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James O'Brien Daily

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Welcome to the best bits of James O'Brien's LBC phone-in show.
Listen back to all the highlights in a 60-minute bite sized chunk of his show with new episodes every weekday.
James covers all the big stories which will make you think - and possibly change your outlook.

James O'Brien Daily is a Global Production

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56 episodes
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#429
Yesterday · 1 hr 1 min
A child led chants of “let them drown”
A child leading chants of “let them drown” at a protest over Channel crossings leaves James asking what is happening to Britain. Why is hatred being taught instead of challenged? James hears from callers who describe the fear felt by people of colour as anti-migrant rhetoric becomes more open, more extreme and increasingly detached from the facts. This episode was recorded on the 24th of September. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.
#428
Wednesday · 1 hr
Young people aren’t snowflakes
Why is it harder to be young today? James asks why so many young people are experiencing mental distress - from insecure work and unaffordable housing to social media, climate anxiety and a future that feels impossible to plan for. Then, James examines one of Westminster’s enduring mysteries: why aren’t the Liberal Democrats making more of an impact when British politics feels so fractured? This episode was recorded on the 23rd of September. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.
#427
Tuesday · 55 min
The impossible task of meeting Donald Trump
Donald Trump has shredded the diplomatic rulebook - so what is a British Prime Minister supposed to do when meeting him? James examines the impossible task of dealing with a US President who demands loyalty, thrives on flattery and can reverse his position overnight. Then, as migration figures fall sharply, James asks why the politicians and newspapers who demanded lower numbers are refusing to celebrate. This episode was recorded on the 22nd of September. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.
#426
Monday · 55 min
Dementia doesn’t just break patients - it breaks carers too
What does it mean to lose someone while they are still physically there? James hears powerful accounts from families affected by dementia, as the disease is now being described by leading experts as Britain’s greatest health and social care crisis. Plus, women and equalities minister Bridget Phillipson has said that “all of us as women in society are unsafe”, prompting a conversation about women’s safety and why it must no longer be treated as normal. This episode was recorded on the 21st of September. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.
#425
September 18 · 1 hr 3 min
They terrorised lifeboat volunteers for saving lives
A lifeboat station in Portsmouth has halted operations after RNLI volunteers faced abuse for rescuing people in distress at sea. What does it say about Britain when those who risk their lives to save strangers are branded “traitors” and targeted by masked protesters? Then, Charles Spencer has made new claims about King Charles’s reaction to Princess Diana’s death. James asks whether the Earl is honouring his sister’s memory or publicly washing the family’s dirty linen. This episode was recorded on the 18th of September. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.
#424
September 17 · 59 min
The people building AI are telling us to be afraid
The people at the heart of artificial intelligence are warning that its development could pose a threat to humanity. James asks what we should really fear - from cyberattacks to the prospect of systems we may no longer be able to control. Plus, what is the difference between good strict and bad strict? As a headteacher sparks backlash after suspending 25 pupils in the first week of school, James hears powerful stories of harsh discipline, corporal punishment and humiliation. This episode was recorded on the 17th of September. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.
#423
September 16 · 1 hr 1 min
A vote to leave the UK over migrant plan
A village votes to leave the UK over plans to house asylum seekers nearby. What is really behind the anger in Piddington and what does the reaction reveal about the debate over asylum, safety and integration? Plus, thousands of people are being pushed out of paid work to care for sick family members. With around 1,500 Britons reportedly leaving their jobs every day, James looks at the human cost of Britain’s care crisis and asks why families are being left to pick up the pieces. This episode was recorded on the 16th of September. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.
#422
September 15 · 57 min
Is Great Britain on the brink of a break-up?
The UK’s political future is back in the spotlight as nationalist parties push for greater independence. What would actually happen if Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland went their separate ways and what would it mean for the rest of Britain? And, are we scrolling our brains away? Reading for pleasure can boost memory, empathy and mental health, but as TikTok and short-form content take over our attention, are we losing one of the simplest habits that keeps our minds healthy? This episode was recorded on the 15th of September. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.
#421
September 14 · 56 min
Reform’s £72m crypto cash: why should we be bothered?
Reform has been handed a record-breaking £72 million by two crypto billionaires. Who are they, what are they buying with that influence and does this mark a shift towards the kind of billionaire-funded politics we’ve seen in the US? And, self-driving cars could put thousands of jobs at risk. A thinktank is calling for them to be taxed to help offset the impact. Is this fair or is it simply the price of progress? Plus, exercise in schools is falling off. As children become less active, are we sleepwalking into a health crisis? This episode was recorded on the 14th of September. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.
#420
September 11 · 57 min
9/11: How one day, twenty-five years ago, reshaped the world
