Oh God, What Now?

Latest Episodes:

Is America now Europe's enemy? Feb 25, 2025

Show notes

Even though the AFD didn’t win the German election, the far-right party still doubled its vote. Has Germany dodged a bullet? And is America now the enemy of Europe? German politics Professor Rudi Wurzel joins the podcast to get into it all. Plus, How can we deal with a world where politics forces itself into everything?

We’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow

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Presented by Andrew Harrison, with Hannah Fearn, and Gavin Esler. Producer: Chris Jones Audio production by: Robin Leeburn. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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Homeland Insecurity Feb 20, 2025

Show notes

Trump’s decision to rip up 80 years of transatlantic security co-operation leaves Europe in a panic. What happens when America lines up with a despot like Putin? Can Europe afford to defend itself? Dr Julie Norman of UCL joins us to look at the alarming new security environment. Plus, with Badenoch’s Tories in an apparent doom spiral, we look at why politics needs a functioning opposition. And in the Extra Bit for Patreons: White Lotus is back and the Murdoch family hate each other. Why do we love watching the rich suffer?

• Back us on Patreon for ad-free listening, bonus materials and more.

Written and presented by Dorian Lynskey with Rachel Cunliffe and Rafael Behr. Audio production by Tom Taylor. Theme music by Cornershop. Produced by Chris Jones. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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Betrayal in Munich Feb 18, 2025

Show notes

US Vice President JD Vance proves himself to be as much an arse as his boss with a hateful, trollish performance at the Munich Security Conference. Will his culture war insults and support for the European far-right signal the final end of the Atlanticist dream… and is Ukraine now doomed? Plus, only 40% of 18-27 year olds say they’re proud of Britain. Can we blame them? And should we persuade them otherwise? And we go inside Labour’s pledge to build 12 new towns nationwide by the next election to fight housing affordability?

Some Escape Routes choices:

• Stream Ahir’s choice, Paradise, on Disney+.

• Read Issue 1 of Andrew’s choice, comics series The Department Of Truth, for free.

• Stream John’s choice, Big Boys from C4.

• Ros’s choice Bridget Jones 4: Mad About the Boy is in cinemas. You know how they work.

• We’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow

www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow

Presented by Andrew Harrison, with Jonn Elledge, Ros Taylor and Ahir Shah. Producer: Chris Jones Audio production by: Robin Leeburn. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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Why is Labour trying to copy Reform? Feb 14, 2025

Show notes

Labour’s ‘crackdown’ on illegal workers was an obvious ploy to tame Reform UK’s growing influence. But will Starmer’s Labour alienate its own supporters just to chase voters who’ll always hate them? Plus, only one in five Brits approve of the government’s handling of crime. Will Labour turn that around with the PM’s experience of the justice system? Are the police even fit for purpose? Former Met Police commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe joins the podcast.

And in the Extra Bit for Patreons… After James Graham’s TV drama Brian and Maggie, we look at the art of the political interview.

We’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow

• Join our free live Zoom when you back us on Patreon. You’ll get ad-free listening and much, much more.

Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Matt Green and Zoë Grünewald. Producer: Chris Jones Audio production by: Robin Leeburn. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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The sky isn’t falling… not in the UK, at least Feb 11, 2025

Show notes

Keir Starmer may have been enduring stormy weather since winning power – but is the sky really falling in, as parts of the media think? And why are so many UK commentators and pundits addicted to the idea that we’re living in times of ultimate crisis? Plus, it’s 100 days since Kemi Badenoch took on the Tory leadership. Has she turned the party's fortunes around and made her party a laughing stock no longer? No, no she hasn’t. Why not? And what type of leader has she shown herself to be?

• We’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow

Our panel’s Escape Routes:

• Hannah’s choice is 4,000 Weeks by Oliver Burkemann.

• Rachel chooses Good Material by Dolly Alderton.

• Andrew’s choices of We Stand On Guard and Ever Crashing by SRSQ.

• Alison chooses Persuasion by Jane Austen.

www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow

Presented by Andrew Harrison with Hannah Fearn, Rachel Cunliffe and Alison Phillips. Producer: Chris Jones Audio production by: Robin Leeburn. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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Trump's America – Cloud Coup Coup Land Feb 07, 2025

Show notes

Donald Trump and his evil nerd henchman Elon Musk continue to “flood the zone” with new harmful executive orders and bullshit headlines. How do we figure out what matters and what doesn’t? Plus, Reform UK has – somehow – topped a poll as the UK’s most popular political party. Should we stop paying so much attention to polls, and letting them set the agenda? Plus in the Extra Bit for supporters: research suggests some people get as many as two scam phone calls a day! The panel discusses how to spot them and whether they’re putting us all off from answering the phone.

