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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
222 Episodes
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Today, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced sweeping reforms to the UK's asylum system. Most refugees will now have to wait 20 years to apply to settle permanently, with deportations sped up when claims are rejected. Also, “Trump-style” visa bans on Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo are to be applied if their governments don’t cooperate more on deportations. Why is the Home Secretary doing this, who is she trying to appeal to and what would it take to diffuse the negative immigration rhetoric that has taken over the UK? This episode was recorded on the 17th of November. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has decided against breaking Labour's manifesto promise and raising income tax at the upcoming Budget - despite giving strong indications that she would be. How do you greet this news, and why has Reeves done this?And, London has been named the best city in the world to live, work and visit for the 11th year in a row by Forbes. Why then do right-wing political figures like Elon Musk and Nigel Farage tell lies about the capital’s crime rates and paint London as a cess-pit of violence?This episode was recorded on the 14th of November. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
Thousands of documents from disgraced financier and convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein have been released, many of which reference Donald Trump, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Peter Mandelson. Why did Donald Trump campaign on a promise to release the Epstein files, considering he is now so desperate to keep them secret? And, UK unemployment has risen to 5%, the highest level in four years. James asks his listeners to share the reality of losing a job and what support, if any, is readily available afterwards.This episode was recorded on the 13th of November. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
2Downing Street was "on alert" last night amid suggestions that Health Secretary Wes Streeting was leading a plot to oust the Prime Minister. Today, Streeting labeled these reports as "ridiculous". However, there is serious dissatisfaction with Keir Starmer, both within and outside of the government. Why is this? Do you want Starmer to go? And, James is joined by LBC’s Washington Correspondent Simon Marks to talk through everything from the UK halting intelligence sharing with the US to the threat from Donald Trump to sue the BBC for $1bn.This episode was recorded on the 12th of November. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
Rachel Reeves has hinted that she is planning to remove the two-child benefit cap in the November budget, in a move that could cost more than £3bn but lift 350,000 children out of poverty. Why is the cap removal so unpopular with the public? Also, Black and Asian NHS staff who do home visits fear some areas have become “no-go zones” for them - areas strewn with St George’s flags. Was this the point all along?And, Prince William has said that he and Kate decided to be as open as possible in answering “difficult questions” from their children after she was diagnosed with cancer… James hears about your personal experiences around diagnosis.This episode was recorded on the 11th of November. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
BBC director general Tim Davie and CEO of News Deborah Turness resigned last night after criticism that Panorama misled viewers by editing a speech by Donald Trump. Trump has since threatened legal action against the BBC… James breaks it all down.And, it’s highly probable that Chancellor Rachel Reeves will be raising income tax in the upcoming Budget. Considering she promised not to do this in Labour’s manifesto of course, how will we know if it’s the right decision?This episode was recorded on the 10th of November. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
An internal Metropolitan police review has found the “racial harm” the force inflicts on black people is “institutionally defended”. Also, Health Secretary Wes Streeting has warned of a “rising tide” of “1970s and 1980s style racism” in the NHS and Britain more widely. What is the difference between racism and institutional racism?And, the parents of the three girls murdered by Axel Rudakubana have condemned the parents of the killer for their failures to prevent the Southport attack. Indeed, Rudakabana’s father stated he was aware of the “small arsenal of weapons” his son had collected and was “ashamed” he hadn’t called the police. What is it like to be frightened of your own child and what help can parents get? This episode was recorded on the 7th of November. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
Two prisoners were mistakenly released from Wandsworth Prison in the last week. William Smith handed himself back in to HMP Wandsworth today, while a manhunt is still underway for Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, an Algerian national who is a sex offender. How can this be happening?Also, 15 local areas have closed ADHD support waiting lists and another 31 that have introduced tighter criteria, making it more difficult to access support. What impact will this have on people with ADHD and what difference did a diagnosis make for you?And, James speaks with Tom Cheshire, Sky News correspondent, who explains the investigation that has revealed that X’s (formerly known as Twitter) algorithm amplifies right-wing and extreme content and, in turn, right wing UK politics.This episode was recorded on the 6th of November. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
Following the first review of the national curriculum in over a decade, children will be taught about budgeting, mortgages and how to spot fake news and AI generated content. Sounds dangerously useful. What do you wish you’d been taught in school, and how do you teach disinformation discernment?And, Zohran Mamdani is the new Mayor of New York City - the first South Asian and muslim person to be so. This is a significant blow to Donald Trump and the Republicans. James speaks with Ross Barkan, who collaborated with Mamdani on his own New York Senate campaign, to find out more about the Mayor.This episode was recorded on the 5th of November. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
Rachel Reeves has “no regrets” over potential breaches of Labour’s manifesto pledge not to raise certain taxes in the upcoming Budget… why has she only addressed this and the fallout from 14 years of Conservative austerity, Brexit and Covid-19 now?Also, experts have stated that women must be given clearer warnings on the potentially fatal dangers of giving birth at home. Is it selfish to demand a home birth?And, Former US Vice-President Dick Cheney has passed away last night, at the age of 84. LBC’s Washington correspondent Simon Marks compares Trump’s Republican Party to that of Cheney’s, and updates us on the New York Mayoral election.This episode was recorded on the 4th of November. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
A “32 year old black British national” has been charged with 11 counts of attempted murder following a knife attack on a train in Cambridgeshire on Saturday evening and a separate incident in London hours before. Following new guidance, police are now being forced to disclose the ethnicity of suspects in response to a rise in far-right speculation on social media. Why do people want to know the ethnicity of police suspects and should the police be telling them?This episode was recorded on the 3rd of November. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
Buckingham Palace has announced that Prince Andrew is to lose his prince title and will be leaving his Royal Lodge home in Windsor. What are the Royal Family for, what impact will Andrew have on the monarchy and why are we expected to bow for them?James is also joined by Emily Matlis, presenter of The News Agents podcast, whose 2019 interview with Andrew was a catalyst for his downfall.This episode was recorded on the 31s of October. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
Sir Keir Starmer has dismissed calls for an investigation into Chancellor Rachel Reeves after she apologised for breaking housing rules when renting out her family home… Is it just party politics driving this story or should she have known better? Also, Hurricane Melissa has continued its devastating sweep across the Caribbean, leaving dozens dead. The storm was fuelled by warming oceans, while the UN confirms that ‘humanity has missed its 1.5C climate target’... Why aren’t we taking more action on climate change?And, a university academic is to receive "substantial damages" after a portrayal of him in a Steve Coogan film about the discovery of Richard III's remains was found to have a defamatory meaning. Steve joined James in the studio to explain it from his perspective.This episode was recorded on the 30th of October. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
Labour's Employment Rights Bill, which would protect workers against zero-hour contracts and unfair dismissals has been sent back to Commons after large defeats in the House of Lords. James digs into the details and asks why employers would vote against this.And, the Government is defending its plan to use military barracks to house asylum seekers, despite these looking set to cost more than the hotels currently in use. They think it’s worth it to quell public disquiet around asylum hotels. But is it, and will it?This episode was recorded on the 29th of October. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
The Treasury is considering a “mansion-tax” for owners of higher-value properties to help pull the country out of its multi-billion pound hole. Is this fair?And, hundreds of asylum seekers could be housed in two military barracks as the government seeks to end the use of “asylum-hotels”. Is this good or bad politics from Sir Keir Starmer?This episode was recorded on the 28th of October. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
“It drives me mad when I see adverts full of black people, full of Asian people”. Reform MP Sarah Pochin’s racist comments have even drawn widespread criticism - but many from her party refuse to label the comments as racist. How can we best discuss the increase of racism in our public discourse?And, Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, a former asylum seeker and convicted sex offender who was released from prison in error is back in custody and faces deportation. Shockingly, accidental releases of prisoners have doubled in a year - how?This episode was recorded on the 27th of October. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
With a potential tax rise on the horizon, James asked whether Rachel Reeves could handle the political and economic fallout. The UK currently relies on roughly 500,000 taxpayers for a third of all income and capital gains tax revenue, raising big questions about fairness, fiscal policy, and whether Labour risks breaking another key pledge if income tax increases.And, James turned to a stark new finding: the number of 16–24 year olds in England reporting symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder has more than tripled in the past decade. But James wanted to open the floor to what it is really like living with obsessive compulsive disorder in today’s world?This episode was recorded on the 24th of October. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10 am on LBC.
The grooming gangs inquiry has been plunged into disarray this week - before it has even started - with four survivors quitting the panel and two frontrunners for chairperson withdrawing. Why is this, and what should the success of the inquiry look like?And, one in 12 secondary pupils report being put into school isolation rooms at least once a week where they often spend in excess of eight hours, missing more than a full day of lessons, according to research. Why is that, and what impact is it having on kids?This episode was recorded on the 23rd of October. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
The family courts will no longer work on the presumption that having contact with both parents is in the best interests of a child. Campaigners say this will save many children’s lives. James asks his listeners to share their experiences and is joined by Dr Elizabeth Dalgarno, Director and Founder of SHERA, whose research was instrumental for this ruling.Also, Rachel Reeves has stressed the long term damage done to the British economy by Brexit in her remarks to the IMF. When will the government finally start telling the truth about Brexit and its effects?And, President Donald Trump is reportedly demanding the Justice Department pay him $230 million in compensation for the federal investigations into him – a settlement that could ultimately face approval by one of his former lawyers, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche... LBC’s man in Washington, Simon Marks, has the details.This episode was recorded on the 22nd of October. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson was in front of the Covid Inquiry today, speaking about the effect of the pandemic and his own policy decisions on young people. How did the lockdowns affect you or the young people in your life?And, The Economist has argued that legalising cocaine would have myriad societal benefits, eliminating the price premium that incentivises dangerous gang activity, freeing up space and resources within the criminal justice system and ensuring the product itself was safe for users. Two questions: Would legalisation of cocaine decrease or increase the amount of peril that we’re exposed to? And, why are drugs illegal?This episode was recorded on the 21st of October. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
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