The Bunker – News without the nonsense

When we discuss dictators and autocrats, we often think of those of the past. But, with the world increasingly turning away from democracy, how do they behave differently now compared to the 20th century? Jacob Jarvis is joined by Daniel Treisman, professor of political science at the University of California and co-author of Spin Dictators: The Changing Face of Tyranny in the 21st Century , to di...

Labour fallout continues as the Government also tries to get a grip on the water sector. Gavin Esler and Ros Taylor discuss the latest turmoil Starmer and co face this week. Plus, Badenoch is apparently doing a reshuffle (who cares?) , Farage is having a press conference and Trump faces more chaos over his Epstein list crisis in the US.  We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to https://indeed.com/bunker...

Are you a progressive activist or a dissenting disruptor? These are two ends of a new group of political tribes identified by More in Common , in a report called Shattered Britain: Making sense of what Britons want in a country that feels broken. Luke Tryl, one of its authors and the UK director of More in Common , joins Alex von Tunzelmann to discuss how these groups have formed, how they move ar...

AI is everywhere — writing emails, diagnosing illness, even offering therapy. And politicians are now obsessed with it, too. But is Starmer right to be so invested in it? Can it really fix everything, or are we asking too much? Today, Chris Jones sits down with Professor Kate Devlin, Chair-Director of the Digital Futures Institute , to break down what AI is actually good at, where it’s overhyped,...

Xi Jinping can, technically, be China’s leader for the rest of his life. But, speculation has mounted that he might be stepping down from power. Is this justified? And if not, how does Xi keep such a tough grip on power? Jacob Jarvis discusses with Kerry Brown, professor of Chinese Studies and director of the Lau China Institute at King’s College and the author of several books about China and Xi...

As Ukraine fights to hold the line against Russian advances, Western support is starting to look shaky. With Putin’s war machine grinding on and Europe watching nervously, we ask: is the US still committed to Ukraine’s survival? Today, Chris Jones is joined by Keir Giles , Senior Consulting Fellow at Chatham House and author of Russia’s War on Everybody , to unpack what’s happening on the battlefi...

Starmer’s friendly hang out with Macron feels a long time ago now and the reality of trying to make his deal “work” now looms. Alex von Tunzelmann joins Jacob Jarvis to discuss how implementing it might play out, plus they discuss union clashes, a Trump state visit and more crazy conspiracy news from the United States.  We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/bunker for £100 sponsored credit....

In the past the Central Intelligence Agency got its hands dirty to support the American vision of freedom and democracy. But what is the spy agency’s purpose for when the President himself despises those very values? Pulitzer Prize winning author Tim Weiner talks Andrew Harrison through The Mission: The CIA In The 21st Century , his absorbing new history of the Agency through the years of 9/11, se...

The US has a world-class diplomatic corps, yet increasingly its foreign policy is based around war. And while most nations still favour negotiation, Washington seems hooked on force. Today in The Bunker, Chris Jones is joined by Professor David Reynolds , author of Mirrors of Greatness , to find out if the US policy of intervention is working or making things worse? Buy Mirrors of Greatness: Churc...

What would the world look like if children became scarcer? Birthrates are falling across the world but the main voices trying to turn them around seem to be weird traditionalist “pronatalists”. Is there a way to encourage having more kids while preserving women’s freedom – and without encouraging right-wing conspiracy ideas about “replacement”? Or should we just tax people who don’t have kids? Dem...

Is Big Tech really as unstoppable as it looks? In recent months US courts and EU regulators have handed out major reverses to tech giants including Apple, Google, Amazon and Meta. Meanwhile Google search is becoming unusable, choked by ads and its own algorithm, and the growth of A.I. means Big Tech could become the victim of Bigger Tech. But at least the tech broligarchs have Trump on their side,...

Labour starts Year Two hoping that everyone will forget Year One. Can Starmer restart his premiership, again? Plus lessons of the 7/7 bombings twenty years on, the new Jeremy Corbyn and/or Zarah Sultana party, Reform puts teenagers in charge of council services… and the Wimbledon finals. Ros Taylor and Gavin Esler discuss the stories that will shape your week. We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Ind...

“Organise before they rise,” is Max Brooks’ advice in his zombie survival guide. But, are world leaders prepared enough? As 28 Years Later hits cinemas, Jacob Jarvis speaks to Daniel Drezner, author of Theories of International Politics and Zombies and professor of international politics at Tufts University, to find out how the world might react and how governments would interact during such a cat...

After years of direct action and controversial tactics by Palestine Action, the Home Secretary is moving to proscribe the campaign group under anti-terror laws. But is that a crackdown on extremism or political theatre?  Today in The Bunker , Gavin Esler is joined by Professor Lee Jarvis , expert in international politics and terrorism at Loughborough University, to unpack what it really means to...

Mark Zuckerberg’s pivot to the right has sent shockwaves through Silicon Valley. From calls for more “masculine energy” in the workplace to his rebrand as an amateur MMA aficionado. Zuck’s Trump-loving transformation has raised eyebrows across the tech world. But what does it mean for the future of Meta and the world of social media? Today in The Bunker , Alex von Tunzelmann sits down with Bloombe...

Is Vladimir Putin still the unshakable strongman, or is his grip on power beginning to falter? Today in The Bunker , Chris Jones is joined by Mark Galeotti , an internationally recognised expert on the inner workings of Putin’s Russia and author of the book Putin's Wars: From Chechnya to Ukraine amongst many others, to explore the Kremlin’s next moves, the cracks in Putin’s armour, and what the We...

Keir Starmer seems downbeat as he marks a year in office with international crises and backbench backlash overshadowing the anniversary. Ros Taylor talks Jacob Jarvis through the benefits bill fallout. Plus, they look to latest news from the Middle East and the ever present Donald Trump.  • We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/bunker for £100 sponsored credit.  • Support us on Patreon for...

On July 11, Superman flies back into cinemas in his third reboot – but this time, he’s different. Director James Gunn promises a beacon of hope, kindness, and decency, a sharp contrast to the grim hero we last saw. How will a reborn idealistic Man of Steel land in the most cynical American moment of the modern era? How has Superman changed in his 87 years in comics, movies and radio? And can he sa...

Mass fatalities in the Air India crash and the collision of a passenger flight and a US Army helicopter over the Potomac have triggered fears that serious aviation accidents are becoming more frequent. But are they really? John Walton , editor of independent aviation journalism site TheUpFront , talks to Andrew Harrison about why panics like this start, how safe air travel really is, and how this...

Jeffrey Epstein is dead, but the questions around his life, his crimes, and his powerful friends remain. In 2024, new court documents were unsealed, revealing more about Epstein’s abuse yet much of the content remains redacted, leading to conspiracy theories, speculation – and social media battles between Elon Musk and President Trump. Today in The Bunker, Gavin Esler is joined by investigative re...

Donald Trump once promised to keep America out of endless wars. But less than 200 days into his second term, the US military has carried out airstrikes on Iran. Following Israel’s Operation Rising Lion, the president gave orders to target Iranian nuclear facilities. His cabinet denies any ambition for regime change – but Trump’s own words suggest otherwise. So what’s really going on? Today in The...

America’s strikes on Iran have left the world wondering what Trump’s next move will be. What do we know so far – and what could happen next? Plus, what comes now after the assisted dying bill vote? And with Reform surging in polls, Farage has another weird plan – will it work? And because the answer’s no, why not? Ros Taylor and Jacob Jarvis discuss all that and more in Start Your Week.    We are...

Is the BBC shifting right to please Reform voters? Leaked minutes from a top-level BBC editorial meeting reveal plans to reshape story selection and tone – not just in news, but even in drama – to improve the Corporation’s image among Reform UK supporters. But instead of chasing Farage’s fans, should the BBC hold Reform to account more rigorously? Don of media commentators Raymond Snoddy explains...

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For the first time in MI6’s history, a female chief is taking the helm. Blaise Metreweli, a veteran of both old-school espionage and cutting-edge tech warfare, steps into the role as digital battlegrounds, rogue states, and AI-fuelled threats reshape global intelligence. Today on The Bunker , Alex von Tunzelmann is joined by Dan Lomas , Assistant Professor of International Relations at the Univers...