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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
Nigel Farage
Ukraine
Iran
Artificial Intelligence
Venezuela
Brexit
Andy Burnham
China
Reform UK
Migration
Greenland
United Kingdom
Racism
Elon Musk
NATO
United States

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes1944Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNewsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for The Bunker – News without the nonsense

Latest Episodes

Once, Britain and Germany were the closest of friends. But over the course of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, relations spectacularly unravelled – culminating in two world wars fought on opposite sides. So how did two countries with so much i... more

Setting out the stories of the next seven days… Five men are arrested on suspicion of planning a terror attack on RAF Fairford. It has all the hallmarks of state-sponsored action – who would escalate their conflict with the UK so seriously? Plus: Lab... more

Looking back at the big stories from the past seven days… Andy Burnham has vowed to crack down on Russia’s “poisonous” slopaganda campaign. Can he really stop the Kremlin meddling in Britain’s affairs? Plus: Trump meets Xi (again) this time in Washin... more

Is Britain really the crime-ridden hellhole the right says it is? Well… no, not really. Crime has actually fallen over the past decade for most offences – ranging from phone snatching to murder. So why do people think it’s getting worse? Why are Refo... more

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Recent Guests

Ben Macintyre
Journalist and chronicler of modern espionage
Author of Redwood
Episode: Sex, secrets and the KGB – How a Cold War spy accidentally saved the world
Jill Lepore
Historian at Harvard, staff writer at The New Yorker
Harvard University; The New Yorker
Episode: Depraved new world – How billionaires’ sci-fi dreams are wrecking the future
David Smith
The Guardian's Washington Bureau Chief
The Guardian
Episode: Is AOC really America's next president?
Spencer Ackerman
National security journalist and author
Author of Reign of Terror; journalist
Episode: Terror Century – How the trauma of 9/11 made Trump and MAGA inevitable
David Cole
Former National Legal Director of the American Civil Liberties Union; author of works on 9/11 and civil liberties
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
Episode: Terror Century – Did the War on Terror become a war on freedom?
Bruce Hoffman
Professor of Security Studies, Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Episode: Terror Century – Are we living in the world that 9/11 created?
Jim Waterson
Founder and editor of The London Centric
The London Centric
Episode: What's really going on in Britain’s dodgy “vape shops”
Kai Bird
Author of American Scoundrel, Roy Cohn's Dark Journey from Joe McCarthy to Donald Trump
Author, American Scoundrel
Episode: Roy Cohn – The monster who created Donald Trump
Jared Diamond
Pulitzer Prize–winning author and geographer
University of Utah (and author of Profits, Prophets, Coaches and Kings)
Episode: Churchill, JFK, Mao, Alex Ferguson… The “great leader” is a myth, says Jared Diamond

Host

Jacob Jarvis
Host with a focus on political analysis and interviews; regular host across The Bunker formats.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 1.8k ratings
  • Disappointed, actually disgusted

    Ros Taylor’s account of the Professor Arday story was disappointing in many respects. Her evidence-free suggestion that Liverpool John Moores University’s review of PhD plagiarism accusations was self-interested and less than honest is scurrilous. She fails to mention the role of Nathan Cofnas the ‘race realist’ (read racist) in agitating the furore and constantly uses the tabloid click-bait framing of Dr Arday as a “poster-child” for DEI - sloppy, lazy journalism. A lot remains to be investi... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Aurilia Zen
    Australiaa month ago
  • Witty and insightful

    Andrew Harrison is the complete host. Funny too.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dr Andrew II
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • 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
    3 months 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 Kingdom4 months ago
  • Meh

    The podcast version of a slightly condescending guardian reader

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    chrissywakeupPLS1
    United Kingdom5 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the host lineup for sharp analysis and big-name guests.
Positive mentions frequently note engaging guests and informative historical context.
Some listeners complain about pacing or editorial balance depending on episode.
Criticisms often target perceived bias or uneven hosting across episodes.
Many reviews highlight consistency and depth in policy and current affairs discussions.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#20
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#44
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#44
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#119
Italy/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#162
Australia/News
Apple Podcasts
#187
France/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Depraved new world – How billionaires’ sci-fi dreams are wrecking the future
Q: If a listener takes away one thing from this conversation, what should they do differently tomorrow as a citizen?
Before posting political content online, pause and ask where you would hear diverse views if the internet did not exist, then seek out that alternative space to engage constructively with others.
Depraved new world – How billionaires’ sci-fi dreams are wrecking the future
Q: Why go back to the 1930s and technocracy as a spine for the discussion, instead of treating this as a uniquely contemporary phenomenon?
Because the 1930s provided a clear, concrete blueprint of governance by experts and automation, showing that concerns about technocracy, automation, and the limits of liberal democracies are long-standing and not a new invention, which helps us understand current anxieties in a broader historical context.
Depraved new world – How billionaires’ sci-fi dreams are wrecking the future
Q: Let's start with the title. What do you mean by the artificial state and how is that different from just saying the surveillance state or the tech industry?
The artificial state is a framework where governance increasingly relies on machines and data rather than consent of the people, blending infrastructure, technocratic rule, and algorithmic decision-making in ways that resemble an autonomous, technocratic governance model rather than traditional representative democracy.
Sex, secrets and the KGB – How a Cold War spy accidentally saved the world
Q: But how did Kuzichkin then come into contact with MI6?
He walked across to the British embassy seeking asylum and offering to spy for Britain after a botched attempt to secure help for his erectile dysfunction; this walk-in led to a dangerous yet fruitful collaboration that exposed a vast network of espionage in Iran and changed the course of events.
Sex, secrets and the KGB – How a Cold War spy accidentally saved the world
Q: Is that how you were able to get so close to it? Because this is a remarkable retelling. I mean, it's incredibly intimate at points, how close it gets.
The intimacy came from meticulous sourcing—talking to MI6 officers, the main character Ian McCready, and others who lived the events—coupled with the physical proximity in Tehran, including in the British embassy, which allowed access to first-hand documents and memories that illuminate the plot's real stakes.

Audience Metrics

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

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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?

This show covers politics, current affairs, economics, and culture through sharp explainers, interviews, and panel-style debates. Episodes balance UK-focused analysis with international context, featuring in-depth conversations with journalists, historians, and policy experts. Regulars bring a pragmatic, often centrist-to-centrist-left perspective, aiming to illuminate complex issues and surface under-reported stories. Notable is a steady rotation of high-profile guests and a mix of strict reportage with provocative, thoughtful commentary that invites listeners to think critically about leaders, institutions, and policy outcomes.

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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 1944 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. Ben Macintyre
2. Jill Lepore
3. David Smith
4. Spencer Ackerman
5. David Cole
6. Bruce Hoffman
7. Jim Waterson
8. Kai Bird

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