Oh God, What Now?

As Labour takes Conservative seats across the UK and in the Blackpool South constituency, Ros Taylor joins Jacob Jarvis to work out what it all means. Is it really the Tories’ worst local elections performance in 40 years? Are there any scraps of comfort for Sunak – or is he doomed?    Support us on Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow] to get early access to all our live tickets plus mugs, t-shirts and more.     Presented by Jacob Jarvis. Produced by Chris Jones. Audio production by Jade Bailey. 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 podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

The US Election is just six months away. How come snoozy Trump still leads in several states, even though he’s in court every day? We’re launching a brand-new US election podcast American Friction and its regular panelist Nikki McCann Ramírez joins OGWN to scope out American’s Final Countdown. Plus, last-minute speculation on the local elections. Are our devolved local institutions really “a hot mess”? And in the Extra Bit for Patreon people: Following the fall of Too Nice Guy Humza Yousaf, when are politicians too ruthless – and when are they not ruthless enough?  Subscribe to American Friction on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/american-friction/id1744345702], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0w3eHrVnwka4gAxvp31GNp?si=fa8ab018bd16410b] and all other platforms, and hear own Jacob Jarvis and Chris Jones make sense of the US Election countdown, along with Nikki and special guests.  • “The biggest threat to Trump’s candidacy isn’t necessarily the trials. It’s that the more time he spends in court, the less time he has for campaigning.” – Nikki McCann Ramírez • “It’s not ‘The Economy, Stupid’ any more because people will literally turn away from the evidence if it doesn’t support their view of the candidate they hate.” – Rafael Behr • “The scariest promise that Trump has made is his vow to gut Federal agency staff and replace them with Trump loyalists… He has learned from his first term.” – Nikki McCann Ramírez Support us on Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow] to get early access to all our live tickets plus mugs, t-shirts and more.  Written and presented by Ros Taylor with Hannah Fearn and Rafael Behr. Produced by Chris Jones. Audio production by 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 podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

The right wing press’s feverish attempts to take down Angela Rayner seem to be failing. What’s the secret of Rayner’s appeal and what does the future hold for Labour’s combative Deputy Leader? Plus, the SNP in turmoil as Humza Yousaf’s powerplay against the Greens goes badly wrong, forcing him to quit as Scotland’s First Minister. Scottish writer Gerry Hassan unpacks it for us. And how misty-eyed nostalgia accounts sneak hardline culture war dogwhistles into your mum’s Facebook feed. Final tickets for Oh God, What Now? Live in Islington [https://kingsheadtheatre.com/whats-on/oh-god-what-now-its-grim-up-north-london] with special guest Jan Ravens are still available. The dark subtext of Classical Art and Architecture Twitter [https://twitter.com/waitmanb/status/1780170180045254908?s=61]. • “She is quite gobby… but she’s unapologetic of who she is.” – Marie Le Conte • “If Angela Rayner was in the Tory party they would love her!” – Alex Andreou • “She’s the most powerful communicator for the message that Sunak is not in touch with real people’s lives.” – Alex Andreou • “People used to leave their doors unlocked years ago because there was nothing to nick!” – Andrew Harrison We’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow [https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow]  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow [http://www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow] Presented by Andrew Harrison with Alex Andreou and Marie Le Conte. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

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 We’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow [https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow]  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow [http://www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow] 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

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 We’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow [https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow]  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow [http://www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow] 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]