Oh God, What Now?

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 [https://linktr.ee/whypodcast]: What is scrolling doing to our brains? ESCAPE ROUTES • Sam Freedman has been bingeing on The Big Bang Theory [https://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-big-bang-theory] on Channel4.com.  • Ros recommends Series 2 of The Gold [https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/p0dvdttj/the-gold] on BBC iPlayer.  • Jonn recommends Microserfs [https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/microserfs-douglas-coupland/762794?ean=9780007179817] by Douglas Coupland.  • Dorian recommends Platonic [https://tv.apple.com/gb/show/platonic/umc.cmc.y7bc18x7co813l8i2tlsyb4l] featuring Seth Rogan and Rose Byrne on Apple TV+.  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow [http://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 [https://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 [https://uk.bookshop.org/a/13277/9781399814034] by John Harris.  • Alison recommends Scarface (1983) directed by Brian de Palma.  • Matt recommends Your Friends And Neighbours [https://tv.apple.com/gb/show/your-friends--neighbours/umc.cmc.74o37kzay0yuuub8iumddjsg] with John Hamm and The Studio [https://tv.apple.com/gb/show/the-studio/umc.cmc.7518algxc4lsoobtsx30dqb52] with Seth Rogan on Apple TV+.  • Andrew recommends All Asimov And No Fresh Air [https://www.normanrecords.com/records/209065-half-man-half-biscuit-all-asimov-and-no-fresh] by Half Man Half Biscuit.  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow [http://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 [https://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 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CImHa0tAP98] 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? [https://linktr.ee/crimescenepodcast] ESCAPE ROUTES • Rachel recommends Giant [https://www.haroldpintertheatre.co.uk/shows/giant] with John Lithgow at the Harold Pinter Theatre.  • Jonn recommends Murderbot [https://tv.apple.com/gb/show/murderbot/umc.cmc.5owrzntj9v1gpg31wshflud03] by on Apple TV+. • Marie recommends Neither Here Nor There [https://uk.bookshop.org/a/13277/9781784161828] by Bill Bryson. • Alison recommends Fred And Rose: A British Horror Story [https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/81707030] on Netflix.  • Back us on Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow] 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 [https://www.podmasters.co.uk/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://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 [https://linktr.ee/bunker_pod]. • Hannah on Who even votes Tory any more? [https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/hannah-fearn-who-the-hell-votes-tory-any-more/] ESCAPE ROUTES • Duncan recommends the Screen Rot [https://linktr.ee/screenrotpod] podcast.  • Hannah recommends Uncommon People: Britpop and Beyond in 20 Songs [https://uk.bookshop.org/a/13277/9781399816892] by our own Miranda Sawyer. • Seth recommends The Deep Blue Sea [https://trh.co.uk/whatson/the-deep-blue-sea] by Terence Rattigan at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. • Andrew recommends Thunderbolts [https://www.disneyplus.com/en-gb/browse/entity-64885c42-968c-4a7e-847f-5cc825445d71], coming soon to Disney+ .  • Back us on Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow] 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 [https://www.podmasters.co.uk/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Special crossover edition... Well, Elon Musk is putting Washington behind him – or so he says… Molly Jong-Fast joined American Friction to talk Chris and Jarv through what’s going on – and we thought you might want to listen too! Go get more American Friction and listen to the whole episode at: https://linktr.ee/americanfriction [https://linktr.ee/americanfriction]  Molly also has a new book out called How to Lose Your Mother: A Daughter's Memoir, and there’s a link to buy it below.)  Buy How to Lose Your Mother: A Daughter's Memoir [https://uk.bookshop.org/a/13277/9781035029334%E2%81%A0]through our affiliate bookshop and you’ll help fund American Friction by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org [https://bookshop.org/]’s fees help support independent bookshops too.  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow [https://www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow]      Presented by Chris Jones and Jacob Jarvis. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio. Production by: Chris Jones. 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 [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]