The Bunker – News without the nonsense

The Government announces a performative war on middle class drug users just as cocaine traces are discovered in the Commons buildings. Coincidence? Plus, can tennis really stand up to China over the whereabouts of missing player Peng Shuai. Boris Johnson puts off a decision on Christmas to the very last minute, again. And why do we still put up with people winging it in positions of power? Hear our new series DOOMSDAY WATCH here: https://kite.link/doomsday • “Cocaine at work is a much bigger problem amongst the Tories than the Labour Party.” – ZOE WILLIAMS • “I don’t care that Michael Gove did cocaine in his 20s. If someone in Government is doing it, that’s different.” – AHIR SHAH • “The only way Boris Johnson could get into Liverpool is by wearing a police outfit.” – ANDREW HARRISON • “Peng Shuai has exposed China’s elite, and that is something they want to bury.” – GAVIN ESLER https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Andrew Harrison with Ahir Shah and Gavin Esler. Assistant producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER IS A PODMASTERS PRODUCTION Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Omicron cases continue to rise, but will new travel rules actually stem the tide of infections, or is it too late? Plus, as ‘crime week’ begins, traces of drugs have been found in Parliament toilets. Will the PM’s hard-hitting announcements fall on deaf ears? And the latest on last years Number 10 party, which did break Covid rules, but it was in the past so it doesn’t matter, right Mr Raab? “There are so many hurdles to get over in order to travel, this will put a lot of people off.” - Arthur Snell “The Science of dealing with pandemics has come on leaps and bounds in the last two years.” - Arthur Snell “If you talk about drug use and the Conservatives, you can list a whole host of names who have taken them.” - Arthur Snell “My hunch is that Yvette Cooper knows Priti Patel’s brief better than Priti Patel.” - Alex Andreou “These attacks on ‘lefty lawyers’ are straight out of the populism playbook.” - Arthur Snell 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With The War of The Worlds, H. G. Wells catapulted to international literary success. But how did his adolescence shape the father of science fiction? Journalist and biographer Claire Tomalin talks to Dorian Lynskey about her latest book, The Young H. G. Wells, the author’s complicated love affair with socialism, telling Stalin he was wrong…and how Wells predicted the moonwalk seventy years before it happened. “The Fabians were thrilled to accept young Wells - then dismayed to find he wanted to revolutionise them.” “From Lenin to Stalin, Wells knew how to be a literary celebrity.” “Wells was writing 7000 words a day. But he took a long time off too.” 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 https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/288/288884/the-young-h-g--wells/9780241239971.html Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hear all the music on our rolling playlist: https://bit.ly/CultBunk It’s the first of two Best Of 2021 editions where we choose the best music, TV and films of a turbulent year. Our special guest is cosmic explorer of northern psychedelia Jane Weaver, whose album ‘Flock’ was one of our favourites this year. Plus journalist, DJ and editor of Umbrella magazine Anthony Teasdale joins us to help Siân and Andrew select the best stuff of the year. Produced and presented by Siân Pattenden and Andrew Harrison. Assistant producer Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Alex Rees. Theme music: ‘Bunker Theme (Juntos Mix)’ by Kenny Dickinson. The Culture Bunker is a Podmasters production. Rolling playlist: https://bit.ly/CultBunk Features ‘Disco Pregnancy (Tonal + Rhythmical)’ by Laima Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Last week 27 people tragically drowned trying to cross the Channel from France, and 2021 has seen a record number of migrants attempt to the treacherous journey. Why is this? And how can we prevent more lives needlessly being lost? Zoe Gardner, policy and advocacy manager at the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, talks to Justin Quirk about why more people than ever are trying to cross the Channel, and how we can make our asylum system work for everyone. “We knew this disaster was coming, and we could have prevented it.” “The UK will never have a fair and decent asylum system in isolation. We need this to be an international effort.” “There is currently a bill in Parliament which will throw refugee protection out the window.” “We need to change the narrative that the UK is happy with having deadly borders.” Presented by Justin Quirk. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Laundering the dirty cash of kleptocrats is labour-intensive work. So who are the Western bankers, lawyers, accountants, and realtors enabling corruption across the world? Frank Vogl, co-founder of Transparency International, talks to Alex Andreou about his latest book, The Enablers, cleaning up the City of London, how cash launderers still lurk in the least corrupt countries …and why stunning artworks often conceal the ugliest of transactions. “We never have petty corruption without widescale corruption in place.” “The art market is the most opaque of all markets.” “Enablers aid and abet the kleptocrats to make their investments.” “The amount of money that Denmark has laundered through Estonia is larger than Estonia's entire economy.” “Even in countries that are perceived not to be corrupt, the enablers are at work.” Presented by Alex Andreou. 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week’s panel show out early for Patreon people… Oh good, there’s a new variant in town. Is this really the way we wanted to learn the Greek alphabet? Special guest Christina Pagel of independent SAGE takes us through what we know about COVID: The Next Generation. Plus, the horrific drownings in the Channel. And how can we clear up the terrible crimewave caused by a female Doctor Who? Hear our new series DOOMSDAY WATCH here: https://kite.link/doomsday • “If your family’s not in the UK and you have plans to see them for Christmas, go sooner rather than later.” – CHRISTINA PAGEL • “These are serious times and we have a very unserious Government.” – ARTHUR SNELL • “No-one gives up the best years of their lives for £40 a week.” – CHRISTINA PAGEL • “Relations with France are now at the lowest point in my lifetime. • “South Africa announced the new variant knowing there would be travel restrictions against them. That is the definition of global citizenship.” – CHRISTINA PAGEL • “Pointless needling of the French is a default Government position.” – ARTHUR SNELL https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Alex Andreou with Marie le Conte and Arthur Snell. Assistant producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic . Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER IS A PODMASTERS PRODUCTION Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The new Omicron variant is here in Britain, but how worried should we be about it? Will the Government be forced to curb Christmas for a second year running? Plus, as the Channel crisis worsens, will Number 10 take serious action to fix things? And Germany has a new government, what should we expect from Europe’s biggest economy in the coming years? Ros Taylor and Yasmeen Serhan take you through the week ahead. “It’s a very anxious time for a lot of people and it doesn’t help that the holidays are just around the corner.” - Yasmeen Serhan “While wealthy nations continue to dominate vaccines, new variants emerging will not be surprising.” - Yasmeen Serhan “I don’t think people think of unaccompanied children as being on these boats, but sadly they are.” - Yasmeen Serhan Presented by Ros Taylor with Yasmeen Serhan. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Charlotte Raven was in her mid-30s when she discovered her father was suffering from Huntington’s disease. For her and her family, life would never be the same again. Joined by her doctor Ed Wild, Charlotte talks to Nick Cohen about her memoir Patient 1: Forgetting and Finding Myself, a candid account of her coming to terms with an inherited neurodegenerative disease, how it changed her as a person, and the hope that one day we can eliminate it altogether. “Everyone in my family insulated me from the brutal reality of Huntington’s”- Charlotte Raven “I felt like facing this head on would minimise it’s impact later” - Charlotte Raven “I was exploited by a culture that wanted me to be a controversialist” - Charlotte Raven “Huntington’s comes on so slowly the first symptoms are often unnoticed” - Ed Wild “My children have become a recognisable anchor for me” - Charlotte Raven Presented by Nick Cohen. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hear all the music on our podcasts in full on our rolling playlist: https://bit.ly/CultBunk In this week’s show, Madness frontman SUGGS joins us to talk about everything Nutty Boys. Journalist MICHAEL MORAN gives their take on Get Back, the Peter Jackson’s new epic on The Beatles’ Twickenham sessions, and Marvel’s latest series, Hawkeye. Plus THE ITALIAN JOB – film critic LINDA MARRIC unwraps Ridley Scott’s House of Gucci, the new release with Adam Driver, Lady Gaga and Al Pacino. “We liked dressing up, but when it becomes your full time job, it loses its novelty.” - Suggs “Property has become a commodity, not somewhere to live. It has damaged the soul of London.” - Suggs “The two things I love in the world are Marvel Comics and Christmas, so Hawkeye was made for me.” - Michael Moran “House of Gucci's script isn't up to the story. It feels like a telenovela.” - Linda Marric Presented by Siân Pattenden and Alex Andreou. Assistant producer Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Alex Rees. Theme music: ‘Bunker Theme (Juntos Mix)’ by Kenny Dickinson. The Culture Bunker is a Podmasters production. Rolling playlist: https://bit.ly/CultBunk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Over 130,000 people were killed in the Yugoslav Wars of the 1990s, with