Oh God, What Now?

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/MDQXAzs4dr “Gavin Williamson was that embarrassing middle-aged guy who’s never seen any service but wets himself when he meets the SAS.” – Arthur Snell “I’m pathetically sentimental about the British-French relationship… When it’s not good, it upsets me.” – Ian Dunt “Biden’s agenda is pretty much done now… Republicans will air all the bad stuff they possibly can from now on.” – Julie Norman Written and presented by Ros Taylor with Ian Dunt and Arthur Snell. Producers: Alex Rees and Jet Gerbertson. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Theme music by Cornershop. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 12 Dec at 21 Soho, London here: https://www.tickettext.co.uk/MDQXAzs4dr “If there's one thing we know about Sunak it is he very obviously panics quite quickly.” – Marie Le Conte “Sunak will piss off several parts of the Parliamentary party no matter what he does.” – Marie Le Conte “As a country we’ve never been capable of having a sensible debate on asylum.” – Tom Peck “I feel physically sick hearing some of the things being said by ministers.” – Satbir Singh www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Alex Andreou with Tom Peck and Marie Le Conte. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producer: Jet Gerbertson. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Alex Rees. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 the Conservative Party now thinks they’re Winston Churchill.” – Seth Thévoz “What you’re seeing with Braverman is the Republicanisation of British politics.” – Seth Thévoz “The Republicans are now a party that has turned its back on democracy.” – Michelle Goldberg “It’s frustrating that only the people who believe in language take it seriously.” – Michelle Goldberg www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Arthur Snell and Seth Thévoz . Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Alex Rees, Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Alex Rees. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 Patel is showing more moral backbone than Suella Braverman.” – Hannah Fearn “Sunak is finally, finally the evidence of Cameron detoxifying the Tory Party." – Ahir Shah “Halloween is Goth Christmas. What’s not to love?” – Marie Le Conte Written and presented by Andrew Harrison with Hannah Fearn, Marie le Conte and Ahir Shah. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production: Alex Rees. Theme music by Cornershop. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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’re not going to give Braverman any job. Sunak has given up the chance to be mature.” – Ian Dunt “This government knows this is their last chance to win back any credibility in the country.” – Ros Taylor “Sunak just looks like a political hangover.” – Ian Dunt “Braverman was genuinely the worst Attorney General, and as Home Secretary she was a walking disaster.” – Adam Wagner www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Ian Dunt and Ros Taylor. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Alex Rees, Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Alex Rees. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 imagine Rishi Sunak provides some economic ballast because he worked in the City. But he's provided no credible economic case for Brexit." – Tom Peck "Individuals making economic decisions looked at the slate of policies, and were horrified." – Alex Andreou "The occupants of No. 10 Downing Street will be richer than those of Buckingham Palace." – Yasmeen Serhan www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Andrew Harrison with Alex Andreou, Tom Peck and Yasmeen Serhan. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Alex Rees, Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Alex Rees. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 full of mistakes.” – Alex Andreou “The party cannot agree on anyone, there is no continuity candidate. They will continue to tear themselves apart.” – Ros Taylor “It was so obvious to anyone looking from the outside that she would be entirely out of her depth.” – Alex Andreou www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Andrew Harrison with Alex Andreou and Ros Taylor. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Alex Rees, Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Alex Rees. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 Dittert. Get tickets to Origin Story Live here: https://www.tickettext.co.uk/OHXEPSMwj1 Browse our Tofu-Eating Wokerati and Anti-Growth Coalition merchandise here: https://podmarket.co.uk/ “It’s so clear Truss cannot go on like this, I don’t know why they don’t find a solution other than having her sitting there like a dead puppet.” – Annette Dittert “This is not even sub-GCSE economics. It’s fetish.” – Seth Thevos “It’s party before country, but they can’t be serious whilst Liz Truss is around.” – Annette Dittert “Nobody would like to rejoin the EU more than me. But this the work of years, as much as we would like it to happen tomorrow.” – Naomi Smith www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Alex Andreou with Naomi Smith and Seth Thevoz. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Alex Rees, Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Alex Rees. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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, John Curtice. Get tickets for ORIGIN STORY LIVE here: https://www.tickettext.co.uk/OHXEPSMwj1 Get our coveted ANTI-GROWTH COALITION mugs and more here: https://podmarket.co.uk/products/oh-god-what-now-anti-growth-coalition-mug “Hunt constantly looks like he’s been startled, like he's woken up in the middle of the night by a loud sound downstairs.” – Ian Dunt “How did it not occur to Truss that she would have to explain her ideology to the country?” – Marie Le Conte “Anyone from the leadership election would be better than Truss. Even Peter Bone wouldn’t have messed it up this badly.” – Ian Dunt “Truss and Kwarteng found the high spending and taxation of the post-covid world impossible.” – John Curtice www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Andrew Harrison with Ian Dunt and Marie Le Conte. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Alex Rees, Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Alex Rees. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 fundamentalism policy approach has been roundly rejected by, guess who… the markets.” “The one thing we can rely on the Conservatives for is sheer ruthlessness.” www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Andrew Harrison with Naomi Smith. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Alex Rees, Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Alex Rees. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 on is the preamble to a series of embarrassing u-turns.” – Alex Andreou “Truss talks about growth, but she also needs confidence and at the minute she doesn’t have it.” – Hannah Fearn “Who would want to pour money into this f***ing binfire at the moment?” – Alex Andreou www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Ros Taylor with Hannah Fearn and Alex Andreou. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Alex Rees, Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 needs a democratic mandate to do what she does…” – Ros Taylor “Her authority is extraordinarily low and she doesn’t have any political capital at all.” – David Gauke “Well done, the first thing you've done in your whole administration is tank the economy.” – Ian Dunt Written and presented by Dorian Lynskey with Ros Taylor and Ian Dunt. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant producer Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production: Robin Leeburn. Theme music by Cornershop. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 loose. The inexperience they’re displaying is just mind-boggling.” – Alan Johnson “There is no easy way out for them and neither should there be given the magnitude of error that they’ve made.” – Alan Johnson “To climb down from this plan would be a repudiation of everything Truss stands for.” – Ros Taylor “You can almost feel the mood of the country shifting towards Keir Starmer.” – Alan Johnson www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Tickets to Doomsday Watch Live: https://www.tickettext.co.uk/etmejHAuba Presented by Alex Andreou with Ian Dunt and Ros Taylor. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Alex Rees, Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 think Tory MPs imagined this hyper-right Government.” – Ros Taylor “It’s like Truss has gone in as ’90s Thatcher trying to impose the Poll Tax on Day One.” – Alex Andreou “The person who wins a Culture War today often loses it tomorrow.” – Luke Tryl "The top three issues in focus groups are cost of living, cost of living, cost of living." – Luke Tryl www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Dorian Lynskey, Alex Andreou and Ros Taylor. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Alex Rees, Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 Sofronijevic. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 of Johnson.” – Hannah Fearn "She's embracing being a dull PM after the whirlwind of Johnson." – Ros Taylor “Truss cannot move people, she cannot inspire people. So she has to use a borrowed ideology and riff on that.” – Ros Taylor “No prime minister ever wants to start banging on about an energy crisis. It’s the worst possible set of circumstances to be in.” – Seth Alexander Thévoz www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Hannah Fearn and Ros Taylor. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Alex Rees, Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 during an unprecedented crisis.” – Hannah Fearn “The Conservative Party always knew he was a tool of power – and when he proved himself useless, he had to go.” – Hannah Fearn “It’s interesting in British politics, you can be absolutely rubbish at your job, but we let you get on with it.” – Sam Fowles “Boris loves trading off future power for instant gratification.” – Marie Le Conte www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Alex Andreou with Hannah Fearn and Marie Le Conte. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Alex Rees, Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 when you're in full crisis mode." – Ros Taylor "Did Tory MPs vote for shit to be pumped into rivers? No. Did they stop it? No." – Alex Andreou www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Alex Andreou and Ros Taylor. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Alex Rees, Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 conditions you don’t associate with one of the world’s wealthiest countries. It’s really desperate.” – Arthur Snell “Boris Johnson has always been an effortlessly selfish human being.” – Tim Walker “Journalists have got into bed with the most useless, incompetent and damaging government of my lifetime.” – Tim Walker www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Andrew Harrison with Alex Andreou and Arthur Snell. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Alex Rees, Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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-shirt: https://bit.ly/3zIkaqc “Being dragged into reality is not part of Truss’s plan until September 5th at the earliest.” – Ros Taylor “I thought we WANTED to be a high-wage economy? Apparently not yet!” – Alex Andreou "Trump’s social media platform is doing encouragingly badly.” – Charles Arthur “In the case of Sinema, the state of Arizona is holding the world to ransom on climate change.” – Satbir Singh www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Alex Andreou with Ros Taylor. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Alex Rees, Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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/3zIkaqc “Apparently we’ve taken back control of our borders, without taking responsibility for what happens there in either direction. That’s Brexit.” – Alex Andreou “Liz Truss is basically out with her mates but she doesn’t realise that all the rest of can see her and hear what she’s saying.” – Sara Gibbs “For Truss, how she looks supporting Ukraine is clearly more important to her than actually supporting Ukraine.” – Nina Schick “What we are really seeing now is the endgame of the Brexit era… which is to tell the lie that most closely corresponds to your audience’s understanding of the facts.” – Alex Andreou “What happened in Fukushima is very unlikely to happen in Germany. No tsunamis, right?” – Nina Schick “People are dead in Ukraine because Truss told them to go there to fight and then disavowed them…She is a very dangerously stupid person on the international stage.” – Alex Andreou Written and presented by Dorian Lynskey with Nina Schick and Alex Andreou. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant producer Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production: Alex Rees. Theme music by Cornershop. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As Sunak and Truss trade blows in a classic blue-on-blue bout, we ask if we’ve really seen the end of the Johnson era. Plus, we unpack the crises either candidate will face should they win. Growing NHS waiting lists, queues in Dover and an ever-deepening cost of living crisis. Do either of them have a plan? This week’s guest is New Statesman deputy political editor Rachel Wearmouth. “I wonder if Sunak has lacked the stomach for the fight, that kind of killer instinct.” – Rachel Wearmouth "Truss is running a targeted campaign. Sunak is running a glossy PR campaign." – Rachel Wearmouth "If you're mansplaining, you're losing." – Rachel Wearmouth "Truss is the Boris Johnson continuity candidate." – Rachel Wearmouth "It's a bunch of old men saying, I like her, she reminds me of Thatcher." – Alex Andreou "We heard more about earrings and shoes than we did about climate change." – Naomi Smith www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Ros Taylor with Alex Andreou and Naomi Smith. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Alex Rees, Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Every Monday we put out Oh God, What Else?, a special mini-cast exclusively for Patreon backers. To show you what you’re missing, here’s a bonus selection of some of our best episodes featuring our Ian, Naomi, Ros, Dorian, Alex and Minnie in Now That’s What I Call Oh God, What Else? You can get a brand new “OGWE” every Monday when you back us on Patreon. Just go to www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow to find out more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sunak or Truss. No, this isn’t a fever dream – one of them will be the next Prime Minister. The panel analyses this gruesome twosome, in the immediate aftermath of Mourdant’s elimination from the Tory leadership race. This week’s guest is Independent columnist and freelance journalist Hannah Fearn. And Doomsday Watch host Arthur Snell joins to discuss his new book How Britain Broke the World. “The debates were a terrible mistake. What was the point in them when the public have no say?” – Hannah Fearn “I’m all for redoing Brexit in a way in which we don’t do it at all.” – Arthur Snell “Truss matches Starmer’s worst qualities, and none of his better ones. She will be a gift for Labour.” – Hannah Fearn “Compared to the cost of war, diplomats are very cheap.” – Arthur Snell “PMQs was the party pushing someone out of a window and applauding as they make flapping motions before they hit the ground.” – Alex Andreou www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Alex Andreou. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Alex Rees, Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With Tory leadership contestants fighting like rats in a sack we pick apart the hopefuls vying to succeed Johnson. Is there a least worst candidate in this rotten bunch? And what policies might any winner actually push forward with? Our guest is Ali Milani, who was Labour’s candidate against Johnson in 2019 and is author of The Unlikely Candidate. “I’m glad to see the back of Johnson. He’s one of the most dangerous men to walk into Number 10.” – Ali Milani “This was always going to be the end of the Boris Johnson story.” – Ali Milani “The next party leader is going to want to significantly distance themselves from Boris Johnson.” – Ali Milani “​The Speaker was giving off real substitute teacher vibes at PMQs." – Alex Andreou "Never have I seen such a thin-skinned group of politicians." – Ali Milani www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Alex Andreou and Ros Taylor. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Alex Rees, Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

That’s it. Boris Johnson is to resign – sealing his place in history as the most shambolic excuse for a PM ever. We recorded a speedy-release edition on Wednesday, with 36 Government departures. Now we’re over 50. What the hell happened overnight? The resignations wouldn’t stop. Gove managed to get sacked. Johnson was due to fight on – before rather unceremoniously putting his fists down. “The idea of Boris Johnson as caretaker, a man not known for taking care is ridiculous” – Dorian Lynskey “Silver lining: if Raab agreed to become caretaker, it would mean he’d have to give up all ambitions of having a leadership campaign” – Alex Andreou “Johnson has been a lightning rod for anger at how the government has behaved. And if you take that away, the lightning might strike the house.” - Ros Taylor “People were hypnotised by Johnson. We all lost our minds. And he’s a reminder that we must never, never let this happen again.” – Ros Taylor “It is one of the most astonishing self-owns we will ever see in British politics.” – Ian Dunt “My relief that he’s finally gone is tempered with anger that we let this happen.” – Ros Taylor “He goes through his career thinking he’s Churchill and ends up just about beating Neville Chamberlain.” – Ian Dunt www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Alex Andreou, Ian Dunt and Ros Taylor. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Alex Rees, Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Amid a resignation tsunami, who knows how many ministers will have quit by the time you read this sentence? Boris Johnson is clinging to power like a leech full to the brim with the lifeblood of the Conservative Party. Is this finally the end? Plus, Fine Gael spokesperson on European Affairs Neale Richmond joins us as we unpack Starmer’s Brexit stance and the latest from that neverending conundrum. “We deserve a better class of bastards." – Ian Dunt "This isn't analysis, this is giggling euphoria. It's our real time reaction to resignations." – Ian Dunt "I'm an elected TD. I've got potholes to fill and babies to kiss - so this is my problem." – Neale Richmond "Wednesdays are my busiest day of the week. I could do without having to watch Sky News all day." – Neale Richmond “British people say the EU would never let us back in, we’ve burned our bridges… Well the British people haven’t burned their bridges. Boris Johnson burned his bridges.” – Neale Richmond www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Ian Dunt and Naomi Smith. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Alex Rees, Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With Boris Johnson’s face covered in egg after two humbling by-election defeats, we assess the PM’s standing. What further turmoil is coming down the line? Plus, the post-Johnson future will need big political ideas. Guest Geoff Mulgan, former head of policy in the Prime Minister’s office under Tony Blair, gives us some pointers from his new book Another World is Possible. “Nobody in British politics ever learns anything from any other country any more. Not Scotland, Wales, France or anywhere.” – Geoff Mulgan “Truss, Wallace and Sunak are all looking for a reason to go off in a huff and start their leadership campaigns.” – Alex Andreou “The time horizons of politics have shrunken to days or weeks… The mainstream media just aren’t interested in thinking about the future. And that generates enormous pessimism.” – Geoff Mulgan “Johnson is not humble, he does not feel the effects of accountability.” – Minnie Rahman “Johnson probably will lead the Tories into the next election because there isn’t an alternative.” – Geoff Mulgan “What the Government needs is something that divides the public again.” – Minnie Rahman www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Alex Andreou and Minnie Rahman. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Alex Rees, Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the Tories suffer two crushing by-election losses and Oliver Dowden resigns, mark this a good morning for Britain. In a special by-election emergencycast, Ros Taylor and Ian Dunt discuss the fallout from a disastrous night for the Conservatives, what next for Johnson’s leadership, and if Labour and the Lib Dems have finally worked out how to defeat the Tories. “Dowden doesn’t have any honour whatsoever, it’s very good that he’s resigned.” - Ian Dunt “The worse things are at home, the more time Johnson spends overseas” - Ros Taylor “If the Tories are threatened with extinction, they will find the necessary changes to get rid of the problem.” - Ian Dunt “What we’re seeing is a deal between Starmer and Davey, and voters reading the signals.” - Ian Dunt “If the Conservatives change their leader, they can win the next election.” - Ian Dunt Presented by Ros Taylor with Ian Dunt. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the Conservatives trying to blame Labour for this week’s strikes we unpack this latest bemusing attack line. Plus, we assess the ongoing Brexit dilemmas six years on from the referendum, with even ardent leavers dismayed and question marks over Labour’s position on the situation. This week’s guest is Robert Ford, professor of political science at the University of Manchester and co-author of Brexitland: Identity, Diversity and the Reshaping of British Politics. This week we're out early, watch out for an emergency edition on Friday… “Both Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer are trapped in this one-dimensional narrative of how strikes play with the general public.” – Robert Ford “It’s not going to get off the runway that strikes that are happening on your watch are the fault of the opposition.” – Robert Ford “Boris Johnson is toxic with most voters. His ratings are terrible and they’re not getting better.” – Robert Ford “The Government can run from the truth but they can’t hide from the truth.” – Naomi Smith “Johnson has tried to squash the freedom of the press." – Naomi Smith "It feels painful to look back on Britain's political leaders." – Minnie Rahman www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Ros Taylor with Naomi Smith and Minnie Rahman. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Alex Rees, Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Patel’s eviction flights to Rwanda fall apart at the last minute and spark the ire of the European Court of Human Rights. But is a blazing row with “European judges” exactly what this collapsing Government wants anyway? Plus the Good Friday Agreement goes under the Brexit bus, David Davis’s “Remainer’s Brexit”, and Carole Cadwalladr defeats Arron Banks in court. Jack Blanchard of Politico is our special guest. (This edition recorded before the resignation of Lord Geidt) Also this week: A tribute to Dom Phillips, the British journalist who was murdered in the Amazon, from his friend and colleague Dorian. “Yes it’s a horrible fiasco and a waste of our money… But from a purely political point of view, the Government are probably rather pleased at how this is going.” – Jack Blanchard “If the Government had done the Rwanda story through legislation they’d have been on stronger ground… but they just didn’t want the scrutiny.” – Minnie Rahman “Tories are seeing majorities like Tiverton disappearing and wondering if Johnson really is an election winner after all…” - Jack Blanchard Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Minnie Rahman and Ian Dunt. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production: Robin Leeburn. Theme music by Cornershop. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is the nation due a vibe shift? With the Conservative Party in disarray, it would appear the times are a-changing… Plus, the Jubilee weekend has raised questions over the future of the monarchy. Dorian, Ian, Alex, Ros and special guest Rafael Behr mull over the state of the UK and how it might change in the near future. www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Alex Andreou, Ian Dunt and Ros Taylor. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Alex Rees, Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant Producer: Elina Ganatra. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With Johnson clinging on to power after a dramatic week in Westminster, the panel unpacks VONC aftermath live in Brighton. What next for the embattled PM – can he linger around like a foul political stench for much longer? Dorian, Ian, Alex, Ros and special guest Rafael Behr mull over the latest drama in the first half of our latest in-person outing – from Hove, actually. “The Conservative Party has been in the grip of a personality cult.” – Ros Taylor “Johnson will try to pacify everyone and fail.” – Alex Andreou “Being in control and having a plan takes hard work, and that’s an element he’s not willing to put in.” – Alex Andreou www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Alex Andreou, Ian Dunt and Ros Taylor. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Alex Rees, Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant Producer: Elina Ganatra. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As Johnson says he won’t quit thanks to a newfound sense of responsibility, we assess the chance of him being ousted. No confidence letters to 1922 Committee chair Graham Brady are reportedly nearing the magic 54 number. Will that happen? Then, what next? Plus, with Platty Joobs upon us, we discuss the panel's thoughts on a Royalist shindig. Guardian sketch writer John Crace is our special guest. “The idea that Johnson might do the decent thing or feel a note of shame… he’d need a character transplant for that.” – John Crace “You have to be a very anaemic Tory MP to think this can be allowed to rumble on forever.” – Ian Dunt “It’s getting harder to imagine the Tories winning the next election, whoever is in charge.” – Ros Taylor Presented by Alex Andreou with Ian Dunt and Ros Taylor. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Alex Rees, Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant Producer: Elina Ganatra. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fifth birthday edition! Let the PM who has not accidentally arrived at a party during a pandemic lockdown cast the first stone... The panel unpacks Johnson’s latest partygate excuses now the hottest report of the year has dropped. Plus, special guest Francis Fukuyama gives his take and joins to discuss his latest book Liberalism and Its Discontents. And a special OGWN Backstage Confidential in the Extra Bit… “People weren’t just having a quick drink, this was people getting drunk to the level they were vomiting.” – Naomi Smith “We live in an age where there is so little accountability. Entire Governments would’ve fallen over this, let alone just the people at the top.” – Naomi Smith “The key words in the report were ‘we seem to have got away with it’… and they will.” – Ros Taylor “It’s no secret that Johnson’s tactic is to draw out every scandal until the public gets tired of it.” – Naomi Smith “To play this term out with Johnson in charge, purely because nobody else wants the job, it feels like the last days of Rome.” – Ros Taylor “Liberalism was invented due to the European wars of religion, and India is heading down that path.” – Francis Fukuyama “Ukraine has been one of the biggest disasters in authoritarian decision-making history.” – Francis Fukuyama www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Naomi Smith and Ros Taylor. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Alex Rees, Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant Producer: Elina Ganatra. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The panel unpacks our eternally wise Government’s ingenious cost of living fix – simply try to be richer! How did certain politicians come to suggest better jobs and working more as quick fixes to escape poverty? Is the old “no such thing as society” mantra rearing its head? Plus, the Article 16 standoff goes on, who were the charlatans who signed up to this dodgy deal? “What Rishi Sunak actually does with his money is give fuck-off donations to his old private school.“ – Ros Taylor “The Bank of England doesn’t have many levers it can pull, and raising interest rates is quite a painful one.” – Ian Dunt “As an MP, even visiting a food bank you’re a tourist in a strange land.” – Alex Andreou “When you’re poor, a trip to the dentist can knock your finances out of orbit for a year.” – Alex Andreou “Big Dog is not under immediate pressure, so Big Dog does not need to act.” – Ros Taylor Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Alex Andreou, Ian Dunt and Ros Taylor. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Alex Rees, Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant Producer: Elina Ganatra. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As Starmer goes bhuna or bust, we discuss his big gamble and the ongoing curry furore. Lib Dem MP Layla Moran joins us to discuss who’s pushing the story and whether Keir’s response was the right move? Plus, the panel unpacks the local elections, now the dust from the ballot boxes has settled. And, what are the big things we should be worried about from the Queen’s Speech? “Johnson is a great asset for the Labour Party.” – Naomi Smith “What Keir Starmer is in fact doing is what I think most people would hope most politicians would do in this situation.” – Layla Moran “The Durham Police get to decide who gets to be leader and deputy leader of the Labour Party." – Ros Taylor "The media mudslinging affects all politicians." – Layla Moran "The government hasn't made new laws, just scrapped old ones." – Ros Taylor "It's just 38 bills of awfulness." – Layla Moran Come to OGWN Live in Brighton with special guest Rafael Behr on Weds 8 June: https://www.theoldmarket.com/shows/oh-god-what-now-live-in-brighton www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Naomi Smith and Ros Taylor. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Alex Rees, Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant Producer: Elina Ganatra. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former Labour leader Neil Kinnock talks Westminster sleaze, Starmer’s fighting spirit and tussles with the ultra-left. He and the panel unpack the rot in Government and the decline in standards – which he suggests could undo Johnson in the long run. Neil also reflects on his own time heading up Labour, while addressing what the party needs to do now and for the future. “Keir Starmer is not Kinnock, or John Smith, or Tony Blair. He is in fact Keir Starmer.” – Neil Kinnock “I think that Keir was probably born mature.” – Neil Kinnock “Keir is not a warrior but a consistent relentless fighter, and that’s why he’s a forensic lawyer. That’s why in his case, he says: ‘Don’t get mad, get even.’” – Neil Kinnock “Labour leaders most of the time have to manage their parties to an extent that other party leaders don’t have to do.” – Neil Kinnock “Compromise for a realistic political leader is like oxygen for human beings.” – Neil Kinnock “If you live in the real world, as you must, a life without compromise is unlivable.” – Neil Kinnock “It’s no good Labour leader’s whinging about mistreatment from the press.” – Neil Kinnock "Labour has a galaxy of meaningful policies, but no overall mission.” – Neil Kinnock "Blair's fall from esteem was almost Greek in dimension." – Neil Kinnock "Elections are won and lost over years, not weeks." – Neil Kinnock https://www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Ian Dunt and Ros Taylor. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Alex Rees, Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant Producer: Elina Ganatra. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As Boris Johnson’s teflon covering is scratched away, we chart a potential path to his political demise. The panel analyses the latest x-rated scandal in the Commons, that newspaper article and the Prime Minister’s turmoil. Plus, we look at Elon Musk’s controversial Twitter takeover. Sir Anthony Seldon, political historian and author of The Impossible Office? The History of the British Prime Minister, is this week’s guest. “Boris Johnson has passed the supposed point of no return in his leadership about 97 times.” – Sir Anthony Seldon “Tories love power, that’s why they’re the longest serving party in history, whereas Labour are more purist.” – Sir Anthony Seldon “This drip, drip of partygate information has helped Johnson, but harmed the Conservatives.” - Alex Andreou “After the past few years the public expect politicians to break the law and get away with it.” – Minnie Rahman “To be a successful leader you need to appreciate history… arrogance will only lead to your downfall.” – Sir Anthony Seldon “All his life Johnson has played his own game, by his own rules and got his own way.” – Sir Anthony Seldon “The cost of living crisis feels like a Tory crisis, and that’s where Labour's political opportunity is.” – Minnie Rahman www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Naomi Smith with Alex Andreou and Minnie Rahman. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Alex Rees, Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant Producer: Elina Ganatra. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We unpack Johnson’s latest partygate pseudo-apology and analyse the Government’s controversial Rwanda asylum plans. Might the PM’s hubris finally catch up with him? The panel also casts an eye to France as the nation’s presidential election comes to its climax, with veteran correspondent John Lichfield joining as this week’s guest. “The Conservatives are looking around thinking: 'This is a party absolutely stacked with shite.'” – Ian Dunt “If the worst Johnson can do is compare Starmer to Corbyn, then he's in a pretty terrible state.” – Ian Dunt "The Rwanda plan is designed to rile up people like us." – Ian Dunt “France is, very dangerously, becoming split in three ways” – John Lichfield “The French have written off Boris some time ago as someone not to be taken seriously.” – John Lichfield “I think Macron is going to be re-elected, and that is an extraordinary exploit.” – John Lichfield “I don’t think anyone is actually going to get sent to Rwanda… the plan has so many holes in it I just can’t see it working” – Arthur Snell www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Arthur Snell and Ian Dunt. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Alex Rees, Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant Producer: Elina Ganatra. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Johnson becomes the first PM to be convicted of a crime when in office. We look at the times Britain HAS changed its PM during a war, the fines that are coming – and how Johnson is now hiding behind the Ukrainian people so he doesn’t get No Confidenced. Aussi, la merde frappe le ventilateur in the French elections. And Penny Mordaunt, Tank Girl. Labour MP for Leeds NW Alex Sobel is our special guest. “You don’t have to be a Non-Dom to be a Chancellor – but it helps, right?” – Naomi Smith “The question is, where is the bottom of the Tories’ moral compass? How low can Johnson go?” – Alex Sobel “My own father died during COVID and I wasn’t able to touch him – because I, like everyone else except our leaders, followed the rules.” – Naomi Smith “I would be willing to put my hand on my heart and say that Rishi Sunak will never be Conservative Party leader.” – Alex Sobel “Populism is the promise that the harshest possible laws will apply to everyone else. That is the Le Pen offer.” – Alex Andreou “Everyone forgets that the main reason Sunak became Chancellor was simply because he was compliant.” – Alex Sobel Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Naomi Smith and Alex Andreou. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant producer: Elina Ganatra. Audio production Alex Rees. Theme music by Cornershop. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dorries decides to sell Channel 4 (definitely not out of revenge), it’s two years of Keir, and populism wins again with Orbán. Guest Matt Forde, comedian and host of The Political Party podcast, joins us to look at how Labour has shifted under two years of Starmer and where it goes next. Plus, we look at what’s behind Nadine Dorries’ decision – and what will come of another Orbán victory in Hungary? “Starmer didn’t want to be in a position where he had to remove the whip from Corbyn, it didn’t make his life easier.” – Ian Dunt “For the first time since Gordon Brown, Labour has the better candidate to be Prime Minister.” – Matt Forde “Labour might not be 20 points ahead of the Tories, but they are 25 points ahead of where they were under Corbyn.” – Ros Taylor “I think he [Johnson] has totally underestimated how livid people are… I think he is totally out of touch with the anger and the hurt.” – Matt Forde “Channel 4 is an easier target than the BBC. People are less attached to it, and Dorries is less afraid to take it on.” - Ros Taylor www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Alex Andreou with Ian Dunt and Ros Taylor. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Alex Rees, Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant Producer: Elina Ganatra. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With Partygate fines being dished out, special guest Emily Thornberry joins us to discuss Government scandals and sleaze. The shadow attorney general weighs in on Boris Johnson’s position, as it appears evermore untenable. Plus, we discuss the Labour’s future prospects, hopes for change …and the Tories eternally wading into the war on woke. “You can’t have some rules for some people and no rules for other people. We don’t have gods among us.” – Emily Thornberry “Of course the British people want to help people, but we don’t have a government that can step up to that.” – Emily Thornberry “We have to win so many seats back and to do it in one leap is going to be difficult.” – Emily Thornberry “You can be as radical and beautiful as you want to be, but if you don’t get elected, you’re no use to anybody.” – Emily Thornberry "If Labour isn't the party for the disempowered and marginalised, then why are we here?" – Emily Thornberry www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Alex Andreou and Naomi Smith. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Alex Rees, Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We analyse whether there was anything but jam tomorrow from the chancer Chancellor in his Spring Statement. During a historic cost of living crisis, has Rishi Sunak come anywhere close to meeting the moment? Plus, as scandals surrounding Boris Johnson and his Government resurface, we dive into the sleaze. Will Davies, a professor in political economy and co-author of Unprecedented?: How COVID-19 Revealed the Politics of Our Economy, is this week’s guest. “This statement struck the wrong note for the challenge we as a country are facing.” – Alex Andreou “It is useful for Johnson to draw a line between himself and Europe, and the EU can get more done without Britain.” – Ros Taylor “Johnson will no doubt want to use Ukraine in any way he can to distract from partygate.” – Will Davies “Sunak had the choice of doing right by the country or right by the party, and he chose the latter.” – Alex Andreou www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Alex Andreou and Ros Taylor. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Alex Rees, Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Government shortcomings amid Ukraine’s invasion are clear, with questions over refugee support and Russian influence in British politics. The panel discusses oligarch controversy, issues for those trying to flee to Britain and global shifts the present crisis is sparking. Guardian columnist and The Long View presenter Jonathan Freedland is our special guest this week. “You can’t deal with this on your own, of course not. It has to be European solidarity.” – Jonathan Freedland “If you’re mixing at parties with celebrities and politicians, you’re going to have gossip on them.” – Naomi Smith “We’ve seen a realignment of the world into dictatorship vs democracy.” – Jonathan Freedland “Russians are the first victims of Putinism, they’ve been both gagged and blindfolded, and we need to liberate them.” – Jonathan Freedland www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Ros Taylor with Ian Dunt and Naomi Smith. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Alex Rees. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Live in London… How will Putin’s Ukraine gamble play out? Has Johnson got away with Partygate? Which pundit wins the Worst Take on Ukraine award? Ian, Dorian, Ros, Minnie (live debut!) and special crossover guest Arthur Snell of Doomsday Watch/The Bunker discuss these issues and more before a brilliant live audience at the Leicester Square Theatre. Text the word SUPPORT to 70150 to send £10 to the Disasters Emergency Committee Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal. www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Ros Taylor, Minnie Rahman, Arthur Snell and Ian Dunt. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production Alex Rees. Theme music by Cornershop. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Special thanks to Jess Davies and all at the Leicester Square Theatre. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As Ukrainian resistance awes the world, can EU sanctions stop Russia – or are the risks of confronting Putin just too great? Plus the Government’s cruel refugee policy, unexplained oligarch wealth, and the ignominy of Stop The War. This week’s special guest is former Conservative MP, defence minister and Change UK leader Anna Soubry. “Ukraine has made people realise what the nature of a refugee really is.” – Anna Soubry “The financial assault on Russia is economic warfare of the highest order.” – Ian Dunt “Parliament voting against airstrikes in Syria in 2013 was a dreadful mistake. It showed Putin he could essentially do what he wanted.” – Anna Soubry “There are two frontlines. There’s the battle in Ukraine and the financial assault on Russia.” – Ian Dunt “This is almost a betrayal… We have spent eyewatering amounts of money on nuclear weapons and it turns out that the bully can win anyway?” – Ann Soubry “Zelenskyy puts himself in the public eye and in harm’s way, exactly the way Putin doesn’t.” – Naomi Smith Find resources to help the Ukrainian people here: https://ukrainewar.carrd.co/ www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Ian Dunt and Naomi Smith. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Alex Rees, Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

**This episode was recorded prior to Russia's assault on Ukraine on Thursday.** Putin pounces. Ukraine in peril. COVID sidelined at home. Romeo Kokriatski, managing editor of New Voice of Ukraine, joins us from Kyiv to talk about the horror posed by Russia’s aggression. Plus, comedian and creator of The Room Next Door Michael Spicer joins us to discuss what’s going on domestically, as Boris Johnson tries to ignore his way out of the pandemic. “Putin is a dictator, he doesn’t need a reason to do anything.” - Romeo Kokriatski “Russia’s demands were completely unacceptable. It would leave NATO countries on Russia’s borders completely undefended.” - Romeo Kokriatski “Apart from the US, Britain can hurt Russia the most, yet we aren’t fulfilling our obligations.” - Ian Dunt “Covid is not the same as a cold. How are people meant to protect others if they don’t know they have it?” - Minnie Rahman “There’s been a running narrative of ‘when will they get this right?’ about this government.” - Michael Spicer “As long as this Government is in charge, there will always be material for comedy.” - Michael Spicer www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Ian Dunt and Minnie Rahman. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Alex Rees. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Russia insists troops are being withdrawn from the Ukrainian border, but is there a genuine deescalation? What happens next? We assess the crisis and Britain’s reaction to it. Plus, with our institutions in disarray as the Government remains embroiled in scandal, what needs to change? Former diplomat and civil servant Alexandra Hall Hall is today’s special guest. “I find it so frustrating that Russia is spinning this narrative that NATO’s actions are somehow provocative.” - Alexandra Hall Hall “This situation is the best opportunity for Boris Johnson to perform his ‘wannabe Churchill’ routine.” - Alexandra Hall Hall “There has been a hollowing out of the ethos of the senior civil service.” – Alex Andreou “In order to deliver Brexit, so many conventions were trampled upon.” – Alexandra Hall Hall www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Alex Andreou and Ros Taylor. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Alex Rees. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices