The Bunker – News without the nonsense

The question ‘What does it mean to be European?’ is challenging for many Brits, post-Brexit. Author Ben Judah says politics is pushing an ever-changing Europe apart. Ben attempts to remind people what Europe is away from politics in his new book, This is Europe. He joins Hannah Fearn in the Bunker. “Europe’s a lot of things. It can be an idea or a whole theatre for political action but I wanted to focus on the people” – Ben Judah “It was very important to me to show that Europe is much wider than it looks in Britain.” – Ben Judah “Europe is blurring with Asia and Africa and a new Europe is emerging through immigration.” – Ben Judah www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Hannah Fearn Producer: Chris Jones Audio Production: Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson THE BUNKER is a Podmasters ProductionInstagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Theresa May is often ranked alongside the worst Prime Ministers ever. But, does she still get off lightly? And have we forgotten just how bad she was because of the chaos that’s come since? Tim Bale, professor of politics at Queen Mary University London, joins Seth Thevoz in The Bunker to refresh our memories. “I don’t think she was ever destined to be a great Prime Minister.” – Tim Bale “Circumstance did combine to make it very difficult for her.” – Tim Bale “Clearly those she took with her from the Home Office weren’t the right people to be in charge in Downing Street.” – Tim Bale Support us on Patreon:www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Seth Thevoz. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production: Jade Bailey. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Artwork: James Parrett. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters ProductionInstagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Johnson rebellion promised a bang but delivered a whimper over the weekend. What now? Can Starmer capitalise on the Conservative Party chaos? Across the pond, Donald Trump is set for a day in a Miami courtroom – what should we expect? Plus we’ve got more on Nicola Sturgeon’s arrest and the latest from Ukraine’s counter offensive. Alex Andreou joins Jacob Jarvis to map out the week ahead. “Organising a coup takes a lot of work which I don’t think Johnson was willing to do.” – Alex Andreou  “Johnson inspires enthusiasm which he mistakes for loyalty.” – Alex Andreou  “If any other public official had done what Trump did, they’d be in the deepest darkest dungeon already.”– Alex Andreou  Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis with Alex Andreou. 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 sky is no longer the limit for entrepreneurs as they set their sights on space. SpaceX has made science fiction ideas a reality but who could be next in line to be the biggest name in space? Dr. Casey Handmer, the founder of Terraform Industries, takes Dr. Kate Devlin on a voyage through the world of space based start-ups looking to make their millions in space.  “SpaceX is one or two competitive startups away from losing market share.” “Politics is negotiable but physics is not.” “Super geeks who know how to make rockets are critical for national security”  www.patreon.com/bunkercastWritten and presented by Kate Devlin. Producer: Liam Tait. 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

Biden proudly told the world his debt ceiling deal averted “economic collapse”. He’s not wrong – but is he in the clear yet? Professor Larry J White has taught Economics at New York University for over 40 years. He joins Jacob Jarvis in the Bunker to discuss what the deal entails, how it will impact the nation and what concerns Biden still has economically.  “This was truly uncharted territory that has been avoided.” – Larry J White “It is, I'll have to use an economic term, NUTS!” – Larry J White “We avoided a catastrophe – and I truly believe it would have been a catastrophe.” – Larry J White Support us on Patreon:www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production and Music: Jade Bailey. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Artwork: James Parrett. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters ProductionInstagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The assassination of Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme remains an unsolved mystery. How did a lone gunman manage to murder him during the height of the Cold War, and why? Ros Taylor welcomes Jan Stocklassa to the Bunker to discuss his documentary, The Man Who Played With Fire, which attempts to answer once and for all: who killed Olof Palme? “There is a 37 year long cover up at the root of this investigation.” “He was not a run of the mill Swede, he wasn’t afraid to provoke people around the globe.” “Sweden has never had a politician who was so hated.” www.patreon.com/bunkercastWritten 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 | TwitterClips Courtesy of Sky Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Andy Street took a risk in leaving his role as managing director of John Lewis to become West Midlands mayor. He’s one of two Tory combined authority mayors, a role he describes as “trailblazing”. But despite his party loyalty, he hasn’t shied away from criticising Westminster – especially when it comes to Levelling-up. He sat down with Hannah Fearn in The Bunker to discuss his priorities and time in office.  “For me, it wasn’t about representing the party in Westminster. It was first and foremost about being an individual representative for the West Midlands.” – Andy Street “The truth is that Michael Gove and the Levelling-up Department have spent billions. But are we getting that message across? No.” – Andy Street “My relationship with Whitehall is positive, but immature. We make our proposals, and Whitehall will decide.” – Andy Street “Mayoral models are becoming popular because people want someone they can relate to, and with whom the buck stops.” – Andy Street www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Hannah Fearn. Producer & Audio production: Alex Rees. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson THE BUNKER is a Podmasters ProductionInstagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sugar became a modern-day bogeyman during austerity. Why? And how did it come to represent personal responsibility? And who has been most instrumental in the fight against it? Hannah Fearn is joined by Karen Throsby, author of new book Sugar rush: Science, politics and the demonisation of fatness, to explore the disastrous consequences of the fight on sugar.  “Sugar became the perfect scapegoat for austerity.” “The war on obesity is a failure on its own terms.” “The language of conflict of foodstuffs always justifies quick, ill-thought-out measures.” Support us on Patreon:www.patreon.com/bunkercast Book link:https://manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526151544/ Written and presented by Hannah Fearn. Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. 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

George Soros is a holocaust survivor, one of the world’s richest people and the creator of the Open Society. He’s also given away $32 billion in his lifetime. So why is it that he incurs so much hate, not just from the American right but his own country, Hungary, too? Daniel Bessner is associate professor of international studies at Washington University and co-host of American Prestige podcast. He joins Gavin Esler in The Bunker to discuss. “He likes to repeat in his books that he has ‘an incredible ego’...“ – Daniel Bessner “The ultimate tragedy of Soros’ life is that capitalism has allowed him to become as rich as he has.” – Daniel Bessner “The world he wants is not possible in the economic world that made him.” – Daniel Bessner “The association of Soros the anti-communist just doesn’t fly anymore with the right in America.” – Daniel Bessner 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 ProductionInstagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week Johnson and Sunak play the blame game over the Covid inquiry. Will a trip to the USA help Rishi escape the shadow of the former PM? Plus, Labour is embroiled in infighting this week as the Jamie Driscoll drama plays out – can Starmer ignore it? Plus we’ve got the latest on the tragic train crash in India, updates from Ukraine and we ask the question, why is China drilling a hole to hell? Ros Taylor joins Jacob Jarvis to map out the week ahead. “Johnson is enjoying provoking Sunak.’ – Ros Taylor “Sunak’s popularity has gone down since local election results.” – Ros Taylor “Hanging out with Biden is good optics for Sunak, it makes him look like the world leader he isn’t.” – Ros Taylor Support us on Patreon:www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis with Ros Taylor. Producers: Kasia Tomasiewicz and 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