James O'Brien Daily

Donald Trump has suffered an extraordinary electoral defeat, with Democrats making gains far beyond expectations. But is this a rejection of Trump's racism, corruption and attacks on democracy, or have voters simply had enough of the cost of living? James hears from callers in Britain and America as he struggles to balance joy at the result with concern about what comes next.

Plus, LBC's America correspondent Simon Marks explains the scale of the Democratic victory, what it means for Trump's remaining presidency and why some of the powerful figures who backed him could now face serious scrutiny.

This episode was recorded on the 4th of November. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Are migrants being valued for the work they do, or simply what they earn? Shabana Mahmood’s plans to make people wait longer for permanent settlement are under scrutiny, with questions over the Government’s £10 billion savings claim and the families facing an uncertain future.

Plus, how much will voters forgive Donald Trump? Despite January 6th, his lies and attacks on democracy, he won back the White House. Is the cost of living outweighing moral concerns, and are voters becoming easier to manipulate?

This episode was recorded on the 3rd of November. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Shabana Mahmood wants to make migrants wait longer before they can settle permanently in Britain. But why is a Labour government making life harder for people who work, pay taxes and help keep essential services running? James questions the logic behind the proposals and hears from callers whose jobs, families and futures could be affected.

Plus, should Britain apologise and offer reparations for its role in the slave trade? As the debate gathers pace, James asks whether historical accountability, education and transparency might matter more.

This episode was recorded on the 2nd of November. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

The world’s biggest crypto exchange has lost $6.3 billion in a record hack, which has reportedly been blamed on North Korea. But what purpose does the crypto currency actually serve for humanity and is it morally good or bad?

Then, MPs say the government’s plan to reverse rising obesity rates is doomed to fail, and James asks why Britain has such a problem and why it’s so hard to fix.

This episode was recorded on the 30th of October. James O’Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

The day after John Healey’s Budget was announced, James asks callers to tell him something thoughtful and insightful about what it actually means for them.

Then, with tax on property income for buy-to-let landlords rising, should we feel sorry for those landlords? And what are people's personal experiences of renting and the current system.

This episode was recorded on the 29th of October. James O’Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

On Budget day, James asks listeners to tell him what a Budget has actually done for them. Positive or negative, what real outcomes has the public had in the past?

Then, the Equality and Human Rights Commission wants workers to have the legal right to ask what their colleagues are paid. But is right for to have full transparency for wages and if so, how would it actually be implemented?

This episode was recorded on the 28th of October. James O’Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

The chancellor is expected to use tomorrow's budget to lift the tax-free allowance so the poorest pensioners don't get taxed on their triple-lock increase. For some, £489 a year is loose change down the back of the sofa. For others, it's the difference between having the heating on and not. What is it actually like to live on a state pension and what do those pensioners wish they had known in the past?

Plus, Jamie Oliver’s wife Jools Oliver has revealed that she has been diagnosed with autism and ADHD, saying that not understanding her neurodivergence “ruined” her life for 45 years. James has spoken many times on this show about the effects of ADHD but what about the later in life diagnosis of autism? What does the diagnosis actually mean and how much does it alleviate people's personal experiences?

This episode was recorded on the 27th of October.

James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said everything has changed since Brexit and that it's time for an honest discussion about a return to free movement, with an EU-UK summit looming on the 20th of November... but could the freedom of movement conversation be made toxic all over again, by the very same people as before?

Plus, Sylvester Stallone says you're not a good parent if you haven't performed a little nepotism. James agrees and tells the story of the connection that got him his first break in journalism. So when exactly does nepotism become a problem?

This episode was recorded on the 26th of October.

James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

James O’Brien Plus is your one-stop shop for everything James O’Brien.

For £4.99 a month, enjoy all four of James’s podcasts ad-free, plus exclusive bonus episodes and a bi-weekly newsletter.

Every Wednesday, get a new episode of Ask James Anything, where you can put your questions directly to James. Politics, films, music, food, video games, Halloween parties - nothing is off limits.

Then, on the last Monday of every month, catch James Reacts, as James revisits some of the funniest, most viral and most outrageous moments from his years on LBC, alongside stories from the month’s news cycle that he didn’t get to discuss on air.

Plus, every other Friday, receive The Life O’Brien - James’s bespoke newsletter, delivered to your inbox for your weekend reading.

That’s a lot of James for £4.99.

To submit a question, email jamesobrienplus@global.com or send a message or voice note to 07879 809 731.

Start your seven-day free trial now on Global Player by selecting any of James’s podcasts.

James O’Brien Plus is a Global production.

Is Britain right to prepare for the worst? As governments across Europe urge households to stockpile essential supplies, a debate over emergency preparedness raises questions about the growing threat of cyberattacks, power cuts and Russian aggression.

Plus, the disturbing sex abuse allegations surrounding Meghan Markle’s father, Thomas Markle, raise difficult questions about what happens when allegations of this nature emerge within your own family. Thomas Markle denies the allegations, while Meghan has explained why she cut contact with her father and wanted to protect her children.

This episode was recorded on the 23rd of October. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Barclays has revealed £2.3bn of profit in the three months leading up to September, while at the same time around 5,000 jobs are being cut. AI is squarely in the frame to take over. So James asks his listeners the question nobody wants to answer out loud: are you next?

