Oh God, What Now?

As ever, politics waited until we finished recording before dropping the big stuff… But worry not! Steve Richards of the Rock & Roll Politics podcast steps up to analyse the surprises, genius moves, curveballs and missing pieces in Andy Burnham’s first cabinet with Andrew Harrison. Should Ed Miliband have been chancellor instead of John Healey? Is this really a purge of Starmerites and a “Night of the Long Eyelashes” as The Mail claims? Are Burnham’s cost-of-living measures actually costed? And does it all fit together? • Catch even more of Steve’s analysis on Rock & Roll Politics • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at [email protected].  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Andrew Harrison with Steve Richards. Produced by James Liddell. Audio Production by Robin Leeburn. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brand new PM Andy Burnham is not hanging about. On day one he set about purging Starmer loyalists from the Cabinet and setting out his policy agenda, including fresh cost-of-living measures. Is this the fresh start Labour needs? Listen up for live in-pod sackings! Plus: Are we facing the end of reading? Scrolling through WhatsApp messages, Netflix subtitles and Instagram captions mean we're arguably reading more words than ever – yet book reading has nosedived in recent years. Has the “post-literate” society already arrived? • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at [email protected].  ESCAPE ROUTES • Marie went to watch Christopher Nolan’s latest epic, The Odyssey • Rachel also delved into Greek mythology and has been bingeing Netflix’s Kaos • Jonn is watching spy thriller The Agency on Paramount+ • Seth has been reading Hostel, House and Chambers: Accommodating the Victorian and Edwardian Working Woman www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Seth Thévoz, with Rachel Cunliffe, Jonn Elledge and Marie Le Cont. Produced by James Liddell. Audio Production by Robin Leeburn. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

At long last it’s the Rover’s Return… What are the burning issues that will be taking up Andy Burnham’s time when he takes over No.10 next week? OGWN listeners bombard us with questions and we do our best to answer them. What can Burnham do that Starmer couldn’t? Does he need to do more than move stuff to the North? And why did Labour give Starmer a carriage clock, of all things?  Plus, Climate of Fear: Kemi Badenoch chooses the hottest moments of our Hell Summer (a period which is actually killing people) to purge Tory MPs who back Net Zero. WTF is she playing at? We look at this terrifying moment and whether the summer’s frightening scenes can push back the tide of climate change denialism.  • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at [email protected].  ESCAPE ROUTES • Jason bought George Martin: The Scores – the collected musical works of that chap who did The Beatles.  • Seth has been watching old episodes of Frasier – specifically S2 E18, The Club, with the 1896 vintage bottle of port.  • Ava went to see a series of Scorsese re-runs at the cinema.  • Ros has been re-reading Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables. Buy through our affiliate bookshop and you’ll help fund the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org’s fees help support independent bookshops too.  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Ros Taylor with Jason Hazeley, Seth Thévoz and special guest Ava Santina. Audio Production by: Tom Taylor. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Counter-terrorism police take over the investigation into the killing of Ann Widdecombe, a crime that has shocked people across the political spectrum. Beyond legitimate questions around political violence, are Reform trying to amp up the fear for political gain? What should people in the public eye say – and what shouldn’t they?  Plus… Andy Burnham will finally become Britain’s prime minister this week – the seventh in a decade. Lucky him… he inherits an entire Sue Gray-style s**t list of policy issues. So what might actually be on it? And is there anything Burnham can do to stop his in-tray wrecking his life? • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at [email protected].  ESCAPE ROUTES • Jonn went to the MC Escher exhibition at Somerset House – and couldn't resist a shoutout to the Doctor Who serial, Castrovalva.  • Hannah has been reading These Precious Days by the novelist Ann Patchett • Raf has watched L’Amour Ouf – Beating Hearts in English – while on holiday in France  • Zoe has been listening to Cameron Winter, the front-man of indie-rock band Geese  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Zoë Grünewald with Jonn Elledge, Hannah Fearn and Rafael Behr. Produced by James Liddell. Audio Production by Robin Leeburn. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nigel Farage wanted a “people vs. the establishment” by-election but it quickly turned into “man vs. bin”. Every major rival has refused to run against him in Clacton, leaving the Reform leader’s only real opponent as the man with a trash can on his head, Count Binface. Is this one humiliation too many for the frog-faced fraud? Plus, Farage may be the front-man but the loudest and most extreme voice behind him is Zia Yusuf. How did the one-time left-winger become Reform’s self-styled “Shadow Home Secretary”? Expert on the far-right Daniel Trilling explains all. And in the Extra Bit: If you threw a sickie last Monday to watch England beat Mexico, you’re not alone. We look at the culture of the sick day around the world. • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at [email protected].  ESCAPE ROUTES • Ros has been letting off some steam reading Christian Wolmar’s Fastrack: The Extraordinary Global History of The Race for High Speed Rail • Rachel went to watch Pride at the National Theatre, as Stephen Beresford’s hit moves from screen to stage • Daniel has been reading Keza MacDonald’s Super Nintendo: How One Japanese Company Helped the World Have Fun • Andrew went to see Robyn at the O2 and What the World Needs Now: The Songs of Burt Bacharach with Rumer, Ed Harcourt and Dionne Warwick  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Group Editor Andrew Harrison with Rachel Cunliffe, Ros Taylor and Daniel Trilling. Produced by James Liddell. Audio Production by Tom Taylor. Art direction by James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Quick-fire reaction to Nigel Farage’s resignation with Jacob Jarvis, Andrew Harrison and Jonn Elledge… For his latest trick, the Reform leader has quit as an MP after weeks of scrutiny over his finances finally caught up with him. In a whingeing speech, teed up hours in advance, Farage triggered a by-election in Clacton and says he’s determined to win it back. Is this a genuine appeal to voters or just a stunt to take the heat off the sleaze inquiry? Above all, what might happen next? • Back us on Patreon – www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis, with Andrew Harrison and Jonn Elledge. Producer: James Liddell. Audio production: Robin Leeburn. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Oh God What Now? is a Podmasters Production. www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After weeks of defending the £5m “gift” that won’t go away, Farage finds himself at the centre of another uncomfortable money story: undeclared finance from a convicted criminal with the unimprovable nickname “Posh George”. And Reform is faltering in the polls. Is Farage becoming a liability to the party that supposedly revolves around him?  Plus: The astonishing story of how Trump strong-armed FIFA into suspending the Folarin Balogun red card, thus poisoning the whole World Cup. And as Burnham prepares to inherit a financial nightmare, should he bite the bullet and repeal the pensioners’ Triple Lock? ESCAPE ROUTES • Marie went to see the Olivia Wilde comedy The Invite at the cinema.  • Matt has been reading Murder: The Biography by Kate Morgan. • Jonn recommends the Russell T Davies drama Tip Toe, streaming on Channel 4. • Seth has been reading Swiss Watching by Diccon Bewes.    • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at [email protected].  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Seth Thévoz with Jonn Elledge, Marie le Conte and Matt Green. Audio Production by Robin Leeburn. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Now that the Age of Andy is starting to take shape, will our panel stick their necks out and say they can support the King Half In The North? Is there enough going on here to re-energise Labour voters who were burnt out by the last lacklustre regime? Are Shabana Mahmood and Starmer himself trying to box in the new PM on immigration and defence? And is Burnham really going to be as Left as some think?  Plus: In a truly selfless sacrifice, our Seth Thévoz and James Ball go to the Telegraph’s “Big Debate” on “How to make Brexit a success” (!). What wonders and horrors did they witness? And in a special American semiquincentennial Extra Bit, what was the first time our panel visited the USA? And the last?  ESCAPE ROUTES • James has been mainlining three World Cup games a day.  • Seth has been stalking Sepp Blatter and Gianni Infantino across social media. • Hannah went to see Lily Allen at the O2.  • Zoë has been indulging in the Serpentine Lido in London’s Hyde Park.  • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at [email protected].  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Zoë Grünewald with Seth Thévoz, Hannah Fearn and James Ball. Audio production by Tom Taylor. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Will spreading power throughout the UK be Burnham’s secret weapon? Will “No.10 North” be located at Salford Lads’ Club? And will Britain’s PM in waiting really get ten years at the helm? Plus: from Manchesterism to Trumpism… America turns 250 this week and the vibe feels a bit off. Trump’s flop of a state fair has already been branded “embarrassing” and “sad” with tentfuls of melted ice cream and a cancelled Vanilla Ice. We welcome special guest David Plotz of the Slate Political Gabfest to pick apart Trump’s lacklustre semiquincentennial celebrations… and whether Trump really is losing. • Does the US needs a total reboot once Trump has gone? Find out on Fables of The Reconstruction: How to Fix the USA, a three-part miniseries from The Bunker. • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at [email protected]. • Special offer! Get 20% off any vehicle history check at carVertical.com/OhGodWhatNow. ESCAPE ROUTES • Jonn has been hooked on Apple TV’s much-hyped comedy-horror Widow’s Bay. • Ros watched England’s cricketers stumble to a series defeat against New Zealand • David has been gripped by the “soccer” as the World Cup knockouts get underway back home in the US • Andrew might be six years late to season one of space race counterfactual For All Mankind on Apple TV+, but he’s making up for lost time. www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Andrew Harrison with Jonn Elledge and Ros Taylor. Produced by James Liddell. Audio Production by Robin Leeburn. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What a difference a week makes… Andy Burnham is now number one in a field of one, and planning to move a chunk of No.10 to Manchester. How is Labour adjusting itself to the Age of Andy? Is there more to Burnhamism than just vibes? What about Burnhanomics? And do the people really want a General Election or can they just not face one?   Plus: Forgetting all the inexplicable rabid anger about “worst PM ever!!”, was Keir Starmer actually a good Prime Minister or not? We run the rule over his record. And in the Extra Bit for Patreon people, we’ve got three comics on the pod. Was Starmer good or bad for the jokes biz?   • This show is sponsored by CarVertical.com - Get 20% off any vehicle history check at ⁠⁠carVertical.com/OhGodWhatNow • Get tickets for Ahir Shah’s next show Golden.   ESCAPE ROUTES  • Hannah has been listening to the gorgeous dreamscapes of Skying by The Horrors.   • Jason went to see the Marilyn Monroe exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery.  • Matt and his nephew are collecting the M&S Panini football sticker album .   • Ahir has been appreciating The Thong Song by Sisqo on many, many levels.   • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at [email protected].  ⁠ www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow    Presented by Matt Green with Hannah Fearn, Jason Hazeley and Ahir Shah. Audio Production by: Jade Bailey. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.  www.podmasters.co.uk   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“We voted Brexit and all we got was this lousy podcast…” Ten years since the vote that sent Britain round the bend, could we finally break out of the trap of 2016? We’re joined by the Obi Wan Kenobi of Brexit bloggers Chris Grey to look into the enormity of Pandora’s Referendum. In a world so violently changed from 2016, is there hope for Britain to get back into the EU? Despite populism, are the stars aligning for the UK and the EU? And should anyone serious about reuniting Britain and the EU be talking about joining, not rejoining? As Raf says: “With a bit of political courage we could be in a very different debate.”  • Want more on Brexit? Hear friend of the pod Anand Menon on The Reality of Rejoin on the latest Bunker – Apple and Spotify. • Read Chris Grey’s blog Brexit and Brexitism. • Pre-order Jonn’s new book 31 Inventions That Made Our World.  • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at [email protected].  ESCAPE ROUTES • Jonn has been watching the Russell T. Davies drama Tip Toe.   • Raf has been reading Fred Vargas’s The Chalk Circle Man (in French, of course).  • Ros has been reading The Charterhouse of Parma by Stendahl and enjoying The Archers podcast.  • Chris Grey has been watching vintage spy drama Mr Palfrey of Westminster on the Classic British Telly YouTube channel.  When you buy books through our affiliate bookshop you help fund the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org’s fees help support independent bookshops too. • This show is sponsored by CarVertical.com - Get 20% off any vehicle history check at ⁠⁠carVertical.com/OhGodWhatNow⁠⁠ www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Ros Taylor with Jonn Elledge and Rafael Behr. Audio Production by Robin Leeburn. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. <

