Best Sian Pattenden Podcasts (2024)

1
Project 2025 video leak explained – American Friction teaser 13:20

10h ago13:20

13:20

A trove of Project 2025 videos have been leaked, giving unique insight into what Trump appointees might want to do if he wins the election. In this teaser for American Friction, Jacob Jarvis discusses leaked Project 2025 training videos, with ProPublica reporter Andy Kroll, one of the journalists who obtained and analysed them. Go here for the full…

1
NATO is 75. Will it be around in ten years? 35:06

1d ago35:06

35:06

This year marks NATO’s 75th anniversary – having survived the Cold War, 9/11 and most recently, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Is NATO’s role is changing, can it hold on to its members – and will it be recognisable in ten years? Will it even exist? Peter Apps, author of Deterring Armageddon: a biography of NATO, joins Ros Taylor in The Bunker to dis…

1
From Brat Summer to the White House: Can memes win elections? 32:49

2d ago32:49

32:49

Online politics is drowning in memes – repurposed movie stills, videos and viral catchphrases are everywhere. From the UK General Election to the American Presidential race, memes are increasingly central to political campaigns. But can they actually sway votes? Senior Research Fellow at Complutense University Madrid Paolo Gerbaudo joins Jacob Jarv…

1
Why can't we get along with China? 28:35

3d ago28:35

28:35

The second in our ‘Foreign Affairs’ mini-series on Britain’s battered foreign relationships. Today: China is growing in industrial and military power while post-Brexit Britain is increasingly adrift. Will StarmQer have to accommodate to whatever Beijing wants – or can Britain assert itself against the new superpower? Gavin Esler speaks to KCL Profe…

1
How can we beat the Far-Right? Paul Mason explains 37:12

4d ago37:12

37:12

Far-right riots and racist violence have traumatised Britain – but how powerful are the extremists? Where are they drawing their power from? And how can ordinary people stop them? Paul Mason is a journalist is the author of How To Stop Fascism. He tells Andrew Harrison what makes modern far-right politics different and dangerous – the compromises w…

1
Bang to riots – Start Your Week with Gavin Esler and Jacob Jarvis 32:25

5d ago32:25

32:25

The fallout from rioting continues to dominate the news – how will the Government handle this? Gavin Esler joins Jacob Jarvis to discuss challenges for Starmer now and into the future. Plus, they discuss clashes with Elon Musk, relations with China, Trump’s most recent grim behaviour and the latest from the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Ther…

1
What the First World War can teach us about 2024 38:46

7d ago38:46

38:46

In 1914, war engulfed Europe in a conflict that killed millions and change the course of the twentieth century. Now, 110 years later, the geopolitical climate feels uncomfortably familiar to the period preceding the First World War. Are we moving ever closer to another global conflict – and might it be avoided by taking lessons from the origins of …

1
Working class Keir-o? Why Labour is putting class back in politics 36:56

9d ago36:56

36:56

For decades class has been a dirty word in British politics. Now Keir Starmer heads the most working class, least privately-educated cabinet in modern history, and is putting class concerns like workers’ rights reform at the centre of its politics. Will Labour’s programme work? How true has the party been to its working class origins? And does it w…

1
Bunker USA: Has Joe Biden been a good president? 35:41

9d ago35:41

35:41

Joe Biden won’t have a second term as president after he heeded calls to leave the 2024 race. So as it comes towards an end, how will his time in office be remembered? Leslie Vinjamuri director of the US and the Americas programme at Chatham House, talks to Dorian Lynskey about Biden’s legacy. We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/bunker for…

1
Why do people riot? The psychology of civil disturbance 36:33

11d ago36:33

36:33

The country is facing its worst wave of far-right violence in the modern age –but is it just mindless thuggery or are deeper forces at work? Can the psychology of rioting help us defeat this wave of violence?Professor of social psychology Clifford Stott unpacks the dynamics of the riots, how they’ve spread, and what they really mean to Andrew Harri…

1
Foreign Affairs 🇫🇷 Starmer’s French Correction, with Lord Peter Ricketts 33:47

12d ago33:47

33:47

An occasional series on how Britain is fixing its battered foreign relationships. Today: After the combative Tory years, Keir Starmer is trying to reset the Anglo-French connection. What do we want from France and what does Paris want from us? Britain’s former Ambassador to France Lord Peter Ricketts talks to Ros Taylor about whether Starmer and Ma…

1
Starmer reads the Riot Act – Start Your Week with Alex Andreou and Andrew Harrison 35:35

13d ago35:35

35:35

After the worst civil disorder in a decade, will severe instant sentencing deter rioters like it did in 2011? Is the violence evidence of the far right’s weakness, not its strength? And is this really a test of the Starmer Government’s strength? Plus Kamala Harris’s choices of running mate, the chances of an Israel/Hezbollah war, and more Alex Andr…

1
Why Britain needs to be ready for war by 2027 – with The Economist's Shashank Joshi 29:30

16d ago29:30

29:30

Britain’s new army chief recently said Britain must be ready for war in three years. Where are the biggest threats coming from, what are our current weaknesses, and how can we best prepare? To find out, Gavin Esler speaks to the Economist’s defence editor Shashank Joshi. We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/bunker for £100 sponsored credit.…

1
Bunker USA – JD Vance: The truth about Trump's running mate 35:37

17d ago35:37

35:37

Donald Trump recently announced Ohio Senator JD Vance as his running mate. Who exactly is Vance – and why is he the subject of so much controversy? POLITICO national political correspondent and author of Trump in Exile Meridith McGraw tells Dorian Lynskey of her own recent experience on the campaign trail with the Senator. Buy Trump in Exile throug…

1
Bans, boycotts and billions: The politics of the Olympics 38:56

18d ago38:56

38:56

The Olympics are in full-swing – but news of medals and victory are often overshadowed by controversies linked to contestants and politics. We’ve seen this already this year – but has the Olympics always been so political? Emma Kennedy sits down with David Goldblatt, author of The Games: A Global History of the Olympics. We are sponsored by Indeed.…

1
Behind bars: How Labour can solve the prison crisis 30:34

19d ago30:34

30:34

From overcrowding to underfunding, British prisons are in crisis. So how can Labour remedy 14 years of the Tories’ neglect of criminal justice system? Former director of public prosecutions Lord Ken Macdonald sits down with Ros Taylor to discuss how we might solve the prison conundrum. We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/bunker for £100 sp…

1
Broke Britain – Start Your Week with Ros Taylor and Jacob Jarvis 31:26

20d ago31:26

31:26

Rachel Reeves is set to unveil a £20bn black hole in public finances – what will Labour do about this? In more bleak news, GPs are set to strike over unfair working conditions – what would this mean for patients? And, a public sector pay deal is expected, what will it look like? Plus, who are the top contenders in the Tory leadership race? In world…

1
Bunker USA: Kamala Harris is in. Who will be her running mate? 29:48

23d ago29:48

29:48

With Kamala Harris set to replace Joe Biden in the 2024 race, focus has turned to who will be her running mate. Jacob Jarvis gets the rundown on the top contenders from Katie Gaddini, visiting scholar at Stanford University, an associate professor of sociology at the Social Research Institute, University College London. Take a listen to America Fri…

1
Boiling point! How heat will shape the future 38:19

24d ago38:19

38:19

As our climate continues to heat up, wildfires, flooding and drought are becoming the new normal. But beyond weather events, how is extreme heat affecting our politics, economy, and society at large – and have we already reached a boiling point? Alex Andreou asks Jeff Goodell, Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council and author of The Heat Will Kill Y…

1
Sudan in flames: Why the world's forgotten war should worry you 31:26

25d ago31:26

31:26

As vicious conflicts rage across the world, the civil war in Sudan has received limited attention. To explain the far-reaching impacts of the conflict, the humanitarian crisis unfolding, and why we should start paying attention, Gavin Esler speaks to Alan Boswell, Crisis Group’s director for the horn of Africa, in today’s Bunker. We are sponsored b…

