The Bunker – News without the nonsense

Mark Zuckerberg has transformed from unsuspecting nerd to an MMA fighter taking on arch tech bro Elon Musk. What has changed? Bobby Friction speaks to Wessie du Toit, a freelance writer behind the newsletter The Pathos of Things, about Zuckerberg 2.0 and if we should be concerned about his macho man transformation.  “After the 2016 election, Zuckerberg became a pantomime villain so he needed a makeover.” “You don’t see CEOs of energy companies threatening to fight each other in cage matches.” “His increasingly desperate efforts to build his metaverse just look sad.” Support us on Patreon:www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Bobby Friction. 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

The basis of human life is built upon various elements. Have we forgotten how important they are? Sky News’ economics editor, Ed Conway, explores whether we’ve lost touch with them in his new book Material World – and why they could fuel our downfall or build a better future. He joins Alex Andreou in The Bunker to discuss. “We have forgotten some of the physical underpinnings of our time.” – Ed Conway “The internet is not an ethereal thing, it is a physical product.” – Ed Conway “My objective was to try and remind ourselves of the stuff around us and explain how they began in the ground.” – Ed Conway “There was a time where it seemed like the electrical age couldn’t begin because there wasn’t enough copper.” – Ed Conway www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Alex Andreou. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production: Simon Williams Music by Kenny Dickinson. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis THE BUNKER is a Podmasters ProductionInstagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Thames Water recently announced £14 billion of debt. How does an essential utility haemorrhage so much money? More than three decades after they were privatised, could renationalisation be the solution? Laura Makin-Isherwood is joined by Rob Branston, associate professor in business economics, to discuss how the privatisation of water companies in England has failed and the solutions to clean up our water woes. “Privatisation is a political ideology, but we need to remember that in the 80s we didn’t have good water services.” “There is a collective debt of £60 billion across our water companies.” “The debts have gone up because of interest on the existing debt.” www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Laura Makin-Isherwood. Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Assistant producer: Adam Wright. Audio editor: Robin Leeburn. 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 BBC is in turmoil again, over allegations a presenter paid a teenager for sexual photos. How will the broadcaster navigate this scandal? Plus, Sunak is getting a visit from Biden, what will they discuss? Plus we discuss the latest from Ukraine and the continuing Johnson-adjacent political fallout. Arthur Snell joins Jacob Jarvis to map out the week ahead.  “The BBC is subject to an intense level of political hostility, so this is inevitably politicised.” – Arthur Snell  “Britain just doesn’t have the power it once had, so America is inevitably building ties elsewhere.” – Arthur Snell “America is now blocking Ukraine’s membership to NATO.” – Arthur Snell Support us on Patreon:www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Arthur Snell and Jacob Jarvis. Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. 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

Politicians are… weird. While it baffles us relentlessly – could it be a good thing? Sunak forgetting how to use a card machine, Rees-Mogg lounging in the commons and Truss, Truss-ing. The list goes on and on and on. So why are politicians the way they are? Dr. James Weinberg is a political academic at the University of Sheffield and author of Who Enters Politics And Why. He joins Marie Le Conte in The Bunker. “We’ve got this popular human fascination with politicians.” – James Weinberg. “I think it’s highly unlikely that the political environment changes politician’s personalities.” – James Weinberg “If we can change our political environment, I think our politicians have the drivers to do a good job.” – James Weinberg www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Marie Le Conte. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production: Robin Leeburn. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson THE BUNKER is a Podmasters ProductionInstagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is the leading Democratic challenger to Biden for 2024. But is he actually a threat to the current President – or just a gift to Trump? And how much of a danger does he pose to US politics and society? Molly Jong-Fast is a columnist for Vanity Fair and the host of Fast Politics Pod. She shares her thoughts on the conspiracy peddling political hopeful with Gavin Esler in The Bunker.Listen to Molly’s podcast here: https://fastpoliticspod.com  “RFK Jr is part of this tapestry of anti-science rhetoric in the US.” – Molly Jong-Fast. “The right-wing establishment has worked hard to undermine people’s beliefs in science.” – Molly Jong-Fast. “He’ll never get elected, but maybe he’ll get Trump elected.” – Molly Jong-Fast. “The reason he’s anywhere is because he’s a nepo-baby.” – Molly Jong-Fast. www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Gavin Esler Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production: Simon Williams. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson THE BUNKER is a Podmasters ProductionInstagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the first edition of Bunker Global: A closer look at Israel’s assault on Jenin, the fallout of the violent protests across France and the bounties placed on Hong Kong dissidents. Laura Makin-Isherwood, formerly London bureau chief of Feature Story News, and Anshel Pfeffer, a Jerusalem-based writer for Haaretz and the Economist, join Jacob Jarvis this week. Listen in to get you up to speed on what you need to know about news and politics from across the world. “The Jenin Brigade aren’t going away, yes a number of them have been killed – but this isn’t over.” – Anshel Pfeffer “These bounties are a message to these activists that the Chinese Government is watching them.” – Laura Makin-Isherwood "French youth are questioning how the state interacts with the public, and who indeed they can trust." – Laura Makin-Isherwood www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis with Laura Makin-Isherwood and Anshel Pfeffer. 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

Productivity in Britain is down – is an army of middlemen partly to blame? Ros Taylor sits down with Giles Wilkes, senior fellow at the Institute for Government, to find out why we need to cut back on what he labels ‘crud’ to revitalise our economy.  “Crud is artificial capitalism.” “The Conservatives did a lot of damage in the 80s and are now returning to the scene of the crime and asking who did this?” www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Ros Taylor. Producer: Liam Tait. Audio editor: 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

The NHS was formed 75 years ago. As it celebrates its diamond anniversary, the service seems to be under more pressure than ever. Andrew Harrison is joined by Roy Lilley to celebrate the 75th birthday of the NHS and to ask, will it make it to 80?  “The NHS is knackered isn’t it? Nobody can blame staff for wanting to leave.” “If we leave the NHS to get on with the job, it will roll up its sleeves and deliver.” “Virgin tried to come in and run the NHS like an airport, where are they now?”  www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Andrew Harrison. Producer: Liam Tait. Assistant Producer: Adam Wright. 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

The Wagner Group made headlines with its 24-hour revolt against Vladimir Putin. Their leader, Yevgeny Prighozhin, is a shady character. Once a seller of hotdogs, he’s now made a career as a warlord, commanding thousands of troops in Ukraine and Africa. The mystery of Wagner is now clearing, says Ben Dalton, program manager for New America's Future Frontlines program. He joins Laura Makin-Isherwood in The Bunker to discuss how the group operates and how it harnesses the power of social media to recruit and fundraise. “The Wagner group has been very core to Russia's war effort in Ukraine.” – Ben Dalton. “Prigozhin has been remarkably savvy on social media, predominantly on telegram, in a way that reminds me of Donald Trump.” – Ben Dalton “As far back as 2017 Putin has been rewarding Wagner commanders for their role in Syria.” – Ben Dalton www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Laura Makin-Isherwood. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production: Simon Williams. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson THE BUNKER is a Podmasters ProductionInstagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices