Oh God, What Now?

Latest Episodes:

Anti-Social Justice Warriors Mar 31, 2023

Show notes

What’s with the Tories’ crackdown on anti-social behaviour? And what’s meant to be so wrong with people hanging about in parks? Plus, with protests in Israel and France, the panel discusses the spread of such activity in Europe – and why it feels empowering to people. Jonn Elledge, a regular columnist at New Statesman and Big Issue, is this week’s guest.

“They’ve tried to make the case on pollution and anti-social behaviour… even though there’s no link.” – Ian Dunt
“We have a government that’s run entirely in the interest of angry older voters.” – Jonn Elledge
“It’s like one in five people in this country object to all forms of fun.” – Jonn Elledge

www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow

Presented by Ros Taylor with Ian Dunt and Tom Peck. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producer: Alex Rees. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Alex Rees. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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Whatever happened to the Brexit Wars? Mar 28, 2023

Show notes

As the Johnson Rebellion fails to materialise and backbench rebellions over Northern Ireland fizzle, are we finally, finally seeing the end of the Brexit Wars? Plus: Humza Yousaf wins the SNP leadership. Can he put the party back together? How does Dominic Cummings still cast such a baleful shadow over the Tories? And Paris is burning. Can Macron put out the fire? Or is he l’allume-feu déformé?

“The ERG WhatsApp saga shows you that yes, there’s a friends group… but there’s always the inner friends group that you’re not part of.” – Yasmeen Serhan
“Did Cummings bring Johnson down? No, Johnson brought Johnson down.” – Arthur Snell
“Netanyahu’s in trouble. Either he pauses his reforms and loses his government – or he pushes his country into civil war or worse.” – Yasmeen Serhan
“Westminster reporting is a shadow of what it was… SubStack matters because you can’t attach yourself to a paper any more.” – Hannah Fearn

Written and presented by Alex Andreou with Hannah Fearn, Arthur Snell and Yasmeen Serhan. Audio producer: Alex Rees. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Theme music by Cornershop. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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Hog Roast for Greased Piglet Mar 23, 2023

Show notes

SPECIAL EARLY RELEASE! THE GREASED PIGLET IS OUT OF THE PEN...

It’s his party and he’ll lie if he wants to… Boris Johnson finally, finally goes before the Privileges Committee. How did his tactic of sneering, blustering and lying go over? And is it finally sausage time for the Greased Piglet? Plus as the horrific Casey Report excoriates the Met, does London’s police force have to be dismantled? And in the Extra Bit, what’s the weirdest thing that’s ever happened to our panelists?

“Johnson’s defence is ‘I am too stupid to understand the rules I myself set’.” – Geri Scott
“Steve Baker is now a card-carrying member of the Europhilic wokerati. He’s noshing on his tofu right now.” – Naomi Smith
“His argument is ‘Nobody told me not to do the bad thing that I was on telly every night telling you plebs not to do’.” – Ayesha Hazarika

Written and presented by Ros Taylor with Naomi Smith, Ayesha Hazarika and Geri Scott. Audio producer: Alex Rees. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Theme music by Cornershop. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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Check Your Privileges Mar 21, 2023

Show notes

Boris Johnson is stealing the limelight from Rishi Sunak yet again as he faces a four-hour grilling from furious MPs. We look ahead to the greased piglets latest trial. Plus, the panel reflects on the Iraq War, 20 years on. How has it warped our politics? Then, in the extra bit for Patreon backers, we look to the skies and discuss who should occupy the moon base – and whether we really need one.

“It will be glorious – it has the outward architecture of farce already.” – Tom Peck
“His defence will be, ‘I’m sorry your honour, I’m very stupid.’” – Marie Le Conte
“What’s best for Sunak is Johnson goes away and shuts up – but that is something he doesn’t want to do.” – Tom Peck

www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow

Presented by Andrew Harrison with Alex Andreou, Tom Peck and Marie Le Conte. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Alex Rees. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz Audio production by Alex Rees. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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Getting Off on a Technicality Mar 17, 2023

Show notes

Jeremy Hunt’s bland Budget offers little hope – but hey, at least we avoided a technical recession. The panel picks apart the Chancellor’s pledges. Plus, as Rishi Sunak lets his MPs duke it out – is he above the fray, or asleep at the wheel? Polly Mackenzie, chief social purpose officer at UAL and formerly director of Demos, is this week’s guest.

“The post-purge Tory party keeps on drifting to the right… it’s a significant problem.” – Ian Dunt
“Is Sunak someone who actually wants to make things work or does he just want to set things on fire?“ – Ian Dunt
“Most people of working age have only ever experienced the retirement age going up. We’re creating a nation of nihilists.” – Ian Dunt
“We need to nuance the boundary between work and retirement. C’mon, life doesn’t end at 70.” – Polly Mackenzie

www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow

Presented by Ros Taylor with Ian Dunt and Hannah Fearn. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz Audio production by Alex Rees. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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Own Goal of the Month Mar 14, 2023

Show notes

Lineker versus the BBC ends 1-0 to the football legend. What does the ding-dong battle tell us about the broadcaster’s shortcomings? And why did the Government call this so wrong? Plus, what is going on with Trump and Fox News? The panel looks at the right-wing rage machines across the Atlantic. And, we discuss the protests in Georgia – and the nation’s desire to join the EU.

“Footballers are media trained, this feels like a fight the Government shouldn’t want to pick – but they keep doing it.” – Marie Le Conte
“It’s perfectly possible people don’t need to be on one side or another of a massive cultural divide. A lot of British people are rather unwilling participants of the culture war.” – Arthur Snell
“The BBC has invited critics to point out the way all of its leadership could be questioned over their impartiality.” – Yasmeen Serhan
“Nothing about the American media landscape shocks me anymore. Does it surprise me Fox News just said what its audience wants to hear? No.” – Yasmeen Serhan

www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow

Presented by Alex Andreou with Marie Le Conte, Yasmeen Serhan and Arthur Snell. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jet Gerbertson and Alex Rees. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz Audio production by Alex Rees. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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Cruel Intentions Mar 10, 2023

Show notes

Braverman and Sunak’s callous and dehumanising “stop the boats” push is the latest moral shame bestowed upon us by this Government. Plus, we ask: is it ever okay for politicians to lie? We discuss the criticism of party leaders changing tack… And in the extra bit (for Patreon backers) – should we try harder to celebrate success in later life?

“The way the government has conducted itself over small boats is despicable.” – Ian Dunt

“Braverman gave less a word salad and more a word meringue, hard on the outside but inside it's all air.” – Gavin Esler

“They teach media literacy in Finland from kindergarten on, something that would put The Sun and Daily Mail out of a job over here.” – Gavin Esler

“I used to be a fan of the ‘good chap’ theory where politicians bow out, but what do we do about the ‘bad chaps’ and ‘bad women’ in politics?” – Gavin Esler

www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow

Presented by Andrew Harrison with Ian Dunt, Gavin Esler and Rachel Cunliffe. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jet Gerbertson and Alex Rees. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz Audio production by Alex Rees. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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WhatsApp, Doc? Mar 07, 2023

Show notes

OK, Matt Hancock entrusting his WhatsApp messages to the world’s least trustworthy woman is pretty funny. But is the Telegraph using them to rewrite history on COVID? Plus, our panel gently disagree on the wisdom of Keir Starmer hiring Sue Gray as his Chief of Staff. Sunak bets on cruelty to small boat refugees to reanimate his Prime Ministership. And as Harry and Meghan are turfed out of Frogmore Cottage, which homes were our panel glad to see the back door of?

“There is no British male who has eaten more complimentary canapés than Stanley Johnson.” – Tom Peck
“I hadn’t realised how much Simon Case is just another little boy in this WhatsApp group and not a senior civil servant with gravitas.” – Arthur Snell
“There is a weird Alan Partridge vanity to Hancock. Somehow he’s worried about his legacy?” – Seth Thévoz
“The more Johnson uses the honour system for outrageously nepotistic means, the easier it is for a future government to get rid of it.” – Tom Peck

Written and presented by Ros Taylor with Arthur Snell, Seth Thévoz and Tom Peck. Audio producer: Alex Rees. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Theme music by Cornershop. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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How many times can they get Brexit done? Mar 03, 2023

Show notes

Won’t somebody think of the Brexiters? Sunak’s “Windsor Framework” sucks all the anger out of the Northern Ireland border issue, so what is Boris Johnson going to do with his life now? Plus, Flat Broke: Why isn’t anyone talking seriously about housing? The latest source for Isobel Oakeshott to burn is the hapless Matt Hancock. Who could possibly have foreseen this? Vicky Pryce? And what’s the worst event YOU’VE ever been to?

“We’ve seen how flexible and generous the EU can be just as long as they’re not being constantly attacked and insulted.” – Naomi Smith
“We’re closer than ever to accepting that Brexit never had to be ‘hard’, ‘clean’ or any of those silly words.” – Ros Taylor
“The UK is discovering that it can catch far more flies with honey than with vinegar.” – Naomi Smith

Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis with Hannah Fearn, Naomi Smith and Ros Taylor. Audio producer: Alex Rees. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Theme music by Cornershop. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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The Way You Make Me Deal Feb 27, 2023

Show notes

Rishi Sunak got Brexit done again – but will it be enough to satisfy the headbanging Leave die-hards who want to rule the Conservative Party? We discuss the latest NI protocol settlement after the PM’s meet with Ursula von der Leyen. And as the right-wing surges, the panel unpacks Suella Braverman’s immigration positions. Plus, Observer restaurant critic Jay Rayner gives his take on the food shortages as tomatoes become more valuable than the pound.

“There was never enough good faith there in the past.” – Marie Le Conte
“We have a political class who seem uniquely confused by the concept of a sea.” – Ahir Shah
“There’s quite a lot of poetic justice for Boris Johnson involved here.” – Marie Le Conte

www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow

Written and presented by Alex Andreou with Ahir Shah, Marie Le Conte and Yasmeen Serhan. Producer: Alex Rees. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Theme music by Cornershop. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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