Plus: The UK government says it is working to identify any potential exposure in its online services, after critical cyber-security flaws were identified in the PHP programming language that underpins a significant number of the world's websites... LBC's tech correspondent Will Guyatt joined to explain it all.

This episode was recorded on the 22nd of October. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

More gas for Britain, but at what cost? The government’s decision to approve new North Sea gas drilling sparks a fierce debate over energy security, the climate crisis and Labour’s promise not to grant new licences. Can domestic drilling deliver cheaper energy and greater independence, or does it risk opening the door to further fossil fuel extraction?

Plus, the Covid inquiry’s damning findings bring the tragedy of Britain’s care homes back into focus. With 43,000 residents dead and thousands of patients discharged from hospitals into care homes to free up beds, the human cost behind the figures is impossible to ignore.

This episode was recorded on the 21st of October. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Andy Burnham has reportedly told officials to rip up their plans for fixing Thames Water because they don't go far enough. James wants to know something simpler: how was this allowed to happen at all? A company Britain used to own is now sitting on £100m of outstanding fines, asking its own creditors for another £2.4bn just to keep the taps on, while stakeholders including companies owned by foreign governments have made a fortune.

The answers come from callers who were there. Jeremy was asked to leave in 1989 after telling senior management that leakage and sewage treatment figures were far worse than the company was reporting. Steve spent 36 years inside Thames and explains how land, property and skilled maintenance staff were sold or stripped away and why Burnham's real nuclear option might be insolvency law.

Then a complete change of direction. Number 10 has openly rejected Pete Hegseth and Donald Trump's claims that NATO allies "stayed a little back, a little off the front lines" during the war in Afghanistan. 457 British personnel died on duty. James hands the show to the callers with most invested in the British military... soldiers who served alongside Americans and men who buried their friends.

This episode was recorded on the 20th of October. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Why are protests in France so different from those in Britain — and could the same anger ever explode on British streets? James examines unrest in France, exploring the country’s revolutionary tradition, its relationship with the state and why French citizens often see protest as both a right and a responsibility.

Then, James looks at the stark postcode lottery facing children in England. From unsafe streets and overcrowded schools to access to education and mental-health support, callers reveal how the place a child grows up can shape their entire future.

This episode was recorded on the 19th of October. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

An undercover ITV investigation exposes racist and misogynistic views among Reform UK candidates and activists, raising serious questions about Nigel Farage’s leadership, the party’s vetting process and its repeated claims to be keeping extremists out of politics.

Plus, we teach children to read and write, but do we teach them how to actually express themselves? James questions why oracy is so often overlooked, as callers share how struggling to express themselves can leave them feeling shut down in society.

This episode was recorded on the 16th of October. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

What happens when America turns its back on Ukraine?

Donald Trump’s apparent alignment with Vladimir Putin raises urgent questions about Ukraine’s future, from restrictions on Starlink and military intelligence to the possibility of Europe having to fill the gap left by a retreating America. Financial Times chief Ukraine correspondent Christopher Miller joins James to explore the impact on Ukraine’s fight for survival and the fears facing its people.

Plus, an ITV investigation exposes racist comments by Reform UK candidates and councillors, raising serious questions about the party’s vetting process and Nigel Farage’s response. Where does the line between “legitimate concerns” and outright racism lie and could the public’s rejection of racist politics offer a reason for hope?

This episode was recorded on the 15th of October. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

A national campaign has launched in the hope of finding 10,000 new foster places. James hears extraordinary, emotional accounts from foster carers - from children arriving with almost nothing, to the painful and joyful reality of letting them go, these calls reveal why fostering can change everyone involved.

Then, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich joins James to discuss his 491 days in a Russian prison, why he quickly understood he was being held as leverage, and the prisoner swap that finally brought him home.

This episode was recorded on the 14th of October. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Released from prison with a small discharge payment, no settled home and a long list of conditions: what could possibly go wrong? James explores why so many people return to prison so quickly, often not for a new crime but for breaching the terms of their release.

Plus, Andy Burnham begins reopening the Brexit conversation. Is Britain finally ready to admit that making trade with its closest neighbours harder was a catastrophic mistake?

This episode was recorded on the 13th of October. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Russia interfered in the Brexit referendum. So why did Vladimir Putin want Britain out of the European Union - and why are so many people still reluctant to confront the answer? James examines how division, disinformation and distrust can weaken a country far more cheaply than military force.

Plus, what does Donald Trump’s apparent unwillingness to oppose Vladimir Putin mean for Ukraine, Europe and the world? James hears from callers wrestling with the unsettling possibility that the President of the United States is acting consistently in Russia’s interests.

This episode was recorded on the 12th of October. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Donald Trump’s administration is preparing to broadcast a firing-squad execution. James asks what happens when state killing becomes a public spectacle - and why the presence of a camera makes it feel still more horrifying.

Plus, James examines a major new review of young people’s mental health. Its message is clear: they are not weak, overdiagnosed or “snowflakes”. They are facing pressures previous generations did not and they need support, compassion and understanding.

This episode was recorded on the 9th of October. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Brexit, Covid lockdowns and Liz Truss's mini-budget have all taken a lasting toll on Britain's mental health, according to new research. James explores how major political decisions and global events can shake our sense of security, hearing from callers about anxiety, personal trauma and the moments that changed how they see the world.

Plus, who exactly is Kemi Badenoch trying to win over? Following her Conservative Party Conference speech, James hears from voters torn between their distrust of the Tories and their fear of Nigel Farage's Reform UK.

This episode was recorded on the 8th of October. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Inheritance tax affects a small proportion of estates, so why does it provoke such a powerful reaction in almost everyone else? James asks whether it is morally wrong to tax wealth passed down through families, or whether those receiving large inheritances should see themselves as fortunate.

Plus, James unpicks Kemi Badenoch’s latest speech and speaks to LBC's Washington Editor Simon Marks about mounting concerns over the integrity of the forthcoming US midterm elections.

This episode was recorded on the 7th of October. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Cancer is increasingly affecting people under 50 - but what does it feel like to receive a diagnosis at an age when you never imagined it could happen to you? From missed symptoms and life-saving persistence with GPs to treatment, anxiety and the long road afterwards, this is an honest conversation about the reality of cancer at a younger age.

Plus, business owners respond to Jeremy Clarkson’s claim that Britain is no longer a place to build a company.

This episode was recorded on the 6th of October. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

The Green Party has voted to define Zionism as a form of racism, prompting concern from Jewish members who fear it could stigmatise people simply for attending synagogues or identifying with Israel’s right to exist. James explores the crucial distinction between condemning the Israeli Government’s actions in Gaza and defining Zionism itself as racist.

Then, after Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood says employers are too quick to recruit from overseas, James hears from employers facing challenges finding the skilled workers they need.

This episode was recorded on the 5th of October. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Half of prisoners in England and Wales are functionally illiterate. James asks what prison is actually for when education, rehabilitation and support on release are so limited - and why a system meant to reduce crime can leave people more likely to return.

Then, James examines Suella Braverman’s comments on Englishness, hearing from callers who ask how a former Home Secretary can tell people born and raised in Britain that they do not belong.

This episode was recorded on the 2nd of October. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Brexit has “done more harm than good”, says Andy Burnham, as he opens the door to a new national conversation about Britain’s future relationship with Europe. James asks if the country is ready to confront the consequences of leaving and whether the familiar lies could win again.

Then, James explores Burnham’s proposed commission on electoral reform. Would proportional representation make votes count more fairly, encourage collaboration and stop governments winning unchecked power on a minority of the vote?

This episode was recorded on the 1st of October. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Andy Burnham’s conference speech sets out a vision for a healthier, wealthier and kinder Britain - from social care, housing and water to electoral reform and a closer relationship with Europe. James reflects on a speech that put hope back at the centre of politics, and asks whether Burnham can deliver the scale of change he has promised.

Plus, LBC Political Editor Natasha Clarke reports live from the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool on Health Secretary Yvette Cooper’s new national maternity plan.

This episode was recorded on the 30th of September. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Could ending the state pension triple lock help fund a social care system that is free at the point of use? James examines Andy Burnham’s reported plans, asking whether pensioners could accept smaller annual increases in return for protection from devastating care costs.

Then, after Martin Lewis asked fellow passengers to turn down a loud serial-killer documentary, James explores the growing problem of people playing phones at full volume in public.

This episode was recorded on the 29th of September. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Sadiq Khan wants Britain to start work on rejoining the EU, while Andy Burnham refuses to rule it out. James asks whether it is politically wise to reopen the Brexit argument — and whether the EU would trust Britain to stay.

Plus, would you support Burnham’s proposed tax-funded social care system? Callers explain the devastating financial reality of care, from families selling homes to fund dementia support to exhausted carers left without meaningful help.

This episode was recorded on the 28th of September. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Not every young person thrives in a traditional classroom, but is vocational education a route to opportunity or an early label that limits ambition?

Plus, more than 52,000 people are claiming benefits for back pain with no specific cause - but why are so many of them treated with suspicion rather than compassion?

This episode was recorded on the 25th of September. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

A child leading chants of “let them drown” at a protest over Channel crossings leaves James asking what is happening to Britain. Why is hatred being taught instead of challenged?

James hears from callers who describe the fear felt by people of colour as anti-migrant rhetoric becomes more open, more extreme and increasingly detached from the facts.

This episode was recorded on the 24th of September. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Why is it harder to be young today? James asks why so many young people are experiencing mental distress - from insecure work and unaffordable housing to social media, climate anxiety and a future that feels impossible to plan for.

Then, James examines one of Westminster’s enduring mysteries: why aren’t the Liberal Democrats making more of an impact when British politics feels so fractured?

This episode was recorded on the 23rd of September. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Donald Trump has shredded the diplomatic rulebook - so what is a British Prime Minister supposed to do when meeting him? James examines the impossible task of dealing with a US President who demands loyalty, thrives on flattery and can reverse his position overnight.

Then, as migration figures fall sharply, James asks why the politicians and newspapers who demanded lower numbers are refusing to celebrate.

This episode was recorded on the 22nd of September. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

What does it mean to lose someone while they are still physically there? James hears powerful accounts from families affected by dementia, as the disease is now being described by leading experts as Britain’s greatest health and social care crisis.

Plus, women and equalities minister Bridget Phillipson has said that “all of us as women in society are unsafe”, prompting a conversation about women’s safety and why it must no longer be treated as normal.

This episode was recorded on the 21st of September. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

A lifeboat station in Portsmouth has halted operations after RNLI volunteers faced abuse for rescuing people in distress at sea. What does it say about Britain when those who risk their lives to save strangers are branded “traitors” and targeted by masked protesters?

Then, Charles Spencer has made new claims about King Charles’s reaction to Princess Diana’s death. James asks whether the Earl is honouring his sister’s memory or publicly washing the family’s dirty linen.

This episode was recorded on the 18th of September. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

The people at the heart of artificial intelligence are warning that its development could pose a threat to humanity. James asks what we should really fear - from cyberattacks to the prospect of systems we may no longer be able to control.

Plus, what is the difference between good strict and bad strict? As a headteacher sparks backlash after suspending 25 pupils in the first week of school, James hears powerful stories of harsh discipline, corporal punishment and humiliation.

This episode was recorded on the 17th of September. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

A village votes to leave the UK over plans to house asylum seekers nearby. What is really behind the anger in Piddington and what does the reaction reveal about the debate over asylum, safety and integration?

Plus, thousands of people are being pushed out of paid work to care for sick family members. With around 1,500 Britons reportedly leaving their jobs every day, James looks at the human cost of Britain’s care crisis and asks why families are being left to pick up the pieces.

This episode was recorded on the 16th of September. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

The UK’s political future is back in the spotlight as nationalist parties push for greater independence. What would actually happen if Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland went their separate ways and what would it mean for the rest of Britain?

And, are we scrolling our brains away? Reading for pleasure can boost memory, empathy and mental health, but as TikTok and short-form content take over our attention, are we losing one of the simplest habits that keeps our minds healthy?

This episode was recorded on the 15th of September. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Reform has been handed a record-breaking £72 million by two crypto billionaires. Who are they, what are they buying with that influence and does this mark a shift towards the kind of billionaire-funded politics we’ve seen in the US?

And, self-driving cars could put thousands of jobs at risk. A thinktank is calling for them to be taxed to help offset the impact. Is this fair or is it simply the price of progress?

Plus, exercise in schools is falling off. As children become less active, are we sleepwalking into a health crisis?

This episode was recorded on the 14th of September. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Twenty-five years after 9/11, James O’Brien asks how the attacks changed the world - from America’s sense of security to the suspicion and hostility faced by Muslim communities.

James speaks to Michael Lomonaco about his extraordinary story. As executive chef at Windows on the World, he was due to be at the top of the North Tower, but a last-minute visit to an optician saved his life.

This episode was recorded on the 11th of September. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

If you’re affected by anything discussed in this episode, you can call the Samaritans for free, at any time, on 116 123.

What does 'working class' mean in Britain in 2026 and can a government genuinely build education policy around it? James O’Brien explores social mobility, poverty, privilege and the children most in need of support.

Then, AI is being hailed as a potential cure for cancer. At the same time, leading researchers are warning it could kill us all. James O’Brien explores the extraordinary contradiction at the heart of the AI revolution.

This episode was recorded on the 10th of September. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Ed Miliband has declared that Britain will no longer treat illegal Israeli settlement activity as business as usual. James asks whether sanctions are a long-overdue assertion of international law, and why calling out the Israeli Government is so often wrongly conflated with antisemitism.

Plus, what does occupation mean for children trying to get to school, access healthcare and live without fear? James is joined by Save the Children UK's Executive Director for Global Impact, George Graham.

This episode was recorded on the 9th of September. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

As the UK moves to sanction goods from illegal Israeli settlements, James explores the arguments from all sides: is it a long-overdue response to injustice in the West Bank, an inadequate symbolic gesture, or a damaging political mistake?

Then, Nigel Farage wants to ban face coverings after masked men terrorised communities in Dover and Portsmouth. But why does his answer appear to focus on Muslim women rather than the men causing the fear?

This episode was recorded on the 8th of September. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Reform claims to stand for women’s safety and free speech. So why was a young woman assaulted for heckling Nigel Farage and why did party figures respond with mockery rather than condemnation?

Plus, callers reflect on the “other life” they might have lived if their ADHD, autism or learning needs had been recognised at school.

This episode was recorded on the 7th of September. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Why do some people keep defending Nigel Farage, whatever happens? James considers the fresh allegations surrounding Reform’s funding and asks whether anger at the political establishment has become more powerful than facts, principles or self-interest.

Plus, how do you cope when your mum, dad or closest friend becomes radicalised online? James hears from listeners whose relationships have been changed by far-right politics.

This episode was recorded on the 4th of September. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Is this the beginning of the end for Nigel Farage? As Reform UK slips behind the Conservatives in a new poll and bans critical journalists from its conference, James examines the pressure building around a party that says it stands for free speech.

Then, James explores the lives behind the figures on workless households. What does it mean for children to grow up without parents in employment?

This episode was recorded on the 3rd of September. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Has Donald Trump swapped sides? James is joined by The Guardian’s Luke Harding to examine Trump’s extraordinary relationship with Vladimir Putin, his retreat from Ukraine and the dangerous new age of conquest unfolding across the world.

But first, Andy Burnham says Britain’s malaise can be traced back to privatisation, austerity, deindustrialisation and Brexit. Is he right — and can Britain undo 40 years of wrong turns?

This episode was recorded on the 2nd of September. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Six weeks into his premiership, Andy Burnham says he wants to bring optimism back to Britain. James asks why the country appears willing to believe in him — and whether authenticity, conviction and a willingness to challenge the old rules can survive the realities of government.

Plus, as Burnham tells MPs that “more public control” is the way to grow the UK economy, what is your immediate reaction to renationalisation? Why does privatisation have such a hold on the public imagination?

This episode was recorded on the 1st of September. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

More than 200 extra police officers have been sent into Middlesbrough following a series of violent incidents in recent days. But what’s behind the sudden surge in police presence and what is really happening on the streets?

And, what if your dream home became a nightmare? Victims of cowboy builders have been left thousands out of pocket and living with unfinished, unsafe homes. Now, new government plans aim to stop others suffering the same fate.

This episode was recorded on the 28th of August. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Could AI replace your job? And, if it can, what should society do about it? James considers warnings that the technology may soon outpace our ability to manage its consequences, from mass unemployment to a crisis in education.

Also, as easyJet more than doubles its over-50s cabin crew and encourages retraining, James asks why one career should have to last a lifetime. He hears remarkable stories from people who took the leap and found their calling later in life.

This episode was recorded on the 27th of August. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

As Israel moves ahead with settlement plans that could destroy any remaining prospect of a two-state solution, James asks whether Andy Burnham’s government can continue to do nothing. Are sanctions now the only meaningful response?

Plus, Britons are being urged to prepare for emergencies. From storing water to stocking up on tinned food, how ready are we if normal life suddenly stops working?

This episode was recorded on the 26th of August. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Following the deaths of two police officers in a fatal wrong-way crash, James examines the online videos that glamorise dangerous driving. Is it enough to blame TikTok, or do millions of views reveal a demand that viewers are helping to create?

Plus, as one in seven people in England are prescribed antidepressants, James explores the difference between everyday sadness and clinical depression. What support really helps people get better?

This episode was recorded on the 25th of August. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

If you’re affected by anything discussed in this episode, you can call the Samaritans for free, at any time, on 116 123.

As lifelong Conservative voters describe themselves as politically homeless, has Kemi Badenoch abandoned the party’s traditional values in favour of culture wars and social-media soundbites?

And, with graduates facing an increasingly uncertain job market and AI threatening white-collar roles, are traditional trades now a safer bet than university?

Plus, three-quarters of secondary schools reportedly breaking food standards. Why are British children still being served crisps, burgers and chocolate, and who is responsible for fixing school food?

This episode was recorded on the 24th of August. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Racism and sexism are becoming normalised in Britain, according to Equalities Minister Bridget Phillipson. From casual racist language to far-right narratives online, when did behaviour once considered beyond the pale start to feel ordinary?

Then, as England has been described as a “maths powerhouse” following improved exam results, James explores the lifelong impact of maths anxiety, dyscalculia and an education system that can shut doors on young people.

This episode was recorded on the 21st of August. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

As Harry and Meghan prepare to return to the UK later this month, what would they need to do to make a life in Britain possible again? James explores the racism and misogyny surrounding Meghan’s treatment, and the media machine that helped turn affection into fury.

Also, boys are catching up with girls at GCSE and outperforming them at A-Level. Are exam-heavy assessments, classroom policy and changing pressures on young people reshaping the results gap?

This episode was recorded on the 20th of August. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

As Andy Burnham launches his 'national drive' to get rough sleepers off the streets by Christmas, James examines why homelessness has become part of the backdrop of city life.

Plus, new research suggests London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone has helped children’s lungs recover from the effects of pollution. So why did ULEZ provoke such extraordinary fury?

This episode was recorded on the 19th of August. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Donald Trump has threatened to bomb US ally Oman if it “gets in the way” of talks with Iran. As he fuels instability across the world, why has the public conversation about Trump become quieter rather than louder? Have we become desensitised?

Plus, as Wetherspoon bans customers from playing music on their phones in pubs, James asks: why don’t we feel shame about disturbing other people anymore?

This episode was recorded on the 18th of August. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

When does legitimate scrutiny become something crueler? James reflects on the death of former Cambridge professor Jason Arday, the media frenzy surrounding the allegations against him, and whether the gleefulness of some commentary demands a reckoning.

Plus, as Andy Burnham is minded to approve a North Sea gas field, can Labour support fossil-fuel jobs in the short term without abandoning its climate commitments?

This episode was recorded on the 17th of August. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

If you’re affected by anything discussed in this episode, you can call the Samaritans for free, at any time, on 116 123.

In today’s episode, James unpicks the extraordinary events in Clacton, where Nigel Farage’s by-election gamble ended with an absent winner, a cancelled press conference and a growing sense of humiliation.

Plus, why do so many men think they could become Olympians? After a survey found that four in ten men believe they could qualify for the Olympics within two years, James explores confidence, delusion and the punishing reality of elite sport.

This episode was recorded on the 14th of August. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

No guaranteed hours, no guaranteed income and no way to plan ahead: James examines the lives shaped by zero-hours contracts and the government’s proposed ban.

Then, after new figures suggest Andy Burnham’s devolution push could drive 90,000 bankers and lawyers out of London, James asks why people relocate. What do you gain, lose or trade when you leave the capital?

This episode was recorded on the 13th of August. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Why are we so reluctant to confront our fear about climate change? As extreme heat grips Britain, James asks what the government can do to prepare for a future of water shortages, failing crops and more frequent floods.

Then, after the Prime Minister says wealthier areas should house more asylum seekers, James hears from communities already doing just that and asks whether the debate has been distorted by fear and misinformation.

This episode was recorded on the 12th of August. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Can Andy Burnham reverse the decline of Britain’s high streets? James explores why so many town centres are filled with empty units, vape shops and betting shops.

Then, as the government looks for a way to prevent the early release of PC Andrew Harper’s killers, James asks whether public outrage should ever override the justice system. If the Prime Minister intervenes in one emotive case, where does it end?

This episode was recorded on the 11th of August. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

After anti-migrant violence and disorder in Thetford, James asks what could possibly justify a baying crowd outside someone’s front door. Is online misinformation spilling dangerously into real life?

Plus, what happens when the formative years of school, friendship and independence are replaced by isolation and screens? James explores the legacy of COVID for a generation now entering adulthood.

This episode was recorded on the 10th of August. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

In today’s episode, James shares his personal sense of disappointment over the claims surrounding former Cambridge professor Jason Arday, before asking why the case has captured such intense attention — and who else may pay the price.

But first, Alan Milburn, who is leading a review into Britain’s youth worklessness crisis, says primary schools in England should be required to identify children at risk of leaving education at 16 without a job. Can the system really predict a child’s future when they’re five years old?

This episode was recorded on the 7th of August. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Why is it still so hard to ask for help? James explores Andy Burnham’s pledge that “help is on the way”, with more than 150 new NHS mental health centres set to open. In today’s episode, incredible callers share their personal stories of struggle and recovery.

Plus, after a former neo-Nazi withdrew as a Tory candidate for Somerset Council, Kemi Badenoch gave him an advisory role. Should forgiveness ever open the door to public office?

This episode was recorded on the 6th of August. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

New guidance on single-sex spaces has reignited the debate around trans rights, women’s safety and how the law could ever be enforced in practice. In today's episode James asks who gets to decide who belongs in a women’s toilet or changing room .

Then, with PC Andrew Harper’s killers eligible for early release, James explores whether Andy Burnham should make an exception. Would that be justice, or a dangerous precedent in an overcrowded prison system?

This episode was recorded on the 5th of August. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Can someone with a past as a neo-Nazi genuinely change and, if so, should they be allowed to stand for election? James examines Kemi Badenoch’s defence of a controversial Conservative candidate, and where society should draw the line on second chances.

Plus: Britain’s prison system is full. As Burnham restricts early release for rapists, serious child sex offenders and groomers, James hears directly from former prisoners about what happens after release. What support do they need to prevent reoffending?

This episode was recorded on the 4th of August. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

What is school actually for? As Education Secretary Lucy Powell takes aim at a “schooling straitjacket”, James asks whether children are being tested too much - or whether testing is necessary to measure their success.

Then, a new report suggests that nearly two-thirds of voters want Burnham to introduce a wealth tax on assets above £10 million. Why does asking the super-rich to contribute more remain controversial? Have we been gaslit into protecting wealth we will never possess?

This episode was recorded on the 3rd of August. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Is Donald Trump bringing peace to Gaza, or simply claiming credit for something that has not happened yet? James examines a new US-led proposal, Israel’s telling silence, and the political forces that could still derail any agreement.

Plus, TSB staff are preparing legal action after their new owner, Santander, insisted they return to the office for three days a week. Who should decide where you work: you or your boss?

This episode was recorded on the 31st of July. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Can climate change make your life feel better while making the world worse? James confronts the uneasy appeal of hotter British summers and asks how we can hold both truths at once: enjoying a warm evening in the garden while recognising the catastrophic reality of climate change.

Then, a challenging question about food. If organic eggs can have a bigger environmental footprint than caged ones, what does doing the “right” thing actually look like — and why aren’t more of us cutting down on meat and dairy?

This episode was recorded on the 30th of July. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

In today’s episode, James dissects Andy Burnham’s speech on one of Britain’s most long-running crises: social care. Can the Prime Minister deliver the reform we have been waiting decades for?

Plus, Green Party leader Zack Polanski has repeatedly refused to apologise to Nigel Farage over a reposted image of a guillotine T-shirt. Should Polanski say sorry — or does Farage’s response expose a glaring double standard in political language?

This episode was recorded on the 29th of July. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

France and Spain are facing devastating wildfires, mass evacuations and extreme heat — but why are so many of us tempted to look away? In today's episode, James confronts climate anxiety, news avoidance and the human reality behind the headlines.

Before that, an examination of Andy Burnham’s plans to give technical education greater status alongside academic learning.

This episode was recorded on the 28th of July. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Burnham has said the NHS ‘will collapse’ without social care reform, but what should those changes look like? James hears about listeners’ experiences of care home costs, before asking why Britain still has no fair way to fund care. Did Theresa May have the right idea with her ‘dementia tax’?

Then, James explores the growing number of young people who are too anxious to enter work, education or training. How can we help those who are frightened of the world take their first steps back into it?

This episode was recorded on the 27th of July. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Should Britain continue to support US military operations against Iran, even when Donald Trump seems unable to explain what victory looks like? Can Burnham refuse to join Trump's war without abandoning Britain's long-standing allies?

Then, as the Prime Minister cuts business rates for pubs and clubs, what do we really mean when we talk about "working-class culture"?

This episode was recorded on the 24th of July. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

In today’s episode, James responds to the Prime Minister’s plans to review the early prisoner release scheme, following news that two of PC Andrew Harper’s killers could be freed early. What can Burnham feasibly do between now and Christmas to make a difference to our prison system?

James also speaks with the Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, about falling crime rates in the capital. Why are so many people determined to paint London as a dystopian hellhole?

This episode was recorded on the 23rd of July. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Why is capping bus fares one of Andy Burnham’s first priorities? In today’s episode, James explores how affordable public transport can mean the difference between getting to work, attending a medical appointment or simply being able to get out of the house.

Then, a stark conversation about the reality of running out of money before payday. Callers share what it means to go without essentials — from food to toilet rolls and tampons — and James asks why so many people still refuse to acknowledge the precariousness facing millions of households.

This episode was recorded on the 22nd of July. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

In this episode, James explores what will define Andy Burnham’s early days in Downing Street: style, substance, or both? From cutting energy bills to making people feel heard, the new Prime Minister is attempting to restore faith in politics.

Burnham has also made one of the first major pledges of his premiership: to end rough sleeping in this country. But is homelessness actually fixable?

This episode was recorded on the 21st of July. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Why does Britain keep tearing through Prime Ministers at breakneck speed? As Andy Burnham becomes the fifth Prime Minister in the past four years, James asks what's really behind the chaos: Brexit, media frenzy or a political culture that's addicted to change?

And with Keir Starmer bidding farewell to Downing Street today, what can Burnham offer that Starmer couldn't?

This episode was recorded on the 20th of July. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

As Andy Burnham prepares to become Prime Minister on Monday, James asks whether the new Labour leader's plan to move decision-making out of the capital is the right thing to do. Is this the start of a genuine political reset?

Then, with two million parents taking their child out of school during term-time, James asks whether it is ever acceptable to prioritise a holiday over their education.

This episode was recorded on the 17th of July. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

After England’s defeat to Argentina, James asks what’s changed in the national mood around the team — and why this group of players feels so different from those of the past. Then he turns to a more urgent question: if simply paying benefits isn’t enough, what would actually help young people who are out of work get into the workplace?

This episode was recorded on the 16th of July. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

In today’s episode, James dives into the powerful, often irrational emotions football stirs in us, as England prepare to face Argentina in the World Cup semi-final. Why does supporting our team move us to tears?

From sporting nerves to a different national anxiety: retirement. With the state pension age rising and many feeling unprepared for life after work, James asks what happens when retirement comes too soon — or never feels within reach at all.

This episode was recorded on the 15th of July. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

In today’s episode, James takes on two urgent questions shaping life in modern Britain: why coverage of extreme heat so often avoids mentioning the climate crisis, and why the UK is raising one of the unhealthiest generations of children in Europe.

This episode was recorded on the 14th of July. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

James O’Brien is back - and straight into the storm.

In today’s episode, James asks whether this time really is different for Nigel Farage, as questions mount over his secretive £5 million "gift', his shifting explanations, and a response that James argues has made him look rattled, thin-skinned and weak.

If Farage has always sold himself as the outsider taking on the establishment, has the mask finally slipped?

This episode was recorded on the 13th of July. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Independent MP Karl Turner guest presents James O’Brien Daily as he asks whether Andy Burnham would make a better Prime Minister than Keir Starmer.

Callers weigh in on Burnham’s communication style, Labour’s direction after Starmer, the pressures of modern media scrutiny, and whether a more devolved, regionally driven model of government could reconnect Westminster with the rest of the country.

(James is back on Monday!)

This episode was recorded on the 10th of July. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Robert Jenrick guest hosts the James O’Brien Daily podcast as Nigel Farage’s shock decision to quit as MP for Clacton and trigger a by-election dominates the national conversation.

Is this a bold democratic move that puts the question back to voters — or a political stunt designed to dodge scrutiny? Robert hears from callers on both sides as they clash over accountability, the parliamentary standards process, media coverage, and whether Farage is being targeted by the establishment or simply refusing to face the facts.

This week's guest hosts:

Friday: Independent MP Karl Turner

This episode was recorded on the 8th of July. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Jess Phillips guest hosts the James O’Brien Daily podcast and doesn’t hold back.

With Nigel Farage triggering a by-election in Clacton rather than facing parliamentary scrutiny over questions about his finances, Jess asks whether this is political genius, political cowardice, or just a desperate grab for attention. As callers weigh in, the conversation turns to standards in public life, accountability, and whether Farage is playing the public for fools.

This week's guest hosts:

Thursday: Reform UK Treasury Spokesperson Robert Jenrick

Friday: Independent MP Karl Turner

This episode was recorded on the 8th of July. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Former Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting guest hosts the James O’Brien Daily podcast and takes on one of the biggest rows in public life: should NHS consultants be demanding more pay right now?

Drawing on his time in government, Wes reflects on the strikes threat, the pressures facing the NHS, and the difficult balance between valuing doctors properly and protecting the wider health service. Along the way, callers share powerful personal experiences of care, waste, staffing shortages, disability support, student debt, and what it really feels like trying to build a life in Britain today.

This week's guest hosts:

Wednesday: Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley Jess Phillips

Thursday: Reform UK Treasury Spokesperson Robert Jenrick

Friday: Independent MP Karl Turner

This episode was recorded on the 7th of July. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Angela Rayner guest hosts the James O’Brien Daily podcast and brings a mix of optimism, anger and straight-talking politics.

After England’s World Cup victory over Mexico lifted the mood, Angela asks what needs to change in Britain to make life feel fairer and more hopeful - from flexible working and better jobs to stronger public services and more opportunity for young people. She also takes on Nigel Farage over fresh questions about money, donations and transparency, and later turns to the care system to hear from those living and working through its daily pressures.

This week's guest hosts:

Tuesday: Former Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting

Wednesday: Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley Jess Phillips

Thursday: Reform UK Treasury Spokesperson Robert Jenrick

Friday: Independent MP Karl Turner

This episode was recorded on the 4th of July. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

For his final turn in James' chair for now, Lewis Goodall asks whether Andy Burnham’s promised “circuit breaker” in British politics could really change anything at all.

After Burnham sets out his ambition to do politics differently - less point scoring, more problem solving, more power outside Westminster - Lewis and callers explore what people most dislike about the way British politics works now: the adversarial culture, the whipping system, the media-politics machine, and the grip of Whitehall. But even if everyone agrees the system is broken, can it actually be fixed from within?

This episode was recorded on the 3rd of July. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Lewis Goodall sits in for James O’Brien and takes on a quiet but profound crisis: Britain’s birth rate has fallen so far that deaths are now outnumbering births for the first time.

What does that mean for the future of the country, the economy, and the welfare state? And why are so many people choosing not to have children - or finding that they simply can’t afford to? From childcare costs and housing to careers, relationships and changing expectations, callers share the personal realities behind a huge national shift.

This episode was recorded on the 2nd of July. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Lewis Goodall sits in for James and asks a blunt question about Nigel Farage: if you want to be Prime Minister, how much outside money is too much?

With fresh questions over Farage’s earnings from a gold bullion company, on top of the already controversial £5 million gift from a crypto billionaire, Lewis explores whether Reform’s leader is starting to look less like an anti-establishment insurgent and more like a politician with too many financial interests to explain away. As callers weigh in, the debate turns to trust, standards in public life, and whether British politics is becoming numb to conflicts of interest that would once have ended careers.

This episode was recorded on the 1st of July. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Lewis Goodall sits in for James O’Brien and takes on one of the biggest questions facing the country: are we spending enough on defence in a far more dangerous world?

As Keir Starmer unveils his final defence investment plan in what feels like one of the last big acts of his premiership, Lewis asks whether Britain is genuinely prepared for the threats ahead - from Russia and the High North to cyber warfare and a less reliable America. With ministers promising more money for drones and deterrence, but critics warning it still falls short, the debate turns to what the UK can actually do, what it can’t, and whether politicians are being honest enough about the risks.

This episode was recorded on the 30th of June. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Lewis Goodall sits in for James O’Brien and reacts to Andy Burnham’s first major speech as Prime Minister-in-waiting.

Broadcast from Manchester, Burnham sets out an ambitious vision for a “rewired Britain” - with a new Number 10 North, a huge shift of power away from Whitehall, major council house building, industrial strategy, and a promise to spread “good growth in every postcode and hope in every heart”. Lewis and callers ask the big question: is this the bold reset Britain has been waiting for, or a hopeful speech without the money to match?

This episode was recorded on the 29th of June. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

With scientists linking the extreme temperatures directly to fossil fuel emissions, James explores why so many people still look away, why net zero is under political attack, and whether the heat itself might finally succeed where years of warnings have failed.

This episode was recorded on the 26th of June. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

As Britain braces for another record-breaking June scorcher, James O’Brien asks the question beyond the weather forecast: what are we actually going to do about extreme heat becoming the new normal?

Then, with Andy Burnham reportedly looking to move part of Number 10’s operation to Manchester, James turns to a thorny political and cultural question: does it matter if the next Prime Minister has a northern accent - and if so, why?

This episode was recorded on the 25th of June. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

The UK is experiencing another red weather warning heatwave this week. So why, even as temperatures soar and climate warnings become impossible to ignore, don't we feel the urgency?

And, on the 10th anniversary of Brexit, James O’Brien asks the question that still matters most: who was most responsible for it? From David Cameron and Boris Johnson to the media, Jeremy Corbyn and beyond, James and his callers revisit the decisions, lies and absurd moments that pushed Britain towards a national act of self-harm.

This episode was recorded on the 24th of June. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

James reacts to the resignation of Keir Starmer and asks the question now hanging over British politics: should Labour move fast to "crown" Andy Burnham as Prime Minister, or does the party need a proper contest?

This episode was recorded on the 23rd of June. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Keir Starmer is out. James reflects on where it all went wrong, why his premiership became so brittle, and whether Britain may come to regret forcing him out. With Andy Burnham moving quickly to the front of the pack, the conversation turns to what comes next for Labour - and whether a new leader can succeed where Starmer could not.

Later, in honour of Windrush Day, James speaks to Justice4Windrush campaigners including the daughter of Herbert Hewey, a man whose life was destroyed by Home Office during the Windrush scandal, in a powerful reminder that justice is still far from done.

This episode was recorded on the 22nd of June. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

James reacts to the political shockwaves from Makerfield, where Andy Burnham’s victory piles huge pressure on Keir Starmer and raises the question that now feels unavoidable: should he fight on, or step aside?

This episode was recorded on the 19th of June. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.