The Bunker – News without the nonsense Hot Take Time Machine – The month's weirdest columns with Miranda Sawyer and Jonn Elledge
Feb 3, 2026
John Elledge, columnist and author known for sharp political and cultural takes, and Miranda Sawyer, veteran journalist and broadcaster with a knack for cultural commentary, sift through the month’s oddest columns. They lampoon Telegraph reverse‑ferrets on Trump, roast Beckham family hot takes, probe influencers monetising family life, and unpack pieces on AI, social trust and The Traitors.
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Telegraph's Pro-Trump Flip-Flop
- Tim Stanley's Telegraph pieces reveal a right-wing desire to reattach Britain to a stronger US leader despite contradictions.
- John Elledge notes the columns mix realist foreign-policy points with culture-war theatrics that undermine credibility.
The Telegraph's Doom-Driven Style
- Alastair Heath's weekly catastrophising shows the Telegraph trades calm analysis for apocalyptic headlines.
- Miranda Sawyer calls his language thrilling and overblown, turning news into cinematic doom-saying.
Vine's Personal Beckham Angle
- Sarah Vine's Beckham column leans on personal identification and petty details like her son knowing Cruz.
- Miranda Sawyer judges the piece a weak, first-thought take that offers little original insight.