The Bunker

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Politics, locked down. From the producers of Oh God, What Now? (formerly Remainiacs), The Bunker is fearless, independent political talk for Britain and beyond. We examine the big issues with humour and expertise, cutting through the claptrap to make sense of what’s really going on – and give you the fighting spirit to keep on keeping on. Our full-panel roundtable podcast goes out every Tuesday, with shorter Bunker Daily editions on a single subject or interview on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.   Our regulars include: Alex Andreou • Ian Dunt • Miatta Fahnbulleh • Andrew Harrison • Ayesha Hazarika • Dorian Lynskey • Justin Quirk • Yasmeen Serhan • Ahir Shah • Naomi Smith • Arthur Snell • Ros Taylor.   • Sign Up and Listen: patreon.com/bunkercast.   The Bunker is a Podmasters production.

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    • Jun 22, 2026 LATEST EPISODE
    • daily NEW EPISODES
    • 30m AVG DURATION
    • 3,264 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The Bunker

    The end is Keir — Start Your Week with Alex von Tunzelmann

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2026 28:05


    Keir Starmer is expected to announce his departure from Downing Street, paving the way for Andy Burnham to become PM. But is a coronation the best thing for Labour or the country? Alex von Tunzelmann joins Jacob Jarvis to discuss this and the other key news stories to look out for this week. Back us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bunkercast • Special offer! Get 20% off any vehicle history check at carVertical.com/TheBunker [[https://www.carVertical.com/TheBunker]] Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis with Alex von Tunzelmann. Audio production: Jade Bailey. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Deal or no deal? – Weekly Wrap-Up with Rafael Behr

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2026 34:43


    Donald Trump has finally put pen to paper and signed an agreement to end the war he started. He quickly lashed out at the “bad people” criticising it – but is it even a deal or just a deal to try and get a deal? Plus: Lib Dem leader Ed Davey calls for a Brexit U-turn, Farage wants foreign nationals banned from social housing and archaeologists find a Stonehenge “prototype”. Rafael Behr joins Jacob Jarvis to unpack the biggest, weirdest and most under-reported stories from the past week. • Special offer! Get 20% off any vehicle history check at carVertical.com/TheBunker• Back us on Patreon – www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis. Producer: James Liddell. Audio production: Jade Bailey. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. www.podmasters.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    The Belfast race riots – The even uglier truth by a journalist who was there

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2026 22:23


    What really triggered the horrific race riots in Northern Ireland earlier this month? Who were the agitators of the “modern-day pogrom” in which balaclava-clad rioters chased people from their homes and torched cars and buildings in overwhelmingly loyalist areas? Belfast-based journalist Amanda Ferguson was on the ground as the violence unfolded. She gives Gavin Esler her eyewitness account of the attacks, the aftermath and the mix of far-right agitation and experienced Loyalist paramilitaries behind these appalling scenes. • Back us on Patreon – www.patreon.com/bunkercastWritten and presented by Gavin Esler. Producer: James Liddell. Audio production: Robin Leeburn. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.www.podmasters.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Musk will tear us apart? – The national security emergency we need to tackle

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2026 34:55


    What connects violent anti-immigration protests with a defence secretary resigning over a funding row with Number 10? The answer is social cohesion – and Britain isn't doing enough to protect it. A transnational campaign bringing together MAGA, Russian influence operations and the far right is actively targeting the very bonds that hold us together, says Dr Kate Ferguson, co-founder of Protection Approaches – a charity that campaigns against identity-based violence. Is this just a community relations problem or is something far more serious at play? Do we need to treat social cohesion as a full-blown national security emergency? Kate joins Rafael Behr to discuss how malign actors are attacking British society – and what we can do about it. • Back us on Patreon – www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Rafael Behr. Producer: James Liddell. Audio production: Jade Bailey. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. www.podmasters.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Empire of Spies – An ex-CIA officer exposes Putin's intelligence state

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2026 31:53


    The West's naivete towards Putin in the 2000s cost us dearly. Now Russia's tyrant – a creature of the KGB/FSB who has returned his country to its roots as a repressive intelligence state – is attacking us with unprecedented ferocity and deviousness. Sean Wiswesser, ex-CIA station chief in the former Soviet Union, says the “reckless” activity of FSB and GRU agents has reached new heights. But can they be stopped – and can we win the intelligence war? He tells Andrew Harrison how intelligence and dirty tricks are inextricable from Putin's power; how the old skills of “tradecraft” persist alongside new digital tactics; and what really makes Russian intelligence tick.  • Buy Sean's book Tradecraft, Tactics, and Dirty Tricks: Russian Intelligence and Putin's Secret War from our affiliate bookshop and you'll help fund the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org's fees help support independent bookshops too. • Back us on Patreon – www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Group Editor Andrew Harrison. Producer: James Liddell. Audio production: Jade Bailey. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. www.podmasters.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Labour's anti-social behaviour – Start Your Week with Ros Taylor

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2026 28:03


    Setting out the stories of the next seven days… Labour announce far more draconian restrictions on social media for teens than anyone expected. Why are they being so hardcore now? And will the measures work? Plus: it's Makerfield by-election week, at last. What will help Labour more: Restore splitting the far-right vote or an England victory against Croatia in the World Cup? And what does Trump's Iran deal actually mean? Ros Taylor and Andrew Harrison look into the stories of the week ahead. www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Andrew Harrison. Audio production: Simon Williams. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Artwork by James Parrett. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. www.podmasters.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Armed farces – Weekly Wrap-Up with Zoë Grünewald

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2026 30:30


    Violence swept Belfast after a knife attack sparked days of unrest fuelled by right-wing agitators. With reports that many of those involved had travelled to the city from elsewhere, are we seeing the rise of riot tourism? Plus: John Healey resigns in breaking news, a leaked Makerfield poll puts Burnham ahead as the right-wing vote splits, and Swifties wager millions on Taylor's wedding. Jacob Jarvis is joined by Zoë Grünewald to unpack the biggest stories from the past week. www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis with Zoë Grünewald. Producer: James Liddell and Jake Preston. Audio production: Jade Bailey. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Artwork by James Parrett. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. www.podmasters.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Armed farces – Weekly Wrap-Up with Zoë Grünewald

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2026 34:45


    Violence swept Belfast after a knife attack sparked days of unrest fuelled by right-wing agitators. With reports that many of those involved had travelled to the city from elsewhere, are we seeing the rise of riot tourism? Plus: John Healey resigns in breaking news, a leaked Makerfield poll puts Burnham ahead as the right-wing vote splits, and Swifties wager millions on Taylor's wedding. Jacob Jarvis is joined by Zoë Grünewald to unpack the biggest stories from the past week. www.patreon.com/bunkercast  Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis with Zoë Grünewald.  Producer: James Liddell and Jake Preston. Audio production: Jade Bailey.  Music by Kenny Dickinson. Artwork by James Parrett. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.  www.podmasters.co.uk   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    music violence armed belfast artwork bunker swifties burnham weekly wrap up podmasters production group editor andrew harrison
    Will Trump ruin the World Cup?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2026 37:59


    Or will it arrive pre-ruined by FIFA's oligarch-coddling sycophant president Gianni Infantino, creator of Trump's ludicrous “FIFA Peace Prize”? The 2026 World Cup has already been called a “bonanza of sportwashing” by human rights groups. Now visiting fans fear harassment by ICE as well as the eye-watering cost of attending games at all. Politics professor, author of Red Card: The 2026 World Cup, Sportswashing and the FIFA Greed Machine and former footballer Jules Boykoff joins Andrew Harrison to look at the corrupt mess of international football… and what needs to happen to fix it.  • Buy Red Card through our affiliate bookshop and you'll help fund the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org's fees help support independent bookshops too. www.patreon.com/bunkercast  Written and presented by Andrew Harrison. Produced by James Liddell. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Artwork by James Parrett. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    Will Trump ruin the World Cup?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2026 33:44


    Or will it arrive pre-ruined by FIFA's oligarch-coddling sycophant president Gianni Infantino, creator of Trump's ludicrous “FIFA Peace Prize”? The 2026 World Cup has already been called a “bonanza of sportwashing” by human rights groups. Now visiting fans fear harassment by ICE as well as the eye-watering cost of attending games at all. Politics professor, author of Red Card: The 2026 World Cup, Sportswashing and the FIFA Greed Machine and former footballer Jules Boykoff joins Andrew Harrison to look at the corrupt mess of international football… and what needs to happen to fix it. • Buy Red Card through our affiliate bookshop and you'll help fund the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org's fees help support independent bookshops too.www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Andrew Harrison. Produced by James Liddell. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Artwork by James Parrett. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    What if Putin dies?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2026 29:08


    What happens if Vladimir Putin suddenly dies – or is killed? Has the Russian dictator lined up a successor, or would a new leader rise up? And what sort of chaos would that bring? At 73, Putin is one of the longest-serving leaders in modern Russian history. No one appears likely to challenge him directly right now, but his time will have to run out eventually.  Historian, author and major Russia expert Mark Galeotti joins Gavin Esler to discuss where Russia's next leader might come from – and whether they would be anything more than Putin with a different face.  • Buy the updated edition of Mark's book We Need to Talk about Putin from our affiliate bookshop and you'll help fund the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org's fees help support independent bookshops too. • Back us on Patreon – www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Gavin Esler. Producer: James Liddell. Audio production: Tom Taylor. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    What if Putin dies?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2026 24:53


    What happens if Vladimir Putin suddenly dies – or is killed? Has the Russian dictator lined up a successor, or would a new leader rise up? And what sort of chaos would that bring? At 73, Putin is one of the longest-serving leaders in modern Russian history. No one appears likely to challenge him directly right now, but his time will have to run out eventually. Historian, author and major Russia expert Mark Galeotti joins Gavin Esler to discuss where Russia's next leader might come from – and whether they would be anything more than Putin with a different face. • Buy the updated edition of Mark's book We Need to Talk about Putin from our affiliate bookshop and you'll help fund the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org's fees help support independent bookshops too.• Back us on Patreon – www.patreon.com/bunkercastWritten and presented by Gavin Esler. Producer: James Liddell. Audio production: Tom Taylor. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    How to stop the next Donald Trump – by a Mueller prosecutor

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2026 40:39


    Can the damage Donald Trump has wrought on America be repaired? And if another Trump emerged, could anyone stop them? Ex-FBI general counsel Andrew Weissmann is a former member of Robert Mueller's investigation into Russia's election interference. (Credentials: Trump labelled him “scum” and Stephen Miller called him “deranged” and a “moron”). In his new book Liar's Kingdom: How To Stop Trump's Deceit and Save Democracy, Weissmann offers a radical cure for America's crisis: fight and punish political lying at every level. Would it work in a country addicted to lies and the anger they create?   • Buy Andrew Weissmann's book Liar's Kingdom: How To Stop Trump's Deceit and Save Democracy from our affiliate bookshop and you'll help fund the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org's fees help support independent bookshops too.  • Back us on Patreon – www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Group Editor Andrew Harrison. Producer: James Liddell. Audio production: Tom Taylor. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    How to stop the next Donald Trump – by a Mueller prosecutor

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2026 36:38


    Can the damage Donald Trump has wrought on America be repaired? And if another Trump emerged, could anyone stop them? Ex-FBI general counsel Andrew Weissmann is a former member of Robert Mueller's investigation into Russia's election interference. (Credentials: Trump labelled him “scum” and Stephen Miller called him “deranged” and a “moron”). In his new book Liar's Kingdom: How To Stop Trump's Deceit and Save Democracy, Weissmann offers a radical cure for America's crisis: fight and punish political lying at every level. Would it work in a country addicted to lies and the anger they create?  • Buy Andrew Weissmann's book Liar's Kingdom: How To Stop Trump's Deceit and Save Democracy from our affiliate bookshop and you'll help fund the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org's fees help support independent bookshops too. • Back us on Patreon – www.patreon.com/bunkercastWritten and presented by Group Editor Andrew Harrison. Producer: James Liddell. Audio production: Tom Taylor. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    American idiots — Start Your Week with Rafael Behr

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2026 38:52


    American politicians won't stop wading in on British politics – what do they want and can we stop them? Rafael Behr joins Jacob Jarvis to discuss, plus the latest from Ukraine, the Middle East and the looming World Cup.  www.patreon.com/bunkercast     Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis with Rafael Behr. Audio production: Jade Bailey. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    American idiots — Start Your Week with Rafael Behr

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2026 34:37


    American politicians won't stop wading in on British politics – what do they want and can we stop them? Rafael Behr joins Jacob Jarvis to discuss, plus the latest from Ukraine, the Middle East and the looming World Cup. www.patreon.com/bunkercast    Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis with Rafael Behr. Audio production: Jade Bailey. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Weaponising the Nowak Murder – Weekly Wrap-Up with Seth Thévoz

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2026 27:27


    Summing up the key stories of the past seven days… Reform and the far-right seize on the murder of student Henry Nowak to foment violent protests and provoke a national political row. Has Farage's opportunism pushed his luck too far? Plus: What was in that a fresh batch of Mandelson files; Putin's “Russian Davos” goes wrong; notable deaths from the past week; and who should replace Churchill and Alan Turing on banknotes: dolphins, otters or the marsh fritillary? Andrew Harrison and Seth Thévoz unpack the biggest stories from the past week. www.patreon.com/bunkercast  Written and presented by Andrew Harrison with Seth Thévoz.  Producer: James Liddell and Jake Preston. Audio production: Jade Bailey.  Music by Kenny Dickinson. Artwork by James Parrett. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    Weaponising the Nowak Murder – Weekly Wrap-Up with Seth Thévoz

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2026 23:12


    Summing up the key stories of the past seven days… Reform and the far-right seize on the murder of student Henry Nowak to foment violent protests and provoke a national political row. Has Farage's opportunism pushed his luck too far? Plus: What was in that a fresh batch of Mandelson files; Putin's “Russian Davos” goes wrong; notable deaths from the past week; and who should replace Churchill and Alan Turing on banknotes: dolphins, otters or the marsh fritillary? Andrew Harrison and Seth Thévoz unpack the biggest stories from the past week.www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Andrew Harrison with Seth Thévoz.  Producer: James Liddell and Jake Preston. Audio production: Jade Bailey.  Music by Kenny Dickinson. Artwork by James Parrett. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Hot Take Time Machine – Spoilt pigs, hen-dos and ‘alpine divorce' with Miranda Sawyer and Jonn Elledge

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2026 37:28


    Hot Take Time Machine is back and our crack squad of column critics are sniffing out the weirdest, worst and occasionally the best opinions from the last month.   Paper Cuts survivors Miranda Sawyer and Jonn Elledge join Jacob Jarvis to pick apart The Telegraph's terrible take on youth unemployment, The Mail's Liz Jones having “one big moan” and one Times writer who is fed up with tasteful hen-dos – “bring back the strippers!”  Buy Jonn's book 31 Inventions that Built Our World from our affiliate bookshop and you'll help fund the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org's fees help support independent bookshops too. Spotted a column we should talk about next time? Send it to info@bunkercast.co.uk • Back us on Patreon – www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Managing Editor Jacob Jarvis. Producer: James Liddell. Audio production: Robin Leeburn. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    Hot Take Time Machine – Spoilt pigs, hen-dos and ‘alpine divorce' with Miranda Sawyer and Jonn Elledge

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2026 33:13


    Hot Take Time Machine is back and our crack squad of column critics are sniffing out the weirdest, worst and occasionally the best opinions from the last month.  Paper Cuts survivors Miranda Sawyer and Jonn Elledge join Jacob Jarvis to pick apart The Telegraph's terrible take on youth unemployment, The Mail's Liz Jones having “one big moan” and one Times writer who is fed up with tasteful hen-dos – “bring back the strippers!” Buy Jonn's book 31 Inventions that Built Our World from our affiliate bookshop and you'll help fund the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org's fees help support independent bookshops too.Spotted a column we should talk about next time? Send it to info@bunkercast.co.uk• Back us on Patreon – www.patreon.com/bunkercastWritten and presented by Managing Editor Jacob Jarvis. Producer: James Liddell. Audio production: Robin Leeburn. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    The A.I. swindle – Why Sam Altman is lying to you

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2026 31:54


    OpenAI chief Sam Altman once wrote that the most successful people don't build companies, they “create religions”. Will artificial intelligence really solve humanity's greatest problems and elevate humans to a heaven-like state like the tech bros claim – or just ruin our civilisation? Best-selling author and investigative journalist Karen Hao gained unprecedented access to OpenAI to unearth the story of what's really going on inside a project that could transform humanity. She talks to Seth Thévoz about the disturbing story she discovered for her new book Empire of AI: Inside the Reckless Race for Total Domination.    • Buy Karen's book Empire of AI: Inside the Reckless Race for Total Domination from our affiliate bookshop and you'll help fund the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org's fees help support independent bookshops too. • Back us on Patreon – www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Seth Thévoz. Producer: James Liddell. Audio production: Jade Bailey. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    music empire lying openai bunker sam altman bookshop swindle karen hao podmasters production group editor andrew harrison
    The A.I. swindle – Why Sam Altman is lying to you

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2026 27:39


    OpenAI chief Sam Altman once wrote that the most successful people don't build companies, they “create religions”. Will artificial intelligence really solve humanity's greatest problems and elevate humans to a heaven-like state like the tech bros claim – or just ruin our civilisation? Best-selling author and investigative journalist Karen Hao gained unprecedented access to OpenAI to unearth the story of what's really going on inside a project that could transform humanity. She talks to Seth Thévoz about the disturbing story she discovered for her new book Empire of AI: Inside the Reckless Race for Total Domination.   • Buy Karen's book Empire of AI: Inside the Reckless Race for Total Domination from our affiliate bookshop and you'll help fund the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org's fees help support independent bookshops too.• Back us on Patreon – www.patreon.com/bunkercastWritten and presented by Seth Thévoz. Producer: James Liddell. Audio production: Jade Bailey. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Cash Rules Everything – Why do we always vote to keep oligarchs rich?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2026 34:30


    Democratic rights and freedoms have expanded for a century or more, yet the super-rich have never been richer and wealth has never been shared less fairly. And we keep on voting to prop up systems that make a bad situation worse. Why? Political scientist and author Jeffrey Winters has a theory – that oligarchic power isn't an unforeseen product of democracies, it's designed into the system. So how do we fix it? He talks to Andrew Harrison about how to make democracies more… democratic.  • Buy Jeffrey's book The Blind Spot: How Oligarchs Dominate Our Democracies from our affiliate bookshop and you'll help fund the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org's fees help support independent bookshops too. • Back us on Patreon – www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Andrew Harrison. Producer: James Liddell. Audio production: Tom Taylor. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    Cash Rules Everything – Why do we always vote to keep oligarchs rich?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2026 30:15


    Democratic rights and freedoms have expanded for a century or more, yet the super-rich have never been richer and wealth has never been shared less fairly. And we keep on voting to prop up systems that make a bad situation worse. Why? Political scientist and author Jeffrey Winters has a theory – that oligarchic power isn't an unforeseen product of democracies, it's designed into the system. So how do we fix it? He talks to Andrew Harrison about how to make democracies more… democratic. • Buy Jeffrey's book The Blind Spot: How Oligarchs Dominate Our Democracies from our affiliate bookshop and you'll help fund the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org's fees help support independent bookshops too.• Back us on Patreon – www.patreon.com/bunkercastWritten and presented by Andrew Harrison. Producer: James Liddell. Audio production: Tom Taylor. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Texts education — Start Your Week with Alex von Tunzelmann

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2026 32:10


    A huge dump of messages linked to Peter Mandelson are about to drop – what can we expect and who's the most nervous? Alex von Tunzelmann joins Jacob Jarvis to discuss the news to look out for in the week ahead, from domestic news and Labour fallout to the consequences of conflict across the globe.    www.patreon.com/bunkercast       Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis with Alex von Tunzelmann. Audio production: Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    Texts education — Start Your Week with Alex von Tunzelmann

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2026 27:55


    A huge dump of messages linked to Peter Mandelson are about to drop – what can we expect and who's the most nervous? Alex von Tunzelmann joins Jacob Jarvis to discuss the news to look out for in the week ahead, from domestic news and Labour fallout to the consequences of conflict across the globe.   www.patreon.com/bunkercast      Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis with Alex von Tunzelmann. Audio production: Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Hot Blair balloon – Weekly Wrap-Up with Rafael Behr

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2026 35:26


    • It's Podmasters' 10th birthday! Get an extra 10% off a year's Patreon backing for The Bunker.  Tony Blair has weighed in on Labour's direction – but what does he actually want? Plus: Pope Leo warns about the rise of AI, a major review warns Britain risks creating a “lost generation” of young people, and a buffalo that resembles Donald Trump... Jacob Jarvis is joined by Rafael Behr to unpack the biggest stories from the past week. www.patreon.com/bunkercast  Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis with Rafael Behr.  Producer: James Liddell and Jake Preston. Audio production: Jade Bailey.  Music by Kenny Dickinson. Artwork by James Parrett. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    Hot Blair balloon – Weekly Wrap-Up with Rafael Behr

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2026 31:11


    • It's Podmasters' 10th birthday! Get an extra 10% off a year's Patreon backing for The Bunker. Tony Blair has weighed in on Labour's direction – but what does he actually want? Plus: Pope Leo warns about the rise of AI, a major review warns Britain risks creating a “lost generation” of young people, and a buffalo that resembles Donald Trump... Jacob Jarvis is joined by Rafael Behr to unpack the biggest stories from the past week.www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis with Rafael Behr.  Producer: James Liddell and Jake Preston. Audio production: Jade Bailey.  Music by Kenny Dickinson. Artwork by James Parrett. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Iran's regime is fighting for survival – can it hold on?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2026 35:58


    • It's Podmasters' 10th birthday! Get an extra 10% off a year's Patreon backing. Iran's hardline regime may have weathered Donald Trump's onslaught for now – but behind Teheran's defiance there are deep cracks in its hated, repressive system. They go right back to the genesis and betrayal of the 1979 Revolution, when Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini promised freedom, independence and prosperity only to deliver brutal Islamic law, political executions and a system of oppression that has endured for almost five decades. Award-winning journalists Bozorgmehr Sharafedin and Yeganeh Torbati tell the story of the Iranian people's dogged struggle for freedom from the mullahs in Stolen Revolution: Betrayal and Hope in Modern Iran. They talk to Dorian Lynskey about what Iran's future might hold.   • Buy Bozorgmehr and Yeganeh's book Stolen Revolution: Betrayal and Hope in Modern Iran from our affiliate bookshop and you'll help fund the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org's fees help support independent bookshops too. • Back us on Patreon – www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Dorian Lynskey. Producer: James Liddell. Audio production: Robin Leeburn. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    Iran's regime is fighting for survival – can it hold on?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2026 31:43


    • It's Podmasters' 10th birthday! Get an extra 10% off a year's Patreon backing.Iran's hardline regime may have weathered Donald Trump's onslaught for now – but behind Teheran's defiance there are deep cracks in its hated, repressive system. They go right back to the genesis and betrayal of the 1979 Revolution, when Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini promised freedom, independence and prosperity only to deliver brutal Islamic law, political executions and a system of oppression that has endured for almost five decades. Award-winning journalists Bozorgmehr Sharafedin and Yeganeh Torbati tell the story of the Iranian people's dogged struggle for freedom from the mullahs in Stolen Revolution: Betrayal and Hope in Modern Iran. They talk to Dorian Lynskey about what Iran's future might hold.  • Buy Bozorgmehr and Yeganeh's book Stolen Revolution: Betrayal and Hope in Modern Iran from our affiliate bookshop and you'll help fund the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org's fees help support independent bookshops too.• Back us on Patreon – www.patreon.com/bunkercastWritten and presented by Dorian Lynskey. Producer: James Liddell. Audio production: Robin Leeburn. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    The Wanna-Bibis — Will Israel's opposition dethrone Netanyahu?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2026 34:11


    • It's Podmasters' 10th birthday! Get an extra 10% off a year's Patreon backing. Is time finally running out for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu? The Knesset has voted to dissolve itself, the horrors of October 7th still haunt his coalition, and a newly united opposition is closing in. With right-wing Naftali Bennett and centre-left Yair Lapid joining forces and their Together party neck-and-neck with Netanyahu's Likud in the polls, is the great survivor of Israeli politics about to meet his Waterloo? The Economist's Israel correspondent Anshel Pfeffer joins Rafael Behr to break it down.  • Back us on Patreon – www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Rafael Behr. Producer: James Liddell. Audio production: Robin Leeburn. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    The Wanna-Bibis — Will Israel's opposition dethrone Netanyahu?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2026 29:56


    • It's Podmasters' 10th birthday! Get an extra 10% off a year's Patreon backing.Is time finally running out for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu? The Knesset has voted to dissolve itself, the horrors of October 7th still haunt his coalition, and a newly united opposition is closing in. With right-wing Naftali Bennett and centre-left Yair Lapid joining forces and their Together party neck-and-neck with Netanyahu's Likud in the polls, is the great survivor of Israeli politics about to meet his Waterloo? The Economist's Israel correspondent Anshel Pfeffer joins Rafael Behr to break it down. • Back us on Patreon – www.patreon.com/bunkercastWritten and presented by Rafael Behr. Producer: James Liddell. Audio production: Robin Leeburn. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Boiling Point – Start Your Week with Ros Taylor

    Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2026 34:40


    • It's Podmasters' 10th birthday! Last chance to get an extra 10% off a year's Patreon backing.  Setting up the stories for the next seven… sorry, six days. As Britain suffers unprecedented May heatwaves, can Ed Miliband defend Net Zero from the denialists in Reform and the oil-funded PR greenwashers? Plus, Nigel Farage's excuses for his £5m gift from a crypto baron start to catch up with him. Could Reform be outflanked in Makerfield by the even battier, Musk-funded Restore UK? The latest on social media bans for under-16s. And Richard Burgon, Labour leader? Ros Taylor and Andrew Harrison set out the week ahead.  www.patreon.com/bunkercast  Written and presented by  Andrew Harrison. Audio production by Simon Williams. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Artwork by James Parrett. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    Boiling Point – Start Your Week with Ros Taylor

    Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2026 30:25


    • It's Podmasters' 10th birthday! Last chance to get an extra 10% off a year's Patreon backing. Setting up the stories for the next seven… sorry, six days. As Britain suffers unprecedented May heatwaves, can Ed Miliband defend Net Zero from the denialists in Reform and the oil-funded PR greenwashers? Plus, Nigel Farage's excuses for his £5m gift from a crypto baron start to catch up with him. Could Reform be outflanked in Makerfield by the even battier, Musk-funded Restore UK? The latest on social media bans for under-16s. And Richard Burgon, Labour leader? Ros Taylor and Andrew Harrison set out the week ahead. www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by  Andrew Harrison. Audio production by Simon Williams. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Artwork by James Parrett. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Will the real Andy Burnham please stand up? – Weekly Wrap-Up with Alex von Tunzelmann

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2026 36:11


    • It's Podmasters' 10th birthday! Get an extra 10% off a year's Patreon backing for The Bunker.  The Makerfield by-election is heating up, with Andy Burnham officially entering the race. But what does he really stand for? As he pitches both locally and nationally, we're a bit confused. Plus: Donald Trump granted tax immunity, the T-Rex arms race, and Keir Starmer waters down Russian oil sanctions. Jacob Jarvis is joined by Alex von Tunzelmann to unpack the biggest stories from the past week. www.patreon.com/bunkercast  Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis with Alex von Tunzelmann.  Producer: James Liddell and Jake Preston. Audio production: Jade Bailey.  Music by Kenny Dickinson. Artwork by James Parrett. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    Will the real Andy Burnham please stand up? – Weekly Wrap-Up with Alex von Tunzelmann

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2026 31:56


    • It's Podmasters' 10th birthday! Get an extra 10% off a year's Patreon backing for The Bunker. The Makerfield by-election is heating up, with Andy Burnham officially entering the race. But what does he really stand for? As he pitches both locally and nationally, we're a bit confused. Plus: Donald Trump granted tax immunity, the T-Rex arms race, and Keir Starmer waters down Russian oil sanctions. Jacob Jarvis is joined by Alex von Tunzelmann to unpack the biggest stories from the past week.www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis with Alex von Tunzelmann.  Producer: James Liddell and Jake Preston. Audio production: Jade Bailey.  Music by Kenny Dickinson. Artwork by James Parrett. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    The Doomsday People – Why the Right is so obsessed with End Times

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2026 27:07


    • It's Podmasters' 10th birthday! Get an extra 10% off a year's Patreon backing. The Doomsday crowd was once confined to fringe congregations and rural survivalists stockpiling beans and ammunition. Now it's gone mainstream, with one in three Americans believing the world will end in their lifetimes. So why do so many people think the end is nigh? Did Ruby Ridge start it all? And is the Trump administration adding fuel to the fire? Chris Jennings, author of End of Days: Ruby Ridge, the Apocalypse, and the Unmaking of America, joins Gavin Esler to explain.   • Back us on Patreon – www.patreon.com/bunkercast     Written and presented by Gavin Esler. Producer: James Liddell. Audio production: Robin Leeburn. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    The Doomsday People – Why the Right is so obsessed with End Times

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2026 22:52


    • It's Podmasters' 10th birthday! Get an extra 10% off a year's Patreon backing.The Doomsday crowd was once confined to fringe congregations and rural survivalists stockpiling beans and ammunition. Now it's gone mainstream, with one in three Americans believing the world will end in their lifetimes. So why do so many people think the end is nigh? Did Ruby Ridge start it all? And is the Trump administration adding fuel to the fire? Chris Jennings, author of End of Days: Ruby Ridge, the Apocalypse, and the Unmaking of America, joins Gavin Esler to explain.  • Back us on Patreon – www.patreon.com/bunkercast    Written and presented by Gavin Esler. Producer: James Liddell. Audio production: Robin Leeburn. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    He said, Xi said – What the Trump-China summit really means

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2026 32:37


    • It's Podmasters' 10th birthday! Get an extra 10% off a year's Patreon backing. Donald Trump came, he saw, and left Beijing without much to show for his high-stakes summit with Xi Jinping. Behind the pomp and pageantry, tensions over trade, tech and Taiwan didn't go away. So did two days of diplomacy actually achieve anything? And can Xi's vision of “great rejuvenation” coexist with Trump's “Make America Great Again”? William Hurst, Chong Hua Professor of Chinese Development at the University of Cambridge, joins Gavin Esler to break down the relationship.  • Back us on Patreon – www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Gavin Esler. Producer: James Liddell. Audio production: Robin Leeburn. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    He said, Xi said – What the Trump-China summit really means

