Oh God, What Now?

As Ukrainian resistance awes the world, can EU sanctions stop Russia – or are the risks of confronting Putin just too great? Plus the Government’s cruel refugee policy, unexplained oligarch wealth, and the ignominy of Stop The War. This week’s special guest is former Conservative MP, defence minister and Change UK leader Anna Soubry.

• “Ukraine has made people realise what the nature of a refugee really is.” – Anna Soubry
• “The financial assault on Russia is economic warfare of the highest order.” – Ian Dunt
• “Parliament voting against airstrikes in Syria in 2013 was a dreadful mistake. It showed Putin he could essentially do what he wanted.” – Anna Soubry
• “There are two frontlines. There’s the battle in Ukraine and the financial assault on Russia.” – Ian Dunt
• “This is almost a betrayal... We have spent eyewatering amounts of money on nuclear weapons and it turns out that the bully can win anyway?” – Ann Soubry
• “Zelenskyy puts himself in the public eye and in harm’s way, exactly the way Putin doesn’t.” – Naomi Smith

Find resources to help the Ukrainian people here: https://ukrainewar.carrd.co/

www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow

Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Ian Dunt and Naomi Smith. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Alex Rees, Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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Government shortcomings amid Ukraine’s invasion are clear, with questions over refugee support and Russian influence in British politics. The panel discusses oligarch controversy, issues for those trying to flee to Britain and global shifts the present crisis is sparking. Guardian columnist and The Long View presenter Jonathan Freedland is our special guest this week.

• “You can’t deal with this on your own, of course not. It has to be European solidarity.” – Jonathan Freedland
• “If you’re mixing at parties with celebrities and politicians, you’re going to have gossip on them.” – Naomi Smith
• “We’ve seen a realignment of the world into dictatorship vs democracy.” – Jonathan Freedland
• “Russians are the first victims of Putinism, they’ve been both gagged and blindfolded, and we need to liberate them.” – Jonathan Freedland

www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow

Presented by Ros Taylor with Ian Dunt and Naomi Smith. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Alex Rees. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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We analyse whether there was anything but jam tomorrow from the chancer Chancellor in his Spring Statement. During a historic cost of living crisis, has Rishi Sunak come anywhere close to meeting the moment? Plus, as scandals surrounding Boris Johnson and his Government resurface, we dive into the sleaze. Will Davies, a professor in political economy and co-author of Unprecedented?: How COVID-19 Revealed the Politics of Our Economy, is this week’s guest.

• “This statement struck the wrong note for the challenge we as a country are facing.” – Alex Andreou
• “It is useful for Johnson to draw a line between himself and Europe, and the EU can get more done without Britain.” – Ros Taylor
• “Johnson will no doubt want to use Ukraine in any way he can to distract from partygate.” – Will Davies
• “Sunak had the choice of doing right by the country or right by the party, and he chose the latter.” – Alex Andreou

www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow

Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Alex Andreou and Ros Taylor. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Alex Rees, Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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Is the party nearly over for Boris Johnson, or can he continue to have his cake and eat it? With a police investigation launched into Downing Street’s lockdown shenanigans, and the publication of Sue Gray’s report apparently imminent, we assess the Prime Minister’s seemingly ever-precarious position. Beyond that we look at Rishi Sunak’s manoeuvres and motivations, as he’s touted as a successor to Johnson. What are the Chancellor’s chances?

• “The Government has lied so many times, over and over, that it’s genuinely impossible to tell whether they’re telling the truth at all.” – Naomi Smith
• “The people of Ukraine are not a press office for you to fire off press releases when things aren’t going well for you in the Commons.” – Ian Dunt
• “What sort of crazy world is it where Johnson welcomes an actual criminal investigation by the police, where he could be prosecuted, as some sort of relief, just because it extends his time in power.” – Naomi Smith
• “How can the Met investigate these breaches when they happened under their noses.” – Ros Taylor

www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow

Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Ian Dunt, Naomi Smith and Ros Taylor. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Alex Rees. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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Johnson becomes the first PM to be convicted of a crime when in office. We look at the times Britain HAS changed its PM during a war, the fines that are coming – and how Johnson is now hiding behind the Ukrainian people so he doesn’t get No Confidenced. Aussi, la merde frappe le ventilateur in the French elections. And Penny Mordaunt, Tank Girl. Labour MP for Leeds NW Alex Sobel is our special guest.

• “You don’t have to be a Non-Dom to be a Chancellor – but it helps, right?” – Naomi Smith
• “The question is, where is the bottom of the Tories’ moral compass? How low can Johnson go?” – Alex Sobel
• “My own father died during COVID and I wasn’t able to touch him – because I, like everyone else except our leaders, followed the rules.” – Naomi Smith
• “I would be willing to put my hand on my heart and say that Rishi Sunak will never be Conservative Party leader.” – Alex Sobel
• “Populism is the promise that the harshest possible laws will apply to everyone else. That is the Le Pen offer.” – Alex Andreou
• “Everyone forgets that the main reason Sunak became Chancellor was simply because he was compliant.” – Alex Sobel

Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Naomi Smith and Alex Andreou. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant producer: Elina Ganatra. Audio production Alex Rees. Theme music by Cornershop. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.

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