James O'Brien Daily

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has called for information about police suspects such as nationality and immigration status to be shared with the public. This comes amidst growing far-right unrest about - most recently - the alleged rape of a 12 year old girl in Nuneaton. The suspects are reportedly Afghan, with Reform UK claiming they’re asylum seekers. Will more transparency diffuse racist propaganda, or increase the likelihood of racist violence?And, a new study indicates that childhood verbal abuse can be as detrimental to adult mental health as physical abuse. James asks his callers whether their experiences align with this research.This episode was recorded on the 6th August. Catch James O’Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

The latest YouGov polling shows that over half of Brits incorrectly think more migrants are in the UK illegally than legally. In reality, 96% of immigrants are here legally. How did this catastrophic misconception happen and what can be done about it?And, the Israeli foreign minister, Gideon Sa’ar, has accused Sir Keir Starmer of giving Hamas a “prize for terror”, regarding the Prime Minister’s statement that the UK will recognise a Palestinian state if Israel allows aid into Gaza, amongst other conditions. What difference would this recognition make to Gaza and the world?This episode was recorded on the 5th August. Catch James O’Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Sir Keir Starmer is giving serious consideration to the idea of introducing a digital ID system - in defiance of longstanding warnings by civil liberty advocates. Are you for or against digital ID, and why?And, Channel 4 has aired a documentary detailing 6 months in the life of Bonnie Blue, the pornographic actress who claims to have slept with 1,057 men in one day. Why are so many of us disturbed by the likes of Bonnie Blue and what she represents?This episode was recorded on the 4th August. Catch James O’Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Heathrow Airport has submitted its “shovel-ready” plans for a third runway that’d allow 750 additional flights a day over London and, according to the government, generate 100,000 jobs. The Prime Minister loves the idea, whereas London Mayor Sadiq Khan is fighting tooth and nail against it. Who’s side are you on and why? And, the main internship scheme that draws university students to the civil service will now only be available for students from "lower socio-economic backgrounds", in efforts to get more of the working class into Whitehall. Do you agree with this? What will the benefits of this be?This episode was recorded on the 1st August. Catch James O’Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Britain’s biggest police force is set to more than double its use of live facial recognition. Many are worries about the ethical use of the technology, particularly considering its complete lack of regulation. When do you stop using tech that does good, in order to prevent it being used for something bad in the future?And, Brits are “cheating the system” to get hold of weight-loss jabs before their holidays, Wes Streeting has claimed. The Health Secretary says people are pretending to be overweight, thus making themselves eligible for Mounjaro and Wegovy, which hugely reduce feelings of hunger and cravings. James speaks to these people - and ponders whether they’re actually doing anything wrong.This episode was recorded on the 31st July. Catch James O’Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Sir Keir Starmer has announced that the UK will join the other 147 UN nations that recognise the sovereign state of Palestinian, unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire, amongst other conditions. Why has Starmer done this now and what is this likely to achieve?And, for the first time ever, No 10 is hosting a reception for social media influencers at Downing Street, in an attempt to reach voters on platforms beyond the traditional media. This is not James’ area of expertise - he wants to know what this is all about.This episode was recorded on the 30th July. Catch James O’Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

A year ago today, the nation was struck by the horrific Southport killings, in which three young girls were murdered. Today, Jonathan Hall, the independent reviewer of UK terrorism legislation, told LBC that there should be a total ban on social media for under 16s. He believes social media can radicalise young people and fuel such crimes. Do you agree?And, loss of community spaces like youth clubs, pubs and leisure centres created the “tinderbox conditions” for last summer's racist far-right riots, a new report has found. How significant do you think this loss has been to the collapse of community spirit, and in the vacuum, the growth of the far-right?This episode was recorded on the 29th July. Catch James O’Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

James analyses the current swathe of headlines such as “Deprivation and immigration straining social cohesion, says Rayner”, “Demonstrators clash at Epping hotel as protests spread nationwide” and “Two in five arrested for last summer’s UK riots had been reported for domestic abuse.” When the entire media and political class is portraying the UK as on the brink of catastrophe, how do we hold on to the truth?And, Greece and Turkey are battling major wildfires amid a severe heatwave. In Turkey, meteorologists recorded the country’s highest ever temperature on Saturday, 50.5C - several people have died. Why aren’t we more terrified of climate change, especially in comparison to issues such as immigration?This episode was recorded on the 28th July. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Under new laws beginning today, under-13s in the UK must be barred from social media. How will it work and are there aspects of online identity verification that politicians might not have considered? Joining James to discuss the new laws is Lisa Kenevan, whose son Isaac died aged just 13 in a tragedy that she believes was caused by social media exposure. Now she and the parents of three other children who died in similar circumstances are suing TikTok.And, Sir Keir Starmer is being urged to include speaking skills into the national curriculum. Himself never a man of few words, James asks what it’s like struggling with speaking, and what difference oracy lessons could make.This episode was recorded on the 25th July. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

The BMA has said NHS bosses will be putting patients at risk from tomorrow's resident doctors' strike. Only non-urgent care will be cancelled - a move that will spread senior doctors too thinly according to the union. Considering their 22% pay rise across the last 2 years, do you support the doctor’s strikes this time round? Also, new data shows a third of 20 to 34-year-old men in the UK still live at home, a number much higher than their female counterparts - why is this? Is this “failure to launch” even still considered a failure? And what’s it like as the parent and the young adult in this scenario?And, James speaks with Sönke Iwersen, award-winning journalist at Germany’s top business newspaper, Handelsblatt, and one of the authors of “The Tesla Files”. Based on leaked Tesla documents, the book details disturbing alleged problems with the company and its car’s auto-pilot feature, and what drives Elon Musk.  This episode was recorded on the 24th July. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Following two riots outside an asylum hotel in Epping last week, Sir Keir Starmer is demanding urgent action to avoid a repeat of last summer’s far-right violence. What should they do?Also, have you ever experienced brain fog? According to a new study, the Covid-19 pandemic may have aged our brains prematurely. Do you think this has happened to you?And, more than 100 NGOs warn that "mass starvation" is spreading across Gaza, accusing Israel of not allowing food into the strip. James speaks with Dr Joanne Perry, a doctor with Médecins Sans Frontières, based in Al Helou hospital in the north of Gaza, to find out more.This episode was recorded on the 23rd July. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Israel has launched another offensive in Gaza, targeting the main hub for humanitarian efforts in the strip, Deir al-Balah, amid warnings of Palestinian starvation. This latest assault comes just after Israel killed at least 85 Palestinians waiting for aid on Sunday, in what has become almost daily slaughter. Yesterday, a joint statement issued by the UK and 27 other nations condemned Israel for the "drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians". The tide in the global community has turned - but what have you learned from this conflict?This episode was recorded on the 22nd July. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Water regulator Ofwat will be scrapped and replaced with a new watchdog to “prevent the abuses of the past”, including an estimated £85 billion being extracted from the UK water industry, with next to no investment. Simple question here - what has happened to our water and why?Also, the Lionesses have decided to stop taking the knee to protest against racism before their Euro 2025 matches. This comes after England star Jess Carter received significant online racist abuse and a statement from teammate Lucy Bronze saying that taking the knee wasn’t working to tackle racism. What do you think of the Lionesses decision?And, James speaks with James Ball, Editor at the New World, who’s been covering the Jeffrey Epstein case since 2014 and explains how it could break Donald Trump.This episode was recorded on the 21st July. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

MP Diane Abbott has said it "is obvious this Labour leadership wants me out" after the party suspended her for a second time over comments she made about the racism experienced by black people in comparison to the Jewish and Traveller communities. What do you think of comments?And, former Masterchef presenter John Torode has been sacked by the BBC for allegedly using the N-word twice. It’s been reported that he was repeating lyrics from rapper Kanye West’s hit Gold Digger, which contain the racial slur, at an after-work ­gathering six or seven years ago. Should he have been fired?This episode was recorded on the 18th July. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Four MPs have been suspended by Labour for their rebellion against welfare cuts earlier this month. One of them, Rachel Maskell, described the cuts as "Dickensian” and belonging to a “different era and a different party". She’ll now sit as an independent and says that the suspension won’t silence her. What do you think about this moment of Starmer’s premiership and what makes a rebellion righteous, as opposed to dangerous?And, today’s breaking news - the government has confirmed that the voting age will be lowered to 16 across the UK for the next general election. James sees this as a universally positive move for our democracy. Do you agree?This episode was recorded on the 17th July. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

The previous government withheld news of their operation to relocate 24,000 Afghans to the UK in order to protect some of those that they’d put at risk of Taliban attack after a Ministry of Defence data leak. So, why did the government cover it up?Also, the two men that cut down the Sycamore Gap Tree have both been jailed for four years and three months. Is this a fair punishment?James is joined by Gabriel Shemirani, whose sister Paloma died from cancer last year at just 23 years old. They discuss Gabriel’s assertion that their mother pressured Paloma into refusing treatment based on conspiracy theories.And, James speaks with historian and author Dr Eliza Filby about her book "Inheritocracy: It’s Time to Talk About the Bank of Mum and Dad", which explores the divide between those who can rely on family wealth and those who can’t - and the damage this is doing to society. This episode was recorded on the 16th July. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Secondary school pupils in England are to be taught about "incel" culture, with a focus on positive role models for boys in efforts to tackle “manosphere” related misogyny. To help understand the importance of this, James asks what it’s like to grow up without a positive role model as a boy.And, James is joined by Lewis Goodall for the breaking story on which he’s been working for 2 years, but was legally required to keep secret - until today. Using an unprecedented super-injunction, the UK government witheld knowledge of a catastrophic data breach that exposed thousands of Afghan people who had worked with UK forces during the Afghanistan War, putting them in danger of attack by the Taliban. Since then, the government has undertaken a secret relocation operation of thousands of those Afghan people to the UK. This episode was recorded on the 15th July. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting will meet representatives from the BMA this week, as he hopes to avert five days of strikes by resident doctors. Public support for the strikes has plummeted from 52% in the last round to 26%, according to new polling. Have you changed your mind on doctors strikes?Also, last week’s sacking of former MasterChef host Gregg Wallace came after 45 of the 83 allegations against him were upheld, including one of unwanted touching and three of exposing himself. In a statement he defended himself, citing his recently diagnosed autism as a reason for the alleged behaviour. Could autism have played a role in his alleged sexual misconduct?And, with MPs warning that a new mandatory duty to report child sex abuse could end up having "little or no consequence," James speaks with ​​Jonathan West, Director of Mandate Now, a pressure group that campaigns for more robust policy in the area.This episode was recorded on the 14th July. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10 am on LBC.

How do we tell the difference between the relatively tiny number of people who take advantage of the welfare state and those who suffer from serious mental health issues? Once that is established - what will really help them?Also, French President Emmanuel Macron has said that Brexit has drastically worsened the UK's small boats crisis, because the UK no longer has a migratory agreement with the EU. Considering this and the stats, James states that those who orchestrated and voted for Brexit are in fact the ones who’ve caused the illegal immigration crisis. And, James hosts an incredible interview with Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, to discuss Israel’s assault on the people of Gaza, and her new report: “From economy of occupation, to economy of genocide”.This episode was recorded on the 11th July. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10 am on LBC.

Major building projects in the UK take two and half years longer to complete than in the rest of the developed world, according to new analysis. Why is the UK so slow?Also, pubs across Britain will close down at a rate of more than one a day this year, according to new research. Why are pubs dying off, and this a natural, or unnatural death?And, James speaks with Donie O'Sullivan, senior correspondent at CNN, whose podcast, Persuadable, seeks to guide people whose loved ones have fallen into a rabbit hole of conspiracy theories.This episode was recorded on the 10th July. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10 am on LBC.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has warned junior doctors that the public will “not forgive them” for launching another wave of disruptive strikes as he made clear that a pay rise was off the table. Is he right?Also, James speaks with James Ball, Political Editor of The New World, who explains how and why Elon Musk’s Grok AI chatbot praised Hitler on X (formerly known as Twitter). And, James is joined by Lara Lewington, whose new book Hacking Humanity reveals how we can harness the power of technology to improve our lives now and transform our healthcare system for a better future.This episode was recorded on the 9th July. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10 am on LBC.

The government has declined to rule out a wealth tax, following former Labour leader Lord Kinnock championing the policy. Such a tax remains public enemy number 1 for many right wing figures and their supporters. How are poor people persuaded to protect the interests of the super rich by opposing a wealth tax?And, the Chief Executive of the College of Policing has said the smell of cannabis made him feel unsafe in his own community and that police “ought to do something about” it. Is he right?This episode was recorded on the 8th July. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10 am on LBC.

Today is the 20th anniversary of the 7/7 London bombings, when four bombers attacked central London, killing 52 people and injuring hundreds more. James remembers those who lost their lives, plays back LBC audio from the day itself and speaks with several brave people who were deeply impacted by the attacks.First, Emma Craig, a survivor, who was 14 years old and travelling into the city for work experience when an explosive went off in the carriage next to hers. Next, Marcelle Stroud, former Met Police CCTV Coordinator DC, who investigated the attacks in the aftermath of the bombings and discovered footage of the bombers.Finally, Azuma Wundowa, who was 16 years old when her mother Gladys was killed in the bus which was blown up at Tavistock Square. This episode was recorded on the 7th July. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10 am on LBC.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has set out a digital overhaul of the NHS, centred around a new NHS app. He said “The NHS app will become a doctor in your pocket, bringing our health service into the 21st century”.  ​​Will this work?Also, prolific shoplifters are to be barred from stores and prosecuted using the first national database of repeat offenders. Why has there been an epidemic of such successful shoplifting?And, the producer of a documentary, Gaza: Doctors under Attack, that was dropped by the BBC has accused the corporation of trying to gag him and others over its decision not to show the documentary. James analyses this in the context of the BBC’s so-called “impartiality” regulations.This episode was recorded on the 4th July. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10 am on LBC.

In her first public comments since crying at Prime Minister's Questions yesterday, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said she was having a "tough day", but that she is "totally" up for the job. How did you respond to the Chancellor's tears and how do you think she’d been treated in the media since?And, The Health Secretary has announced he will give more people access to weight loss drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro, stating that “the jabs are a route not just to lower weight, but lower taxes”. Are weight loss jabs going to change the world?This episode was recorded on the 3rd July. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10 am on LBC.

Keir Starmer was humiliated during yesterday’s welfare reform vote, losing control of the Commons and swathes of his own MPs. What has Starmer done that has led him here, after winning an unassailable majority just a year ago? To James chew this over, he speaks with Tom Baldwin, former Labour Party advisor, journalist and author of the upcoming “Keir Starmer: The Biography.”And, the cost of the UK’s obesity epidemic has soared to £126bn a year according to a new study. Why don’t we make the obvious and necessary changes to fight obesity?This episode was recorded on the 2nd July. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10 am on LBC.

The government's welfare bill passed by 335 votes to 260 today, after ministers made last-minute concessions to avoid a possible defeat. What would actually help you get back to work?Also, a criminal investigation has been launched into the Glastonbury performances of both Bob Vylan and Kneecap after the police reviewed footage. Is anyone more outraged by Bob Vylan's words than civilian deaths at the hands of the IDF?And, three former senior staff at the hospital where nurse Lucy Letby murdered seven babies and attempted to kill seven others have been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter. James speaks with Liam Gotting, LBC's reporter in the North West, for the details.This episode was recorded on the 1st July. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10 am on LBC.

Prime Minister, Keir Starmer has criticised the ‘appalling’ anti IDF Chants made by Bob Vylan during their Glastonbury performance at the weekend. Today, James asks how is it that we are still discussing a festival chant rather than how many people have been killed in Gaza since the incident happened?And, new research has revealed the number of entry level jobs in the UK has dropped 32% since the release of ChatGPT in November 2022. James asked listeners how their lives and jobs have been impacted by AI.This episode was recorded on 30th June. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Another U-turn from Sir Keir Starmer, and this time on the controversial welfare bill. Today, James asked his listeners what these constant policy shifts mean for the public’s perception of the Prime Minister? Can a government change its mind this often without losing credibility?In a deeply troubling story, James also discussed the dismissal of two Met Police officers after a tribunal into the inappropriate strip-search of a 15-year-old schoolgirl in 2020. James heard from listeners — including Sam from Acton, whose own daughter was recently searched — about the disturbing patterns of bias in our institutions.After a heavy week of headlines, the show closed with some lighter fare, including some of the most-changed names in the UK, and James was joined by writer and producer Patrick Dalton, whose film Chicken Town hits cinemas this weekend.This episode was recorded on 27th June. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

In today’s episode, James O’Brien unpacks another political crisis for Sir Keir Starmer’s government. With over 100 Labour MPs demanding a delay to the controversial Welfare Bill, pressure is mounting on the Prime Minister to perform yet another policy U-turn. What’s going wrong inside Number 10 — and why is Labour’s grip on power already showing signs of strain?Then, on a lighter note, James dived into the surprising decline of dating apps among Gen Z. Why is the generation raised online suddenly swiping left on digital romance?This episode was recorded on the 26th June. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10 am on LBC.

The US military strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities last weekend did not destroy the core components of the country’s nuclear program, as President Trump claims, and likely only set it back by months, according to a leaked US intelligence report. Despite this, the head of NATO has referred to Donald Trump as "daddy" as he lauded the US president over the Israel-Iran “ceasefire”. Is sycophancy inevitable?And, a growing number of Labour MPs are supporting a bid to block the government's planned welfare changes, which would cut disability benefits to save £5bn a year by 2030. Are these welfare cuts fair?This episode was recorded on the 25th June. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Israel has accused Iran of violating a ceasefire, which Iran has denied, hours after the deal brokered by Donald Trump and Qatar came into effect. When questioned about it on live TV, Trump attacked both countries and said the f-word. What should Keir Starmer be doing here?Also, the health secretary, Wes Streeting, has launched a national investigation into NHS maternity services in England. This has come after a series of high profile failures and preventable losses of life, including several infants. What is wrong with maternity care services in England? And, it’s Daniel Hannan Day! To "celebrate", James speaks with John Springford, Senior Research Fellow at the Centre For European Reform and Dmitry Grozoubinski, Founder of Explain Trade, to analyse the infamous post-Brexit predictions from the wrongest man in the world. This episode was recorded on the 24th June. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Iran claims it has after launched missile attacks on a US military base in Qatar and Iraq, in response to the US dropping "bunker buster bombs" on three key nuclear sites in Iran over the weekend. Why did Trump decide to hit Iran?This episode was recorded on the 23rd June. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

The White House says Donald Trump will decide in the next fortnight whether the US will get involved in Israel’s war against Iran. Do you think he’ll do it?And, following the 8th anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire last Saturday, James speaks with Ed Daffarn, Grenfell survivor whose blog catalogued a series of concerns about the tower block before the disaster occurred. He features in the new documentary, Grenfell: Uncovered.This episode was recorded on the 20th June. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Sir Keir Starmer is weighing up whether to provide the US with military support if Donald Trump decides to attack Iran. If we do get involved, what would it mean to you, the world, and our future?And, HS2 will be delayed again, beyond its target of 2033, and will not be completed on its already enormous budget. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander blamed previous Conservative governments - but how has this happened?This episode was recorded on the 19th June. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Donald Trump is reportedly considering joining Israel's strikes on Iran. As this conflict escalates, comparisons will be drawn with the disastrous US military intervention in Iraq - is history repeating itself? Also, a new study named “Sleeping with the Enemy” found that the risk of splitting up with your partner if you disagree on Brexit increases by more than 60 per cent. Can you love someone and hate their politics?And, James speaks with Tim Gregory, nuclear chemist working at the Sellafield nuclear site, who sets out the argument in his new book “Going Nuclear: How the Atom Will Save the World”.This episode was recorded on the 18th June. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10 am on LBC.

Sir Keir Starmer has defended his decision to hold a national inquiry into grooming gangs. Baroness Louise Casey’s report recommends both a national police operation to review cases of child exploitation not acted on, as well as a national inquiry. Today, James asks victims of sexual abuse as a child to share what happened when they told someone about it.And, Baroness Casey shared evidence from her report with MPs and asked that the results not be used for political ends - James is also joined by LBC’s Political Correspondent, Aggie Chambre, for the details.This episode was recorded on the 17th June. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10 am on LBC.

Israel says it has "full aerial operational control" over the Iranian capital Tehran, after four days of intensifying strikes between the countries, with growing casualties on both sides. Is it possible that Israel's actions are unconscionable in Gaza, but justified in Iran? And, importantly, James asks his listeners what the reality of being a citizen of modern Iran actually is.This episode was recorded on the 16th June. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10 am on LBC.

Israel launched strikes across the “heart” of Iran’s nuclear programme last night, killing senior military figures, scientists, and according to Iranian state media, civilians and children. Iran then struck back, sending around 100 drones to Israel, most of which were intercepted. Is this Benjamin Netanyahu’s latest attempt at self-preservation, or is this action morally justified? And, James is joined by David Challen, whose mother killed his father after a lifetime of coercive control. David successfully campaigned for his mother’s release and has been a prominent domestic violence campaigner ever since. His new book, The Unthinkable, tells his story.This episode was recorded on the 13th June. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10 am on LBC.

James discusses the warning that police forces will struggle to fulfil Sir Keir Starmer’s promise to recruit an additional 13,000 officers. Why aren't people joining the police? Would you?Also, earlier today, a London-bound Air India plane carrying 242 people crashed in Ahmedabad, western India. On board were 169 Indian, 53 British, seven Portuguese and one Canadian national. James is joined by two aviation experts to try and understand how this might have happened. Please note this story is ongoing and there may have been developments since the time of recording.And, a new report has found that the bonnet height of new cars in the UK and Europe is rising relentlessly, significantly increasing the death rate when pedestrians are struck and especially dangerous for children. James can’t stand SUVs - why do people drive them in the first place?This episode was recorded on the 12th June. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10 am on LBC.

The UK has sanctioned two extremist far-right Israeli ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, over "repeated incitements of violence against Palestinian communities" in the occupied West Bank. Is this too little, too late? Or a major step in the right direction?And, government ministers are planning to scrap the 200 years old Vagrancy Act, which outlaws rough sleeping in England and Wales. James’ listeners share their personal stories about how easy it is to end up homeless. This episode was recorded on the 11th June. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10 am on LBC.

Yesterday's U-turn on the controversial winter fuel payment cuts restored the allowance to all pensioners with an income of £35k or less a year. Does this U-turn make the government look better, or worse? How does that £35k threshold sit with you?And, Israel has said it’s deported Greta Thunberg, a day after the IDF intercepted The Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s aid boat, arresting Thunberg and the other 11 campaigners on board. What would Israel have done if Greta wasn’t there, and was her mission a success?This episode was recorded on the 10th June. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10 am on LBC.

Protests against immigration raids in Los Angeles continued for a third day yesterday, with Donald Trump calling in the National Guard against the wishes of California's Governor Gavin Newsom, who has said he’ll be suing the President for doing so. What’s Trump’s plan? James breaks it down with the callers and LBC’s Washington Editor, Simon Marks.And, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has confirmed the government’s U-turn on winter fuel payment cuts, reinstating the payment for more than three-quarters of pensioners. Natasha Clark, LBC’s Political Editor explains the significance of this policy change.This episode was recorded on the 9th June. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10 am on LBC.

Lewis Goodall stepped in for James O’Brien for the final day, bringing you a packed episode that examines major fractures on the political right, on both sides of the Atlantic.In the United States, Elon Musk has publicly broken ties with President Donald Trump, marking the end of a high-profile alliance that had become increasingly influential in conservative political circles. The rift follows Musk’s recent departure from the Department of Government Efficiency and signals a significant shift in the dynamics of the American right.Meanwhile, in the UK, Reform Party chairman Zia Yusuf has resigned, stating that he no longer believes working in politics is a good use of his time. The decision comes after comments from newly elected MP Sarah Pochin regarding banning the burka sparked internal tensions.With both events unfolding within hours of each other, today’s episode looks at what these developments signal about the broader direction—and disarray—of populist movements in the UK and the US.This episode was recorded on the 6th June. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10 am on LBC.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has confirmed the government’s U-turn on the controversial winter fuel payment cuts that were set to come into play this winter. Lewis thinks this fiasco shows that old, rich people in the UK have too much political power - do you agree?And, Lewis is joined by Ali Milani, National Chair at the Labour Muslim Network, to speak on its recent survey showing that one in three Muslim Labour MPs, councillors and mayors described the party as institutionally Islamophobic. Ali also shares the shocking islamophobia that he’s allegedly received from within the party.This episode was recorded on the 5th of June. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10 am on LBC.

Rachel Reeves is announcing £15bn in spending for public transport outside London, saying the UK will not see a return to austerity. Do you accept this? And why have we been prevented from developing infrastructure in recent years? Lewis is joined by Sam Dumitriu, Head of Policy at Britain Remade, which campaigns to promote economic growth via infrastructure, for his thoughts.Also, police cuts will mean ‘some crimes must be ignored’, according to head of the Metropolitan Police, Sir Mark Rowley, who wrote to Sir Keir Starmer in light of the spending review. What do you think of this, and have you had recent experiences where the police haven't done their job? Lewis is joined by Stephen Roberts, Former Deputy Assistant Commissioner for the Met Police.And, Gaza aid points have closed for the day after Israel killed at least 27 Palestinians trying to access food from one yesterday. Lewis is joined by Amira Nimerawi, Senior Programmes specialist at the Palestinian Medical Relief Society and CEO of Health Workers 4 Palestine, to hear what this means on the ground.This episode was recorded on the 4th of June. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10 am on LBC.

A major deal that hoped would save Thames Water has collapsed, with US private equity group KKR pulling out of negotiations that would have seen them inject £4 billion in fresh equity into the company. What is next for Thames Water - do you believe it will be successfully nationalised?And, a man who burned a copy of the Quran outside the Turkish consulate in London has been convicted. In a statement, the man said his conviction was "an assault on free speech”, with others in the public sphere echoing this sentiment, including Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch. Was this conviction fair? And can one hate a religion, but not its followers?This episode was recorded on the 3rd of June. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10 am on LBC.

Today, Sir Keir Starmer has unveiled the government's new defence spending plans, stating that the UK military is moving to "war-fighting readiness", but he's being criticised for a lack of urgency in hitting the promised 3% spending increase. To help work out whether this is the case, Lewis is joined by Mike Martin, Liberal Democrat MP for Tunbridge Wells and a member of the Defence Select Committee and Natasha Clark, LBC's Political Editor.And, Reform UK has launched a new Elon Musk-style “Doge” unit to crack down on waste and inefficiency in English councils. The party has pledged to slash spending on diversity, equality and inclusion programmes - but their figures simply don‘t add up. Lewis speaks with Reform Chairman Zia Yusuf and asks the callers why Reform aren't scrutinised as heavily as other parties.This episode was recorded on the 2nd of June. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10 am on LBC.

Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick has posted a video of himself delivering “vigilante justice” to people he accused of fare dodging in London. Why do we find petty crimes like fare jumping so enraging and what is Honest Bob Jenrick’s plan?Also, new figures show that almost 2.5 million people are likely to have ADHD in the UK. James explores the possibility of himself having ADHD and asks what difference a diagnosis can make to your life.And, James speaks with Dr Alonso Gurmendi, a fellow in human rights at LSE's Department of Sociology, to discuss why he and other lawyers are making the case that Israel is committing genocide.This episode was recorded on the 30th of May. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10 am on LBC.

In today’s episode, James drew on analysis from across the political spectrum, as he explored the Conservative Party’s current decline and questioned whether a route to recovery remains viable. Listeners, particularly former Conservative voters, were invited to reflect on whether the party has passed the point of no return and what a future revival might entail.James then turned to a harrowing investigation by LBC into the rise of knife crime among young people. With exclusive data revealing a 60% surge in incidents involving blades on school grounds over the past two years, he considered the deeper societal context behind this alarming trend. In search of understanding, James examines the root causes that may drive young people to carry weapons in modern Britain.Finally, attention shifted to major developments in the United States. Overnight, a federal court in Manhattan blocked former President Trump’s sweeping international trade tariffs, ruling that the emergency powers cited did not grant unilateral authority for such measures. Meanwhile, Elon Musk has stepped down from his role within Trump’s administration. James spoke with LBC’s Washington correspondent, Simon Marks, to unpack the implications for international trade and political dynamics in the US.This episode was recorded on the 29th of May. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10 am on LBC.