The Bunker – News without the nonsense

Gavin Esler and Joseph Webster discuss Russia's plot to put Trump back in the White House, including manipulating gasoline prices and perpetuating disinformation campaigns. They also explore the potential benefits for Russia under a Trump presidency and compare voter awareness between Taiwan and the United States.

Cynthia Miller-Idriss discusses the spectrum of far-right ideologies, online propaganda targeting vulnerable young men, and the need for digital media literacy. The podcast also explores the dangers of solely focusing on the far-right and emphasizes prevention and support.

Alex Andreou, commenting on military action against Houthi Rebels, highlights the danger of notifying enemies. He also warns about underestimating the threat of Russia. The podcast also discusses Keir Starmer's views on military action, the Republican caucuses in Iowa, challenges faced by Taiwan's president, and weather in Britain. They recommend checking out the Paper Cuts podcast.

A special crossover episode with This Is Not A Drill, our geopolitics podcast. Why are UK and US navies defending Western shipping against missile attacks and hijacks from rebels in the poorest country in the Middle East? The battle between the Yemeni government and the Houthi militia threatens to spill over into a wider regional conflict – and Iran is fanning the flames. What happens next?Gavin Esler talks to Helen Lackner, author of Yemen In Crisis, to find out who the Houthi are, what they want, what their rebellion means for the West… and whether the war could spread. Follow This Is Not A Drill on your favourite podcast provider for weekly interviews and reports on the world’s flashpoints.Written and presented by Gavin Esler. Art by James Parrett. Bunker music by Kenny Dickinson. TINAD music by Paul Hartnoll – https://www.orbitalofficial.com. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER and THIS IS NOT A DRILL are Podmasters Productions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brainwashing has been utilised as a political tool for centuries. How exactly is it weaponised today? Daniel Pick, author of Brainwashed: A New History of Thought Control, discusses the history and contemporary manifestations of thought control with Alex Andreou, in The Bunker. • “Brainwashing seeks both to decimate and damage the mind – and to infiltrate ideas and to organise ideologies in a systematic way.” – Daniel Pick• “Behavioural units exist within governments, including Downing Street, to advise on the best way to nudge people in a benign way. Such units were utilised, for example, during the Covid pandemic.” – Daniel Pickwww.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Alex Andreou. Producer: Eliza Davis Beard. 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

Internet culture has changed a lot since the last general election – so the way politicians use it will have to evolve too. Facebook may no longer be the king of social media, but have Sunak and Starmer mastered Tiktok, Instagram or YouTube? Today in The Bunker, Ros Taylor speaks with professor of digital politics at Sheffield University, Kate Dommett, about the tricks politicians will be using to win your votes.• "Political parties are trying to reach out to younger voters and they aren’t using Facebook anymore.” – Kate Dommett• “A code of conduct on digital campaigning among major parties isn’t going to stop campaign groups using underhand tactics online." – Kate Dommett• “No politician in the UK has successfully mastered TikTok yet." – Kate Dommettwww.patreon.com/bunkercastWritten and Presented by Ros Taylor. Producer: Liam Tait. Art by James Parrett. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Simon Williams. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters ProductionInstagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Once known as the Brexit Party, Reform UK wants to mortally wound the Tories in the General Election. Do its recent poll spikes show real support for Richard Tice’s vociferously anti-migration, anti-woke party? Should the Tories really worry – and should Labour? And could those fanciful stories about Nigel Farage joining the Tories and taking over as leader really come true? Legendary journalist and broadcaster Michael Crick explains it all to Andrew Harrison.Buy One Party After Another: The Disruptive Life of Nigel Farage through our affiliate bookshop and you’ll help fund The Bunker by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org’s fees help support independent bookshops too.• “I think there’s a 20% chance Farage will be Conservative leader someday.” – Michael Crick• “If he wanted to get rid of Richard Tice, he could. He’s a ruthless figure is Farage.” – Michael Crick• “You can’t just say that all of the votes Reform get would have gone to the Conservatives.” – Michael Crickwww.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production: Alex Rees. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rishi Sunak faces more backbench backlash as Parliament returns. Plus – will an emergency summit give closure to the 700 victims of the Post Office scandal? Finally in a year of vital elections, how will the Taiwan election shape global politics?  • “Sunak should not be pandering to the party faithful. That’s not governing.” – Ros Taylor • “We’re looking at three byelections in just eight days. It doesn’t look good for the Conservatives.” – Alex Andreou• “Why has it taken an ITV drama to get the Post Office scandal noticed?” – Ros TaylorSupport us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Alex Andreou with Ros Taylor. Producer: Liam Tait. Audio editor: Jade Bailey. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There’s pretty much only one certainty in US politics in 2024: chaos. Trump faces a reckoning with the law, but is still very much in the running for the presidency. Meanwhile scrutiny against Biden ramps up. How will these controversies play out? Joining Gavin Esler in The Bunker to discuss all of this is senior editor at The Dispatch and host of the Advisory Opinions podcast, Sarah Isgur. • “Asteroids hit every day, but yes, it’s going to be Biden vs Trump.” – Sarah Isgur• “I have no idea whether Trump can pardon himself and neither does anyone else.” – Sarah Isgur• “We have not had a truly viable 3rd party candidate arguably ever.” – Sarah IsgurSupport us on Patreon:www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Gavin Esler. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production: Robin Leeburn 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

Britain’s damaged economy will dominate this election year but it’s a sprawling topic. We’ve broken it down into five key issues to keep an eye on in 2024 – from the endless battle over tax cuts to the still-dire cost of living crisis, from the mortgage timebomb to the unforeseen consequences of AI. Former advisor to Vince Cable and now senior fellow at the Institute for Government Giles Wilkes lays out the issues for Andrew Harrison. • “Tax cuts don’t win elections.” — Giles Wilkes• “Debt is not evil in itself. Debt is the ability to borrow from the future and if we hadn’t invented it, we’d be much poorer.” – Giles Wilkes• “The past couple of years have probably been as bad for the cost of living as we've had since the period of rationing.” – Giles Wilkeswww.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Andrew Harrison. Producer: Eliza Davis Beard. 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