The Bunker – News without the nonsense

Joe Biden is 80 and his main Republican rival Donald Trump is 77. Opponents of each are ready to use their ages against them – but will this debate matter come 2024? Writer for Vanity Fair and host of the Fast Politics podcast, Molly Jong-Fast says the age argument is a classic GOP tactic, but questions how well it will work. She joins Gavin Esler in the Bunker. “One of the things we’re not talking about enough is the power of incumbency.” – Molly Jong-Fast. “I don’t think Biden would’ve run again if he didn’t know he was the person most likely to win.” – Molly Jong-Fast. “This could be the last ever American election – can you see Trump ever leaving?” –Molly Jong-Fast. www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Gavin Esler. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production: Robin Leeburn. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters ProductionInstagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Bunker Global: The G20 is assembling in India this weekend, what can we expect from this year’s summit? Plus, we take a look at Victor Orbán’s interview with Tucker Carlson and the UAE is looking to loosen ‘gaming’ laws in their country. Could Dubai become the Las Vegas of the middle east? Chris Jones is joined by associate professor of politics and international relations at UCL, Julie Norman, and Hungary-based journalist Zsolt Kerner, to get you up to speed on the biggest stories from around the world. "A large proportion of the UAE's population are not citizens. The teachings of the Quran aren’t a priority to them.” —Julie Norman "Most Hungarians believe that the US can do whatever it wants for its own gain.” — Zsolt Kerner "India is uniquely placed to bring other countries in the G20 together.” — Chris Jones  www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Chris Jones with Julie Norman and Zsolt Kerner. Producer: Liam Tait. Audio editor: Simon Williams. Production Assistant: Adam Wright. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Special thanks to Balint Bardi. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Inflation is one of the hot political topics at the moment. Jeremy Hunt says that keeping inflation at five per cent is putting money in the pocket of the average Brit... So we figured it was time to provide a cheat-sheet on inflation knowledge, just in case the Chancellor of the Exchequer needs a judgement-free refresher. Alex Andreou sits down with Giles Wilkes, senior fellow at the Institute for Government, to explain everything you need to know about inflation. “High inflation is the clearest sign that you've got something really wrong.” “The BoE thinks they need to raise interest rates in order to cut purchasing power.” “Inflation is all of the prices going up at once rather than some for their own idiosyncratic reasons.” www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Alex Andreou. Producer: Liam Tait. Audio editor: Simon Williams. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Being the leader of the opposition is a thankless task, often described as the worst job in politics. Those that don’t go on to be PM are often completely forgotten, rarely to be spoken of again. So what makes a good leader of the opposition? And how has the role changed through history? Dr. Nigel Fletcher is the Author of The Not Quite Prime Ministers: Leaders of the Opposition 1783–2020. He joins Marie Le Conte in The Bunker.https://www.bitebackpublishing.com/books/the-not-quite-prime-ministers  “It’s the best apprenticeship you can have outside of being deputy Prime Minister.” – Nigel Fletcher “There are a few that you can look at and say that was a really bad period of opposition.” – Nigel Fletcher www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Marie Le Conte. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production: Simon Williams. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters ProductionInstagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We have some of the worst river health standards in Europe – in large part due to raw sewage being pumped into our vital waterways. Is it too easy for water companies to get away with this? And does the Government have a plan to fix the issue? Jamie Woodward is a professor of physical geography at the University of Manchester. He joins Laura Makin-Isherwood in the Bunker to discuss. “The water companies have ruthlessly exploited an under regulated system.” – Prof. Jamie Woodward “The dumping of sewage has become routine, and there’s been a public outrage against water companies who have made huge profits.” – Prof. Jamie Woodward Dumping sewage is incredibly profitable and there’s no sufficient deterrent to get them to clear up their act.” – Prof. Jamie Woodward www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Laura Makin-Isherwood. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production: Robin Leeburn. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters ProductionInstagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

School’s out indefinitely across the country as many deal with a concrete crisis. But how much did the government know about this looming fiasco? Meanwhile, parliament is back in session — inflation, small boats and green energy are on the agenda for the Conservatives. Meanwhile, Starmer looks towards the general election with a shadow cabinet reshuffle. Plus a preview of the G20 conference, the latest on Ukraine — and it’s been one year since the Queen died. How does this new era of Britain stack up to the last? Ros Taylor is joined in The Bunker by Alex Andreou to get you prepped for the week ahead.   “The metaphor of crumbling schools is a little too on the nose.” – Alex Andreou “Cameron once said Labour failed to fix the roof when the sun was shining. How ironic.” – Ros Taylor “Braverman has failed on every single metric, to an almost farcical level.” – Alex Andreou Support us on on Patreon:www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Ros Taylor 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.Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You are what you buy, but how does shopping shape our politics? Can brands be agents of social change? Bobby Friction is joined by Marcus Collins, author of For the Culture: The Power Behind the World's Most Successful Brands, from Apple to Beyoncé, to explore how companies tailor their brands to different personal politics.  “How we make our identity is unbelievably powerful.” “Nike is far more than just a sneaker company, it is an agent of social change.” “It all goes wrong when brands don’t fully commit to particular politics.” www.patreon.com/bunkercast Book link:https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/marcus-collins/for-the-culture/9781035020010 Presented by Bobby Friction. Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Assistant producer: Adam Wright. Audio editor: Robin Leeburn. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Over half a million people in America are homeless – and this figure keeps increasing. How can this crisis – which is resulting in deaths across the nation – be solved? President Joe Biden wants to eradicate homelessness by 2025. Can he? Ann Marie Staudenmaier is senior legal counsel for the Washington Legal Clinic for The Homeless. She sits down in The Bunker with Chris Jones to discuss why the US is failing. “This is a problem across the country because of government policies evicting people and not being able to afford to get back into housing.” – Ann Marie Staudenmaier “I’ve seen so many government proclamations over the years, and the only way to solve this problem is to put your money where your mouth is.” – Ann Marie Staudenmaier www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Chris Jones. Audio production: Simon Williams. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Bunker Global: We’re a year and a half into the Ukraine war, and the estimated death toll remains unclear. James Cleverly is in China to “reestablish lines of communication” despite raising humanitarian concerns. Plus, we found out what happened at the BRICS summit and finally we looked at the latest horror story from Australia. Chris Jones is joined by broadcast journalist Laura Makin-Isherwood to get you up to speed on the biggest stories from around the world. "The Russian government has classified all information on soldier casualties in Ukraine” Laura Makin-Isherwood "Even getting invited to China will be a bit of a coup for James Cleverly.” - Laura Makin-Isherwood "BRICs could signal a shift in global power away from the west.” - Laura Makin-Isherwood "Outrageous! A worm in the brain?” - Chris Jones  Written and presented by Laura Makin-Isherwood with Chris Jones. Producer: Liam Tait. Audio editor: Simon Williams. Production Assistant: Adam Wright. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There’s a revolution in the way doctors are treating mental health, but the UK could be at risk of falling behind.Dr. Kate Devlin speaks to Dr. Matt Wall, a cognitive neuroscientist at Imperial College London and Invicro, to discuss microdosing, legal red tape and what happens when you give an octopus MDMA.  "Drug policy isn’t on the agenda for any of the main UK parties. They just don’t care.”  "After the trip wears off, the antidepressant effect can last for days or even months.” “Current legislation makes it incredibly difficult to research psychedelics.” www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Kate Devlin. Producer: Liam Tait. Audio editor: Simon Williams. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices