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•58 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. “Countri...
Dec 06, 2022•59 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 oppositi...
Dec 02, 2022•1 hr 1 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 6 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•59 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•1 hr•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•58 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 jus...
Nov 15, 2022•1 hr•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•58 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 Mon...
Nov 08, 2022•1 hr 7 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 “Everyone in...
Nov 04, 2022•56 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•1 hr 1 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, you’...
Oct 28, 2022•1 hr 1 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 6 min•Season 2Ep. 122
What a sad little life, wokerati. I hope you’re happy. Liz Truss is off. After being in office for less time than it takes to listen to Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd, she’s on the way out of Downing Street. The Daily Star’s infamous lettuce looks set to roll into Number 10, and we ask: what the f**k is going on? “We’re laughing but I also want to cry, I’m just so angry they’re inflicting this on us again.” – Ros Taylor “She couldn’t even deliver a resignation speech properly, it was boring and ful...
Oct 20, 2022•24 min•Season 2Ep. 121
An out-of-her-depth politician gets sacked by an out-of-her-depth politician who should get sacked. Tofu’s surprisingly high protein content boosts the Wokerati to victory over Suella Braverman – will Truss be the next victim of these Guardian-reading hooligans? Our panel talks about the Tory chaos (loath to say it’s the latest at this point), and even gets into a bit of Remainiacs style red meat to discuss rejoin. Our guest this week is ARD correspondent and New Statesman columnist Annette Ditt...
Oct 20, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Season 2Ep. 121
Now twice a week, because you demanded it… Liz Truss is definitely not hidden under a desk – but we can’t necessarily confirm she’s still in Number 10. And if she is, who knows how long she can stay without hiding somewhere. We look at the new power of Prime Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, and the Tories’ ever falling standing in the latest opinion polls. Is a general election (or a genny leccy between friends) inevitable? This week’s special guest is veteran pollster and BBC election night mainstay, Jo...
Oct 17, 2022•59 min•Season 2Ep. 120
Kwasi go gos and the Government’s spinning around like a yo-yo – Andrew and Naomi pick apart the wreckage in an ever more regular EmergencyCast. What forced the PM’s hand and will it save her career – or has she just made yet another enemy? The Truss bus ploughs on full steam ahead, with or without anybody at the wheel… “She spoke abstractly to the markets in a very robotic way – and so far, they haven’t reacted well.” “The disconnect between Truss and reality is unbelievable.” “This market fund...
Oct 14, 2022•17 min•Season 2Ep. 119
Truss and Kwarteng’s politically-charged synchronised diving routine continues as the pair flip flop until the pound drops. Do they even understand what’s going wrong? And, as the Government’s spiral into a vortex of shame embarrasses anyone with an ounce of self awareness – what should opposition parties do? Alan Wager, research associate at the UK in a Changing Europe, is this week’s guest. Get our sought-after ANTI-GROWTH COALITION mug and more here: https://podmarket.co.uk/ “Everything going...
Oct 14, 2022•57 min•Season 2Ep. 118
As the Truss micro-Government twists on a hook of its own making, we take a taxi to an anti-growth North London podcast studio to examine a week of Tory torment, conference catastrophes and 33% Labour leads. Are the Conservatives on the verge of an actual extinction event? Former Justice Secretary and Conservative exile David Gauke is our special guest. “Can you imagine anyone, in any pub, going on about the Anti-Growth Coalition?” – Ian Dunt “It seems that Truss genuinely doesn’t think she even...
Oct 07, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Season 2Ep. 117
Truss and Kwarteng’s mini-budget madness has sparked a Black Wednesday 2.0 – will the quids be alright? Plus, as Starmer takes Keir of business with a successful outing at conference, we look at Labour’s standing. This week’s special guest is former Labour minister turned mystery novelist Alan Johnson. “It’s too long ago to blame the last Labour government for everything so now they’re blaming one that doesn’t exist yet.” – Ros Taylor “This looks like two economics A-Level students have been let...
Sep 29, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Season 2Ep. 116
Trickle down economics is the talk of the town as Liz Truss relaunches her Britannia unhinged agenda. Can she sell her growth narrative to the public? What will the so-called fiscal event (definitely not a budget) look like? Plus, we discuss what voters want to see from the party conferences with our guest Luke Tryl, UK director of More in Common. Tickets to Doomsday Watch live: https://www.tickettext.co.uk/etmejHAuba “Levelling up has been completely abandoned as an issue under Truss, I don’t t...
Sep 23, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Season 2Ep. 115
You didn’t think we weren’t going to give you some tough Truss talk, did you? In the second half of our latest London live show we decipher what we can about the new PM, from the relatively few bits of politics we’ve seen in recent days. www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Ros Taylor, Ian Dunt and Alex Andreou. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Alex Rees, Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. ...
Sep 17, 2022•46 min•Season 2Ep. 114
What a week. The panel discusses the nation’s almighty gear shift, in part one of our latest London live show. How did they feel about the death of the Queen? And what have they reckoned to the reaction? Out in the usual Friday time slot, with the second half to follow tomorrow… www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Ros Taylor, Ian Dunt and Alex Andreou. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Alex Rees, Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevi...
Sep 16, 2022•53 min•Season 2Ep. 113
Liz Truss is in Downing Street and we’re here to deliver, deliver, deliver our thoughts on the new PM. She’s promised to do all the stuff and fix all the things – but hasn’t really said how. Does she know herself? We delve into the mind of the new Tory figurehead. Our guest this week is journalist and historian Seth Alexander Thévoz, author of The Secret Life of London Private Members’ Clubs. “Perhaps boring could play well for her, but it has to be backed up by detail. It was the boring version...
Sep 08, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Season 2Ep. 112
Boris Johnson to the dustbin of political history, here we go. With the PM set to finally leave Number 10 we look back on his tumultuous tenure. Plus, with the prospect of Prime Minister Liz Truss looming, we assess the future of democracy in Britain. Things can only get… worse? Sam Fowles, author of Overruled: Confronting Our Vanishing Democracy in 8 Cases, is this week’s guest. “It turned out the gloomsters were right all along.” – Hannah Fearn "Boris’s ego is why we don’t have a government du...
Sep 02, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Season 2Ep. 111
Levelling up goes down the drain as its champion Gove vanishes. Whatever happened to the Tory pledge to the re-grout the Red Wall? Plus, as sewage on the beaches turns us into the dirty man of Europe, is the case for nationalising utilities now unanswerable? This week’s guest is Anand Menon, director of The UK in a Changing Europe think tank. “If the Tories have a plan, they are not sharing it with us yet… and that is causing a lot of anger.” – Ros Taylor “There's not much space for levelling up...
Aug 26, 2022•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 110
With Johnson in holiday mode, what do we make of Starmer’s move to fill the void with his own cost of living plans? Does his energy bills freeze proposal go far enough? Plus, special guest Tim Walker joins to discuss his Brexit showdown play Bloody Difficult Women and his time working alongside Johnson at The Telegraph. “Brexit is like this awful family secret. The day granny got done for shoplifting that no one wants to talk about…” – Tim Walker “The cost of living is driving people into condit...
Aug 19, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 109
We’ve got bills, they’re multiplying and the Government has lost control. Will the cost of living crisis ever end? What might Liz Truss or Rishi Sunak (hey, you never know…) do about it? And after Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort was raided, we look at the scandal surrounding the former US president. Satbir Singh, managing director at openDemocracy, and technology journalist Charles Arthur join us as our special guests this week. Complete our listener survey and be in with a chance of winning an OGWN t...
Aug 12, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 108
Keir Starmer and the unions: Can Labour keep its distance from striking workers without paying a price? Or will everything get better if you picket? Plus, is Rishi Sunak really catching up on Loopy Liz Truss? As Cosplay Thatcher executes rapid policy reversals, is this lady definitely up for turning? And as the Lionesses Bring Football Home™, our panelists revisit the trauma of sport at school. Complete our listener survey and be in with a chance of winning an OGWN t-shirt: https://bit.ly/3zIkaq...
Aug 05, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Season 2Ep. 107
