Oh God, What Now?

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

What have fourteen years of Conservative rule done to Britain?, asks Sam Knight in that mega-piece by the New Yorker’s baffled readers. You might well ask, say our panel, who discuss what the world thinks of Britain’s weird experiment on itself. Plus, our special guest the political economist Will Hutton is here to talk about Labour’s options on the economy and his new book This Time No Mistakes: How to Remake Britain. And in the Extra Bit: Which books shaped our panelists’ politics?• “It felt as though the Tories were treating the country as a giant experiment… May and Sunak’s roles were simply to try and clean up.” – Ros Taylor• “The Tory logic is ‘Whatever we’re doing, at least WE’re in power and THEY’re not’… It’s a very efficient way to hold your party together.” – Rachel CunliffeBuy This Time No Mistakes: How to Remake Britain through our affiliate bookshop and you’ll help fund OGWN by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org’s fees help support independent bookshops too.Support us on Patreon to get early access to all our live tickets plus mugs, t-shirts and more. Written and presented by Dorian Lynskey with Ros Taylor and Rachel Cunliffe. Produced by Chris Jones. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. 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 Royal Family are experiencing their worst year in decades. Is it time we wound down the Monarchy not just for our sake but for their sake too? Or are things best left the way they are? Plus, Boomers (not all of them we’ll add) are “used to having everything its own way”, says the Economist, but times are changing. Has the time of the Millennials finally come?• “The Monarchy doesn’t provide a service like the BBC or the NHS but I think it’s rational, because it’s been there for such a long time, for people to not want to get rid of it.” – Rafael Behr• “Even if you just look at the makeup of Congress there really aren’t a lot of millennials present.” – Yasmeen Serhan• “Gen X really are the absolute waster generation.” – Rafael BehrWe’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnowPresented by Andrew Harrison, with Yasmeen Serhan and Rafael Behr. 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

While you wait for the next episode of Oh God, What Now? Why don't you give our sister podcast PAPER CUTS a try? PAPER CUTS is the modern press review. We're out Monday to Friday, Miranda Sawyer and guests look at what’s behind the biggest stories, and bring you the weirdest headlines, the biggest scoops and the most astonishing manifestations of mass newspaper neurosis. Guests include Marcus Brigstocke, Rosie Holt, Jon Ellege, Scottee, Jason Hazeley, Daniel Foxx and the BAFTA nominated Gráinne Maguire.Don’t forget to subscribe on your favourite app.PAPER CUTS. We read the papers so you don't have to. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What on earth were they thinking? The Conservative Party’s weird, dystopian, GOP-style attack ad on Sadiq Khan shows just how much the party has lost its mind. The panel unpack what was wrong with it and why the Tories might have thought this was a good idea at all. And Jeremy Hunt says £100k a year “doesn’t go far” – is he right? Or is he just massively out of touch? Plus, in the extra bit for subscribers what could replace the Labour Party’s ‘Things Can Only Get Better’ ring-walk tune for the 2024 election?• “They do a really bad video, they get roundly mocked… and the next day they do something worse?” – Ros Taylor• “The Conservatives are going to have to improve 12 points just to do as ‘well’ as 1997… They are looking at a generational defeat.”– Jonn Elledge• “People are now locked into jobs and house shares they don’t like because they feel too financially insecure to start again.” – Zoë GrünewaldWe’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnowPresented by Jacob Jarvis with Zoë Grünewald, Ros Taylor and Jonn Elledge. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. Drum’n’Bass insert by 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

Is The Sun newspaper starting to pivot towards supporting Keir Starmer? Will any of the rest of the Tory press follow suit? And does political endorsement from a newspaper even matter any more? Plus, double outrage as shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves acknowledges that Margaret Thatcher was, you know, quite a big deal. Was she right to do so and why can't we stay level-headed around the Iron Lady?• “I think there’s an acknowledgment from the papers that you can’t ignore Labour anymore.” – Rachel Cunliffe• “Any papers who don’t want to back Labour just won’t back ANYONE…” – Hugo Rifkind• “The Thatcher of now might be hosting a TV show on GB News, who knows?” – Hugo RifkindWe’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnowPresented by Alex Andreou with Rachel Cunliffe and Hugo Rifkind. Producer: Chris Jones and Jacob Jarvis. Audio production by: Robin Leeburn. 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 is going for yet another relaunch. Will it work? (Probably not…) Plus, plucky newcomer Vladimir Putin has won the Russian presidential election with a massive landslide of 87% which is DEFINITELY legitimate. What have we learned from this sham election and what does it mean for Russia? Dr Ben Noble is an associate professor of Russian politics at UCL and chats with Alex Andreou. And in the Extra Bit for subscribers, will Aaron Taylor-Johnson kick ass as the new James Bond, or will he bomb quicker than a bullet train?  • “Sunak might be breathing a sigh of relief at today’s inflation figures but I think he knows that’s not going to magically change things on the doorstep.” – Zoe Grunewald• “The Russia of 2024 is not the Russia of 2018.” – Dr. Ben Noble• “It does seem likely that the only way Putin stops being President is by dying.” – Dr. Ben Noble We’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnowwww.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Alex Andreou with Seth Thevoz, Zoe Grunewald, and guest Dr. Ben Noble. Producer: Chris Jones and Jacob Jarvis. Audio production by: Robin Leeburn. 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

Why are we so obsessed with ‘The Red Wall’? What does it mean and are the Tories about to lose all of those seats in the North? Plus, new research shows the government’s levelling-up project has not worked… at all. Only 10% of the approved fund has been spent by councils. Why? And were the government’s missions ever achievable? • “The red wall are actually voters who should’ve been Tory for quite a long time.” – Marie Le Conte• “It was more of an F YOU to the whole system.” – Hannah Fearn• “It’s quite fun to have a lot of nutters.” – Marie Le Conte• “Rather than levelling-up, everybody is in a worse situation.” – Hannah FearnWe’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow And Andrew’s Introduction to Microdisney: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5xAQv7A4imZLX5pkBtuYk9?si=jFp0aVJGRAyahhjyAvDMIA&pi=e-pUunf_m0QuaQ Andrew’s Escape Route: Microdisney — The Clock Comes Down The Stairs on iPlayer https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001x9fs/the-story-of-microdisney-the-clock-comes-down-the-stairs www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnowPresented by Andrew Harrison with Yasmeen Serhan, Marie Le Conte and Hannah Fearn. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production by: Robin Leeburn. 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

As the Tories face another racism row, we imagine a world where the Conservative Party simply didn’t exist. Would that be for the best for everyone? Plus, according to new research, only Uzbekistan is more miserable than the UK. What does this tell us about the British psyche? And in the Extra Bit for subscribers, is Kate Middleton just bad at Photoshop or is there a darker conspiracy at play? (PS. It’s definitely the first one.)• “There are certain trends that are making Conservative MPs really worried.” – Rachel Cunliffe• “I think that Anderson is being consistent in one thing – and that’s that he’s always been a tw*t.” – Jacob Jarvis• “I think what could come in the Tories’ place could be even worse.” – Matt Green• “We find being cynical quite sexy in the UK – what is that?” – Ava SantinaWe’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnowPresented by Jacob Jarvis with Rachel Cunliffe, Matt Green and Ava Santina. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production by: Robin Leeburn and Jade Bailey. 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

Lee Anderson has thrown a strop and joined Reform UK. What is this political journeyman trying to do – other than seek a load of attention? And, the budget hasn’t managed to win hearts and minds for the Tories. In fact, it made the dial creep in the wrong direction. What will they try next?• “If the Tories choose to radicalise, then I’m sure Lee Anderson could find a home back within the party.” – Hannah Fearn • “Talking up the numbers of defectors is just a way of spooking the Tories.” – Rafael Behr • “Sunak has very clumsy, clunky, tactical judgement.” – Rafael Behr We’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVOIkIWUDtu7VrVcFs0OI0A www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnowPresented by Alex Andreou with Hannah Fearn, Rafael Behr and Ros Taylor. Producers: Chris Jones and Alex Rees. Audio production by: Robin Leeburn. 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