is the loss of a sense of public spirit and duty. You can get away an awful lot with an awful lot if you’re conscientious, reliable and smile for the cameras. Catherine and William have discovered that.’ ‘The British monarchy has a different place in the constitution than the Scandinavian monarchies do, and that’s perhaps one reason why they’re slower to adapt.’ ‘I doubt very much Charles would use a biro. He’s more of a fountain pen man.’ www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Ros Taylor. Producer and audio editor: Simon Williams. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Many anticipated a subdued Victory Day – and that was before the Kremlin claimed Ukraine attempted to assassinate Vladimir Putin. With this leading to even more cities scaling back their festivities, Arthur Snell asks Professor Stefan Wolff what exactly does Russia have to celebrate in 2023? “Putin is trying to link Ukraine to a larger narrative that Russia is always being on the right side of history.” “The drone incident may be a way to downscale the victory day events.” “This is a narrative you can feed to a population deprived of a balance feed of news” www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Arthur Snell. Produced by Liam Tait. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production: Robin Leeburn. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Marjorie Taylor Greene is one of the most controversial and extreme figures in US politics. Why is she the way she is? She’s a GOP member of Congress for Georgia’s 14th District, a role steeped in responsibility. And someone really should tell MTG that. She often spouts unproven conspiracy theories; has called President Biden the real enemy of the state and most recently backed Tucker Carlson after he was given the boot by FOX. Jay Bookman is a columnist for the Georgia Recorder – and he thinks she’s an idiot. He told Jacob Jarvis why. “She’s, if arrogance went on a blind date with stupidity, Marjorie Taylor Greene would be the result of that pairing.” - Jay Bookman “Speaker McCarthy has said that he would be with her no matter what happens and that's a boundary that she’s willing to test.” - Jay Bookman “There’s a long long string of amazingly irresponsible statements and rhetorics by Marjorie.” Jay Bookman “She’s looking for attention and she’ll say and do whatever it takes to get that attention.” Jay Bookman “I don’t think she has an agenda other than her own celebrity, her own power.” - Jay Bookman www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis Producer: Chris Jones. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production: Robin Leeburn. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alastair Campbell has a plan to fix the crisis in our politics. Andrew Harrison talks to one of politics’ most controversial figures about where our democracies are going wrong, the poison of populism, the long shadow of Iraq, why Boris Johnson was so dangerous, and his new book But What Can I Do? Why Politics Has Gone So Wrong And How Can You Help Fix It. “In my lifetime, most politicians have genuinely been trying to wrestle with problems. Populists try to exploit those problems.” “You can’t be a leader without some moral compass. Johnson was chaotic, he didn’t manage people, he didn’t really care. He is not a serious person.” “I was aggressive at times and I wanted the media to understand that if they stepped over a line, I was going to call them out.” “There are some people that will never accept what I say is true.” www.patreon.com/bunkercast BOOK LINK: https://linktr.ee/alastaircampbellbook Written and presented by Andrew Harrison. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production: Simon Williams. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Everyone predicted it would fall apart immediately, but it didn’t. Six months later, Twitter seems to be chugging along but how long can it last? Kasia Tomasiewicz speaks with head of digital at iNews, Luke Bailey, to discuss Elon’s grand plan for the bird app. “Musk is asking people to pay to see poor quality tweets and have people yell at them.” “He’s pulled everything apart to find out just why Twitter made the decision in the first place.” “The twitter files exposed that there was a left wing bias but they were trying really hard to keep the platform balanced.” www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Kasia Tomasiewicz. Produced by Liam Tait. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production: Simon Williams. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GB News positions itself as a noble endeavour to widen the voices in Britain’s national debate. Which is fantastic in theory, but over the last two years the output of the channel has proved ungovernable. Alex Andreou sits down with broadcaster, and future national treasure, Dr. Matthew Sweet to ask the question, how do you control a news channel that’s like no other? “If you are part of the conspiracist culture - then you understand the coded language they use on GB News” “If you go on GB news you’re endorsing them. I don’t want to sit with them and make them equals.” “Why doesn’t GB news have a science editor? Because nobody with the qualifications would do the job!” www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Alex Andreou. Produced by Liam Tait. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production: Simon Williams. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Local elections (for local people) are coming up this week. What would mark a good night for Starmer? And what will a bad one mean for Sunak, amid the cost of living crisis and strikes? Plus, as the coronation brings the role of the royals into the spotlight, we get ready to pledge allegiance… And war in Sudan and Ukraine rumbles on – what is the latest from these conflicts? Gavin Esler joins Alex Andreou to explore the news to look out for. “We have got the talent in this country to do things – but we tend not to have that talent in Government.” – Gavin Esler “Most of us take local elections for granted.” – Gavin Esler “Cost of living might have become greedflation: costs falling and companies profiteering.” – Alex Andreou “It seems like in Britain we are living in the pageantry of the past.” – Gavin Esler www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Alex Andreou and Gavin Esler. Produced by Jacob Jarvis and Kasia Tomasiewicz. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production: Robin Leeburn. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ukraine War is reshaping the world. Arthur Snell writes the first draft of its history. In this excerpt from Ep.1 of our new series: How Russia’s febrile history, Putin’s paranoid resentment and Western complacency led to an historic crime against a peaceful nation, the largest European land action since the Second World War… and a conflict of unprecedented brutality. Doomsday Watch: The Ukraine War is out now. Hear it wherever you listen to podcasts. Get every edition a week early and ad-free when you support the show on Patreon. Photo by Paul Conroy. Written and presented by Arthur Snell. Produced by Robin Leeburn. Original theme music by Paul Hartnoll – https://www.orbitalofficial.com. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. Doomsday Watch is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oh, we do like to be beside the seaside. Don’t we? Places like Blackpool, Jaywick and Skegness are among the poorest areas of the UK. Yet other resorts are so desirable that property-owners can afford to keep them empty for most of the year and rake in the profit from renting them out in summer. Madeleine Bunting, author of The Seaside: England’s Love Affair, tells Ros Taylor about her odyssey around the English coast, the threat posed by sewage discharges, and the special affection she holds for Brighton — a town where anything can seem possible. “There are still huge reserves of affection for seaside towns.” “People flock to seaside towns because they think that is where they can start again.” “There’s a hedonism to the seaside. It has always been about indulging fantasy.’ “The Essex coastline is fascinating, and often gets overlooked.” Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Ros Taylor. Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Producer and audio editor: Jade Bailey. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Labour’s attack ads against Sunak put targeted political advertising back in the spotlight. But the Tories have done more than their fair share of online attack ads too – not least to win over the public to *cough* Brexit. Have they gone too far? And how do we moderate what goes online? Alex Andreou talks to Kyle Taylor, founder of Fair Vote UK and author of The Little Black Book of Data and Democracy. “When social media emerged we thought it would be this public town square. The reason it’s been so successful is because it’s the exact opposite.” - Kyle Taylor “The thing about political ads is you do want more people to vote for you, but you only want to tell each box what they want to hear.” - Kyle Taylor “Taking things for granted in the digital age is a fool's errand.” - Kyle Taylor. Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Alex Andreou Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production: Jade Bailey Music by Kenny Dickinson. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s been a bit of a week over in the US. First, after Fox News paid out almost $1 billion to Dominion, Tucker Carlson left the network. After that Biden announced he’d be running for president again, albeit slowly. And then if that wasn’t enough, Carlson released a pretty profound statement about his departure on Twitter. Hoping to unpack it all is Julie Norman, co-director of UCL’s Centre on US Politics. She joined Jacob Jarvis in the Bunker. “Tucker Carlson has been controversial for a while but through all of that his viewings were super high, the highest in cable news.” “One person that would maybe challenge Trump would be Tucker Carlson.” “Biden knows he’s going to get hit from the right as a big spender.” Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis Producer: Chris Jones. Music and Audio production: Jade Bailey. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

