Three former Australian diplomats (John Fowler, Helen Zhang and Dmitry Grozoubinski) shed light on major topics in international relations by offering their unique perspectives from inside the rooms where decisions are made. Based on the fantastic content in the freekly weekly newsletter International Intrigue: https://www.internationalintrigue.io?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=show&utm_campaign=intintrigue
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News without the nonsense, every weekday morning. In episodes that fit your commute*, The Bunker cuts through the noise to make sense of what’s really going on in news, current affairs, politics, economics and culture. We bring you smart explainers, interviews, fresh perspectives and under-reported stories to as a refreshing alternative to repetitive Punch and Judy news coverage. It’s the only way to start the day. From the producers of Oh God, What Now? Our regulars include: Gavin Esler • R ...
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Inside the US trade deal – “Britain got extorted… but in the least worst way,” with Dmitry Grozoubinski
32:57
32:57
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32:57Keir Starmer presented the US/UK trade deal as a jobs-saving triumph. Badenoch claims we were “shafted”. What’s the real picture? Will car, beef and ethanol (?) exports to the US make a difference to our economy? Why are the people who demanded Brexit so furious that we’ve signed exactly the sort of deal Brexit was supposed to facilitate? And while…
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From UFC to MAGA – How fight sports shaped Trump’s macho politics
34:12
34:12
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34:12Donald Trump is obsessed with sport – and increasingly, sports stars are obsessed with him. From his ties to wrestling through to his connection to the UFC, fight sports in particular have shaped the way he approaches politics. To discuss this journey, Jacob Jarvis is joined by Tom Kludt, a contributing editor at Vanity Fair, who recently wrote a p…
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Whatever happened to the promise of social media? What started as a buzzing digital town square now feels like a ghost town overrun with fake news, A.I. slop and disinformation. LBC tech correspondent Will Guyatt joins Natasha Devon to ask: Is social media dying – and what could possibly take its place? • We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to https://i…
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Why are we so obsessed with the end of the world?
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33:32From ancient Mayan prophecies to the QAnon faithful awaiting the next biblical storm, humanity has never been able to resist a good apocalypse. Today in The Bunker, Gavin Esler is joined by Tom Phillips, author of A Brief History of the End of the F**king World, to talk about asteroid anxiety, finding community in chaos, and why dreaming about doom…
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No limits? – Can China and Russia's friendship last?
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30:17Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, two of the world’s most powerful autocrats, are cosying up to each other in a bromance that could have seismic consequences. Today in The Bunker, Dr. Elizabeth Wishnick, expert on Sino-Russian relations and senior research scientist in the China and Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Division at CNA, joins Chris Jones to l…
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Here’s looking at EU, Keir – Start Your Week with Alex von Tunzelmann
43:34
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43:34Keir Starmer is hoping for positive news from an EU summit this week. What can we expect to see and what could block any sort of “deal”? Plus, we look at the latest from elections in Europe and news from the US, as Trump makes more horrible plans for the world. We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to https://indeed.com/bunker for £100 sponsored credit. L…
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Burn Hollywood Burn – Will Trump save or kill the movie business?
31:47
31:47
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31:47Trump’s plan for Hollywood isn’t really a plan, yet. He claims to want to boost the film industry – but will he revive it or wreck it even more? As he talks about tariffs on movies coming into the US, we try to pick apart what he actually means. Daniel Bessner, historian, journalist and co-host of the American Prestige podcast, joins Alex von Tunze…
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Where is Reform UK getting its money from?
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35:39
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35:39Nigel Farage’s Reform UK seems to be going from strength to strength – and running in politics isn’t cheap. So where are they getting their money from? Seth Thévoz speaks to Peter Geoghegan, author of the Democracy for Sale substack, to discuss where the cash is coming from and how it’s being raised. We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/bun…
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Why Keir Starmer is wrong about immigration
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33:53Keir Starmer’s migration speech has sparked a backlash – from across the political spectrum and for various reasons. Do we have a “problem” with migration – and what does the PM actually think he’s solving? Gavin Esler speaks with migration policy expert and campaigner Zoe Gardner to unpack what’s really going on, what circumstances are impacting t…
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Unwelcome to the UK? — Start Your Week with Gavin Esler and Ros Taylor
28:52
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28:52Labour is announcing a raft of new immigration rules to “toughen up” in what is being branded a “crackdown”. What are they announcing and what will it mean? Ros Taylor and Gavin Esler discuss the latest proposals. Plus, they look at the latest from Ukraine peace talks and ask what Trump is getting up to this week. We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to …
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Our new show CRIME SCENE – Armed Response – What happens when police shoot a suspect?
55:15
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55:15Try the latest edition of our new podcast where ex-Met Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe and former Mirror editor Alison Phillips bring you the truth about true crime. On this episode: When police shoot dead a suspect the consequences are huge. But how is the decision to shoot to kill made? Is firearms policy fit for purpose? And is it right that the…
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Mutiny in the UK – How the SDP explains Reform UK – with Steve Richards
36:21
36:21
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36:21The SDP blasted through politics in the early 80s, hoovering up blockbuster by-election wins and a quarter of the national vote. They were a gift to the Thatcher Government – splitting the opposition vote and ensuring Tory power. So how come today’s insurgents, Reform UK, aren’t seen as a boon to Starmer but a mortal threat to Labour *and* the Cons…
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Capturing the reality of war in Ukraine – Kyiv-based artist Mark Neville with Dorian Lynskey
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40:40Mark Neville is on the ground in Ukraine, not just taking pictures but also delivering aid and exposing the realities of the conflict through his work. He joins Dorian Lynskey in The Bunker to discuss his new project Diary of a Volunteer, the ethics of conflict photography, the toll of PTSD, and the role photographers play in shaping how wars are r…
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The real Conclave – Inside the contest to be the next Pope
31:51
31:51
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31:51The death of Pope Francis has raised questions over the future of the Catholic Church – and what type of successor we might see. Could they follow the progressive path he set, or are they likely to be more conservative? To discuss what might happen next, Ros Taylor is joined by David Gibson, director of the Center on Religion and Culture at Fordham…
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Acrimony in the UK — Start Your Week with Ros Taylor and Jacob Jarvis
40:35
40:35
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40:35The fallout of the local elections have left Labour and the Tories in a tizz, with neither party entirely sure how to react to Farage’s gloating. So what way will Starmer end up leaning? Ros Taylor talks Jacob Jarvis through the latest domestic politics, plus we look at elections around the world, and lessons which can be learned. We are sponsored …
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A taster of CRIME SCENE, our new podcast – Episode 1: Guns of London
12:46
12:46
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12:46Bunker listeners, try a bite-sized sample of our brand new podcast CRIME SCENE. Every week ex-Met Police Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe and former Mirror editor Alison Phillips lift the lid on how criminal investigations really work. In our debut episode: The horrific shooting of an innocent nine-year-old girl in Dalston in 2024 laid bare bitter r…
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Tat’s Life – The secrets behind “Cursed Objects” in gift shops
38:16
38:16
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38:16What explains the world better? The unattainable relics and archaeological finds that fill museums – or the simple snowglobes, plushies and other knick-knacks in their gift shops? Ahead of a new exhibition Cursed Objects in Museum Shops, curator and Podmasters veteran Kasia Tomasiewicz unearths the true meanings of the souvenirs and objets de tat w…
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Blame Canada! How Carney triumphed over Trumpism – and what it means
30:01
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30:01O Canada! Liberal PM Mark Carney sweeps to victory (well, minority government) in the Canadian General Election. Did Trump’s unhinged plans for annexation and his tariff moodswings make him the worst ally Canadian Tories could wish for? And what happens now that Canadians are broadly agreed that yes, Canada should continue to exist as a country? Jo…
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How Trump's first 100 days will come back to bite him
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42:30Donald Trump’s first 100 days have been some of the most consequential ever. But, is that a good thing for him? Or could it come back to bite him? Doug Sosnik, former advisor to President Bill Clinton as well as several Governors and Senators, joins Jacob Jarvis to discuss what to look out for in the coming months in terms of what could hurt Trump.…
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A New Financial Crisis – Could 2025 get as bad as 2008?
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37:07
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37:07Wall Street is erratic, global trade is unravelling and world leaders are more divided than ever. The similarities to 2008 are growing more apparent – but the crisis this time looks very different. Archie Hall, Britain economics reporter for The Economist, joins Alex von Tunzelmann to explore the global fallout, the risks to Britain’s fragile recov…
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Reform over function? – Start Your Week with Gavin Esler and Jacob Jarvis
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33:37
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33:37Who will be the big winner at the local elections – and will Farage make it sound like it was Reform UK no matter what happens? Plus, Trump marks 100 days in office – how does this stand up to previous presidents? Gavin Esler joins Jacob Jarvis to talk through the news to look out for for the week ahead. Subscribe to Crime Scene, the truth about tr…
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The weird world of Doctor Who explained at last – Live bonus with author John Higgs
1:04:46
1:04:46
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1:04:46Political allegories and woke wars, Patrick Troughton’s louche sex life, the madness of Tom Baker, Doctor Who’s strange grip on Britain’s psychic landscape… Fascinating new book Exterminate! Regenerate! The Story of Doctor Who is a bigger-on-the-inside popular history of Who for the general reader. Author John Higgs talks to confirmed Who addict An…
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Trash talking – The real history of free speech
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33:24
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33:24What do we really mean by free speech? How has the definition changed over time? And why is it always so contentious? As the issue remains the cause of political arguments across the world, Seth Thévoz speaks to Fara Dabhoiwala, historian and the author of What is free speech? The history of a dangerous idea to ask who decides what we can and can’t…
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Trump and Project 2025 – What's coming next from the new 'deep state'?
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37:38Donald Trump spent his last campaign distancing himself from Project 2025. But since returning to office, he’s followed its blueprint with surprising precision. It's already reshaped American life and the workings of government – but could the most dramatic changes still be ahead? Today on The Bunker, Jacob Jarvis sits down with David A. Graham, au…
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Is Morgan McSweeney Labour’s enforcer or Starmer’s controller? – with Steve Richards
33:27
33:27
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33:27Labour’s election guru, a modern-day Macchiavelli, the power behind the PM, a “permanent insurgent”… Starmer’s Chief Of Staff Morgan McSweeney is perhaps the most powerful unelected person in politics. Who is he? What does he want? Is he behind the party’s lurch right – and can he win Labour a second term? Steve Richards of the unmissable Rock and …
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