James O'Brien Daily

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...

Labour has come under fire from its welfare cuts, with affected families forecasted to lose £1,720 on average a year. James and his listeners look to identify exactly who Labour is trying to appeal to right now. Also, mid show, Keir Starmer’s director of communications quit - after just 9 months in the job. LBC’s Political Correspondent Aggie Chambre shares the details. And, Just Stop Oil is to ce...

More than 3 million UK households will lose out as a result of the government’s cuts to welfare, according to official analysis, with an extra 250,000 people forecasted to fall into relative poverty by the end of the decade. How will this impact you? And, the Netflix drama Adolescence has brought much needed attention to toxic masculinity and dangerous online influences such as Andrew Tate. James...

As well as plans to bomb Yemen's Houthis being leaked in the US security breach yesterday, messages also revealed a contempt toward America's European allies. One of US Vice President JD Vance’s messages stood out: "I just hate bailing Europe out again". Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth replied: "I fully share your loathing of European freeloading. It's PATHETIC". Why does JD Vance have this attitud...

A journalist was accidentally added to a group chat on which the US Government was planning the bombing of Yemen's Houthis. The chat included US Vice President JD Vance, Defence secretary Pete Hegseth and the leaders of US national security and intelligence. When questioned this morning, Donald Trump said he knew nothing about it. Is this indicative of the incompetence of the Trump administration?...

The UK’s first live facial recognition cameras, intended to make fighting crime easier, are being set up in south London. Would you be comfortable with these cameras arriving on your street, or is this an invasion of privacy? Brits spend less time in the office than workers in every other country bar the Philippines, research claims. Why are Brits resisting the call back to the office? Elton John,...

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson is considering a smartphone ban in England schools. Pressure mounts from MPs to act on the effect of social media on teenagers, encapsulated by the viral Netflix drama, Adolescence. Is totally banning phones from schools possible? Also, there’s been a huge rise in women working beyond the state pension threshold simply in order to survive. Simple question her...

Donald Trump has suggested the US takes over ownership of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants as part of a truce between Ukraine and Russia. Is Trump’s second term changing the West beyond all recognition? Also, James speaks with LBC’s Political Editor Natasha Clark, who shares the highlights from her recent interview with the Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Ed Davey. Also, James speaks with Jerus...

Over 1 million disabled people could be set to lose thousands of pounds under the government’s welfare overhaul. James asks his listeners if these changes go too far. Also, Former England football manager Sir Gareth Southgate says that young men are suffering from a lack of positive role models and are being influenced by toxic online figures, gambling and pornography. Why are young men so suscept...

Despite the ceasefire, more than 400 Palestinians were killed by Israeli air strikes overnight, according to Gaza’s health ministry. Humanitarian organisations have expectably been overwhelmed. James speaks with Rosalia Bollen, spokesperson for Unicef, who is in Southern Gaza and asks listeners what the likelihood is that Benjamin Netanyahu will continue this war until Gaza is entirely destroyed?...

According to a new study, almost 4 in 10 members of Generation Z are considering leaving their job, with mental health identified as a “major driver” of this. Why is this happening and what can we do about it?  Also, the author of the new book, “Why I Would Never Fight for My Country”, argues that ordinary people should never be sent into battle. The 27 year old German states that he’d “rathe...

Sir Kier Starmer announced yesterday his intention to abolish NHS England to bring the healthcare service back under government control to reduce bureaucracy and costs. Today, James searched for the lived experiences of those who have worked with NHS England, to highlight why the abolition may be welcome.  Following Monday’s focus on online safety, James also returned to this topic as the UK...

United Nations experts have accused Israel of committing genocidal acts and sexual violence in the Gaza Strip, citing Israel’s systematic destruction of women’s healthcare facilities during the conflict. However, this raised the question of whether the world has ceased monitoring the situation in Gaza. What implications does this have for global affairs?   James also reflected on Jamie O...

Donald Trump has intensified his trade war and implemented a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminium imports to the US, while the EU has retaliated. The president also used the White House driveway to promote Tesla cars after shares in the firm slumped. Is there method in the madness?  To help us digest Trump’s second term so far, James speaks with Donie O'Sullivan, Senior Correspondent at CNN,...

Sir Keir Starmer has called the current benefits system unsustainable, indefensible and unfair. He’s vowed to cut £3bn over the next three years and is expected to announce billions more in savings from the personal independence payment (Pip), the main disability benefit. How hard or easy is it to claim disability benefits, and how worried are you at the prospect of cuts? Also, James speaks to Guy...

It’s Online Safety Day at LBC, as James asks whether the new laws to be implemented under the Online Safety Act will be enough to protect children. LBC polling has found that almost three-quarters of people in Britain back the idea of raising the minimum age of social media use to 16. James speaks with with Ellen Roome and Lisa Kenevan, two mothers suing TikTok over their  TikTok for the alle...

Prosecutors argued in court that Andrew Tate’s online misogyny fuelled Kyle Clifford’s triple murder, in which he raped his ex-girlfriend and killed her along with her mother and sister. When did you, as a woman, notice the effects of this type of misogyny on your life? Matthew Savill, Director of Military Sciences at RUSI and James discuss whether Europe can successfully fight Russia without the...