James O'Brien Daily

James breaks down the latest from the war in the Middle East, asks why President Trump really started this conflict, discusses whether Sir Keir Starmer’s belittling by Trump is actually a very good thing and receives Washington Correspondent Simon Marks’ analysis.Also, James also speaks with Victoria Rose, a consultant plastic surgeon and one of the many medics who say they have been barred from Gaza after speaking out against Israel.And, James is joined by Usman Shah, the London man who was racially abused online after appearing on a welcome to Heathrow poster - and then met the people the trolls that did it.This episode was recorded on the 4th of March. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

The US has warned of an "imminent" Iranian attack in the Saudi city of Dhahran, a major centre for the oil industry and where a US consulate is located. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump tells Iran it's "too late" to talk, adding their armed forces are “gone”.The death toll continues to sky rocket, and Trump has again criticised Sir Keir Starmer for initially denying access to British bases.How can anyone oppose Starmer’s actions thus far, and, more importantly - how does this war end?This episode was recorded on the 3rd of March. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Sir Keir Starmer "stands by" his decision not to join in with Israeli and US strikes on Iran, stating that the UK had learned lessons from the "mistakes of Iraq" - but has agreed to a US request to use British military bases for "defensive" strikes on Iranian missile sites.Has Starmer got this right?This episode was recorded on the 2nd of March. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

34-year-old plumber Hannah Spencer marked her victory in the Gorton and Denton by-election with an apology to her customers, saying: "I think I might have to cancel the work that you had booked in, because I'm heading to Parliament. Is something seismic happening in the Green Party? This episode was recorded on the 27th of February. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

A damning report published on England’s maternity care revealed systemic problems, including bereaved mothers facing cruelty from maternity staff, shocking incidents of racism, and a lack of accountability. Hospitals that have caused harm to women and babies were often found to “cover-up” their mistakes, falsify medical records and deny bereaved parents answers. James’ callers share their experiences.This episode was recorded on the 26th of February. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Time to discuss the Green Party. No scaremongering, no lazy stereotypes, just these simple questions: Why are the Greens surging in popularity, and how are they reaching parts that no other parties can?Also, James is joined by LBC’s Washington Editor, Simon Marks, for a breakdown of Donald Trump’s longest State of the Union address yet, in which he claimed the US would see an “economic turnaround for the ages”.And, James speaks with Evan Edinger, the YouTuber whose video Something Very Strange Is Happening To London documents how the capital is being misrepresented online.This episode was recorded on the 25th of February. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

The head of the British Armed Forces and the Chief of MI6 have warned of the distinct possibility that Britain will be pulled into war with Russia. The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said that Putin has already started World War 3. Why then, are we all so relaxed about it?And, the BBC has apologised for not editing out the n-word racial slur from its BAFTA Film Awards coverage, after a guest with Tourette's syndrome shouted it out when two of film’s biggest stars, Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo, were on stage. What should have been done differently?This episode was recorded on the 24th of February. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

“I’ll ensure no child with special needs is left behind”... Sir Keir Starmer has set out a £4 billion package to reform special needs education, as he states that the current system supporting disabled children in schools “does not work”. James’ callers bravely share what it was like to be at school before special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision.This episode was recorded on the 23rd of February. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, was released from custody after 11 hours last night, following his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office in relation to the Epstein Files.Will the Royal Family survive this scandal? And, why do we even still believe in the Monarchy?This episode was recorded on the 20th of February. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Today, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (formerly known as Prince Andrew) was arrested by police. He remains in custody on suspicion of misconduct in public office. While the police searched several of Mountbatten-Windsor's residences for evidence, including the Royal Lodge in Windsor, the King released a statement saying "the law must take its course".James speaks with LBC reporters on the ground at Windsor, host of The News Agents Podcast, Emily Maitlis, who's landmark interview with Mountbatten-Windsor about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein set the tone for much of the journalism that followed, and Simon Marks, to hear how the news is being received in the US.This episode was recorded on the 19th of February. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

In their election manifesto, Labour committed to increasing the minimum wage of 18 to 20 year olds inline with those over 21... however, it’s been reported these changes are being delayed. Is it fair for an 18 year old to be given the same minimum wage as a 50 or 60 year old?And, middle-class women in their thirties and forties make up the bulk of the over 2 million people taking weight-loss jabs in the UK, a study has revealed. Most pay hundreds of pounds each month for the jabs. Are these drugs really good for society?This episode was recorded on the 18th of February. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Reform UK is no longer the bookmakers’ favourites to win the most seats at the next general election, according to new odds from Ladbrokes. This comes as a surprise to James, who asks why the Labour party appears to be doing so well.And, parents in Enfield, North London, have been told their children could be excluded from school if they are not fully vaccinated against measles, amid a recent outbreak. Should kids be excluded until they’re vaccinated? And, how do you handle a family member that is an anti-vaxxer?This episode was recorded on the 17th of February. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

The government has announced a crackdown on tech firms to protect children from harmful online content that could open the door to an Australia-style social media ban… but what is it specifically that makes social media so harmful?And, Britain and Germany’s highest ranking military leaders have made an unprecedented joint appeal to the public to accept the “moral” case for rearmament and the preparation for war with Russia. How can you convince the UK public that war with Russia is a possibility?This episode was recorded on the 16th of February. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

The former Conservative Education Secretary, Nadhim Zahawi, who is now a member of Reform UK, said on LBC that Sir Jim Ratcliffe is right on immigration. Why don’t black and brown right-wing politicians realise that when Ratcliffe claims immigrants are “colonising the UK”, that he’s talking about them?This episode was recorded on the 13th of February. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

The Monaco-based billionaire and Manchester United co-owner,Jim Ratcliffe, has faced a barrage of criticism since saying in an interview that the UK was being “colonised” by immigrants and citing inaccurate statistics, labelled as hypocritical and reminiscent of “far-right narratives”. What's it like as an ethnic minority person living in a country where racism is back in fashion?This episode was recorded on the 12th of February. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

King Charles has said he’s “ready to support” the police as they consider allegations against Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, his brother. Shouldn’t the public be holding the Royal Family - which paid an estimated £12m to settle a sexual abuse case brought by Virginia Giuffre against Andrew in 2022 - under the same scrutiny as Sir Keir Starmer? Why doesn't society care more about Jeffrey Epstein's victims?Washington Correspondent Simon Marks shares the most important developments from the US and James discusses Seamus Culleton, the Irish national who’s been detained by ICE for five months, despite having all necessary documents, with his lawyer, Attorney Ogor Winnie Okoye.This episode was recorded on the 11th of February. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Sir Keir Starmer has said he’ll "never walk away from the country that I love" and thanked his cabinet for their support after Scottish Labour Leader Anas Sarwar called for him to stand down over the Mandelson-Epstein disaster. What does Starmer need to do now? What do you want from the Prime Minister? And, what's the opposition of populism?Plus, LBC Reporter Henry Riley is in the studio for always illuminating "Reform UK Watch".This episode was recorded on the 10th of February. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Several cabinet ministers have publicly backed Keir Starmer after Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar called on the PM to resign over the Epstein-Madelson controversy. James asks why Keir Starmer is seemingly ill-suited for the role of Prime Minister, and is joined by LBC's Political Editor Natasha Clark to run through the resignation of Starmer's former director of communications, Tim Allan.This episode was recorded on the 9th of February. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Is Sir Keir Starmer’s time up? Some journalists are saying that it is, but James wants to look into how the situation might unfold and asks listeners to answer the question ‘Just why is Keir Starmer in so much trouble?’. In his final hour, James steps away from Keir Starmer, to talk about racism after an image that’s been shared online. This episode was recorded on the 6th February. Catch James O’Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Sir Keir Starmer today apologised to Jeffrey Epstein's victims and says he is "sorry for having believed Mandelson's lies", ahead of appointing him as US Ambassador, saying he gave the impression he "barely knew" Epstein. James analyses the speech and asks his callers what they think… is this the end of the road for Starmer?This episode was recorded on the 5th of February. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Keir Starmer said today that Peter Mandelson has "lied repeatedly" about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, that he regrets appointing Mandelson as US ambassador in 2024, and that he’ll release all material relating to the appointment - with some exemptions in the interest of national security. Kemi Badenoch has accused Starmer of trying to "sabotage" this file release, and opposition MPs are demanding answers. Will Keir Starmer survive this?This episode was recorded on the 4th of February. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Peter Mandelson is to step down from the House of Lords after the latest release of Epstein files appear to show he leaked sensitive information to Jeffrey Epstein in 2009 - after Epstein’s conviction of procuring a child for prostitution in 2008. What is wrong with the former Lord Mandelson?On a rather different note, the charity National Landscapes is undertaking government funded plans to remove barriers to ethnic minorities in each of its 46 “areas of outstanding natural beauty”. Why is it so important to have a connection to nature? This episode was recorded on the 3rd of February. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Millions of the so-called “Epstein Files” have been released by the US Department of Justice, the largest number of documents shared by the government since a law mandated their release last year. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (formerly Prince Andrew), President Donald Trump, Peter Mandelson, Bill Clinton and Elon Musk are just a few of the vast number of rich and powerful people implicated. So… why hasn’t the world stopped yet?This episode was recorded on the 2nd of Feb. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Sir Keir Starmer has brushed off criticism from Donald Trump after a visit to China, during which he negotiated the lifting of sanctions on British MPs. Should we be doing business with China, and why do we know so little about the world’s second biggest economy?And, Kemi Badenoch has said that centrist ideas are no longer wanted in the Conservative Party, arguing that one nation-type Tories or those who have qualms over the party's move to the right “need to get out of the way”. Where do old-school Tories go now?This episode was recorded on the 30th of January. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Donald Trump has warned Iran that "time is running out" to negotiate a deal on its nuclear programme following the steady build-up of US military forces in the Gulf. The risk of military intervention edges closer... so James asks his listeners with connections to Iran whether they’d support an American attack.And, James is joined by LBC Reporter Henry Riley, with an exclusive story - Reform Leader Nigel Farage has opened an investigation into a Reform candidate, Mike Manning, after he was accused of “antisemitic and xenophobic” social media posts by a senior Liberal Democrat MP.This episode was recorded on the 29th of January. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Freeholders may “resort to lawfare” to block the government’s £250 cap on ground rents, Angela Rayner has warned, as leasehold experts urged ministers to speed up the “glacial” pace of reform. James digs into the truth around leaseholds - is it a heinous system that protects the interests of the wealthy?And, James is joined by Washington Editor Simon Marks who shares the latest from the US following the killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good by ICE, as well as Donald Trump’s warning to Iran today ‘that time is running out’ for them to avert an American military intervention.This episode was recorded on the 28th of January. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Around 50 Labour MPs have signed a letter objecting to Sir Keir Starmer’s decision to block Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham from standing in a forthcoming by-election. Is he acting for the greater good?Shockingly, a quarter of UK GPs are seeing obese children aged 4 and younger. Why do we still have such an alarming problem with childhood obesity, and how should parents and doctors tackle it?Also, talented white working-class pupils “lose ground” at secondary school, compared with their black and Asian peers, a study has found. If you grew up in a household where education wasn't valued, what is that like, and how do you break the cycle?And, in honour of Holocaust Memorial Day, James shares some powerful words from the late Lilli Pohlmann, who was a holocaust survivor and James’ dear friend.This episode was recorded on the 27th of January. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Two killings in Minneapolis by ICE in two weeks… Alex Pretti was a 37-year-old intensive care nurse who supported veterans with life threatening illnesses. The Trump administration labelled Pretti as a “domestic terrorist” who was looking to cause harm - this is at odds with the footage of the incident, a video that has caused global outrage.James is pretty certain that the US has crossed the line into fascism… how should this be covered in the media and what does it mean for our greatest historical ally to be a fascist state? This episode was recorded on the 26th of January. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

President Donald Trump has claimed NATO troops avoided the front lines during the Afghanistan War and that he “wasn’t sure” troops would support the US in the future. 457 British service personnel were killed in the conflict. James speaks with those who’ve served in the forces to discuss just how wrong - and offensive - Trump’s claims are.And, James is also joined by Emily Maitlis, who’s been in Minneapolis reporting on ICE’s activities, including the detainment of a 5-year old boy in Minnesota yesterday.This episode was recorded on the 23rd of January. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

President Trump has backed down on his tariff threats against the European states who opposed his plans to take over Greenland. He then announced a Gaza “Master Plan” and his Board of Peace, inviting world leaders, including Vladimir Putin and Benjamin Netanyahu, to join after paying an entry fee of £1b each. What can we actually learn from this?This episode was recorded on the 22nd of January. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Donald Trump has told European leaders that the US is the “only country” that could secure Greenland, calling for "immediate negotiations" to acquire the Danish territory, but insisting he "won't use force"... How do we explain why Trump is doing all of this? And, how have British commentators been so unbelievably wrong about him?And, James is joined by comedian Stewart Lee, who’s needing to rewrite some of the material for his latest tour given the recent upturning of the entire world order.This episode was recorded on the 21st of January. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Donald Trump said there was "no going back" on his plan to take control of Greenland. He also posted images of himself placing an American flag on the Danish territory, and a message that seemingly shows the NATO General Secretary supporting his demands. Should Europe hit back?And, Brooklyn Beckham has launched an astonishing attack on his “controlling” parents, cutting them off and claiming they’ve consistently tried to ruin his marriage. It's easy to forget that the Beckham’s deal with family problems too… James asks his callers to share their own experiences of parental estrangement.This episode was recorded on the 20th of January. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

James starts with Keir Starmer's national address today, in which he said Donald Trump's plan to impose tariffs on the UK for its support of Greenland was “hugely wrong”. Should the Prime Minister have done more? Also sharing his analysis is LBC's Washington Editor Simon Marks.And, Prince Harry and another six claimants, including Elton John and Baroness Doreen Lawrence, the mother of Stephen Lawrence, are taking the Daily Mail publishers to court. James speaks with Dr Evan Harris, Former Lib Dem MP and a member of the claimants’ legal team, for more information.This episode was recorded on the 19th of January. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Britain’s voting behaviour is becoming ever more erratic, as public trust in mainstream politics continues to fray. From the long tail of Brexit to the hypocrisies of the Conservatives, James unpacks why political disillusionment is deepening and how populist sentiment has filled the vacuum. With former Tory figures finding a home in Nigel Farage’s camp, is this realignment a protest vote, or a sign of something far more terminal for British politics?And, the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan joins the conversation to challenge misrepresentations of the capital, confront the worsening housing crisis, and warn of AI’s growing threat to jobs.This episode was recorded on the 16th of January. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Of the Iranian regime and the high probability of American military intervention, Donald Trump’s potential annexation of Greenland, and Russia’s all-out assault of Ukraine, which is the crisis that is most devastatingly urgent?And, today, former Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick joined Reform UK after being sacked by Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch. Is a nail in the Conservative’s coffin?This episode was recorded on the 15th of January. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

President Trump says the US will take "very strong action" against Iran if it continues executing anti-government demonstrators, following more than 2,400 protestors being killed by the Iranian authorities so far, according to the HRANA. The question remains - if we consider prior examples of American military intervention, should the US get involved in Iran?And, the NHS will not be allowed to offer training jobs to foreign doctors unless no British doctors have applied for the role, under legislation being fast-tracked through parliament. Is this right?This episode was recorded on the 14th of January. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Sir Keir Starmer stated today that X (formerly known as Twitter) could lose the "right to self regulate", if it didn’t prevent users from creating sexual images of children of women with the AI chatbot, Grok. Elon Musk is describing this as censorship and fascism… how is this even a debate?And, the government is reportedly considering an Australia-style social media ban on social media for under-16s in the UK. What does social media specifically do to children that causes them such harm?This episode was recorded on the 13th of January. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Over 500 protestors have been killed in Iran, according to the US-based rights group HRANA, since public demonstrations against the Islamic Republic government began in late December. Last night, President Trump warned the US is considering "very strong options" to intervene in the country. Should America militarily intervene?And, two-thirds of UK voters believe immigration is increasing despite sharp falls in the number of people entering the UK, according to a recent poll. Why is this, and why are the most anti-immigrant among us the most ignorant to the reality?This episode was recorded on the 12th of January. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

The Government is set to water down forthcoming increases to business rates bills faced by pubs in England. Is this a sign of weakness? Or, that they're listening?Also, following huge controversy around X (formerly known as Twitter) users “digitally undressing" women and girls with the platform’s AI feature, Grok, Elon Musk has restricted the feature to paying users only. Downing Street has described this move as "insulting" to victims of misogyny and sexual violence. Why is Musk allowing this to continue?And, James is joined by Washington Correspondent, Simon Marks, for the latest from the US following the fatal shooting of Renée Nicole Good in Minneapolis by an ICE agent.This episode was recorded on the 9th of January. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

A woman shot dead in her car by an ICE agent in Minneapolis has been identified as Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three. President Trump claimed the agent acted in self defence and that Good had “ran him over”, but this is clearly at odds with widely circulated videos of the incident. Minneapolis’ mayor, Jacob Frey, described the Trump’s claim as “bullsh*t” and demanded ICE officers leave the city.James breaks down the conflicting responses to the incident, is joined by Washington Correspondent Simon Marks and asks why the US government won’t tell the truth of this tragedy.This episode was recorded on the 8th of January. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Donald Trump’s supposed rationale for taking over Venezuela and potentially invading Greenland are disintegrating before our eyes. So, why is he actually doing it?And, James speaks with Eddie Perez, a former director at X (then called Twitter), who breaks down the appalling news that X users are “digitally undressing” people, including children, using the platform’s AI chatbot, Grok, with next to no pushback from owner Elon Musk.This episode was recorded on the 7th of January. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Yesterday, Stephen Miller, the White House Deputy Chief of Staff, doubled down on President Donald Trump’s threat to annex Greenland. Today, six European allies, including the UK, released a joint statement condemning the threat against the Danish territory.If Trump does invade Greenland - what can we actually do about it?This episode was recorded on the 6th of January. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

2026 has certainly started with a bang… Donald Trump has kidnapped the former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, taken control of the country and installed Delcy Rodriguez, a Maduro loyalist, as acting president. Trump’s plans to seize and begin selling the country’s oil, and has turned his eye once again to Greenland, renewing his repeated threat of annexing the Danish territory. LBC’s Political Editor Natasha Clark questions Sir Keir Starmer on his response to the Greenland threat, while James asks the callers: 1) How should Keir Starmer react? 2) What would an American invasion of Greenland look like? 3) How could we stop it?This episode was recorded on the 5th of January. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Welcome to Mystery Hour! It's the game where James O'Brien invites the callers to ask and answer the most burning of questions - and no topic is off limits. Put your feet up and get ready to absorb some highly interesting but likely useless information!James' live LBC programme and the James O'Brien Daily podcast are back from the 5th January. Have a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year!This episode was recorded on the 18th of December.

James O'Brien presents... Mystery Hour! It's the game in which callers ask and answer questions about absolutely whatever they want. You're guaranteed to learn and laugh, nothing more unfortunately. Enjoy!James' live LBC programme and the James O'Brien Daily podcast are back from the 5th January. Have a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year!This episode was recorded on the 11th of December.

Welcome to another instalment of James O'Brien's Mystery Hour! It's the game which you are guaranteed to learn something from... just maybe not something useful. Conversely, James and the callers might just crack the mysteries of the universe with this one!James' live LBC programme and the James O'Brien Daily podcast are back from the 5th January. Have a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year!This episode was recorded on the 4th of December.

Over the Christmas period why not put your feet up and enjoy all the latest instalments of James Obrien's Mystery Hour - the game in which listeners call up to ask questions about whatever - and I mean whatever - they want. Then the rest call in if they think they've got the answer!James' live LBC programme and the James O'Brien Daily podcast are back from the 5th January. Have a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year!This episode was recorded on the 27th of November.

Time for another instalment of Mystery Hour, the feature in which James O'Brien and his callers do their best to solve the world's greatest mysteries... or thereabouts. Enjoy!James' live LBC programme and the James O'Brien Daily podcast are back from the 5th January. Have a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year!This episode was recorded on the 20th of November.

While you tuck into those Christmas dinner leftovers, why not also tuck into another instalment of Mystery Hour! It's the feature in which James' callers ask and answer questions about absolutely anything... the type of questions that Google doesn't even know the answer to (well, Google might know, but it's much more fun this way). Enjoy!James' live LBC programme and the James O'Brien Daily podcast are back from the 5th January. Have a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year!This episode was recorded on the 13th of November.

Time for your next instalment of Mystery Hour, the game in which James invites his callers to ask and answer questions about absolutely anything. You are guaranteed to learn something new after listening to this (however please note James cannot guarantee the usefulness of any newly acquired knowledge). James' live LBC programme and the James O'Brien Daily podcast are back from the 5th January. Have a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year!This episode was recorded on the 6th of November.