The Government’s Illegal Migration Bill is “morally unacceptable” according to the Archbishop of Canterbury. But since when did that stop the Conservatives? We look at the chaos, the confusion and the growing asylum seeker backlog. Plus, Labour did OK in the locals but were the real winners the Greens and the Lib Dems? And what does it mean for the General Election? And in the Extra Bit, for subscribers only, our panel discusses their favourite on-air mistakes. “ The UNHCR says the legislation w...
May 12, 2023•59 min•Season 2Ep. 205
The republicans doth protest too much, according to the Met police. Can the force change? And does it really want to? Speaking of change, should the Tories be terrified by the local election results? And Trump, Carlson and DeSantis – no, not the start of a bad joke, but a trio who are pushing forward the far-right in America. “In recent years, it’s felt there has been scandal after scandal after scandal from the Met.” – Rachel Cunliffe “If you hand the police sweeping new powers and say you can ...
May 10, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Season 2Ep. 204
Despite the Tories’ best efforts at damage control they still got utterly trounced at the locals. Stopping boats didn’t work (in any way whatsoever) and neither didn’t stopping votes. So while Sunak will be moping, should the rest of us – and Starmer in particular – celebrate? Or are the results a little more confusing than that? Andrew, Ros and Naomi discuss. “Without question it has been a very bad night for the Conservatives.” – Naomi Smith “It’s very clear lots of Conservatives just stayed a...
May 05, 2023•26 min•Season 2Ep. 203
It’s Coronation weekend and Charles “invites” you to pledge your allegiance to the crown. A wholesome tradition? Or just a bit much? And should we actually read much into the local elections? We ask special guest Ben Walker , senior data journalist at New Statesman and a Labour council candidate. Then in the extra bit – for subscribers only – with rock legends Aerosmith retiring, the panel discusses people they’d like to see pack it in. “I won’t be saying it and I imagine very very few people wi...
May 05, 2023•54 min•Season 2Ep. 202
A Whitehall bust up is underway with Sue Gray and Simon Case clashing over the former’s appointment as Keir Starmer’s chief of staff. Is this a witch hunt – or are there just questions? Plus, conflict in Sudan means the UK has organised a second rapid evacuation in two years. Has this one gone smoother than the last? And with the high profile departures of cable anchors Tucker Carlson and Don Lemon across the pond – we discuss our favourite TV hosts. “Opinion of Sue Gray is totally moveable. The...
May 03, 2023•56 min•Season 2Ep. 201
More details of Johnson’s chaotic reign have emerged in Anthony Seldon’s new book Johnson at 10 . He might now be in the history books but have we truly heard the last of him? And can we track his scandals without giving him the attention he wants? Plus, send in the subs! Our panel discusses Dominic Raab’s obscure replacements. Comedian, actor and Twitter sensation Matt Green is this week’s guest. “Johnson may be confined to the history book but Johnson-ism isn’t.” – Seth Thévoz “There is every ...
Apr 28, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Season 2Ep. 200
That’s a Raab! Karate guru Dom has lost several Cabinet jobs after an investigation into bullying allegations. What fallout can we expect? Plus, the Home Office has tried to clean up its act and says it will now refer to asylum seekers as “customers”. How compassionate . And another local councillor drops the ball, after replying to an email in Welsh in German. Why can so many Brits not speak a second language? Plus, our special guest this week is Geri Scott, political reporter at The Times . “H...
Apr 25, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Season 2Ep. 199
Rishi Sunak promised an end to sleaze after the dark days of Johnson. But has his faux competency made us take our eyes off the ball? Plus, it’s not just lorries stuck in Calais. Our panel discusses the impact Brexit has had on the music industry and why it’s now so tough to get a gig in Great Britain. “The first rule when you’re talking about trust is don’t keep banging on about trust.” - Ros Taylor “Sunak just simply thinks that his wife’s financial affairs are separate from his own – but that...
Apr 21, 2023•59 min•Season 2Ep. 198
Labour is ahead in the polls but questions are still being raised over Keir Starmer’s leadership. Could he really be blowing it? Plus, is Suella Braverman Donald Trump’s fault? Then finally, the rise of the non-apology apology with councillors facing further pressure. Rachel Cunliffe, senior associate editor at New Statesman, joins as a special guest. “Council elections are always used as a test bed for the themes that might come along in the General Election.” – Seth Thévoz “I don’t think panic...
Apr 18, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Season 2Ep. 197
As the Government dishes out fresh lessons in doggedness – does the strike stalemate risk a brain drain for Britain? We discuss health workers ditching the UK for Australia for better money (and weather). Plus, why doesn’t Westminster work? It’s a question we all want to answer – and Ian Dunt has in his new book. And, with * major* spoiler warnings, we talk about the Succession latest. “I hate the word vocation because it tends to be a way of not paying people for their skill.” – Hannah Fearn “B...
Apr 14, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Season 2Ep. 196
Sunak is expected to cling on until Autumn 2024 for a general election. Why, when there’s clearly no plan of action? And as we creep closer, we unpack what the race might look like as Starmer’s Labour sparks controversy with its attacks on the PM. Plus, why is Elon Musk slowly making Twitter the least cool website on the planet? “All Labour needs to do is think of variations of the same theme – are you better off under the Tories?” – Gavin Esler “I fully don’t understand why on earth something l...
Apr 12, 2023•59 min•Season 2Ep. 195
Donald Trump has had his (first) day in court. How will this alter the course of US politics to come? Plus, Brexit promises are falling short again, quelle surprise. The panel discusses the problem the Government can’t bring itself to mention. In a special guest double-header, we’re joined by comedian, actor and Twitter star Matt Green, and Geri Scott, political reporter at The Times , this week. “The taboo has been broken about indicting a former president.” – Seth Thévoz “This feels like the f...
Apr 06, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Season 2Ep. 194
Sunak was apparently turning it around but now he’s firmly black on the course to oblivion. Should he stop staring at potholes and realise he’s heading to a political black hole? Plus – we unpack the Trump latest, as his arrest looms. And, moanalism (yes, we’ve invented a word). What’s with all these articles where people just want to complain and tell us not to enjoy stuff? “There are comment pages that need to be filled.” – Marie Le Conte “It’s been weird watching Conservative politicians one ...
Apr 04, 2023•56 min•Season 2Ep. 193
What’s with the Tories’ crackdown on anti-social behaviour? And what’s meant to be so wrong with people hanging about in parks? Plus, with protests in Israel and France, the panel discusses the spread of such activity in Europe – and why it feels empowering to people. Jonn Elledge , a regular columnist at New Statesman and Big Issue , is this week’s guest. “They’ve tried to make the case on pollution and anti-social behaviour… even though there’s no link.” – Ian Dunt “We have a government that’s...
Mar 31, 2023•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 192
As the Johnson Rebellion fails to materialise and backbench rebellions over Northern Ireland fizzle, are we finally, finally seeing the end of the Brexit Wars? Plus: Humza Yousaf wins the SNP leadership. Can he put the party back together? How does Dominic Cummings still cast such a baleful shadow over the Tories? And Paris is burning. Can Macron put out the fire? Or is he l’allume-feu déformé ? “The ERG WhatsApp saga shows you that yes, there’s a friends group… but there’s always the inner frie...
Mar 28, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Season 2Ep. 191
SPECIAL EARLY RELEASE! THE GREASED PIGLET IS OUT OF THE PEN... It’s his party and he’ll lie if he wants to… Boris Johnson finally, finally goes before the Privileges Committee . How did his tactic of sneering, blustering and lying go over? And is it finally sausage time for the Greased Piglet? Plus as the horrific Casey Report excoriates the Met, does London’s police force have to be dismantled? And in the Extra Bit, what’s the weirdest thing that’s ever happened to our panelists? “Johnson’s def...
Mar 23, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Season 2Ep. 190
Boris Johnson is stealing the limelight from Rishi Sunak yet again as he faces a four-hour grilling from furious MPs. We look ahead to the greased piglets latest trial. Plus, the panel reflects on the Iraq War, 20 years on. How has it warped our politics? Then, in the extra bit for Patreon backers, we look to the skies and discuss who should occupy the moon base – and whether we really need one. “It will be glorious – it has the outward architecture of farce already.” – Tom Peck “His defence wil...
Mar 21, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Season 2Ep. 189
Jeremy Hunt’s bland Budget offers little hope – but hey, at least we avoided a technical recession. The panel picks apart the Chancellor’s pledges. Plus, as Rishi Sunak lets his MPs duke it out – is he above the fray, or asleep at the wheel? Polly Mackenzie , chief social purpose officer at UAL and formerly director of Demos, is this week’s guest. “ The post-purge Tory party keeps on drifting to the right… it ’ s a significant problem.” – Ian Dunt “ Is Sunak someone who actually wants to make th...
Mar 17, 2023•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 188
Lineker versus the BBC ends 1-0 to the football legend. What does the ding-dong battle tell us about the broadcaster’s shortcomings? And why did the Government call this so wrong? Plus, what is going on with Trump and Fox News? The panel looks at the right-wing rage machines across the Atlantic. And, we discuss the protests in Georgia – and the nation’s desire to join the EU. “Footballers are media trained, this feels like a fight the Government shouldn’t want to pick – but they keep doing it.” ...
Mar 14, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Season 2Ep. 187
Braverman and Sunak’s callous and dehumanising “stop the boats” push is the latest moral shame bestowed upon us by this Government. Plus, we ask: is it ever okay for politicians to lie? We discuss the criticism of party leaders changing tack… And in the extra bit (for Patreon backers) – should we try harder to celebrate success in later life? “The way the government has conducted itself over small boats is despicable.” – Ian Dunt “Braverman gave less a word salad and more a word meringue, hard o...
Mar 10, 2023•52 min•Season 2Ep. 186
OK, Matt Hancock entrusting his WhatsApp messages to the world’s least trustworthy woman is pretty funny. But is the Telegraph using them to rewrite history on COVID? Plus, our panel gently disagree on the wisdom of Keir Starmer hiring Sue Gray as his Chief of Staff. Sunak bets on cruelty to small boat refugees to reanimate his Prime Ministership. And as Harry and Meghan are turfed out of Frogmore Cottage, which homes were our panel glad to see the back door of? “There is no British male who has...
Mar 07, 2023•56 min•Season 2Ep. 185
Won’t somebody think of the Brexiters? Sunak’s “ Windsor Framework ” sucks all the anger out of the Northern Ireland border issue, so what is Boris Johnson going to do with his life now? Plus, Flat Broke: Why isn’t anyone talking seriously about housing ? The latest source for Isobel Oakeshott to burn is the hapless Matt Hancock. Who could possibly have foreseen this? Vicky Pryce? And what’s the worst event YOU’VE ever been to? “We’ve seen how flexible and generous the EU can be just as long as ...
Mar 03, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Season 2Ep. 158
Rishi Sunak got Brexit done again – but will it be enough to satisfy the headbanging Leave die-hards who want to rule the Conservative Party? We discuss the latest NI protocol settlement after the PM’s meet with Ursula von der Leyen. And as the right-wing surges, the panel unpacks Suella Braverman’s immigration positions. Plus, Observer restaurant critic Jay Rayner gives his take on the food shortages as tomatoes become more valuable than the pound. “There was never enough good faith there in th...
Feb 27, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Season 2Ep. 157
As Boris Johnson drags us back to 2018 with his NI protocol meddling we discuss the latest Brexit wranglings (yes, again…) . Plus, a year on from Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, we reflect on the conflict and how it has reshaped politics. And in the extra bit, in full for Patreons, we talk about the bizarre feeling of someone you disagree with making a smart point… “If you’re applying a purity test – someone can always be purer.” – Seth Thévoz “Sunak would be in a tricky position if he’s relying on...
Feb 24, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Season 2Ep. 156
As Keir Starmer casts Jeremy Corbyn out, the panel discusses what this means for the Labour Party, its former leader and wider politics. Could this set a new model for influential but independent MPs? Then – have you seen your gas bill yet? We unpack the latest in the energy cost crisis, as people suffer despite booming profits for providers. Plus – what Government departments would our team like to take over – would they copy Sunak and make any new ones? “It’s really bad for a party to become a...
Feb 21, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Season 2Ep. 155
In the second half of our latest live outing, the panel discusses hope for the future and the prospect of rekindling the old EU flame… Is it time to rebrand rejoin? Plus, a special conspiracy theory quiz and some questions from our beloved audience. www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Written and presented by Alex Andreou with Ros Taylor, Ian Dunt and Ayesha Hazarika. Audio producers: Alex Rees and Robin Leeburn. Producer: Jet Gerbertson. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Theme music by Cornershop...
Feb 17, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Season 2Ep. 154
To listen to this week's live show in its entirety before everyone else, join us from just £3 a month: www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow What a difference a day makes… with Sturgeon gone and Starmer putting his foot down on Corbyn, the panel picks apart the latest political shake ups. What will this mean for the prospect of (whisper it), a Labour Government? Out early for everyone (and you’ll get it all on Patreon) here’s part one of our latest Leicester Square Theatre outing – with the second due in...
Feb 16, 2023•51 min•Season 2Ep. 153
Gove convenes a stealth conference on how to make Britain work better with the EU. Is the time ripe to start talking about Britain rejoining? Is the Tories’ Red Wall emissary 30p Lee Anderson a disaster waiting to happen? Plus, with legendary works of fiction going out of copyright – we ask our panel what they would reboot or reimagine. Rachel Cunliffe , associate editor at New Statesman, is this week’s guest. Get the last few tickets to Oh God, What Now? Live at the Leicester Square Theatre her...
Feb 14, 2023•57 min•Season 2Ep. 152
New series preview: How much do we really know about the people who make the headlines? In a provocative new series the acclaimed journalist Michael Crick , formerly of BBC, C4 and Newsnight, delves into the backgrounds of the powerful and the influential. In this first episode: Few newspaper editors wield as much power as the Daily Mail ’s Paul Dacre . Feared and courted by politicians, he’s imposed his singular vision of Britain on successive governments – while sometimes stretching the law in...
Feb 13, 2023•14 min
Rishi Sunak shuffles his Cabinet pack and comes up with a couple of dog-eared former junior ministers plus 30p Lee. Is there any talent left in the Tory tank? And is Sunak really in charge? Plus, HORRIBLE BOSSES: The Dominic Raab Edition. Why do bullies appear to prosper in the Conservative Party? And when does “robust management” become office tyranny? And in the Extra Bit: After the bizarre resurrection of Liz Truss, what are the best comebacks of all time? Get your tickets for OGWN Live on We...
Feb 10, 2023•1 hr 12 min•Season 2Ep. 151
