James O'Brien Daily
Will the UK enter the trade wars?
Stock markets across the world dropped today after Donald Trump's sweeping tariff announcements. Sir Keir Starmer has said this will "clearly" have an economic impact on Brits, but that the UK will keep a "clear head", while also considering retaliatory measures. What should Starmer do? James is also joined by Ta-Nehisi Coates, an American journalist and author, for a brilliant conversation about the dramatic reaction to his latest book, “The Message”, which explores destructive nationalist myths and describes the segregation he witnessed first hand in Israel and the West Bank. This episode was recorded on the 3rd April. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
3 Apr 2025 - 58 min 22 sek
Will Starmer stand up to Trump's tariffs?
Donald Trump is set to announce his global tariffs at 9pm tonight. Can Keir Starmer, who’s being urged to fight back with retaliatory tariffs, stand up to Trump? James also analyses some of the New Jersey Senator Cory Booker’s record breaking anti-Trump speech from yesterday. Also, Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch has said she opposes protest-free buffer zones around abortion clinics and thinks they undermine free speech in the UK. Why are certain powerful individuals so against abortion and are the buffer zones actually an assault on free speech? And, James speaks with Nebal Farsakh, Spokesperson for the Palestine Red Crescent Society, about the killing of several Palestinian medics by Israeli forces last week in Gaza. This episode was recorded on the 2nd April. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
2 Apr 2025 - 01 godz 01 min 56 sek
How will Trump’s tariffs affect the UK?
Sir Keir Starmer has admitted that the UK is likely to be hit by Donald Trump’s global trade tariffs, as the US refuses to sign an economic deal with Britain. James gets into the nitty gritty: What's the reason for tariffs? When did they originate? How will these tariffs affect us? The Prime Minister has described Netflix’s hugely influential series Adolescence as something that the entire nation is talking about. Yet today on LBC the Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch revealed that she hasn’t watched it. James and his listeners break this down. This episode was recorded on the 1st April. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
1 Apr 2025 - 51 min 39 sek
Do boys need male role models?
The number of men becoming secondary school teachers has plummeted to a record low, while conversations about the effects of online misogyny and healthy role models are being had more than ever. Do boys need male role models specifically, and if so, why? NHS bosses have decided to shut the maternity unit at a major London hospital in response to a dramatic fall in the birthrate in its area in recent years. If you’re child free - why? And how do people react when you tell them? This episode was recorded on the 31st March. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
31 Mar 2025 - 01 godz 01 min 14 sek
Did Just Stop Oil succeed?
Labour has come under fire from its welfare cuts, with affected families forecasted to lose £1,720 on average a year. James and his listeners look to identify exactly who Labour is trying to appeal to right now. Also, mid show, Keir Starmer’s director of communications quit - after just 9 months in the job. LBC’s Political Correspondent Aggie Chambre shares the details. And, Just Stop Oil is to cease its campaign of civil resistance after 3 years of climate action. The group stated that its initial demand to end new oil and gas is now Government policy. Did it succeed in its mission? This episode was recorded on the 28th March. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
28 Mar 2025 - 58 min 54 sek
What do women think of Netflix’s Adolescence?
More than 3 million UK households will lose out as a result of the government’s cuts to welfare, according to official analysis, with an extra 250,000 people forecasted to fall into relative poverty by the end of the decade. How will this impact you? And, the Netflix drama Adolescence has brought much needed attention to toxic masculinity and dangerous online influences such as Andrew Tate. James speaks to women about their thoughts on the show and the conversations it's opened up. This episode was recorded on the 27th March. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
27 Mar 2025 - 52 min 07 sek
Does the Trump administration hate Europe?
As well as plans to bomb Yemen's Houthis being leaked in the US security breach yesterday, messages also revealed a contempt toward America's European allies. One of US Vice President JD Vance’s messages stood out: "I just hate bailing Europe out again". Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth replied: "I fully share your loathing of European freeloading. It's PATHETIC". Why does JD Vance have this attitude towards Europe? James also speaks with Phillips O'Brien, Professor of Strategic Studies at the University of St Andrews, who explains why yesterday’s US-negotiated "Black Sea Ceasefire" is a betrayal of Ukraine. This episode was recorded on the 26th March. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
26 Mar 2025 - 58 min 37 sek
How did the Trump administration leak its war plans?
A journalist was accidentally added to a group chat on which the US Government was planning the bombing of Yemen's Houthis. The chat included US Vice President JD Vance, Defence secretary Pete Hegseth and the leaders of US national security and intelligence. When questioned this morning, Donald Trump said he knew nothing about it. Is this indicative of the incompetence of the Trump administration? And, the Palestinian director of the Oscar-winning documentary “No Other Land” has been arrested by the IDF after being attacked by Israeli settlers. James speaks with Raviv Rose, a jewish activist of the Centre for Jewish non-violence, who witnessed the attack. This episode was recorded on the 25th March. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
25 Mar 2025 - 58 min 04 sek
Why do Brits love working from home?
The UK’s first live facial recognition cameras, intended to make fighting crime easier, are being set up in south London. Would you be comfortable with these cameras arriving on your street, or is this an invasion of privacy? Brits spend less time in the office than workers in every other country bar the Philippines, research claims. Why are Brits resisting the call back to the office? Elton John, Stormzy and Coldplay are among a group of artists backing Ed Sheeran’s call for Keir Starmer to commit £250m to music education. Would you be the same person you are now without having been introduced to music? This episode was recorded on the 24th March. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
24 Mar 2025 - 01 godz 47 sek
Should smartphones be banned in schools?
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson is considering a smartphone ban in England schools. Pressure mounts from MPs to act on the effect of social media on teenagers, encapsulated by the viral Netflix drama, Adolescence. Is totally banning phones from schools possible? Also, there’s been a huge rise in women working beyond the state pension threshold simply in order to survive. Simple question here - will you ever be able to retire? And, James speaks with LBC’s Scotland Political Editor, Gina Davidson, for the details on Nicola Sturgeon’s clearance of wrongdoing in regards to the case investigating alleged embezzlement of SNP funds. This episode was recorded on the 21st March. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
21 Mar 2025 - 50 min