China’s relationship with Europe is…difficult. But some leaders, like Emmanuel Macron, see China as a conduit for peace in Ukraine. But can Europe really trust China to negotiate with Russia? Philippe Le Corre, a senior fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute’s Center for China Analysis, sat down with Alex Andreou to discuss just that. “The current situation, which is close to a cold war you might say, will not bring China closer to the West.” “Whenever you talk to Chinese officials they will tell you that China is growing; you better get used to it.” “It’s unacceptable for China to say this is not our war, we have nothing to do with this.” Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Alex Andreou. Producers: Liam Tait and Chris Jones. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production: Robin Leeburn. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Public trust in the Met Police is at a nadir – with a raft of scandals and crimes involving serving officers having shook faith in the force. What’s gone wrong and can it ever win back the confidence of those it is meant to serve? Ros Taylor spoke to Kathryn Farrow, a doctoral student at Oxford University, who has studied the way British police forces work, to find out. “Officers do need to have a certain amount of discretion but the flip side of that is there’s often a lack of accountability.” “Especially in frontline policing, it’s not rare for officers to be off with stress.” “I'm not sure to what point they will be able to recover that trust, they will have to show that they’ve changed.” www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Ros Taylor. Producer: Chris Jones. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production: Simon Williams. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The NHS reels from crisis to crisis, with a waiting list of seven million and chronic workforce shortages. Why is it so hard to change a service that clearly isn’t working? David Haslam, a former GP who has chaired NICE and the BMA and is the author of Side Effects, tells Ros Taylor that a focus on hospital treatment means that public health and end-of-life care are shamefully neglected. “It’s almost as if we’ve designed the health service based on the interests of specialists.’ “If you stay with the same GP over many years you have fewer hospital admissions, reduced out of hours care and a lower rate of early death. If that was a drug, we’d have invested in it massively.” “I find it completely extraordinary that hospices are generally funded as charities. We’d be up in arms if our maternity units were only funded by charity shops.” Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Ros Taylor. Producer and audio editor: Jade Bailey. Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Kremlin has convinced many of Russia’s young people that its invasion of Ukraine is just. In fact, about 62 percent of Russians between the ages of 18 and 24 have shown approval, according to the Levada Center. But how has Putin curated this young generation of fascists? Dr Ian Garner, author of Z Generation: Into the Heart of Russia's Fascist Youth, speaks to Arthur Snell to dig into exactly that. “What you’re going to find is that you have a generation of children that believe violence is normal.” “These are teenagers, like what you may know at home, who are just teeangers who want to fit in.” “What the state does is punt out certain materials into the social media world and then just lets people run with them.” www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Arthur Snell. Producer: Chris Jones. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production: Robin Leeburn. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dominic Raab finally resigned (definitely all his own choice) – what does it mean next for Sunak’s clown car Government? In Labour, Diane Abbott has had the whip removed – will she stand as an independent? Plus we bring international news from Sudan and Ukraine. Jacob Jarvis is joined by Arthur Snell to give you the stories to look out for this week. “Johnson didn’t believe in any standards, whereas you could argue Sunak has a miniscule level.” “The Tories are quickly resembling a clown car.” Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Jacob Jarvis with Arthur Snell. Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production: Jade Bailey. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Memories of the Second World War are often oversimplified through the lens of politicians. A common thread missed is that of love and sexuality – particularly the experiences of queer men. Kasia Tomasiewicz is joined by Luke Turner, author of the book Men at War: Loving, Lusting, Fighting, Remembering 1939-1945, to discuss the sexual revolution that happened during that period. “It’s true the British can’t stop going on about the war. But there is so much left to discover.” “Outsiders often have an interesting perspective.” “I’d gotten sick of judging the past by the standards of the present.” “We still are incredibly repressed about sex in Britain.” Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Kasia Tomasiewicz. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production: Jade Bailey. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lobbying is a key way in which politicians and pieces of legislation are influenced in the United States. But who exactly are these mysterious figures trying to manipulate people in power? How do they work – and what do they want? Jacob Jarvis joined by Amy McKay, associate professor of political science at the University of Exeter, whose work focuses on the influence of outside interests on public policy. www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented and produced by Jacob Jarvis. Music by Jade Bailey. Audio production: Robin Leeburn. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

BONUS EPISODE KLAXON: Fox News paid out almost $1 billion dollars to Dominion – but despite that, did Murdoch dodge a bullet? Or is the financial blow, sparked by the networks voting machine misinformation, a catastrophe? Jacob Jarvis was joined by Dan Cassino, political scientist and author of Fox News and American Politics How One Channel Shapes American Politics and Society, to unpack what this payout means for Fox News. “This really is an admission that they knew what they were doing was false but they thought that they had to or they’d lose their audience.” “The question is are they going to change their behaviour over this – and I think the answer is absolutely not.” “It seems very unlikely that anyone will lose their jobs over this, the reason is Fox News isn’t acknowledging this at all.” “I’d say you could replace someone like Tucker Carlson with Gonzo the Muppet and still get the same audience.” www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis Producer: Chris Jones. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production: Simon Williams. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Saudi Arabia is experiencing a once in a lifetime moment of transformation, funded by their control over the world's oil supply. The nation is taking risks on a global scale like never before – and the ‘maverick’ prince Mohammed bin Salman, stands at the forefront of this change of strategy. Arthur Snell sits down with Bradley Hope, co-author of Blood and Oil: Mohammed bin Salman's Ruthless Quest for Global Power to try and understand the ruler of Saudi Arabia. “He went from completely unknown with no power or authority to the ruler of Saudiu Arabia through some cavalier and cunning activity.” “Business people of the world who had a moral objection to MBS are now back in the country cap in hand asking for investment.” Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bunkercast BOOK LINK https://www.johnmurraypress.co.uk/titles/bradley-hope-2/blood-and-oil/9781529347890/ Written and presented by Arthur Snell. Produced by Liam Tait. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production: Jade Bailey. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Net Zero Scrutiny Group shares ties with the likes of the late Nigel Lawson and his network of “climate deniers”. They like fracking and have tried to link the cost-of-living crisis to the government’s net zero goals. But exactly who are they? What do they stand for? And who funds them? Andrew Harrison is joined by Sam Alvis, head of economy at The Green Alliance, to unpack exactly that. “They are no longer denying that climate change is a thing, but what they are saying is that actually the cost of it is much more of an issue.” “Often with these groups, and particularly with the net zero group, it's easier to understand what they don't like; the one thing we know they do like is fracking.” “It’s murky, we don’t really know where the money comes from to support the Net Zero Scrutiny Group.” Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Andrew Harrison. Audio production: Jade Bailey. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Producer: Chris Jones. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production, Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Investment zones have been hailed by some politicians as the solution to our economic woes. But what are the risks of economic gated communities? By existing outside of the usual rules of the state, do they undermine democracy? Alex Andreou is joined by historian Quinn Slobodian, author of Crack-Up Capitalism: Market Radicals and the Dream of a World Without Democracy, to unpack why these zones are increasingly appearing across the globe and why politicians like Kwasi Kwarteng are so keen to back them. “London has come to see the presence of the super-wealthy as a sign of urban health.” “Thatcher’s biggest legacy wasn’t creating democratic free markets, but creating sites for wealth hoarding for non-democratic forms of capitalism.” Book Link: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/316685/crack-up-capitalism-by-slobodian-quinn/9780241460245 https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Alex Andreou. Audio production by Alex Rees. Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music: Kenny Dickinson. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Andy Burnham has thrived after switching Westminster for Manchester as a mayor. And he has high hopes for the North harnessing its voice more in the future. The Labour mayor of Greater Manchester spoke with Andrew Harrison about boosting regions outside of London, and dealing with names and not numbers in his role. “You look at things through different eyes. You can deal with names not numbers.” “Before these mayors in regions, where did people complain? People at least have one person to complain to.” “Having made all these promises to the north, they were very quickly in default mode.” “If you go with the rules of Westminster, in the end people don’t know who you are.” “We’re building the answer for more places to set their own course.” www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production: Robin Leeburn. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices