James O'Brien Daily

Global

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.

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405 episodes
Updated Yesterday

Episodes405

Newest first

January 19 · 1 hr 1 min
Is Trump really invading Greenland over a Nobel Peace Prize?
James starts with Keir Starmer's national address today, in which he said Donald Trump's plan to impose tariffs on the UK for its support of Greenland was “hugely wrong”. Should the Prime Minister have done more? Also sharing his analysis is LBC's Washington Editor Simon Marks. And, Prince Harry and another six claimants, including Elton John and Baroness Doreen Lawrence, the mother of Stephen Lawrence, are taking the Daily Mail publishers to court. James speaks with Dr Evan Harris, Former Lib Dem MP and a member of the claimants’ legal team, for more information. This episode was recorded on the 19th of January. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
January 16 · 59 min
Does defection, dysfunction and distrust now define British politics?
Britain’s voting behaviour is becoming ever more erratic, as public trust in mainstream politics continues to fray. From the long tail of Brexit to the hypocrisies of the Conservatives, James unpacks why political disillusionment is deepening and how populist sentiment has filled the vacuum. With former Tory figures finding a home in Nigel Farage’s camp, is this realignment a protest vote, or a sign of something far more terminal for British politics? And, the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan joins the conversation to challenge misrepresentations of the capital, confront the worsening housing crisis, and warn of AI’s growing threat to jobs. This episode was recorded on the 16th of January. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
January 15 · 1 hr 1 min
Iran, Greenland or Ukraine: which crisis poses the biggest threat?
Of the Iranian regime and the high probability of American military intervention, Donald Trump’s potential annexation of Greenland, and Russia’s all-out assault of Ukraine, which is the crisis that is most devastatingly urgent? And, today, former Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick joined Reform UK after being sacked by Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch. Is a nail in the Conservative’s coffin? This episode was recorded on the 15th of January. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
January 14 · 59 min
Should Trump’s America intervene militarily in Iran?
President Trump says the US will take "very strong action" against Iran if it continues executing anti-government demonstrators, following more than 2,400 protestors being killed by the Iranian authorities so far, according to the HRANA. The question remains - if we consider prior examples of American military intervention, should the US get involved in Iran? And, the NHS will not be allowed to offer training jobs to foreign doctors unless no British doctors have applied for the role, under legislation being fast-tracked through parliament. Is this right? This episode was recorded on the 14th of January. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
January 13 · 59 min
Why is Elon Musk allowed to profit from child sexual images?
Sir Keir Starmer stated today that X (formerly known as Twitter) could lose the "right to self regulate", if it didn’t prevent users from creating sexual images of children of women with the AI chatbot, Grok. Elon Musk is describing this as censorship and fascism… how is this even a debate? And, the government is reportedly considering an Australia-style social media ban on social media for under-16s in the UK. What does social media specifically do to children that causes them such harm? This episode was recorded on the 13th of January. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
January 12 · 1 hr 3 min
Hundreds of Iranian protestors killed - should the US intervene?
Over 500 protestors have been killed in Iran, according to the US-based rights group HRANA, since public demonstrations against the Islamic Republic government began in late December. Last night, President Trump warned the US is considering "very strong options" to intervene in the country. Should America militarily intervene? And, two-thirds of UK voters believe immigration is increasing despite sharp falls in the number of people entering the UK, according to a recent poll. Why is this, and why are the most anti-immigrant among us the most ignorant to the reality? This episode was recorded on the 12th of January. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
January 9 · 1 hr 3 min
Why won’t Elon Musk prevent X users "digitally undressing" women and girls?
The Government is set to water down forthcoming increases to business rates bills faced by pubs in England. Is this a sign of weakness? Or, that they're listening? Also, following huge controversy around X (formerly known as Twitter) users “digitally undressing" women and girls with the platform’s AI feature, Grok, Elon Musk has restricted the feature to paying users only. Downing Street has described this move as "insulting" to victims of misogyny and sexual violence. Why is Musk allowing this to continue? And, James is joined by Washington Correspondent, Simon Marks, for the latest from the US following the fatal shooting of Renée Nicole Good in Minneapolis by an ICE agent. This episode was recorded on the 9th of January. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
January 8 · 1 hr 1 min
Why is Trump lying about the Minneapolis ICE killing?
A woman shot dead in her car by an ICE agent in Minneapolis has been identified as Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three. President Trump claimed the agent acted in self defence and that Good had “ran him over”, but this is clearly at odds with widely circulated videos of the incident. Minneapolis’ mayor, Jacob Frey, described the Trump’s claim as “bullsh*t” and demanded ICE officers leave the city. James breaks down the conflicting responses to the incident, is joined by Washington Correspondent Simon Marks and asks why the US government won’t tell the truth of this tragedy. This episode was recorded on the 8th of January. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
January 7 · 1 hr 1 min
What’s the real reason Trump wants Greenland?
Donald Trump’s supposed rationale for taking over Venezuela and potentially invading Greenland are disintegrating before our eyes. So, why is he actually doing it? And, James speaks with Eddie Perez, a former director at X (then called Twitter), who breaks down the appalling news that X users are “digitally undressing” people, including children, using the platform’s AI chatbot, Grok, with next to no pushback from owner Elon Musk. This episode was recorded on the 7th of January. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
January 6 · 59 min
If Trump invades Greenland, what can we actually do?
Yesterday, Stephen Miller, the White House Deputy Chief of Staff, doubled down on President Donald Trump’s threat to annex Greenland. Today, six European allies, including the UK, released a joint statement condemning the threat against the Danish territory. If Trump does invade Greenland - what can we actually do about it? This episode was recorded on the 6th of January. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
January 5 · 1 hr 6 min
Will Donald Trump invade Greenland next?
2026 has certainly started with a bang… Donald Trump has kidnapped the former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, taken control of the country and installed Delcy Rodriguez, a Maduro loyalist, as acting president. Trump’s plans to seize and begin selling the country’s oil, and has turned his eye once again to Greenland, renewing his repeated threat of annexing the Danish territory. LBC’s Political Editor Natasha Clark questions Sir Keir Starmer on his response to the Greenland threat, while James asks the callers: 1) How should Keir Starmer react? 2) What would an American invasion of Greenland look like? 3) How could we stop it? This episode was recorded on the 5th of January. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
January 1 · 48 min
Mystery Hour Travel Edition: My kitten won't listen to me
Welcome to Mystery Hour! It's the game where James O'Brien invites the callers to ask and answer the most burning of questions - and no topic is off limits. Put your feet up and get ready to absorb some highly interesting but likely useless information! James' live LBC programme and the James O'Brien Daily podcast are back from the 5th January. Have a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year! This episode was recorded on the 18th of December.
Dec 31, 2025 · 47 min
Mystery Hour Travel Edition: It's in a tin
James O'Brien presents... Mystery Hour! It's the game in which callers ask and answer questions about absolutely whatever they want. You're guaranteed to learn and laugh, nothing more unfortunately. Enjoy! James' live LBC programme and the James O'Brien Daily podcast are back from the 5th January. Have a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year! This episode was recorded on the 11th of December.
Dec 30, 2025 · 45 min
Mystery Hour: How genetically related am I to Farage?
Welcome to another instalment of James O'Brien's Mystery Hour! It's the game which you are guaranteed to learn something from... just maybe not something useful. Conversely, James and the callers might just crack the mysteries of the universe with this one! James' live LBC programme and the James O'Brien Daily podcast are back from the 5th January. Have a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year! This episode was recorded on the 4th of December.
Dec 29, 2025 · 47 min
Mystery Hour: Raw meat, leaves and that?
Over the Christmas period why not put your feet up and enjoy all the latest instalments of James Obrien's Mystery Hour - the game in which listeners call up to ask questions about whatever - and I mean whatever - they want. Then the rest call in if they think they've got the answer! James' live LBC programme and the James O'Brien Daily podcast are back from the 5th January. Have a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year! This episode was recorded on the 27th of November.
Dec 29, 2025 · 50 min
Mystery Hour: Inventing the suit, babies' heartbeats & painting proficiency
Time for another instalment of Mystery Hour, the feature in which James O'Brien and his callers do their best to solve the world's greatest mysteries... or thereabouts. Enjoy! James' live LBC programme and the James O'Brien Daily podcast are back from the 5th January. Have a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year! This episode was recorded on the 20th of November.
Dec 25, 2025 · 49 min
Mystery Hour: Vocal ability, mind "boggling" & serial killing
While you tuck into those Christmas dinner leftovers, 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! James' live LBC programme and the James O'Brien Daily podcast are back from the 5th January. Have a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year! This episode was recorded on the 13th of November.
Dec 24, 2025 · 46 min
Mystery Hour: Avocado stones, knuckle cracking & brain hemispheres
Time for your next 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). James' live LBC programme and the James O'Brien Daily podcast are back from the 5th January. Have a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year! This episode was recorded on the 6th of November.
Dec 24, 2025 · 48 min
Mystery Hour: Posh people, pedestrian crossings & speech impediments
Get into another episode of Mystery Hour, the feature in which James invites the callers to ask and answer the most burning of questions. Mysteries of the universe type questions. The meaning of life type questions. What do dogs dream about type questions. Enjoy! James' live LBC programme and the James O'Brien Daily podcast is back from the 5th January. Have a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year! This episode was recorded on the 30th of October.
Dec 23, 2025 · 50 min
Mystery Hour: Jesters, "corpsing" and arm folding
It's Mystery Hour time, the game in which James' callers ask and answer questions about any topic they like. Prepare yourself to acquire knowledge beyond your wildest dreams... James' live LBC programme and the James O'Brien Daily podcast is back from the 5th January. Have a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year! This episode was recorded on the 23rd of October.