The Bunker – News without the nonsense

Joe Biden won’t have a second term as president after he heeded calls to leave the 2024 race. So as it comes towards an end, how will his time in office be remembered? Leslie Vinjamuri director of the US and the Americas programme at Chatham House, talks to Dorian Lynskey about Biden’s legacy. We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/bunker for £100 sponsored credit.www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Dorian Lynskey. Produced by Eliza Davis Beard. Audio production by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. Art by James Parrett. 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 country is facing its worst wave of far-right violence in the modern age –but is it just mindless thuggery or are deeper forces at work? Can the psychology of rioting help us defeat this wave of violence?Professor of social psychology Clifford Stott unpacks the dynamics of the riots, how they’ve spread, and what they really mean to Andrew Harrison.   We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/bunker for £100 sponsored credit.    Support us on Patreon.  Written and presented by Podmasters Group Editor Andrew Harrison. Produced by Eliza Davis Beard. Audio production by Jade Bailey. Managing Editor Jacob Jarvis. Art by James Parrett. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production    www.podmasters.co.uk   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

An occasional series on how Britain is fixing its battered foreign relationships. Today: After the combative Tory years, Keir Starmer is trying to reset the Anglo-French connection. What do we want from France and what does Paris want from us? Britain’s former Ambassador to France Lord Peter Ricketts talks to Ros Taylor about whether Starmer and Macron are natural allies, the damage caused by Brexit, and what France’s “deep unease” with itself means for Britain. • “I would not have relished being Ambassador to France and having my friends ask ‘Poor Britain, what are you doing?’” • “By about 2020-21, things were at rock bottom… When Liz Truss was asked ‘France, friend of foe?’ and she replied that the jury was still out.” We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/bunker for £100 sponsored credit. www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Ros Taylor. Produced by Eliza Davis Beard. Audio production by Tom Taylor. Managing Editor Jacob Jarvis. Art by James Parrett. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Violence and civil unrest in Britain prompt discussions on government responses and justice system challenges. Is recent chaos indicative of the far right's weakness? The dynamics of Kamala Harris's vice-presidential choices are under the microscope, along with the ramifications of Ukraine receiving F-16 fighters in their struggle against Russia. Tensions rise in the Middle East following significant assassinations, while the backdrop of American football offers a chaotic yet hopeful distraction amid political strife.

Britain’s new army chief recently said Britain must be ready for war in three years. Where are the biggest threats coming from, what are our current weaknesses, and how can we best prepare? To find out, Gavin Esler speaks to the Economist’s defence editor Shashank Joshi.  We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/bunker for £100 sponsored credit. www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Gavin Esler. Produced by Eliza Davis Beard. Audio production by Tom Taylor. Managing Editor Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. Art by James Parrett. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

JD Vance, an Ohio Senator and a polarizing figure in American politics, joins national political correspondent Meridith McGraw to discuss his recent selection as Trump’s running mate. They dive into Vance's controversial past, his memoir 'Hillbilly Elegy', and how it shaped his appeal to working-class voters. The conversation touches on the evolving political landscape, Vance's shift toward populism, and the impact of internet memes on his image. They also explore the challenges he faces within the GOP and the implications for the upcoming elections.

The Olympics are in full-swing – but news of medals and victory are often overshadowed by controversies linked to contestants and politics. We’ve seen this already this year – but has the Olympics always been so political? Emma Kennedy sits down with David Goldblatt, author of The Games: A Global History of the Olympics. We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/bunker for £100 sponsored credit. www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Emma Kennedy. Produced by Eliza Davis Beard. Audio production by Tom Taylor. Managing Editor Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. Art by James Parrett. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From overcrowding to underfunding, British prisons are in crisis. So how can Labour remedy 14 years of the Tories’ neglect of criminal justice system? Former director of public prosecutions Lord Ken Macdonald sits down with Ros Taylor to discuss how we might solve the prison conundrum. We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/bunker for £100 sponsored credit. www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Ros Taylor. Produced by Eliza Davis Beard. Audio production by Tom Taylor. Managing Editor Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. Art by James Parrett. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rachel Reeves, a prominent Labour politician, delves into pressing financial issues, revealing a staggering £20bn shortfall in public finances. She discusses the unsettling potential GP strikes over work conditions, raising concerns for patients. The conversation turns to a looming public sector pay deal and the competitive Tory leadership race. Global matters are also highlighted, from the U.S. Presidential race to escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, providing listeners with essential insights for the week ahead.

With Kamala Harris set to replace Joe Biden in the 2024 race, focus has turned to who will be her running mate. Jacob Jarvis gets the rundown on the top contenders from Katie Gaddini, visiting scholar at Stanford University, an associate professor of sociology at the Social Research Institute, University College London.Take a listen to America Friction podcast: https://listen.podmasters.uk/American_Friction We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/bunker for £100 sponsored credit. www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis. Produced by Eliza Davis Beard. Audio production by Tom Taylor. Managing Editor Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. Art by James Parrett. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices