The Bunker – News without the nonsense

Could nuclear power be the answer to our doomed energy sector? It remains controversial – but why? Ahir Shah talks to Francis Livens, professor of radiochemistry at the University of Manchester and academic director of the Dalton Nuclear Institute about how nuclear works, how the sector has changed, and how hitting net zero carbon by 2050 might be impossible without it.  “Without nuclear energy, h...

The Home Secretary plays fast and loose with her email security. The former PM’s phone is so compromised that it’s been locked in a secure location. Interest rates are about to go up and the Chancellor is about to tax everything. But hey, at least Bolsonaro lost in Brazil! Yasmeen Serhan fills Ros Taylor in on the events of the coming week. “ Twitter was already a hellscape but it looks like it ’...

Brazil’s presidential elections go to round two today. Ahead of Latin America’s most consequential vote in decades, what should we be looking out for? Dr. Christopher Sabatini, senior fellow for Latin America at Chatham House, talks to Alex Andreou about how Bolsonaro broke Brazilian politics, Lula’s prospects and the environmental impact on the Amazon. “The last four years can be seen as a triump...

After being banned from Twitter, Donald Trump set up Truth Social, his own social media platform. What can you expect to find on the site? Is it just a mouthpiece for the former President? Kayla Gogarty , associate research director at Media Matters America, joins Jacob Jarvis to discuss Trump’s online echo chamber. “Truth Social is a way for Trump to get back online and to avoid moderation.” “It’...

When university fees shot up to £9,000 in 2012 they triggered violent protests. Now Britain’s universities are expecting redundancies and even bankruptcy – and they’re hooked on lucrative foreign students. Can we carry on funding education from fees, or is it time for a graduate tax? And do we need to rethink what students get for their money? Ros Taylor talks to Nick Hillman , Director of the Hig...

Like The Bunker? You’ll love Doomsday Watch – and there’s a brand new series out right now. Hear former diplomat and Bunker regular Arthur Snell explore more faultlines and danger zones that threaten global stability. From the balance of power after the Ukraine invasion to the scattered conflicts that spawn bigger confrontations to American’s democratic death spiral, these are the flashpoints of t...

The Conservative psychodrama has given us a new PM, a new cabinet and a whole lot more restive MPs. So what should we expect from the party’s latest iteration? Commentator and former Tory MP Matthew Parris talks to Ros Taylor about the “pleasant” Prime Minister Sunak, “appalling” Suella Braverman and what we can expect from his premiership.  “The Conservative Party has a sense of burnout.” “Beyond...

With Rishi Sunak keeping Jeremy Hunt in post as Chancellor, the prospect of a new era of austerity looms. But what is left to cut? From hospitals, to prisons and schools – public sector services are at breaking point. And with workers across struggling institutions already threatening strikes, how much worse can it get? Nick Davies from The Institute for Government think tank talks to Justin Quirk...

After Ukraine’s stunning battlefield successes, Putin responds with missile attacks on civilians, power and transport infrastructure – adding to his toll of war crimes. How is Ukrainian morale eight months into the war? And what happens next? Andrew Harrison talks to Ukrainian journalist, Reuters Institute fellow and disinformation expert Olga Tokariuk about life in Kyiv, Western democracies’ role...

After Johnson’s exit from the leadership race (he definitely had 102 backers), will it be a coronation for Sunak? Or is it going to roll into a bout between him and Mordaunt? Plus, we look at what actual politics is set to happen in Parliament… We also cast a glance over the Chinese Communist Party congress fallout, and unpack what’s next for Musk’s on and off and on again Twitter buyout. Justin Q...

How would an alien fix Britain? We hear from Count Binface , who resisted the urge to vapourise Alex Andreou despite some tough questions. The Count discusses standing against Tories like Theresa May (as Lord Buckethead) and Boris Johnson, why he’d junk First Past the Post for PR, plus his new book, WHAT ON EARTH? . “I was passing Earth and it seemed to be the most deranged planet of the lot.” “Th...

As 2024 approaches, could Florida Governor Ron DeSantis be the heir to Donald Trump? Or his strongest opponent? Politico Florida bureau chief Matt Dixon joins Andrew Harrison to discuss the man who could be the next Republican flag bearer, his controversial time as Florida Governor, where he stands on the big issues, and if he really is worse than Trump. “DeSantis has captured the imagination of c...

As separatist movements across the globe try to establish new nations, how do you actually go about creating a new country? What is the project management plan for independence? Political science professor Matt Qvortrup joins Ahir Shah to discuss how a new state is made in the 21st century, covered in his new book I Want to Break Free: A Practical Guide to Making a New Country. “Independence refer...

The 1922 committee is the secretive, unofficial voice of the Conservative party. Who are these Tory ‘men in gray suits’? Former BBC politics correspondent and political editor of the New Statesman, and host of Rock & Roll Politics Steve Richards talks to Alex Rees about prime ministers being held to ransom, the 1922 mindset, and Graham Brady’s secrets. “Tory MPs are more rebellious than ever,...

Patrick Minford faded from view in the 2000s – but since Brexit, he’s returned to the fore of Tory economic policy. So who is this Arch-Thatcherite economist and what does he stand for? UCL policy fellow Laurie Macfarlane talks to Andrew Harrison about how he became an icon of the IEA set, and what his cult worship means for Liz Truss’ government, and the cost of living crisis. “Most economists li...

It feels like something is changing in the country – but is a real shift occurring? A vibe shift, if you will... Poll fiend and senior data journalist at the New Statesman Ben Walker talks to Ros Taylor about whether the political mood of the UK has fundamentally changed, with Brexit, culture wars, climate change and COVID.  “If the Labour Party used Take Back Control, it would do well as a slogan...

It’s the first new look Bunker, and as Jeremy Hunt prepares for a big budget announcement, are we ready for Austerity 2.0? And if Liz Truss is really done for, who could replace her as PM? Plus, Trump on trial, and China’s zero COVID response - Jacob Jarvis and Alex Andreou set out the days ahead. “ Truss now looks like a stress dream made reality.” “ Ben Wallace won ’ t want to take over the Tita...

Plenty of us enjoy blasting out a few swear words – but what makes it feel so good? Richard Stephens , a senior lecturer in psychology at Keele University and author of Black Sheep: The Hidden Benefits of Being Bad , tells Jacob Jarvis how swearing can stop pain, make us stronger and help us form closer friendships.  “Swearing does appear to make you stronger.” “People are more disinhibited after...

China’s leader Xi Jinping is poised to smash precedent and take on a third term. But how has he consolidated his power? And what role have stringent regional Covid lockdowns played in him tightening his grip? Alex Andreou discusses this with Steve Tsang , director of the SOAS China Institute and regular contributor to the China in Context podcast.   “China’s lockdown policy has increased the abili...

If talk of gilt markets, securities, and liabilities leaves you baffled – then fear not, we’ve got you covered. In just twenty minutes, Giles Wilkes, former economics special adviser to Theresa May and Vince Cable and now a senior fellow at the Institute of Government, explains to Alex Andreou what gilts are and why they are at the centre of the current economic storm.   “ The gilt market has neve...

Has France replaced the UK in the so-called ‘special relationship’ with the US? Journalist and European Research Fellow Rym Momtaz talks to Ros Taylor from Paris about the similarities between Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron, that awkward AUKUS moment over submarines, and why Macron might become the “Obama of France”… “When Trump was President, Macron tried to set up a bromance.” “It's a misconcepti...

From Trump, to Johnson, and Truss – are politicians really stupid? Or are they just pretending to be so that we’ll vote for them? Siân Pattenden delves into the state of our political psyche with Dean Burnett , neuroscientist and author of The Idiot Brain , to find out the science behind why we vote for stupid politicians. “Calling politicians ‘idiots’ defangs them. It makes us feel reassured inst...

Why does Liz Truss think fracking holds the answer to our energy crisis when so many experts disagree? Will it blight our ‘green and pleasant land’ – or does it simply not work in Britain? Ros Taylor talks to Jon Gluyas , director of the Durham Energy Institute at the University of Durham, about earthquakes, flammable water and where our energy policy is going wrong.    “We have known fracking doe...

In a shock move, OPEC oil-rich nations cut back their production. Are we in for a 1974-style oil crisis ? And has the Middle East just sided with Putin? Plus, the heroic protests in Iran where young women rebel after the killing of Mahsa Amini. At home: what next for Truss as she evolves from u-turns into donuts? And the end of the World Service as we know it.  Special guest Dr. Julie Norman , ass...

Truss’s tailspin of u-turns is due to continue as she tries to charm her MPs when Parliament returns. What more chaos with Liz can we expect this week? And, with peerages to be confirmed – what nasty surprises will end up in the Lords? Plus, we look at the latest from Ukraine as strikes hit Kyiv. Justin Quirk talks to Alex Andreou to plot out the days ahead.  “If Truss thinks she can ask the count...