James O'Brien Daily

Today, as thousands of U.S. troops head towards the Gulf and speculation grows over whether Donald Trump could order “boots on the ground” in Iran, James asks what would a major escalation really mean? James is also joined by Simon Marks, LBC’s Washington Correspondent, for the latest from the U.S., as tensions rise and the stakes reach a potentially catastrophic new level. This episode was record...

Meta and Google have been found liable for social media addiction in a landmark trial in Los Angeles. A young woman sued the companies saying that the addictive design features of their platforms Facebook, Instagram and YouTube caused her harm and worsened her depression. When does social media use become a problem and cross the line into addiction? What happens when we shift our focus from danger...

Donald Trump declares the war with Iran “won” - even while deploying thousands more troops to the region and requesting military support from NATO states. What have the past three weeks of the war in the Middle East taught you about the modern world? And despite the chaos, one statistic refuses to budge: 36% of American voters still back Trump. Why? What explains this enduring loyalty in the face...

It's looking like the President of the United States could very well have lied through his teeth about the supposed peace talks with Iran. We’re being asked to decide who to believe out of Donald Trump, or the remaining leaders of a tyrannical theocratic regime - tricky. What in the world will happen next? Also, Conservative MP, Charlie Dewhirst, has said more needs to be done to address the "unde...

James unpack today's breaking claims from Donald Trump that the United States and Iran have held “very good and productive” talks on a “complete and total resolution of hostilities” in the Middle East—prompting a temporary pause in planned military strikes. But with Tehran denying direct negotiations and the region still on edge after weeks of escalating conflict, what's really going on? This epis...

Benjamin Netanyahu says that true regime change will not be achievable through military force alone - despite supposedly undertaking this war with that ambition. With the U.S. and Israel now deep into a war that has destabilised global energy markets and triggered deadly retaliation across the Middle East, James asks the question at the heart of it all: why did Donald Trump go to war in the first...

Sir Keir Starmer has called on Kemi Badenoch to sack shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy after he described a mass Muslim public prayer as an "act of domination and division". Why haven’t the Tories sacked Timothy yet, and how does it feel that many in the political establishment promote bigoted views? And, James is joined by Simon Marks for an update on the US - specifically Donald Trump’s atte...

A meningitis case has been confirmed at a second Kent university, with officials believing the outbreak originated at a Canterbury nightclub. Of the 20 confirmed cases thus far, two people have died. James asks his listeners who’ve suffered with meningitis what it was like and what processes are in place to protect people from it. Also, James is joined by LBC reporter Henry Riley, for the next ins...

James has been waiting for this one… today he asks why it’s so hard for society and the media to call out President Donald Trump as the “deranged liar” that the evidence suggests he is. Then, if we did, would it even matter? And, the Government has set out plans to tackle the spiralling number of young people not in employment, education or training, including a £3000 grant for each company that h...

President Trump urged Britain and other countries to send warships to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a shipping passage that is vital for global oil supplies, that Iran has closed to enemy states. In response, Sir Keir Starmer today confirmed that the UK is working with the US and other allies on a "viable, collective plan" to reopen the passage. Is this the right decision? This episode was recorded...

As the media increasingly turns against the war in Iran, even those publications that, until very recently, were criticising Sir Keir Starmer for not joining in with America and Israel's attacks, James asks if it’s a waste of time trying to figure out why Trump started this war - and what we should do if the President is simply mad. This episode was recorded on the 13th of March. Catch James O'Bri...

Sir Keir Starmer has attacked Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage over their stance on the war in Iran, accusing both of U-turning on their support for Donald Trump. Could this be a turning point for Keir Starmer? And, the head of the Treasury Select Committee has warned that young adults in the UK face a “perfect storm” of economic challenges, as it launches an inquiry into student loans. What is it l...

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian who was detained as a political prisoner in Iran for 6 years, has joined more than 100 Iranians living in the UK urging Sir Keir Starmer not to draw Britain further into America and Israel’s war in Iran. James speaks with his listeners across the Iranian diaspora and asks where this leaves us now. And, James is joined by former diplomat Arthur Snell, wh...

British public opposition to US and Israeli military action against Iran up ten points since last week - why have we got it right this time? And, why is our political and media establishment dominated by those who want Sir Keir Starmer to bomb Iran with Donald Trump? And, Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey says that King Charles should not go ahead with his scheduled trip to the US next month, during whi...

Tony Blair - yes, disgraced Iraq-war orchestrator Tony Blair - has allegedly criticised Sir Keir Starmer for not joining Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu’s attacks on Iran. You can imagine James’ reaction - what was yours? Also James is joined by LBC reporter and presenter Henry Riley for the newly coined Riley’s Reform Round-Up , and speaks with Alex Tait, co-founder of the campaign group Refo...

It’s the seventh day of the war in the Middle East. President Trump has stated that, other than an "unconditional surrender", there will be no deal made with Iran. The UK’s corporate media is largely supportive of active British involvement in the war, but YouGov polling shows that only 8% of Brits feel the same. Why is much of the British media supportive of America and Israel’s war with Iran - a...

The White House press secretary has said President Trump’s decision to attack Iran was grounded in “feeling based on fact”. So, as the sixth day of the war in the Middle East rages on, the Trump administration continues to change its story as to why it even started this war. Why do you think it started it? This episode was recorded on the 5th of March. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC...

James breaks down the latest from the war in the Middle East, asks why President Trump really started this conflict, discusses whether Sir Keir Starmer’s belittling by Trump is actually a very good thing and receives Washington Correspondent Simon Marks’ analysis. Also, James also speaks with Victoria Rose, a consultant plastic surgeon and one of the many medics who say they have been barred from...

The US has warned of an "imminent" Iranian attack in the Saudi city of Dhahran, a major centre for the oil industry and where a US consulate is located. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump tells Iran it's "too late" to talk, adding their armed forces are “gone”. The death toll continues to sky rocket, and Trump has again criticised Sir Keir Starmer for initially denying access to British bases. H...

Sir Keir Starmer "stands by" his decision not to join in with Israeli and US strikes on Iran, stating that the UK had learned lessons from the "mistakes of Iraq" - but has agreed to a US request to use British military bases for "defensive" strikes on Iranian missile sites. Has Starmer got this right? This episode was recorded on the 2nd of March. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

34-year-old plumber Hannah Spencer marked her victory in the Gorton and Denton by-election with an apology to her customers, saying: "I think I might have to cancel the work that you had booked in, because I'm heading to Parliament. Is something seismic happening in the Green Party? This episode was recorded on the 27th of February. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

A damning report published on England’s maternity care revealed systemic problems, including bereaved mothers facing cruelty from maternity staff, shocking incidents of racism, and a lack of accountability. Hospitals that have caused harm to women and babies were often found to “cover-up” their mistakes, falsify medical records and deny bereaved parents answers. James’ callers share their experien...

Time to discuss the Green Party. No scaremongering, no lazy stereotypes, just these simple questions: Why are the Greens surging in popularity, and how are they reaching parts that no other parties can? Also, James is joined by LBC’s Washington Editor, Simon Marks, for a breakdown of Donald Trump’s longest State of the Union address yet, in which he claimed the US would see an “economic turnaround...

The head of the British Armed Forces and the Chief of MI6 have warned of the distinct possibility that Britain will be pulled into war with Russia. The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said that Putin has already started World War 3. Why then, are we all so relaxed about it? And, the BBC has apologised for not editing out the n-word racial slur from its BAFTA Film Awards coverage, after...

“I’ll ensure no child with special needs is left behind”... Sir Keir Starmer has set out a £4 billion package to reform special needs education, as he states that the current system supporting disabled children in schools “does not work”. James’ callers bravely share what it was like to be at school before special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision. This episode was recorded on th...