The Bunker – Your daily news Deep Dive

On our latest panel edition: The COVID inquiry exposed an undeniably toxic culture of pseudo machismo underpinning Downing Street – how did it come to this? Plus, we discuss the politicisation of online dating, and whether our political leanings are the new measure of “hot or not”.

Joining Podmasters’ own Batman and Robin Andrew Harrison and Jacob Jarvis are Oh God, What Now? regular Marie Le Conte and Why? presenter Dr. Anna Machin for a double date in The Bunker.

• “If you can get to the top of the food chain by being revolting, great! Just be sure you trust the people around you.” – Dr. Anna Machin
• “I've ended up dating a card carrying Tory. Not just a voter.” – Marie Le Conte

Why? – the brand new podcast taking you to the edge of knowledge. Available on all good podcast players – visit whypodcast.co.uk to find it

Tell us what you think of The Bunker in our Listener Survey https://www.patreon.com/posts/help-us-make-our-92573016 – five respondents will get the Bunker mug or t-shirt of their choice.

www.patreon.com/bunkercast 

Presented by Jacob Jarvis with Andrew Harrison, Marie Le Conte and Anna Machin. Producers: Eliza Davis Beard and Liam Tait. Audio production: Simon Williams. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters production.

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American politics is in chaos – but in many respects the US was born that way. Throughout the late 1700s the federalist party constantly fought with the anti-federalists over their opposing desires for the future. But is partisan politics really a problem? Or is it a necessity for a democratic system to function? Seth Thevoz is joined by bestselling historian and Pulitzer Prize finalist H.W. Brands – whose new book: Founding Partisans: Hamilton, Madison, Jefferson, Adams and the Brawling Birth of American Politics explores exactly that.

• “Partisanship seems to be inevitable in a democratic system of competitive politics.” – H.W. Brands
• “There are lots of people on the conservative right who think the current government is out of control.” – H.W. Brands
• “If partisanship ever disappears, that's going to be a system of something much worse.” – H.W. Brands.

Tell us what you think of The Bunker in our Listener Survey: https://www.patreon.com/posts/help-us-make-our-92573016 – five respondents will get the Bunker mug or t-shirt of their choice.

Support us on Patreon:

www.patreon.com/bunkercast 

Written and presented by Seth Thevoz. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production: Jade Bailey. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.

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Russia’s use of private military companies (PMCs) is no secret, despite Vladimir Putin’s best efforts. Wagner is the most infamous but after Yevgeny Prighozin’s downfall, another has taken its place – Redut PMC. Where does its loyalties lie? How powerful is it? And who’s in charge? Dr Marina Miron is a post-doctoral researcher at the War Studies Department at King's College London. She joins Laura Makin-Isherwood in The Bunker.

• “Now that Wagner is out of the picture, it seems like Redut is taking its place.” – Dr. Marina Miron
• “I don’t think there is a lot of resistance to PMCs in Russia, especially in the public sphere.” – Dr. Marina Miron
• “Redut started recruiting from prisons, only when Wagner finished.” – Dr. Marina Miron

Listen to our brand new science podcast WHY? – taking you on adventures to the edge of knowledge – at whypodcast.co.uk 

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www.patreon.com/bunkercast 

Written and presented by Laura Makin-Isherwood. Producers: Chris Jones and Eliza David Beard. Audio production: Jade Bailey. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.

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Spotify dominates the music industry – but artists struggle to profit from the platform. What if that power balance shifts? Although the streaming platform is on track to reach one billion users by 2027. Can the streamer perfect the mix of corporate profits, customer satisfaction and pay musicians more than a fraction of a penny per play?

Andrew Harrison is joined in The Bunker by music business and tech journalist Dr. Eamonn Forde to discuss Spotify's uncertain future.  

• “Spotify was created to compete with illegal music services like Napster.” – Dr. Eamonn Forde
• “Apple was slow to streaming, Steve Jobs always felt that it was a ridiculous idea to ‘rent’ music” – Dr. Eamonn Forde
• “The CD market had a phenomenal growth curve that was completely unsustainable.” – Dr. Eamonn Forde

Support us on Patreon:

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Written and presented by Andrew Harrison. Producer: Liam Tait. Audio editor: Jade Bailey. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.

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The BBC’s Ros Atkins regularly goes viral for his news explainers. In our latest episode, he joins Ros Taylor to discuss the art of communication in a changing media environment. Whether you’re talking about a complex political issue, or an email to your boss, it’s vital to be able to communicate effectively and clearly. Where do we begin, are there systems to use in constructing our explanations and what makes an explanation effective? Atkins reveals all in his new book The Art of Explanation. 

• "Two things I ask when building a video: what's essential and what’s interesting?” – Ros Atkins
• "You just can’t do quality analysis without proper understanding of the whole story.” – Ros Atkins

Art of Explanation by Ros Atkins:

https://geni.us/TAOEBOOK

Written and presented by Ros Taylor. Audio production: Alex Rees. Production: Liam Tait and Adam Wright. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.

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The Israel-Hamas War is the latest horrific episode in what seems like an intractable political-religious conflict. But could there be a political way out of these generational hatreds? Middle East Analyst and member of the NATO Defence College Foundation Jason Pack believes there IS a solution – and it could come from the most unexpected source. He explains a possible post-war future for Gaza to Andrew Harrison.

Why?, the brand new podcast taking you to the edge of knowledge. Available on all good podcast players. Visit whypodcast.co.uk to find it

Listen to Jason Pack on the Disorder podcast: https://linktr.ee/disorderpod

Read more on this topic in The Road to Middle East Peace Runs Through Doha – Jason Pack on foreignpolicy.com

• “Netanyahu has committed himself to eradicating Hamas, but Hamas is an ideology, more than a group.” – Jason Pack

• “Hamas created Netanyahu as much as he was created by Hamas.” – Jason Pack

• “The key to long term peace is a coalition of Arab States… The Qataris are the lynchpin.” – Jason Pack

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Presented by Group Editor Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers Eliza Davis Beard, Chris Jones and Liam Tait. Art by James Parrett. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production

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With the final King’s Speech before the election due, is there any point to Sunak’s plans anymore? What can we expect from the government’s agenda – and can any of its goals even be achieved? Plus the latest on the Israel-Hamas conflict – will growing calls for a ceasefire or pause be heeded? Finally, Trump is expected to testify in one of his many court cases, what should we expect? 

Jacob Jarvis is joined in The Bunker by Alex Andreou to get you prepped for the week ahead.  

• ‘“The Conservatives are a party that has given up on governing.” – Alex Andreou
• “We know we’ve run out of spaces in prisons, so harsher sentences are pointless.” – Alex Andreou
• “The environmentalist King Charles reading out a regressive fossil fuel policy will be fascinating to watch.” – Alex Andreou 

Support us on Patreon:

www.patreon.com/bunkercast 

Why? - the brand new podcast taking you to the edge of knowledge. Available on all good podcast players - visit whypodcast.co.uk to find it

Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis and Alex Andreou. Producer: Liam Tait. Audio editor: Jade Bailey. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.

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On this Bonfire night special Bunker Gold, let us take you back to November 2020…

Was Guy Fawkes really “the last honest man to enter Parliament”, as we keep hearing on Twitter? Or a fore-runner of today’s religiously radicalised terrorists? Why is a villain of the Gunpowder Plot acclaimed as a hero by some in 2020? Nick Holland, author of The Real Guy Fawkes, tells Jude Rogers why Guy Fawkes persists as a symbol… and what we misunderstand about a man who almost murdered thousands in a 17th century atrocity.

• “Guy Fawkes is a complicated figure – so both political sides can claim him.”
• “It’s estimated he’d gathered enough gunpowder to destroy Parliament 25 times over.”

Presented by Jude Rogers. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producer Jacob Archbold. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production

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From Obama’s tan suit to the Emperor’s new clothes – we’ve always been fascinated by politicians’ wardrobes. But should we care at all what they wear? Marie Le Conte is joined by fashion writer and political commentator, Derek Guy aka "The Menswear Guy" on Twitter to find out.

• "I don’t like the respectability politics of clothing. Your character isn’t determined by how you dress.” – Derek Guy
• "I would agree. I’m a bit of a snob.” – Derek Guy
• “You don’t know if somebody earnestly loves something or if they’re being paid by a brand." – Derek Guy

Support us on Patreon:

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Written and presented by Marie Le Conte. Producer: Liam Tait. Audio editor: Jade Bailey. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.

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The notion of American patriotism has become increasingly controversial — and linked to violence. With no clear-cut definition of patriotism, the notion has been co-opted by far-right extremist groups such as the Proud Boys and Oathkeepers. Sam Jackson is the author of Oath Keepers: Patriotism and the Edge of Violence in a Right-Wing Anti Government Group, he joins Chris Jones in The Bunker to discuss how the concept has been warped.

Book link: http://cup.columbia.edu/book/oath-keepers/9780231193450

• “Patriotism is used as a political weapon”.
• “There’s no clear and thick analytical definition of patriotism - it’s more a form of strategic communication or persuasion”.
• “I don’t see any reason that we should be confident that another January 6th insurrection couldn’t happen again”.

Support us on Patreon:

www.patreon.com/bunkercast

Written and presented by Chris Jones. Producer: Eliza Davis Beard. Audio producer: Jade Bailey. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.

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