Sorry Iran, it's Cost-No

Here's what happened when Alice Fraser and Nish Kumar finally teamed up with John Oliver!Plus: COP 30, the World Cup, and other unheard storiesWhy not check out 15 years of top stories: https://www.thebuglepodcast.com/topstories.Produced by Chris Skinner and Laura Turner. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Andy Zaltzman is joined by Josh Gondelman and Anuvab Pal for an episode bursting with chaos, tangents, and stories so random they feel algorithmically generated.As Andy prepares to fly to Australia for The Ashes, the big question is: is he even slightly focused? The evidence suggests no.🎯 TOP STORY – RANDOM NEWS ROUND-UP:🏆 Cheating Pub Quiz News — Move over Louvre heist! The latest great intellectual crime spree takes place in a British pub, and it involves phones, trivia, and moral collapse.🪙 American Coin News — The US Mint has been busy. Or weird. Or both. We examine America’s ongoing attempt to turn currency into a stand-up routine.🤖 Russian Robot News — Russia unveils a robot. Or a “robot.” Or a man in a tinfoil box. The details are, frankly, inconclusive.🇺🇸 Trump News — Because of course there is.A dizzying tour of the world’s oddest headlines — just another day at The Bugle.🎧 Support The Bugle! Become a Team Bugle subscriber for bonus episodes, exclusive video editions, and a warm sense that you’ve chosen the correct timeline: thebuglepodcast.com📺 Watch Realms Unknown on YouTube.Produced by Chris Skinner and Laura Turner. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Andy Zaltzman is joined by Helen Zaltzman and Josie Long for an episode awash with political upheaval, mild optimism, and existential dread.🌊 The Blue Wave: Across the US, progressives are making surprising gains — including Zohran Mamdani’s win in NYC. But how long before the wave meets the usual breakwater of bureaucracy?🎙️ Trump vs the BBC: In a glorious meltdown that will echo through press rooms for decades, Donald Trump loses it live on air. Andy brings us a world-exclusive “interview” with The Don himself — because if you can’t get him in person, you can always get him in parody.🔥 The End of the World (Slowly): Climate, conflict, capitalism — the apocalypse is on layaway, but it’s still coming. Don’t worry, there’s time to panic later.🎄 Christmas Is Coming! Celebrate the festive season with irony and warmth by grabbing your official Bugle Christmas jumper at thebuglepodcast.com. Perfect for hiding your despair in style.🎧 Support The Bugle! Get bonus episodes, exclusive videos, and the moral superiority of Team Bugle membership at thebuglepodcast.com.📺 Watch Realms Unknown on YouTube.Produced by Chris Skinner and Laura Turner. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Bugle turns 18 — and we’re not done celebrating yet! In Part 2 of our birthday special, Andy Zaltzman is joined by Alice Fraser and Nish Kumar to take a sideways look at some of the week’s more alternative headlines.🚆 UK News: Double-decker trains could be coming to Britain — but is it a great leap forward, or just a taller disaster waiting to happen?🛰️ Australian News: Space junk keeps falling from the sky. Should we be worried, or is this just nature’s way of redecorating the Outback?📚 Online News: Wikipedia turns out to be even stranger than you remember — and possibly more reliable than your uncle’s Facebook feed.🥔 Bugle Hot Potato: Producer Chris Skinner finally reveals the results of our first-ever Bugle audience survey, and the findings are… troubling, hilarious, and statistically unsound.🎉 It’s been 18 years of world events, weird news, and questionable analysis — and somehow we’re still here.🎧 Support The Bugle! Become a Team Bugle subscriber for bonus episodes, exclusive videos, and the smug glow of loyalty: thebuglepodcast.com📺 Watch Realms Unknown on this YouTube channel.Produced by Chris Skinner and Laura Turner Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Andy is joined by special guest John Oliver for a very special reunion episode of The Bugle.🏛️ From the White House: The latest updates from the most powerful building in the world — still home to confusion, scandal, and policy made via impulse tweet.🎨 The Louvre Heist: Art! Intrigue! Security guards on lunch! We break down the most stylish theft of the year and ask the big question: if you steal art ironically, does it count?📻 Bugle Nostalgia: Andy and John take a stroll down Bugle memory lane, reminiscing about the early days of international nonsense, awkward satire, and moments that aged about as well as a banana in the sun.Expect high-brow theft, low-brow politics, and top-tier Bugle chemistry.Bugle Christmas Jumpers/Sweaters are now on sale - this is a one time thing: thebuglepodcast.comProduced by Chris Skinner and Laura Turner. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Andy Zaltzman is joined by Tom Ballard and Ria Lina for another round of international nonsense.👑 TOP STORY: Prince Andrew has officially been fired. We look at what happens when a royal loses his job — and his headed notepaper. 🇬🇧 OTHER UK NEWS: China has threatened the UK following the collapse of a major trial and some truly diplomatic chaos. But why are they targeting dweebs called Chris? And does this extend to The Bugle’s own producers? (We hope not, Chris.)🇺🇸 US NEWS: No Kings! Americans are once again protesting monarchy — real, imagined, and symbolic. It’s a weird time to love liberty and hate coronations.🤸 SPORTS NEWS: Indonesia has banned Israel from gymnastics competition, sparking debates that require some serious mental gymnastics to follow.🎟️ Don’t miss The Bugle Live Stream! Join us on 26th October for a live Bugle you can watch in real time. Grab your tickets now at thebuglepodcast.com.🎧 Support The Bugle! Become a Team Bugle subscriber for bonus episodes, exclusive videos, and a smug sense of global awareness: thebuglepodcast.com📺 Watch Realms Unknown on YouTubeProduced by Chris Skinner and Laura Turner. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Andy Zaltzman is joined by Hari Kondabolu and Alice Fraser for another round of global absurdity and barely contained disbelief.🕊️ We begin in the Middle East, where “peace” has apparently broken out — at least according to the press releases. But what’s Trump’s role in it all, and can a man who once tried to buy Greenland really solve millennia of conflict?🤖 Then we dive into the weird world of AI, where influencer Tilly Norwood is reshaping tech headlines, ethics, and possibly humanity’s sanity.🦁 In animal news, we meet pescatarian lions — proving that even apex predators can try a new diet (or are just really bad hunters).👮‍♂️ And in South Korea, a holographic police officer is now on duty. Finally, a cop who can’t arrest you but can give you nightmares.🎧 Support The Bugle! Get bonus episodes, exclusive video editions, and moral superiority at thebuglepodcast.com📺 Watch Realms Unknown on YouTube, and pick up A Passion for Passion - The Audiobook on our site.Produced by Chris Skinner and Laura Turner. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Andy Zaltzman is joined by Helen Zaltzman for a transcendental episode of The Bugle — one that’s proudly, intentionally, and gloriously Trump-free.👼 We turn our attention to higher beings — spiritual, celestial, and possibly bureaucratic. Are they watching us? Guiding us? Or just muting Earth’s notifications?🐒 In animal news, we ponder what our furry co-inhabitants might think of humanity’s latest efforts at intelligence — artificial or otherwise.💘 And speaking of which… relationships with AI. Love in the time of algorithms: when your soulmate’s a chatbot and your toaster knows too much.Expect enlightenment, existential dread, and at least one argument about whether your phone is judging you.🎧 Support The Bugle! Get bonus episodes, exclusive videos, and the smug serenity of a Team Bugle subscription: thebuglepodcast.com📺 Watch Realms Unknown on YouTube, and pick up the audiobook for A Passion for Passion here: thebuglepodcast.comProduced by Chris Skinner and Laura Turner. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Andy Zaltzman is joined by Josh Gondelman and James Nokise for a satirical sprint through the week’s most surreal headlines.🇺🇸 Trump at the UN — the world’s most chaotic diplomat-in-chief takes his brand of bluster to the global stage. What did he say this time, and did anyone manage to stay awake?🐒 In Palau, macaques are making mischief—proof that not all international crises involve humans (though these monkeys are giving it a good go).⛳ And at the Ryder Cup, golf’s most polite competition turns into a not-so-polite chaos-fest. Who lost their cool? Who lost their balls? And how did it all go so very wrong?🎧 Support The Bugle! Get bonus episodes, exclusive video editions, and a warm glow of smug satisfaction: thebuglepodcast.com📺 Watch Realms Unknown on YouTubeProduced by Chris Skinner and Laura Turner. Herded by macaques. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Andy Zaltzman is joined by Nish Kumar and Sara Barron for a globe-spanning episode of satire, scandal, and despair.💻 Don’t miss our live stream! Join us on 26th October for a Bugle you can watch in real time. Tickets available now at thebuglepodcast.com.🇺🇸 In the US, late-night comedy takes a hit as Jimmy Kimmel gets cancelled—we unpack what it says about culture, politics, and the endless churn of outrage.🇬🇧 Across the pond, Donald Trump visits the UK, oh please.🇵🇸 And Palestine, what a state.🎧 Support The Bugle! Subscribe for bonus episodes, exclusive videos, and smug satisfaction: thebuglepodcast.comProduced by Chris Skinner and Laura Turner. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.