That Thing Unions Do!

Keir Starmer’s cut to the winter fuel allowance has passed through Parliament – but at what cost? Plus, the Harris-Trump presidential debate was dominated by Trump lying through his teeth, but do we expect any difference from him? And does this make any difference to the race for the White House? Associate professor in politics and international relations at UCL, Dr Julie Norman, joins the panel to discuss. And in the Extra Bit for subscribers, Labour is coming across as the no-fun, eat-your-greens party. Is it forgetting that joy matters too? We’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow   Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow The people behind Make A Will Online are longtime fans of Oh God What Now and they’ve got a special offer for fellow listeners. Go to Makeawillonline.co.uk/whatnow and you’ll get a 20% discount. Don't put off making a will, get peace of mind for you and your loved ones. Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Zoë Grünewald and Rachel Cunliffe. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production by: Robin Leeburn. Video production by: Kieron Leslie and 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

• OGWN Live in Hove, Weds 9 Oct. Tickets here. The final Grenfell Tower fire report told a story of tragedy, greed, and dishonesty. What can Starmer’s Labour Party learn from the mistakes made that led to 72 lost lives?  Plus, we speak to Andrew Connelly about the new podcast Fortress Europe, a seven-part podcast series that explores how years of brutal, dehumanising, anti-migrant policies have had their impact across the continent.  And in the final part of the show new research suggests more people are starting to agree that the Tories are “weird” – why?  We’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow   www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Ros Taylor with Hannah Fearn and Jonn Elledge. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production by: Robin Leeburn. Video production by: Kieron Leslie and 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

• New second live date in Liverpool, Tue 24 Sept. Tickets here. • OGWN Live in Hove, Weds 9 Oct. Tickets here. Parliament is back and so is PMQs, the right-wing media is on one and trading with the EU is still confusing. The panel discusses the latest flashpoints, what’s happening at the Telegraph and the Spectator, and guest Dmitry Grozoubinski, author of Why Politicians Lie About Trade... and What You Need to Know About It, delves into what our current situation is with the EU under a new Labour government. Plus, in the Extra Bit for subscribers, we ask: would a 4-day working week work? We’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow   www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Ros Taylor with Marie Le Conte and Hugo Rifkind. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production by: Robin Leeburn. Video production by: Kieron Leslie and 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

• OGWN Live in Hove, Weds 9 Oct. Tickets here. After what felt like the longest recess ever, finally, Parliament is back. What are Labour’s priorities and what backlash is Starmer facing? The panel is joined by Tim Roca, the first Labour MP to represent Macclesfield in over 100 years, to discuss – and to ask about his own goals in the Commons and for his constituents.  We’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Jacob Jarvis with Rafael Behr and Zoe Grunewald. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production by: Robin Leeburn. Video production by: Kieron Leslie and 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

• OGWN Live in Hove, Weds 9 Oct. Tickets here. • New second live date in Liverpool, Tue 24 Sept. Tickets here. Starmer has been in office more than 50 days – at least he’s beaten Liz Truss there, but his approval ratings have fallen. Is that because people now know more about him and don’t like what they see? Or is it just a natural decline in popularity? Plus, the UK’s criminal justice system has been described as being in “crisis”. Prisons are overcrowded and there aren’t enough prison officers. What can Labour do to solve things and how much work is needed? Penelope Gibbs, director of Transform Justice, joins the panel. And in the Extra Bit for subscribers, Oasis are back – what else would the panel definitely maybe like to see return from the ’90s? • Get exclusive Nord VPN deal here - nordvpn.com/ohgodwhatnow. It's risk-free with Nord's 30-day money-back guarantee.  We’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Ros Taylor with Hannah Fearn and Matt Green. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production by: Tom Taylor and Robin Leeburn. Video production by: Kieron Leslie and 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

• OGWN Live in Hove, Weds 9 Oct. Tickets here. • New second live date in Liverpool, Tue 24 Sept. Tickets here. Keir Starmer has painted a bleak picture of Britain’s future over the next few years. Is he being a needlessly miserable sod, or just realistic? And there have been multiple arrests over social media posts supporting the rioting a couple of weeks ago. Has social media made people think that actions don’t have consequences – and what are we going to do about it? • Get exclusive Nord VPN deal here - nordvpn.com/ohgodwhatnow. It's risk-free with Nord's 30-day money-back guarantee.  We’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Andrew Harrison with Rafael Behr and Seth Thevoz. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production by: Robin Leeburn. Video production by: Kieron Leslie and 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

• New second live date in Liverpool, TUE 24 SEPT. Tickets here.  • OGWN Live in Hove, Weds 9 Oct. Tickets here. Labour’s aspiration to transcend culture wars is easier said than done. What’s Starmer’s take on the politics of identity and can he paint a more hopeful picture of Britain? Director of British Future and author of How to Be a Patriot, Sunder Katwala, joins the panel. Plus the DNC has got Democrats hyped, but how unified are Democrats really? And what is Kamala Harris’s vision for America? Plus, in The Extra Bit for subscribers, race riots have kept everyone busy this August, a month where nothing usually happens. So away from all of that, what has been keeping the panel sane? • Get our exclusive Nord VPN deal here – nordvpn.com/ohgodwhatnow. It's risk-free with Nord's 30-day money-back guarantee.  We’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Marie Le Conte and Matt Green. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production by: Robin Leeburn. Video production by: Kieron Leslie and 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

• We’re LIVE at the Old Market Theatre, Hove on Weds 9 Oct. Tickets here. Liverpool on Mon 23 Sept now sold out!  The right-wing press has gone off the rails after Labour struck a deal on train driver pay to end strikes. So, are union barons really going to rule the country now? Or is it the media having a meltdown again? Plus, Liz Truss and David Frost say Starmer is "a threat to free speech". What’s this latest row about – and should we totally ignore it? • Get our exclusive Nord VPN deal at nordvpn.com/ohgodwhatnow. It's risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee.  We’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Jacob Jarvis with Jonn Elledge, Zoe Grunewald, and Hugo Rifkind. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production by: Robin Leeburn. Video production by: Kieron Leslie and 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

• We’re LIVE at the Old Market Theatre, Hove on Weds 9 Oct. Tickets here.   Over half of the MPs elected in July’s Labour landslide are new to the Commons. Jim Murphy led the Scottish Labour Party and in 1997 he was propelled into Parliament for the first time, after winning the Tory stronghold of Eastwood. He joins the panel to discuss his experiences and what his advice is for up-and-coming MPs. Plus, did anyone watch Elon Musk’s conversation with Donald Trump on X? It was wild, rambling, and full of misinformation. So, is social media doomed or can it be redeemed? And in the Extra Bit… why are Starmer’s critics so keen to label him a “dictator”?   • Get our exclusive Nord VPN deal at nordvpn.com/ohgodwhatnow. It's risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee.  • We’re on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow     www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow    Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Zöe Grünewald and Marie Le Conte. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production by: Jade Bailey and Alex Rees. Video production by Kieron Leslie and 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

• OGWN Live in Liverpool, Mon 23 Sept. Tickets here. • OGWN Live in Hove, Weds 9 Oct. Tickets here. As the dust settles from the far-right riots of the past two weeks – has the violence and the backlash against it changed the country or revealed something about it? Plus, across the pond, the Democratic Party is having a ball. Have they found the winning ticket to beat Trump? Or could things crumble very quickly? We’re on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Andrew Harrison with Rafael Behr, Marie Le Conte, and Alex Andreou. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production by: Jade Bailey and Alex Rees. Video production by: Kieron Leslie and 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