The Bunker – Your daily news Deep Dive

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 Quirk talks to Ros Taylor to chart the days ahead. 

• “Johnson’s astonishingly egotistical statement basically blamed Tory MPs for blocking him.” – Ros Taylor 
• “This is a Government that is not going to be able to push anything remotely ambitious through.” – Ros Taylor 
• “There is no overarching agenda apart from survival for the Conservative Party now.” – Ros Taylor
• “There will be more pain, there will be more austerity. Anyone who thinks there will be a massive turnaround is kidding themselves.” – Ros Taylor 

Presented by Justin Quirk with Ros Taylor. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production: Robin Leeburn. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production

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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.”
• “The Brits play the game, and occasionally write down things.”
• “You don't have to be a human being to stand for election.”
• “As a Recyclon, I hope to reuse the best policies from across the galaxy.”

www.patreon.com/bunkercast 

Written and presented by Alex Andreou. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Jade Bailey. Music: Kenny Dickinson. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. 

geni.us/whatonearth 

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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 conservatives and Republicans nationwide.”
• “It’s the worst kept secret in America that DeSantis wants to be President.”
• “DeSantis is Donald Trump without the charisma.”

www.patreon.com/bunkercast 

Written and presented by Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Jade Bailey. Music: Kenny Dickinson. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. 

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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 referendums are won by appealing to people’s heart strings.”
• “The Scottish independence referendum is good example of what not to do in an independence referendum.”
• “Becoming independent is not a panacea.”

www.patreon.com/bunkercast 

Written and presented by Ahir Shah. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Jade Bailey. Music: Kenny Dickinson. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. 

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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, so the 1922 committee gets ever more relevant.”
• “The 1922 committee represents ‘honesty’ for Conservatives – toothless messengers of political truths.”
• “Graham Brady loves the role, he sees his duty as being to the Party rather than factions.”

www.patreon.com/bunkercast 

Written and presented by Alex Rees. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Alex Rees. Music: Kenny Dickinson. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. 

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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 like markets but Minford is extreme.”
• “The mini-budget was an experiment of Minford in practice.” 
• “There's a risk that we lunge to the other extreme and a return to Osbornite austerity.”
• “Minford claims to care about government budgets, but he's fine with tax cuts for the wealthy.”

www.patreon.com/bunkercast 

Written and presented by Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Alex Rees. Music: Kenny Dickinson. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. 

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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.”
• “Younger Brits are more inclined towards personal, not national, identities. But it's the same thing – belonging.” 
• “Anxiety over the environment is just as high in the Red Wall as in the inner city, but the way you go around solving it is different.” 
• “A lot of voters feel strained by the old rules. COVID showed things can change.” 

www.patreon.com/bunkercast 

Written and presented by Ros Taylor. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Alex Rees. Music: Kenny Dickinson. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. 

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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 Titanic after it’s hit the iceberg.”
• “No-one with half a brain would want the job of PM now.”
• “Trump is an experienced litigant. He's experienced in keeping his mouth shut in legal settings.” 

www.patreon.com/bunkercast 

Presented by Jacob Jarvis and Alex Andreou. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. Music: Kenny Dickinson. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. 

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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 swearing.” 
• “Swearing can be a social bonding tool.”
• “You can enjoy a well placed swear word, can’t you? You can think, ‘That was skillful.’” 

Support us on Patreon:

www.patreon.com/bunkercast 

Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Jade Bailey. Music: Kenny Dickinson. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. 

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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 ability of the communist party to gain control.”
• “Xi likes the narrative that China is the only country to win the fight against Covid.”
• “The Chinese government can’t accept that its vaccines are less effective.”
• “China has a sort of health nationalism.”

Support us on Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast

Written and presented by Alex Andreou. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Robin Leeburn Music: Kenny Dickinson. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.