• Can young people not handle the stress of employment?
    Feb 7 2025

    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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    50 mins
  • Does social media radicalise children?
    Feb 6 2025

    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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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • Will Donald Trump take over Gaza?
    Feb 5 2025

    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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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • Can the rise of populism be stopped?
    Feb 4 2025

    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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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Does Trump’s America still lead the free world?
    Feb 3 2025

    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.

    Over the weekend, Trump announced 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, and hit China with a 10% levy. He’s also renewed calls for Canada to become America’s 51st state. Lewis speaks with Canada’s High Commissioner Ralph Goodale and UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and asks his listeners whether we’re witnessing the collapse of the US as the leader of the free world.

    Lewis also speaks with Former International Development and Foreign Office Minister, Alistair Burt, to speak about the consequences of Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s plans to shut down the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

    This episode was recorded on the 3rd February. Catch Lewis Goodall, in for James O'Brien, each day this week from 10am until Friday on LBC.

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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • How did the UK fall for Brexit?
    Jan 31 2025

    Five years ago today, the UK left the European Union. YouGov polling this week showed just 3 in 10 Brits now think it was the right decision. James asks how so many fell for the promises of the Vote Leave campaign and who should take the most responsibility for Brexit. He also takes a look through the Brexit archives and plays some of the most shocking interviews with politicians and the public from the run up to the referendum… including the Nigel Farage phone-in that broke the internet.

    This episode was recorded on the 31st January. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • Does the UK have a problem with immigration?
    Jan 30 2025

    The UK population is set to rise by nearly 5 million over the course of a decade, largely because of net migration, but how do you convince people that, despite what many politicians and newspapers say, the UK does in fact need significant levels of immigration?

    Also, according to a survey of teachers in England and Wales, some children are starting reception “unable to climb a staircase” and still in nappies. Are parents failing to support their children’s early development, or is this a result of the “iPad generation”?

    And, Mystery Hour is back!

    This episode was recorded on the 30th January. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • Can Labour grow the UK economy?
    Jan 29 2025

    Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered a major speech this morning, in which she promised to create the “right conditions” to support growth in the British economy and outlined just how Labour intends to do that. James, his listeners and LBC’s Political Editor Natasha Clark analyse the speech.

    Also, it’s Prime Minister’s Questions and James speaks with LBC’s Political Correspondent Aggie Chambre to digest all the details.

    And, a UK law firm that was used by the sanctioned Russian mercenary chief, Yevgeny Prigozhin, to sue the British journalist Elliot Higgins, has been found to have acted lawfully. Peter Geoghegan, author of Democracy for Sale, explains the controversy.

    This episode was recorded on the 29th January. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

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    52 mins