James O'Brien Daily

This is a catch-up version of James O'Brien's Mystery Hour from the 1st May. The James O'Brien Daily Podcast will return after the bank holiday, on Tuesday 6th May. Have a wonderful weekend!

Nigel Farage’s Reform has this afternoon taken control of seven councils, just hours after dramatically beating Labour in a by-election for Runcorn and Helsby. Is Keir Starmer Labour’s main problem? How can Nigel Farage, a politician with such a bad track record, enjoy such public support? And, James speaks with the Co-Founders of Project Pure Hope, an organisation that helped bring two girls from...

The Met Police officer who was cleared of murder after shooting and killing Chris Kaba is now going to be investigated for gross misconduct by the independent police watchdog. James asks if this investigation is necessary.  And, James speaks with Phillips O’Brien, Professor of Strategic Studies at the University of St Andrews, about the resource deal that’s been finalised between Ukraine and...

James and LBC’s Washington Editor Simon Marks fact-check Donald Trump’s speech in Michigan celebrating the first 100 days of his second presidency.  The Met Police officer who was cleared of murder after shooting Chris Kaba will face a gross misconduct hearing, the police watchdog has said. James speaks with LBC’s reporter Fraser Knight for the details. It’s been reported that men are to blam...

The UK and the EU have outlined a “new strategic partnership” intended to improve trade and security in Europe - totally at odds with Donald Trump’s alignment with Russia. Should Keir Starmer lean to Europe, or America? James is joined by LBC’s Washington Editor Simon Marks, to analyse the first 100 days of Donald Trump’s second term. And, after years of posting cycling videos, broadcaster Jeremy...

Ultra-processed foods, including processed meats, breakfast cereal and fizzy drinks are causing almost 20,000 premature deaths in the UK each year, a study has suggested. Why are Brits so susceptible to junk food? And, experts in child development told MPs today that children may struggle to maintain relationships as an adult if they experience verbal abuse as children - the most prevalent fo...

Can we get the social media genie back in the bottle? Technology Secretary Peter Kyle is considering a social media curfew for kids, but has said no decisions will be made unless all the data backs it. Do we need a social media curfew? How bad is the impact of social media? And, Sir Keir Starmer and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, met yesterday to discuss plans for...

In the wake of a deadly Russian drone attack on a bus in Ukraine, which killed 9 people, Donald Trump has accused the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of harming peace negotiations by refusing to relinquish sovereignty of Crimea to Russia. James believes the US and Russia are now allies. What does this mean for both Ukraine and the world? James is also joined by LBC’s Political Editor Natas...

The list of states, institutions and people around the world that US President Donald Trump offends grows by the day - but why does Trump never do a single thing that upsets Vladimir Putin's and the Kremlin? And, as he marked St George’s Day, Sir Keir Starmer urged the public to reclaim the English flag from the far-right. James asks a question that is simultaneously simple and complex - what is E...

Pope Francis died in the early hours of Easter Monday. His funeral will take place on Saturday, which will start the first of nine days of global mourning. A liberal Pope, his attitudes were both loved and controversial. James asks what it means to be Catholic, and why Pope Francis’ death has generated such an extraordinary response. Also, for the first time, the Home Office is to publish the nati...

This is a catch-up version of James O'Brien's Mystery Hour from the 17th April. The James O'Brien Daily Podcast will return after the bank holiday, on Tuesday 22nd April. Have a wonderful Easter weekend!

Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the European Commission, has said the West as we know it no longer exists. Given Donald Trump’s rejection of America’s role as leader of the free world, James thinks she’s right - do you?  And, in an open letter in the Financial Times, dozens of members of the largest body representing UK Jews have condemned Israel's government for the war in Gaza. How signif...

The Supreme Court has ruled that "woman" in UK law refers to biological sex, rather than one’s gender identity. This is being celebrated by some, while others feel dismay and that trans-people are being erased from society. What does the court ruling mean and what are people celebrating? James is also joined by the journalist and author David A Graham, to speak about his upcoming book “The Project...

The Birmingham bin collector strikes will continue after the latest pay offer by the city council was "overwhelmingly" rejected. Do you support the strikers? What would you do if your boss wanted to cut your wages? Also, James speaks with LBC’s Washington Editor Simon Marks for the latest from the US, including Donald Trump blaming the Ukraine war - again - on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensk...

A report by MPs has found no evidence for “two tier policing” during last summer’s violent far-right riots, following the murder of three little girls by the Southport killer. The report also stated that the law preventing the police revealing more information about the suspect, who was a British Christian, should be reviewed, as the truth could have countered the disinformation claiming that he w...

The US-China trade war has deepens - again. Beijing retaliates to yesterday’s 145% levy with a 125% tariff on US goods, with President Xi Jinping calling on the EU to join China in opposing "bullying" from the US.  With the future global economic and political landscape hugely uncertain, James asks whether Keir Starmer should take bold action to protect the country’s interests by softening Br...

Donald Trump paused his tariff hike on all global economies bar China’s, where the trade war has deepened even further - at the time of writing, tariffs on China stand at 145%. Why has Trump done this? What does the future look like? Should these actions prompt Keir Starmer to rebuild bridges with the EU? James also plays back an interview with psychologist, writer, and Donald Trump's niece, Mary...

Donald Trump continues to dismantle democratic institutions, defy court orders, deport innocent green card holders and facilitate cronyism. Time for James to ask the big question - is the Trump administration fascist? And, the UK government is developing a “murder prediction” programme which it hopes will identify members of the public most likely to become killers. Is this pragmatic, or dystopian...

Following days of tariff turmoil, US stocks rally, while European and Asian markets also stabilise. China, so far, is refusing to withdraw its retaliatory tariffs, saying it will “fight to the end”. Trump has threatened to hit Beijing with an additional 50% tariff if they don’t withdraw their levy by the end of today. How do you make sense of what Trump is doing? Are we wasting our time trying to...

The head of the Muslim World League says young British Muslims are growing more disillusioned because of the war in Gaza, while the shocking video of Israeli forces opening fire on the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, before killing 15 medics, contradicts the IDF’s initial explanation for the killings. How much damage has Benjamin Netanyahu’s government done to the Israeli cause? Also, health wor...

In the wake of Donald Trump’s sweeping global tariffs, should Keir Starmer retaliate or negotiate? James also tackles another possibility - how long could it take for this all to blow up in Trump’s face? And, James speaks with Neil Henderson, the father of Jim Henderson, an aid worker and former Royal Marine that was killed in an Israeli drone strike in Gaza last April. Neil shares his son’s story...

Stock markets across the world dropped today after Donald Trump's sweeping tariff announcements. Sir Keir Starmer has said this will "clearly" have an economic impact on Brits, but that the UK will keep a "clear head", while also considering retaliatory measures. What should Starmer do? James is also joined by Ta-Nehisi Coates, an American journalist and author, for a brilliant conversation about...

Donald Trump is set to announce his global tariffs at 9pm tonight. Can Keir Starmer, who’s being urged to fight back with retaliatory tariffs, stand up to Trump? James also analyses some of the New Jersey Senator Cory Booker’s record breaking anti-Trump speech from yesterday. Also, Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch has said she opposes protest-free buffer zones around abortion clinics and thinks t...

Sir Keir Starmer has admitted that the UK is likely to be hit by Donald Trump’s global trade tariffs, as the US refuses to sign an economic deal with Britain. James gets into the nitty gritty: What's the reason for tariffs? When did they originate? How will these tariffs affect us? The Prime Minister has described Netflix’s hugely influential series Adolescence as something that the entire nation...

The number of men becoming secondary school teachers has plummeted to a record low, while conversations about the effects of online misogyny and healthy role models are being had more than ever. Do boys need male role models specifically, and if so, why? NHS bosses have decided to shut the maternity unit at a major London hospital in response to a dramatic fall in the birthrate in its area in rece...