Oh God, What Now?

Latest Episodes:

Conflict of Interest Jun 27, 2023

Show notes

Interest rates have reached the highest level for 15 years but don’t worry because Rishi Sunak says he’s: “totally, 100% on it”. Is he? Or is that totally, 100% rubbish? Is Cronyism getting worse? And if it is, how do we stop ministers from appointing their mates into positions of power? Did you see the all-leave BBC Brexit special last week? We did. The panel gives us their thoughts. And we get the latest mutiny news from Doomsday Watch’s Arthur Snell as tempers flare in Russia.

Listen to our new paper review podcast PAPER CUTS here. https://listen.podmasters.uk/PCogwn

“We have some of the worst inflation in Europe, by quite some way.” – Seth Thevoz.
“There is a portion of the population, no matter how tiny, that would quite like a recession.” – Seth Thevoz.
“For those this affects, this will be a painful period.” – Hannah Fearn.
“The honors system was designed to be corrupt. It’s doing what it’s supposed to do.” – Seth Thevoz

www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow

Presented by Alex Andreou with Hannah Fearn, Seth Thevoz, and Yasmeen Serhan. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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The Seven Year Itch Jun 23, 2023

Show notes

It's been seven years since the Brexit vote. Are you surprised we’re still speaking about it? We’re not. Speaking of votes, there are three by-elections coming up because Tories keep quitting. Is our electoral system fair? Is it democratic? Or is it time for a change? And in the extra bit for subscribers the panel discusses how departed MPs should behave post parliament. That’s Oh God, What Now? With special guest and founder of Fair Vote UK, Kyle Taylor.

“Brexit is this massive thing that has turned my life upside down.” – Alex Andreou
“The Tories need to move on from Brexit but Sunak isn’t the man to do that.” – Hannah Fearn
“I think the EU referendum in 2016 was the beginning of the end of democracy in our parts of the world.” – Kyle Taylor
“Without question we’re going to see what the role of AI does to our elections soon.” – Kyle Taylor

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Presented by Managing Editor Jacob Jarvis with Hannah Fearn, Alex Andreou and guest Kyle Taylor. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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The Party's Over: Boris Johnson-free edition! Jun 20, 2023

Show notes

The Covid inquiry is well underway but we won’t get the findings well-after 2026 and THEN some. Too long? Suella Braverman’s wish to increase powers to stop street protests has come true with little to no resistance from Labour. Our panel discuss why? Plus, private school officials hurled the most private school insults at Labour’s shadow education secretary. It called her “chippy” and said she knew “diddly” for planning to add VAT to school fees, A-class snobbery or justified comment?

“You don’t do your mingling when there’s a plague!” – Andrew Harrison
“I was recently disheartened seeing those headlines saying the inquiry had been politicised.” – Rachel Cunliffe
“It’s only just started and already we’ve started to lose sight of what the point of this inquiry is meant to be.” – Rachel Cunliffe.
“If they want this inquiry to be useful, it needs to be done quicker.” – Tom Peck
“I think privately these ‘chippy’ comments will make Labour quite happy.” – Tom Peck

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Presented by Group Editor Andrew Harrison with Tom Peck, Rachel Cunliffe and Arthur Snell. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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EmergencyCast! – Johnson is Finally, Finally, Finally Finished Jun 15, 2023

Show notes

Boris Johnson was in for trouble. But, bloody hell – the report is worse than even we imagined. So, we’re back to tear through the details in another bonus edition… Dorian, Alex and Naomi gather for a rough and ready EmergencyCast.

“Increasingly this does look like the end to Boris Johnson’s political career because of the hurdles between him and returning.” – Naomi Smith
“I think this is more explosive than anything we’ve heard before.” – Alex Andreou
“He’s basically using a unanimous report to effectively generate positive political capital which is what Trump does.” – Alex Andreou

www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow

Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Alex Andreou and Naomi Smith. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Produced by Chris Jones. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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Boris Johnson’s Lying Circus Jun 15, 2023

Show notes

Recorded before the Privileges Committee report landed. We thought the whole point of resigning was to shut up and go away? On his way out, ex-MP Johnson trashes everything from the Privileges Committee to Tory detente to objective truth itself. We reassemble the original Remainiacs team to look at the squalid final days of Britain’s worst Prime Minister. Could he ever come back?

Plus, as Trump ends up in court and Berlusconi goes to the Great Bunga Bunga Party in the Sky, is populism unravelling? And there’s news for long-time listeners.

Listen to our new paper review podcast PAPER CUTS here. https://listen.podmasters.uk/PCogwn

• “Johnson is treating the inquiry itself with contempt… Even his fingernails lie. There’s no limit to his depravity.” – Ian Dunt

• “The Trump indictment is like someone fed every John le Carré novel into ChatGPT and then asked it to write an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm.” – Alex Andreou

• “The mystique has gone. That sense of the ‘proven winner’ has gone. The Tory Party are not complete chumps. He’s running scared.” – Ian Dunt

• “Johnson’s version of events are undermined because he’s a lying liar that lies.” – Naomi Smith

Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Alex Andreou, Ros Taylor, Naomi Smith and Ian Dunt. Audio producers: Alex Rees and Simon Williams. 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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The Too Much News Edition Jun 13, 2023

Show notes

Johnson quits! Trump indicted! Berlusconi dies! Telegraph for sale! Sturgeon nicked! Dorries does… whatever it was she did! This one’s got it all. After a weekend that felt like the ‘Layla’ bit of Goodfellas, the OGWN team convene to look at the aftershocks of Boris Johnson’s flounce, what Trump’s worsening legal woes mean for America’s stability, and who we’d like to take over at the Torygraph. With special guest Eleni Courea, deputy editor of Politico’s London Playbook.

Listen to our new paper review podcast PAPER CUTS here.

• “There are so many layers to Johnson’s dishonesty that the idea he was forced out is just fanciful.” – Arthur Snell

• “This idea that Johnson could come back is now completely fading.” – Eleni Courea

• “I feel we’re definitely in Phase IV of the Tory Cinematic Universe…” – Alex Andreou

• “Johnson WAS brought down by a conspiracy… A conspiracy of his own laziness and dishonesty.” – Matt Green

https://www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow

Presented by Alex Andreou with Matt Green and Arthur Snell. 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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EmergencyCast! – The Pathetic End of Boris Johnson Jun 10, 2023

Show notes

Johnson quitting as an MP caused a stir in the Oh God, What Now? group chat – and it quickly dawned upon us it was EmergencyCast time. So, here we go. Wake me up before you BoJo and so on. The guy we all hate to hate is gone. Jarv, Ros and Alex gather for a bit of quickfire punk rock podcasting to discuss the fallout. Vocal power chords at the ready.

www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow

Presented by Jacob Jarvis with Alex Andreou and Ros Taylor. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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Negative Energy Jun 09, 2023

Show notes

The horrifying dam destruction in Ukraine has ruined countless lives and sparked disgust the world over. Will this war crime go unpunished? And how is the West responding? Plus, we unpack the latest Starmer drama. Is Labour’s relationship with the Unions on the rocks? And in the extra bit for backers, TURN DOWN THAT RACKET! Why are noise complaints for late-night venues on the rise? This week’s guest is former FSN bureau chief Laura Makin-Isherwood.

“This lays open a bigger question, which is what can Putin’s war aims possibly be now? – Gavin Esler
“I’m at a loss at what Putin thinks he’s liberating for the Ukrainians.” – Gavin Esler
“By coming out with this very radical strategy, Starmer is admitting and accepting the need to be very ambitious.” – Hannah Fearn

www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow

Presented by Group Editor Andrew Harrison with Gavin Esler, Hannah Fearne and guest Laura Makin-Isherwood. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Producer: Alex Rees & Chris Jones. Audio production by Alex Rees. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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Spot the Difference: Labour and Tory Special – with guest Marina Purkiss Jun 06, 2023

Show notes

Labour might be leading the polls over the terrible Tories, but maybe the two are more similar than most of us think. Have we seen the return of 1950s ‘Butskellism’? With that in mind, a new report suggests that most millennials hate the Tories (shock), does that mean they’ll vote Labour though? And Phillip Schofield’s been plastered across the news, is this the end of his TV career? Or is there a way back from TV cancel culture for disgraced celebs? That’s Oh God, What Now? with special guest Marina Purkiss.

Hear our new paper review podcast PAPER CUTS here. https://listen.podmasters.uk/PCogwn

“I’m a bit concerned that to try to win back these red wall voters Starmer’s moving more to this centre-right ground.” – Marina Purkiss
“I think the main dividing line at the next election will be, get the Tories out.” – Marina Purkiss
“Young people need something to cling onto, and no one is offering them anything.” Marina Purkiss
“The Labour party has rarely been one of ‘let’s kick the table over’.” – Alex Andreou
“If you’re backing out of promises that would’ve benefitted them, you’re missing out on a massive trick there.” – Marina Purkiss

www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow

Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Alex Andreou, Ros Taylorand guest Marina Purkiss. Art: James Parrett. Theme music by Cornershop. Producer: Alex Rees and Chris Jones. Audio production by Alex Rees. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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It’s the End of the World and A.I. Feels Fine Jun 02, 2023

Show notes

So, we’re in the future I guess – and apparently A.I. threatens bringing an end to humanity. With top scientists sounding the alarm – should we be worried or panicked? Plus, vaping is in the Government’s firing line. Why is it on the agenda and how does Sunak balance crackdowns with his apparent Thatcher adoration? And in the extra bit for backers our panel discusses why so many of us get it wrong on recycling… Our guest this week is Zoë Grünewald of New Statesman.

“It’s not the worry that A.I. is used by an evil genius, it’s the worry the A.I. becomes a threat itself.” – Arthur Snell
“We have no concept of what super intelligent computers look like. It makes it difficult for policymakers and the public.” – Zoë Grünewald
“So much of how Westminster works is personality focused. I can’t imagine a future where MPs are entrusting robots with their secrets.” – Zoë Grünewald
“In public discourse it’s very difficult to imagine what a superintelligent computer looks like.” – Zoë Grünewald

www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow

Presented by Ros Taylor with Marie Le Conte and Arthur Snell. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production by Alex Rees. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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