most deaths concentrated in Bosnia. But 26 years after the Dayton Peace Agreement, nationalist tensions are re-emerging between Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik and Bosniak President Bakir Izetbegovic. So are we on the brink of another war in the Balkans - and did it ever end in the first place? Jelena Sofronijevic talks to journalist Una Hajdari and Professor James Ker-Lindsay about what we get wrong on ethnicity, peacekeeping, and Serbia’s “strongman” siblingship with Vladimir Putin. “The ethnic differences that are taken into account by Bosnia's constitution are the same ones that will cause its downfall.” – Una Hajdari “Russia is playing a spoiling tactic in the Balkans.” - James Ker-Lindsay “Dodik is clever enough to know an overt declaration of independence would fail. He'd need to rely on Serbia - but they'd avoid supporting him outright.” - James Ker-Lindsay “This is Bosnia's curse - all levels of its government have an ethnic quota, so it's hard to stray from any politics outside of that path.” - Una Hajdari “Both Bosnian Serbs and Bosniaks see each other as a fundamental threat to each other's existence.” - James Ker-Lindsay Written and presented by Jelena Sofronijevic. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Around the world democratic values have been in decline, with Hong Kong’s struggle against Beijing one of the clearest examples. Pro-democracy activist Nathan Law was Hong Kong’s youngest legislative councillor, until he was arrested for speaking his mind. Now living in exile here in Britain, he talks to Arthur Snell about his new book Freedom: How we lose it, and how we fight back, the reasons for our recent democratic recession, and how he’s fighting for Hong Kong from afar. “The 2019 protests saw over 2 million people marching, over a quarter of Hong Kong’s population” “When mainland China wanted Hong Kong back in 1997, people were fearful of a return to autocracy” “I had to continue to speak up for Hong Kong, which meant I had to leave the place I consider home” “Hong Kong is just one example is the democratic recession we’ve seen across the world” Presented by Arthur Snell. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week’s panel show out early for Patreon people… And you can hear our new series DOOMSDAY WATCH here: https://kite.link/doomsday The sleaze revelations may be ebbing, but the PM is still under sustained attack from his own MPs. Will a bouncing new Johnson baby save Christmas for the Conservatives? Jelena Sofronijevic joins to discuss what it’s like to graduate into a post-COVID job market and generational tensions in the workplace. Plus, the panel unpack the phenomenon of lockdown pets - vital for our mental health or a CAT-astrophe for the planet? Hear our new series DOOMSDAY WATCH here: https://kite.link/doomsday “If I was a member of the Conservative Party at the moment, I'd be keeping my nose dry between factions.” - Marie le Conte “Can you imagine if Tony Blair had sent his dad on Newsnight to explain on his behalf?” - Justin Quirk “We make 17 year olds enter extraordinary financial commitments. No wonder they expect a job at the end of it.” - Ahir Shah “This generation is acutely aware of the power, and the value, of their identity.” - Justin Quirk https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Ros Taylor with Marie le Conte, Ahir Shah and Justin Quirk. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER IS A PODMASTERS PRODUCTION Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Northern Powerhouse trains might be derailed, but as the CBI convenes across the country, levelling up is back on the agenda. Could Keir Starmer be on track to dismantle the Government’s shoddy Integrated Rail Plan? And Austria returns to COVID lockdown, what will this mean for booster shots and mandatory vaccination at home? Plus Priti Patel faces pressure over the rise in dinghys in Dover, and do English Channel crossings really constitute a migrant crisis? Naomi Smith and Alex Andreou take you through the week ahead. “Johnson hasn't got Brexit done, and he hasn't levelled up the country.” - Naomi Smith “We needed an Integrated Rail Plan. We got a failure.” - Naomi Smith “Johnson has done a lot to push people away. Starmer has to try and pull them.” - Alex Andreou “You're always one step ahead of the next variant if you're not vaccinating the world.” - Naomi Smith “If you construct a crisis that isn't actually there, it becomes quite difficult to solve.” - Alex Andreou Presented by Alex Andreou with Naomi Smith. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Running a marathon is no easy feat, but to run one in under 3 hours puts you in the top 5% of runners worldwide. Comedian Paul Tonkinson details his gruelling yet moving journey to break the 3-hour mark in his book 26.2 Miles to Happiness: A Comedian’s Tale of Running, Red Wine and Redemption. He sits down with fellow runner Nick Cohen to talk about the trials and tribulations of beating one of running’s milestone times. “I wanted to be as honest as possible about the process of running a marathon” “Running a marathon runs nicely along the line of being really difficult, but also achievable” Presented by Nick Cohen. 