The Bunker – News without the nonsense Hot Take Time Machine – March’s weirdest columns with Miranda Sawyer and Jonn Elledge
Mar 26, 2026
A roundtable sifts through the month’s most peculiar columns with sharp humour. They lampoon militaristic foreign‑policy grandstanding and influencer-shaped Iran coverage. They relish melodramatic money woes and extravagant diary details. They also adore a running pigeon saga and a wistful take on 1990s nostalgia.
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Daily Mail Diary About Dubai Panic
- Shona Sibiri wrote a Daily Mail diary about being stuck in Dubai during regional unrest and panicked over leaving her Mount Jaro pen in the fridge.
- Miranda Sawyer and John Elledge laughed at the column’s petty domestic details: Labradoodles, brunch prices and celebrity name-drops that framed a serious crisis as lifestyle inconvenience.
Dubai Influencer Messaging Is Economically Driven
- Influencers in Dubai posted near-identical reassurances after the Iran strikes, likely coordinating to protect tourism and the city's image.
- John Elledge noted Dubai's restrictive press laws and economic dependence on tourism, which pressures residents and influencers to present calm.
Dubai’s Luxury Image Masks Migrant Underclass
- Dubai’s luxury economy depends on a thin, visible expat layer while 87% of the population are migrants working in lower-paid roles.
- Miranda Sawyer and John Elledge highlighted the gulf between glamorous influencers and South Asian labourers who build that lifestyle.