James O'Brien Daily

Russell Brand's rape case: the cost of speaking out

The Russell Brand sexual assault case has reignited debate about sexual violence and the challenges women face when reporting rape. But what does it really take to come f

The tide has changed in Trump's America

The American midterm results offer a glimmer of hope that the tide may be turning against Trump, corruption and the politics of division. But how did standing up for equa

America turns its back on Trump

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 an

Will American’s choose Trump again?

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,

Making migrants' lives worse won't make yours better

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, p

World's largest Bitcoin hack: The morality behind the currency

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 act

The buy-to-let landlords' sudden fear

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 ta

What has the Budget ACTUALLY done for you?

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 forgotten pensioners: What it's really like to live on the state pension

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

Can the freedom of movement with EU conversation remain non toxic?

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

Welcome to James O'Brien Plus

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

Why Britain is being told to be ready

Is Britain right to prepare for the worst? As governments across Europe urge households to stockpile essential supplies, a debate over emergency preparedness raises quest

Barclays cuts 5,000 jobs for AI... are you next?

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

Britain’s big bet on North Sea gas

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 an

UK's 'broken' water system and Burnham's plan to take it back

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

France riots when Britain just puts up with it

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 c

How deep does racism run in Reform UK?

An undercover ITV investigation exposes racist and misogynistic views among Reform UK candidates and activists, raising serious questions about Nigel Farage’s leadership,

Has Trump just handed Putin the upper hand?

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 restricti

The urgent need for more foster carers

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 arrivin

Britain is setting prisoners up to fail

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