James O'Brien Daily

Global
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Feb 17, 2025 • 48min

Should British soldiers be sent to Ukraine?

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said he is "ready and willing" to put UK troops on the ground in Ukraine to help guarantee its security as part of a peace deal. Should British troops be sent to Ukraine?And, US Vice-President JD Vance has verbally attacked European democracies, saying the greatest threat facing the continent was not from Russia and China, but "from within". Why is he saying this?This episode was recorded on the 17th February. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
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Feb 14, 2025 • 48min

Why are Gen Z so unhappy?

With Donald Trump at the helm, America’s role within international politics and its relationship with Russia is changing. Do we actually understand what it means for America to stop being the leader and protector of the free world?And, according to The Times Generation Z survey, people aged 18-27 are more unhappy, in greater debt and far more pessimistic about Britain than their parents. What’s it like being Gen Z today? For those with Gen-Z children, what’s it like knowing you might not leave your kids better off than you were?This episode was recorded on the 14th February. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
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Feb 13, 2025 • 56min

Is Donald Trump appeasing Vladimir Putin?

The man himself, James O’Brien, is back!Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin have agreed to begin negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. As part of a peace settlement, according to the US Defence Secretary, Ukraine should abandon hopes of winning all its territory back from Russia. Is this simply appeasement?Also, more than 100 new towns could be built under the UK government's plans for the "largest housebuilding programme since the post-war era". How’re we going to build them, and what’s it like moving to a brand new town?And it’s Thursday, meaning the return of mystery hour!This episode was recorded on the 13th February. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.
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Feb 12, 2025 • 1h 1min

Should refugees be refused British citizenship if they arrived by small boat?

Lewis Goodall of The News Agents podcast is covering for James O’Brien, live on LBC from 10am, and of course, right here on James O’Brien Daily.The government is making it almost impossible for refugees arriving on small boats to become British citizens. Will this prevent small boat crossings and are Labour acting too much like the Conservatives? Lewis speaks with Labour MP Stella Creasy, who disagrees with the change.Also, rebel Labour MPs are pushing the Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, to adopt a four-day working week in her employment rights bill. Lewis speaks with Peter Dowd MP who put forward the amendment and asks if a 4-day working week would be realistic.Lewis also speaks with Leila Molana-Allen, Special Correspondent for PBS NewsHour, about Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump’s claim that they’ll remove the ceasefire in Gaza if Hamas does not release all Israeli hostages by Saturday.And, Lewis catches up with LBC’s Washington Correspondent for all the details on Elon Musk’s denial of a 'hostile takeover' of the US government.This episode was recorded on the 12th February.
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Feb 11, 2025 • 46min

Can the assisted dying bill be safeguarded?

Lewis Goodall of The News Agents podcast is covering for James O’Brien, live on LBC from 10am, and of course, right here on James O’Brien Daily.Labour MP Kim Leadbeater would change her proposed assisted dying bill so that cases are signed off by experts rather than a judge. Critics believe this could threaten impartial decision-making. Lewis asks whether this change would strengthen or weaken the bill and speaks with Labour MP Dr Peter Prinsley, who's in favour of the legislation.Also, Elon Musk is leading a bid of $97.4bn for the purchase of OpenAI, the operator of Chat GPT. Considering the billionaire’s recent takeover of state institutions as well, Lewis asks if we’re witnessing state capture and what his ultimate aim is. And, Lewis speaks with LBC reporter Fraser Knight for all the details on today’s High Court ruling that The Metropolitan Police cannot dismiss officers by removing their vetting clearance, thus limiting the force’s ability to sack officers who might be a danger to women and vulnerable people.This episode was recorded on the 11th February. Catch Lewis Goodall, in for James O'Brien, tomorrow from 10am on LBC.
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Feb 10, 2025 • 57min

Is there a hierarchy of racism in the UK?

Lewis Goodall of The News Agents podcast is covering for James O’Brien, live on LBC from 10am, and of course, right here on James O’Brien Daily.Labour have been accused of mimicking Reform UK’s approach to immigration after sharing videos of migrant raids online. Will this tactic work to combat Reform's growing popularity? Lewis speaks with Labour MP for Hackney North & Stoke Newington Diane Abbott, who shares her view.Also, a second Labour MP has apologised for offensive comments made in a WhatsApp group after Andrew Gwynne was sacked for his messages in the same chat. Where should the line should be drawn when sharing potentially offensive messages?And, Lewis interviewed Conservative Shadow Minister, Alex Burghart, who defended Boris Johnson's infamous comment about muslim women looking like “letterboxes”. Lewis compares this sentiment to that of anti-semitism and asks if there’s a hierarchy of racism in this country.This episode was recorded on the 10th February. Catch Lewis Goodall, in for James O'Brien, tomorrow from 10am on LBC.
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Feb 7, 2025 • 50min

Can young people not handle the stress of employment?

Lewis Goodall of The News Agents podcast is covering for James O’Brien all this week live on LBC from 10am, and of course, right here on James O’Brien Daily.Government figures show the number of young people who do not work because of long-term sickness with a mental health condition has increased by 26% in the last year. Remarking on this, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has said that too many young people see the world of work as stressful and accused some benefit claimants of “taking the mickey”. Is she right?Also, Donald Trump is imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court, accusing it of “baselessly” targeting the US and Israel following the ICC’s arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over alleged war crimes in Gaza. War correspondent Chris Stephen shares all the details, and Lewis speaks with Donald Trump’s nephew, Fred Trump III, who believes Trump will illegally run for a third term.And, hundreds of Rwandan troops have been killed during covert operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, contradicting claims from Rwandan officials that its soldiers are not involved. Was the Conservative Government right in declaring the Rwanda plan safe for deportees? Lewis speaks with Mark Townsend, Senior Development reporter at The Guardian who published today’s exclusive on the conflict. This episode was recorded on the 7th February. Catch Lewis Goodall, in for James O'Brien, each day this week from 10am until Friday on LBC.
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Feb 6, 2025 • 1h 5min

Does social media radicalise children?

Lewis Goodall of The News Agents podcast is covering for James O’Brien all this week live on LBC from 10am, and of course, right here on James O’Brien Daily.Britain’s head of counter-terrorism has compared the harm social media can do to children to that of cancer by smoking. Indeed, social media’s potential to radicalise was highlighted by the Southport killer Axel Rudakubana, who watched violent and extremist videos online prior to killing three girls. Should there be a social media ban for children?Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has announced that she’d bar migrants on work visas who claim benefits from settling in the UK. Lewis asks his listeners how hard it actually is to secure citizenship in the UK.And, last month was the warmest January on record, according to new data. Will we ever be able to address climate change?This episode was recorded on the 6th February. Catch Lewis Goodall, in for James O'Brien, each day this week from 10am until Friday on LBC.
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Feb 5, 2025 • 1h 3min

Will Donald Trump take over Gaza?

Last night President Donald Trump said that all Palestinians in Gaza should be resettled and promised to develop the land into the “Riviera of the Middle East”. These plans have been internationally condemned. Should the world be taking Trump seriously? Lewis speaks with Noga Tarnopolsky, freelance journalist based in Jerusalem, Chris Gunness, Former Chief Spokesperson for UNRWA and Stephen Flynn, SNP Leader in Westminster and MP, to find out.And, Prime Minister Keir Starmer declares his stance on Trump's plans in Prime Minister’s Questions - Lewis and LBC’s Political Editor Natasha Clark discuss.This episode was recorded on the 5th February. Catch Lewis Goodall, in for James O'Brien, each day this week from 10am until Friday on LBC.
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Feb 4, 2025 • 1h 6min

Can the rise of populism be stopped?

Lewis Goodall of The News Agents podcast is covering for James O’Brien all this week live on LBC from 10am, and of course, right here on James O’Brien Daily.Reform UK has overtaken Labour and is topping a landmark YouGov poll for the first time. Lewis compares this with the rise of right wing nationalist parties across Europe and asks if populism can be stopped.Also, the parents of the late Thomas Kingston, the husband of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent's daughter, are calling for changes in how antidepressants are prescribed following Thomas tragically taking his own life. Lewis asks Dr Simon Opher, Labour MP, leading GP and chair of the All Parliamentary Group, “Beyond Pills”, whether Brits are over-prescribed with antidepressants.And, it's been reported in the US that President Donald Trump has given Elon Musk access to the internal federal payments system that controls the flow of trillions of dollars in government funds every year. Is Elon Musk a significant danger, or an innovator?This episode was recorded on the 4th February. Catch Lewis Goodall, in for James O'Brien, each day this week from 10am until Friday on LBC.

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