1
How Starmer can clean up the Tories' mess – Polly Toynbee tells Ros Taylor 28:56

26d ago28:56

28:56

Keir Starmer has one hell of a challenge fixing everything the Tories broke in their 14 years in charge. Where to begin? Guardian journalist Polly Toynbee sits down with Ros Taylor in The Bunker to discuss Starmer’s uphill battle ahead. We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/bunker for £100 sponsored credit. www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written…

1
I Know It’s Joe-ver — Start Your Week with Alex Andreou and Jacob Jarvis 38:46

27d ago38:46

38:46

It’s the morning after Joe Biden’s shock withdrawal from the U.S. Presidential race. Why now – and who will replace him? Closer to home, we’ve got Keir Starmer’s first PMQs to look forward to. What should we expect? And what does the strike on Yemen mean for the Middle East – and how will international governments respond? Want to hear more about t…

1
Amazon at 30: Can the Bezos empire grow forever? 32:18

1M ago32:18

32:18

Amazon turns 30 this month – and it’s unrecognisable from the online bookstore it once was. But can it continue to grow forever – or might recent legal cases mark the end of Bezos’ global market domination? Kate Devlin speaks to The Wall Street Journal’s Dana Mattioli, author of The Everything War, to find out. • We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to I…

1
From Pharaohs to Presidents: The history of political assassinations 33:45

1M ago33:45

33:45

Political leaders have been targeted by assassins for thousands of years – Donald Trump being the latest example, after the attempt on his life in Pennsylvania. Historically, what impact have these actions had on societies the world over? What similarities are there between these acts and the people who carry them out? Jacob Jarvis is joined by Ari…

1
Turnout for what – How can we get more people to vote? 29:56

1M ago29:56

29:56

Labour’s landslide has brought in a new wave of political optimism to the UK. But a near record poll attendance has been a cause for concern in the weeks following the election. Hannah Fearn is joined by Professor of behavioural science at Kingston University Gaëlle Vallée Tourangeau to find out why people just aren’t turning out to vote and what c…

1
Keir and far: Labour's key foreign policy issues 34:02

1M ago34:02

34:02

Keir Starmer has plenty to get on with at home – but amid global turmoil, Labour’s foreign policy is increasingly important too. In response to multiple wars, regional conflicts, an increasingly far-right Europe and a turbulent U.S. Presidential race, how might Starmer interact with the rest of the world? Zoë Grünewald asks Dr Victoria Honeyman, as…

1
Has the Trump shooting changed everything? — Start Your Week with Hannah Fearn 34:21

1M ago34:21

34:21

After the Trump shooting we ask what it means for America and the election. Could the failed assassination win the race for the former president? Meanwhile, the new Labour Government is in full swing. From the new Growth Agenda to the launch of Great British Energy what can we expect from Starmer this week? Recorded in the aftermath of England’s de…

1
Will Biden quit? – Democrat insider Sidney Blumenthal talks to Gavin Esler 25:14

1M ago25:14

25:14

Joe Biden is the US’ oldest ever President – and it’s showing. From his catastrophic performance during the recent debate against Donald Trump, to celebrity calls for him to step down, the question on everyone’s lips is: Will he quit? Gavin Esler asks Democratic insider Sidney Blumenthal in today’s Bunker. • We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed…

1
Are Our International Laws Working? 34:53

1M ago34:53

34:53

In an increasingly unstable international climate, we need our internal laws more than ever – but they don’t seem to be working. Which states are ignoring them, what are the consequences, and who will enforce them? Alex Andreou asks Professor Kevin Heller, the ICC Prosecutor’s special advisor on war crimes, in today’s Bunker. • We are sponsored by …

1
Why four countries will shape the US Presidential Election – and Britain is one of them 32:09

1M ago32:09

32:09

We think of the US as a universe unto itself, uninterested in the outside world. But according to geopolitics analyst and host of the Disorder podcast Jason Pack, few things influence American elections as much as three diaspora countries – Ireland, Italy and Israel – and “peer nation” the UK. Their role as political test labs for new ideas means t…

1
What’s next for the Tories? – Tim Bale tells Ros Taylor 29:01

1M ago29:01

29:01

The Conservatives are out of power for the first time in 14 years. So what does the future of the party look like, and should we expect a serious Tory-transformation if they have hopes of regaining control in the future? Ros Taylor asks Queen Mary University professor of politics and The Conservative Party After Brexit author Tim Bale, in The Bunke…

1
France’s close shave — Start Your Week with Ros Taylor and Gavin Esler 27:09

1M ago27:09

27:09

France’s shock election result: what does it mean and what comes next? Plus, week one of the new Labour government: Starmer heads the NATO summit and tours the Nations, Streeting aims to solve the junior doctor’s strike, and Lammy aims to reset relations with the EU. And all eyes are on Joe Biden amid calls for him to step down as presidential nomi…

1
Bunker USA: Debunking America’s toxic migration debate 37:13

1M ago37:13

37:13

Immigration is a divisive issue in America, much as it is here in the UK. How did the debate become so toxic – and is there a way to fix it and remove the heat from the arguments? Jonathan Blitzer, author of Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here: The United States, Central America, and the Making of a Crisis joins Jacob Jarvis to discuss the situation, how …

1
Election '24: Weirdest moments from votes of the past 29:18

2M ago29:18

29:18

General elections are pretty unusual events – and they can bring out the weirdest in both politicians and voters. But what are the strangest moments from votes of the past? Ros Taylor asks King’s College London Professor of Politics and Contemporary History Andrew Blick in today’s Bunker. • We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/bunker for £1…

1
Election ’24: How will the press handle Keir Starmer? 30:09

2M ago30:09

30:09

Newspapers aren’t as powerful as they were, but they still behave as if they are – and they remain overwhelmingly biased towards a Tory Party that could well be dying. How will they handle a new Labour government? Are the days of press power over? And where does the new power lie? Gavin Esler asks Goldsmiths Senior Journalism Lecturer Terry Kirby i…

1
Election '24: Why isn't anybody honest about tax? 37:44

2M ago37:44

37:44

Tax consistently ranks as one of the most important issues to voters. So why can’t anybody in politics talk about it honestly? Alex Andreou asks Paul Johnson, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, in today’s Bunker. • We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/bunker for £100 sponsored credit. • Incogni keeps your private information safe…

1
It ain’t over till it’s over — Start Your Week with Ros Taylor and Alex Andreou 38:07

2M ago38:07

38:07

In just three days, Brits will head to the polling stations to vote in the General Election. What do the polls show, and is there any chance of a Harry Kane-esque last minute Sunak win – or is it all over already? In other election news, France went to the polls yesterday, intensifying concerns about the country’s move to the far-right. Further afi…

1
Project Keir: Has Starmer changed Labour forever? 34:05

2M ago34:05

34:05

If Starmer wins, just how will his Labour government be different from those of the past? And is the party’s new identity inextricable from Starmer himself? Andrew Harrison asks Labour Party historian Anthony Broxton, who runs the ‘Tides of History’ project. • We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/bunker for £100 sponsored credit. • Incogni …

1
Ads Nauseam: Which political parties are targeting you online? 36:51

2M ago36:51

36:51

Sunak’s cringe moments have received laser focus throughout the campaign. But what about messaging he’s putting out online? Who are parties targeting, where, and with what information? Jacob Jarvis asks Who Targets Me founder Sam Jeffers about the good, the bad and the ugly in online political ads throughout this campaign cycle. • We are sponsored …

1
The housing crisis: Can Labour fix the Tories' mess? – with Kwajo Tweneboa 26:17

2M ago26:17

26:17

From the rising cost of mortgages to a lack of social housing, the housing crisis is one of the most pressing issues in this election. Hannah Fearn is joined by one of the UK’s most high-profile housing campaigners, Kwajo Tweneboa, whose book Our Country in Crisis: Britain's Housing Emergency and How We Rebuild is due out in July, to look at the so…

