Truss is back and Johnson never went away – what are they angling for? And can Sunak avoid these two figurative icebergs? Plus, the yob narrative is back on the agenda. Is Tory posturing on anti-social behaviour any more than pandering to curtain-twitchers? And with Australia choosing not to put Charles on its banknotes – who should we put on our money? The panel is joined by Geri Scott, political reporter for The Times. Get your tickets for OGWN Live at the Leicester Square Theatre on Weds 15 F...
Feb 07, 2023•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 150
The Conservative Party is dying. Can anyone resurrect it? Our panel, begrudgingly, looks at the challenges they’ll have to face if they’re ever to become a functioning party again. Plus, we discuss the parlous state of the UK’s military capabilities. Can we defend ourselves? We wade through the news with an all-star panel of Oh God, What Now? regulars. “ Voters won ’ t pick the most interesting PM, they ’ ll pick the one who will save them.” – Alex Andreou “ It ’ s hard for someone to be better ...
Feb 03, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Season 2Ep. 149
With the PM and his party on the back foot – have they just given up? Our panel picks apart Sunak’s dither and delay in his sacking of Nadhim Zahawi. Plus, are we seeing a new, even more hostile, hostile environment? And we forcefully quit the anti-growth coalition as we discuss alternatives to Trussonomics. This week’s guest is Rachel Cunliffe , senior associate editor at New Statesman. “If Rishi Sunak didn't know about this, what is the point of ministerial vetting processes? What is the point...
Jan 31, 2023•59 min•Season 2Ep. 148
The Tories are on the Zahawi to hell as briefing wars break out over sleaze scandals as Johnson lurks on the sidelines. Plus, voter ID is rolling out this year – but it turns out plenty of people don’t have a clue. What might mass disenfranchisement mean? Heidi Alexander , former MP, current Deputy Mayor of London and parliamentary candidate for South Swindon, is this week’s guest. “ This exposes just how rigged the game is if you ’ re really rich.” – Naomi Smith “ The more people see of Sunak, ...
Jan 27, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Season 2Ep. 147
As the nation feels the squeeze, the Tories revel in sleaze. We get down to brass tacks on Nadhim Zahawi’s taxes. And while they ditch levelling up, do this cabal of cronies even understand what needs fixing? Plus, we ask: is it time for the West to go full throttle in backing Ukraine in the war against Russia? Our guest this week is Rock and Roll Politics host Steve Richards. “ The Tory party hasn ’ t really reformed and changed, the same issues that brought them down in ‘ 97 have just recurred...
Jan 24, 2023•58 min•Season 2Ep. 146
Law, huh, what is it good for? According to the Tory Brexiteers, not a lot, as they move to scrap thousands of EU regulations. The panel discusses what an act of legislative vandalism this truly is. Plus, COVID conspiracies become the new… COVID conspiracies. Anti-vaxx rhetoric is back and being weaponised by the right. What are Andrew Bridgen et al up to? And, in the extra bit (in full for Patreons) we keep tabs on the politics of cigarettes. Get tickets for OGWN Live in London on Weds 15 Feb h...
Jan 20, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Season 2Ep. 145
You’d think Rishi Sunak would be pushing ministers to take the flack amid the current crises – but they’re remarkably quiet. Where are the rest of his Cabinet? Plus, while Eurosceptics suggested Britain’s EU departure would weaken the bloc, the opposite has happened. Quelle surprise… And we talk about the spread of toxic masculinity online. Can we stop it earlier? Special guest Anoosh Chakelian , Britain editor at New Statesman , joins our panel this week. “Hunt is like the villain in a kids’ ca...
Jan 17, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Season 2Ep. 145
A special preview of our new series - search for Jam Tomorrow in your favourite podcast app or visit https://kite.link/JTS1 How did Britain’s dreams of a new postwar world go unfulfilled? And what does that mean for us today? In the first of a new documentary series from the makers of Oh God, What Now?, Ros Taylor looks at the legacy of the War itself. Ιdeals of the Blitz Spirit and dreams of wartime heroism still shape everything from pop culture and entertainment to the Brexit debate. But the ...
Jan 16, 2023•16 min•Season 3Ep. 1
Rishi Sunak is constantly trying to reject the idea he could be out of touch – but, seriously, does he have any idea what Britain wants? This week’s guest Ben Walker , of Britain Elects and New Statesman , picks apart the polls to get in the mind of voters. Plus, political donations – how can we avoid undue influence and, dare we suggest it… corruption? Are more stringent rules needed? “Everyone is feeling the cost of living crisis, going to a supermarket is like a radicalising process.” – Ben W...
Jan 13, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Season 2Ep. 144
Sunak and Starmer's battle of the speeches marked this year’s first blue on red ding dong. What are their respective pitches? The panel plays a game of spot the difference between the pair’s positions and policies. Plus, as the PM tries to hibernate through the new Winter of Discontent – is he sleepwalking towards a General Strike? And, finally, we unpack the pros and cons of tea-spilling biographies. Anybody heard about one of those recently? “None of these policies mean anything. There’s no ti...
Jan 10, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Season 2Ep. 143
Ah, a new year. A time to reflect and make changes. And here comes Sunak with his five pledges… Well, I guess there’s always next year (thanks very much, fixed-term parliaments act). With the NHS in crisis, strikes never ending and the cost of living spiralling out of control – surely we need more than more maths lessons? Plus, after Christmas drew charity into focus – has the state simply offloaded its responsibilities to Good Samaritans? “The crisis is the result of nearly 13 years of Tory Gov...
Jan 06, 2023•55 min•Season 2Ep. 142
Good will to all men and all that but first, join us for a final airing of grievances. What are the top 10 most infuriating, baffling and rage inducing events of the past year ? Our panel counts down to number one in the second half of our 20 worst moments from 2022. They unpack everything from record temperatures, tyrannical leaders to unprecedented sewage spills – and that’s not a metaphor for Boris Johnson or Liz Truss, they get mentions of their own… “Trump didn’t realise that you can’t just...
Dec 23, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Season 2Ep. 141
So what were the REAL big events of 2022? From Matt Hancock stinking up the jungle to the true meaning of Wagatha Christie to the Mail’s efforts to get Beergate off the ground, we look back on 12 months of mendacity, grift, fantasy and denialism – and that’s just Boris Johnson. “Truss was more useless and more mad than even Johnson realised” – Tom Peck “We should have Wagatha Christie once a year as a tradition. Pick two celebs who have a very stupid fight that ends up in court”. – Marie le Cont...
Dec 20, 2022•54 min•Season 2Ep. 140
After Eva Kaili and the corruption arrests in Brussels, is EU democracy really in trouble? Meanwhile, as all the little strikes coalesce into a big one, why do governments love “sending the army in to fix it”? And new research shows working class participation in the creative industries has halved since the 70s. We go behind the figures to ask why. Ian Dunt, Hannah Fearn and Alex Andreou join host Andrew Harrison to huddle around a warm mixing desk. “UEFA and FIFA are cesspits for siphoning dirt...
Dec 16, 2022•57 min•Season 2Ep. 139
Scramble back from the bar for Part Two of OGWN LIVE at London’s 21Soho club. We pick apart the Main Characters of 2022 and ask who made the more lasting mark on the world: Musk, Zelenskyy, the Lionesses or… someone else? Plus more Peer and Loathing and audience questions too. Get the mulled wine in. It’s as good as being there. PATREON BONUS: Live video coming soon too… Written and presented by Dorian Lynskey with panelists Naomi Smith, Ros Taylor and Alex Andreou. Audio producers: Alex Rees an...
Dec 14, 2022•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 138
Join the OGWN panel LIVE at London’s 21Soho club to look back on 2022 in a gala evening of high-octane political complaining. On the agenda: The ongoing collapse of the Conservative Party, the Year in Keir, and a fiendish Christmas party game called Peer And Loathing. Get the mulled wine in and turn up the volume. Part Two coming tomorrow, Weds 14. Written and presented by Dorian Lynskey with panelists Naomi Smith, Ros Taylor and Alex Andreou. Audio producers: Alex Rees and Robin Leeburn. Produc...
Dec 13, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Season 2Ep. 137
Keir is striking fear into peers with plans to ditch the Lords – but why not look at electoral reform first? The panel picks apart Labour’s plans for reform. Plus, with major strikes inbound – is this a new winter of discontent? Can the Government succeed in the Grinch narrative, or does that show just how weak our ministers are? “ Just as trickle down economics has failed, trickle down democracy has failed.” – Naomi Smith “ I think Starmer is going to be quite boxed in by the economic situation...
Dec 09, 2022•56 min•Season 2Ep. 136
As Jacob Rees-Mogg et al keep telling us the sunlit uplands of Brexitville are just over the horizon, we pick apart their broken promises. What’s fallen to the wayside on the way to this broken Brexit apparently nobody voted for? Plus, the panel looks at protests in China and Iran, and the regime change they could effect. And finally, we ask: “Why can’t the left take a compliment?” Make Christmas Woke Again with OGWN gifts from podmarket.co.uk . Order by 8 Dec to beat the Christmas post. “Countr...
Dec 06, 2022•57 min•Season 2Ep. 135
Sunak is trying to act tough on Russia and China but being bullied over wind farms at home. Can he shake off the image of being a weak link? Plus, we discuss the census results – and unpack the reaction to England and Wales being minority Christian nations. This week’s guest is New Statesman ’s deputy political editor Rachel Wearmouth. “You lose credit with the voters and then you lose credit within the party.“ – Rachel Wearmouth “Conservative MPs are probably looking at a long period in opposit...
Dec 02, 2022•59 min•Season 2Ep. 134
The Manston scandal and Braverman’s bluster lay our disastrous immigration policy bare. And just when we need more workers, Keir Starmer comes out against looser rules. Why can’t we talk honestly about this most emotive issue? Plus: will we ever defeat NIMBYism? And Planet Deepfake: why AI-generated images and video will soon outnumber human-made content. Get your perfect OGWN Christmas presents at podmarket.co.uk “When the Chinese government sends soup kitchens to the demonstrations, that’s the...
Nov 29, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Season 2Ep. 133
What did we learn from the furore caused by whispers of a Swiss-style EU deal? Are we getting ready to mingle with the single market? The gang chats Brexit rumblings while it feels as though the narrative is shifting… Plus, as Labour touts Lords reform – should it top the list of constitutional conundrums? What other changes would the panel prefer to see happen? “The bloated upper chamber is going to grow.” – Naomi Smith “Westminster barely works, at any level.” – Ian Dunt “ “Why the hell is our...
Nov 25, 2022•57 min•Season 2Ep. 132
Hunt’s autumn statement has wound everyone up while whispers of a Swiss-style Brexit deal are sparking more Tory fury. How is Sunak going to handle anger from the public and his party? And how will parties to the right of the spectrum capitalise on the current disquiet? Plus, as Dorries looks to pen a Johnson biography we discuss the best and worst books of the political genre. This week’s guest is Rosie Campbell, director of the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership and professor of politics ...
Nov 22, 2022•58 min•Season 2Ep. 131
Out a day early to JUST beat the fiscal announcement… As Jeremy Hunt’s cuts come in, we look at why austerity has never worked before and won’t work now – and whether the infamous fiscal Black Hole is even real. Plus, Labour activist Michael Chessum of Another Europe Is Possible and Momentum talks about his new book This Is Only the Beginning: The Making of a New Left, from Anti-Austerity to the Fall of Corbyn. And in the Extra Bit… Gerontocracy Now? From Biden to Lula to Putin, why do rocky sys...
Nov 17, 2022•56 min•Season 2Ep. 130
Sunak is performing ex-Prime Minister karaoke, pulling together failed ideas and giving them a go. Has he got anything fresh up his sleeve? Plus star guest Philippe Auclair , football journalist and singer songwriter, joins to discuss the moral perils of the upcoming Qatar World Cup. And finally after a string of seemingly culture averse Culture Secretaries, we ask the panel what they’d do if they took on the job. Listen to the new series of Origin Story: https://kite.link/OS2E1Rand “ It ’ s not...
Nov 15, 2022•58 min•Season 2Ep. 129
Rejected Alan Partridge character “Sir” Gavin Williamson resigns to spend more time with his tarantula. (Poor Cronus). Is Sunak even paying attention to anything that isn’t the economy? Plus, the US Mid-Terms weren’t quite as hellish as expected. UCL politics professor Julie Norman explains what it means for Biden’s next two years and the spectre of Trump II. And the latest on Elon Trussk wrecking Twitter. Get your tickets for our Christmas show on Mon 12 Dec here: https://www.tickettext.co.uk/M...
Nov 11, 2022•56 min•Season 2Ep. 128
Rishi Sunak promised stability but here we are, back in a u-turn vortex. If he can’t stop the rot, what’s the point of the new PM? Does he have a political north star? And as Braverman’s shirks blame, we agree the asylum system is broken – just not in the way she thinks. What needs fixing? Plus, Matt Hancock joins the shameful list of reality TV politicians. Seriously? This week’s guest is Satbir Singh , managing director of openDemocracy . Get tickets for A VERY OH GOD, WHAT NOW? CHRISTMAS on M...
Nov 08, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Season 2Ep. 127
We thought they couldn’t do worse than Priti Patel. As conditions in Manston reveal Suella Braverman’s stupendous callousness, it turns out that yes, they could. We unpack the rank incompetence, as well as the rank and incompetent. Plus, New York Times columnist Michelle Goldberg joins us to look ahead to the US midterms – and the unfortunate parallels in politics both sides of the pond. “ The blue tick is going to become a sign that basically you ’ re a huge dork.” – Michelle Goldberg “ Everyon...
Nov 04, 2022•54 min•Season 2Ep. 126
Trick or Tweet? Elon Musk buys Twitter to impose his half-formed ideas about free speech on the online world. Will he just make things worse? Suella Braverman doggedly refuses to take responsibility for either her emails or the migrant processing crisis. How long can she hang on? Plus, Labour’s attack lines for the Sunak Era. And why is Hallowe’en growing while Bonfire Night fizzles? Get tickets to Origin Story Live on Weds 2 Nov here: https://www.tickettext.co.uk/OHXEPSMwj1 “ Somehow even Priti...
Nov 01, 2022•59 min•Season 2Ep. 125
It’s the hope that kills you. We didn’t have lots, but c’mon Rishi – Braverman ? You know when a band reforms, with a couple of members swapped out for session musicians? Imagine they were always crap and it’s not a band, it’s the Cabinet. We chat through the no-shuffle. Plus, guest Adam Wagner , author of Emergency State : How We Lost Our Freedoms in the Pandemic and Why it Matters , to discuss his book and the imminent torching of more EU regulations. “If you’re going to do sensible politics, ...
Oct 28, 2022•59 min•Season 2Ep. 124
So Rishi Sunak, that bloke who couldn’t use a contactless card, is set to bring total normality to No.10. How will this megabrained and approachable (he owns a hoodie) maestro, you may remember from such successes as ‘Eat Out to Help Out’, lead us through this crisis? Plus, even if you’ve forgotten Liz Truss, the world hasn’t forgotten us having her as PM – we look at the international reaction to her downfall. “Johnson’s fervent wish to destroy Sunak will not have gone away.” – Tom Peck "People...
Oct 25, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Season 2Ep. 122
