The Bunker – News without the nonsense

Rail, nursing and Border Force workers strike during sudden extreme cold weather, but their public support seems solid. Will the Government’s “Union Barons” attacks stick? Plus, James Cleverly ditches human rights priorities in a desperate search for any post-Brexit upside. Russia’s war in Ukraine enters its deep winter phase. And the last legislation to get squeezed through Parliament before Christmas. Alex Andreou takes Andrew Harrison through the week ahead.  “The Tories are fudging the economy because they know Labour will win the next election.” – Alex Andreou “Thank God It's too cold for drunken England fans to go out and smash up Delice de France.” – Andrew Harrison “There’s public support for rail strikes because Mick Lynch is a media superstar.” – Alex Andreou “Doing business with autocratic regimes is a high-risk activity.” – Alex Andreou Support us on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/bunkercastWritten and presented by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Jade Bailey. Music: Kenny Dickinson. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’ve got a Star Wars fan in No.10 – Sunak collects lightsabers – but is there real political meaning to the tale of empires and rebels? Chris Kempshall, historian and author of The History and Politics of Star Wars: Death Stars and Democracy, talks to Andrew Harrison about Star Wars’ roots as a Vietnam allegory; what the Empire can tell us about fascism; why the Republic is a bad advert for democracy; and why Andor is the best political drama on TV right now. For 25% off the book, use the code HPSW25 here: https://www.routledge.com/The-History-and-Politics-of-Star-Wars-Death-Stars-and-Democracy/Kempshall/p/book/9781032318875 “Sunak’s story of a multimillionaire who moves sideways isn’t in the Star Wars universe.” “Sadly for Lucas the audience didn’t get that it’s about the Vietnam War.” “No one would watch a film about the government leaping to work.” www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producer: Jet Gerbertson. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Alex Rees. Music: Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The tech explosion has transformed the spy game. Are intelligence agencies fit to face new threats from terror groups, disinformation gangs, and even teenagers in bedrooms? In a fascinating conversation intelligence expert Amy B. Zegart – author of Spies, Lies, and Algorithms: The History and Future of American Intelligence – tells Andrew Harrison how too much “spytainment” has warped US intelligence policy; the truth about the CIA blunders that led to 9/11 and the Iraq quagmire; and why modern spying isn’t what you think it is.  “The intelligence game isn’t about secrets. It’s about piecing together information.”  “George Washington even used fake French bakeries to deceive the British about American troop numbers.” “The more spy-themed TV you watch, the more likely you are to support questionable practices.” “The truth is, there has never been a ticking time bomb situation.” www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Andrew Harrison. Producers: Jet Gerbertson and Alex Rees. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. 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

Putin’s war has triggered a food supply crisis in Africa. Arthur Snell travels to Ghana and Nigeria with Ukrainian campaigners who are forging alliances with Africans against Russia’s criminality. In a special crossover edition with Doomsday Watch, Arthur discovers how Africa is suffering for Putin’s war, why some African countries are still siding with the Russian tyrant, and how it feels to defend your country when you’re a refugee.Donate to help the Ukrainian human rights campaigners Zmina at zmina.ua/en “In the 21st Century all countries are interconnected… We all depend on one another.” – Oleg Nivievskyi“Think about the cost of living crisis in Western Europe then multiply it maybe five times… That’s the magnitude of the food supply crisis in Africa.” – Arthur Snell“Every tonne of grain from Ukraine counts… The more food instability we have, the more we will see riots, criminality and worse.” – Oleg Nivievskyi “The Netherlands, Belgium, France, the UK all had empires, but you do not pretend to restore your empires. But that is Russia’s political culture. To restore its empire.” – Olexiy HaranReported and presented by Arthur Snell. Producer Jet Gerburtson. Assistant producer Kasia Tomasiewicz. Lead producer Jacob Jarvis. Bunker music by Kenny Dickinson, Doomsday Watch music by Paul Hartnoll. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The horrors of austerity make for grim statistics. But what are the stories behind those numbers? The Mirror’s Real Britain columnist Ros Wynne-Jones joins Ros Taylor to discuss the exhaustion, pain and spirit of those feeling the brunt of Tory cuts.  “There are always new levels and layers of cuts.”  “There’s just an assumption now that the system is brutalised and cruel.”  “Disabled people have been at the front of these cuts, but they’ve also been at the vanguard of resistance.”  “The level of exhaustion people are at after 12 years is profound.” “Every year this Government is in power is wasted life opportunities for a new generation.”  www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Ros Taylor. Producers: Jet Gerbertson and Alex Rees. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Music by Kenny Dickinson. 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

The House of Lords is constantly embattled – but what value does it have and what really goes on there? Various governments have wanted to reform the chamber – with limited success. Can it be done? Marie Le Conte speaks to Politico’s senior UK correspondent Esther Webber about the good, the bad and the… unusual.  “It was where a deeper scrutiny happened, which you wouldn’t always see in the Commons.”  “A big barrier to reform is it has to go through the Lords.”  “I feel slightly weary of the idea of a second elected chamber. It means peers would be subject to the same kind of electoral tug of war of MPs.”  www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Ros Taylor. Producers: Jet Gerbertson and Alex Rees. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Music by Kenny Dickinson. 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

Statistics dictate policy – but what if our data sets are wrong? How are numbers manipulated for political gain? These are questions that House of Commons Library statistician Georgina Sturge answers in her new book Bad Data: How Governments, Politicians and the Rest of Us Get Misled by Numbers. She tells Alex Andreou about how data is used to make policy, how it is being manipulated, and how to tell good data from bad.  “Numbers can’t speak for themselves.” “Governments are presenting data as if it is free of ideology.” www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Alex Andreou. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Alex Rees and Jet Gerbertson. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Jade Bailey. Music: Kenny Dickinson. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A Tory MP exodus rolls on as the Government looks to turn public opinion against striking workers as more walkouts loom. Is there any chance of deals ahead of Christmas action? And the Online Safety Bill returns to the Commons, while Labour has its say on the Lords. Plus, we look at the latest from protests in Iran and China, as well as US political rumblings. Ros Taylor joins Jacob Jarvis to discuss the week ahead.  "Morale is very low in the Tory party.”  “Presenting striking workers as grinches ruining Christmas is ridiculous.”  www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Jacob Jarvis with Ros Taylor. Producers: Jet Gerbertson and Alex Rees. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Music by Kenny Dickinson. 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

Climate change remains a key political issue. But with multiple crises mounting, are the Greens a one policy party? Ros Taylor is joined by Zack Polanski, deputy leader of the Green Party, to talk about what they want and what's missing from mainstream political discourse. “Only two countries used FPTP – Belarus and the UK.” “Too often politics operates in silos – and we are interested in systems thinking and change.” “People are sick of the two party system.” “We need a positive message on immigration.” “Keir Starmer won’t talk to us, even though the environment is a crucial issue.” “It's irresponsible for a leader to say they will get to net zero on technologies that don’t exist yet.”  www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Ros Taylor. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Alex Rees, Jet Gerbertson. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Jade Bailey. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. Music: Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joe Biden is set for a tough couple of years with a Republican majority in the House of Representatives. How will the GOP look to hurt the president? Dr Thomas Gift, director of UCL’s Centre on US Politics, joins Jacob Jarvis in to tell us about how Biden’s enemies will enact their revenge. • “Anything Joe biden wants to get done between now and the next 2 years is just not going to happen”• “Republicans can basically block any piece of legislation that Joe Biden puts to the floor”• “A lot of Republicans think this is time for payback, this is time for revenge.”Support us on Patreon:www.patreon.com/bunkercastPresented by Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jet Gerbertson and Alex Rees. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Music and 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