1
From King Cnut to the Ed Stone: A history of political stunts 31:33

2M ago31:33

31:33

There have been plenty of memorable election stunts lately – with Ed Davey stealing the show so far in this campaign. But how far back does the history of these sorts of actions go? And do they work? Andrew Harrison is joined by Seth Thévoz to look at the history of political stunts and their impact on the polls. We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to I…

1
Bet peeves – Start Your Week with Alex Andreou and Jacob Jarvis 33:17

2M ago33:17

33:17

The betting scandal just keeps getting worse for Sunak – will it dominate the week, or will another gaffe knock it off the front pages? Alex Andreou joins Jacob Jarvis to discuss the week ahead in the election campaign, plus the latest from the French election, conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, and the looming Biden vs. Trump debate. We are sponsored …

1
The Face of God – How the Challenger space shuttle disaster changed America 33:51

2M ago33:51

33:51

On 28 Jan 1986 the space shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after take-off, watched by a worldwide TV audience of millions. Seven crew members died and images of the tragedy etched themselves on the American mind. Now a new book Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space reveals the corner-cutting and corporate culture t…

1
"I'm a surgeon in Gaza" – Prof Nick Maynard's eyewitness account 34:03

2M ago34:03

34:03

Professor Nick Maynard says the scenes he has witnessed in Gaza are the worst he’s seen in his 36 years as a surgeon. He joins Alex Andreou in The Bunker to recount his most recent trip to the West Bank. • “We’re not politicians, we’re not lawmakers, we’re humanitarians – we’re just describing the appalling things that we have seen.” Click here to …

1
America vs. China: The new Cold War is coming 32:28

2M ago32:28

32:28

Relations between Western nations and China are worsening. The US fears China’s growing global influence, but how far will it go to halt Xi Jinping’s ambitions? Sir Robin Niblett is a distinguished fellow at the international affairs think tank Chatham House and author of The New Cold War: How the Contest Between the US and China Will Shape Our Cen…

1
How China uses jails to fight the West – with former prisoner Peter Humphrey 33:05

2M ago33:05

33:05

China’s often controversial imprisonments of foreigners has horrified the Western world. But is Beijing doing this as part of its war with the West? Alex Andreou asks Harvard University research affiliate Peter Humphrey, who spent two years in the Chinese prison system, and now campaigns for the release of others. We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to …

1
Election '24: Should Sunak stop obsessing over the grey vote? 28:55

2M ago28:55

28:55

Britain’s older generations have historically played a key role in elections. But how pivotal is the ‘grey vote’ ahead of July 4, and who is likely to win it? Gavin Esler talks to the New Statesman’s senior data journalist and Britain Elects co-founder Ben Walker about who this demographic actually describes and what they want. We are sponsored by …

1
Total Wipeout? – Start Your Week with Ros Taylor and Jacob Jarvis 31:40

2M ago31:40

31:40

As the Tories bang on about tax, despite it not shifting the polls at all, is the prospect of total obliteration for the Conservative Party growing? And what policy areas and set pieces should we look out for this week? Ros Taylor joins Jacob Jarvis to discuss the campaign trail latest, and look at news from France, Ukraine and the USA. We are spon…

1
How the Kremlin's spy networks shaped Russia’s history 34:56

2M ago34:56

34:56

The Kremlin’s spy networks are well documented – but what’s less known is how they shaped Russian history. In centering the rise and fall of Communism in Russia’s history, are we missing a crucial historical axis – the intelligence services which have long kept an eye on citizens across Russia and further afield. Yuri Felshtinsky, author of From Re…

1
The Big Risks for Labour Part 2 – NHS collapses, Prisons boil over, Universities go bust 33:35

2M ago33:35

33:35

What’s in the list of potential crises that could derail Labour’s first year, drawn up by Keir Starmer’s chief of staff Sue Gray and nicknamed “Sue’s shit list”? Today Ros Taylor tells Andrew Harrison what happens to Labour if the prisons crisis boils over, the NHS hits a funding shortfall, or universities start going bust. If you missed Part 1 yes…

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