Oh God, What Now?

What better way for Labour to celebrate a year in power than with a humiliating climbdown on welfare? Political historian Steven Fielding joins the panel to discuss rebellions, “Austerity PSD”, and how Starmer and Reeves can make Year Two better than Year One. Plus, after the anti-IDF rants by punk band Bob Vylan at Glastonbury, has the festival really become the antisemitic “hatefest” its critics claim? Unlike most of them, our own Andrew Harrison was actually there… And in the Extra Bit for Patreon supporters, is far-right ideologue Matthew Goodwin serious when he says he wants to be Reform UK’s Home Secretary, or just waffling to sell his Substack? • Listen to Why? with Emma Kennedy: Could we make a real Jurassic Park?  ESCAPE ROUTES • Rachel has been bingeing on Wimbledon.  • Jonn has been reading Trespasses by Louise Kennedy. • Steven has been listening to the title track of Close To The Edge by Yes. • Alison is very excited about the Women’s Euros.  • Back us on Patreon for ad-free listening, bonus materials and more.  Presented by Alison Phillips with Rachel Cunliffe and Jonn Elledge. Audio production by Robin Leeburn and 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

With Labour MPs rebelling over Keir Starmer’s planned cuts to welfare benefits – where does he stand now with his party and does even more trouble lie ahead? Plus, the UK’s new industrial strategy is hot off the press. What makes it so ambitious, and has it learned the lessons from Boris Johnson's failed levelling up plan?  ESCAPE ROUTES • Seth recommends Gilbert and Sullivan’s Princess Ida • Hannah recommends Slags by Emma Jane Unsworth and the new Adam Curtis series, Shifty • Zoe recommends Olivia Rodrigo at Glastonbury • Ros recommends The Four Seasons on Netflix www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Ros Taylor with Zoë Grünewald, Seth Thévoz and Hannah Fearn. 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

Dog whistle think pieces seem to be back in fashion and right wingers are more frequently using rhetoric that sounds a bit like Enoch Powell. Powell was condemned for Rivers of Blood, why isn’t sounding like him so damaging for the modern right? Plus – AI and copyright. It’s put Labour at odds with Elton John, never a good place to be. Politico’s Joseph Bambridge joins the panel to talk through the furore.  Read Joseph’s piece in Politico: https://www.politico.eu/article/ai-copyright-political-nightmare-labour-uk-models-tech/  ESCAPE ROUTES  •  Rachel watched Virgin Island on Channel 4  • Raf has been reading Barbara Kingsolver novels • Joseph watched The Contestant  • Dorian watched Black Ops  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow  Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Rafael Behr and Rachel Cunliffe. 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

In this discussion, Charlotte Nicholls, MP for Warrington North and a passionate advocate on current affairs, dives into the complexities of the UK's role amid rising tensions with Iran and the fallout from Brexit. The conversation tackles the evolution of public sentiment, exploring perceptions of failure and desires for a closer EU relationship. They also address the impacts of recent heatwaves, calling attention to climate change and the need for cultural adaptation. To lighten the mood, Charlotte shares some engaging book recommendations.

Trump came down that golden escalator ten years ago this week, and thus began America’s descent to the depths of madness. The gang looks back on his political journey, from launching into the GOP race from Trump Tower to whatever you’d describe where we are now. Plus, Reform UK won loads of council seats – and now it actually has to take charge of things. So, how’s that going? (We promise we say more than just bad.) Then in the Extra Bit for supporters – can we ever be as happy as Finland? And what does that even mean? • Listen to The Bunker including Andrew’s interview with Peter Ricketts.  ESCAPE ROUTES  •  Matt went to see The Ballad of Wallis Island at the cinema • Zoe went to Primavera in Barcelona – and she says to watch Chappell Roan’s set online if you can!  • Raf went to see Showstopper! • Dorian suggests Decoder Ring   www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow    Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Rafael Behr, Zoe Grunewald and Matt Green. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio. Production by Robin Leeburn. Music by Cornershop 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

Tanks for nothing… We look at the contrast between Trump’s pathetic North Korean-style self-celebration, the magnificent #NoKings protests, and the horror of the Minnesota assassinations. Plus, Starmer flips on a grooming gangs inquiry and the violence in Ballymena. And we grill special guest Chris Curtis MP on Labour’s housing plans and why Paul Weller was wrong about Milton Keynes.  ESCAPE ROUTES • Hannah recommends Pulp live and their new album More.  • Jonn recommends Our Friends In The North, no longer on iPlayer but on Apple TV+ instead. • Chris recommends baffling 2010s series Lost on Netflix. • Andrew recommends East German hit woman comedy-thriller Kleo also on Netflix.  • Back us on Patreon for ad-free listening, bonus materials and more.  Presented by Andrew Harrison with Jonn Elledge and Hannah Fearn. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. 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

Rachel Reeves’ spending review is out – what’s in it and what do the panel think should have got more attention? Plus, Reform UK wants to bring the DOGE mentality to Britain. We explain why that’s a terrible idea. Author of Failed State and the indispensable Comment is Freed substack Sam Freedman joins the panel. And in the Extra Bit for subscribers, as the Millennium Bridge turns 25, what has Britain built in the first quarter of the 21st century and what does it say about us? • Listen to the latest Why? With Emma Kennedy: What is scrolling doing to our brains? ESCAPE ROUTES • Sam Freedman has been bingeing on The Big Bang Theory on Channel4.com.  • Ros recommends Series 2 of The Gold on BBC iPlayer.  • Jonn recommends Microserfs by Douglas Coupland.  • Dorian recommends Platonic featuring Seth Rogan and Rose Byrne on Apple TV+.  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Ros Taylor and Jonn Elledge. Audio Production by Robin Leeburn. Video Production by Chris Jones. Music by Cornershop. 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 world is watching in horror as Los Angeles turns into a real-life immersive Rage Against The Machine song. Is the President looking for a Reichstag to set on fire as he threatens to use US troops on US citizens? Plus, the Battle of the Bastards! First, what does Trump’s mega fallout with Musk tell us about the realities of far right politics… if anything? Then, what’s behind Zia Yusuf’s on-off resignation from Reform UK?  Escape Routes • Raf recommends Maybe I’m Amazed by John Harris.  • Alison recommends Scarface (1983) directed by Brian de Palma.  • Matt recommends Your Friends And Neighbours with John Hamm and The Studio with Seth Rogan on Apple TV+.  • Andrew recommends All Asimov And No Fresh Air by Half Man Half Biscuit.  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Andrew Harrison with Alison Phillips, Rafael Behr, and Matt Green. Audio Production by Robin Leeburn. Video Production by Chris Jones. Music by Cornershop. 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

Seems like King in the North Andy Burnham fancies his chances of taking over Labour and giving the troubled government new direction. Is talk of a leadership fight just pot-stirring – or is Starmer in real trouble? And who else is in the frame? Plus, that video where maverick crimefighter Robert Jenrick chases faredodgers was roundly mocked. But is it smart politics in the Tories’ battle with Reform over the soul of Pissed-Off Britain? And in the Extra Bit for Patreon people, we read Sarah Vine’s Westminster tell-all so you don’t have to.  • Don’t miss the latest Crime Scene: Should Britain decriminalise cannabis? ESCAPE ROUTES • Rachel recommends Giant with John Lithgow at the Harold Pinter Theatre.  • Jonn recommends Murderbot by on Apple TV+. • Marie recommends Neither Here Nor There by Bill Bryson. • Alison recommends Fred And Rose: A British Horror Story on Netflix.  • Back us on Patreon for ad-free listening, bonus materials and more.  Presented by Alison Phillips with Rachel Cunliffe, Jonn Elledge and Marie le Conte. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. 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

He’s old, he’s reactionary, he’s authoritarian-curious, he hates the EU… and he’s dead. Why are the main parties fixated on the demands of a zombie voter who has gone to join the Choir Eternal? And at the other end of the scale, what about “Henry” – high earner, not rich yet – the urban go-getter with an “email job” who earns six figures yet somehow finds himself strapped? Duncan Robinson who writes The Economist’s Bagehot column identified both these phenomena. He joins us to debate what we do about the Walking Dead – and whether Henry deserves a helping hand or a teeny-tiny violin. • Who should replace Keir Starmer? Find out on the latest edition of The Bunker. • Hannah on Who even votes Tory any more? ESCAPE ROUTES • Duncan recommends the Screen Rot podcast.  • Hannah recommends Uncommon People: Britpop and Beyond in 20 Songs by our own Miranda Sawyer. • Seth recommends The Deep Blue Sea by Terence Rattigan at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. • Andrew recommends Thunderbolts, coming soon to Disney+ .  • Back us on Patreon for ad-free listening, bonus materials and more.  Written and presented by Andrew Harrison with Hannah Fearn and Seth Thévoz. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. 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