Oh God, What Now?

• Get the latest reaction on Trump’s climbdown from Weekly Wrap-Up on The Bunker with Raf Behr and Andrew Harrison.  “If you’re not at the table,” said Canada’s Mark Carney, “You’re on the menu.” Trump’s demented speech in Davos leaves the world agog. Beyond the President’s tantrums and on-off attempts to extort Greenland, are Britain and the EU ready to live in a world where America is a predatory enemy? Are European leaders just sucking his abuse up – or are their subtle pushbacks working? We look at the shocking end of 80 years of Atlanticism and wonder what comes next for a Brexit-weakened Britain. Oh, and Jason admits that years ago he did a “please have my Nobel Peace Prize” too. No better than Trump, this guy.  ESCAPE ROUTES • Zöe recommends the Jean-Marc Vallée movie Wild with Reese Witherspoon.  • Jason has been reading Things Are Never So Bad That They Can’t Get Worse: Inside the Collapse of Venezuela by William Neuman • Jonn has been reading Precipice by Robert Harris.   • Ros recommends Michael Crick’s biography of Farage, One Party After Another.   www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Ros Taylor with Jason Hazeley, Zöe Grünewald and Jonn Elledge. 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. https://www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“You can’t fire me, I quit!” The world of politics is stunned – stunned! – as rightward-lurching public transport vigilante Robert Jenrick joins Reform* mere hours after Badenoch canned him for treachery. Will the world’s most self-seeking man work well with the world’s other most self-seeking man, Nigel Farage? Hmm, what do you think? Plus: Truly, Attlee, Deeply! How is Starmer doing compared to his illustrious predecessors as Labour leader? Izzy Conn of the history podcast Leading Labour helps us work out where Sir Keir fits in the Labour league ladder.  ( * Yes, we missed Andrew Rosindell. What do you want? Time travel??)  ESCAPE ROUTES • Zöe recommends ‘Hamnet’ at the movies – out now.  • Izzy recommends the songwriting podcast And The Writer Is.  • Andrew recommends you see Belgian rave-rock band Soulwax live if you get the chance.  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Andrew Harrison with Zöe Grünewald. 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. https://www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This edition recorded before Jenrick got sacked from the Conservatives and then joined Reform. Hey, it’s just like 2018… Two-month chancellor and frisky tax guy Nadim Zahawi hops aboard Nigel Farage’s overladen jamwagon. We once wondered if the Conservatives were turning into Reform – but are Reform turning into the Tories? Plus: How is the murky world of party donations developing in our new, post-two-party system? And how will crypto make it worse? Also: Britain’s dismal options on Greenland. This week’s U-turns. And is Donald Trump’s awareness of his own mortality the reason he’s making us all aware of ours? ESCAPE ROUTES • Ros went to see Hamnet and quite liked it, anachronisms aside. But she really liked the new series of Industry on the BBC.  • Rachel recommends The Night Manager Season 2 on BBC iPlayer. • Peter recommends political thriller Hostage on Netflix and Eoin McNamee’s book The Bureau . • Matt recommends What Have I Done?, Ben Elton’s autobiography.  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Matt Green with Rachel Cunliffe and Ros Taylor. Audio Production by Robin Leeburn and Tom Taylor. 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

Hands up who’s had enough hot-off-the-headlines politics for 2026 already? No problem! In a change of pace we go politics-adjacent and welcome Jason Williamson – voice of Nottingham’s satirical noise-beat mob orators Sleaford Mods – to talk class politics, the power of a good rant, the real reasons for the flags-and-roundabouts mania of 2025… and why one member of the extended OGWN family gets a surprising mention on Sleaford Mods’ new album The Demise Of Planet X . • The Demise Of Planet X is released on Friday 16 Jan.  • See Jason Williamson in Geoff Barrow’s movie Game – new screenings updated here. ESCAPE ROUTES • Jason Williamson recommends The Walker Brothers’ 1975 classic album No Regrets. • Jason Hazeley recommends Enshittification by Cory Doctorow, Into The Woods at the Bridge Theatre, London, and Suspect streaming from C4. • Andrew Harrison recommends Edge Of Darkness on iPlayer. www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Andrew Harrison with Jason Hazeley. Produced by Chris Jones. 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

What does Trump’s attack on Venezuela mean for the world – and what happens if he’s serious about Greenland? Plus, back home in the UK, politics is incredibly fractured. Reform UK leads many polls, Labour’s favourability is drowning, and the Green Party is neck and neck with the Lib Dems. But can the tide be turned in time to prevent Nigel Farage becoming PM? And in the Extra Bit for subscribers, as we start a new year, our panel describes the things they’re looking to do to push them out of their comfort zones. ESCAPE ROUTES • Marie: All Passion Spent by Vita Sackville-West • Seth is reading a series of memoirs by disgraced politicians. • Jonn: King & Conqueror on BBC iPlayer • Raf: A Swim in a Pond in the Rain by George Saunders If you buy 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. https://www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Seth Thévoz with Rafael Behr, Jonn Elledge, and Marie Le Conte.  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. https://www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Trump’s actions in Venezuela revealed how far he’s prepared to push his power – and how happy he is to act like Vladimir Putin. How will America’s invasion embolden Russia? And what does it mean for Europe and its safety? Andrew Harrison speaks with Mark Galeotti, Russia expert and host of the In Moscow’s Shadows podcast, to discuss how Trump’s aggression compares to Putin’s and what that means for the world.  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Andrew Harrison. Produced by Chris Jones. 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 and what will receive our FIFA Peace Prize-style gongs for the year? Elon Musk for his brief, mayfly political life of casual mass murder? Trump and Vance for their disgusting Oval Office attack on Zelenskyy? Liz Truss, madwoman for hire? Oasis? Prince Andrew? Stephen f**king Miller? All these and more feature in our heated debate about the defining moments, heroes, villains, blessed distractions and underreported stories of a year we’re already drinking to forget. Cheers! Get our exclusive NordVPN deal at ⁠nordvpn.com/ohgodwhatnow⁠. It’s risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money back guarantee!  ESCAPE ROUTES AND BOOKS OF THE YEAR • Ros recommends Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York by Andrew Lownie – and likes to watch Danger Mouse: The Snowman Cometh at Christmas.  • Jonn recommends Ghosts of Iron Mountain by Phil Tinline plus Scrooged, Home Alone and Doctor Who: A Christmas Carol.  • Andrew recommends The Power Fantasy by Keiron Gillen and Caspare Wijngaard and the 1951 Alastair Sim movie of A Christmas Carol.  • Seth recommends The Radical Print and The Black Cat (1935).  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Seth Thévoz with Jonn Elledge, Ros Taylor and Andrew Harrison. Produced by Chris Jones. 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 panel reflects on the tumultuous year in politics, searching for optimism as they gaze into 2026. They discuss a surprising surge of political parties in Wales and analyze the unfortunate BMA doctors' strike. An intriguing exploration of Trump's declining popularity and the implications of a potentially approaching Brexit endgame takes center stage. Festive fun ensues with a Christmas game, gifting humorous items to politicians, while they also tackle listener questions about the year's overused phrases. Super wood and artistic recommendations add a light touch!

In this lively discussion, John Crace, a parliamentary commentator for The Guardian, dives into the chaotic landscape of Westminster in 2025. He explores Nigel Farage's surprising rise as a Prime Minister contender and his media strategies. Crace critiques Keir Starmer’s government competence and reflects on the fallout from Angela Rayner's political missteps. The conversation also examines the challenges within the political left, the influence of GB News, and the broader implications of campaign spending and internal party disputes.

The discussion dives into America's new National Security Strategy, revealing a blend of far-right views and imperial fantasies that leaves European leaders uneasy. Glasgow MP Gordon McKee hilariously explains the UK's debt with custard creams, sparking debate over political simplicity. Meanwhile, Australia sets a precedent by banning social media for under-16s, and the panel explores the growing hostility of MAGA toward European democracy. Plus, an eye-opening analysis of Netflix's ambitions and how all these matters intersect with today's politics.