• We’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow

• www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow

• Go to proton.me/ohgodwhatnow to receive a 38% discount on Proton Mail

Presented by Dorian Lynskey, Jonn Elledge, Ros Taylor and Matt Green. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production by: Robin Leeburn. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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Appetite for Disruption Feb 04, 2025

Show notes

As Keir Starmer visits Brussels for a meeting with European Union leaders, Trump has the EU in his sights. But Trump says Starmer is “nice”, so will Britain get away unscathed from new tariffs? It’s quite the predicament for the British PM – will he have to choose between one or the other? And what’s with all the DISRUPTION? From electoral politics to business to popular culture, we’re told that “move fast and break things” is the way to go. Is that why we’re knee-deep in loads of broken stuff?

• Send your questions to BUT YOUR EMAILS

• We’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow

www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow

Presented by Andrew Harrison with Zoë Grünewald, Rafael Behr, and Seth Thévoz. Audio production by: Robin Leeburn. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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Happy Birthday, Brexit! – 5th Anniversary Gala Celebration! Jan 31, 2025

Show notes

It’s five years this week since we left the EU. Isn’t everything going brilliantly? Special guest Anand Menon of UK In A Changing Europe joins us to assess the many, many achievements of Global Britain. Has Brexit changed Britain irrevocably? What destroyed the Tory party: leaving the EU, Liz Truss or Boris Johnson’s own hubris? What’s the real reason why Labour won’t touch this issue? And what happens if a radicalising Europe stops looking like such a secure place to rejoin after all?

Plus, in the Extra Bit for Patreons: should we stay strong and not let AI “improve” our writing?

• Support us on Patreon for ad-free listening and much, much more.

Written and presented by Ros Taylor with Hannah Fearn and Marie le Conte. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. Theme music by Cornershop. Produced by Chris Jones. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

www.podmasters.co.uk

Go to proton.me/ohgodwhatnow to receive a 38% discount on Proton Mail

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Why can’t the BBC handle our chaotic politics? – with special guest Steve Richards Jan 28, 2025

Show notes

BBC politics coverage is in trouble: browbeaten by the Mail and Telegraph, still reeling from Tory intimidation, and addicted to ever-shorter, cheaper, surface coverage in an age that wants depth and complexity. Special guest Steve Richards of the Rock and Roll Politics podcast, himself an ex-BBC politics correspondent, joins us to work out what’s wrong with BBC politics and how to fix it. Plus: Was it so bad that Kemi Badenoch chose ‘Yellow Submarine’ as her favourite Beatles song? And if Keir Starmer loves football so much, why can’t he take inspiration from great managers like Clough, Ferguson and Klopp?

• Send us your But Your Emails questions via Patreon

• See Ahir Shah on tour with his Edinburgh Award-winning show Ends.

• See Steve Richards at the first live Rock and Roll Politics show of 2025 in London on Mon 3 Feb.

• Support us on Patreon for ad-free listening and much, much more.

Written and presented by Andrew Harrison with Zöe Grünewald and Ahir Shah. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. Theme music by Cornershop. Produced by Chris Jones. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

www.podmasters.co.uk

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A Dictator from Day One Jan 24, 2025

Show notes

Trump starts as viciously as he means to go on, with a confected state of emergency on immigration, attacks on gay and trans people, withdrawals from the Paris Climate agreement and the World Health Organisation, and pardons for the anti-democracy rioters of Jan 6. Reed Galen, co-founder of the anti-MAGA Republican group The Lincoln Project and host of The Home Front podcast, joins us to assess Trump’s first moves and the state of the resistance against him. And in the Extra Bit for Patreon backers: Could you boycott visiting the United States while Trump is President?

• “Very bad things are going to happen. The question is, how are we going to react to them?” – Reed Galen

• Support us on Patreon for an ad-free listening experience – and to help keep independent podcasting alive!

Go to proton.me/ohgodwhatnow to receive a 38% discount on Proton Mail

Written and presented by Dorian Lynskey with Rachel Cunliffe and Rafael Behr. Audio production by Robin Leeburn and Simon Williams. Theme music by Cornershop. Produced by Chris Jones. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

www.podmasters.co.uk

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