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2026 28:22


    • It's Podmasters' 10th birthday! Get an extra 10% off a year's Patreon backing.Donald Trump came, he saw, and left Beijing without much to show for his high-stakes summit with Xi Jinping. Behind the pomp and pageantry, tensions over trade, tech and Taiwan didn't go away. So did two days of diplomacy actually achieve anything? And can Xi's vision of “great rejuvenation” coexist with Trump's “Make America Great Again”? William Hurst, Chong Hua Professor of Chinese Development at the University of Cambridge, joins Gavin Esler to break down the relationship. • Back us on Patreon – www.patreon.com/bunkercastWritten and presented by Gavin Esler. Producer: James Liddell. Audio production: Robin Leeburn. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    White House down – Why Trump and the “aspiring autocrats” are tearing up their cities

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2026 31:50


    • It's Podmasters' 10th birthday! Get an extra 10% off  a year's Patreon backing. Donald Trump is taking a wrecking ball to Washington and rebuilding it in his own image. Is his architectural upheaval pure vanity, or is something more ominous at play?  Political philosopher, historian and author Professor Jan-Werner Müller joins Alex von Tunzelmann to discuss why remaking the capital is the signature move of the “aspiring autocrat” – and what they're really trying to achieve.   • Buy Jan-Werner's book Street, Palace, Square from our affiliate bookshop and you'll help fund the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org's fees help support independent bookshops too. • Back us on Patreon – www.patreon.com/bunkercast     Written and presented by Alex von Tunzelmann. Producer: James Liddell. Audio production: Jade Bailey. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    White House down – Why Trump and the “aspiring autocrats” are tearing up their cities

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2026 27:35


    • It's Podmasters' 10th birthday! Get an extra 10% off  a year's Patreon backing.Donald Trump is taking a wrecking ball to Washington and rebuilding it in his own image. Is his architectural upheaval pure vanity, or is something more ominous at play? Political philosopher, historian and author Professor Jan-Werner Müller joins Alex von Tunzelmann to discuss why remaking the capital is the signature move of the “aspiring autocrat” – and what they're really trying to achieve.  • Buy Jan-Werner's book Street, Palace, Square from our affiliate bookshop and you'll help fund the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org's fees help support independent bookshops too.• Back us on Patreon – www.patreon.com/bunkercast    Written and presented by Alex von Tunzelmann. Producer: James Liddell. Audio production: Jade Bailey. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Makerfield or Breakerfield – Start Your Week with Ros Taylor

    Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2026 33:24


    • It's Podmasters' 10th birthday! Get an extra 10% off a year's Patreon backing.   Setting up the stories of the next seven days… Has Andy Burnham set Labour up for a potential extinction event by forcing a by-election in the not-very-safe seat of Makerfield? By making the about rejoining the EU, has Streeting handed Reform a golden chance to turn the vote into Referendum 2.0? Plus Reeves' cost of living nightmare, Musk in court, and the nerve-racking climax of the football season. Ros Taylor and Andrew Harrison chart the week ahead.   www.patreon.com/bunkercast   Written and presented by Andrew Harrison. Audio production by Jade Bailey. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Artwork by James Parrett. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.  www.podmasters.co.uk   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    Makerfield or Breakerfield – Start Your Week with Ros Taylor

    Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2026 29:09


    • It's Podmasters' 10th birthday! Get an extra 10% off a year's Patreon backing.  Setting up the stories of the next seven days… Has Andy Burnham set Labour up for a potential extinction event by forcing a by-election in the not-very-safe seat of Makerfield? By making the about rejoining the EU, has Streeting handed Reform a golden chance to turn the vote into Referendum 2.0? Plus Reeves' cost of living nightmare, Musk in court, and the nerve-racking climax of the football season. Ros Taylor and Andrew Harrison chart the week ahead.  www.patreon.com/bunkercast  Written and presented by Andrew Harrison. Audio production by Jade Bailey. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Artwork by James Parrett. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. www.podmasters.co.uk   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Wild, wild Wes – Weekly Wrap-up with Rafael Behr

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2026 36:24


    It's Podmasters' 10th birthday! Get an extra 10% off  a year's Patreon backing. Early release as the news is moving fast…  Keir Starmer's wild week is feeling more and more disastrous. As the PM clings on to power (by the time you hear this, that may have changed), who's waiting in the wings? Wes Streeting resigned right after we recorded the episode, so who knows what's next… Plus, Xi Jinping rolled out the red carpet for Donald Trump in Beijing – but what does each man want and will either walk away the winner? Rafael Behr joins Jacob Jarvis to break down the biggest stories of the week. • Back us on Patreon – www.patreon.com/bunkercast  Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis. Producer: James Liddell. Audio production: Jade Bailey. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    Wild, wild Wes – Weekly Wrap-up with Rafael Behr

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2026 32:09


    It's Podmasters' 10th birthday! Get an extra 10% off  a year's Patreon backing.Early release as the news is moving fast… Keir Starmer's wild week is feeling more and more disastrous. As the PM clings on to power (by the time you hear this, that may have changed), who's waiting in the wings? Wes Streeting resigned right after we recorded the episode, so who knows what's next… Plus, Xi Jinping rolled out the red carpet for Donald Trump in Beijing – but what does each man want and will either walk away the winner? Rafael Behr joins Jacob Jarvis to break down the biggest stories of the week.• Back us on Patreon – www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis. Producer: James Liddell. Audio production: Jade Bailey. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Is PR finally coming? – Why electoral reform could be Labour's last chance to save Britain

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2026 33:53


    • It's Podmasters' 10th birthday! Get an extra 10% off a year's Patreon backing. Reform could well land a colossal freak victory and total power over the UK at the next General Election. Britain's first-past-the-post electoral system is struggling to cope with our new five-party system. As voters desert Labour and the Tories in droves, has proportional representation's moment finally come? Should Labour finally embrace fair votes for fear of something worse? Who is relighting the debate and how could it happen? And would a new PM's promise to make every vote count be big enough to convince Britain that Labour is serious about changing Britain for the better? The New Statesman's associate political editor and Oh God, What Now? regular Rachel Cunliffe digs into the new electoral reform debate with Andrew Harrison.   • Read Rachel's piece on proportional representation in the New Statesman here.   • Back us on Patreon – www.patreon.com/bunkercast     Written and presented by Andrew Harrison. Producer: James Liddell. Audio production: Tom Taylor. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    Is PR finally coming? – Why electoral reform could be Labour's last chance to save Britain

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2026 29:56


    • It's Podmasters' 10th birthday! Get an extra 10% off a year's Patreon backing.Reform could well land a colossal freak victory and total power over the UK at the next General Election. Britain's first-past-the-post electoral system is struggling to cope with our new five-party system. As voters desert Labour and the Tories in droves, has proportional representation's moment finally come? Should Labour finally embrace fair votes for fear of something worse? Who is relighting the debate and how could it happen? And would a new PM's promise to make every vote count be big enough to convince Britain that Labour is serious about changing Britain for the better? The New Statesman's associate political editor and Oh God, What Now? regular Rachel Cunliffe digs into the new electoral reform debate with Andrew Harrison.  • Read Rachel's piece on proportional representation in the New Statesman here.  • Back us on Patreon – www.patreon.com/bunkercast    Written and presented by Andrew Harrison. Producer: James Liddell. Audio production: Tom Taylor. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    World War III could be brewing. Does history reveal how to stop it?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2026 29:16


    • It's Podmasters' 10th birthday! Get an extra 10% off  a year's Patreon backing. Wars around the globe are drawing eerie comparisons with the late 19th and early 20th Century, when Great Powers clashed in an atmosphere of nationalist populism. Are we – like then – on an inevitable march toward world war, or already deep in a second Cold War?  Yale historian and Cold War expert Professor Odd Arne Westad joins Seth Thévoz and suggests we may be looking at the wrong era entirely – and why it may “not be possible to turn back” from the next chapter of history.    • Buy Arne's book The Coming Storm from our affiliate bookshop and you'll help fund the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org's fees help support independent bookshops too. • Back us on Patreon – www.patreon.com/bunkercast     Written and presented by Seth Thévoz. Producer: James Liddell. Audio production: Tom Taylor. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    World War III could be brewing. Does history reveal how to stop it?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2026 25:18


    • It's Podmasters' 10th birthday! Get an extra 10% off  a year's Patreon backing.Wars around the globe are drawing eerie comparisons with the late 19th and early 20th Century, when Great Powers clashed in an atmosphere of nationalist populism. Are we – like then – on an inevitable march toward world war, or already deep in a second Cold War? Yale historian and Cold War expert Professor Odd Arne Westad joins Seth Thévoz and suggests we may be looking at the wrong era entirely – and why it may “not be possible to turn back” from the next chapter of history.   • Buy Arne's book The Coming Storm from our affiliate bookshop and you'll help fund the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org's fees help support independent bookshops too.• Back us on Patreon – www.patreon.com/bunkercast    Written and presented by Seth Thévoz. Producer: James Liddell. Audio production: Tom Taylor. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Beacon of culture, heart of darkness – What Weimar can tell us about holding back fascism

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2026 37:51


    • It's Podmasters' 10th birthday! Get an extra 10% off a year's Patreon backing.  The German town of Weimar exudes a dark fascination, and not just because Hitler loved to visit it. How did Germany's cultural capital – home of the Bauhaus, Goethe, Schiller and the doomed inter-war experiment with democracy – also become one of Nazism's earliest strongholds and the location for the Buchenwald concentration camp? Why did the Weimar Republic fall? And can it really teach us how to hold back fascism in our time? Historian and journalist Katja Hoyer tells the story of the town and Germany through the lives of ordinary people in her riveting book Weimar: Life on the Edge of Catastrophe. She talks to Andrew Harrison about how Germany's beacon of culture became its heart of darkness – and the lessons of Weimar for today.  • Buy Weimar: Life on the Edge of Catastrophe through our affiliate bookshop and you'll help fund the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org's fees help support independent bookshops too. www.patreon.com/bunkercast  Written and presented by Andrew Harrison. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Artwork by James Parrett. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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