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Artwork for The Bunker – News without the nonsense

The Bunker – News without the nonsense

Podmasters
Donald Trump
Labour Party
Keir Starmer
Russia
Ukraine
Artificial Intelligence
China
Venezuela
Nigel Farage
Iran
Brexit
Climate Change
Trump
United States
Migration
Elon Musk
NATO
Prince Andrew
UK Politics
Greenland

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 ... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes1899Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsSociety & CulturePolitics

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Artwork for The Bunker – News without the nonsense

Latest Episodes

Putin thought his war on Ukraine would restore Russia to greatness in just ten days. Instead, after four and a half years of futile slaughter and almost half a million Russian soldiers killed, the unthinkable seems to be coming true. Could Russia los... more

A lab accident, a bio-attack, a global pandemic. Is this how it all ends? If you weren’t worried enough about nuclear war, the next doomsday weapon is a sinister invisible threat – and it’s a living thing. After her astonishing book Nuclear War: A Sc... more

Steve Gallant knows what’s wrong with Britain's prisons. He spent over 16 years in jail for murder and then – on his very first day release – he helped stop the 2019 London Bridge terror attack, an act of bravery which won him the Queen’s Gallantry M... more

Setting up the stories of the next seven days… France and Spain suffer apocalyptic fires and mass evacuations. Will this be the tipping point for European climate policy? Andy Burnham starts to tackle the big stuff in his second week as PM, starting ... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Steve Gallant
Former prisoner, recipient of Royal Prerogative of Mercy and Queen's Gallantry Medal, writer and speaker on the prison system
Episode: “I spent 16 years in jail. Here’s how Burnham needs to change our prisons”
Rachel Cunliffe
New Statesman Associate Political Editor, regular on Oh God, What Now and confirmed classicist
New Statesman
Episode: How The Odyssey conquered the culture war whiners
Enda O'Doherty
Journalist and author of The Dark Side of France, Thirteen Chapters in the History of the French Far Right
Author, Journalist
Episode: Turning France fascist? – Inside the Le Pen dynasty
Dr. Vladimir Borton
Leading political scientist and lecturer at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
Episode: The Clacton Job – Inside Farage’s “anti-establishment” con
Zoe Grunewald
Westminster editor at The LEAD and regular on radio/TV
The LEAD
Episode: England fail heroically, Reform stoke anger, Starmer’s farewell – Weekly Wrap-up with Zoë Grünewald
Peter Gagan
Journalist, author of Democracy for Sale, Dark Money and Dirty Politics
London Review of Books
Episode: The truth about Palantir
Dr. Sam Power
Senior researcher on party political funding and corruption
University of Bristol
Episode: Who’s really paying your MP?
Benji Wilson
Journalist and writer, author of Rate This Book
Freelance journalist/Author
Episode: Star Wars – Why our obsession with star ratings is ruining everything
Alex von Tunzelmann
Historian, writer and author
Historian, author of five books
Episode: Farage’s farce, Trump's truce and Harry’s hacking loss – Weekly Wrap-up with Alex von Tunzelmann

Hosts

Jacob Jarvis
Host with in-depth involvement in weekly wrap-ups and Start Your Week segments.
Andrew Harrison
Co-host and regular contributor across episodes.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 1.8k ratings
  • I was left puzzled by this episode on North Korea. Presumably the regime doesn't survive on thin air. The fact that it's a corrupt regime, with nuclear weapons, pre - supposes that there is an economy that generates some wealth to be sidelined into those activities and an educated workforce to sustain it. The podcast gave no clue whatsoever as to what the source of this wealth might be. What do North Koreans actually do in their daily lives? Are there any public services; how are they run?

    Podcast Addict
    3
    Cerise
    a month ago
  • The bunker could be a great, off mainstream podcast, however…..

    As per my headline this podcast could be great. I thought it had purported to be a non biased podcast with intellectual argument from both sides of the political spectrum which is very hard to find these days.

    Unfortunately, there are some impressive hosts eg Raphael,

    But some shockingly unimpressive hosts …. Jarvis today, for example, mocking and denigrating reform voters. I am not a reform voter, but want a reasoned argument on all sides.

    I had thought about becoming a subscriber, but now ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Emily2G
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Meh

    The podcast version of a slightly condescending guardian reader

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    chrissywakeupPLS1
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • Excellent

    Wonderful to have Dorian back on!

    Hey guys go mad and get Ian back on too. Just like the old days of Brexit angst.

    Seth is brilliant too.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Stevibee
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • Something for everyone (with a liberal focus)

    The bunker started off just before the pandemic really came into view, from the team that brought you Remainiacs. That became Oh God What Now and for some time the bunker consisted of panel episodes, but additionally also daily episodes on selected topics.

    In its current format the episodes are almost entirely the daily specials, somewhat rivalling the Guardian’s ‘today in focus’, sometimes but not exclusively on subjects concerning the day’s news.

    Some episodes won’t interest everyone but ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Kindablue1984
    United Kingdom5 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Captures a wide range of views; sometimes biased but informative.
High-quality interviews and consistent depth across topics.
Discussions can be sharp and partisan, yet insightful for policy geeks.
Thoughtful, well-argued politics with credible guests.
Some listeners wish for more neutral framing and fewer ads.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#22
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#50
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#166
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#60
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#103
France/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#127
Italy/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

“I spent 16 years in jail. Here’s how Burnham needs to change our prisons”
Q: Is the early release scheme the right approach, or does it risk undermining safety?
He suggests that some individuals within the cohort will still need to be released, but criteria should be tightened and capacity expanded thoughtfully to avoid creating dangerous density without solving underlying issues.
“I spent 16 years in jail. Here’s how Burnham needs to change our prisons”
Q: What would a well-run prison look like, and what reforms would you prioritize first?
He argues for stabilizing the prison environment, zero tolerance for violence and drugs, improving front-line staffing, bringing back experienced officers, separating hardcore drug kingpins, and implementing robust release planning and post-release support to reduce reoffending.
“I spent 16 years in jail. Here’s how Burnham needs to change our prisons”
Q: Before we get into the politics of all of this, just tell us your story. Please tell our listeners about yourself.
Steve describes a life-altering journey from youth in Hull to a life sentence, the decision to pursue education, and his involvement with Learning Together at Cambridge, which connected him to a broader reform trajectory and provided a pathway out of violence.
The Clacton Job – Inside Farage’s “anti-establishment” con
Q: If it's not the privately educated political party leader with crypto billionaire mates, who or what is the establishment?
The establishment is not a fixed category; it functions as a political narrative that can mean Westminster, the bankers, the media, academics, and civil service all at once, and it is used strategically to unite diverse grievances under a single enemy.
Who’s really paying your MP?
Q: What reforms are being considered, and are they sufficient to restore trust in democracy?
Reforms like the Representation of the People Bill aim to tighten overseas and corporate donations and improve donor checks, but the speaker argues these measures are underwhelming if they don't address the core issue of unlimited donations and the broader structural incentives within the system.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Bunker – News without the nonsense

What is The Bunker – News without the nonsense about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A weekday briefing that pairs sharp political and current affairs analysis with historical context and thoughtful interviews. Episodes cover UK politics, international diplomacy, elections, and policy debates, often featuring historians, political analysts, and journalists who dissect headlines, governance, and power dynamics. The tone blends serious, evidence-based discussion with accessible storytelling, and guests range from university historians to seasoned political commentators. A recurring strength is connecting contemporary events to deeper historical patterns, offering listeners a compact, nuanced briefing for decision-makers, journalists, and policy enthusiasts who want more than surface-level coverage. Sponsorships and cross-podc... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Bunker – News without the nonsense?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Bunker – News without the nonsense:

1. Oh God, What Now?
2. Quiet Riot
3. This Is Not A Drill with Gavin Esler
4. American Friction
5. Origin Story

How many episodes of The Bunker – News without the nonsense are there?

The Bunker – News without the nonsense launched 7 years ago and published 1899 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Bunker – News without the nonsense?

Recent guests on The Bunker – News without the nonsense include:

1. Steve Gallant
2. Rachel Cunliffe
3. Enda O'Doherty
4. Dr. Vladimir Borton
5. Zoe Grunewald
6. Peter Gagan
7. Dr. Sam Power
8. Benji Wilson

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