James O'Brien Daily

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.

Get into another episode of Mystery Hour, the feature in which James invites the callers to ask and answer the most burning of questions. Mysteries of the universe type questions. The meaning of life type questions. What do dogs dream about type questions. Enjoy!James' live LBC programme and the James O'Brien Daily podcast is back from the 5th January. Have a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year!This episode was recorded on the 30th of October.

It's Mystery Hour time, the game in which James' callers ask and answer questions about any topic they like. Prepare yourself to acquire knowledge beyond your wildest dreams... James' live LBC programme and the James O'Brien Daily podcast is back from the 5th January. Have a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year!This episode was recorded on the 23rd of October.

Over the Christmas period why not have a giggle and tuck into the latest episodes of Mystery Hour - the game where James O'Brien invites the callers to ask and then answer questions about absolutely whatever they want!James' live LBC programme and the James O'Brien Daily podcast is back from the 5th January. Have a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year!This episode was recorded on the 16th of October.

In response to the Prime Minister’s announcement of a strategy to tackle violence against women and girls, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has said Labour should focus on migrants ‘from cultures that don’t respect women’ rather than tackling misogyny in schools. Why is Badenoch denying reality?Also, James takes a look back at the most significant moments of 2025, speaks to the callers about that Oval office meeting between Donald Trump, JD Vance and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and is joined by Washington Editor Simon Marks to round up the latest from the US.This is the last episode of James O’Brien Daily of 2025! James will be back on the 5th January, but in the meantime, his most recent episodes of Mystery Hour will be available right here, every week-day. Have a very merry Christmas.

The government has unveiled its long awaited strategy to halve violence against women and girls in the next decade - teachers will be given training to spot and tackle misogyny in the classroom, while high-risk pupils could be sent on behavioural courses. What is this new brand of Andrew Tate-style misogyny, and what are the warning signs in the classroom?And, Nigel Farage has been told to apologise for his alleged extreme teenage racism by 26 school contemporaries. Farage has, so far, refused to apologise, maintaining that the allegations are false and politically motivated - why?This episode was recorded on the 18th of December. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

The government has confirmed the UK will rejoin the Erasmus student exchange programme from 2027, allowing students to immerse themselves in a different culture and grow their foreign language skills in Europe. Why are Brits so bad at speaking foreign languages and what difference can languages make to your life?And, half of people arrested recently in London were found to potentially have undiagnosed ADHD, according to a Cambridge University study calling for better neurodivergence screening for vulnerable individuals. James’ callers explain why their own ADHD can lead to behaviours resulting in problematic police encounters.This episode was recorded on the 17th of December. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

The 5 day resident doctor’s strike will go ahead from tomorrow in England, as planned, after the government's offer to postpone the action until the new year in order to alleviate NHS pressure was heartily rejected by BMA members. If we trust doctor's with our lives, why shouldn't we trust them when they tell us they they have to go on strike? This episode was recorded on the 16th of December. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Two gunmen, a father and son, opened fire on Bondi Beach in Sydney on Sunday, killing 15 people attending a Hanukkah event. The Australian Prime Minister described the tragedy as an attack motivated by “extremist ideology”. The victims include a 10-year-old girl, a British-born rabbi, a retired police officer and a Holocaust survivor. Is it right, or even possible, to talk about the attack without referring to Gaza?This episode was recorded on the 15th of December. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has warned of “probably the worst pressure the NHS has faced since Covid" occurring next week, when the next resident doctors strike will clash with soaring numbers of flu patients. Ministers have proposed a last minute deal in an attempt to appease the BMA, but in the case that this is not accepted, Streeting has also offered an extension on the union's mandate so that the strike could be postponed until January. James thinks Streeting has played a blinder here - do you?And, today on LBC, Met Police chief Sir Mark Rowley described Donald Trump’s claims about violent crime in London as “complete nonsense” - claims which are peddled by many Brits on the right. Why do so many of us join in with untrue, hostile attacks on London?This episode was recorded on the 12th of December. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has launched The Youth Matters plan, a £500m strategy aimed at protecting the UK’s youth. The plan aims to give 500,000 more young people access to a trusted adult outside their home, boost resilience and teach essential skills. What difference did youth clubs, or a lack thereof, make to you?Also, Justice Secretary David Lammy is considering wiping childhood criminal records clean. The proposal looks to simplify the criminal records check system and prevent minor teenage offences from negatively impacting adult job prospects. James asks his callers to share the reality of having your life impacted by a childhood offence.And,  James is joined by Washington Editor Simon Marks to talk through Donald Trump’s latest policy announcement that could lead to tourists being required to provide five years of social media history to enter the US.This episode was recorded on the 11th of December. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

A top NHS executive has urged people with cold or flu symptoms to wear a face mask in public as the hospitals brace for a “tidal wave” of illness this winter. Why then are so many of us against the idea of wearing face masks?Also, a report commissioned into Mossbourne Victoria Park Academy, a school in East London, found that pupils have been harmed by shouting, public humiliation and a lack of special needs support. What does a climate of fear do to a child at school? What did it do to you?And, and LBC investigation has found that a former Metropolitan Police officer was accused of being involved in a London paedophile ring while serving with the force, but the case was “brushed under the carpet” and “covered up”. Andy Hughes, LBC’s Crime Correspondent, breaks the story with James.This episode was recorded on the 10th of December. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Russia has welcomed Donald Trump's new National Security Strategy to "end" the Ukraine War, calling it "largely consistent" with Moscow's vision. Why is Trump siding with Russia against Europe and where will it take us? Joining James is Phillips O'Brien, Professor of Strategic Studies at the University of St Andrews, to share his analysis of the tightrope European leaders are walking between supporting Ukraine and keeping Trump sweet.And, in a world first, Australian children under 16 will be banned from social media. The goal is to protect kids from harmful content, cyber bullying and online grooming... what’s not to love?This episode was recorded on the 9th of December. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Almost one million young people in the UK are currently not in employment, education or training (NEET). To help tackle this, the government has announced 350,000 new training or workplace opportunities will be offered to young people on universal credit - but that those who don’t engage could have their benefits cut. Why are you or the young person in your life in the NEET category? And, what would make a difference?This episode was recorded on the 8th of December. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Nigel Farage has accused the BBC of double standards after he was asked about numerous claims he used extreme racist and antisemitic language as a teenager, which he denied. Today, James is joined by one of the many people who've made such claims, Peter Ettedgui, a Jewish former classmate of Nigel Farage's, who told the BBC that Farage had repeatedly said to him "Hitler was right" and "gas them". This episode was recorded on the 5th of December. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Wes Streeting will be launching an independent review that’ll investigate whether mental health, ADHD and autism are being over-diagnosed in England - James explores the distinct possibility that it isn’t.Also, facial recognition technology could be used more often by UK police forces, according to the Home Office. Could this be the “end of privacy as we know it”, as privacy campaign group Big Brother Watch claims?And, James speaks with Washington Correspondent Simon Marks for the latest Donald Trump-related news, including the President stating that he doesn’t want any Somalian people in the country and that Somalia “stinks”.This episode was recorded on the 4th of December. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

The UK media is beginning to acknowledge Brexit as the unmitigated failure that it is, partly in thanks to damning findings like the National Bureau of Economic Research’s, that concluded Brexit has reduced UK GDP by 6-8%. This is far more than most previous estimates. The question is finally beginning to be asked… should Labour reverse Brexit?And, so-called "miracle" weight-loss jabs are currently only available to 1 in 10 people who need them worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. For those of you that do have access, what happens when you stop taking them?This episode was recorded on the 3rd of December. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Justice Secretary David Lammy has announced the creation of new “swift courts” which will see a judge decide verdicts in thousands of cases where the right to a jury trial will be removed.…  What does this actually mean and what are we so afraid of losing?Resident doctors have announced a fresh round of strikes with a five-day walkout from the 17th December. Considering their recent wage increase, is this a strike too far? Or do we not know the full picture?And the UK’s attorney general, one of the most senior Jewish government ministers, Richard Herner has urged Nigel Farage to apologise to school contemporaries who claim the Reform UK leader racially abused them while at school… So why is there not more scrutinyThis episode was recorded on the 2nd of December. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is facing accusations she misled voters and ministers by not revealing upsides in the OBR’s (Office for Budget Responsibility) forecasts for the economy. Starmer and Reeves both defend the Budget and deny that the Chancellor misled anyone. James gets into the nitty gritty and asks what we’re supposed to be angry about here?And, AI is set to replace 3.4m jobs in the next decade, a major educational research organisation has warned. Are we totally ignoring the reality of this situation? Has AI already taken your job? What hope do our kids have?This episode was recorded on the 1st of November. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.