“The biggest crisis in the public square since the 1930s” – with guest James Harding

Can anything hold back Priti Patel’s assault on the great British tradition of noisy, disruptive protest? Plus: partisan or penniless: what’s the future of media in the coming age of news-mangling tech giants and GB News? Special guest James Harding – former Director of BBC News, ex-Times editor and now co-founder of Tortoise Media – joins us to examine the future of the news. And on the first anniversary of Lockdown 1, we look back on a moment when real life turned into John Wyndham novel.  

• “The pivot to Asia is basically the ‘pivot to video’ of foreign policy, and will probably be about as successful.” – Ian Dunt
• “It’s really significant that even Theresa May, given her time at the Home Office, has serious misgivings about this bill.” – James Harding
• “Spot the Cop might be an intriguing game on nights out…” – Ros Taylor
• “I’m sure there are protests performed by mimes – but any others that make noise, the police can close down anything they want.” – Ian Dunt

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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