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hear all the music on our podcasts in full on our rolling playlist: https://bit.ly/CultBunk What a difference Adele makes. As Adele’s new album 30 comes out, music journalist EAMONN FORDE joins us to discuss “daydreamers” and “divorce, babes”. Plus film critic ANNA SMITH on THE POWER OF THE DOG, GRUNGE music doc FREAKSCENE, the story of Dinosaur Jr. - and with the re-release of SLADE IN FLAME on deluxe vinyl, we return to the 1974 film. “Adele is my musical football. Enormously popular, but something I will never ever fathom.” - Eamonn Forde “Power of the Dog is one of those films where you are absolutely gripped from start to finish.” - Anna Smith “Slade got famous, but they never wanted to be.” - Eamonn Forde “Glam rock is as British as boiled meat.” – Alex Andreou Presented by Siân Pattenden and Alex Andreou. Assistant producer Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Robin Leeburn and Alex Rees. Theme music: ‘Bunker Theme (Juntos Mix)’ by Kenny Dickinson. The Culture Bunker is a Podmasters production. Rolling playlist: https://bit.ly/CultBunk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

COVID may have suspended parliamentary debate, but important decisions were still being taken behind the scenes. So how did we do politics during the pandemic, and how can we do better? Ros Taylor talks to Aveek Bhattacharya, chief economist of the Social Market Foundation, about co-editing his new book, Political Philosophy in a Pandemic, “zombie governments,” and whether COVID shaming is ever acceptable. “Even if you think you know the COVID guidelines, you might not know the rules around a particular case.” “We have a zombie government, but we have had no option to vote it out.” “Democracy isn't just about voting. It's about experience and debating.” “The rise in tuition fees is a tax on younger people.” “The boom has only benefitted those who got on the property market in time.” “We normally think of children as the most vulnerable. But COVID has shown that that isn't always the case.” “We haven't seen economies behave like this before, so we've have to take calculated risks.” Presented by Ros Taylor. 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Republican Party might be the party of Donald Trump, but how did it get to this place of uncompromising groups with irreconcilable demands? And is something similar about to hit the Democrats? Professor Samuel L. Popkin, academic, consulting analyst in five Democratic Presidential campaigns and author of Crackup: The Republican Implosion and the Future of Presidential Politics, chats to Dorian Lynskey about the rise of Trump, and what it means for the future of American politics. “The great divide between the two parties is caused by failures of leaders to curb the extremes of their party.” “It was made clear to John McCain that he wouldn’t get any money until he changed his position on global warming.” “If Ted Cruz had acted differently, we might never had seen the emergence of Donald Trump.” Presented by Dorian Lynskey. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The curtain has fallen on Glasgow’s climate conference, but is the overtime pact agreed enough to steer the world away from disaster? Plus, as allegations of sleaze continue to pile up, political writer STEVE RICHARDS joins us to discuss whether this is the Government Britain has ever seen. And with stories and hot takes coming at us from every angle these days, how can we best deal with news fatigue? Hear our new series DOOMSDAY WATCH here: https://kite.link/doomsday • “These are pledges not policies, and the legislation being passed by countries is not as strong as the pledges made.” - Yasmeen Serhan “It is impossible for China and India to continue with the growth they have made without coal power.” - Arthur Snell “Historians will look back and say we didn’t do enough, fast enough” - Yasmeen Serhan “If you want to do a sleaze-o-meter, this Government is right at the top.” - Steve Richards “Johnson might have a majority of 80, but he has u-turned more than an other Prime Minister.” - Steve Richards https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Alex Andreou with Yasmeen Serhan and Arthur Snell. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic . Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER IS A PODMASTERS PRODUCTION Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

