James O'Brien Daily

Met police defend the “extraordinary” response in the Golders Green terrorist attack after fierce backlash to Zack Polanski’s post accusing officers of violence. Was this a reckless misstep or a justified call for scrutiny? James breaks down the fallout as the stabbing suspect appears in court. Plus, Police review London pro-Palestine marches amid rising terror concerns, reigniting heated debate....

Yesterday’s antisemitic attack in Golders Green has shaken London’s Jewish community, prompting urgent calls for “more protection.” But with little agreement on what that actually means in practice, the tragedy is already being pulled into political point-scoring. And, just a week after warnings about the dangers of cryptocurrency money flowing into politics, explosive revelations have emerged abo...

A targeted stabbing in Golders Green has sent shockwaves through the Jewish community, with Keir Starmer calling it “deeply concerning” as counter terrorism steps in. Fears are growing over rising antisemitic attacks, online radicalisation, and the dangerous blurring of lines between political rhetoric and real-world violence. Plus, The King’s US Speech lays out a vision of unity, diversity, and s...

The King has met Trump with a message: Britain and America willl always find common ground. But why now? And what does Keir Starmer really wants out of this high-stakes moment on the world stage? And, former Foreign Office chief says there was “absolutely” pressure to rush vetting. Meanwhile, criticism mounts over Mandelson’s ambassador appointment called a “serious error of judgement.” Plus, Rach...

King Charles embarked today on his US state visit to the White House, despite gunshots being fired at a dinner attended by Donald Trump on Saturday night. Assassination attempts aside, what’s the best and worst case scenarios for his time spent with the US President? And, over the past decade, healthy life expectancy in the UK has dropped by around two years to just under 61. Why the UK? Why the l...

A proposed law to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales will run out of time on Friday, almost 17 months after MPs first voted in favour of it…although the their may be another attempt to get the bill through in the next session of Parliament. James’ callers candidly share their experiences, and whether people should, under certain circumstances, be allowed to end their life. And, James bel...

James unpacks growing doubts over the future of the UK-US “special relationship”, after stark warnings from former NATO figures were met by firm reassurances from the American ambassador. Is the alliance over? If so, how should Britain respond? Then, as social media executives deny their platforms are inherently addictive to children, the callers share whether social media mirrors more traditional...

Considering how the Peter Mandelson scandal has been dealt with over the last few days, is Sir Keir Starmer actually up to the job of Prime Minister? And, half of young people have said they would categorically never fight for Britain, according to the Youth Poll. If that's you - why? This episode was recorded on the 22nd of April. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Today, former Foreign Office official, Olly Robbins, sacked by Sir Keir Starmer for not disclosing Lord Mandelson’s vetting failure, told the Foreign Affairs Select Committee that No 10 had a "dismissive" approach to Mandelson's vetting - Downing Street denies this. James is joined by LBC’s Political Editor, Natasha Clark, to break down the 2.5 hours of evidence provided by Robbins, and asks the l...

With Keir Starmer facing MPs in the Commons over the Peter Mandelson scandal, James asks how serious the mounting pressure really is - and what today’s showdown could mean for his leadership. And, as three very different columnists separately conclude that Donald Trump has “gone mad”, what evidence do you see of mental decline? This episode was recorded on the 20th of April. Catch James O'Brien we...

The Foreign Office's most senior civil servant has been effectively sacked by the Prime Minister, who claims the office failed to inform him that Peter Mandleson had failed his security vetting for the role of US ambassador. Does is even matter whether Starmer knew or not - and should he go? This episode was recorded on the 17th of April. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

New findings reveal that well-off people can expect to live 20 more “good years” than those with financial stress. Why does this gap exist, what drives it, and what practical steps could help close it? And, LBC’s Political Editor, Natasha Clark, joins James to discuss her interview with the Prime Minister today, during which Sir Keir Starmer told her there is an “overwhelming case” for tighter soc...

Following the Southport Inquiry, the lawyer for the murdered girls’ families says that the local authority officials at fault should be “named and shamed”, unless suitable disciplinary measures are taken. Would this be fair? Also, James is joined by the UK's leading money saving expert, Martin Lewis, who, alongside his charity, is set to fix the currently vicious council tax debt collection system...

The Southport murders could have been prevented by the killer’s parents and the authorities, according to an inquiry. What could have been done differently, and what is it like to fear your own child? And, a former Nato secretary general, Lord George Robertson, has warned that the UK’s security is "in peril". How do we know we’re at risk of military attack, and why isn’t the public more concerned?...

The US blockade of Iran’s ports has begun, while the Strait of Hormuz stays closed, with oil prices surging above $100 a barrel. What's going to happen next? Joining James to break it all down is the inimitable Simon Marks, LBC's Washington Correspondent. This episode was recorded on the 13th of April. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Lewis Goodall sits in for James O’Brien at the end of a week where the temporary ceasefire in Iran seems increasingly out of reach. With the US and Iran willing to have talks and a possibility of relative stability in the Middle East on the horizon - why is Israel pressing ahead with attacks on southern Lebanon? Is there anything that could persuade Netanyahu to sign up for a ceasefire that includ...

Lewis Goodall sits in for James O’Brien as the US-Iran ceasefire is called into question. Within 24 hours of the ceasefire agreement, Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz again in response to Israeli strikes on Lebanon. Israel and the US say that Lebanon wasn’t covered by the ceasefire - Iran disagrees. So, which side do you believe? And why has this agreement crumbled so quickly? Alex Gandler, sp...

Lewis Goodall sits in for James O’Brien as yet more momentous events unfold in the Middle East. A two-week ceasefire has been agreed: the Strait of Hormuz is reopened, and the guns, bombs and rockets have fallen silent across Iran. So, who is the winner here? Did Donald Trump blink, or will he claim this as a victory? And does this change the US’s political standing on the world stage? As Keir Sta...

Lewis Goodall sits in for James O’Brien on the eve of the day that Donald Trump has threatened to destroy Iran’s power plants and bridges unless it reopens the Strait of Hormuz. With the president threatening moves that could be considered as war crimes against the Iranian civilian population, and given the president’s profane statements made over the Easter weekend: has Trump lost what’s left of...

Time for your next Easter 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). The James O'Brien Daily podcast is back from the 7th April. Have a very happy easter!

While indulging in your Easter eggs, 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! The James O'Brien Daily podcast is back from the 7th April. Have a very happ...

Trump has threatened to pull the US out of NATO over lack of support shown for his attack on Iran. Have we reached a point where we need to treat his words with some level of plausibility? And if so, what happens if he pulls the trigger and withdraws the US from the NATO alliance? Kanye West has announced three headline dates at Wireless Festival in London in July. Ed Davey has called on the gover...

In an address to the nation, Keir Starmer has set out his two priorities in response to the war in Iran: deescalation and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. So, is it time for us to make a deal with Iran? And if negotiation isn’t on the table, what are our other options? LBC’s Washington Correspondent Simon Marks joins James in the studio ahead of this evening's presidential primetime address. Should...

As oil prices hit above $112 a barrel, the IMF has warned that the United Kingdom will be left particularly vulnerable to the impact of the war in Iran. We’re left to ask - how does the war end? And with the media and right-wing politicians diverting blame for the price of petrol to Keir Starmer - what would an end to the war look like for the UK? Keir Starmer has given the BMA 48 hours to call of...

After Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine and Donald Trump attacked Iran, it became clear that the UK has a potentially crippling dependency on fossil fuels. When it comes to energy we cannot afford to be beholden the unpredictability of the world, so why is the move toward sustainable energy the subject of political debate? Following reports that 92% of burglaries went unsolved in Britain last year, w...