Oh God, What Now?

Rachel Reeves’ Spring not-a-budget Statement is out and it’s hard to take. What’s in it, what’s not, and are we all going to be rich now (hard no)? Plus, the return of Donald Trump has been hard to ignore – but should we wean ourselves off American politics, in favour of sorting out our own problems closer to home? And in the Extra Bit for Patreon backers: Everyone on the panel speaks a second language. How important are they and is Duolingo the right way to go?We’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnowPresented by Ros Taylor, with Marie Le Conte, Ahir Shah and Seth Thévoz. Producer: Chris Jones Audio. 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

Kemi Badenoch faces a critical moment in her political career, struggling in the polls and against intraparty challenges. The conversation shifts to the lessons from Ancient Rome, paralleling its fall with modern America's democratic unease. A deep dive into how personal loyalties can threaten institutions raises thought-provoking insights. The panel also touches on the contagious kindness seen during the pandemic and cultural reflections that connect history with today's turmoil. Their book recommendations add a literary twist to this insightful discussion.

It’s been five years since Boris Johnson announced the UK’s first Covid-19 lockdown. How much did that strange time in our recent history change the world we live in today? What lessons have we learned? And what hasn’t gone back to how it was before Covid-19 took hold of our lives? Christina Pagel is a professor of operational research at University College London and a member of Independent SAGE and joins the panel for an important two-part discussion.We’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnowPresented by Dorian Lynskey, with 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

Trump’s election win delighted Farage, the Telegraph, GB News and the Tory Right – but since then the President’s behaviour has horrified British voters. Has the British Right bet on the wrong horse? And will it pay a price for backing a man who seems intent in punishing Europe? Plus, if you like TV but haven’t seen Adolescence yet – do. The harrowing knife crime drama starring Stephen Graham takes in the ‘Manosphere’, social media and what that toxic mix can do to our young people. What does it tell us about Britain today?The Economist’s British politics correspondent Matthew Holehouse joins Andrew Harrison, Ros Taylor and Jonn Elledge n the studio.• Buy Jonn Elledge’s A History of the World in 47 Borders through our affiliate bookshop and you’ll help fund us by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org’s fees help support independent bookshops too.• Hear Ros Taylor’s More Jam Tomorrow.• Listen to Constellations For The Lonely by Doves. • We’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnowPresented by Andrew Harrison with Ros Taylor and Jonn Elledge. 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

With defence spending rising and welfare cuts causing unease, is it finally time for Labour to bite the bullet and raise taxes? Plus, DOGE has been tearing the US government apart at breakneck speed. But are Elon Musk and his band of merry nerds doing it legally and what could the consequences be to everyday Americans? Dr. Casey Burgat, author of We Hold These “Truths”: How to Spot the Myths that are Holding America Back and host of the Mastering the Room podcast. joins the panel to get into it.• Join Dorian and Ian Dunt for Origin Story Live: Grand Theft America in London on Weds 16 April. • Buy We Hold These "Truths": How to Spot the Myths that are Holding America Back 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, Zoë Grünewald 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

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