COP26 came to a close at the weekend, but did India and China scupper an opportunity for real progress on climate change? Does the Glasgow pact go far enough? Plus, a horrific terror attack in Liverpool mars Remembrance Day, what do we know so far? And as sleaze allegations continue to come out, is the Johnson premiership now on a downward trajectory? Naomi Smith and Ros Taylor take you through the week ahead. “India and China are struggling to understand a future without coal.” “Alok Sharma was quite devastated, he had invested a huge amount into getting rid of coal.” “It does feel as though the shine has come off Johnson, but there isn’t an alternative they’re excited to go to yet.” “Sleaze could be something that is very difficult for the Government to shake off.” “In terms of levelling-up, cancelling the HS2 link to Leeds does not look good.” Presented by Ros Taylor with Naomi Smith. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In England, 50% of the land is owned by just 1% of the population, but how did such a small minority come to control such a large amount of countryside? And what can we do about it? Guy Shrubsole, policy coordinator at Rewilding Britain and author of Who Owns England, chats to Nick Cohen about England’s dark past when it comes to land ownership, and his manifesto for how to open up our countryside once again. “Land ownership is one of England’s deepest, darkest secrets.” “50% of England is owned by just 1% of the population.” “Ultimately, we all should have a greater stake in who owns England.” “We think we live in a capitalist society, but we actually still have a lot feudalism.” “Such a vast area of our land is given to the sport of grouse shooting.” “To hold onto more red wall voters, something has to give on the issue of home ownership.” Presented by Nick Cohen. 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hear all the music on our podcasts in full on our rolling playlist: https://bit.ly/CultBunk The artist otherwise known as Malcolm Tucker and the Twelfth Doctor Who, PETER CAPALDI, makes an album with pal DR ROBERT of The Blow Monkeys. The Hogarth of the iPhone COLD WAR STEVE joins us to discuss his bleakly hilarious visions of Plague Island. And new albums from DAMON ALBARN and upcoming psychedelic soul star CURTIS HARDING. Buy Cold War Steve’s Journal Of The Plague Year: https://amzn.to/3wFV5sV. Produced and presented by Siân Pattenden and Andrew Harrison. Assistant producer Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Alex Rees. Theme music: ‘Bunker Theme (Juntos Mix)’ by Kenny Dickinson. The Culture Bunker is a Podmasters production. Rolling playlist: https://bit.ly/CultBunk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Albania in the 1980s was the last bastion of Stalinism in Europe. It was difficult to visit, and a place of poverty, executions and secret police, but for LSE politics professor Lea Ypi it was also home. She talks to Alex Andreou about her astonishing memoir Free: Coming of Age at the End of History, which details her childhood in one of Europe’s most repressive countries, what came afterwards, and what it truly means to be free. “The fall of the Berlin Wall was brushed aside as something that didn’t concern Albania” “At some point the state slogan was gone and was replaced by a coca-cola advert” “I’ve spent half my life under socialism, half my life under liberalism… neither of these systems delivered what they set out to” “To live in real democracy means to have a real say in the laws that are made” “What we have is not a democracy, but rather a liberal representative system” https://amzn.to/3HcK7Qw Presented by Alex Andreou. 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When you think about the gig economy, you probably imagine an Uber driver. But one in seven Brits are part of the gig economy, including some teachers and doctors. So what’s behind this global phenomenon? Ros Taylor talks to Rest of World editor Peter Guest about their vast report on how workers in the global South get a worse deal, why women get lower ratings than men, and giving a meaningful platform to platform workers. “There is a great imbalance of power between the platform and the worker.” - 04:00 “You can't be hired and fired in the usual way.” “There's a ready supply of people waiting to work on these platforms, so the power is always in the company's hands.” Presented by Ros Taylor. 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

British-born US intelligence analyst FIONA HILL, America’s top Russia expert, became an overnight hero when she demolished Donald Trump’s Ukraine hoax before the House Intelligence Committee in 2019. In a fascinating conversation she tells us what it’s like to go up against a strongman’s political machine – and why Trumpism is still dangerous. Plus, is the tide of populism starting to ebb? And what pop songs changed our minds about politics? Hear our new series DOOMSDAY WATCH here: https://kite.link/doomsday • “I felt I had to stand up against Trump. Would I just stand on the sidelines and watch all this happen?” – FIONA HILL • “Elections come and go, but grievances are forever.” – YASMEEN SERHAN • “My favourite text message from a Tory MP last week just read ‘Christ’.” – MARIE LE CONTE https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written, presented and produced by Andrew Harrison with Yasmeen Serhan and Marie le Conte. Assistant producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic . Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER IS A PODMASTERS PRODUCTION Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices