The Bunker – News without the nonsense

The pandemic and a decade of underfunding has ground courts to a halt in England and Wales. How can this be fixed? Joanna Hardy-Susskind, of Red Lion Chambers, joins Ros Taylor to unpack the issues. As criminal barristers prepare to take industrial action over levels of legal aid funding, they address the implications for those in the legal system, and what the Government needs to be doing. “This is not action criminal barristers want to take, and we don’t take it lightly at all.” “The backlog in the justice system has created a perfect storm, with many barristers now leaving.” “It’s a ticking time bomb, this profession could easily slip backwards in terms of diversity.” “We don’t have enough barristers, there are trials taking place where the defence or prosecution chairs are empty.” “Sometimes I represent people who are innocent, and the wait for justice is crippling.” www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Ros Taylor. 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

As a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine is discussed, could Vladimir Putin’s word possibly be trusted? Is his sway both in and outside his nation waning? We look at the chances of an agreement and what one might look like. Plus, we assess economic crises and talk about the prospect of more prescriptive healthcare in a world changed by COVID. Dr. Marc Berenson, senior lecturer at King’s Russia Institute, is this week’s guest. "It’s hard for Ukraine to give anything up because they haven’t done anything wrong.” – Ayesha Hazarika  “Putin has solidified the unity of the EU.” – Ayesha Hazarika  “Ethics don’t pay the bills, and governments around the world are seeing gas prices soar.” – Yasmeen Serhan Find resources to help the Ukrainian people here: https://ukrainewar.carrd.co/ https://www.patreon.com/bunkercastPresented by Alex Andreou with Ayesha Hazarika and Yasmeen Serhan. 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

With ongoing devastation in Ukraine and a biting cost of living crisis here at home, the outlook remains bleak. The Government remains under ever-increasing scrutiny – is there any indication of positive change, or just hints at political manoeuvres? Will those in need continue to face the brunt of the hardship? Justin Quirk is joined by Naomi Smith to look at the week ahead. “We’re failing refugees the world over, I’m afraid.” – Naomi Smith “In organisations with a bad culture, a bad output, the fish rots from the head.” – Naomi Smith “We have seen precisely nothing of a substance that will help to level up the country.” – Naomi Smith “We need an intervention that isn’t just about tax cuts but also help for those on low incomes.” – Naomi Smith Find resources to help the Ukrainian people here: https://ukrainewar.carrd.co/ Presented by Justin Quirk with Naomi Smith. 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

Whatever you think of him, Nigel Farage has been one of Britain’s most influential politicians. His campaign to take the UK out of the EU went from a fringe viewpoint to government policy, but how did he do it? Political journalist Michael Crick joins Dorian Lynskey to discuss his latest book One Party After Another, which takes a deep dive into the life of one of Britain’s most controversial political characters. “Farage is the most important politician of this century.” “I wouldn’t write off the idea of this net-zero referendum happening.” “You can understand why Farage admires Vladimir Putin, he uses many of the same methods.” “The Conservatives were terrified of Farage getting into the House of Commons.” “Farage’s GB News contract has meant fewer appearances on other broadcast outlets.” “Farage is addicted to public attention, he would rarely turn down an interview.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercastPresented by Dorian Lynskey. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hear all the music on our rolling playlist: https://bit.ly/CultBunkDr Catherine Anne Davies, AKA Welsh multi-instrumentalist The Anchoress, joins us on the rerelease of The Art of Losing – and for an album whose central theme is loss, there are as many bangers as you can wave a stick at.Plus, death on the installment plan - podcast producer Rob Fitzpatrick talks about series two of Upload on Amazon Prime, and Classic Objects, the new album from Norwegian musician and novelist Jenny Hval. And there’s a buzz around Balkan cinema, as Siân and Jelena see award-winning Kosovan post-conflict movie HIVE. “My songs are not Nick Cave mournful ballads, but Dylan Thomas rages against the dying of the light.” - Catherine Anne Davies “I thought that rock stars couldn't have PhDs. But I'm also proud of myself for my lyrics rhyming Monopoly and misogyny.” - Catherine Anne Davies “Amazon Prime series often poke fun at the platform that sustains them.” - Sian Pattenden “Religion was the way we made sense of life and death, and now we do it with TV.” - Catherine Anne Davies “I found a sonic freedom and enjoyment in Jenny Hval's Classic Objects.” - Rob Fitzpatrick Written and presented by Siân Pattenden and Alex Andreou. 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

Why is Britain so accommodating to the super-rich? Oliver Bullough, author of Butler to the World talks to Ahir Shah to discuss how our nation came to assist kleptocrats to the extent we see today. As question marks over oligarchs’ riches hit the headlines, we look at how we got here. “There is this deeply ingrained service industry that helps anyone with money do anything.”  “Whoever they are, if they’ve got money, we’ll take their money and help them solve their problems.” “We don’t stop people doing things, we help people do things.”  “The problem isn’t Russian money, it’s money. And if it wasn’t Russian money it would be someone else’s money.”  https://www.patreon.com/bunkercastPresented by Ahir Shah. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Audio production by Jade Bailey. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cultural organisations are becoming more assertive in boycotting Russia. But how effective are their sanctions? Can these moves compare with economic clampdowns? Jelena Sofronijevic talks to Professor Andrew Bertoli about how sports influences international security, whether sanctions hurt individuals more than states, and whether these actions are really useful for Ukraine.  “The IOC and FIFA have had very cosy relationships with Putin in the past.” “The three times Putin has launched an invasion have always followed the Olympics.”  “Even weaker or mixed signals from international organisations will be stronger than those sent by individual states.”  “Cultural sanctions don’t stop military action directly, but they do signal support to those affected.” “For big organisations, the damage that would come from remaining neutral far outweighs the damage that stems from taking a side.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercastPresented and produced by Jelena Sofronijevic. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by 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

The Government has been bounced into doing more for Ukrainian refugees, but are new plans just shifting responsibility? Plus, we discuss how Russia is trying to win the information war – and dissect the facts from fiction. And finally, we take a look at what’s going on with Spotify, after a major outage and dip in subscribers. Mathilda Mallinson, of the Media Storm podcast and co-founder of Refugee Media Centre, is this week’s guest.  "There's such a bad faith approach in the right-wing media reporting on refugees." – Arthur Snell "This is a very racist lesson as to why we haven't been treating other populations as refugees." – Mathilda Mallinson “What we have in Calais now is a two-tiered system.” — Mathilda Mallinson “I imagine a lot won’t be able to go home… for many it will be because the lives that they had are not available for them to return to.” — Arthur Snell  "For all Russia's craziness inside Ukraine, I still don’t think they're crazy enough to do something inside a NATO country." — Arthur Snell  Find resources to help the Ukrainian people here: https://ukrainewar.carrd.co/ https://www.patreon.com/bunkercastPresented by Andrew Harrison with Arthur Snell and Ahir Shah. 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

The horror of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues to shock the world. Is more involvement from the West inevitable? What might that look like? Meanwhile, the UK’s position on refugees is shifting, while sanctions have also been bolstered. But is the Government doing enough? Alex Andreou is joined by Gavin Esler to look at the week ahead.  “One stray missile lands in Poland and who knows where we’ll be.” – Gavin Esler “Putin must be asking what success looks like now, and I don’t know the answer to that.” – Gavin Esler “The Government is hamstrung by its own rhetoric over migrants and channel crossings.” – Gavin Esler “Russia is a country of incredible cultural riches, and it’s become a money making machine for certain people.” – Gavin Esler “It seems to be that Putin has lost the international information battle.” – Alex Andreou  Find resources to help the Ukrainian people here: https://ukrainewar.carrd.co/ www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Alex Andreou with Gavin Esler. 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

Nuclear war is back in people’s minds after Vladimir Putin put Russia’s deterrent on high alert. How real is the threat? And if an atomic conflict did break out, what would it look like? Dr Matthew Harries, Senior Research Fellow in Nuclear Policy at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), joins Ros Taylor to discuss the likelihood of atomic warfare, and what Putin’s threat really means. “Russia is a nuclear armed state, so we have to take escalation very seriously.” “Vladimir Putin knows nuclear weapons are scary, and talking about them is a tactic designed to intimidate.” “A no-fly zone would NATO in direct conflict with Russia. They would respond.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercastPresented by Ros Taylor. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Audio production by Jade Bailey. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices