The Bunker – News without the nonsense

With the prospect of Roe v. Wade being overturned, we unpack the movement against abortion rights in the United States. A leaked draft Supreme Court decision indicates the landmark decision is set to be struck down – what would that mean for American society? Iowa-based writer Lyz Lenz joins Ros Taylor to discuss how the country reached this moment of reckoning, and what could happen next. “Since 1973 we have seen a slow erosion of the ability to access abortion services.” “There has been a Conservative plan to appoint judges that would overturn Roe v. Wade.” “The justices are pushing a minority viewpoint in overturning Roe v. Wade.” “Other rights could be up for debate, such as the right to gay marriage.” “A lot of Americans were very comfortable and thought this day would never come.” “Being able to access the pill saved my life and my career.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercastWritten and presented by Ros Taylor. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold. Audio production by Jade Bailey. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What was spicier, Starmer’s curry or its aftermath? We discuss the Labour leader’s standing and his bluff-calling gamble. Plus, who were the real local election winners and losers? Then, as the cost of living bites, the panel unpacks just how out of touch the Government is with working people. Jamie Driscoll, the Labour Mayor of the North of Tyne, is this week’s special guest and Belfast-based journalist Amanda Ferguson also drops in to unpack the Northern Ireland assembly results.  “People don’t trust Johnson, but there is also an element of them not trusting anyone at all.” – Jamie Driscoll “Labour are one-nil up at half time, but the Tories might be about to take their captain off.” – Jamie Driscoll “Two million people had to skip meals last month, but here we’re talking about a guy having a curry.” – Jamie Driscoll  “The scenarios aren’t all good for Keir Starmer, but they are good for Labour.” - Marie Le Conte “What people want is some hope, they want a way out.” – Jamie Driscoll  “I heard Boris Johnson is cutting back and he’s only going to have silver wallpaper now.” – Jamie Driscoll “The alternative to saying ‘try own-brand products’ is telling people ‘you’re on your own’.” – Ahir Shah https://www.patreon.com/bunkercastPresented by Alex Andreou with Ahir Shah and Marie Le Conte. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. 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

Brexit tensions spike in the wake of Northern Ireland’s assembly elections – what will come of the fallout? Plus, Putin is to address Russia on the nation’s Victory Day – how will he look to reframe his ongoing invasion of Ukraine? Then, back at home, the Queen’s Speech is due this week. Andrew Harrison is joined by Gavin Esler to tee up the days ahead.  “This has all been done as part of Boris Johnson’s Brexit derangement syndrome.” – Gavin Esler “If you really think Boris Johnson has built 40 hospitals, then come walk with me over the Garden Bridge.” – Gavin Esler  “Starmer didn’t go to Durham to have his eyes tested, like somebody else.” – Gavin Esler  "Culture wars are about creating, not solving, problems." – Gavin Esler "Putin's regime is rotten to the core." – Gavin Esler “It would be hardly surprising if whatever Putin says is a pack of lies.” – Gavin Esler www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Andrew Harrison with Gavin Esler. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production: Robin Leeburn. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

News of Elon Musk buying Twitter has enraged some users – but what could he actually do with the platform? Could he break it in the ways some fear? Alex Andreou is joined by Charles Arthur, former technology editor of The Guardian and author of Social Warming: The Dangerous and Polarising Effects of Social Media, to discuss what the billionaire tech mogul might do with the site.  “You have to distinguish between the Musk you see on Twitter and the one who's in business.” “Twitter does have enormous value to it, but no one has found a way to extract that value.” “Don't listen to what he says, watch what he does.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast  Written and presented by Alex Andreou. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Assistant Producer: Elina Ganatra. Audio production by Jade Bailey. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In our pop culture roundup: Does the new Dr Strange go a multiverse too far? Reunited Deutsche electro legends xPropaganda join us as our special guests. New albums from sophisticates of seediness Soft Cell and the Smiths you can dance to, Dubstar. And does Mike Myers’ conspiracy comedy The Pentaverate hit the spot? And Katie Puckrik of The Word fame joins the panel too…Hear all the music on our rolling playlists.Spotify: https://bit.ly/CultBunkTidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/1aea7525-7891-4a88-8474-a08c45ea064b “You need a PhD in Marvel to understand what’s going on in Dr Strange – but luckily I have one.” – Andrew Harrison “This is the best album Dubstar have made. The production is perfect and feels timeless.” – Siân Pattenden “I absolutely love this xPropaganda album. I’ve been listening to it non-stop.” – Katie Puckrick Presented and produced by Andrew Harrison and Jelena Sofronijevic with Elina Ganatra. Audio production by Alex Rees. Theme music: ‘Bunker Theme (Juntos Mix)’ by Kenny Dickinson. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. The Culture Bunker is a Podmasters production.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You may have heard of China’s ‘Belt and Road Initiative’, but what actually is it? And what are Beijing's underlying motivations? Jelena Sofronijevic speaks to Eric Olander, co-founder and managing editor of The China Africa Project, and Raffaello Pantucci, a co-author of Sinostan - China’s Inadvertent Empire, to uncover the truth about Chinese economic investment abroad.   “The BRI, in many respects, is like a Rorschach test, where you can see anything you want into it.” - Eric Olander “If you had to boil it down to one central idea that defined the BRI, I'd have to say connectivity.” - Eric Olander “The BRI is China's way of expressing its foreign policy.” - Raffaello Pantucci “China's saying, let’s all just make money together. And underlying that, there’s an idea that has worked at home, that if we can make everyone rich and prosperous we can all get stability.” - Raffaello Pantucci “What bothers me a lot about the discourse surrounding Belt and Road, is that we take all the agency out of the host country.” - Raffaello Pantucci “China looks at Africa in far more political terms than economic terms.” - Eric Olander https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast  Written and presented by Jelena Sofronijevic. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Assistant Producer: Elina Ganatra. Audio production by Jade Bailey. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the Tory tractor bogged down in scandal, can diversion tactics help them at the local elections? We look at the latest Westminster sleaze and whether Boris Johnson’s party is set for a reckoning. Plus, we cast an eye to Russia and unexplained explosions amid their invasion of Ukraine. And, with an open call for new emojis – what does our panel think is needed? This week’s guest is Daily Mirror senior political correspondent Rachel Wearmouth.  “The expectation management from all parties is insane.” – Rachel Wearmouth  “The briefings are all just ridiculously dramatic.” – Rachel Wearmouth  “They’re supposed to be the party of law and order, the Tories, and the Prime Minister broke the law.” – Rachel Wearmouth  “I think Labour will win Wandsworth and that will be the story.” – Rachel Wearmouth “There is this feeling that ‘they’re all as bad as each other’ and that could cut through.” – Rachel Wearmouth https://www.patreon.com/bunkercastPresented by Andrew Harrison with Justin Quirk and Arthur Snell. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees, with research by Elina Ganatra. 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

We assess the latest political rumblings as local elections loom. How will the latest scandals sway public opinion? Will the results be a litmus test of Boris Johnson’s campaigning clout? Plus, certain news outlets’ obsession with Angela Rayner and Keir Starmer, the PM’s upcoming address to Ukrainian parliament and cast an eye to Supreme Court controversy in the United States. Alex Andreou and Yasmeen Serhan tee up the days ahead.  “It’s going to be a performance review on both leaders.” – Yasmeen Serhan "The local elections will be a big stress test for the Conservatives." – Yasmeen Serhan "The Conservatives are more vulnerable to lose in cities." – Yasmeen Serhan  www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Alex Andreou with Yasmeen Serhan. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production: Jade Bailey. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Someone has to pick up the pieces after a disaster. What’s it like to deal with the aftermath of a catastrophe? Siân Pattenden talks to Lucy Easthope about her new memoir When the Dust Settles: Stories of Love, Loss and Hope from an Expert in Disaster. Lucy has been first at the scene of countless major crises over the last twenty years, from 9/11 to the Grenfell fire. She discusses planning for emergencies, and her belief most of the world's tragedies can be prevented.  “I'm not letting people off the hook, disasters are often a source of state or agency failure, and they can be prevented.” “Grenfell was a return to those dark days, it was a systemic failure that never should have happened.” “Fukushima was the first time I really saw proper fear in my colleagues' eyes.” “I am a child of the indomitable city of Liverpool, where tragedy and activism are wired into the blood.” “Austerity really does start to bite on a service that people don't know about.” “The world has always been perilous.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercastWritten and presented by Siân Pattenden. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant Producer: Elina Ganatra. Audio production by Jade Bailey. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Productionhttps://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/lucy-easthope/when-the-dust-settles/9781529358247/  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ahead of the local elections, we look at the key political battles across Britain. Could a bad set of results force Boris Johnson out? Sir John Curtice, politics professor at the University of Strathclyde and BBC election night expert, joins Ros Taylor to discuss what to keep an eye on, and who the likely winners and losers might be. “Not all of the England is voting, and that is crucial.” “If Boris Johnson had to pick a set of elections to defend, this would be it.” “The Lib Dems principle challenge is to hang onto what they’ve got.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercastWritten and presented by Ros Taylor. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Alex Rees and Jade Bailey. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices