Matt Hancock has been giving evidence to the Covid-19 Inquiry and frankly he’s not done himself any good. Alex Andreou has been locked in to the sessions on Thursday and Friday. He joins Andrew Harrison to unpack what the former Health Secretary said – and just how badly he came across.  • “His appearance was always going to be very defensive.” – Alex Andreou • “He was doing the same bullshitting that he was being accused of.” – Alex Andreou • “Someone of his limited ability should never have been in that position.” – Alex Andreou We’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Group Editor Andrew Harrison with Alex Andreou. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production by: Jade Bailey. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The first ceasefire deal in the Israel/Hamas conflict has been signed and hostages have been released. How will the war continue after this pause ends? Yair Wallach is a cultural historian of modern Palestine/Israel at SOAS University of London and joins the panel to discuss. Plus, With the Tories suffering so much in the polls how scared of the Reform UK party should they be? And in the extra bit for subscribers we ask: has Rishi Sunak lost his marbles? We unpack his row with Greece over ancient treasures. • “Netanyahu has almost been in shock – he’s not been able to form any kind of empathetic response to the Israeli public.” – Yair Wallach • “Reform is going forward with very clear messaging in a way that the Tory party is having an internal fight over.” – Rachel Cunliffe Why? - the brand new podcast taking you to the edge of knowledge. Available on all good podcast players - visit whypodcast.co.uk to find it We’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Alex Andreou, Rachel Cunliffe, and guest Yair Wallach. Producers: Chris Jones and Alex Rees. Social Media Producer: Jess Harpin. Audio production by: Alex Rees. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Net migration is at a record high in the UK, and as you might expect the Tories are tearing their hair out over it. After the failure of the Rwanda plan, Home Secretary James Cleverly sayid that plan is not the “be all and end all”, angering those on the very right of his party. Can Sunak provide a credible answer to the backlash the Tory party has received over its migration policies? Or has it lost all public trust? And the general election is somewhere on the horizon, but does it really matter when the election takes place with the polls so in favour of Labour? “Everyone is pissed off but in different ways.” – Geri Scott. “I’m not sure Cleverly needs to be dragged to the right to sure-up his position.” – Geri Scott. “When people are afraid and during a crisis they tend to vote for what they know.” – Ros Taylor “I think the Tories could benefit from something truly disastrous happening.” – Ros Taylor. We’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVOIkIWUDtu7VrVcFs0OI0A  Shop for festive favourite at http://podmarket.co.uk http://www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Written and Presented by Managing Editor Jacob Jarvis with Ros Taylor and Geri Scott. Producers: Chris Jones and Alex Rees. Social Media Producer: Jess Harpin. Audio production by: Alex Rees. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hold tight for the white-hot excitement of the Autumn Statement! Why is Jeremy Hunt cutting taxes when public services are in the toilet? And what’s gone under the radar? Special guest Miatta Fahnbulleh of the New Economics Foundation has the receipts and the cheats. Plus, the great inheritance tax panic. Why is a tax that only 4% of estates pay such a hot potato?  Boost the economy! Don’t miss the Podmasters Christmas Market at podmarket.co.uk • “Hunt said very little about how he’s going to resuscitate our public services… To bake in cuts at this stage stores up real problems for the next government.” – Miatta Fahnbulleh  • “The Tory attack line now is, If you don’t watch out, Labour might do something that WE actually DID…” – Matt Green We’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVOIkIWUDtu7VrVcFs0OI0A  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Written and presented by Ros Taylor with Matt Green and Alex Andreou. Audio producer: Alex Rees. 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 megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Rwanda plan is in tatters but when did that ever stop the Government from ploughing on mindlessly? Plus, is it hard to wage war on the House of Lords when that’s where your new Foreign Secretary sits? And why Suella Braverman’s fulminating letter to Sunak was exactly the same as ‘Stan’ by Eminem.  Don’t miss the Podmasters Christmas Market at podmarket.co.uk ...with discounts available for backers! https://www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow • “The Tories are not trying to distract US with Rwanda. They’re trying to distract THEMSELVES.” – Marie le Conte • “The idea that the Lords will approve legislation that applies the law in these specific circumstances is just fanciful.” – Hannah Fearn • “If you can’t sell this stuff on the Kent Coast you can’t sell it anywhere. And they can’t.” – Gavin Esler Written and presented by Dorian Lynskey with Hannah Fearn, Marie le Conte and Gavin Esler. Audio producer: Alex Rees. 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 megaphone.fm/adchoices

Complete our listener survey for a chance to win an OGWN t-shirt or mug: https://www.patreon.com/posts/92531764 The Supreme Court throws out the Government’s Rwanda plan quicker than a Cruella tantrum. Is the infamous scheme dead or will the Government have the brass neck to appeal to the ECHR? Plus the Thug Life madness of the Braverman Letter, why David Cameron is the Harold Bishop of Conservatism, Greg Hands finds there is no job left, and Esther McVey, Minister for GB News.  This week’s special guest is Twitter’s now-outed Secret Tory Henry Morris. His new book is The Diary of a Secret Royal – buy it here and help the podcast through our affiliate links! Hear This Is Not A Drill, the podcast formerly known as Doomsday Watch, on all platforms at ThisIsNotADrill.co.uk  • “What a week… I’m just waiting for Iain Duncan Smith to turn up on Strictly.” – Matt Green • “This was a crushing verdict from the court… Justice Reid’s message was ‘If you think leaving the ECHR will fix this, it won’t.” – Alex Andreou • “We had the Government saying the judges have ‘misjudged the public mood’, as if that’s their job instead of interpreting the law.” – Henry Morris https://www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Written and presented by Ros Taylor with Matt Green and Alex Andreou. Audio producer: Alex Rees. 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 megaphone.fm/adchoices

Complete our listener survey for a chance to win an OGWN t-shirt or mug: https://www.patreon.com/posts/92531764 Suella Braverman’s out (finally) and former PM David Cameron’s in – what on Earth is going on?! The panel reflects on Braverman’s sacking and the latest reshuffle. Plus, free firework displays and other events of the sort are becoming more rare up and down the country. Are cash-strapped councils pricing young people out of culture? Is it even their fault? “Braverman was a liability.” – Rachel Cunliffe. “She seemed to have been angling to get fired for weeks…” – Andrew Harrison. “Suella Braverman is the worst home secretary since Suella Braverman.” – Seth Thevoz. Why? - the brand new podcast taking you to the edge of knowledge. Available on all good podcast players - visit whypodcast.co.uk to find it We’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVOIkIWUDtu7VrVcFs0OI0A  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Group Editor Andrew Harrison with Rachel Cunliffe, Yasmeen Serhan and Seth Thevoz. Producers: Chris Jones and Alex Rees. Social Media Producer: Jess Harpin. Audio production by: Alex Rees. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Complete our listener survey for a chance to win an OGWN t-shirt: https://www.patreon.com/posts/92531764 Imagine waiting 73 years to become King and then you get dog-end policies from the bottom of a dying government’s drawer for your first speech to Parliament. We look at what’s in Rishi’s Big Plans – cigs! pedicabs! – and what’s conspicuous by its absence. Plus, does it matter whether Starmer is “statesmanlike” on Gaza or not? And Dorian sets up the Institution for Neutral Thinking.  Dr Robert Saunders AKA @redhistorian, author of Yes to Europe! The 1975 Referendum and Seventies Britain, is this week’s special guest.  Listen to our brand new science podcast WHY? – taking you on adventures to the edge of knowledge – at whypodcast.co.uk  • “This government giving you its longterm plans is like a mayfly telling you its plans for next week.” – Matt Green • “What the COVID inquiry has shown is that Sunak absolutely wasn’t led by the science. He was led by the economics.” – Hannah Fearn • “A lot of Trump quotes from the trial make a lot more sense if you imagine they’re coming from a five year-old.” – Matt Green https://www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Written and presented by Dorian Lynskey with Matt Green and Hannah Fearn. Audio producer: Alex Rees. 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 megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Watch this space” said Rishi Sunak ahead of the King’s speech – well we have been watching it and it’s been catastrophic so far. Apart from vowing to halt climate saving policies, what is their long term plan and is there even a point of having one? PLUS, it’s almost exactly a year until the polls open in the US election, how are things looking? Could Trump turn it around, or is it in the bag for Biden and the Democrats? This week’s guest is Julie Norman, co-director of the Centre on US Politics at UCL. “No matter what side Americans are on, most are disappointed.” – Julie Norman  “I feel like Jeremy Hunt is the invisible chancellor.” – Marie Le Conte Listen to Why?, the brand new podcast taking you to the edge of knowledge, on all good podcast players. Visit whypodcast.co.uk to find it We’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVOIkIWUDtu7VrVcFs0OI0A  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Alex Andreou with Marie Le Conte, Seth Thévoz and guest Julie Norman. Producers: Chris Jones and Alex Rees. Social Media Producer: Jess Harpin. Audio production by: Alex Rees. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dominic Cummings gave a colourful account of life in Downing Street at the Covid inquiry this week. Other than him describing people as “morons” and “useless f**k-pigs” – what else did we learn? Plus, our guest this week is the public policy editor of the Financial Times, Peter Foster. He joins the panel to discuss his new book – What Went Wrong With Brexit And What We Can Do About It.  Peter Foster’s book: https://canongate.co.uk/books/5012-what-went-wrong-with-brexit-and-what-we-can-do-about-it/  "Cummings knew perfectly well that Johnson was unfit to run the country, and still he elevated him to that position.” – Alex Andreou “I feel profoundly angry at the casual nature with which they decided to play with people’s fate.” – Alex Andreou “I think Brexit was always going to be messy.” – Peter Foster. “It was almost as if they went to businesses and said you can go wild in the aisle, you can have whatever you want in the Brexit sweet shop!” – Peter Foster. We’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVOIkIWUDtu7VrVcFs0OI0A  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis with Zoe Grunewald, Alex Andreou and guest Peter Foster. Producers: Chris Jones and Alex Rees. Social Media Producer: Jess Harpin. Audio production by: Alex Rees. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

War in Gaza is getting worse by the day. How is Labour and the rest of Europe dealing with the conflict between Israel and Hamas? TIME writer Yasmeen Serhan has been speaking to people inside the war zone – she shares what she’s learned from those conversations. Plus, who on Earth would want to be an MP in today's day and age? Well, hundreds apparently. Will the next generation emerge to be great political leaders? Or will we be short of Parliamentary talent once again?  "I can understand why people would look at this issue and not want to touch it with a 10 foot pole” – Yasmeen Serhan. “Keir Starmer’s problem with this is going ‘what would Jeremy Corbyn do in this situation?’ and doing the opposite of that” – Marie Le Conte. “I think to run as an MP you’ve got to be quite weird” – Marie Le Conte. We’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVOIkIWUDtu7VrVcFs0OI0A  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Ros Taylor with Yasmeen Serhan and Marie Le Conte. Producers: Chris Jones and Alex Rees. Social Media Producer: Jess Harpin. Audio production by: Alex Rees. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After being battered by two byelections, where could the Tories possibly turn next? That’s right more of the same – no wonder the votes of no confidence are pouring into the 1922 committee. PLUS, Speaking of pouring, the water companies are destroying our waterways and running away with huge profits. Why? And how can we fix the system? Prominent Water campaigner Feargal Sharkey joins the panel to discuss all that. And in the extra bit for subscribers the panel answers the question: How do we stop pop music from turning into a sterile heritage industry? “Rishi’s Sunak’s message that he’s now the changed candidate hasn’t gone down too well.” – Rachel Cunliffe. “The simple truth is that this country is in pain and we need relief from it.” – Feargal Sharkey. “For me water is a litmus test for the state that the rest of the country is in.” – Feargal Sharkey. “We’re completely committing ecocide in our own backyard.” – Feargal Sharkey. We’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVOIkIWUDtu7VrVcFs0OI0A  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Andrew Harrison with Matt Green, Rachel Cunliffe and guest Feargal Sharkey. Producers: Chris Jones and Alex Rees. Social Media Producer: Jess Harpin. Audio production by: Alex Rees. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two disastrous by-election losses have sent the Tories into crisis as Rishi Sunak approaches a year in office. What can we expect next from this flailing and failing party? Plus, is private healthcare becoming the norm for more Britons? And, if so, could that impact the NHS’s ability to provide a better service?  “Both Sunak and Hands are committed to this line that it’s all about turnout.” – Hannah Fearn “Why are Conservative PMs so bad with their phones?” – Zoe Grunewald We’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVOIkIWUDtu7VrVcFs0OI0A  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Alex Andreou with Hannah Fearn and Zoe Grunewald. Producers: Chris Jones and Alex Rees. Social Media Producer: Jess Harpin. Audio production by: Alex Rees. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SPECIAL EDITION: You’ve made your Mid-Beds, now lie in it. As Labour register stupendous victories in the former constituencies of tragic never-to-be Baroness Dorries (Mid-Beds) and poster boy for nominative determinism Chris Pincher (Tamworth), the Conservatives break out their emergency supplies of copium. What does it all mean? Alex Andreou and Andrew Harrison read the entrails of two historic by-elections.  Audio producer: Alex Rees. 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 megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Israel-Hamas conflict is as intense as ever – but who can we trust to tell us what we need to know? The panel discusses the latest. Plus, the prospect of Donald Trump winning the next US election looms. What would that mean for Europe? And in the extra bit for subscribers a group of MEP’s were diverted to Disneyland in a bizarre turn of events earlier this week, what’s the weirdest diversion our panel have faced in their careers? That’s Oh God, What Now? with guest Brian Klaas, associate professor in global politics at UCL. “Britain does appear as the mouse that roars… we’re not a significant power anymore in the Middle East.” – Gavin Esler “Trump 2.0 would be Trump unleashed” – Brian Klaas We’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVOIkIWUDtu7VrVcFs0OI0A  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Ros Taylor with Rachel Cunliffe, Gavin Esler and special guest Brian Klaas. Producers: Chris Jones and Alex Rees. Social Media Producer: Jess Harpin. Audio production by: Alex Rees. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The second leg of the Covid Inquiry is very much underway and Johnson’s government looks evermore like a "terrible, tragic joke". They’re not our words but those of Cabinet Secretary Simon Case. What else did we learn about the handling of the pandemic? And there’s been a small influx of Tory defection to Labour, meanwhile, former SNP MP Lisa Cameron has moved over to the Conservatives. What’s going on? “It’s a sort of confirmation of what we thought might be the worst case scenario.” – Alex Andreou. “Unless you told Johnson over and over again what you wanted him to say, he would wander off and announce the first thing that came into his head.” – Alex Andreou. “There’s one thing to know about rats: and that’s that they don’t really like sinking ships… “ – Marie Le Conte. “Something like 4% of Reclaim voters are telling pollsters they’d vote Remain. Who ARE these people?” – Matt Green. We’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVOIkIWUDtu7VrVcFs0OI0A  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Managing Editor Jacob Jarvis with Marie Le Conte, Matt Green and Alex Andreou. Producers: Chris Jones and Alex Rees. Social Media Producer: Jess Harpin. Audio production by: Alex Rees. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Labour Party Conference is over – Keir Starmer glittered, but did he shine? We’ve got reaction from Labour MP Stella Creasy, Rock and Roll Politics host Steve Richards and The Trawl podcast’s Marina Purkiss. The panel also discusses the best political orators from the past and present. And in the extra bit for subscribers – what's the scary new appeal of the occult and the irrational? “It was quite bizarre really to be somewhere so normal.” – Jacob Jarvis. “It was an unremarkable speech and quite dull in places… but you know what – I do have a lot of time for that.” – Seth Thevoz We’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVOIkIWUDtu7VrVcFs0OI0A  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Ros Taylor with Seth Thevoz, Yasmeen Serhan and managing editor Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Chris Jones and Alex Rees. Social Media Producer: Jess Harpin. Audio production by: Alex Rees. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Labour’s Conference in Liverpool is rammed and optimistic but Starmer is desperate not to look triumphalist. What must he do this week to seal the deal with Britain? Plus, as Hamas’s atrocities horrify the world, we look at what the unprecedented crisis in Israel means – the monstrous arguments that certain people think it’s OK to make – and why blue ticks are a red flag.  Dorian Lynskey, Hannah Fearn and Alex Andreou are joined by special guest Hugo Rifkind of The Times.  • “If you compare Starmer now to where Blair was in 1996, of course he’s less interesting. Because Britain is less interesting. There’s no wave of social change to ride.” – Hugo Rifkind • “There’s a really dirty election ahead. Forget minimum standards, the Tories are going to fight from the gutter.” – Alex Andreou • “Politicians here are looking at capturing in a 60 second soundbite the complexity of an 80-year conflict.” – Hannah Fearn Written and presented by Dorian Lynskey. Audio producer: Robin Leeburn. Producer: Chris Jones. Art: James Parrett. 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 megaphone.fm/adchoices

We really didn’t think things could get much worse, then Rishi Sunak took to the stage. His Tory conference speech was almost indescribable in terms of how awful it was. Suella Braverman was also at it being her usual offensive self, while the party decided to have a little flirt with Nigel Farage too. Plus, we discuss the issue of respect in politics – and how MPs can prove to the public they respect them. Luke Tryl, the UK director of More in Common, joins the panel to discuss research on this. “It was a very strange conference. Last year there was a sense of mania, this year was different. There was a sense of resignation that Sunak hadn’t turned things around.” – Luke Tryl “I think the next leader of the Conservative Party will be from the right side of the party. I think what’s up for grabs is how right.” – Luke Tryl “I found Sunak’s speech surreal, it felt like it came from a different world.” – Matt Green “There were so many dog whistles I thought he was going to enter Crufts at one point.” – Matt Green “A party that’s going to win a majority doesn’t flirt with Nigel Farage.” – Luke Tryl Thanks to this week's sponsors, the Disorder Podcast. You can listen here: https://linktr.ee/disorderpod We’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVOIkIWUDtu7VrVcFs0OI0A Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Alex Andreou, Hannah Fearn and Matt Green. Producer: Alex Rees. Social Media Producer: Jess Harpin. 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 megaphone.fm/adchoices

If Rishi Sunak hoped the Tory conference might be a gathering of friendly faces he must be very disappointed. The constant HS2 controversy is bogging him down and he’s witnessing rivals pitch to replace him already… Plus, while the Conservatives fall apart, Labour aren’t without their wobbles. Is Starmer too quickly knocked off course when the media turns nasty?  “There is a sense that the right-wingers are on the front foot, and that the one nation Tories are taking a back seat.” – Ros Taylor  “The Tory leadership is already underway. They’re expecting to lose, they’re expecting Sunak to be out, they’re on manoeuvres.” – Seth Thévoz  “This is not about policy, it’s about headlines. They’re doing ‘look over there’ politics.” – Gavin Esler  Thanks to this week's sponsors, the Disorder Podcast. You can listen here: https://linktr.ee/disorderpod We’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVOIkIWUDtu7VrVcFs0OI0A  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Andrew Harrison with Ros Taylor, Seth Thévoz and Gavin Esler. Producers: Chris Jones and Alex Rees. Social Media Producer: Jess Harpin. Audio production by: Alex Rees. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices