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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.
For advertising opportunities on this podcast email: dax@global.com
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.
For advertising opportunities on this podcast email: dax@global.com
278 Episodes
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Peter Mandelson is to step down from the House of Lords after the latest release of Epstein files appear to show he leaked sensitive information to Jeffrey Epstein in 2009 - after Epstein’s conviction of procuring a child for prostitution in 2008. What is wrong with the former Lord Mandelson?On a rather different note, the charity National Landscapes is undertaking government funded plans to remove barriers to ethnic minorities in each of its 46 “areas of outstanding natural beauty”. Why is it so important to have a connection to nature? This episode was recorded on the 3rd of February. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
Millions of the so-called “Epstein Files” have been released by the US Department of Justice, the largest number of documents shared by the government since a law mandated their release last year. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (formerly Prince Andrew), President Donald Trump, Peter Mandelson, Bill Clinton and Elon Musk are just a few of the vast number of rich and powerful people implicated. So… why hasn’t the world stopped yet?This episode was recorded on the 2nd of Feb. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
Sir Keir Starmer has brushed off criticism from Donald Trump after a visit to China, during which he negotiated the lifting of sanctions on British MPs. Should we be doing business with China, and why do we know so little about the world’s second biggest economy?And, Kemi Badenoch has said that centrist ideas are no longer wanted in the Conservative Party, arguing that one nation-type Tories or those who have qualms over the party's move to the right “need to get out of the way”. Where do old-school Tories go now?This episode was recorded on the 30th of January. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
Donald Trump has warned Iran that "time is running out" to negotiate a deal on its nuclear programme following the steady build-up of US military forces in the Gulf. The risk of military intervention edges closer... so James asks his listeners with connections to Iran whether they’d support an American attack.And, James is joined by LBC Reporter Henry Riley, with an exclusive story - Reform Leader Nigel Farage has opened an investigation into a Reform candidate, Mike Manning, after he was accused of “antisemitic and xenophobic” social media posts by a senior Liberal Democrat MP.This episode was recorded on the 29th of January. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
Freeholders may “resort to lawfare” to block the government’s £250 cap on ground rents, Angela Rayner has warned, as leasehold experts urged ministers to speed up the “glacial” pace of reform. James digs into the truth around leaseholds - is it a heinous system that protects the interests of the wealthy?And, James is joined by Washington Editor Simon Marks who shares the latest from the US following the killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good by ICE, as well as Donald Trump’s warning to Iran today ‘that time is running out’ for them to avert an American military intervention.This episode was recorded on the 28th of January. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
Around 50 Labour MPs have signed a letter objecting to Sir Keir Starmer’s decision to block Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham from standing in a forthcoming by-election. Is he acting for the greater good?Shockingly, a quarter of UK GPs are seeing obese children aged 4 and younger. Why do we still have such an alarming problem with childhood obesity, and how should parents and doctors tackle it?Also, talented white working-class pupils “lose ground” at secondary school, compared with their black and Asian peers, a study has found. If you grew up in a household where education wasn't valued, what is that like, and how do you break the cycle?And, in honour of Holocaust Memorial Day, James shares some powerful words from the late Lilli Pohlmann, who was a holocaust survivor and James’ dear friend.This episode was recorded on the 27th of January. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
Two killings in Minneapolis by ICE in two weeks… Alex Pretti was a 37-year-old intensive care nurse who supported veterans with life threatening illnesses. The Trump administration labelled Pretti as a “domestic terrorist” who was looking to cause harm - this is at odds with the footage of the incident, a video that has caused global outrage.James is pretty certain that the US has crossed the line into fascism… how should this be covered in the media and what does it mean for our greatest historical ally to be a fascist state? This episode was recorded on the 26th of January. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
1President Donald Trump has claimed NATO troops avoided the front lines during the Afghanistan War and that he “wasn’t sure” troops would support the US in the future. 457 British service personnel were killed in the conflict. James speaks with those who’ve served in the forces to discuss just how wrong - and offensive - Trump’s claims are.And, James is also joined by Emily Maitlis, who’s been in Minneapolis reporting on ICE’s activities, including the detainment of a 5-year old boy in Minnesota yesterday.This episode was recorded on the 23rd of January. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
President Trump has backed down on his tariff threats against the European states who opposed his plans to take over Greenland. He then announced a Gaza “Master Plan” and his Board of Peace, inviting world leaders, including Vladimir Putin and Benjamin Netanyahu, to join after paying an entry fee of £1b each. What can we actually learn from this?This episode was recorded on the 22nd of January. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
Donald Trump has told European leaders that the US is the “only country” that could secure Greenland, calling for "immediate negotiations" to acquire the Danish territory, but insisting he "won't use force"... How do we explain why Trump is doing all of this? And, how have British commentators been so unbelievably wrong about him?And, James is joined by comedian Stewart Lee, who’s needing to rewrite some of the material for his latest tour given the recent upturning of the entire world order.This episode was recorded on the 21st of January. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
Donald Trump said there was "no going back" on his plan to take control of Greenland. He also posted images of himself placing an American flag on the Danish territory, and a message that seemingly shows the NATO General Secretary supporting his demands. Should Europe hit back?And, Brooklyn Beckham has launched an astonishing attack on his “controlling” parents, cutting them off and claiming they’ve consistently tried to ruin his marriage. It's easy to forget that the Beckham’s deal with family problems too… James asks his callers to share their own experiences of parental estrangement.This episode was recorded on the 20th of January. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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