Can anything hold back Priti Patel’s assault on the great British tradition of noisy, disruptive protest? Plus: partisan or penniless: what’s the future of media in the coming age of news-mangling tech giants and GB News? Special guest James Harding – former Director of BBC News, ex-Times editor and now co-founder of Tortoise Media – joins us to examine the future of the news. And on the first anniversary of Lockdown 1, we look back on a moment when real life turned into John Wyndham novel.  


“The pivot to Asia is basically the ‘pivot to video’ of foreign policy, and will probably be about as successful.” – Ian Dunt



“It’s really significant that even Theresa May, given her time at the Home Office, has serious misgivings about this bill.” – James Harding



“Spot the Cop might be an intriguing game on nights out…” – Ros Taylor



“I’m sure there are protests performed by mimes – but any others that make noise, the police can close down anything they want.” – Ian Dunt


Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Ros Taylor and Ian Dunt. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Alex Rees. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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“The biggest crisis in the public square since the 1930s” – with guest James Harding

Making sense of our political hell every Tuesday and Friday! Oh God, What Now? is the no-bulls**t politics podcast, making the unbearable bearable with top quality guests and analysis, plus poor quality jokes. 
Regulars include: Dorian Lynskey, author of The Ministry Of Truth: A Biography of Orwell’s 1984 and host of Origin Story • Alex Andreou, writer, commentator, cook, actor, secret agent • Writer and commentator Ros Taylor • Rachel Cunliffe of the New Statesman • Writer and host of This Is Not A Drill Gavin Esler • Hannah Fearn of the i paper • Comedian Matt Green • New Statesman policy and politics corresponent Zoë Grünewald • Group Editor Andrew Harrison • Journalist Marie Le Conte • Podmasters Managing Editor Jacob Jarvis
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Oh God, What Now? is a Podmasters production

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Government

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 Rifkind

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Presented 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.
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Rwanda endgame, Local Elections: The Tory collapse is here

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 Elledge

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Presented 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.
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Sunak Pulls a Sickie

• 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 Andreou

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Presented 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.
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Liz Truss: Tip of the Iceberg

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 Green

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Presented 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.
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Iran/Israel – What can Britain do?

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 Lynskey

Buy 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/ohgodwhatnow
Presented 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.
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“The biggest crisis in the public square since the 1930s” – with guest James Harding

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