The Bunker – News without the nonsense

Nearly a quarter of the world’s population is Muslim, so if we are to fully understand the modern world, we need to know about Islam. Dr Fitzroy Morrissey, Examination Fellow at All Souls College, University of Oxford, talks to Alex Andreou about his book A Short History of Islamic Thought, which traces through fourteen centuries of Islamic history to discuss questions of interpretation, legacy, the lives of Muslims and how they relate to others.https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast https://headofzeus.com/books/9781789545654Presented by Alex Andreou. 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

Last week far-right TV pundit Eric Zemmour announced he was running in next year’s French Presidential election, but who is he? And what does his candidacy mean for Macron and Marine Le Pen? Normandy-based journalist John Lichfield gives Ros Taylor the lowdown on France’s new far-right contender, as well as Valérie Pécresse of the centre-right, the woman who could take down Macron. “Zemmour is a convicted racist and he rewrites French history to suit his own agenda.” “Zemmour argued that France fought on the wrong side of the First World War, as they would’ve done better under a German-led Europe.” “There would be a very aggressive policy of forced assimilation if Zemmour were to win.” “A lot of the policies that Zemmour wants to implement would destroy the EU.” “The core of Marine Le Pen’s voters are working class and disaffected, Zemmour’s supporters are more bourgeois.” “The default position in France is to get rid of who is in power, but I think Macron is more likely to get back in than not.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercastPresented by Ros Taylor. 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

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 ESLERhttps://www.patreon.com/bunkercastWritten 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 Productionhttps://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/CultBunkIt’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/CultBunkFeatures ‘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 SNELLhttps://www.patreon.com/bunkercastWritten 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