• Sadiq Khan hits back at ‘racist, sexist and Islamophobic’ Trump
    Sep 24 2025

    Donald Trump used his address to the UN General Assembly yesterday to attack the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan. After saying Khan, born to Pakistani parents, was a “terrible mayor”, Trump claimed he’d introduced “sharia law”, an Islamic system of law, to the capital. This is of course entirely untrue. Is it time to call out racism as racism?

    This episode was recorded on the 24th of September. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

    Show More Show Less
    59 mins
  • Why is Trump lying about autism and paracetamol?
    Sep 23 2025

    President Donald Trump has claimed a link between common over-the-counter painkillers and autism, contradicting major medical groups. Is there any strategy in this apparent idiocy?

    And, GPs in England are being urged to "think again" if they see a sick patient three times but can't pin down a diagnosis, or find their symptoms are getting worse. “Jess's Rule” is named after Jessica Brady, who was diagnosed with long Covid, but was actually suffering from cancer, which she died from shortly after. Whether doctor or patient, what’s your reaction to this?

    This episode was recorded on the 23rd of September. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr
  • The UK officially recognises Gaza as a state
    Sep 22 2025

    Sir Keir Starmer announced the UK’s recognition of a Palestinian state yesterday, alongside Canada, Australia and Portugal. Around 151 UN member states now do so. Benjamin Netanyahu said the recognition is "a huge reward to terrorism". How do you greet this moment, and what do you think it’ll actually mean?

    And, several of Europe's busiest airports have spent the past few days in chaos after a major cyber-attack. In recent years we’ve also seen Marks & Spencers, Jaguar Land Rover, the Co-Op and NHS trusts brought to their knees by hackers, but with relatively little public reaction. Is this getting out of control? And, should we care more?

    This episode was recorded on the 22nd of September. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

    Show More Show Less
    56 mins
  • Was Trump’s state visit a win for Starmer?
    Sep 19 2025

    President Trump’s state visit to the UK has come to a close. For some, Starmer’s played a blinder. He’s secured a new technology prosperity deal that’s set to draw in billions in investment and strengthened his relationship with Trump. For others, he’s capitulated to an immoral, fascistic President. How do you think it went?

    And, the French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, are suing right wing influencer Candace Owens for promoting her belief that Brigitte Macron is in fact a man. Why has Owens done this and are the Macrons responding correctly?

    This episode was recorded on the 19th of September. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

    Show More Show Less
    57 mins
  • Has Jimmy Kimmel been censored by the US government?
    Sep 18 2025

    US talk show host Jimmy Kimmel has had his programme axed after suggesting that President Donald Trump used Charlie Kirk’s assassination to score political points. Arriving in Chequers today as part of his UK state visit, Trump described the decision to axe the show as “great news for America”. How serious is this moment for freedom of speech? James discusses this and more LBC’s Washington Editor Simon Marks and Former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

    This episode was recorded on the 18th of September. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 2 mins
  • Trump touches down for state visit
    Sep 17 2025

    The UK has rolled out the red carpet for Donald Trump on his second state visit, with Keir Starmer preparing to welcome him to Chequers tomorrow for talks on tariffs, steel, and aluminium. But has Starmer played a stellar game in managing his relationship with Trump, or should he have stood up more firmly to the US president’s demands? James put the question to his listeners: Is Keir playing his cards right, or not?

    Meanwhile, Health Minister Wes Streeting has condemned the weekend’s far-right marches, saying the scenes were “not the kind of country any of us want to live in.” James asked his audience to share their lived experiences of being on the receiving end of far-right hostility.

    This episode was recorded on the 17th of September. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10 am on LBC.

    Show More Show Less
    46 mins
  • Genocide in Gaza: The UN’s Verdict on Israel
    Sep 16 2025

    A United Nations inquiry has concluded that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. It is the first time the allegation has been made publicly by a UN body, and has been greeted with fury by the Israeli government. With this conclusion, James asked listeners: What has Benjamin Netanyahu done to Israel’s reputation?

    And, currently in America, a growing number of organisations have fired workers over comments made online about remarks they made about Charlie Kirk's death or his political beliefs. Among them, Washington Post columnist Karen Attiah lost her job after posts on gun control and race in the aftermath of Kirk’s killing. To unpack the implications, James spoke with LBC’s Washington Correspondent, Simon Marks.

    This episode was recorded on the 16th of September. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10 am on LBC.

    Show More Show Less
    57 mins
  • Pressure on Starmer to address Musk’s inflammatory speech
    Sep 15 2025

    Over the weekend, Elon Musk made a speech online for the Far-Right “Unite the Kingdom” march in London, organised by Tommy Robinson. Musk told attendees to “either fight back or you die”, remarks that Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey has condemned as dangerous incitement to violence. Today, James turned his focus to Musk’s words and asked listeners: how should Keir Starmer respond?

    And the political landscape shifted again as Tory MP and shadow minister Danny Kruger defected to Reform. Accusing the Conservatives of clinging to “defunct institutions” and “sham unity” since their election defeat, Kruger declared the party stuck in “stasis.” James asked his audience: is this truly the end of the road for the Tories?

    And finally, presenter and broadcaster Roman Kemp joined James in the studio to talk about his new Premier League-backed initiative aimed at breaking the taboo around mental health.

    This episode was recorded on the 15th of September. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10 am on LBC.

    Show More Show Less
    47 mins