The Bunker – News without the nonsense Harsh Realities in Munich – Start Your Week with Ros Taylor and Andrew Harrison
Feb 16, 2026
They unpack the fallout from Navalny’s murder and Britain’s debate over rearmament and defence spending. They probe Marco Rubio’s Munich tone and what it means for US-Europe ties. A rushed UK plan to limit teen social media gets scrutiny. Local by-election drama, Labour leadership chatter about John Healey, a measles scare in London, and the Year of the Fire Horse all feature.
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Russia's Poisoning Signals Greater Threat
- Russia's use of an unusual lab-made toxin to kill Navalny underscores its willingness to operate dangerously and secretly.
- Ros Taylor says Britain is shifting public messaging toward rearmament and societal preparation to deter Russia.
Rubio's Rhetoric Masks Nativist Shift
- Marco Rubio's softer tone masks nativist, Europe-centric themes that echo earlier conservative shifts.
- Ros Taylor warns this rhetoric reframes threats as migration and deindustrialisation rather than purely geopolitical rivalry.
Warm Words Don't Guarantee US Commitments
- The US may revert to reduced commitment to European defence even if leaders speak warmly about allies.
- Ros Taylor argues ideas from Rubio or Vance differ little from Trump's and influence broader US policy.
