The Bunker – News without the nonsense

There have been yet more controversial appointments to the House of Lords. Is it fit for purpose? How can we fix it? Ros Taylor is joined by Darren Hughes, chief executive of Electoral Reform Society, to explore how the House of Lords has gone wrong and what we can do about it.  “There haven’t been a willing set of retirements from the House of Lords.” “Who regulates the regulators?” “Don’t forget we still have the Liz Truss list to come!” www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Ros Taylor. Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio editor: Simon Williams. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Bibby Stockholm plan has been beset by legionella. Who could have seen this coming? The Tories want us to leave the European Convention on Human Rights, why are they obsessed with chaos? Plus, this week is ‘health week’. Given that doctors are on strike, what could possibly go wrong?We also have an update on wildfires in Maui, the latest from Niger’s military coup, and the stories you may have missed. Ros Taylor is joined by Alex Andreou to give you the news to look out for in the week ahead. “The Government couldn’t organise a fire in a match factory.” – Alex Andreou “Sunak has all of his plans pinned on the weather.” – Alex Andreou “Labour’s plan is an unsexy but important one: to make the state work again.” Support us on Patreon:www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Ros Taylor and Alex Andreou. Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production: Jade Bailey. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The rise of vapes and ever-increasing cigarette regulations are a big threat to Big Tobacco. What new methods have they dreamed up to keep us smoking? Dr. Kasia Tomasiewicz is joined by tobacco industry expert Robert Branston, associate professor in business economics at the University of Bath, to explore how Big Tobacco is still raking in huge profits. “Tobacco is a product like no other legal product in terms of its lethality.” “The profits are as addictive for these tobacco companies as tobacco is for the consumers.” “It's very easy to think tobacco is yesterday's problem, but in large parts of the world tobacco use is going up.” Support us on Patreon:www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Kasia Tomasiewicz. Assistant producer: Adam Wright. Audio editor: Jade Bailey. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The US Supreme Court has a huge power grip over America. And, thanks to Trump, it’s now more politicised than ever. So how has that impacted real life? Brian Klaas is associate professor in global politics at UCL and argues the court is “...a politicised institution masquerading as an impartial one”. He joins Andrew Harrison in The Bunker to discuss if it can be fixed. Brian’s piece: https://www.forkingpaths.co/p/how-to-fix-the-us-supreme-court  “There was a deference given to the courts… as if they were gods on American soil.” – Brian Klaas “Politicising something takes 10 minutes, depoliticising something takes 10 years or more.” – Brian Klaas “They’re all actors… it’s all for show.” – Brian Klaas “There is a problem that is now unsolvable, which is I don’t think the court will be seen as apolitical ever again.” – Brian Klaas www.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.Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Bunker Global: The coup in Niger rolls on, as US envoys hold talks with the junta. And, a plot to kill Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksyy was foiled earlier this week. What happened? Plus the confusion about the Thai elections rage on. Could a coalition be formed? Andrew Harrison talks to Vice News senior Editor Dipo Faloyin and Vox journalist Ellen Ionas to answer all those questions. “People are hoping that a democratic solution will come about, but in the meantime, the Coup leaders are sitting back and staying strong.” – Dipo Faloyin “There’s very little evidence that Wagner has struck a deal with the coup leaders.” – Dipo Faloyin “The challenge that he now faces are more efforts by Russian forces trying to infiltrate Ukrainian society.” – Dipo Faloyin Support us on Patreon:www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Group Editor Andrew Harrison. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production: Jade Bailey. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters ProductionInstagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

QAnon began as a niche conspiracy theory. How did it become a movement for self-radicalisation? How have its dangerous ideas infiltrated society? Rafael Behr is joined by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist James Ball, author of The Other Pandemic How QAnon Contaminated the World, to explore how the dark corners of the internet have serious implications for mainstream politics.   “Lots of QAnon conspiracies emerged from online trolling.” “4Chan created things the rest of the internet couldn’t say.” “QAnon asked people to self radicalise which caused a snowball effect.” www.patreon.com/bunkercast Link for James Ball’s book: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/the-other-pandemic-9781526642554/ Link for Rafael Behr’s book: https://www.waterstones.com/book/politics-a-survivors-guide/rafael-behr/9781838955045 Written and presented by Rafael Behr. Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio editor: Simon Williams. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Criminal gangs have gone global. How do they use international networks to increase their power and influence? Far from being underground, criminals now run state-backed organisations and even private armies.Seth Thévoz is joined in The Bunker by investigative reporter for the FT Miles Johnson, author of Chasing Shadows: A true story of drugs, war and the secret world of international crime, to find out if established law enforcement can ever outpace the next generation of crime.  “Sanctions lead to strange alliances between parties who aren't ideologically aligned.”  “In criminal networks you'll see a lot of incompetence and egotism.” "In Syria, you have people who are actually in power, in a sovereign state who are engaging in organised criminal activity."  Support us on Patreon:www.patreon.com/bunkercast Book Linkhttps://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/miles-johnson/chasing-shadows/9780349128641/Written and presented by Seth Thévoz. Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz and Liam Tait. Audio editor: Robin Leeburn. 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

Chris Bryant MP, Labour's Chris Bryant MP discusses his new book Code of Conduct Why We Need to Fix Parliament – and How to Do It, and shares insights into why MPs misbehave and the importance of fixing parliament quickly. He explores the winner-takes-all system in the UK, the fragility of democracy, and potential cures for the issues in British politics. He also discusses limiting executive power, reforming the House of Lords, and his optimism for a better Britain.

The Government’s plans to house migrants on the Bibby Stockholm barge continues to cause controversy. Why are they going ahead with it? Does Labour have any better ideas? Plus, we have an update on Ukraine, the latest from Donald Trump’s legal scandals, and details on Niger’s military coup. Jacob Jarvis is joined by Doomsday Watch host Arthur Snell to give you the big stories for the week ahead. “The barges are a nakedly political agenda.” – Arthur Snell “It always feels like Donald Trump is playing political chicken.” – Jacob Jarvis www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Jacob Jarvis with Arthur Snell. Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production: Simon Williams. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters ProductionInstagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Professor Tanya Horeck discusses how true crime in the digital age has transformed society, feeding into the idea of internet sleuths and creating space for a political discussion about violence against women. True crime can be a way to process traumatic societal events, offering a unique perspective on the genre's impact and cultural significance.