James O'Brien Daily

Callers puzzle over why standing still gives sunburn but cycling does not. Listeners explain how movement, changing sun angles and wind cooling alter sensation while UV harm can still happen. Other quirky questions cover stall speeds of aircraft, why some cats eat wasps, what happens to unsold maggots, and why fizzy water tastes tangy.

A tense look at the possible fallout if the US actually quits NATO, exploring motives, legal hurdles, military gaps and Europe's options. Discussion of how such a move could reshape deterrence, intelligence sharing and geopolitical stability. A separate thread examines Kanye West's antisemitic actions, questions about banning him from UK festivals, and the role of mental health claims and platforming in public life.

In an address to the nation, Keir Starmer has set out his two priorities in response to the war in Iran: deescalation and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. So, is it time for us to make a deal with Iran? And if negotiation isn’t on the table, what are our other options? LBC’s Washington Correspondent Simon Marks joins James in the studio ahead of this evening's presidential primetime address. Should we be taking Donald Trump seriously when he says that he is strongly considering pulling out of NATO? And should we believe his claims that the US could ‘finish the job’ in Iran in two weeks? This episode was recorded on Wednesday 1st April. Catch James O’Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

As oil prices hit above $112 a barrel, the IMF has warned that the United Kingdom will be left particularly vulnerable to the impact of the war in Iran. We’re left to ask - how does the war end? And with the media and right-wing politicians diverting blame for the price of petrol to Keir Starmer - what would an end to the war look like for the UK? Keir Starmer has given the BMA 48 hours to call off their planned six-day strike, or else face losing 1000 extra training places. Whose side are you on: the doctors’ or the governments’? Noga Tarnopolsky reports from Jerusalem where public support for the war with Iran remains high but has dropped since the start of the conflict. This episode was recorded on Tuesday 31st March. Catch James O’Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

After Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine and Donald Trump attacked Iran, it became clear that the UK has a potentially crippling dependency on fossil fuels. When it comes to energy we cannot afford to be beholden the unpredictability of the world, so why is the move toward sustainable energy the subject of political debate?Following reports that 92% of burglaries went unsolved in Britain last year, why is burglary no longer being taken seriously? Has it always been like this and is there a way to turn this around?A former head of Harrow school has said that stress is ‘good’ for GCSE pupils. Is there a difference between good stress and bad stress - and what is the best way to deal with stressed students?This episode was recorded on Monday 30th March. Catch James O’Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Today, as thousands of U.S. troops head towards the Gulf and speculation grows over whether Donald Trump could order “boots on the ground” in Iran, James asks what would a major escalation really mean?James is also joined by Simon Marks, LBC’s Washington Correspondent, for the latest from the U.S., as tensions rise and the stakes reach a potentially catastrophic new level.This episode was recorded on the 27th of March. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Meta and Google have been found liable for social media addiction in a landmark trial in Los Angeles. A young woman sued the companies saying that the addictive design features of their platforms Facebook, Instagram and YouTube caused her harm and worsened her depression. When does social media use become a problem and cross the line into addiction? What happens when we shift our focus from dangerous content on social media to the platforms themselves? And when can wholesome content become harmful? This episode was recorded on Thursday 26th March. Catch James O’Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Donald Trump declares the war with Iran “won” - even while deploying thousands more troops to the region and requesting military support from NATO states. What have the past three weeks of the war in the Middle East taught you about the modern world?And despite the chaos, one statistic refuses to budge: 36% of American voters still back Trump. Why? What explains this enduring loyalty in the face of war, controversy, and contradiction?This episode was recorded on the 25th of March. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

It's looking like the President of the United States could very well have lied through his teeth about the supposed peace talks with Iran. We’re being asked to decide who to believe out of Donald Trump, or the remaining leaders of a tyrannical theocratic regime - tricky. What in the world will happen next?Also, Conservative MP, Charlie Dewhirst, has said more needs to be done to address the "underachievement" of white working class boys in the UK. What should - and what could - society be doing?And, LBC reporter and presenter, Henry Riley, is back with James for Riley's Reform Round-up!This episode was recorded on the 24th of March. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

James unpack today's breaking claims from Donald Trump that the United States and Iran have held “very good and productive” talks on a “complete and total resolution of hostilities” in the Middle East—prompting a temporary pause in planned military strikes. But with Tehran denying direct negotiations and the region still on edge after weeks of escalating conflict, what's really going on?This episode was recorded on the 23rd of March. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.