Podcast appearances and mentions of Rafael Behr

The Trump tariff mayhem rolls on and back at home steel is grabbing the headlines. What's going on now and how will these stories develop? Rafael Behr joins Jacob Jarvis to discuss all this and more in Start Your Week.    We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/bunker for £100 sponsored credit.     www.patreon.com/bunkercast       Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis with Rafael Behr. Audio production: Tom Taylor. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Donald Trump's tariff masterplan is working! Well that's just utter bulls**t, isn't it? Trump's decision to reverse global tariffs for 90 days caught everyone by surprise, even us! Dorian, Hannah, Matt and Marie recorded the whole pod before the announcement, but don't fear, Andrew Harrison and The Guardian's Rafael Behr were on-hand to add some reaction to the tariff u-turn. And don't miss the panel on Trump's obsession with big MAN jobs. • Tariff craziness meant we got a longer-than-usual edition so we've split it in two, Dune-style, and brought it to you early. Be here on Friday morning for Part Two in which we ask… Is it time to start taking the Lib Dems seriously? • We're on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow   www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Hannah Fearn, Matt Green, Marie Le Conte, Rafael Behr, and Andrew Harrison. Producer: Chris Jones Audio. Production by: Simon Williams. 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

Nick Cohen talks with Guardian political columnist and author Rafael Behr, @rafelbehr, a Lowdown regular, about Sir Keir Starmer, and asks Raf can the prime minister face down an erratic and increasingly unhinged US president?Labour's Comms issues and a hazardous future aheadRafael says Sir Keir Starmer needs to communicate properly with the British public about how it negotiates the dangerous future ahead, "They seem completely unable just to narrate what they're doing and why they're doing it in a way that would lead people to accept. and get on board with and be patient with ... And that is true of the fiscal situation, and it's true of the geo-strategic situation."Is Starmer the Right Stuff to handle Trump & the Radical Right?Raf says many Brits understand the predicament that Starmer finds himself in with a hostile Trump, adding "They understand he's the prime minister. He can't just go and, and sort of piss all over the American president on live television. But no one seriously intuits that they are kindred spirits or alike..."Starmer best PM we've gotRaf thinks Starmer is the best prime minister we've got adding "Constitutionally the alternative is Kemi Badenoch and the per, and if it's not her, it would've been Robert Jenrick with Farage in the wngs. And you look at most countries in the world, and he wouldn't swap him out for anyone who's actually there available. So from that point of view, he is the right leader for the times."Bye bye Badenoch!Raf & Nick discuss the state of UK politics, include the current dire Tory leadership. Raf says he's "pretty confident" than Kemi Badenoch will. not be leading the Tories into the next general election.Read all about itRafael's recent book Politics: A Survivor's Guide: How to stay engaged without getting enraged is published by W.F.Howes Ltd and available at Amazon and in all good bookshops.Support the show You can also read his wonderful columns in the Guardian. His X handle is @rafaelbehrNick Cohen's @NichCohen4 latest Substack column Writing from London on politics and culture from the UK and beyond. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rachel Reeves's spring not-a-budget has gone down like a cup of cold sick and many Labour supporters are asking what they're backing the party for. Is Labour on the verge of losing popular confidence – and could it win it back? Plus, as Trump gets weirder and weirder we look at two movies that explain the trashy allure of American fascism: Paul Verhoeven's hyperviolent sci-fi satires Robocop and Starship Troopers. Would you like to know more…? • Listen to The Bunker: Northern uproar – How Canada is standing up to Trump. • Tickets are on sale now for Matt's Legitimate Concerns tour. • Andrew interviews John Higgs, author of Exterminate! Regenerate! – The Story of Doctor Who at the Rock'n'Roll Book Club, Walthamstow on Tue 22 April. Escape Routes: • Hannah's choice Crib Notes on Substack.  • Matt's choice Paradise on Disney+.  • Raf chooses The Remix with Chris Hawkins. • Andrew's choice The Residence on Netflix. • Back us on Patreon for ad-free listening, bonus materials and more.  Written and presented by Andrew Harrison with Rafael Behr, Hannah Fearn and Matt Green. 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   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There's turmoil on the right of British politics – what's going on and is it all Donald Trump's fault? Rafael Behr joins Jacob Jarvis to unpack the Reform in-fighting and Starmer's polling boost. Plus, they discuss civil service reforms, the latest US economic turmoil and what's going on in Canadian politics.    We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/bunker for £100 sponsored credit.     https://www.patreon.com/c/bunkercast     Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis with Rafael Behr. Audio production: Tom Taylor. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rafael Behr talks to Paula Surridge Professor of Political Sociology about the fragmentation of support for the two big parties since Brexit, what's causing it and what it means for parties trying to maintain their voter coalitions.Questions also covered:What drives support for Reform UK, and how vulnerable is their voter base?Are the Liberal Democrats benefiting from tactical voting, and can they sustain their recent gains?Why the Conservative Party faces so many difficulties in defining its identity?How are changing media consumption habits and voter expectations reshaping political engagement?The discussion also touches on the impact of non-voters and the potential for electoral reform to become a more prominent issue.This is a Rafael Behr and Philip Berman production. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Guardian's award-winning columnist, and leader writer, Rafael Behr on Trump, the Starmer government, how Boris Johnson got under his skin, his heart attack, the changing shape of politics, writing his columns, why he's turned his back on Elon Musk's X, and journalism in the digital age. 

Keir Starmer heads to America to meet Trump this week – how will he navigate this meeting? And what would mean success from discussions over the future of Ukraine? Rafael Behr joins Jacob Jarvis to talk through the week ahead in news.    We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/bunker for £100 sponsored credit.     www.patreon.com/bunkercast       Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis with Rafael Behr. Audio production: Tom Taylor. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's a goons rights bonanza, with Devon subbing in for November to talk about the ongoing wave of gig economy apps for ex-Navy SEALs to turn random people into clouds of pink mist on behalf of crypto influencers who want to look richer than they are… also we check in on Humane, and read a column by Rafael Behr. In the second half, Economist Nina Eichacker joins Riley half to talk tariffs (specifically) and how Wall Street's “Masters of the Universe” traded their pre-eminent positions in capital markets for revenge on their woke, home-working employees (generally). Get the whole episode on Patreon here! *MILO ALERT* Check out Milo's UK Tour here: https://miloedwards.co.uk/live-shows Trashfuture are: Riley (@raaleh), Milo (@Milo_Edwards), Hussein (@HKesvani), Nate (@inthesedeserts), and November (@postoctobrist)

Trump's decision to rip up 80 years of transatlantic security co-operation leaves Europe in a panic. What happens when America lines up with a despot like Putin? Can Europe afford to defend itself? Dr Julie Norman of UCL joins us to look at the alarming new security environment. Plus, with Badenoch's Tories in an apparent doom spiral, we look at why politics needs a functioning opposition. And in the Extra Bit for Patreons: White Lotus is back and the Murdoch family hate each other. Why do we love watching the rich suffer?  • Back us on Patreon for ad-free listening, bonus materials and more.  Written and presented by Dorian Lynskey with Rachel Cunliffe and Rafael Behr. Audio production by Tom Taylor. 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As Keir Starmer visits Brussels for a meeting with European Union leaders, Trump has the EU in his sights. But Trump says Starmer is “nice”, so will Britain get away unscathed from new tariffs? It's quite the predicament for the British PM – will he have to choose between one or the other? And what's with all the DISRUPTION? From electoral politics to business to popular culture, we're told that “move fast and break things” is the way to go. Is that why we're knee-deep in loads of broken stuff? • Send your questions to BUT YOUR EMAILS • We're on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow   www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Andrew Harrison with Zoë Grünewald, Rafael Behr, and Seth Thévoz. 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 podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The number of artists being “cancelled” seems to be growing every day. But is it ok to continue to enjoy the art they made even if they're awful people? Today on The Bunker, Rafael Behr sits down with philosophy professor Mary Beth Willard, author of Why It's OK to Enjoy the Work of Immoral Artists, to explore whether we can truly separate the art from the artist, uncover the real power of cancelling an artist, and ask: how do these choices shape the future of art and accountability? • Buy Why It's OK To Enjoy Immoral Artists through our affiliate bookshop and you'll help fund The Bunker by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org's fees help support independent bookshops too. • We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/bunker for £100 sponsored credit.   www.patreon.com/bunkercast  Written and presented by Rafael Behr. Producer: Liam Tait. Audio editors: Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Trump starts as viciously as he means to go on, with a confected state of emergency on immigration, attacks on gay and trans people, withdrawals from the Paris Climate agreement and the World Health Organisation, and pardons for the anti-democracy rioters of Jan 6. Reed Galen, co-founder of the anti-MAGA Republican group The Lincoln Project and host of The Home Front podcast, joins us to assess Trump's first moves and the state of the resistance against him. And in the Extra Bit for Patreon backers: Could you boycott visiting the United States while Trump is President?   • “Very bad things are going to happen. The question is, how are we going to react to them?” – Reed Galen • Support us on Patreon for an ad-free listening experience – and to help keep independent podcasting alive!  Written and presented by Dorian Lynskey with Rachel Cunliffe and Rafael Behr. Audio production by Robin Leeburn and Simon Williams. 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   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Reform UK are on a roll. The Tories are dancing to their tune, some polls are putting them on par with Labour and the wilder hard-right papers are hyping Farage as a potential PM. But how real is Reform's “surge”? Are their voters really up for far-right populism, or are they more likely angry, disaffected, sometimes even left-leaning people who've lost faith in politics? Campaigning veteran Paul Mason of The New European and The Guardian's Rafael Behr ask the big question of 2025: how do we stop Reform dragging Britain to the far-right? • “Reform know how to play populist politics. They are a very well-funded autocratic party and they know what they're doing.” – Paul Mason • “Every time you say ‘open borders' you convert a Reform voter to a fascist.” – Paul Mason • Support us on Patreon for early episodes and more. • We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/bunker for £100 sponsored credit.   Written and presented by Rafael Behr. Audio production by Tom Taylor. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Managing Editor Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We did it, we survived 2024. Now, we face 2025 – a year where the world's most influential country is headed by a convicted felon. How consequential will Donald Trump and his nerdy henchman, Elon Musk, be? And back home, Labour is taking on its first full year in charge. Keir Starmer has made a lot of promises, can he and his government get any of it done? And what will happen to Nigel Farage's Reform UK? Our first panel of the year gets into the biggest issues of 2025 and the cast of characters that COULD be the most influential this year. We're on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow   www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Andrew Harrison with Rafael Behr, Ros Taylor and Zoë Grünewald. Producer: Chris Jones. 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 podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is the Great Man* theory of history back? As our world seems increasingly shaped by individual oligarchs, populists and single-issue celebrities, we complete our list of the most influential people of the century so far. Who will make the cut? Our Bunker regulars – BBC veteran Gavin Esler, historian and author Alex Von Tunzelmann and Guardian columnist Rafael Behr – name the Final Five of our Century Shapers. Part One already available. • Support us on Patreon for early episodes and more. • We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/bunker for £100 sponsored credit. www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Gavin Esler. Audio production by Simon Williams and Robin Leeburn. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Managing Editor Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Incredibly, we're already nearly a quarter of the way through the 21st Century. Who are the big figures who've shaped and transformed, or more often, terrorised and devastated, our political and physical worlds? And how did 20th century dreams of a stable consensus tomorrow fall apart? A panel of Bunker regulars – BBC veteran Gavin Esler, historian and author Alex Von Tunzelmann and Guardian columnist Rafael Behr – assemble to choose the first five of our Century Shapers. Part Two out tomorrow or available now on Patreon. • We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/bunker for £100 sponsored credit. www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Gavin Esler. Audio production by Simon Williams and Robin Leeburn. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Managing Editor Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

• Last chance to get 20% off a year's Patreon support for OGWN! Rishi in the rain? Musk ruining everything? Boris Johnson's stupid book? In the OGWN Political Awards of the Year we choose the defining moments of the year – but also the heroes, villains, and even the reasons to be optimistic for 2025. Dorian Lynskey, Marie le Conte, Ros Taylor and Rafael Behr gather to pore over the entrails of 2024 and name the totemic people and events of the year. Plus, in the Extra Bit for Patreon people: What do the panel want for Christmas? Not Electoral Reform socks and Donald Tusk action figures, but the ideas and policy moves they want to see in 2025? Support us on Patreon to keep independent podcasting alive and 'casting!  Written and presented by Dorian Lynskey. Audio production by Robin Leeburn and Tom Taylor. 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   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

• Get 20% off a year's Patreon support in our Cyber Monday sale. Why not ask for it for Christmas? • Last few tickets for our Christmas Live Show on Tue 10 Dec at the Comedy Store London.

