• How Prince Harry won against Murdoch
    Jan 22 2025

    Unprecedented news broke today: Prince Harry and Lord Watson have settled a long-running legal battle with publishers of The Sun, News Group Newspapers. James analyses Rupert Murdoch’s News Group’s "full and unequivocal apology" and payment, and finds out what the settlement means with a consultant to Prince Harry’s legal team, Dr Evan Harris.

    And how was Southport killer Axel Rudakubana able to buy a knife aged just 17 on Amazon and watch violent terrorist content on X in the hour before killing three young girls? Can the government rein in these tech platforms and their billionaire owners to stop these atrocities happening again?

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

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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • Did Elon Musk make a Nazi salute?
    Jan 21 2025

    The father of Southport killer Axel Rudakubana stopped his son from returning to his former school a week before he stabbed three young girls to death in July last year at a Taylor Swift dance class. James wonders how scared Rudakubana's father was at what his son was capable of and asks what parents with potentially violent children can do to prevent the worst.

    And Elon Musk made what many suggested to be Nazi salutes at Donald Trump’s inauguration yesterday. James contemplates just how wide our window of acceptable opinion has reached.


    This episode was recorded on the 21st January. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

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    56 mins
  • How have perceptions of Israel, Gaza and the West Bank changed?
    Jan 20 2025

    Israel has freed 90 Palestinian prisoners, after the first three Israeli hostages were released from Hamas captivity as part of the Gaza ceasefire deal. James asks how this conflict has changed listener’s perception of the region’s geo-political landscape.

    On the day of Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration, why are liberals and much of the media have gone soft on Trump and the shocking behaviours that would normally prevent re-election.

    And James hears directly from Liverpool Crown Court as LBC’s reporter Liam Gotting shares the details of today's breaking news that Axel Rudakubana has pleaded guilty to murdering three young girls in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift themed dance event in Southport last year.

    This episode was recorded on the 20th January. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

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    1 hr
  • Is neurodiversity an acceptable excuse in criminality?
    Jan 17 2025

    A teenager has been found guilty of the murder of schoolgirl Elianne Andam, who was stabbed to death in South London in 2023. Her killer admitted manslaughter, claiming he was not in control of his actions because of his autism, which the jury rejected. James asks whether autism should ever be used as a reasonable defence in court?

    An international study has found that children of a particular gender are more likely to receive preferential treatment from their parents. This prompted James to pose three questions: how does one knows if they’re a favourite, how parents pick their favourite, and how it feels if the favourite isn't you.

    Plus, James digests the conclusions of a new report into UK accent based stereotypes, with the help from his listeners.

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

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    56 mins
  • What could Palestinian people expect to return home to?
    Jan 16 2025

    Israel and Hamas have agreed a ceasefire in Gaza with a hostage release deal following the past 15 months of war. With headlines stating that Palestinians will be able to “return to their homes”, James asks his listeners what they may be returning back to?

    And in her first major speech of 2025, Kemi Badenoch criticised her predecessors for mishandling Brexit, stating that the Conservative Party had offered policy without a plan. James asks his listeners what difference Brexit has actually made to their lives.

    Plus its the welcome return of Mystery Hour.

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

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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • Is Britain's workforce lazy?
    Jan 15 2025

    The founder and former boss of BrewDog James Watt has said that Britain is one of the “least work-oriented countries in the world” and that the country’s obsession with a work-life balance is one invented by those unhappy with their own careers. James O'Brien asks his listeners whether this is true of their employees, and if so, why?

    With a new study finding the ‘Cost of dying’ in the UK has hit record levels, with the average funeral cost at £9,797, James asks his listeners to share their opinions on a rather sensitive topic - haggling with a funeral director. Plus It's Prime Minister Questions where LBC's Political Editor Natasha Clark helps James digest all the happenings.

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

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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Why does America not care about Donald Tump's conduct?
    Jan 14 2025

    Donald Trump would have been convicted of crimes over his failed attempt to cling to power in 2020, if not for his victory in last year’s US presidential election, according to the special counsel who investigated him. James speaks to a professor of American Politics and his LBC listeners to try and work out why so many people simply don’t care about political conduct that used to be unforgivable.

    He also tackles the recent polling that has found that one in five Britons aged 18-45 would prefer to be governed by unelected leaders, instead of democratically elected ones. Why do so many young people in particular feel this way?

    This episode was recorded on the 14th of January. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

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    52 mins
  • Should we fear the rise of A.I?
    Jan 13 2025

    With the government readying to set out plans on how it can use artificial intelligence across the UK to boost growth and streamline public services, James calls on his most AI-qualified listeners to tell us exactly how this can change our lives, and whether we should fear its rise.

    He also speaks to NHS patients and professionals about the troubling normality of “corridor care” following the advertisement from a North London Hospital for a 'Corridor Nurse'.

    This episode was recorded on the 13th of January. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

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    1 hr and 2 mins