The Bunker – News without the nonsense
Podmasters
News without the nonsense, every weekday morning. In episodes that fit your commute*, The Bunker cuts through the noise to make sense of what’s really going on in news, current affairs, politics, economics and culture. We bring you smart explainers, interviews, fresh perspectives and under-reported stories to as a refreshing alternative to repetitive Punch and Judy news coverage. It’s the only way to start the day. From the producers of Oh God, What Now?Our regulars include: Gavin Esler • Ros Taylor • Alex von Tunzelmann • Andrew Harrison • Zing Tsjeng • Jacob Jarvis • Emma Kennedy • Rafael Behr • Seth Thévoz.• Sign up to support the podcast and get episodes ad-free and early: patreon.com/bunkercast• Apple users: Get all of our core shows ad-free and early with the Podmasters Originals super-subscription.(* Even if it’s just from the kitchen to the front room. )The Bunker is a Podmasters production.
Episodes
Mentioned books
8 snips
Apr 3, 2026 • 33min
Trump's Iran solution: War crimes! – Weekly Wrap-Up with Zoë Grünewald
Zoë Grünewald, lead Westminster editor and political journalist, breaks down the week's biggest stories. They tackle alarming rhetoric around Iran and who really controls the conflict. Discussions range from NATO leverage and UK–EU ties to Artemis 2's symbolic lunar return. Sharp, fast-paced political analysis with a focus on global power plays.
11 snips
Apr 2, 2026 • 33min
The Man who Built God – Meet the Oppenheimer of artificial superintelligence
Sebastian Mallaby, author and journalist who wrote The Infinity Machine, explores Demis Hassabis and DeepMind. He traces Hassabis’s working‑class roots and scientific drive. Conversations cover the moral dilemmas of building superintelligence, safety versus speed in the AI race, and how founder personalities and national values shape AI’s future.
4 snips
Apr 1, 2026 • 33min
It’s P.C. gone mad – 50 years of Apple Computer
Craig Grannell, technology journalist who covers consumer tech history and industry trends, walks through Apple’s rise from the Apple II to the iPhone. He discusses design and marketing that made tech feel personal. He covers Jobs vs Woz, Tim Cook’s trade-offs, major missteps like Vision Pro and AI caution, plus politics and whether Apple can adapt to the AI era.
11 snips
Mar 31, 2026 • 31min
CrashGPT – Will A.I. trigger a 2008-style financial crisis?
Joshua Roberts, Capital Markets Correspondent at The Economist, explains how AI hype has driven extreme valuations concentrated in chipmakers and a few big tech firms. He discusses hiring shifts for graduates, private AI firms’ hidden economic impact, rising debt for AI capex, and whether this concentration could precipitate a crash or a more mixed outcome.
Mar 30, 2026 • 31min
Some Boots on Some Ground? – Start Your Week with Gavin Esler
They debate the likelihood and consequences of US ground raids in Iran and whether limited strikes could achieve political aims. They link a potential Iran conflict to UK economic pain and looming local elections. They unpack UK political fault lines, a major BBC leadership exit, Apple’s 50th, Trump’s contested ballroom decision, and the search for Tottenham’s next manager.
Mar 27, 2026 • 39min
Starmer finds Farage's Crypto-nite – Weekly Wrap-Up with Seth Thévoz
Seth Thévoz, journalist and author of London Clubland, offers sharp political and cultural analysis. He unpacks new crypto and overseas donation limits, the risks of anonymous crypto funding, and a proposed £100,000 cap on foreign donations. He also covers party funding loopholes, state funding ideas, and recent UK and international political stories.
Mar 26, 2026 • 40min
Hot Take Time Machine – March’s weirdest columns with Miranda Sawyer and Jonn Elledge
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.
Mar 25, 2026 • 29min
A picture of the future – A new movie captures what George Orwell knew about 2026
Dorian Lynskey, author and Orwell specialist, explores how Raoul Peck’s new documentary links 1984 and Animal Farm to today’s data-driven manipulation. He discusses the film’s collage style, its cinematic power, and where the Orwell connections feel stretched. Lynskey also examines surveillance, truth erosion, collective self-deception, and how adaptations shape our image of Orwell.
4 snips
Mar 24, 2026 • 30min
MAGA’s new plan to take Canada without firing a shot
John Last, a Canadian journalist covering politics and national security, explains how MAGA influence is targeting Alberta. He highlights Alberta’s frontier culture, resentment toward Ottawa, and oil wealth as vulnerabilities. Short scenes cover referendums, US links, and scenarios for destabilization. A warning about treasonous aims and the need to defend Canadian unity threads through the conversation.
10 snips
Mar 23, 2026 • 29min
Has Iran won the Iran War? – Start Your Week with Gavin Esler
A tense look at Trump’s dilemma over the Iran conflict and whether Tehran is gaining strategic advantage. Exploration of economic fallout from oil shocks and possible cost-of-living pain. Debate over the UK’s role, intelligence cooperation and political consequences at home. Coverage of misinformation and missile scares, plus a swirl of cultural and political flashpoints this week.