Nick Cohen chats to Lowdown favourite - the brilliant Guardian columnist & author Rafael Behr - about the gloomy outlook for the world with Donald Trump threatening the end of the world order for the West that has weathered 80 years of post-war crises - alongside a rampant radical right at home that is trying to delegitimise Labour's mandate to govern.Danger to Tories in being pro-TrumpRafael says - of the danger posed to Kemi Badenoch's Tories - that if they go ahead and throw in their lot with Trump and his crazed MAGA nationalists, "I think they [the Tories & Reform] underestimate the extent how far into mainstream, unpolitical, quite small "c" conservative Britain, a kind of visceral suspicion of America actually goes even before you've got Trump there." Farage of course already has, as Nick, put it - putting his buddy Trump's interests ahead of the UK's.Starmer needs to be be more assertive & aggressive with the RightRafael @rafaelbehr and Nick @NickCohen4 (and sometime's Raf's dog, who, BTW, inot on X!) discuss the current depressing domestic political scene with the radical right frantically trying to present the Labour government as having no mandate to govern despite a huge 170+ seat overall majority. Rafael says there is "an absence of swagger" about the Starmer government, adding, "these guys, they really are the government. And I think they need to assert that a little bit more."The failed revolution of brexit makes Labour's job even tougherRafael @rafaelbehr believes that the failure of brexit has led to the current atmosphere of political malaise, adding "all of the emotional and political capital that you can spend - [and-sic] all the you can make of a population for sacrifice in pursuit of a broader national goal - was squandered by Brexit as a fraudulent revolution." It means, adds Rafael, that "there will not be a day when Nigel Farage is on UK Bank Notes and the 23rd of June is our national holiday and there will be monuments to Jacob Rees Mogg and, and Boris Johnson."Rafael's recent book Politics: A Survivor's Guide: How to stay engaged without getting enraged is published by W.F.Howes Ltd and available at Amazon and in all good bookshops.Support the show You can also read his wonderful columns in the Guardian.Nick Cohen's @NichCohen4 latest Substack column Writing from London on politics and culture from the UK and beyond. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's a competition that has gripped the nation. The candidates have been whittled down. The country is on tenterhooks. Strictly? Of course not. We're talking about the appointment of the next cabinet secretary. The Guardian's Rafael Behr joins the podcast team to speculate about who might get the job – and what they need to do.   How can the government get more people back to work? It has published a new “Get Britain Working” white paper for starters, but what does it set out and is this any different to anything we have heard before?   Plus: Does the government have an electric car problem?    Hannah White presents. With Alex Thomas and Nehal Davison. Produced by Robin Leeburn for Podmasters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

• Get 20% off a year's Patreon support in our Black Friday sale. Why not ask for it for Christmas? • Get your tickets to our live show at the Comedy Store on Tue 10 Dec here! Keir Starmer's global adventures have grabbed headlines – and while some think he should spend more time at home, others say he's doing what he needs to do to revive the UK's international image. Our panel wades into the debate.  Plus, is local media dead and buried or can upstarts revive it? Jim Waterson was the Media Editor for The Guardian before setting up London Centric, a “modern outlet for London”. Can you have a healthy national media without strong local roots?  And in the Extra Bit for Subscribers, Trump 2.0 is the sequel nobody wanted. We discuss sequels that were actually good to distract our minds from the story unfolding in the US. We're on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow   www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow • Don't miss Series 2 of our science and psychology podcast, Why? with Emma Kennedy –listen here. Presented by Ros Taylor with Seth Thévoz and Rafael Behr. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. Video Production: Chris Jones and Jamie Heffernan. 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

Get your tickets to our 10th December live show at the Comedy Store here! On the eve of the US election, nobody is quite sure how Donald Trump still has a chance of becoming president. But should the orange man lose, how does the Republican Party recover from his reign? Home Front podcast host and Republican campaign veteran. Reed Galen, has been a vehement anti-Trumper for years and joins the panel to get into it all. And back home, Kemi Badenoch is at the helm of the Tory party - what does that mean for the future of the centre-right? And what can we learn from what Trump has done to the GOP? We're on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow   www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow • Don't miss Series 2 of our science and psychology podcast, Why? with Emma  Kennedy - listen here. Presented by Jacob Jarvis with Zoe Grunewald and Rafael Behr. Producer: Chris Jones. 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 podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With a new president due to be elected in America, what impact would each candidate have on the war in Ukraine? Rafael Behr speaks to Simon Shuster, reporter for Time and author of The Showman: Inside the Invasion That Shook the World and Made a Leader of Volodymyr Zelensky, about what the outcome in the US might mean – and to discuss the state of the conflict more broadly, as well as how Ukraine's leader is continuing to handle the war.     We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/bunker for £100 sponsored credit.  Support us on Patreon.  Written and presented by Rafael Behr. Audio production: Jade Bailey. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Polizisten und Polizistinnen machen eine wichtige Arbeit und oft einen sehr harten Job - aber sie machen auch Fehler, bis hin zu Polizeigewalt. Immer wieder werden bundesweit Beamte und Beamtinnen auffällig, die in Chatgruppen verfassungsfeindliche Symbole posten oder Menschen mit Migrationshintergrund rassistisch oder antisemitisch beleidigen oder diskriminieren. Wer zu Unrecht Opfer von Polizeigewalt wird, hat oft kaum Chancen sich zur Wehr zu setzen. Dabei ist z.B. das „Racial Profiling“ eigentlich gesetzlich verboten. Auch wenn die Polizei unsere freiheitlich-demokratische Grundordnung schützen soll, gibt es immer wieder Fälle von Polizeigewalt, die diesem Grundsatz entgegenstehen. Polizeigewerkschaft und Politik sprechen dann oft von Einzelfällen - doch inwiefern gibt es strukturelle Probleme in der Polizei, die z.B. rassistisches Verhalten begünstigen? Ein heikles Thema, über das wir sprechen mit Mohamed Amjahid, Journalist und Autor, Alexander Poitz, stellvertretender Bundesvorsitzender der Gewerkschaft der Polizei und Prof. Rafael Behr, Polizeiakademie Hamburg und Uli Grötsch, erster Bundesbeauftragter der Polizei Podcast-Tipp: Mouhamed Dramé - Wenn die Polizei tötet | WDR Lokalzeit Vor zwei Jahren wurde in Dortmund der 16-jährige Mouhamed Dramé bei einem Polizeieinsatz erschossen. Dortmunds Polizeipräsident Gregor Lange bedauert, dass durch den Fall vor allem bei "Menschen mit Zuwanderungsgeschichte" Vertrauen verloren gegangen sei. Der Podcast arbeitet diesen Fall auf: Zwölf Polizisten, sechs Schüsse, ein toter Schwarzer Jugendlicher: Mouhamed Dramé. Demonstrationen gegen Rassismus und Polizeigewalt. Was ist im August 2022 in Dortmund passiert? WDR-Reporter suchen nach Antworten - am Tatort, im Senegal und vor Gericht. https://www.ardaudiothek.de/sendung/mouhamed-dram-wenn-die-polizei-toetet-wdr-lokalzeit/13407601/

• Go here to get tickets for Oh God, What Now? live at the Comedy Store on Tue 10 Dec. Starmer's still under media pressure over the Swiftgate/freebie scandal, he just can't shake it off… (I'll get my coat). Should Labour give up on getting a fair crack from Britain's media – and how much are the problems the party's own fault? Broadcaster and ex-Sky News political editor Adam Boulton joins us to talk about Labour vs the media and the seismic changes engulfing the news business. Plus in the Extra Bit for backers, Wes Streeting asked the public for ideas to improve the NHS and got suggestions like beer on tap to improve “patient morale”. Is it ever worth asking the public for ideas?   We're on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow    www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Don't miss Series 2 of our science and psychology podcast, Why? with Emma  Kennedy – listen here. Presented by Ros Taylor with Ava Santina and Rafael Behr. Producer: Chris Jones. 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 podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We were all set for a relaxing live show in Hove and then the Tories made the worst choice since the mayor in Jaws kept the beaches open. On this feature-length show: live Jenrick/Badenoch reaction, a look at Labour's imposter syndrome and the Conservatives' irrational exuberance, we put the boot into Boris Johnson' wretched book, and much, much more.  • Longtime OGWN fans Make A Will Online have a special offer for fellow listeners. Go to Makeawillonline.co.uk/whatnow for a 20% discount. Don't put off making a will, get peace of mind for you and your loved ones. Support us on Patreon to get early access to all our live tickets plus mugs, t-shirts and more.  Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Rafael Behr, Ros Taylor and special guest Jan Ravens. Live audio by Tom Taylor, production by Robin Leeburn. Theme music by Cornershop. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Special thanks to Louise, Helen, Mark, Tim and all at the Old Market Theatre. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production www.podmasters.co.uk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Send us a textNick talks to Lowdown regular, author and Guardian columnist Rafael Behr about what Labour does now in government after 14 years in opposition on the sidelines of terrible Tory governments delivering austerity, brexit, a bungled pandemic response, five failed prime ministers, economic decline and collapsing councils and public services.Will the UK inherited from the Tories prove to be a poisoned chalice for PM Sir Keir Starmer and co or can Labour rescue and rejuvenate a country battered by years of Tory misrule?Rafael concludes Labour may have the policies and the right people to carry them out but wonders whether Sir Keir and his chancellor Rachel Reeves have the political vim to sell their vision and plans to the electorate. Already, the BBC has declared Labour's blink-and-you'd've-missed-it political honeymoon to be "over."Rafael @rafaelbehr concedes Labour has its work cut out - as latest opinion polls suggest - and a rocky passage lies ahead. But the Conservatives have not even begun to examine the reasons for their crushing defeat in July. Most media attention has been focussed on the split on the Tories' far right, and with Nigel Farages latest vehicle, Reform, while steadfastly ignoring the hemorrhaging of one-time rock solid Conservative seats to the Liberal Democrats, including the Witney and Maidenhead constituencies of former prime ministers  Lord Cameron and Theresa May. Rafael contends that the famous "Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells" - which the Tories also lost to the Lib Dems - remain particularly disgusted by brexit and its abject and predictable failure. Rafael's recent book Politics: A Survivor's Guide: How to stay engaged without getting enraged is published by W.F.Howes Ltd and available at Amazon and in all good bookshops.Support the showListen to The Lowdown from Nick Cohen for in-depth analysis of the issues and events that shape our lives and futures. From Ukraine to Brexit, from Trump to the Tories - we hope to keep you informed - and sane! @NickCohen4

The government saw off a rebellion over its plans to cut winter fuel allowance this week. John Harris speaks to Caroline Abrahams from Age UK about what this winter will look like for millions of pensioners losing out. Plus, he talks to columnist Rafael Behr about whether the technocrats (Starmer and Reeves) are taking the Labour party in the wrong direction. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

• New second live date in Liverpool, Tue 24 Oct. Tickets here. • 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 Oct. 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

The UK and Russia have long had a strained relationship – and ties have only been worsened since Putin's invasion of Ukraine. Is there any future possibility for a return to a 1990s state of civility between the two nations – or has Putin's reign marked a permanent end to such a connection? In the third episode of our ‘Foreign Affairs' mini-series on Britain's foreign relationships, Rafael Behr speaks to RUSI Senior Associate Fellow Andrew Monaghan to better understand tensions between the UK and Russia.   We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/bunker for £100 sponsored credit.   www.patreon.com/bunkercast   Written and presented by Rafael Behr. Produced by Eliza Davis Beard. Audio production by Tom Taylor. Managing Editor Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. Art by James Parrett. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production   www.podmasters.co.uk   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

In this summer bonus episode, Raf and (producer) Phil discuss the changing mood around British politics since Labour's election victory, the restoration of seriousness after years of triviality, why some people can't adapt, why others want to believe that Keir Starmer can deliver the change he has promised and whether they are right.Links to stuff mentioned in the podcastMore in Common reportTony Judt's essayReform came 2nd in 89 of the seats that Labour won.Lowest voter turnout for a General Election since universal suffrage beganThis is a Raf Behr and Larchmont Productions podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Prime Minister Starmer jets off for the 75th NATO summit in Washington DC, how will he perform on the global stage? And how impactful will David Lammy be as the new foreign secretary? Plus, the Lib Dems' strategic genius, Labour's peculiar losses, and Reform's overrated performance – the panel unpacks some of the election trends you might have missed. And in the Extra Bit for subscribers, Dorian, Zoë, and Raf detail their most forgettable and unforgettable election nights. Get exclusive NordVPN deal here – https://nordvpn.com/ohgodwhatnow  It's risk-free with Nord's 30-day money-back guarantee. The Pension Confident Podcast from PensionBee aims to improve listeners' understanding of personal finance – whether that's helping you to navigate the cost of living crisis, exploring the impact of your relationship status on your finances or discussing how to teach kids about money. Listen to the latest episode here https://link.chtbl.com/FSF2Yu6y  We're on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Zoë Grünewald and Rafael Behr. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production by: Robin Leeburn. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Political commentator with The Guardian Rafael Behr returns to the podcast to talk about the UK general election. By Friday we will know if the widely-expected Tory implosion and Labour majority have materialised. But what comes next? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're into the general election final countdown and all the polls point to a big Labour win for Keir Starmer. So does Rishi Sunak have any aces up his sleeve or has the general election gambling scandal confirmed many Conservatives' fears that that their leader is a busted flush? The Guardian's Rafael Behr joins the podcast to look back on the campaign and explore what might happen next for Labour and the Conservatives.   Who has had a good campaign and who has had a bad one? The podcast team pick their choices.   What is it the last day – and the first day – in government really like? The IfG's Giles Wilkes and Jack Worlidge, both former government special advisers, give the inside story.   PLUS: What are the big barriers to Labour's clean energy plan and what can Keir Starmer do to knock them down?   Presented by Emma Norris.   With Gilkes Wilkes, Jack Worlidge and Rosa Hodgkin.   Produced by Candice McKenzie Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

• Don't forget our Election Night live show, streaming to Patreon backers. Have Tory governments depleted all of our optimism – or could a Starmer government restore hope in politics? The panel discusses whether things really can only get better post-Sunak. And our special guest today is award-winning journalist Peter Kellner, who has served as president of YouGov and previously worked on BBC Newsnight. He joins the panel to discuss polls, Farage, and everything in between. And in the Extra Bit for subscribers, don't you hate it when someone you detest puts forward an annoyingly good argument? The panel gives us their own examples. We're on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Ros Taylor with Zoe Grunewald, Rafael Behr and guest Peter Kellner. 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

• Watch our Election Night Live Special on Zoom when you back us on Patreon.  • Keep an eye out for daily editions Tue-Fri in the run-up to the Election. The manifestos are out (OK, not everyone's lying but we couldn't resist the headline). What's in Labour's, what's not and what's cutting through for ‘normal people'? Does it matters what the Tories offer? And what the Farage is in Reform UK on about? Plus, step away from the Britain Elects Twitter… are we over-polling this election? And are polls now setting the agenda rather than telling us what the agenda is? Listen up for all that plus this week's Heroes and Villains. Polling on UK voters' favourite takeaway.    Support us on Patreon to get early access to all our live tickets plus mugs, t-shirts and more.  Presented by Alex Andreou with Marie le Conte, Rafael Behr and Ava Santini. Audio production by Alex Rees, yes Alex Rees. Theme music by Cornershop. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

 @NickCohen4 and Guardian political columnist @rafaelbehr discuss the potential for an extinction-level general election result for the Tories on July 4th.Time and events seem to have caught up with the Conservative Party at last as they face retribution at the hands of an exasperated electorate after 14 years of chaos and 5 prime ministers, plus policy disaster after policy disaster including Brexit, Austerity, the bungling of Covid, the Tufton Street insanity of "Trussonomics", turds in rivers and seas and the endless Rwanda/immigration fiasco. And then there is the serial buffoonery and malfeasance of Boris Johnson.Rafael and Nick discuss how the Conservatives find themselves beached on political territory between the rabid right they tried and failed to appease and the centre ground  where people have become increasingly repelled by Tory incompetence and hard right, populist antics.  E.g. Tories may boast of "getting brexit done" but scarcely of brexit itself.Rafael is one of the Guardian's leading columnists and observers of the political scene. Rafael's book - "Politics - A Survivor's Guide" is published by Atlantic.Don't forget to read Nick's regular Substack column Writing from London.Support the Show.Listen to The Lowdown from Nick Cohen for in-depth analysis of the issues and events that shape our lives and futures. From Ukraine to Brexit, from Trump to the Tories - we hope to keep you informed - and sane! @NickCohen4

The European Elections are fast approaching – and the rise of the far-right is sparking concern. With some 373 million Europeans eligible to vote, this is a pivotal moment for democracy as a whole. Rafael Behr talks to political scientist Simon Hix, the Stein Rokkan chair in comparative politics at the European University Institute in Florence, about what this means for Europe – and the rest of the world.    We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/bunker for £100 sponsored credit.    www.patreon.com/bunkercast    Written and presented by Rafael Behr. Produced by Eliza Davis Beard. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. Managing Editor Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. Art by James Parrett. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production    www.podmasters.co.uk    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Come to the OGWN Election Night LIVE special at The Tabernacle, London W11. Tickets here.  Genny Lex 2024 is heating up as Starmer and Sunak hit the campaign trail. The Labour leader has been talking nukes whilst Sunak focuses on culture wars (no surprise there then). And, [sighs] Nigel Farage is back in politics. What does his return mean for the Tories and the impending election? Plus, is anyone actually looking forward to the TV debates? Or are they just a massive waste of time? We're on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Jacob Jarvis with Alex Andreou, Rafael Behr and Zoë Grünewald. Producers: Chris Jones and Jacob Jarvis. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. Video production by Keiron Leslie. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production www.podmasters.co.uk` Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this edition host Rafael Behr talks to Nichola Raihani, Professor of Evolution and Behaviour in the School of Psychology at the University of Auckland.She's also the author of, 'The Social Instinct: How Cooperation Shaped the World'Professor Raihani has unique insight into a problem that has appeared in various forms on this podcast over the years.It's a question of collective action, solidarity, and cooperation. What motivates people to form units of political organisation or cooperation?Tribes, parties, whole nations—what holds them together and what drives them apart? Why do some societies tend to be democratic and some go despotic? Is it an accident of history? Climate? Culture? Religion? Evolution. This is the fabric of politics, the very stuff societies are made of at the most fundamental level, and Professor Rehani shines an evolutionary light on it all.This podcast is produced by Philip Berman of Larchmont Productions Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brits have a bad reputation abroad – but what about Britain as a whole? To discuss how other countries look at Britain, Rafael Behr speaks to FT journalist Michael Peel, author of What Everyone Knows About Britain (*Except the British).  • “Looking at Britain from overseas made Brexit easier to see coming.” – Michael Peel  Buy What Everyone Knows About Britain (*Except the British) through our affiliate bookshop and you'll help fund The Bunker by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org's fees help support independent bookshops too. We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/bunker for £100 sponsored credit. www.patreon.com/bunkercast    Written and presented by Rafael Behr. Producer: Eliza Davis Beard. Audio editor: Simon Williams. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson and artwork by James Parrett. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Instagram | Twitter   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit 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 where our 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 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

Trump's followers are often described as cult-like. But how much does the former president actually act like a cult leader? Does he employ the same coercive control tactics utilised by infamous infamous figureheads of the past – like Jim Jones and Sun Myung Moon? The Cult of Trump author and leading mind control expert Steven Hassan tells Rafael Behr how perceiving Trump as a cult leader might let us better understand the current political climate.  • “People don't care that Trump has ninety-one criminal charges against him, that he has over 40,000 documented lies. They refuse to believe he lost the election. Their minds have been hacked.” – Steven Hassan • “There are a lot of different cults in the cult of trump.” – Steven Hassan We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/bunker for £100 sponsored credit. www.patreon.com/bunkercast       Written and presented by Rafael Behr. Producer: Eliza Davis Beard. Audio editor: Robin Leeburn. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson and artwork by James Parrett. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit 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  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

The Royal Family are experiencing their worst year in decades. Is it time we wound down the Monarchy not just for our sake but for their sake too? Or are things best left the way they are? Plus, Boomers (not all of them we'll add) are “used to having everything its own way”, says the Economist, but times are changing. Has the time of the Millennials finally come? • “The Monarchy doesn't provide a service like the BBC or the NHS but I think it's rational, because it's been there for such a long time, for people to not want to get rid of it.” – Rafael Behr • “Even if you just look at the makeup of Congress there really aren't a lot of millennials present.” – Yasmeen Serhan • “Gen X really are the absolute waster generation.” – Rafael Behr We're on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Andrew Harrison, with Yasmeen Serhan and Rafael Behr. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production by: Robin Leeburn. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Video production by Keiron Leslie. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lee Anderson has thrown a strop and joined Reform UK. What is this political journeyman trying to do – other than seek a load of attention? And, the budget hasn't managed to win hearts and minds for the Tories. In fact, it made the dial creep in the wrong direction. What will they try next? • “If the Tories choose to radicalise, then I'm sure Lee Anderson could find a home back within the party.” – Hannah Fearn  • “Talking up the numbers of defectors is just a way of spooking the Tories.” – Rafael Behr  • “Sunak has very clumsy, clunky, tactical judgement.” – Rafael Behr  We're on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVOIkIWUDtu7VrVcFs0OI0A  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Alex Andreou with Hannah Fearn, Rafael Behr and Ros Taylor. Producers: Chris Jones and Alex Rees. 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 podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After Lee Anderson and Suella Braverman's recent outbursts, why are the Tories so scared of the word Islamophobia? And how deep does this issue run in the party? Plus, it's a But Your Emails special! In the second half the panel answers as many of our listeners burning political questions as possible. Then in the Extra Bit for subscribers, what are political marches good for? The panel discusses their own experiences.  We're on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Dorian Lynskey, with Matt Green, Rafael Behr, and Hannah Fearn. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production by: Robin Leeburn and Jade Bailey. 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