Oh God, What Now? - podcast cover

Oh God, What Now?

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Making sense of our political hell every Tuesday and Friday! Oh God, What Now? is the no-bulls**t politics podcast, making the unbearable bearable with top quality guests and analysis, plus poor quality jokes.  Regulars include: Dorian Lynskey, author of The Ministry Of Truth: A Biography of Orwell’s 1984 and host of Origin Story • Writer and commentator Ros Taylor • Rachel Cunliffe of the New Statesman • Writer and host of This Is Not A Drill Gavin Esler • Social affairs journalist Hannah Fearn • Comedian Matt Green • The Lead's Westminster Editor Zoë Grünewald • Group Editor Andrew Harrison • Journalist Marie Le Conte • Podmasters Managing Editor Jacob Jarvis • New Statesman columnist Jonn Elledge • Guardian writer Rafael Behr Sign up and get ad-free shows earlier than anyone else: patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow. Oh God, What Now? is a Podmasters production

Episodes

Liars, Liars, Streets On Fire

• OGWN Live in Hove, Weds 9 Oct. Tickets here. • OGWN Live in Liverpool, Mon 23 Sept. Tickets here. Following the horrific knife attack in Southport that left three young girls dead, England has seen a mass of violence sweeping the country. That violence has been spurred on by misinformation allowed to spread like wildfire across social media. Hope Not Hate’s Director of Research, Joe Mulhall, joins the panel to discuss what’s happening, why, and how it can be stopped. Plus, Should we call out p...

Aug 06, 20241 hr 4 minSeason 2Ep. 359

Greens co-leader Carla Denyer full interview – “We’re here to get Greens elected and get stuff done”

The Greens pulled off an all-time best performance in the 2024 General Election, doubling their vote share to a historic high of 6.4% and winning four MPs. But can they handle the transition from outsiders to effective Parliamentary party? How do they square the need to remake Britain as a low-carbon economy and the traditional Green suspicion of development? And can they peel away disillusioned left voters from Labour? Co-leader Carla Denyer talks to Andrew Harrison about another green world. •...

Aug 02, 202439 minSeason 2Ep. 358

Tory leadership: Let’s get ready to grumble!

We’re live in Liverpool on Mon 23 Sept for Labour’s first conference in government. Join Dorian Lynskey, Raf Behr, Jonn Elledge and a special guest TBA at the Laughterhouse – tickets here. The Tory bust up over who should be the party’s next leader is underway. Who is in the running, what do they want and is there a least worst option? Plus, Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer tells Andrew Harrison what her party wants to achieve in Parliament and gives her take on Labour’s green platform. And An...

Aug 02, 20241 hr 8 minSeason 2Ep. 355

Supermassive Black Hole

• We’re live in Liverpool on Mon 23 Sept for Labour’s first conference in government. Join Dorian Lynskey, Raf Behr, Jonn Elledge and a special guest TBA – tickets here Rachel Reeves revealed a £20bn black hole in public finances in a speech on Monday. How did the Tory Party let it get so bad? And what must Labour now cut to fix the mess? Plus, why did the Liberal Democrats do so well in this election? Newly elected Lib Dem MP for Chichester and first non-Tory for her constituency in 100 years, ...

Jul 30, 202459 minSeason 2Ep. 354

Bark at the Honeymoon

Prime Minister Starmer (still getting used to that) faced his first PMQs this week. How did he do? And does Sunak make a better opposition leader than he does PM? Plus, Kamala Harris is all but confirmed as the Democratic nominee. What attack lines can we expect from the RNC now? Can the oldest presidential nominee in US history, Donald Trump, even afford to fund any more after splurging ageism attacks on Biden? And in the Extra Bit for subscribers: Andy Murray quit, Southgate quit, Biden quit a...

Jul 26, 20241 hr 12 minSeason 2Ep. 353

Wake Me Up Before You Go, Joe

President Joe Biden’s decision not to run for a second term wasn’t exactly a shock, but what does it mean for the race for the White House? And could Vice President Kamala Harris beat Trump if she were the Democratic nominee? Rolling Stone Magazine politics reporter and co-host of our companion podcast American Friction Nikki McCann Rámirez, joins the panel. Plus, Keir Starmer’s been busy improving relations with Europe. No, we’re not rejoining the EU before you ask, but could things be about to...

Jul 23, 202458 minSeason 2Ep. 352

Special: When the Ministers talked to OGWN

Keir Starmer’s new cabinet is full of our past guests. So we thought, why not revisit some of those classic interviews to see what they tell us about the big figures of the new era of politics? Come back in time as we talk to David Lammy, Bridget Phillipson, Wes Streeting, Lisa Nandy and Ed Miliband on episodes of Remainiacs and The Bunker of yore. The moral: If you want to get into Cabinet, be a guest on our podcast… • The Pension Confident Podcast from PensionBee aims to improve listeners’ und...

Jul 22, 202435 minSeason 2Ep. 351

The Great British Brakes Off

King Prince Charles makes his first speech of Labour era, announcing a raft of legislation that will “take the brakes off Britain”. What was in it, what wasn’t and what does it all say about how Starmer will govern? Plus, with election candidates under increasing threat of abuse and harassment, what can be done to make the job safer? And in the Extra Bit for subscribers, if you absolutely HAD to save the Tories from extinction, how would you do it? • Get exclusive NordVPN deal here – https://nor...

Jul 19, 20241 hr 5 minSeason 2Ep. 350

Trump: The shot heard around the world

The assassination attempt against Donald Trump shocks the world. Has it handed Trump an unbeatable advantage in the Presidential election? And can Biden withdraw now even if he wants to? Plus, England’s moment of national euphoria in the Euros is fated not to happen. Is the football-based feelgood factor in politics real or just a figment of the collective imagination – or both? • The Pension Confident Podcast from PensionBee aims to improve listeners’ understanding of personal finance – whether...

Jul 16, 20241 hr 5 minSeason 2Ep. 349

Mr. Starmer Goes to Washington

As Prime Minister Starmer jets off for the 75th NATO summit in Washington DC, how will he perform on the global stage? And how impactful will David Lammy be as the new foreign secretary? Plus, the Lib Dems’ strategic genius, Labour’s peculiar losses, and Reform’s overrated performance – the panel unpacks some of the election trends you might have missed. And in the Extra Bit for subscribers, Dorian, Zoë, and Raf detail their most forgettable and unforgettable election nights. Get exclusive NordV...

Jul 12, 20241 hr 10 minSeason 2Ep. 348

Ikea Starmer assembles a Cabinet

Well his dad WAS a toolmaker… What’s on the agenda in Week One of the Brave New Starmer Era? What do we make of Labour’s team? Is the party’s support really “broad but shallow” and does it matter anyway? Plus, as the Far Right is unexpectedly defeated in France, we demand of Marie: Qu’est-ce que cela signifie? Andrew’s music choice: Madres by Sofia Kourtesis. Matt’s music choice: The Walls by Holly Henderson. The Pension Confident Podcast from PensionBee aims to improve listeners’ understanding ...

Jul 09, 20241 hr 4 minSeason 2Ep. 347

Election Night Live in London Part 2: The Moment of Truth

Drink in the tension in the room as we wait for the first Exit Polls of General Election 2204. LBC’s James O’Brien joins Dorian, Ros and Alex for the countdown, the reveal, and audience questions. Get our exclusive NordVPN deal here ↣ https://nordvpn.com/ohgodwhatnow. It’s risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money back guarantee! Support us on Patreon to get early access to all our live tickets plus mugs, t-shirts and more. Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Ros Taylor and Alex Andreou. Audio production ...

Jul 08, 202451 minSeason 2Ep. 346

Election Night Live in London Part 1: Scorn on the Fourth of July

Come with us back into the misty before-times… Election night, when we didn’t yet know the result. LBC’s James O’Brien joins Dorian, Ros and Alex for Part 1 of a nail-biting evening. Which Portillos are they expecting? How many seats do the audience think the Tories will get? And Matt Green brings his good friend the Rt Hon. Geoffrey Geoff-Geoffrey to celebrate fourteen glorious years of Conservatism. It’s dramatic irony overload! Part Two coming tomorrow. Get our exclusive NordVPN deal here ↣ h...

Jul 07, 202456 minSeason 2Ep. 345

Election Aftermath 🌹 At Long Last, Victory

Well, we got the bastards. Dorian Lynskey, Ros Taylor and Andrew Harrison gather in awe before the scale of Labour’s historic achievement. How did Starmer pull it off? What will Labour’s new era of service mean? And did we get the Portillos we wanted? Sure, there are some flies in the ointment – Farage, Corbyn, some tight victories – but this is a good-vibes-only zone. Stay for the end. It gets emotional. Get our exclusive NordVPN deal here ↣ https://nordvpn.com/ohgodwhatnow. It’s risk-free with...

Jul 05, 20241 hr 6 minSeason 2Ep. 344

Election ’24: The Calm Before The Starm

• Watch our FREE all-night Election Livestream on YouTube from 10pm til early on July 4. • Watch our Election Night Live Special on Zoom when you back us on Patreon. It’s the end of an error! In the final edition of Oh God What Now of the whole nightmare Conservative age… What have we learned about Britain, politics, campaigning and the merits of waterproofing Prime Ministers during the longest and most gruelling election campaign ever? And how will it feel to watch what could be the actual dest...

Jul 04, 202458 minSeason 2Ep. 343

What if… the Tories won the Election?

• Watch our FREE all-night Election Livestream on YouTube from 10pm til early on July 4. • Watch our Election Night Live Special on Zoom when you back us on Patreon. It couldn’t happen… could it? Everything points to a Labour landslide but regulars Jonn Elledge and Rob Hutton join Andrew Harrison for a journey into a nightmare parallel reality where Sunak somehow scrapes it. What happens? Does Starmer have to quit? Is ReformUK defanged or empowered? And what does a knackered Tory party do with a...

Jul 03, 202440 minSeason 2Ep. 342

Election ‘24: Sunak’s Last Gasp

• Don’t forget our Election Night live show, streaming to Patreon backers. Rishi Sunak told Laura Kuenssberg on Sunday that life in Britain is better now than it was in 2010. Is his campaign more delusional now than ever, or is there still time for a late Jude Bellingham-esque comeback for the Tories? The panel unpacks the weekend’s drama just days before the general election. Plus, is Marine Le Pen and her far-right National Rally party on the verge of history in France after taking a lead in t...

Jul 02, 20241 hr 6 minSeason 2Ep. 341

Election Week 5: The Beginning of the End – with Gavin Esler and Ros Taylor

In our latest bonus edition, Ros Taylor and Gavin Esler talk us through another week on the campaign trail. What was the point of the debate? Who cares about the tabloids? Why can’t we just reach polling day already? We are streaming LIVE on election night! Come and join your favourite panellists from Oh God, What Now?, The Bunker and Paper Cuts on YouTube from 10pm on Thursday 4th July as we react to the results live – you won't want to miss it. Visit https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow and s...

Jun 28, 202423 minSeason 2Ep. 340

Election ’24: Starmer – A New Hope?

• Don’t forget our Election Night live show, streaming to Patreon backers. Have Tory governments depleted all of our optimism – or could a Starmer government restore hope in politics? The panel discusses whether things really can only get better post-Sunak. And our special guest today is award-winning journalist Peter Kellner, who has served as president of YouGov and previously worked on BBC Newsnight. He joins the panel to discuss polls, Farage, and everything in between. And in the Extra Bit ...

Jun 27, 20241 hr 5 minSeason 2Ep. 339

Election bonus: Can we trust the polls? – with special guest Prof. John Curtice

In our latest bonus edition, polling guru Professor John Curtice talks Jacob Jarvis through the latest numbers – and tells us how much faith to have in what they’re predicting. What would the result be even if they were epically wrong? And what has made them shift? Plus, he gives his advice on staying awake on election night… We’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Jacob Jarvis. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production by: Tom Taylor. Vid...

Jun 26, 202430 minSeason 2Ep. 338

Election ’24: The Wagers of Sin

• Don’t forget our Election Night live show, streaming to Patreon backers. What are the ODDS the Conservatives would be in the woeful position they are right now? How serious is this betting scandal for Sunak? Meanwhile, even though the election winner is all but confirmed, the press has to pump up the drama. What stories have been overdone and what potential drama is still to come? The panel discusses all that, plus this week's heroes and villains. (Apologies for Andrew’s sore throat. He’ll be ...

Jun 25, 202452 minSeason 2Ep. 337

Election Week 4: Sunak’s bringing tetchy back – with guest John Crace

• Watch our Election Night Live Special on Zoom when you back us on Patreon. • Keep an eye out for daily editions Tue-Fri in the run-up to the Election. It’s Week Four sum-up time! There’s only 13 days to go and as the news worsens for the Conservatives their friendly papers are losing their minds. Guardian political sketchwriter John Crace takes Jacob Jarvis through the week’s highlights and many, many lowlights. Who would bet on an election date? Is “you backed Corbyn” the gotcha line the Tory...