Twenty-five years after 9/11, James O’Brien asks how the attacks changed the world - from America’s sense of security to the suspicion and hostility faced by Muslim communities. James speaks to Michael Lomonaco about his extraordinary story. As executive chef at Windows on the World, he was due to be at the top of the North Tower, but a last-minute visit to an optician saved his life. This episode was recorded on the 11th of September. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode. If you’re affected by anything discussed in this episode, you can call the Samaritans for free, at any time, on 116 123.
#419
September 10 · 57 min
Nobody can define ‘working class’ any more
What does 'working class' mean in Britain in 2026 and can a government genuinely build education policy around it? James O’Brien explores social mobility, poverty, privilege and the children most in need of support. Then, AI is being hailed as a potential cure for cancer. At the same time, leading researchers are warning it could kill us all. James O’Brien explores the extraordinary contradiction at the heart of the AI revolution. This episode was recorded on the 10th of September. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.
#418
September 9 · 57 min
Ed Miliband calls out Israel’s illegal settlements
Ed Miliband has declared that Britain will no longer treat illegal Israeli settlement activity as business as usual. James asks whether sanctions are a long-overdue assertion of international law, and why calling out the Israeli Government is so often wrongly conflated with antisemitism. Plus, what does occupation mean for children trying to get to school, access healthcare and live without fear? James is joined by Save the Children UK's Executive Director for Global Impact, George Graham. This episode was recorded on the 9th of September. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.
#417
September 8 · 59 min
Britain’s divisive sanctions on Israel
As the UK moves to sanction goods from illegal Israeli settlements, James explores the arguments from all sides: is it a long-overdue response to injustice in the West Bank, an inadequate symbolic gesture, or a damaging political mistake? Then, Nigel Farage wants to ban face coverings after masked men terrorised communities in Dover and Portsmouth. But why does his answer appear to focus on Muslim women rather than the men causing the fear? This episode was recorded on the 8th of September. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.
#416
September 7 · 1 hr
Farage’s supporters attacked a woman... and he laughed
Reform claims to stand for women’s safety and free speech. So why was a young woman assaulted for heckling Nigel Farage and why did party figures respond with mockery rather than condemnation? Plus, callers reflect on the “other life” they might have lived if their ADHD, autism or learning needs had been recognised at school. This episode was recorded on the 7th of September. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.
#415
September 4 · 1 hr
How Farage is radicalising our relatives
Why do some people keep defending Nigel Farage, whatever happens? James considers the fresh allegations surrounding Reform’s funding and asks whether anger at the political establishment has become more powerful than facts, principles or self-interest. Plus, how do you cope when your mum, dad or closest friend becomes radicalised online? James hears from listeners whose relationships have been changed by far-right politics. This episode was recorded on the 4th of September. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.
#414
September 3 · 1 hr
Farage’s "party of free speech" banned the journalists
Is this the beginning of the end for Nigel Farage? As Reform UK slips behind the Conservatives in a new poll and bans critical journalists from its conference, James examines the pressure building around a party that says it stands for free speech. Then, James explores the lives behind the figures on workless households. What does it mean for children to grow up without parents in employment? This episode was recorded on the 3rd of September. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.
#413
September 2 · 59 min
Putin’s man in the White House
Has Donald Trump swapped sides? James is joined by The Guardian’s Luke Harding to examine Trump’s extraordinary relationship with Vladimir Putin, his retreat from Ukraine and the dangerous new age of conquest unfolding across the world. But first, Andy Burnham says Britain’s malaise can be traced back to privatisation, austerity, deindustrialisation and Brexit. Is he right — and can Britain undo 40 years of wrong turns? This episode was recorded on the 2nd of September. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.
#412
September 1 · 1 hr
Burnham’s plan to make Britain optimistic again
Six weeks into his premiership, Andy Burnham says he wants to bring optimism back to Britain. James asks why the country appears willing to believe in him — and whether authenticity, conviction and a willingness to challenge the old rules can survive the realities of government. Plus, as Burnham tells MPs that “more public control” is the way to grow the UK economy, what is your immediate reaction to renationalisation? Why does privatisation have such a hold on the public imagination? This episode was recorded on the 1st of September. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.
#411
August 28 · 53 min
Middlesbrough in crisis: what’s really going on?
More than 200 extra police officers have been sent into Middlesbrough following a series of violent incidents in recent days. But what’s behind the sudden surge in police presence and what is really happening on the streets? And, what if your dream home became a nightmare? Victims of cowboy builders have been left thousands out of pocket and living with unfinished, unsafe homes. Now, new government plans aim to stop others suffering the same fate. This episode was recorded on the 28th of August. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.
#410
August 27 · 58 min
AI is coming for your job
Could AI replace your job? And, if it can, what should society do about it? James considers warnings that the technology may soon outpace our ability to manage its consequences, from mass unemployment to a crisis in education. Also, as easyJet more than doubles its over-50s cabin crew and encourages retraining, James asks why one career should have to last a lifetime. He hears remarkable stories from people who took the leap and found their calling later in life. This episode was recorded on the 27th of August. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

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