Oh God, What Now?

Has Keir Starmer finally found a crisis he can excel in? Will his supposedly boring manner and measured approach steer Britain and Europe through the Trump-Ukraine horror show? And will he eventually have to stop pretending he’s best friends forever with Trump? Plus, UK universities are going through a bit of a crisis. Are they still the pathway to bring young people out of poverty that they were? We find out from Exeter University’s Lee Elliot Major, the first UK professor on social mobility. • Sign up for our Live Zoom on Thursday 20 March at 7pm, exclusive to Patreons.• We’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow  Presented by Ros Taylor, with Hannah Fearn, and Seth Thévoz. 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 Trump freezes aid for Ukraine and Vance appears to call the UK or France a “random country that hasn't fought a war in 30 or 40 years" – have we reached the end of the post-war world? And will the second coming of Trump result in the death of NATO? Peter Apps is the author of Deterring Armageddon: A Biography of NATO and joins the panel. Plus, what parts of the media are covering the Trump administration particularly poorly, and how difficult has reporting on it all been? And in the Extra Bit for subscribers – what is the political value of ‘lived experience’?We’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Buy Deterring Armageddon: A Biography of NATO 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.Presented by Dorian Lynskey, Jonn Elledge and Marie Le Conte. 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

After the callous and cowardly attack on Zelensky in the White House, will support from European leaders be enough to compensate for Trump’s contempt for Ukraine? And does Starmer have a new job as official Trump Whisperer? Plus, back home, can Labour get the growth it needs without finally delivering for the North? Matt Kelly, editor-in-chief of The New European, co-host of podcast The Two Matts and real-life northerner joins us to thrash it outWe’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnowPresented by Andrew Harrison with Ros Taylor and Alison Phillips. 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

Peter Kellner, an award-winning pollster and former President of YouGov, delves into the implications of Keir Starmer's controversial decision to raise defense spending at the expense of foreign aid. As they discuss the waning influence of centrism in British politics, Kellner poses thought-provoking questions about military readiness and the possible return of tougher stances against figures like Trump. The light-hearted extra segment also reflects on childhood films, examining their enduring impact on political perspectives.

Even though the AFD didn’t win the German election, the far-right party still doubled its vote. Has Germany dodged a bullet? And is America now the enemy of Europe? German politics Professor Rudi Wurzel joins the podcast to get into it all. Plus, How can we deal with a world where politics forces itself into everything? We’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnowPresented by Andrew Harrison, with Hannah Fearn, and Gavin Esler. 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

Trump’s decision to rip up 80 years of transatlantic security co-operation leaves Europe in a panic. What happens when America lines up with a despot like Putin? Can Europe afford to defend itself? Dr Julie Norman of UCL joins us to look at the alarming new security environment. Plus, with Badenoch’s Tories in an apparent doom spiral, we look at why politics needs a functioning opposition. And in the Extra Bit for Patreons: White Lotus is back and the Murdoch family hate each other. Why do we love watching the rich suffer? • Back us on Patreon for ad-free listening, bonus materials and more. Written and presented by Dorian Lynskey with Rachel Cunliffe and Rafael Behr. Audio production by Tom Taylor. Theme music 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

US Vice President JD Vance proves himself to be as much an arse as his boss with a hateful, trollish performance at the Munich Security Conference. Will his culture war insults and support for the European far-right signal the final end of the Atlanticist dream… and is Ukraine now doomed? Plus, only 40% of 18-27 year olds say they’re proud of Britain. Can we blame them? And should we persuade them otherwise? And we go inside Labour’s pledge to build 12 new towns nationwide by the next election to fight housing affordability?Some Escape Routes choices:• Stream Ahir’s choice, Paradise, on Disney+.• Read Issue 1 of Andrew’s choice, comics series The Department Of Truth, for free.• Stream John’s choice, Big Boys from C4.• Ros’s choice Bridget Jones 4: Mad About the Boy is in cinemas. You know how they work.• We’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnowPresented by Andrew Harrison, with Jonn Elledge, Ros Taylor and Ahir Shah. 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

Labour’s ‘crackdown’ on illegal workers was an obvious ploy to tame Reform UK’s growing influence. But will Starmer’s Labour alienate its own supporters just to chase voters who’ll always hate them? Plus, only one in five Brits approve of the government’s handling of crime. Will Labour turn that around with the PM’s experience of the justice system? Are the police even fit for purpose? Former Met Police commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe joins the podcast.And in the Extra Bit for Patreons… After James Graham’s TV drama Brian and Maggie, we look at the art of the political interview. We’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow  • Join our free live Zoom when you back us on Patreon. You’ll get ad-free listening and much, much more. Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Matt Green and Zoë Grünewald. 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

Keir Starmer may have been enduring stormy weather since winning power – but is the sky really falling in, as parts of the media think? And why are so many UK commentators and pundits addicted to the idea that we’re living in times of ultimate crisis? Plus, it’s 100 days since Kemi Badenoch took on the Tory leadership. Has she turned the party's fortunes around and made her party a laughing stock no longer? No, no she hasn’t. Why not? And what type of leader has she shown herself to be? • We’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow  Our panel’s Escape Routes:• Hannah’s choice is 4,000 Weeks by Oliver Burkemann.• Rachel chooses Good Material by Dolly Alderton.• Andrew’s choices of We Stand On Guard and Ever Crashing by SRSQ. • Alison chooses Persuasion by Jane Austen. www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnowPresented by Andrew Harrison with Hannah Fearn, Rachel Cunliffe and Alison Phillips. 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

Donald Trump and his evil nerd henchman Elon Musk continue to “flood the zone” with new harmful executive orders and bullshit headlines. How do we figure out what matters and what doesn’t? Plus, Reform UK has – somehow – topped a poll as the UK’s most popular political party. Should we stop paying so much attention to polls, and letting them set the agenda? Plus in the Extra Bit for supporters: research suggests some people get as many as two scam phone calls a day! The panel discusses how to spot them and whether they’re putting us all off from answering the phone.• We’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow  • www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow • Go to proton.me/ohgodwhatnow to receive a 38% discount on Proton Mail Presented by Dorian Lynskey, Jonn Elledge, Ros Taylor and Matt Green. 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