The Bunker – News without the nonsense

BONUS EPISODE KLAXON: Fox News paid out almost $1 billion dollars to Dominion – but despite that, did Murdoch dodge a bullet? Or is the financial blow, sparked by the networks voting machine misinformation, a catastrophe? Jacob Jarvis was joined by Dan Cassino, political scientist and author of Fox News and American Politics How One Channel Shapes American Politics and Society, to unpack what this payout means for Fox News.  “This really is an admission that they knew what they were doing was false but they thought that they had to or they’d lose their audience.”  “The question is are they going to change their behaviour over this – and I think the answer is absolutely not.” “It seems very unlikely that anyone will lose their jobs over this, the reason is Fox News isn’t acknowledging this at all.” “I’d say you could replace someone like Tucker Carlson with Gonzo the Muppet and still get the same audience.” www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis Producer: Chris Jones. 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

Saudi Arabia is experiencing a once in a lifetime moment of transformation, funded by their control over the world's oil supply. The nation is taking risks on a global scale like never before – and the ‘maverick’ prince Mohammed bin Salman, stands at the forefront of this change of strategy. Arthur Snell sits down with Bradley Hope, co-author of Blood and Oil: Mohammed bin Salman's Ruthless Quest for Global Power to try and understand the ruler of Saudi Arabia.  “He went from completely unknown with no power or authority to the ruler of Saudiu Arabia through some cavalier and cunning activity.” “Business people of the world who had a moral objection to MBS are now back in the country cap in hand asking for investment.” Support us on Patreon:www.patreon.com/bunkercast BOOK LINKhttps://www.johnmurraypress.co.uk/titles/bradley-hope-2/blood-and-oil/9781529347890/Written and presented by Arthur Snell. Produced by Liam Tait. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production: Jade Bailey. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters ProductionInstagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Net Zero Scrutiny Group shares ties with the likes of the late Nigel Lawson and his network of “climate deniers”. They like fracking and have tried to link the cost-of-living crisis to the government’s net zero goals. But exactly who are they? What do they stand for? And who funds them? Andrew Harrison is joined by Sam Alvis, head of economy at The Green Alliance, to unpack exactly that. “They are no longer denying that climate change is a thing, but what they are saying is that actually the cost of it is much more of an issue.” “Often with these groups, and particularly with the net zero group, it's easier to understand what they don't like; the one thing we know they do like is fracking.” “It’s murky, we don’t really know where the money comes from to support the Net Zero Scrutiny Group.” Support us on Patreon:www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Andrew Harrison. Audio production: Jade Bailey. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Producer: Chris Jones. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production,Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Investment zones have been hailed by some politicians as the solution to our economic woes. But what are the risks of economic gated communities? By existing outside of the usual rules of the state, do they undermine democracy? Alex Andreou is joined by historian Quinn Slobodian, author of Crack-Up Capitalism: Market Radicals and the Dream of a World Without Democracy, to unpack why these zones are increasingly appearing across the globe and why politicians like Kwasi Kwarteng are so keen to back them.  “London has come to see the presence of the super-wealthy as a sign of urban health.” “Thatcher’s biggest legacy wasn’t creating democratic free markets, but creating sites for wealth hoarding for non-democratic forms of capitalism.”  Book Link:https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/316685/crack-up-capitalism-by-slobodian-quinn/9780241460245https://www.patreon.com/bunkercastWritten and presented by Alex Andreou. Audio production by Alex Rees. Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music: Kenny Dickinson. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Andy Burnham has thrived after switching Westminster for Manchester as a mayor. And he has high hopes for the North harnessing its voice more in the future. The Labour mayor of Greater Manchester spoke with Andrew Harrison about boosting regions outside of London, and dealing with names and not numbers in his role.  “You look at things through different eyes. You can deal with names not numbers.”  “Before these mayors in regions, where did people complain? People at least have one person to complain to.”  “Having made all these promises to the north, they were very quickly in default mode.”  “If you go with the rules of Westminster, in the end people don’t know who you are.”  “We’re building the answer for more places to set their own course.”  www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production: Robin Leeburn. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters ProductionInstagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Strikes are going to go on and on as the Government continues not to strike deals with unions. Will this situation ever be resolved? And further afield, fatal clashes continue to break out in Sudan – what’s unfolding? Hannah Fearn joins Ros Taylor to lay out the news for the week ahead.  “The way people feel about the strikes is not following the usual pattern at this point.” – Hannah Fearn “For anyone who hoped the strikes were going away, we are moving to a summer and autumn of discontent.” – Ros Taylor Support us on Patreon:www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Ros Taylor with Hannah Fearn. Produced by Jacob Jarvis with Kasia Tomasiewicz. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production: Jade Bailey. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters ProductionInstagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Space – the final frontier, and the next political battleground? As nations compete for dominance and resources, Andrew Harrison is joined by Tim Marshall, author of The Future of Geography: How Power and Politics in Space Will Change Our World, to discuss how this might go beyond the confines of earth. “I was going to say the world is our oyster, but the universe is.” “If one country controls low earth orbit… they would be the gatekeeper of who could go out into space and beyond.” “The space industry will be worth a trillion dollars before 2030.” Pre-order The Future Of Geography here. www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Andrew Harrison. Producers: Kasia Tomasiewicz and Liam Tait. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production: Alex Rees. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters ProductionInstagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Federal Reserve has a huge sway over the US economy – and therefore the world’s. But as well as financial clout, it also has a massive political impact. How does it run – and how do its actions impact us all? Alex Andreou is joined by Larry Jacobs, co-author of Fed Power: How Finance Wins and professor at the University of Minnesota, to discuss for The Bunker USA.  “It’s serving the interests of finance and working separate from democratic accountability.”  “The key thing to remember is it is its own operation. It stands alone with its autonomy.”  “It is not beholden to Congress. It doesn’t rely on Congress for any appropriation. Its officials have tremendous latitude.”  “The magnitude of its intervention is quite remarkable.”  www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Alex Andreou. Music by Jade Bailey. Audio production: Alex Rees. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When did we all start wanting to invest in stock and shares? And who were the winners and losers of the investment boom? Dr Amy Edwards, senior lecturer in Modern British History at the University of Bristol and author of Are We Rich Yet?: The Rise of Mass Investment Culture in Contemporary Britain, tells Ahir Shah about how our lives changed forever in the 1980s as investment became a way of life rather than something you do. “Investment culture didn’t begin with Thatcher, but it really took off in the 1980s.” “Our entire culture changed with privatisation.” “There was a huge explosion in investment cowboys.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercasthttps://www.ucpress.edu/book/9780520385467/are-we-rich-yetPresented and written by Ahir Shah. Audio production by Alex Rees. Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Music: Kenny Dickinson. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters ProductionInstagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The KGB is one of the most notorious intelligence agencies of all time. Though long defunct, how did this Soviet network warp the world we live in today? Seth Thévoz is joined by Mark Hollingsworth, author of Agents of Influence: How the KGB Subverted Western Democracies. “The myth of the KGB being brilliant intelligence gatherers is largely exaggerated.”  “There was a game between the KGB and MI5 over what was really happening.”  “It was about planting doubt, sowing seeds of doubt, to weaken the United States.”  Support us on Patreon:www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Seth Thévoz. Audio production: Jade Bailey. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices