Oh God, What Now?

The brand new podcast from the makers of The Bunker. Bewildered by the US Presidential Election? Don’t worry, American Friction has got you. Every Friday Chris Jones, Jacob Jarvis and Nikki McCann Ramírez of Rolling Stone join expert special guests to count down to America’s most rancorous election in generations. Get the full episode and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and all major platforms. Follow us on social media: TwitterInstagram TikTokWritten and presented by Chris Jones, Jacob Jarvis and Nikki McCann Ramírez. Audio editor: Simon Williams. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Executive producer: Martin Bojtos. Artwork by James Parrett. Music: Orange Factory Music. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As Labour takes Conservative seats across the UK and in the Blackpool South constituency, Ros Taylor joins Jacob Jarvis to work out what it all means. Is it really the Tories’ worst local elections performance in 40 years? Are there any scraps of comfort for Sunak – or is he doomed?  Support us on Patreon to get early access to all our live tickets plus mugs, t-shirts and more.   Presented by Jacob Jarvis. Produced by Chris Jones. Audio production by Jade Bailey. Theme music by Cornershop. 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

The US Election is just six months away. How come snoozy Trump still leads in several states, even though he’s in court every day? We’re launching a brand-new US election podcast American Friction and its regular panelist Nikki McCann Ramírez joins OGWN to scope out American’s Final Countdown. Plus, last-minute speculation on the local elections. Are our devolved local institutions really “a hot mess”? And in the Extra Bit for Patreon people: Following the fall of Too Nice Guy Humza Yousaf, when are politicians too ruthless – and when are they not ruthless enough? Subscribe to American Friction on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and all other platforms, and hear own Jacob Jarvis and Chris Jones make sense of the US Election countdown, along with Nikki and special guests. • “The biggest threat to Trump’s candidacy isn’t necessarily the trials. It’s that the more time he spends in court, the less time he has for campaigning.” – Nikki McCann Ramírez• “It’s not ‘The Economy, Stupid’ any more because people will literally turn away from the evidence if it doesn’t support their view of the candidate they hate.” – Rafael Behr• “The scariest promise that Trump has made is his vow to gut Federal agency staff and replace them with Trump loyalists… He has learned from his first term.” – Nikki McCann RamírezSupport us on Patreon to get early access to all our live tickets plus mugs, t-shirts and more. Written and presented by Ros Taylor with Hannah Fearn and Rafael Behr. Produced by Chris Jones. Audio production by Alex Rees. Theme music by Cornershop. 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

The right wing press’s feverish attempts to take down Angela Rayner seem to be failing. What’s the secret of Rayner’s appeal and what does the future hold for Labour’s combative Deputy Leader? Plus, the SNP in turmoil as Humza Yousaf’s powerplay against the Greens goes badly wrong, forcing him to quit as Scotland’s First Minister. Scottish writer Gerry Hassan unpacks it for us. And how misty-eyed nostalgia accounts sneak hardline culture war dogwhistles into your mum’s Facebook feed.Final tickets for Oh God, What Now? Live in Islington with special guest Jan Ravens are still available. The dark subtext of Classical Art and Architecture Twitter. • “She is quite gobby… but she’s unapologetic of who she is.” – Marie Le Conte• “If Angela Rayner was in the Tory party they would love her!” – Alex Andreou• “She’s the most powerful communicator for the message that Sunak is not in touch with real people’s lives.” – Alex Andreou• “People used to leave their doors unlocked years ago because there was nothing to nick!” – Andrew HarrisonWe’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnowPresented by Andrew Harrison with Alex Andreou and Marie Le Conte. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production by: Robin Leeburn. Video production by: Kieron Leslie. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sunak is still adamant his Rwanda plan will ‘stop the boats’. Will it? We unpack the latest in Tory failure and cruelty. Plus, the local elections are just around the corner and some Tory councillors are literally begging Sunak to stay clear of their constituencies. What should we be looking out for come May 2nd? Then in the Extra Bit for backers, are we heading for a future where all our politicians are weird and wealthy, as Tony Blair puts it? Or are we already there?• “It will cost more to send a person to Rwanda than it would to send them to space – that was read out in Parliament.” – Hugo Rifkind• “People think Rwanda is the Tories’ worst plan…it’s not.” – Hugo RifkindWe’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnowPresented by Dorian Lynskey with Yasmeen Serhan, Ros Taylor and Hugo Rifkind. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production by: Robin Leeburn. Video production by: Kieron Leslie. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis.. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rishi Sunak has found a new target to pick on – the sick. He claims Britain needs to get rid of its ‘sick note culture’ and he wants work and health professionals to issue the fit notes instead of GPs – what could possibly go wrong? And Starmer might be popular now, but if he’s elected as PM his popularity will likely dwindle and fast. How will he and his party handle that? • “There is a lazy ignorance here born out of not hanging out of hanging out with anyone who has used the benefits system.” – Rafael Behr• “You can’t just shout people into feeling better.” – Jonn ElledgeWe’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnowPresented by Jacob Jarvis with Hannah Fearn, Rafael Behr and Jonn Elledge. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production by: Robin Leeburn. Video production by: Kieron Leslie. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis.. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

• Join us for OGWN: It’s Grim Up North London live in Islington on Mon 20 May. Tickets onsale now.Liz Truss’ new book 10 Years To Save the West certainly isn’t a boring read but neither is it a good one. Actor and impressionist Jan Ravens joins the panel to pick through how Truss thought her 45 days of office went compared to reality and all her other ludicrous claims in between. Plus: Sunak’s cigs ban. Is it fair to create two tiers of adult, one blissfully smoke-free and one battering the gaspers? And in the Extra Bit for subscribers, we look into the politics of Alex Garland’s ‘Civil War’.• “Liz Truss is a cross between a haunted doll and a little girl whose dad has told her that she’s funny, and is always looking around for applause.” – Jan Ravens• “She says ‘Now is no time for finger-pointing.’ Cue three hundred pages of finger-pointing.” – Dorian Lynskey• “It’ll either be an early election with Sunak at the helm… Or a late one, and Sunak won’t be leader.” – Alex AndreouWe’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnowPresented by Dorian Lynskey, with Alex Andreou, Zoe Grunewald and guest Jan Ravens. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production by: Robin Leeburn. Video production by Keiron Leslie. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis.. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Middle East is on the verge of all-out war after Iran fired missiles and drones into Israel. Where does Britain stand on this latest escalation – and would we be ready if things get worse? Labour has outlined its hopes to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP – but is that enough? CEO of Chatham House and host of the Independent Thinking podcast Bronwen Maddox talks to Ros Taylor. And it’s a But Your Emails special! Are there any good right-wing podcasts? And what would you replace the monarchy with? The panel gets to as many of our listeners' questions as possible.• “This current situation does play into Netanyahu's hands.” – Seth Thévoz• “If you were advising Netanyahu, you might want to point out that sympathy and patience is really wearing thin.” – Rachel Cunliffe• “Lots of Labour leaders, with the exception of Corbyn, feel like they have to look tough.” – Matt GreenWe’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnowPresented by Ros Taylor, with Matt Green, Seth Thévoz and Rachel Cunliffe. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production by: Robin Leeburn. Video production by Kieron Leslie. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis.. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Reform UK’s candidates have proven to be controversial, to say the least. But, unfortunately, the party seems to be doing ok in the polls. What does Tice’s group actually stand for and what are Reform’s policies? And in the second part, why are we so obsessed with the end of the world? Dorian Lynskey’s new book Everything Must Go: The Stories We Tell about the End of the World explores that very idea – and the panel quizzes him over his latest work. And in the Extra Bit for subscribers, Netflix’s Scoop gives an account of how BBC Newsnight secured that infamous Prince Andrew interview. The panel reveals all about their biggest interviews, how they got them, and how they went.• “I just think there’s no end to how weird people’s political opinions are.” – Dorian Lynskey• “Reform voters are so angry with Rishi Sunak… they probably wouldn’t even vote if there was no Reform Party.” – Ros Taylor• “Some people would really like the world to be destroyed, they would just like it to be over.” – Dorian LynskeyBuy Everything Must Go: The Stories We Tell about the End of the World 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.We’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnowPresented by Dorian Lynskey, Ros Taylor, Zoë Grünewald and Hugo Rifkind. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production by: Robin Leeburn. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Video production by Keiron Leslie. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Britain is the second most powerful country in the world… according to Sunak’s latest desperate brag anyway. You probably saw the weird collage the Tories posted on Twitter — but is there any truth to the party's claims? Or is this just another bizarre fantasy? Plus, Brexit is about to rear its ugly head even higher with new food import charges. What are they and why could they damage consumers and small businesses alike?• “A chair would be a much more impressive communicator than Sunak.” – Matt Green• “Every aspect of it either made no sense or was dodgy in some way.” – Matt GreenWe’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnowPresented by Alex Andreou with Hannah Fearn and Matt Green. Producer: Chris Jones and Jacob Jarvis. Audio production by: Robin Leeburn. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Video production by Keiron Leslie. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices