Oh God, What Now?

Latest Episodes:

Back to the 50s — Is Britain stuck in a time warp? Aug 22, 2023

Show notes

Living standards are falling to the lowest standards since the 1950s, so why is this government shouting about the so-called success it’s had? Plus, we need to build more homes - pure and simple. But how, and how can it be done? Hannah Fearn has 4 points Labour needs to hit if it gets into government.

“This politics of nostalgia pretends that it can fix problems by going back to times before they existed.” – Tom Peck.
“We have moved on, we just have a government that’s going nuts because it’s near the end.” – Andrew Harrison.
“‘You could leave your door open’, well yeah, because there was nothing to steal!” – Matt Green.
“I die whenever I hear politicians talk about housing, because you know nothing’s ever going to happen.” – Tom Peck.

We’re on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVOIkIWUDtu7VrVcFs0OI0A

Mel’s Chippy fundraiser: https://shorturl.at/bjQZ6

Jonty Bloom’s piece: https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/brexit-britain-is-back-in-the-1950s/

www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow

Presented by Group Editor: Andrew Harrison with Hannah Fearn, Tom Peck and Matt Green. Producers: Alex Rees & Chris Jones. Social Media Producer: Jess Harpin. Audio production by: Robin Leeburn. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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Have the Tories found their next Brexit? Aug 18, 2023

Show notes

The Tories have been way behind in the polls for a long time. But could a comeback be on the cards? The data shows that a Labour government isn’t guaranteed after 2024’s general election. What does Keir Starmer need to do? And has Sunak found the next Brexit in the European Court on Human Rights. Not many people fully understand what it is, but perhaps that plays into the Tory’s hands. Could they take us out? And in the extra bit for subscribers, our panel recounts the worst paid jobs they’ve ever had. That’s Oh God, What Now? with special guest, chair of human rights charity EachOtherm Adam Wagner.

“I think a lot of people know that a new Labour government wouldn’t be a magic bullet to solve the cost of living crisis.” – Zoë Grünewald.
“When you talk about reform over spending it’s just not as sexy, so selling that will be a big challenge for Labour.” – Zoë Grünewald.
“Sometimes they’ll say the idea of human rights is completely unBritish and unnecessary.” – Adam Wagner.
“What underlies this all is that it’s not all about sovereignty, it’s also about the fundamental ideas of these rights … protecting refugees.” – Adam Wagner.

www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow

We’re on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVOIkIWUDtu7VrVcFs0OI0A

Written and Presented by Ros Taylor with Zoë Grünewald, Marie Le Conte and guest Adam Wagner. Producers: Alex Rees & Chris Jones. Social Media Producer: Jess Harpin. Audio production by: Alex Rees. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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Boaty McVolte-Face Aug 15, 2023

Show notes

“Small Boats Week” was a horrific failure. Why do the Tories keep getting it so horrendously wrong? Plus, are politicians playing up to the cameras to gain viral popularity? We unpack whether our politicians are more camera conscious ever as they chase online moments. We discuss with this week’s guest Ed Campbell from PoliticsJOE.

“The further we strip real human lives out of this, the more we avoid an actual human solution.” – Yasmeen Serhan
“The problem is that Braverman does know how to throw red meat to Tory activists.” – Seth Thévoz
“If you think about the younger Prime Ministers, they’re all gifts to cartoonists - and they all played that up.” – Seth Thévoz
“The problem with online content compared to a party political broadcast is that you’re competing against every other piece of online content.” – Ed Campbell

www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow

Presented by Alex Andreou with Seth Thévoz, Yasmeen Serhan and PoliticsJOE’s Ed Campbell. Producers: Alex Rees & Chris Jones. Assistant Producer: Adam Wright. Social Media Producer: Jess Harpin. Audio production by: Robin Leeburn. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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Bibby Stockholm syndrome Aug 11, 2023

Show notes

The Tories have ramped their anti-immigration rhetoric up to eleven – can it help their election fortunes? With Lee Anderson going all in with belligerence and asylum seekers being moved on to the Bibby Stockholm barge, we pick apart the Government’s motives. Plus, who are the elite? Is it you? Is it us? Is being elite bad now? The panel tries to unpack it all. And in the extra bit for subscribers, is doing things by yourself alwaysempowering?

“I think the Tories have decided that they want to make immigration their focus of the next election campaign.” – Rachel Cunliffe
“This stigmatisation is completely central to their electoral campaign.” – Seth Thévoz
“The government certainly is not signalling openness and tolerance with any of its messaging.” – Padraig Reidy
“Elite used to be a good thing, right?” – Rachel Cunliffe

www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow

Presented by managing editor Jacob Jarvis with Rachel Cunliffe, Seth Thévoz and Padraig Reidy. Producers: Alex Rees & Chris Jones. Assistant producer: Adam Wright. Social Media Producer: Jess Harpin. Audio production by: Alex Rees. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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Top of the populists Aug 08, 2023

Show notes

We’ve been governed by populism for over a decade now, as has a lot of Europe. Will it ever blow over? Or are we stuck with it forever? Well, there is one ray of hope and that’s Millennials. Statistics show they're becoming more liberal and overtaking the older right-wing generation in number. But how long could that take? And how could this millennial invasion REALLY impact British politics?

“There is this deeply believed thing that the arch of history leads toward progress, and I don’t know if I believe that now.” – Alex Andreou.
“Unless we get really strong governance that is able to say “you may not love this, but it has to happen” we are in a world of shit.” – Alex Andreou.
“I think the problem is people don’t see Sunak as a Tory right-wing populist.” – Marie Le Conte.
“I think what you've seen is a generation growing up with a little bit of hope and seeing it get trashed again and again.” – Zoe Grunewald

www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow

Presented by Andrew Harrison with Alex Andreou, Zoe Grunewald and Marie Le Conte. Producers: Alex Rees & Chris Jones. Assistant producer: Adam Wright. Social Media Producer: Jess Harpin Audio production by: Alex Rees. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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The Great Rishi Sunak Swindle Aug 04, 2023

Show notes

Were we all conned by Calm, Collected, Competent Sunak? Have oil, cars, migration and woke-bashing revealed him to be the most right-wing PM since Margaret Thatcher? We look at the real Rishi who was unveiled last week, and how he’ll govern in the year (?) he’s got left. Plus, rent controls: a great fix for our housing hell or totally impractical? And in the Extra Bit, tat’s entertainment. We look at political merchandise.

Joining Dorian Lynskey are Hannah Fearn, Geri Scott of The Times and special guest Oli Dugmore, Head of Politics at PoliticsJOE.

• “Sunak’s trying to be all men to all people… and for a man who trades on authenticity that’s not a good look” – Geri Scott

• “He comes across as calm even though he holds exactly the same views as the most extreme right-wingers.” – Hannah Fearn

• “You’re looking at a gold medal in mental gymnastics if you think that burning more fossil fuels will bring us closer to net zero.” – Oli Dugmore

• “The climate isn’t a liberal agenda any more. It’s a central facet of modern politics.” – Hannah Fearn

Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Hannah Fearn and Geri Scott. Audio producer: Alex Rees. Producer: Chris Jones. Art: James Parrett. Theme music by Cornershop. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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One Man and His Smog Aug 01, 2023

Show notes

Sunak is turning climate change policy into the next frontier of his party’s neverending culture war. Why have the Tories lost their minds over green policy? And first, Suella Braverman came up with the big barges. Now it’s massive marquees for migrants. How has the Home Office got this issue so horribly wrong? That’s Oh God, What Now? With special guest, lawyer and author, Sam Fowles.

“There’s a danger here that Labour and the Tories are becoming too similar.” – Zoe Grunewald.
“It does seem to me that the Tories have been driven mad by that ULEZ campaign.” – Matt Green.
“This hasn’t come out of nowhere, this isn’t because Sunak woke up one morning and said ‘god I just love my private jet’.” - Sam Fowles.

www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow

Presented by Alex Andreou with Matt Green, Zoe Grunewald and guest Sam Fowles. Producers: Alex Rees & Chris Jones. Assistant producer: Adam Wright. Social Media Producer: Jess Harpin Audio production by: Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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Appetite for Construction Jul 28, 2023

Show notes

The Tories are failing on their housing promises. Quelle surprise. Up steps Michael Gove to save the day – or is he? Are his newly announced plans actually anything new? And will they make a difference? Then, as the world heats up and our political parties abandon key pledges on climate, are you losing hope? We discuss climate despair. And in the extra bit for subscribers, the panel unpacks Oppenheimer and how its dual release with Barbie could impact Hollywood.

“They’re simply announcing things they’ve already tried with no clear answer.” – Hannah Fearn.
“They’ve suddenly realised that people really do care about housing…they know they need to say something.” – Hannah Fearn.
“The polling shows there is a real consensus amongst voters that climate is important.” – Hannah Fearn.
“If more general elections were held in the middle of July I think people would vote accordingly.” – Seth Thévoz.

www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow

Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Hannah Fearn and Seth Thévoz. Producers: Alex Rees & Chris Jones. Assistant producer: Adam Wright. Audio production: Alex Rees. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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An Uxbridge Too Far Jul 25, 2023

Show notes

Last week’s by-elections left the Tory party wounded, with Labour and the Lib Dems on the front foot. Or are they? The Tories JUST held onto Uxbridge and South Ruislip, and those on the right say that’s down to Labour’s ULEZ policy. Starmer, for some reason, ran with that narrative. Is he losing his nerve over his party’s green policies? And when will the Tories stop shitting on young voters? That’s Oh God, What Now? With this week’s guest, Rachel Cunliffe.

“If I were Sunak I’d be tearing my hair out, but the narrative is - it wasn’t that bad really.” – Rachel Cunliffe
“The Lib Dems are like ‘WE ARE KINGS OF THE WORLD’.” – Marie Le Conte
“I think Labour are currently making a category error on what the Tories’ strategy is.” – Alex Andreou.
“You don’t earn any votes by shitting on young people.” – Marie Le Conte.

Support us on Patreon:

www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow

Presented by Gavin Esler with Alex Andreou, Marie Le Conte, and Rachel Cunliffe. Producers: Alex Rees & Chris Jones. Assistant Producer: Adam Wright. Social Media Producer: Jess Harpin. Audio production by: Jade Bailey. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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By-elections EmergencyCast: Don’t Believe the Tripe Jul 21, 2023

Show notes

The Tories clutch at a straw marked “ULEZ” but can’t hide the fact that they got an absolute hiding in three by-elections. What’s the truth behind the spin? Will Uxbridge tank Labour’s green policies? And who made a bigger fool of himself: Grant Shapps or Johnny Mercer?

Jacob Jarvis is joined by Alex Andreou and the New Statesman’s Zoë Grunewald to read the runes of a big night in Somerton and Frome, Selby and Ainsty, and former Boris Johnson stronghold Uxbridge and South Ruislip.

• “It was a spanking… The Tories’ narrow path to victory got a whole lot narrower and anyone who thinks others” – Alex Andreou

• “The Conservatives are going to use this to paint Labour into a corner on ULEZ… Labour need to stand their ground and keep their cool.” – Zoë Grunewald

• “Ever since their poll slide started the Conservatives have been looking for their new Brexit… .” – Alex Andreou

Presented by Jacob Jarvis with Zoë Grunewald and Alex Andreou. Audio producer: Alex Rees. Producer: Chris Jones. Art: James Parrett. Theme music by Cornershop. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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