Oh God, What Now?

Latest Episodes:

MegaMind vs the Mayor from Jaws May 27, 2021

Show notes

It’s our FOURTH BIRTHDAY edition! And what a sumptuous spread Classic Dom has laid on for us. The classic line-up of Dorian, Naomi, Ros, Alex and Ian reassemble in an actual physical studio (!) to discuss Cummings’ committee drive-by on Johnson and his vendetta against multi-sackable Matt Hancock, and why he supported a PM he knew was unfit for the job. Plus a special treat for listeners: yes, we’re talking about the Progressive Alliance! This edition out early as a special bonus for our loyal listeners.

• “When Cummings reports that Johnson ‘loves chaos because it shows who’s in charge’, that has the ring of truth.” – Alex Andreou

• “Cummings knows he’s the reason Johnson is in No.10… and his ego was big enough to fool him that he could stop Johnson’s worst excesses.” – Ros Taylor

• “There are no great points of principle here. Cummings just hates Johnson’s girlfriend and he’s a spiteful, resentful t**t.” – Ian Dunt

• “Hancock was working on what he could claim as a success at the next press conference… He was disrupting all the long-term work.” – Alex Andreou

• “We don’t have democratic equality in this country… We are the only ones who use antiquated FPTP.” – Naomi Smith

Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Naomi Smith, Ian Dunt, Ros Taylor and Alex Andreou. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Alex Rees. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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Young Ex-PM seeks fun partner for £££ times! May 21, 2021

Show notes

So, Brexit five months in – how’s it going? As the Government prepares to pauperise Britain’s farmers with its Australian trade deal, and as Unionists compare the NI Protocol to the Vichy Regime, are the wheels finally off the Brexit bus? Plus the FT’s Chief Political Correspondent Jim Pickard joins us to look at David Cameron’s performance in committee and how the Greensill saga is playing out. And we say goodbye to a beloved friend of the podcast.

Audio warning: Jim is recording from inside a cupboard in the House of Commons. Please be kind.

“All of these ‘teething problems’ should have been dealt with in the transition period. How long did business get to prepare? Six days.” – Alex Andreou
“Why are we bringing a dead cow from the other side of the world? Is Australian beef really that much better?” – Jim Fitzpatrick
“This Prime Minister flip flops more than most men change their socks.” – Nina Schick
“Cameron promised to clean up lobbying while simultaneously selling himself for dinners on the Conservative website.” – Alex Andreou
“For those of us following Cameron’s story closely, there were some hilarious excursions into parallel reality.” – Jim Fitzpatrick

Presented by Naomi Smith with Nina Schick and Alex Andreou. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Alex Rees. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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The Morning After The Fight Before May 14, 2021

Show notes

As the Government celebrates its electoral victories with a bout of naked voter suppression and intimidation of protest, we look at Labour’s farcical response and where the party goes from here. Plus we talk to Jonathan Calvert and George Arbuthnot, co-authors of Failures Of State: The Inside Story Of Britain’s Battle With Coronavirus. Exactly what went wrong in the pandemic response and how can a colossal crime of Government negligence happen in plain sight – and go unreported?

• “It’s almost as if this government is afraid of the task ahead of it, because it know the vaccine bounce can’t last.” – Ros Taylor

• “The Government’s problem is that young people don’t vote Conservative, so they want to stop them voting.” – Ian Dunt

• “Those last nine days, when Boris Johnson was implacably against lockdown and the majority of deaths occurred, are squarely on Boris Johnson.” – George Arbuthnot

• “Scientists were clear to us that the first wave might have been understandable but the second and third were absolutely unforgivable. Johnson knew what he had to do and didn’t do it.” – Jonathan Calvert

www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow

Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Ros Taylor and Ian Dunt. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Alex Rees. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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Elections ’21: Nothing Breaks Like A Hartlepool May 07, 2021

Show notes

On the eve of what looks like a not-great election day for everyone who isn’t Boris Johnson, the SNP, a Labour metro mayor or Count Binface, are we witnessing the final mopping up of the 2019 General Election? The Independent’s sketchwriter TOM PECK joins us for Election Doomwatch ’21. Plus, the Conservatives pack cultural institutions in an act of Home Counties Orbanism. And why do politicians insist on being photographed with pints?

• “If I could tell you why people aren’t angry, believe me I’d have put it in the column.” – TOM PECK.

• “The Government seems to be trying, without any sense of irony, to cancel cancel culture.” – NAOMI SMITH

• “Saying it’s ‘the same old Tories’ doesn’t work when a load of people have just voted for them for the first time” – TOM PECK

• “Come on, what kind of country would lower itself to allowing Brad Pitt to live there?” – IAN DUNT on points-based immigration

• “Sleaze is shagging your secretary… What’s going on now is straightforward corruption.” – TOM PECK

www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow

Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Naomi Smith and Ian Dunt. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Alex Rees. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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Extreme Makeover: Golden Wallpaper Edition Apr 30, 2021

Show notes

As Johnson’s odious comments about “bodies piling up” collide with Carrie Antoinette’s golden wallpaper splurge and the Vengeance of the Cummings, has this barrage of sleaze finally putting the PM on the ropes? Tech expert Alexi Mostrous of Tortoise joins us to explore what Big Tech and Bigger Data have in store for our democracies. Brexit eats another of its children in the shape of Arlene Foster. And what will our film critics make of Matt Hancock’s blockbuster COVID: The Movie?

“This is like me going shoplifting, then dropping a tenner in the till a year later and saying it’s OK, I paid for it.” – Alex Andreou
“Never mind Chatty Rat, there are clearly multiple rats who don’t want Johnson around any more. Gove and Vine are like Pinky and the Brain.” – Minnie Rahman
“Maybe mistresses and illegitimate children cost a lot of money. Who knew?” – Alex Andreou
“So Chris Whitty is waving a terrifying graph at Johnson while Carrie Symonds is showing him a Farrow & Ball chart?” – Dorian Lynskey
“It’s quite a revelation that in the DUP universe, Arlene Foster is the reasonable one.” – Alex Andreou

Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Minnie Rahman and Alex Andreou. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Alex Rees. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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For Tax Tips, Text 07700 B.O.R.I.S. Apr 23, 2021

Show notes

It turns out that all you need to fix your tax problems is the PM’s mobile number! We look at Britain’s sprawling corruption problem and whether the Government even wants to control it. Plus, after the Super League fiasco, can politicians really tell private companies what to do – even if they’re football teams? And the Allegra Stratton Press Conference Room lasts about as long as, er, the Super League. Our special guest Pippa Crerar, political editor of the Mirror, explains what it all means.

“Johnson hates apologising. He sees it as a sign of weakness that his opponents will hold against him forevermore.” – Pippa Crerar
“The COVID sceptic pub landlord thing sent me into an all-caps Brian Blessed rage for a moment.” – Alex Andreou
“If this Government feels like they can get away with something then they’re going to go ahead with it regardless.” – Pippa Crerar

Presented by Ros Taylor with Alex Andreou and Ian Dunt. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Alex Rees. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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The Good Friday Vehement Apr 16, 2021

Show notes

Northern Ireland descends into violence and it seems that Boris Johnson just doesn’t care. We ask Belfast-based political journalist Amanda Ferguson how much of the rioting is down to Brexit, or are the causes deeper? And does the border in the Irish Sea put us on course for worse troubles? Plus: Does public indifference over the death of Prince Philip indicate bad news for the future of the Monarchy? Or did we just know it all already from watching The Crown? And why it’s your duty to get out and shop.

“Unionists feel betrayed by Boris Johnson… They see their Britishness being diluted.” – Amanda Ferguson
“The Royal Family act as this kind of warped, gilded mirrors of ourselves.” – Ian Dunt
“We haven’t seen the end of this. All the grievances that were there before the riots are still there now.” – Amanda Ferguson
“The idea that Philip being obnoxious and rude ‘breaks the ice’ is just utterly ridiculous.” – Minnie Rahman
“We’re a country that has culture wars over children’s books. An elected head of state would be a culture war minefield.” - Ian Dunt

Presented by Naomi Smith with Minnie Rahman and Ian Dunt. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Alex Rees. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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Passport To Purgatory Apr 09, 2021

Show notes

Vaccine passports: thin end of the authoritarian wedge or a grim necessity that we liberals should grit our teeth and support? Plus, who’s writing the first draft of Brexit history? Guests Jill Ritter and Alan Wager of UK In A Changing Europe tell us about their oral history project the Brexit Witness Archive, where the people who were there tell us where the bodies are buried. And what do Labour’s Starmerphobes actually want?

Read the Brexit Witness Archive here: https://ukandeu.ac.uk/brexit-witness-archive/

“People in Northern Ireland are being made to feel like second class citizens. You’re going to get angry young men seeking an outlet for that resentment.” – Naomi Smith
“The fact that we’ve got a range of vaccines is an international miracle. We can’t let them get hijacked by nationalist shysters.” – Alex Andreou
“The general uselessness of the official Remain campaign is a recurrent theme in what we found…” – Jill Rutter
“Maybe whoever followed Corbyn was always going to be Labour’s rebound boyfriend.” – Alex Andreou

Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Naomi Smith and Alex Andreou. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Alex Rees. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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Confessions of a Prime Minister Apr 02, 2021

Show notes

The Prime Minister’s affair with a woman who was receiving large amounts public money is confirmed – and nobody is talking about it? We look at the corruption and the democratic toxin behind the Johnson-Arcuri leg-over. Plus, a weirdos’ gallery of old Brexiters is setting up a ‘Museum of Brexit’. How can it possibly be balanced, like they claim? And why the school protests outside Batley Grammar should worry everyone.

“The intended audience for the Government’s report? White people.” – Alex Andreou
“What’s important about the Arcuri scandal isn’t the sex, it’s the money.” – Ian Dunt
“Free speech is sacrosanct. No matter how outrageous someone’s beliefs are, they should have the right to express them.” – Nina Schtick
“The assumption that ‘people will be decent’ isn’t enough to protect us any more.” – Alex Andreou
“A brown paper envelope stuffed with money? Every gets that. The arrangements around procurement arrangements, that’s a harder sell.” – Ian Dunt

Presented by Ros Taylor with Alex Andreou, Nina Schick and Ian Dunt. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Alex Rees. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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Priti Fly (if you’re a white guy) – plus guest NITIN SAWHNEY Mar 26, 2021

Show notes

Inside Home Secretary Priti Patel’s insidious new plans for asylum seekers – why moves that claim to reduce the use if people traffickers will actually increase them, and why the cruelty is the point. And special guest the legendary Anglo-Indian musician Nitin Sawhney joins us to talk about making multicultural music in an increasingly insular Britain, his brilliant globe-spanning new album Immigrants (which is very us) and how he got Andy Serkis to sing ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ as Theresa May.

“On vaccine supplies, we’ve sacrificed ‘just in case’ for ‘just in time’.” – Alex Andreou
“What Priti Patel is trying to do is roll back the asylum convention… She’s trying to make it practically impossible to claim asylum in Britain.” – Minnie Rahman
“From the optics and politics of it, this is red meat to the worst kind of libertarian hard right voters.” – Naomi Smith

Presented by Alex Andreou with Minnie Rahman and Naomi Smith. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Alex Rees. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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