Jun 21, 202433 minSeason 2Ep. 336

Election '24: Electric Landslide

According to Grant Shapps, Labour is in danger of winning a “supermajority” - which means literally nothing in British politics. We prefer ‘mega-landslide’, but realistically what would a win as big as is projected mean for British politics? Plus, no one is talking about Brexit in this election cycle, even Nigel Farage – WHY?! And in the Extra Bit for subscribers when it comes to the broadcast media, who’s on cue with election coverage and who just hasn’t got a clue? We’re on YouTube!: https://w...

Jun 20, 20241 hr 6 minSeason 2Ep. 335

Election ’24 Update – Stella Creasy on Labour’s tightrope walk

In our latest Election update: If Labour are set for a massive majority, why are they still so cautious on policy? Labour’s Stella Creasy tells Andrew Harrison why the party refuses to over-promise – why Starmer won’t talk about rejoining the EU – where she stands on the controversial two-child benefit cap – plus Gaza, Sunak, Farage and how to get people believing in politics again. Don’t miss our Election Night Live Show, streaming on Zoom for Patreon backers. • “I don’t want us to promise a mo...

Jun 19, 202452 minSeason 2Ep. 334

Election ’24: Three Liars on a Shirt

• Watch our Election Night Live Special on Zoom when you back us on Patreon. • Keep an eye out for daily editions Tue-Fri in the run-up to the Election. The manifestos are out (OK, not everyone’s lying but we couldn’t resist the headline). What’s in Labour’s, what’s not and what’s cutting through for ‘normal people’? Does it matters what the Tories offer? And what the Farage is in Reform UK on about? Plus, step away from the Britain Elects Twitter… are we over-polling this election? And are poll...

Jun 18, 20241 hr 16 minSeason 1Ep. 333

Election Bonus: The Shakespearean Tragedy of Rishi Sunak – with guest Steve Richards

Politics podcast presenter Steve Richards talks to Jacob Jarvis about the Shakespearean downfall of Rishi Sunak, the gilded youth who finds he’s not up to this titanic task. Plus: Is appearing as brutal as the Conservatives the right strategy for Labour? The weakness of Starmer’s language. And the patronising futility of TV debates. • “Sunak has tried on so many guises, he doesn’t know who he is now.” • “In Grimsby Sunak just looked crushed… It must be tormenting him that he’s leading his party ...

Jun 14, 202431 minSeason 2Ep. 332

Election ‘24: No Dish Rish

Sky-deprived youngster Rishi Sunak announced the Tory manifesto at Silverstone on Tuesday, claiming that the UK economy “is turning a corner”. Even if it is (it’s not), is his manifesto in pole position or does it simply have 4 flat tyres? And as Ed Davey hops on another rollercoaster, whose election campaign is going well and who’s just taking us for a ride? Former Labour Party advisor and co-author of Punch & Judy Politics, Tom Hamilton, joins the panel to discuss all of that. And in the Extra...

Jun 13, 20241 hr 9 minSeason 2Ep. 331

Saving Private Lyin’

Rishi Sunak’s gaffe over last week’s D-Day memorial service may not be the last big event he leaves early. How badly will this impact his election hopes? Could he even quit the race? Plus, what did we learn from the seven-way second election debate, apart from how much hairspray Penny Mordaunt can use in one go? Join the panel for all that plus this week’s heroes and villains. Come to our election night live show at The Tabernacle, London. https://www.thetabernaclew11.com/events We’re on YouTube...

Jun 11, 20241 hr 2 minSeason 2Ep. 330

Election ’24: The UK Farage Revival

Chief milkshake-wearer and wannabe MP Nigel Farage is making the Tories think hard. Has his decision to run trapped Sunak and his party? Plus, Labour is likely to win in July, but it’s a party full of unknown candidates. Who should you be getting familiar with? And in the Extra Bit for subscribers, what’s the state of patriotism today? We’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Ros Taylor with Seth Thevoz, Marie Le Conte and guest Rachel We...

Jun 07, 20241 hr 1 minSeason 2Ep. 329

Election Debate Reaction: The Great British Shout Off

The first Sunak vs. Starmer TV debate was as enraging as you might expect. Sunak shouted about tax, while Starmer was more polite – but also too slow to pull the PM up on his bullsh*t. Andrew Harrison and Jacob Jarvis give their reaction to the spectacle. We’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Andrew Harrison with Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Chris Jones and Jacob Jarvis. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. Video production by Kieron Leslie....

Jun 05, 202426 minSeason 2Ep. 328
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