As we sadly file away that ‘Keep Keir And Carry On’ headline in the bottom drawer… Keir Starmer steps down and our panel look at what the Starmer era really means. Are we now in a world where petty politics will always trump service to country? Why was this decent, vaguely boring man so loathed in the country? Does this public bloodletting help or hinder Labour’s existential battle against Reform? And why can’t Britain hang on to its Prime Ministers? We’re joined by Chris Grey, the don of Brexit bloggers to discuss it all.  This is a special two-part split edition, enabling us to get you the Farewell to Keir Starmer portion of the pod as fast as possible. Be here tomorrow as our panel “celebrate” ten years of the Brexit Referendum that pitched Britain into a psychodrama it still can’t escape.  • Read Chris Grey’s blog Brexit and Brexitism • Pre-order Jonn’s new book 31 Inventions That Made Our World through our affiliate bookshop and you’ll help fund the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org’s fees help support independent bookshops too. • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at [email protected].  • Special offer! Get 20% off any vehicle history check at carVertical.com/OhGodWhatNow.  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Ros Taylor with Jonn Elledge and Rafael Behr. Audio Production by Robin Leeburn. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our fast reaction to Burnham’s victory in Makefield with the don of political commentators Steve Richards of Rock & Roll Politics talking to Andrew Harrison… Andy Burnham is heading back to Westminster after his landslide victory and despite dire warnings of a Reform surge, it wasn’t even close. After an early-morning celebratory pint, is he now on a fast track for the keys to No. 10? Should Keir Starmer fight or throw in the towel? Is Burnham’s coronation now inevitable? How big a blow was it all for Farage, Reform and the even-further-right Restore? Above all, what happens next? • Hear Steve on Rock & Roll Politics.  • Special offer! Get 20% off any vehicle history check at carVertical.com/OhGodWhatNow. • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at [email protected].  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Andrew Harrison with Steve Richards. Produced by James Liddell. Audio Production by Tom Taylor. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Surprise, surprise! The arson attacks on properties linked to Keir Starmer turn out to have been instigated by a Russian “diplomat” with a background in information warfare. Who’d have thought it? Has Vladimir Putin’s shadow war finally crossed the line? Plus: Wes Streeting wants to scrap the ban on new fossil fuel production. The Greens are looking less green. The Lib Dems appear indifferent. And don’t get us started on Reform’s Richard Tice… So, is Ed Miliband the last true defender of net zero left standing? Special guest Sam Bright of Desmog talks us through the battle over clean energy. And in the Extra Bit, our panellists reveal their moments of meaningless happiness as an antidote to the doom and gloom.  • Special offer! Get 20% off any vehicle history check at carVertical.com/OhGodWhatNow. • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at [email protected]. • Read Sam’s Substack and latest DeSmog articles ESCAPE ROUTES • Rachel has been listening to Steven Mangan and his sister Anita on the BBC’s Siblings Unpicked podcast • James has been playing a remake of the retro video game Final Fantasy VII   • Sam has been dipping into England vs. New Zealand in the second test (between investigations)  • Matt has been binging Shrinking, the Apple TV’s hit from the makers of Ted Lasso on Apple TV+.  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Matt Green with Rachel Cunliffe, James Ball and Sam Bright. Produced by James Liddell. Audio Production by Tom Taylor. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Labour surprises everyone with a ban on Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X for the under-16. Critics say the “Australia Plus” regime is riddled with contradictions. Will it work, is it fair or is it just Starmer trying to look tough ahead of the Makerfield by-election? Andrew Harrison puts Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson on the spot and then our panel dig into the detail. Plus, the defence row and the resignations of John Healey and ex-Armed Forces Minister Al Carns continue to rock Labour. Could they derail Andy Burnham’s plans to get back into Westminster?  • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at [email protected].  ESCAPE ROUTES • Hannah went to the Inside Aardman: Wallace & Gromit and Friends exhibition at the Young V&A  • Marie just finished Joseph Roth’s classic The Radetzky March   • Jonn has been reading the first in Patt Barker’s acclaimed Regeneration trilogy   • Seth took a pit stop at the iconic Literary and Philosophical Society during a trip to Newcastle www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Seth Thévoz with Marie le Conte, Hannah Fearn and Jonn Elledge. Produced by James Liddell. Audio Production by Tom Taylor. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What’s more revolting? The racist pogrom against innocent families in Belfast? Or the way the far-right is again using a violent attack to claim that every immigrant – legal or illegal – is a threat to the country? Our panel looks at how indulging the “legitimate concerns” mindset leads to kids being burned out of their homes. Plus we answer your questions in our new monthly-ish But Your Emails special. And in the Extra Bit for Patreon people: do progressive protestors need to up their banner game? • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at [email protected].  ESCAPE ROUTES • Jason has been reading A.I. by Belgian comedian Lieven Schiere  • Seth saw Churchill’s Urinal starring friend of the pod Rosie Holt at the King’s Head Theatre, Islington. You’ve missed it, but it’s on in Edinburgh in August.    • Zöe enjoyed Look What You Made Me Do by John Lanchester. • Andrew has been listening to Inferno by Boards Of Canada www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Andrew Harrison with Zöe Grünewald, Seth Thévoz and Jason Hazeley. Audio Production by Tom Taylor. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The BBC gets in early with its “ten years since the Brexit Referendum” jamboree with a “star”-studded retro-documentary, Brexit: A Very British Civil War from legendary film-maker Norma Percy. Our panel bravely retraumatise themselves by watching it. What do we learn that’s new? Who comes out of it worst: Cameron, Corbyn, Johnson, Seumas Milne, Gove, Osbourne or Cummings? Could anything have averted this catastrophe? And have any of these egotists and hobby-horsers learned a damn thing in the past decade?  Plus, in related matters… Why do we believe what we believe? Why are conservatives more disgusted by disgusting things than liberals? And why (good news!) do liberals have more interesting sex? Author Turi Munthe joins us to discuss the psychology behind our deepest impulses.  • Buy Turi Munthe’s book Why We Think What We Think through our affiliate bookshop and you’ll help fund the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org’s fees help support independent bookshops too. • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at [email protected].  ESCAPE ROUTES • Rachel enjoyed A Beginner’s Guide to Breaking and Entering on audiobook – but you can read it on paper too.  • Rafael has been listening to Paris 1919 by John Cale.  • Turi Munthe recommends Other People’s Children by Ben Faccini.  • Matt recommends crime comedy Deep Cover starring Nick Mohammed, Orlando Bloom and Bryce Dallas Howard, on Amazon Prime.  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Matt Greene with Rachel Cunliffe and Rafael Behr. Audio Production by Robin Leeburn. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Farage and the far-right have been quick to seize on Henry Nowak’s horrific murder, ignoring pleas from the victim’s family for the killing not to be politicised. Instead the Reform leader decried “two-tier” policing and called for “pure, cold rage”. What does it all mean? Are we in for another summer of racially-triggered rioting? Plus: what would an Andy Burnham government actually look like? Can Manchesterism succeed where Starmerism stumbled? And in the Extra Bit… mantropreneurship irritant Steven Bartlett claims that two glasses of wine “ruined” his life for three days. Our panel examine the toxic cult of peak performance.  • Buy tickets for Ahir’s Golden tour • Because of developments in the news we’ve postponed the promised BUT YOUR EMAILS special by one week. But you can still send your questions to [email protected].  ESCAPE ROUTES • Ros has been watching the BBC’s hit drama Two Weeks in August • Seth rewatched Lawrence of Arabia at Soho’s iconic Prince Charles Cinema • Ahir has been binging darkly-comical superhero series The Boys, which led him to the comic • Zoe has been reading Caro Claire Burke’s new novel Yesteryear about a time-travelling tradwife.   When you buy books through our affiliate bookshop, you help fund the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org’s fees help support independent bookshops too. www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Zoë Grünewald with Seth Thévoz, Ros Taylor and Ahir Shah. Produced by James Liddell. Audio Production by Tom Taylor. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

• One last chance to get an extra 10% off a year’s Patreon backing – our tenth birthday offer ends Wednesday morning. If you’ve been telling yourself that Reform are only surging because people are unhappy with what the Government hasn’t delivered, the don of political research Sir John Curtice has bad news for you. New British Social Attitudes research shows it’s deeper than that: angry Reform voters are energised by divisive culture issues and won’t be easily persuaded back to either Labour or the Tories. Would Burnham or Streeting (or anyone) be able to overcome their new identity politics? Plus: Does the latest tranche of Mandelson messages and emails shine any more light on the whole ambassadorial mess? • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at [email protected].  ESCAPE ROUTES • Sir John has been watching Dear England, the BBC’s new drama on England football manager Gareth Southgate • Marie went to watch “charming thriller” Tuner at the movies.  • Raf really hated Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu but hey, it’s still a distraction.  • Andrew has been reading Adrian Tchaikovsky’s sci-fi epic Children of Strife. Buy it through our affiliate bookshop and you’ll help fund the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org’s fees help support independent bookshops too. www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Group Editor Andrew Harrison with Marie Le Conte and Rafael Behr. Produced by James Liddell. Audio Production by Robin Leeburn. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

• Podmasters is 10 years old! Get an extra 10% off a year’s Patreon backing. What else does a beleaguered PM like Keir Starmer need but… unsolicited advice from Tony Blair? In a new essay published by his think tank, the former PM calls on Labour to cosy up to Donald Trump and axe Ed Miliband’s net zero agenda or risk relegation from the “Premier League of nations”. Is Blair offering a genuine diagnosis or is he just dusting off the 1990s playbook? Plus, jobs tsar Alan Milburn’s bombshell report on youth unemployment warns that young people are being “rewired” by their smartphones and trapped in a doom loop that’s keeping them out of work. Can they escape it? And Reform's candidate for the Makerfield by-election Robert Kenyon is facing a firestorm for a string of resurfaced sexist social media posts. In the age of the political lout, why do the rules always seem different for the right? And in the Extra Bit: our panel reveals how they find their Zen in the age of doom-scrolling.  • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at [email protected].  ESCAPE ROUTES • Hannah went to see Francois Ozon’s new movie adaptation of Camus' existentialist classic The Stranger.  • Ros also visited the cinema to see Project Hail Mary  • Jonn watched the first episode of the BBC’s Two Weeks in August • Seth has been reading Being Liberal: The Liberal Disposition in Contemporary British Politics by Cambridge professor David Howarth www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Seth Thévoz with Jonn Elledge, Ros Taylor and Hannah Fearn. Produced by James Liddell. Audio Production by Jade Bailey. Art direction by James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

• Podmasters is 10 years old! Last chance to get an extra 10% off a year’s Patreon support.  Nigel Farage’s latest defence of his “gift” from a crypto magnate: you wouldn’t know about it if I hadn’t been hacked by pesky Russians! (Although erm I forgot to tell the National Cyber Security Centre). Has he finally pushed his luck too far? Plus, the right-wing press and Reform are busting their guts to paint Andy Burnham as a carpetbagging, conviction-free shapeshifter who’s simultaneously a far-left zealot. Will any of it stick? And why are Rupert Lowe’s ultra-right Restore UK much, much worse than just an amusing problem for Reform? • We pinched the title of this edition from someone called AshWarp – but if you know the real originator, get in touch.  • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at [email protected].  ESCAPE ROUTES • Jason recommends visiting Crossness Pumping Station on the Thames and also the Great Western Railway Museum in Swindon. • Rachel is watching Rivals on Disney+.  • James Ball is rewatching How To Get Away With Murder on Channel 4.  • Matt recommends Thirst: 12 Drinks That Changed My Life by John Robins. Buy it through our affiliate bookshop and you’ll help fund the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org’s fees help support independent bookshops too. www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Matt Green with James Ball, Rachel Cunliffe and Jason Hazeley. Audio Production by Robin Leeburn. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

• Podmasters is 10 years old! Get an extra 10% off a year’s Patreon backing. And OGWN is nine years old! Today: A Labour candidate up against a local plumber in a North-Western by-election? It’s beginning to feel a lot like Groundhog Day. If Andy Burnham beats Reform’s Robert Kenyon in Makerfield his path to Number 10 gets a lot clearer. But has Burnham just walked into a Reform bear trap? Plus: Brexit is back, right on cue. Wes Streeting lobs a grenade into the Burnham campaign by raising the Europe question. Could this leadership battle finally break Britain out of its Brexit loop of denial? And in the Extra Bit for Patreons, we do that Find Your Politics thing to discover whether we’re secret Leninists or Freemen of the Land without realising it. (And why no talk of the Greens, you ask? We did a big will-they-won’t-they bit and then they announced a candidate so we had to drop it. More next time).  • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at [email protected].  ESCAPE ROUTES • Marie is getting set to host her Outsiders Art Club, a social club putting emerging artists in the spotlight • Matt has been bingeing Imperfect Women on Apple TV.  • Raf went to see Zambian singer and rapper Sampa the Great at the Brighton Festival  • Andrew has been listening to Tomora, the new duo comprising Chemical Brother Tom Rowlands and Norwegian singer Aurora.  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Andrew Harrison with Rafael Behr, Marie Le Conte and Matt Green. Producer: James Liddell. Audio Production by Tom Taylor. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

• Podmasters is 10 years old! Get an extra 10% off a year’s Patreon backing. Makerfield residents, wire up your letterboxes – the leaflets are coming… A month until Andy Burnham’s by-election, Reform is knocking. Can the King of the North hold them off – whoever their candidate may be? Has he done enough for his message to land? Plus: Is it time up for Ed Davey as leader of the Liberal Democrats? Several Essex councillors seem to think so. Comedian Rosie Holt weighs in on whether political satire has changed for the better or worse. And Matt Brittin officially started as the BBC’s Director General this week – is it possible to steady the ship?  • Get your tickets for Churchill’s Urinal with Rosie Holt at the King’s Head Theatre, Islington. • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at [email protected].  ESCAPE ROUTES • Jonn watched Ncuti Gatwa throw jabs at Doctor Who in Saturday Night Live UK • Jason has been reading The Design of Childhood, by Pulitzer Prize-winner Alexandra Lange • Rosie is rewatching a duo of British comedy classics: Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace and Toast of London • Ros has been seeking escapism in Danish television and has binged Seaside Hotel www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Ros Taylor with Jonn Elledge and Jason Hazeley. Audio Production by Tom Taylor. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

• Podmasters is 10 years old! Get an extra 10% off a year’s Patreon backing. Broadcasting from the middle of the Labour chaos vortex, we look how things stand after the Streeting-Starmer confrontation at No.10 – was it a 17-minute staring contest? – and whether the Health Secretary has the support within Labour to win… if he stands. And who is Wes Streeting anyway? What does he actually stand for? Our panel share their experiences of “the man you can’t libel, because he has no vices.” Plus: Zack Polanski houseboat council tax evasion imbroglio! And in the Extra Bit: There’s a new Beatles museum in London… not Liverpool. So where else deserves a museum in a slightly unexpected location?  • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at [email protected].  ESCAPE ROUTES • Seth enjoyed the English Touring Opera’s production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Gondoliers   • Marie has been binge-watching Rivals on Disney+ • Hannah went to the West End to watch David Hare’s Teeth’n’Smiles  • Zoë has been watching Half-Man, Richard Gadd’s follow-up to Baby Reindeer www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Zoë Grünewald with Hannah Fearn, Marie Le Conte and Seth Thévoz. Produced by James Liddell. Audio Production by Tom Taylor. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

• Podmasters is 10 years old! Get an extra 10% off a year’s Patreon support – that’s 20% in total.  Amid the rubble of last week’s elections, Keir Starmer announces he’s suddenly getting real and ready to win back voters. But is it all too little, too late – and after months of drift, will anyone believe him anyway? Plus, were the Reform and Green surges really as unstoppable as an overwrought media want us to believe? Friend of the pod and psephology don Rob Ford of Manchester University joins us to dig deep on the elections… and whether Labour gets what really happened.   NB Andrew apologies for his hoarse voice. He’ll be back to normal next time.  • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at [email protected].  ESCAPE ROUTES • Raf recommends By The Sea,  Abdulzarak Gurnah’s Nobel Prize-winning novel of escape and migration. • Rob Ford recommends The Emperor by Ryszard Kapuczinski, concerning the downfall of Haile Selassie.  • Ros recommends the TV drama Believe Me about John Worboys, streaming on ITV.  • Andrew recommends 30 Rock with Tina Fey, now finally on Netflix.  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Andrew Harrison with Ros Taylor and Rafael Behr. Audio Production by Robin Leeburn. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

• Podmasters is 10 years old! Get an extra 10% off a year’s Patreon support – that’s 20% in total.  Fast analysis with don of political commentators Steve Richards of Rock & Roll Politics talking to Andrew Harrison. Labour’s performance in the English Locals was terrible… but was it really as bad as Starmer feared? Does Farage’s bluster about “truly historic” results for Reform stand up to the data? Are the Greens becoming the party of “student England”? And the big one: Can Starmer hang on?  • See Steve’s Rock & Roll Politics show live in London at King’s Place, Monday 11 May – last few tickets available! • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at [email protected].  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Andrew Harrison. Audio Production by Robin Leeburn. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

• Podmasters is 10 years old! Get an extra 10% off a year’s Patreon backing. The Greens are on fire and Zack Polanski’s travails don’t seem to be hurting them much. How did they get here? Is Polanski-mania just Corbyn-mania without all the Labour baggage? And can you be a vehicle for popular rage and a credible party of government at the same time? Plus, is everything just online betting now? Or is it the new insider trading? With platforms like Polymarket enabling insiders to clean up on everything from the timing of bombings in Iran to the removal of Maduro, we talk to the Guardian’s Aisha Down about how betting is warping – and corrupting – politics.  Plus: Should we ban 6am pints in the airport? Why has the right-wing press upped its sneering against Angela Rayner? And in the Extra Bit, the panel reveal their hidden talents. • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at [email protected].  ESCAPE ROUTES • Jonn recommends Blue Lights on BBC iPlayer ⁠ • Marie went to see Spanish pop sensation Rosalía in London and her album Lux is Marie’s favourite of the year. • Aisha has been brushing up on commodities trading and is reading The World For Sale by Jack Farchy and Javier Blas • Seth has been watching Liberace camp-fest Sincerely Yours from 1955. Listen to Hit That Perfect Beat – The London Records Story on your favourite platforms.  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Seth Thévoz withJonn Elledge and Marie Le Conte. Produced by James Liddell. Audio Production by Tom Taylor. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

• Podmasters is 10 years old! Get an extra 10% off a year’s Patreon backing. Filler-faced, gilded mansions and utterly unhinged. Today’s mega-rich don't even pretend to be normal anymore. So what happened to the understated billionaire and is there any going back?  Plus, are voters getting more fickle? Zoe picks the brain of the Economist's political data journalist Owen Winter on whether political promiscuity is the new normal. And Zack Polanski’s approval ratings plunged after a sharing post about the Golders Green attack – should politicians be anywhere near social media anyway? Finally… the Green Party’s Hannah Spencer has sparked a rift with fellow MPs after deriding parliament’s apparent booze problem. Are our lawmakers really propping up the bar?  • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at [email protected].  ESCAPE ROUTES • Zoë braved the psychological horror thriller Speak No Evil, available on NOW.  • Jason has been devouring Natalie Whittle’s ode to the nation’s favourite snack, Crunch: The History of Crisps • Matt has delved into David Grann’s catalogue, including The Devil and Sherlock Holmes www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Matt Green with Zoë Grünewald and Jason Hazeley. Producer: James Liddell. Audio production: Robin Leeburn. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Simon Williams & Tom Taylor. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

• Podmasters is 10 years old! Get an extra 10% off a year’s Patreon backing. Applauded by Congress, lauded by Trump and working his way through a spring-herbed ravioli on a golden plate? It was a tough gig for Charles. The King may have charmed the President but will his visit rescue US/UK relations from the geopolitical toilet?  Plus, Starmer evades a Commons investigation into the Mandelson affair but is it really all over bar the shouting for the PM? Why a social media ban for under-16s might be based on dodgy science. And in the Extra Bit: If they can get away with a Michael Jackson movie in 2026, which political figures ought to get their own biopic?  • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at [email protected].  ESCAPE ROUTES • Rachel has been bingeing Guy Ritchie’s Young Sherlock on Amazon Prime.   • Jonn recommends Radio 4’s How To Invent A Country on BBC Sounds.  • James recommends the relaxing game Nodes – play it here. • Andrew recommends Daredevil: Born Again on Disney+, inevitably  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Andrew Harrison with Rachel Cunliffe, Jonn Elledge and James Ball. Audio Production by Tom Taylor. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

• Podmasters is 10 years old! Get an extra 10% off a year’s Patreon support – that’s 20% in total.  Another week, another assassination attempt… Will the latest attack on Trump change anything apart from making the crazy people crazier? And will he get his ballroom out of it? Plus, Reform announce plans to make the teaching of history more patriotic. On the curriculum: more Winston Churchill and Battle of Britain, less slave trade, even less Ireland and no Britain being anything other than brilliant. Are you kids ready for the Old Man In A Pub version of Our Island Story? • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at [email protected].  ESCAPE ROUTES • Gavin went to see music inspired by the Bridget Riley: Learning To See exhibition at Turner Contemporary… but you’ve missed it. Sorry.  • Matt is the latest panelist to recommend medical drama The Pitt on HBO Max.  • Raf recommends drum’n’bass artist Nia Archives’ new single Danger • Ros recommends French-language murder mystery Une Unique Lueur by Fred Vargas. Not out in English yet though.  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Ros Taylor with Matt Green, Gavin Esler and Rafael Behr. Audio Production by Tom Taylor and Chris Jones. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

• Podmasters is 10 years old! Get an extra 10% off a year’s Patreon support – that’s 20% in total.  As the dust settles from the umpteenth Mandelsequel, where does Labour go from here? Is Starmer permanently damaged? And who would step into No.10: Angela Rayner, Andy Burnham, Al Carns, or someone else entirely from the political alphabet? And while opening ChatGPT has become as routine as morning coffee, millions are probably using it all wrong. So says special guest Jamie Bartlett, algorithm whisperer and author of How to Talk to AI, who explains how to master the art of prompts.  • Order How to Talk to AI through our affiliate bookshop and you’ll help fund the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org’s fees help support independent bookshops too.  • Hear America Against The World from This Is Not A Drill on your favourite podcast app. • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at [email protected]  ESCAPE ROUTES • Marie recommends The Princess of 77nd Street by Elaine Kraf. • Hannah recommends Perfection by Vincenzo Latronico.  • Jamie recommends Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton and The Parakeeting Of London by Nick Hunt. • Seth has been enjoying Michael Gove pimping free gin for The Spectator.  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Seth Thévoz with Hannah Fearn and Marie Le Conte. Audio Production by: Tom Taylor. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

• Podmasters is 10 years old! Get an extra 10% off a year’s Patreon support – that’s 20% in total.  Oh Mandy… the scandal that won’t die is back (again). Can Keir Starmer style this one out or is his credibility finally shot? Plus, imagine if you wrote a hoax government report about how a secretive shadow government controls America and then everyone believed it. Even though you admitted it was false. And believed it so completely that they ended up destroying democracy. Nightmare, right? Author Phil Tinline talks us through the scarcely believable true tale he sets out in Ghosts of Iron Mountain – a story that takes in Lee Harvey Oswald, the Oklahoma Bombings, neo-Nazis, hippies, Oliver Stone and The X Files – and how it’s still warping our world today.  • Order Ghosts of Iron Mountain through our affiliate bookshop and you’ll help fund the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org’s fees help support independent bookshops too. • Hear America Against The World from This Is Not A Drill on your favourite podcast app. • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at [email protected].  ESCAPE ROUTES • Rachel recommends The Critic with Ian McKellen on Netflix • Raf has just discovered Fast As You Can by Fiona Apple from the album ‘When The Pawn Hits Etc Etc Yadda Yadda’. • Phil has been listening to drum, bass and related stuff from Ivy Lab • Andrew went to see the Murdoch vs Brenda Dean play In The Print at the New King’s Head in Islington, London – it’s on til 3 May. www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Andrew Harrison with Rachel Cunliffe and Rafael Behr Audio Production by:Robin Leeburn. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. <a href="https://www.podmasters.co

• Join our OGWN vs Origin Story Tenth Birthday Podclash on Zoom on Thur 30 April.  What happens if Reform actually wins? We dive into a darkly plausible near-future where Nigel Farage becomes PM and everything goes… about as well as you’d expect. It’s all gamed out in a new fact-based “non-fiction thriller”, What If Reform Wins? by our special guest, Times reporter Peter Chappell – from how Reform would tackle an ICE-style crackdown to the end of Net Zero and the return of Dominic Cummings. This could be the future, so how do we stop it? Plus: Is the UK ready for a politics that does God? The IMF warns Britain could take the biggest hit from the Iran War’s economic shock. Should we get behind Samantha Niblett MP’s Summer of Sex? And in the Extra Bit… after the smooth dancefloor moves of victorious Hungarian MP Zsolt Hegedűs “broke the internet” we ask – should politicians be less embarrassed about dancing? • Pre-order What If Reform Wins: A Scenario  by Peter Chappell – it’s out 30 April.  • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at [email protected] ESCAPE ROUTES • Marie read and loved The Door by Magda Szabó. • Jonn recommends No One Is Talking About This by Patricia Lockwood. • Peter went ceilidh dancing at Cecil Sharp House in Camden, north London.  • Matt is watching Steve Carrel’s new series Rooster on HBO Max, Now and Sky.  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow • When you buy books through our affiliate bookshop and you’ll help fund the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org’s fees help support independent bookshops too. Presented by Matt Green with Marie Le Conte and Jonn Elledge. Audio Production by Tom Taylor. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Good news for a change! Revolting far-right tinpot tyrant Viktor Orbán gets his marching orders in Hungary. Our panel talk about how it’s bad news for Putin, Trump and MattGPT and wonder where the JD Vance Reverse Midas Touch should be applied next. Elsewhere in the pod: Trump comes for the Pope. Why are his Christo-Nationalists getting Catholicism wrong? Is politics being taken over by egomaniacs? A(nother) heated debate about the pros and cons of space. And check out our new theme tune, good eh? Today’s special guest is Ava Santini of Politics Joe. • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at [email protected].  ESCAPE ROUTES • Zoë watched Jaws for the very first time and loved it.   • Jason recommends Beatles deep-dive documentary Evolver ’62 • Ava is diving into Season 3 of Euphoria on HBO.  • Andrew went to see Obscure, the Pet Shop Boys’ rarities shows, where they played these songs. www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Andrew Harrison with Zoë Grünewald and Jason Hazeley. Audio Production by Robin Leeburn. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Trump threatens the literal obliteration of an entire civilisation, then announces a ceasefire. So war crimes work, right? Er, not when you create the “Tehran Tollbooth” in the Strait and transform your enemy into potentially the Middle East’s richest, best-armed hostile power with a $90bn war and reconstruction chest. We examine possibly the biggest self-own in geopolitical history.  Plus: Labour squares up to the Greens in the local, Scottish and Welsh elections. How do they fight Polanski without coming across like bullying establishment incumbents? We look at the Kanye West fiasco. And in the Extra Bit for Patreon backers, what was that strange feeling we got from the Artemis moonshot? Was it… hope? This week’s special guest is James Ball, political editor of The New World.  • Save our classic theme tune Demon Is A Monster by Cornershop for posterity.  • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at [email protected].  ESCAPE ROUTES • Jonn recommends HBO Max medical drama The Pitt starring Noah Wylie.  • Ros recommends Danish life-juggling comedy drama Rita on Netflix.  • James recommends video game Greedfall: The Dying World plus old series of Taskmaster on C4 (for sleeping to). • Seth recommends the rediscovered episodes of Doctor Who: The Daleks’ Master Plan. www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Seth Thévoz with Ros Taylor and Jonn Elledge. Audio Production by Tom Taylor. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Cornershop (thank you for everything!). Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After nearly two years in the job, Keir Starmer isn’t just disliked or unpopular – he’s actually hated in much of the country. But why? How did this unprepossessing and fairly boring man become such a figure of loathing? Has hating politicians no matter who they are become the default position in British politics? Plus: Liz Truss (remember her?) is going to launch her own CPAC and save Britain, again. What is going through that, ahem, unusual mind? And should we maybe scoff less at the idea of a populist revolt and fear it more? This week’s special guest is comedian, musician and Radio 4 veteran Mitch Benn.  • Catch Mitch Benn’s show The Lehrer Effect across the country this month.  • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at [email protected]   ESCAPE ROUTES • Ros has got right back into The Archers on BBC Sounds.  • Mitch thinks you should watch the James Blunt movie One Brit Wonder, not just because he’s in it.  • Seth recommends The Usual Channels: Inside the Mysterious World of Political Whips by Sebastian Whale.  • Zoë recommends academic romance drama Vladimir on Netflix.  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Zoë Grünewald with Ros Taylor and Seth Thévoz. Audio Production by Robin Leeburn. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Cornershop. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Capitalism: Where did it come from and what does it want? Is it falling to pieces or just reinventing itself to remain immortal, as it always has done? Is it about to enter a dark new digital era where it doesn’t even need people? What do we get wrong about it? Can we fix it? What even IS it? Sven Beckert is the author of the epic exploration of money-making, Capitalism: A Global History. He joins Andrew Harrison and Jonn Elledge for the unexpected, untold story of how profit made power.   • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at [email protected].   ESCAPE ROUTES  • Sven Beckert recommends the Neapolitan Quartet novels by Elena Ferrante. Start with My Brilliant Friend. • Jonn Elledge has been revisiting This Life on the BBC iPlayer. Don’t miss the This Life episode  of our partnerpod Talk ’90s to me.  • Andrew Harrison loved the film DJ Ahmet – if you’re only going to see one Macedonian sheep-herding rave movie this year, this is the one.    When you buy books through our affiliate bookshop you help the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org’s fees help support independent bookshops too.  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow  Presented by Andrew Harrison and John Elledge. Audio Production by Chris Jones. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Cornershop. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.  www.podmasters.co.uk   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Trump promised America lower prices, cheaper gas, no more foreign wars and worldwide respect. Instead his Iran rampage has dynamited the world economy, skyrocketed oil prices, and bogged the US down in a worsening military quagmire – and no-one is coming to help. As MAGA squabbles over the future, has Trumpism been torpedo’d by the only person who could destroy it: Donald Trump? Plus, an economic tsunami is arriving from the Strait of Hormuz just when Rachel Reeves doesn’t need it. Is Britain ready for Cost of Living Crisis II? And who will pay the political price? And in the Extra Bit: America discovers the Baked Potato. What could possibly go wrong?  “The madman theory of foreign policy only works if you’re not actually a madman.”  ESCAPE ROUTES • Hannah recommends the Ill-Advised podcast with Bill Nighy • Matt saw Baz Lurhmann’s Romeo + Juliet for the first time in 30 years and loved it.  • Zoë recommends the new series of Married At First Sight Australia. • Seth has been reading The Man Who Sold Honours by Stephen Bates www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Zoë Grünewald with Hannah Fearn, Matt Green and Seth Thévoz.  Audio Production by Robin Leeburn. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Cornershop. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is Farage faltering? Reform’s poll lead is slowly sliding, so much so that last week Farage administered a Trumpian punishment beating to pollsters YouGov in classic “shoot the messenger” style. Is Britain starting to see through Nigel’s chicanery – or is it all wishful thinking on our part? And how are Labour and the Tories dealing with not one but two insurgent parties: the Greens as well as Reform?  Seth Thévoz and Rachel Cunliffe are joined by crossover guest Steve Richards of the Rock & Roll Politics podcast to read this week’s political tea leaves.  • Last chance to sign up to our Live Zoom for Patreon people this Thursday 26 March.  ESCAPE ROUTES • Rachel loved Summerfolk, “Maxim Gorky's razor-sharp portrait of privilege and denial”, at the National Theatre  • Steve saw Sirat, the astonishing road movie about travellers’ raves and existential loss.  • Seth recommends Hoax: The Inside Story of the Howard Hughes-Clifford Irving Affair. www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Seth Thévoz and Rachel Cunliffe. Audio Production by: Chris Jones. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Cornershop. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ed Davey wants Britain to have its own nuclear weapons – smart move against the Greens or the end of the old anti-nuke Lib Dems? Why is the damning story about Richard Tice’s tax avoidance not damaging the Reform deputy leader when it would sink any other politician? Does Louis Theroux’s documentary Inside The Manosphere tell us anything new about young men’s descent into hatred as recreation and business model? And in the Extra Bit: The usual suspects lose their mind over the ONS adding hummus and alcohol-free beer to the inflation basket. Can we have one day without a freakout over woke? Just one?  • Join our live Zoom for Patreon backers on Thursday 26 March at 7pm.  ESCAPE ROUTES • Marie recommends the classic movie Kind Hearts and Coronets • John recommends Death by Lightning on Netflix.  • Jason recommends It Seemed Like a Bad Idea at the Time: The Worst TV Shows in History and Other Things I Wrote by Bruce Vilanch • Andrew recommends The Vorrh by B. Catling.  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Andrew Harrison with Marie le Conte, Jonn Elledge and Jason Hazeley. Audio Production by Chris Jones and Robin Leeburn. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Cornershop. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Mandelson Files are beginning to dribble out and they don’t look good for Keir Starmer. Will this be the final albatross round the PM’s neck? Zoë Grünewald and Rafael Behr talk over the unfurling consequences of the second-worst files in the world. Plus, liberalism has taken a battering this past decade, but don’t worry! Centrism can still save the world. Bloomberg columnist Adrian Wooldridge’s new book Centrists of the World Unite! is a battle cry to get liberalism back into the game. What went wrong? What does liberalism even mean in the 21st Century? Does anything unite left liberals, neoliberals and managerial liberals and why do they keep screwing up? And in the battle between liberalism and tech power, who wins?  Buy Centrists of the World Unite! through our affiliate bookshop and you’ll help fund Oh God, What Now? by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org’s fees help support independent bookshops too ESCAPE ROUTES • Adrian recommends Southland on Netflix. • Zoë recommends anything by the Danish painter Anna Ancher but if you can get to the Dulwich Picture Gallery it’s definitely worth a visit.  • Raf has been reading Consciousness Explained by Daniel Dennett.  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Zoë Grünewald with Rafael Behr. Audio and Video Production by Chris Jones. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Cornershop. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

British voters are overwhelmingly against Trump’s war in Iran but the pundits and politicians of the Tory-Reform universe seem to want more, harder and faster. Why is the British right hooked on tough-guy politics? And will Farage’s fawning over Trump prove to be Reform’s Achilles heel? Plus, first pickings from the Mandelson files, Rachel Cunliffe on why Labour’s justice reforms (and the controversial moves on jury trials) might be one radical reform the Government doesn’t duck… and in the Extra Bit, the Nepo Babies of world politics.  ESCAPE ROUTES • Rachel recommends Small Prophets on BBC iPlayer • Jason recommends Daniel Farson’s Guide To Britain Vol.1 on Blu-Ray.  • Ros recommends Louis Theroux: Inside The Manosphere on Netflix.  • Andrew recommends David Byrne’s Who Is The Sky? tour  Help keep independent podcasting alive and kicking by supporting us at www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Andrew Harrison with Rachel Cunliffe, Ros Taylor and Jason Hazeley. Audio Production by Robin Leeburn. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Cornershop. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Government’s migration and asylum plans have had that unique Keir Starmer way of annoying everyone. Including many of their own MPs, such as Walthamstow’s Stella Creasy. She says her party is now asking people to live in “limbo” and that the new policy change is not “socially just”. She joins the panel to explain why. And in the second half, monsters are everywhere (including politics). But what is a monster? Why do humans keep inventing them — and what does that say about us? Dr Surekha Davies’ new book Humans: A Monstrous History, explores all of that, and she joins the panel to give her take.  ESCAPE ROUTES:  • Jonn has been reading the work of Iain M. Banks: https://iainbanks.co.uk/  • Zoë went to the Tate Modern to see the Nigerian Modernism exhibition  • Surekha recommends a visit to the Samurai exhibition at the British Museum  • Stella was DJing at the weekend to raise money for two charities WHICH YOU CAN STILL DONATE TO! They are Eat or Heat and Furnishing Futures Buy Humans: A Monstrous History through our affiliate bookshop and you’ll help fund Oh God, What Now? by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org’s fees help support independent bookshops too.  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow  Presented by Zoë Grunewald with Jonn Elledge. Audio Production by: Chris Jones. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Corne

On the upside, a tyrannical theocrat and much of his entourage are dead. On the downside, so are thousands of innocent children and adults. As Trump’s open-ended and ill-defined Iran adventure unfolds, is it game over for the tattered remnants of the so-called Special Relationship between Britain and the US? Are there any good choices left for Starmer? And is Britain’s rah-rah right-wing press fantasising that British people support this war? Plus: after the Greens’ win in Manchester is Gorton & Denton Derangement Syndrome driving the legacy parties over the edge? And in a special extended Extra Bit: Dubai Schadenfreude, or: Won’t anyone think of the influencers?  ESCAPE ROUTES • Jonn recommends The Lady on ITV.  • Marie recommends Stefan Zweig’s Burning Secret • Raf recommends Departure(s) by Julian Barnes.  • Matt recommends Murder Most Foul by Guy Jenkins  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Matt Green with Jonn Elledge, Marie le Conte and Rafael Behr. Audio Production by Robin Leeburn. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Cornershop. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This edition recorded before the US attacks on Iran. The dust is still settling from Gorton and Denton. Are the Greens playing with fire with their voter targeting? If Keir Starmer’s leadership is back in question, how long has he got? Are Reform going full Trump with their whining about “cheating”? And can anyone think of anything at all to say about the Tories? Plus: Is there any appetite for an ICE-style immigration Gestapo like Zia Yusuf wants for his “Deportation Command”? After our EmergencyPod, Ros Taylor, Andrew Harrison and Steve Richards of the Rock & Roll Politics podcast reconvene to take a longer view.  ESCAPE ROUTES • Ros recommends Nonesuch by Francis Spufford.  • Steve has been watching Brazilian movie The Secret Agent, reading one chapter of War And Peace a day with the help of this Substack, and masochistically enjoying the torment of Tottenham Hotspur FC.  • Andrew recommends superior sci-fi action movie Predator: Badlands on Disney+.  • Hear more of Steve Richards on Gorton and Denton on the Rock & Roll Politics podcast  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Andrew Harrison with Ros Taylor and Steve Richards. Audio Production by: Robin Leeburn. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Cornershop. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A special crossover edition from our geopolitics podcast This Is Not A Drill – Trump’s stunning surprise attack on Iran could be the most consequential world event since 9/11. Will the President’s goal of smooth regime change work when it failed every other time, or trigger a regional conflagration? Iran’s hated Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is dead but the Islamic Republic is showing no sign of collapsing. And now Hezbollah has attacked other Arab states as well as British and US military targets. How will the war play out? How resilient is the Islamic Republic? Does Israel want regime change or regime destruction? Does Iran have any potential leaders that the US could tolerate? And has anyone planned for running a country of 90 million people which is now in chaos? Live from Beirut our guest Paul Salem, senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, speaks to Gavin Esler.  • Advertisers! Want to reach smart, engaged, influential people? Some 3.5 MILLION people download and watch our podcasts every month – and they love our shows. Why not get YOUR brand in front of our influential listeners with podcast advertising? Contact [email protected] to find out more. Written and presented by Gavin Esler. Produced by Robin Leeburn. Original theme music by Paul Hartnoll – https://www.orbitalofficial.com. Executive Producer Martin Bojtos. Managing Editor Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. This Is Not A Drill is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Greens take Gorton and Denton and Labour take a pounding. What does it all mean? Is there more going on than all the hot takes suggest? Is the Starmer Doomsday Clock ticking again? And will we ever get enough of Matt Goodwin’s sour defeat face? Ros Taylor and Steve Richards of the Rock & Roll Politics podcast join Andrew Harrison for a fast reaction by-election minicast.  Join us next Tuesday (Monday for Patreons!) for a broader look at how the major parties will handle the result, and more too. • Hear more of Steve Richards on Gorton and Denton on the Rock & Roll Politics podcast www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Andrew Harrison with Ros Taylor and Steve Richards. Audio Production by: Robin Leeburn. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Cornershop. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Who gave the tip-off that resulted in Peter Mandelson’s sensational arrest? And will this mess ever stop unraveling? Plus, an Australian-style social media ban for under-16s is gathering pace. Can it work and is it such a good idea to protect teens from the online world only to throw them in the deep end once they turn 18? Also: Meeting Alastair Campbell at the Lido. Marie’s extraordinary experience of interviewing Gisèle Pelicot. And in the Extra Bit, the joy (or not) of making kids do terrible Saturday jobs. You won’t believe what Seth had to do.  ESCAPE ROUTES • Marie recommends I’m No Angel with Mae West.  • Zöe recommends Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind [[ ]]  • Matt has been reading Life Is Rosi by Jess Robinson • Seth has been enjoying the John Major edition of Gyles Brandreth’s podcast Rosebud Major  Keep independent podcasting alive and kicking by backing OGWN at www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Seth Thévoz with Zöe Grünewald, Marie le Conte and Matt Green. Audio Production by Robin Leeburn. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Cornershop. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on Epstein-related allegations of misconduct in public office stuns the world. He has not been charged with any offence – but is the former Prince’s past damaging the Monarchy irreparably? And when will the victims of Epstein and his circle get justice? Plus, as the vindictive Gorton & Denton by-election enters its last few days we talk to Jack Walton of local news site Manchester Mill about the vibe on the ground… and whether it’s worse for Labour if the Greens or Matt Goodwin of Reform win.  • Manchester Mill is part of the Mill Media group creating good old-fashioned local journalism for British cities including Liverpool, Sheffield, Glasgow and Bristol.  ESCAPE ROUTES • Rachel has been watching the Winter Olympics as a chaser to Heated Rivalry on Sky.  • Jack has been reading Laughter in the Dark by Vladimir Nabokov • Andrew recommends escaping modern politics by diving into ’90s politics and C4’s The Tony Blair Story. Keep Oh God, What Now? in fine health by backing us on Patreon. Presented by Andrew Harrison with Rachel Cunliffe. Audio and Video Production by Chris Jones. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Cornershop. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Could Reform really carry out a Trump-style, Project 2025-inspired shock-and-awe assault on Britain’s institutions and politics if they get into government? America’s much-vaunted system of checks and balances turned out to be made of tissue paper. Is Britain’s hand-me-down constitution any more robust? We look at the firewalls in our politics with special guest James Ball of The New World paper. Plus, what did we make of Channel 4’s epic Tony Blair documentary? Did it let Tonty off too lightly? And in the Extra Bit for Patreon people: Barack Obama thinks aliens are real. Why do UFOs hold such a weird grip on the political imagination?  ESCAPE ROUTES • Jonn recommends Hijack with Idris Elba on Apple TV+  • Jason recommends Ghost Signs: Poverty and the Pandemic by Stu Hennigan. You can hear our vintage 2023 Bunker with Stu Hennigan on Apple, Spotify and everywhere else.  • James loved White House murder comedy The Residence on Netflix.  • Seth recommends the Panorama documentary Our Man in Moscow. www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Seth Thévoz with Jonn Elledge and Jason Hazeley. Audio Production by Simon Williams and Robin Leeburn. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune 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  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices