The Bunker – News without the nonsense

A weekend bonus edition: Since 1935 the American Legion has organised summer camps for high school students to learn about US Government, by forming their own political parties and state legislatures. Filmmakers Jesse Moss and Amanda McBaine documented the programme in Austin, Texas, and the resulting film Boys State won a prize at the Sundance Film Festival. They told Dorian Lynskey what they learned about America’s next generation of leaders. Is this really a “conservative indoctrination camp”? “The American Legion feels like it has one foot in the 1950s and one foot in the 21st century” – Jesse Moss “We had an incredible window into boyhood and masculinity” – Amanda McBaine “Some people see politics as a game, win at all costs” – Jesse Moss “This polarisation we have is not going anywhere” – Amanda McBaine Presented by Dorian Lynskey. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers are Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Theme tune by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As Biden slowly erodes Donald Trump’s leads in the final swing states, we convene our favourite expert regulars for an all-star postmortem of Election 2020. Former Obama staffer Amy Pope, UCL politics professor Brian Klaas and Steve Schmidt of never-Trump Republican political action committee The Lincoln Project look at what Trump has done to American democracy – and how Biden could fix it. “Democracy doesn’t function in societies where there is no ability to distinguish between the truth and lies” – Steve Schmidt “There were two elections – one moral, and one political emergency, to remove Trump. We only had the latter” – Brian Klaas “Trump has already lost. We just have to wait this out.” – Steve Schmidt Presented and produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers Jelena Sofronijevic and Jacob Archbold. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Been to bed yet? Thinking about going straight back? Yasmeen Serhan gives Andrew Harrison her morning-after interim report on the dismal deadlock in the Presidential Election. How has Trump done so well? Can Biden still scrape it? Did the polls get it wrong? And has America just given brutal populism a vote of confidence? “This election was a test for whether populist politics will stay or not… the fact it’s so close shows that it will.” “My fear is that millions of Americans will come away from this believing that our system is corrupted.” “There are other Trumps waiting in the wings” Presented and produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers Jelena Sofronijevic and Jacob Archbold. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

National lockdown, Labour Party breakdown… Trump takedown? As the US election reaches its nightmare final confrontation, small-c conservative and Never Trumper James Kirchick joins us to argue that American democracy won’t end if Trump wins. Plus, what does Jeremy Corbyn’s rejection of the EHRC report mean for fighting antisemitism and fixing the Labour Party? And where were we all – and what did we feel – back in November 2016 when all this started? “The only way in which Pete Buttigieg’s sexuality really mattered was people on the Left complaining that he wasn’t gay ENOUGH…” – James Kirchick “I’m torn.Trump is an ogre and a monster but a landslide would endorse many things that the Democrats that I can’t agree with. I don’t want a Great Awokening in America.” – James Kirchick “Trump has revealed the power of celebrity” – James Kirchick Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Miatta Fahnbulleh and Nina Schick. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers: Jelena Sofronijevic and Jacob Archbold. Logo and branding by Mark Taylor. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters production See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The most expensive Presidential election in history ends tomorrow. BRIAN KLAAS, Associate Professor in Global Politics at UCL, host of the Power Corrupts podcast, and author of How to Rig an Election tells Andrew Harrison about the states to watch, the Red Mirage vs the Blue Shift, voter suppression, the debasement of the Republican Party… and what it means if Trump wins. “There is no other democratic country in the world where a major party relies solely on driving down the vote.” “What Trump is talking about is illegitimate beyond belief.” “If Trump wins, his team has executive orders prepared that could not be countenanced if he had to face election again.” Presented and produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers: Jelena Sofronijevic and Jacob Archbold. Logo and branding by Mark Taylor. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters production See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lockdown II: If the Government can’t come up with a COVID exit strategy, could a coalition of MPs, experts and campaigners provide one? And can Britain cope even if we never get a vaccine? March for Change director Tom Brufatto tells Naomi Smith about the the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Coronavirus’s plan for an independent COVID plan, and why we can’t squander the next full lockdown… which is coming whether we like it or not. This podcast recorded before Saturday’s announcement of the November Lockdown. “We are trapped in a cycle of locking down and opening up. It’s means we can’t function as an economy.” “Either you see it as leaving lives versus the economy – or you accept that you can’t save the economy without saving lives first.” “We may not have a vaccine next year, or ever. This is about setting Britain up to cope with it.” Presented by Naomi Smith. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Logo and branding by Mark Taylor. Assistant producers: Jelena Sofronijevic and Jacob Archbold. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters production See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When you go online the mildest disagreements can spin out of control into real anger, but why is our internet behaviour so bad? And how is this affecting democracy and public discourse? David Babbs, project lead at the campaign group ‘Clean Up The Internet’ and formerly of 38 Degrees, talks to Arthur Snell about why the online environment has become so hostile, the issues posed by anonymity, and how we can clean up our internet behaviour. “Anonymity is subject to a lot of misuse” “Abuse from anonymous accounts has the potential to be even more frightening, you don’t know where that person is lurking” “MPs are victims in this, they’re on the receiving end of a lot of online abuse” Presented by Arthur Snell. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers: Jelena Sofrenijevic and Jacob Archbold. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With a decades-long failed War on Drugs behind us, is it finally time to accept the inevitable – and let the state regulate illegal substances? Steve Rolles, author and policy analyst at Transform Drug Policy Foundation, tells Ian Dunt how we can break a destructive deadlock. What would public health-oriented drugs policies look like? And what can we learn about what not to do from the commercialisation of alcohol and tobacco? “There is a growing consensus that the War on Drugs has failed…but no one agrees on what’s next.” “Prohibition encourages risky drug use. Regulation reverses that.” “We’re not talking about Ecstasy World Snooker. We’re talking about a strictly regulated market.” “A state monopoly model, with pharma-style vending. It’s not that difficult.” Presented by Ian Dunt. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers: Jelena Sofronijevic and Jacob Archbold. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The free school meals fiasco sends the Conservative Party right back to its happy place: being mean to poor kids. Special guest JESS PHILLIPS, Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley, joins us to discuss Labour’s future, Starmer’s report card so far, how Birmingham is leading the country, and Aston Villa beating Liverpool 7-2. And our panel reveal the political music that changed them. “When I first stood for election I didn’t expect hunger to be one of the most important parts of my job” – Jess Phillips “Behind the scenes, Tories are saying this is an absolute fiasco. ‘We’ve managed to turn the whole country against us.’” – Ayesha Hazarika “Because of COVID, I feel like I’m going cold turkey from the parts of being an MP that I love.” – Jess Phillips “I know Johnson wants us to lose weight, but targeting nine-year-olds is a bit harsh.” – Ayesha Hazarika “I cannot believe how little rebellion has gone on within the Conservatives” – Jess Phillips “People need to be reminded that Rishi Sunak isn’t spending his own money, he’s spending our money” – Jess Phillips Presented by Alex Andreou with Yasmeen Serhan and Ayesha Hazarika. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Logo and branding by Mark Taylor. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters production See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nearly four years after the Referendum, are Leave vs Remain attitudes still driving our politics? Are we stuck with them forever? And how do they map onto other issues like masks, authoritarianism or social liberalism? Paula Surridge, a political sociologist at the University of Bristol, talks to Naomi Smith about what the tumult of the past half-decade has done to British politics, and whether we’re still vulnerable to a hellish US-style polarisation. “Around half of people say they have a ‘very strong’ Brexit identity… but that means that half don’t.” “The idea of ‘Culture War’ misrepresents people in the Red Wall. They don’t actually want all these cultural arguments.” Presented by Naomi Smith. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producer Jacob Archbold. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Will the Special Boat Service raid on a hijacked tanker take the country’s minds off the Government’s continued mishandling of COVID? Why are we shortening quarantine periods when people aren’t even observing the existing rules? Has No.10 successfully stonewalled the free school meals fiasco? And will Dido Harding make it to Friday? Ros Taylor sets up the week ahead. Presented and produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers: Jelena Sofronijevic and Jacob Archbold. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The last confrontation between Donald Trump and Joe Biden avoided the shame of the first debate, but did it change the dynamic of the race? And how come we didn’t discover a mute button back in 2016? Thomas Gift, Associate Professor of Political Science at UCL, gives Dorian Lynskey the verdict on the election’s final stand-off. “This was Trump’s last chance to speak to America… and he needed to flip the script.” “For Trump, some days Biden is a secret agent of the Far Left and on others, he’s Washington Establishment.” “Campaigns are poetry, but politics is prose.” “In the first debate, Donald Trump set a bar so low it’s not surprising Joe Biden cleared it.” Presented by Dorian Lynskey. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers: Jelena Sofronijevic and Jacob Archbold. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is Wales really setting the COVID agenda for the rest of the UK? As the “firebreak” comes down, former special advisor to First Minister Mark Drakeford turned political consultant Cathy Owens talks to Jude Rogers. Is Wales responding better to lockdowns than England? What is the pandemic doing to support for Welsh nationalism? And why it’s not all about trying to keep English tourists out. Audio note: Includes sound effects live from Cardiff! “This is a time for boring competent leadership, not Churchillian speeches and promising the moon.” “We don’t want Boris and his chums to be in charge of Wales.” “Wales leading Westminster? That’s the opposite of what we see happening here.” “People in Wales voted for Ukip just like the English. We do get the Daily Mail here…” Presented by Jude Rogers. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers: Jelena Sofronijevic and Jacob Archbold. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Recorded before No.10 imposed a solution on Manchester. With Manchester refusing to accept Government terms to enter Tier 3, and Wales heading for a ‘circuit-breaker’, what does rebellion in the regions mean for the Government’s lockdown strategy? Have Senate Republicans left it too late to stop themselves going down with the Donald? And our panelists travel back in time to discuss their formative political experiences. “The Government doesn’t understand the needs of these communities and the people there” - Minnie Rahman “Westminster is an old boys club, and even a pandemic doesn’t seem to have changed that” - Minnie Rahman “People don’t trust Westminster to get COVID right” - Arthur Snell “Ever since Brexit, London has been out-of-kilter with the people in power” - Arthur Snell “Trump has destroyed the traditional Republican Party” - Arthur Snell Produced and presented by Andrew Harrison with Nina Schick, Arthur Snell and Minnie Rahman. Assistant producers are Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Theme tune by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are progressives right to get so excited about Jacinda Ardern? She’s won admiration for her handling of the COVID crisis and the massacre in a Christchurch mosque – and for crushing New Zealand’s equivalent of Ukip. Toby Manhire, editor of The Spin-Off in NZ and former Guardian comment editor, joins us from Auckland to explain what New Zealand has got right and wrong – and what Britain can learn from Ardern’s “relentlessly positive” Kiwi revolution. Presented by Ros Taylor. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producer Jacob Archbold. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As Boris Johnson falls out with everyone – Manchester, Brussels, scientists, his own Northern MPs – what can we expect for the biggest crisis week since last week. Alex Andreou tells us what to expect from the EU talks-that-aren’t talks, Westminster’s stand-off with the North, and Donald Trump’s last stand. Presented and produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producer Jacob Archbold. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A poisonous online culture of misogyny is radicalising young men to hate women – producing terrifying consequences from routine rape and death threats against female politicians to actual violence and murder. Author of Men Who Hate Women and founder of the Everyday Sexism project Laura Bates posed as a young boy to infiltrate these online worlds and discover how they groom kids as young as 11 into misogyny. She tells Naomi Smith how the paranoid worlds of Men’s Rights Activists, Incels and “MGTOW”s create a conveyor belt to the extreme right – and what we have to do about this growing threat. “This is terrorism. We just don’t call it that because the victims are women” “You can trace the paths of men who made their name through GamerGate to the extreme right.” “We need to give young men a sense of purpose and value in the real world so they don’t get it from these extremist digital communities.” Presented by Naomi Smith. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Logo and branding by Mark Taylor. Music is "Systematic" by Lee Rosevere. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters production See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

More bikes and fewer cars on the road has turned out to be one of the unexpected dividends of COVID. But can Britain ever get to an Amsterdam-style paradise of bikes? And will Britons ever stop raging about cyclists? Coventry’s Cycling Mayor Adam Tranter – he’s all bike chain, no gold chain – tells Justin Quirk what’s needed to get Britain into the saddle. “Most people don’t know this but Coventry practically invented the modern bicycle.” “Paris has transformed into a bike-friendly city in less than a year. If you build it, they will come.” “If we’re not careful we could lose this moment to change our streets and cities for good.” “With lockdown, people felt like they could use bike safely with the family for the first time in decades.” Presented and produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producer Jacob Archbold. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Has the Government’s emergency tier strategy broken the short-lived compact between the Conservatives and the North? Is new government spokesperson Allegra Stratton more than just a human shield for former communications genius Boris Johnson? And does the Government really want us all to retrain as boxers, cake decorators and DJs? Special guest Oli Dugmore, Head of News and Politics at joe.co.uk, joins us for Britain’s umpteenth national restart interview. “What nobody mentions about Rishi Sunak is that he’s probably the richest person in the history of British politics.” – Ayesha Hazarika “When mayors find out what’s happening in their towns through a blog from Peston, that’s a communications disaster.” – Ian Dunt “I challenge you to find a Government that has supported the rave scene” – Oli Dugmore “You’re only as good as your boss, and unfortunately Stratton’s boss is Dominic Cummings” – Ayesha Hazarika Presented by Naomi Smith with Ian Dunt and Ayesha Hazarika. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickenson. Logo and branding by Mark Taylor. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters production See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If we’re living in an era of strongmen, why are so many (male) leaders failing us all over the world? How do our ideas of leadership need to change? Dr Pippa Malmgren, co-author with Chris Lewis of The Infinite Leader and former economic advisor to President George W Bush, tells Alex Andreou why leaders need to lead differently – why we have to stop rewarding psychopaths – and what we can all learn from Donald Trump. “We’re seeing leadership failures in every category of the economy. Leaders are failing us everywhere.” “We’re training people to exercise psychopathic leadership, not empathetic leadership.” “You might see better leadership skills from a single parent than from the CEO of a major company.” “The media want certainty – but the public is very tolerant of leaders who say ‘We don’t know – let’s try and find out.’” “Trump’s delivery is provocative and obnoxious – but he’s very good at creating an emotional response, and emotions move the audience.” “Some leaders are all about ME and some are all about WE. And we need more WE.” Presented by Alex Andreou. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producer Jacob Archbold. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Does the Government’s latest, three-tier COVID system make sense – and is the North of England out of patience with Westminster? Will the Agriculture Bill put hormone beef on your plate? And will we finally, finally see an end to the EU Trade Talks saga? Naomi Smith sets up the week ahead. Presented and produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producer Jacob Archbold. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Junior barrister Alexandra Wilson made the news when she revealed how she’d repeatedly been mistaken for a defendant in court simply because she is black. She tells Dorian Lynskey about life as a black barrister in an overwhelmingly white system, what the courts need to do about criminalising people of colour, and what drove her new book In Black and White: A Young Barrister's Story Of Race And Class In A Broken Justice System. “I’ve had a lawyer tell me that ‘black people are good for business - because they keep killing one another.” “Until it affects you, people don’t really know how the court system works” “From the outside, our profession looks as elite as it can get” “Institutions are only going change if there is a culture shift” “There has been a misunderstanding of the role of lawyers, our job is to fight for our clients” 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 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If there’s one symbol of the COVID fight it’s the face mask – but do we understand the consequences of a masked society? Professor Graham Martin, Director of Research at the Healthcare Improvement Studies Institute, tells Ros Taylor why the issue of masks isn’t as clear-cut as we think, why the social dynamic of masks is so important, and how we can improve the quality of debate surrounding COVID-19. “Science is about debate – it’s about disagreement.” “What we’re seeing now is science under the spotlight” “It’s not so much scientific debate that breeds conspiracy theories, but any effort to suppress debate” “If you see anyone who isn’t wearing a mask, don’t assume they’re doing it out of bloody-mindedness” “I would say to anyone, if you can wear a mask, do so” Presented by Ros Taylor. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producer Jacob Archbold. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Don’t mask, don’t tell. Will Trump’s bizarre bout with COVID make, break or fatally contaminate the US presidential race? The directors of a shocking new documentary People You May Know join us to explain how US churches used Cambridge Analytica-related data targeting to reach and radicalise vulnerable people – and they reveal the people who want to use this tech to literally rewrite the US constitution. Plus, tips on surviving Lockdown II, guaranteed banana-bread free. “With 300 data points, a data modeller can predict your behaviour better than your spouse.” – Charles Kriel “Using Excel to manage a pandemic is like trying to make Toy Story 5 using PowerPoint.” – Alex Andreou “You find the person who’s suffering the most and you tell them there’s a place for them in your politics.” – Charles Kriel “He’s trying to inject positivity at a time when there isn’t really any.” - Yasmeen Serhan You can stream People You May Know on Sundance Now via Amazon – free 7-day trial. Presented by Ros Taylor with Yasmeen Serhan and Alex Andreou. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickenson. Logo and branding by Mark Taylor. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters production See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How did evidence-based science end up playing second fiddle to demagoguery and populism? And what can we do about it? Prof Luke O’Neill, professor of biochemistry and COVID immunologist at Trinity College Dublin, has written a book with the admirably direct title Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Science. He tells Justin Quirk why we need to fight a rearguard action for science’s primacy in politics, the dirty history of antiscience agitation, and why COVID could be the best thing in decades for the march of reason. “Science should never be an opinion. It should be a conclusion.” “Once the data becomes a roar, you can’t ignore it.” Presented by Justin Quirk. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producer Jacob Archbold. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As promised, here's our new thing! What’s coming up this week? IAN DUNT tells us what to watch out for as Conservative Conference ends in a welter of COVID incompetency news, Priti Patel gets nastier, and Matt Hancock prepares to face the music in Parliament. Presented and produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producer Jacob Archbold. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Uncovering the personal stories of people who died from COVID-19, Sirin Kale’s Guardian series Lost To The Virus has become one of the most moving reporting feats of the year. She tells Dorian Lynskey about the truth behind the biggest human story of our generation, the special challenges of reporting at a distance, why the “carnage” in our care homes still isn’t understood, and why so many COVID deaths were avoidable. “I hadn’t expected just how callous some decision-making from central government could be.” “A clear decision was made that some lives were worth saving and some weren’t.” “The only way you can make sense of the pandemic is through the individual” “I get to tell these stories with the depth and humanity that they deserve.” “111 is going to be one of the scandals of this pandemic. It was nakedly obvious that it was not fit for purpose.” “I hope there won’t be a need for Lost To The Virus part 2 – but I’m not optimistic” 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 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Arbitrary Coronavirus regulations and the Government’s brinkmanship over international law are putting the justice system under unprecedented strain. Criminal barrister JOANNA HARDY tells Nina Schick about the impact of COVID on our justice system, the future of the judiciary in a post-pandemic world, and what breaking international law would mean for Britain’s standing on the global stage. “It’s a very interesting time to be a lawyer, but perhaps not the best time” “For the justice system, coronavirus has been a spotlight rather than a dam breaking” “Coronavirus has exposed how out-of-date our court system is with technology” “It damages Britain’s standing, it damages our ability to criticise other countries and it damages this Government” “The first role of a government must be to keep order and a sense of justice” Presented by Nina Schick. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producer Jacob Archbold. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As The New York Times exposes Donald Trump’s microscopic tax returns, will the revelations have any impact on November’s election? With barmy conspiracy theory QAnon making inroads into the UK, will Britain have to get used to a future of totally irrational politics? And if University has been reduced to a distance learning battery farm, will 2020 warp the very notion of youth itself out of shape? “If you’re a part-time childminder, you paid more tax than the President.” – Justin Quirk “America is culturally very hard on losers.” – Justin Quirk “If you hate Trump, this’ll make you hate him more. If you love him, you’ll justify it.” – Ayesha Hazarika “If you’re looking for normality, a theory of massive paedophile ring is a strange place to look…” – Dorian Lynskey on QAnon Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Ayesha Hazarika, Arthur Snell and Justin Quirk. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickenson. Logo and branding by Mark Taylor. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters production See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Although it’s over 50 years since most colonies achieved their independence from Britain, on these shores we still seem to living in the shadows of the Empire. Dr SAMIR PURI, author of ’The Great Imperial Hangover: How Empires Have Shaped the World’ talks to Arthur Snell about why Britain is so obsessed with its imperial past, what the ‘Anglosphere’ is, and whether the EU is the modern day empire. "For all the talk of globalisation, it's what we inherit from our immediate past that still has the greatest traction in setting us in motion." "Arguing for and against the benefits of empire is a circle that cannot be squared" "The imperial age is over, but its influence hangs over us, and sometimes threatens to darken our future" Presented by Arthur Snell. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producer Jacob Archbold. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Britain might enjoy a (worsening) love-hate relationship with Germany but the UK still can’t understand why they’re so much better than us in industry, political debate and social cohesion. Former BBC, FT and Telegraph reporter JOHN KAMPFNER’s new book is entitled Why The Germans Do It Better: Notes From A Grown-Up Country. He talks to Andrew Harrison about the German political miracle, life after Merkel… and whether Britain will ever get over winning the War. Presented and produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producer Jacob Archbold. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Whatever else they argue about, most politicians agree on one thing: competition just makes everything better. But does it? In her new book Competition is Killing Us: How Big Business is Harming Our Society and Planet, Michelle Meagher describes why she quit a job as a market regulator – literally promoting competition – to argue that companies should be made to stop offloading their costs on society, give up obsessing over shareholder value, and make capitalism work for people and the planet. Presented and produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producer Jacob Archbold. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Could there be cause for optimism on climate change? Do individuals have power over our planet’s future? Paul Behrens, author of new book The Best Of Times The Worst Of Times, tells Ros Taylor about the best and worst climate scenarios, why women’s rights are the key to a manageable future, meat, flying, renewables… and how to avoid falling into impotent despair about tomorrow. “We might have been able to save ourselves with minor changes once. Now we need a complete overhaul in the way we live our lives.” “The carrying capacity of a planet of carnivores is very different from a planet of vegetarians.” “There’s a clear path from eco-anxiety to hope, through action.” Presented by Ros Taylor. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producer Jacob Archbold. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As COVID cases are back on the rise another lockdown looks likely, but has the Government blown its pandemic response? And how will Britain react to an autumn trapped indoors? Plus, following a scathing report by the Public Accounts Committee, is the Home Office ever going to change its nasty ways? And after Priti Patel called on the nation to dob-in their neighbours for breaking lockdown rules, we ask the panel if they’re likely to snitch anytime soon. • “Every school and workplace is implementing different measures because there is no clarity” - Minnie Rahman • “Johnson has lost the country and I’m not sure there is a way of fixing it” - Alex Andreou • “I don’t think anyone has anything positive to say about the Home Office” - Minnie Rahman • “We’re going to deter people from coming to Britain who we badly need here” - Naomi Smith Produced and presented by Andrew Harrison with Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Minnie Rahman. Assistant producer Jacob Archbold. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

COVID has developed from a short-term emergency into a public health crisis that could define the next half century. As Lockdown II looms, Conservative MP Daniel Poulter, former junior Health Minister and chair of the the All Party Parliamentary Group on Global Health, explains the long-term outlook to Naomi Smith – his own experience of fatigue from COVID – and what Brexit might mean for our battle against the pandemic. Presented by Naomi Smith. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producer Jacob Archbold. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rage Against The Machine’s TOM MORELLO is one of the most charismatic and energising figures in rock’n’roll and politics. He tells Dorian Lynskey about the role of radicalism in rock, protofascism, AOC, Trump, the Presidential Election, cancel culture, and his political journey from a super-progressive childhood – via arguing with teenage Trotskyists at Harvard and working for a US Senator – to spearheading rock’n’roll’s most righteous band. Tom Morello’s photo memoir Whatever It Takes is available to pre-order now at www.TomMorelloBook.com. “There’s only two positions when it comes to free speech. You’re either for ALL of it or you’re against ANY of it.” “If I was in a job where I couldn’t call a damn racist a damn racist, I knew I was in the wrong job.” “Injustice met me head on in the playground when I was three or four years old.” “Taking anyone’s ideas off the board is very dangerous – because I know there are people in office who would like to take MY ideas off the board, permanently.” “Everything is at stake right now. So someone better be singing or rapping about it.” “Trump vs Biden is not the lesser of two evils. It’s the evil of two lessers.” “Why do I vote? Because THEY don’t want me to.” 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 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Can we really guide and control human activity by constructing networks of carrots, sticks and semi-invisible hints? Behavioural science AKA “nudge” is key to the UK Government’s COVID response yet, as tech journalist and sceptic Andrew Orlowski says, its roots are questionable and its efficacy debatable. He tells Andrew Harrison why we humans stubbornly refuse to behave like herd animals… … and why Malcolm Gladwell has a lot to answer for. “If you want to get people fit, it’s expensive to build more playing fields. It’s a lot cheaper just to send out tweets about Mars bars.” “Behavioural science doesn’t tell you anything about people’s deep motivations which are gradually being erased from the picture.” Presented and produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producer Jacob Archbold. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There’s an unseen epidemic of people dying while homeless, and journalist MAEVE McLENAGHAN tells their stories in No Fixed Abode: Life and Death Among the UK's Forgotten Homeless, out this week. 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” 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 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Boris Johnson wants to blow up the Brexit talks with an Internal Market Bill that shatters international law. Will it blow up in his face? And on the six-month anniversary of Britain locking down for the first time, we’re joined by Miatta Fahnbulleh of the New Economics Foundation to discuss how the Government got COVID so very wrong. Presented by Andrew Harrison with Ros Taylor and Alex Andreou. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickenson. Logo and branding by Mark Taylor. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters production See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Digital disinformation from hostile powers is attacking our democracies, but do our politicians even want to stop it? Disinformation expert, security specialist and former US intelligence officer MATTHEW FERRARO talks to Nina Schick about the evolving threat of information pollution, who’s next on the fakers’ hitlists, and why Russia hates 5G. “To fight back against Russian propaganda, you need to think like a spy” Presented by Nina Schick. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producer Jacob Archbold. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What can you do when your society is responsible for racist atrocities? What should you do? One country trying to atone for their past is Germany. Susan Neiman, moral philosopher and author of ‘Learning from the Germans’, told Ros Taylor about what the U.S. can learn from the way Germany deals with its past, and why the English have been even slower than America in facing up to their national crimes. “The Germans saw themselves as the worst victims of the war” “No two pieces of history are exactly alike” “Every nation would like to see its people as heroes” Presented by Ros Taylor. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producer Jacob Archbold. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

According to recent polls, half of Britain would not trust a COVID vaccine, and a majority of Republican voters in the US believe in the bizarre QAnon theory. So why are these crazy notions becoming so widespread? Political communications specialist AMIL KHAN told Arthur Snell all about how these theories start, the role social media plays in making them mainstream, and the psychology of those behind them. “It’s a brave new world but it’s not entirely new” “Social media platforms are designed to push content out which is nasty and divisive” Presented by Arthur Snell. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producer Jacob Archbold. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the Government tears up its own promises on Northern Ireland with its Internal Markets Bill, the don of legal experts David Allen Green explains the enormity of this breach of international law, why the Government has provoked constitutional crisis on not one but four fronts… and how it could play out. Spoiler: “This will not end well.” Presented and produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producer Jacob Archbold. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After a summer filled with u-turns and policy failures galore, and with the road to 2021 looking incredibly treacherous, will Boris survive the Autumn? Plus, did Extinction Rebellion undermine their cause by blocking everyone’s Saturday papers being delivered? And will we see ‘Mock The Weak’ on our screens as the new BBC Director General Tim Davie promises more right-wing comedy? “The Government is failing us on health and on wealth” - Naomi Smith “The Government is only comfortable with people meeting in closed spaces if they’re fuelling the economy” - Ros Taylor Produced and presented by Andrew Harrison with Naomi Smith, Ros Taylor and Nina Schick. Assistant producer Jacob Archbold. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A vaccine is seen as the primary route out of the COVID19 crisis, but only half of Brits surveyed by Kings College London say they would be likely to get one. Professor HEIDI LARSON, director of The Vaccine Confidence Project, tells Ros Taylor the reasons people give for not wanting a vaccine, and how we can build public trust in health interventions. “If Facebook closed their doors tomorrow, these sentiments would not go away” “We need a more diverse group of entities to embrace vaccines” “I’m constantly struck at how little people really understand vaccines” Presented by Ros Taylor. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producer Jacob Archbold. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Britain’s woeful electoral system wastes millions of votes and consistently enables minority rule. KLINA JORDAN, joint CEO of the ‘Make Votes Matter’ campaign, tells Naomi Smith why Labour should make implementing proportional representation their first priority in Government, and offers some key rebuttals to common PR myths. “People have been campaigning on this issue for 130 years” “Labour have only gotten into power when there was electoral coordination going on” “There’s no reason why coalition deals should be done in smoked-filled rooms” Presented by Naomi Smith. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producer Jacob Archbold. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Coronavirus has changed life as we know it, especially for those who work in our health service. Dr Dominic Pimenta resigned from the NHS over Dominic Cummings’ lockdown trip to Durham, and his new book ‘Duty of Care’, describes the brutal experience of working on the COVID-19 frontline. Dominic tells Alex Andreou about his work in the NHS during the pandemic, from the initial murmurings coming out of China to full-throated lockdown here in Britain. His story, along with many others in the NHS, is one of heroism and sacrifice. “Everyone was doing double time and taking on duty after duty.” “When needs must, the NHS was there.” “How do we get people to believe in the same facts?” “As a doctor, you’re not taught particularly well how to deal with your patient’s grief, or your own.” Presented by Alex Andreou. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producer Jacob Archbold. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Last week the Government introduced legislation aiming to curb the ruinous practice of deforestation, but how will this fit in with Brexit trade policy? What more should the Government be doing on environmental matters? And how damaging have populists Trump and Bolsonaro been in the battle against climate change? UCL professor of global change science SIMON LEWIS talks to Justin Quirk about the future of our planet. “It’s good that the Government is talking about this, but the devil is in the detail” “We need much bigger action to get to net zero” “Trump has been incredibly damaging to evidence-based policy over the last four years” “The Conservatives would not be so fast and loose with the facts if it weren’t for Trump” “The impact of Bolsonaro will be felt for a long time” Presented by Justin Quirk. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producer Jacob Archbold. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the polls seemingly stacked against him, what dirty tactics will Donald Trump need to deploy if he’s to triumph in November’s election? And what will his victory, or demise, mean for the Western world? UCL Politics Professor Dr Julie Norman joins us to discuss the upcoming campaign. Plus - what the does the poisoning of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny mean for Russia’s fight for democracy? And following anti-lockdown protests in London at the weekend, we take a look at how the far right is using COVID to bolster its ranks. “Trump is trying to frame himself as the law and order President” - Dr Julie Norman “2016 was an existential level trauma for the Democratic Party” - Justin Quirk “In Russia, an opponent of Vladimir Putin is a dangerous thing to be.” - Arthur Snell Presented by Nina Schick with Arthur Snell and Justin Quirk. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producer Jacob Archbold. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices