The Bunker – News without the nonsense

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.

Are aliens real? That question was brought up again in a high-level Congressional hearing this week. Three former members of the US military brought forward their evidence to prove that extraterrestrial life IS real. But were there stories credible? Or is it all easily explainable coincidences? Dr Kate Devlin, sits down in The Bunker with Mick West, science writer, investigator and MetaBunk founder to discuss. “A lot of people believe that UFOs are aliens - and a lot of those people are in the US government.” – Mick West “The problem is we don’t have actual evidence to show what Grusch said was true.” – Mick West. “I think they need to think about raising the veil of secrecy, because it allows stories like this to fester.” – Mick West. www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Dr Kate Devlin. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production:Simon Williams. 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

Sarah Isgur, senior editor for The Dispatch, discusses Donald Trump's legal challenges and potential impact on his candidacy. From facing decades in jail to the mess in US politics, the podcast explores the implications of the latest charges. They also touch on the possibility of Biden pardoning Trump and the value of written constitutions.

This week on Bunker Global: El Salvador’s war on gangs continues as President Bukele introduces mass trials for accused gang members. Plus, we take a closer look at China where President Xi has removed key military figures in charge of nuclear missiles, in an apparent power grab. And, what does Russia’s alleged kidnapping of Ukrainian children mean for Putin’s long term strategy?Laura Makin-Isherwood, former London bureau chief of Feature Story News, and Doug Specht, reader in cultural geography and communication at the University of Westminster, join Jacob Jarvis to get you up to speed on what you need to know about news and politics from across the world.  “Putin’s obsession with Ukraine is going to be a lifelong mission and potentially an eternal war from Russia.” Jacob Jarvis “Bukele calls himself the ‘world's coolest dictator.” Doug Specht “​​Xi Jinping seems to be shaken by the Wagner coup. He’s trying to solidify his power.” Laura Makin-Isherwood www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis with Laura Makin-Isherwood. Producer: Liam Tait. Assistant Producer: Adam Wright. Audio editor: Simon Williams. 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

Twitter as we know it is dead. The bird has been sent out to pasture and replaced with a stark ‘X’ symbol. Will Elon Musk’s rebrand go down in history as the most successful rebrand since ‘Snickers’ – or will it be the next ‘New Coke’?Leslie Hallam, director of the psychology of advertising masters programme at Lancaster University, joins Alex Andreou in the Bunker to discuss the world of marketing, rebranding and Musk’s fascination with the letter X. "Brands exist so people can become attached to the products they represent." “Musk has run the Twitter brand in the ground, so it makes sense to rebrand it now.” "People mourn the loss of these brands, they’re important cultural artefacts.” www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Alex Andreou. Producers: Liam Tait & Alex Rees. 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

Rishi Sunak’s decision to limit the number of students able to study what he calls “low-value degrees” has sparked backlash. Why is he doing this – and does it make sense? And is this even about education at all? Dr. Zoe Hope Bulaitis, assistant professor of liberal arts and natural sciences at University of Birmingham and author of Value and The Humanities, joins Gavin Esler in The Bunker to discuss where the PM is getting it wrong on university courses.  “The fact that students are willing to go into these careers shows that there’s more to life than a high pay cheque." – Dr Zoe Bulaitis “To say that a degree is ‘low value’ is to concede to the terms that a degree is valued to specific terms.” – Dr Zoe Bulaitis “This is more sensation than substance.” – Dr Zoe Bulaitis Support us on Patreon:www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Gavin Esler. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production: Jade Bailey. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Attitudes to migration were a key cause of Brexit – but is it still such a major factor in how people vote? With research showing that the UK now has a more favourable attitude to migration, what are the arguments for it? Alex Andreou is joined by Rob Ford, professor of political science at the University of Manchester, and co-author of Brexitland, to explore the real public opinions on migration beyond the headlines. “People can’t do the maths on immigration so they always say they want less.” “A nationalistic narrative – that migration befits the country - is one way to change public opinion.” “The Labour voting opinion on migration has changed, there are more pressing things to worry about.” www.patreon.com/bunkercast Book link:https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/brexitland/667A60CB4C315A755792074E79B20FBA Written and presented by Alex Andreou. 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