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

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 and Labour’s promise not to grant new licences. Can domestic drilling deliver cheaper energy and greater independence, or does it risk opening the door to further fossil fuel extraction? Plus, the Covid inquiry’s damning findings bring the tragedy of Britain’s care homes back into focus. With 43,000 residents dead and thousands of patients discharged from hospitals into care homes to free up beds, the human cost behind the figures is impossible to ignore. This episode was recorded on the 21st of October. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

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 this allowed to happen at all? A company Britain used to own is now sitting on £100m of outstanding fines, asking its own creditors for another £2.4bn just to keep the taps on, while stakeholders including companies owned by foreign governments have made a fortune. The answers come from callers who were there. Jeremy was asked to leave in 1989 after telling senior management that leakage and sewage treatment figures were far worse than the company was reporting. Steve spent 36 years inside Thames and explains how land, property and skilled maintenance staff were sold or stripped away and why Burnham's real nuclear option might be insolvency law. Then a complete change of direction. Number 10 has openly rejected Pete Hegseth and Donald Trump's claims that NATO allies "stayed a little back, a little off the front lines" during the war in Afghanistan. 457 British personnel died on duty. James hands the show to the callers with most invested in the British military... soldiers who served alongside Americans and men who buried their friends. This episode was recorded on the 20th of October. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

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 country’s revolutionary tradition, its relationship with the state and why French citizens often see protest as both a right and a responsibility. Then, James looks at the stark postcode lottery facing children in England. From unsafe streets and overcrowded schools to access to education and mental-health support, callers reveal how the place a child grows up can shape their entire future. This episode was recorded on the 19th of October. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

An undercover ITV investigation exposes racist and misogynistic views among Reform UK candidates and activists, raising serious questions about Nigel Farage’s leadership, the party’s vetting process and its repeated claims to be keeping extremists out of politics. Plus, we teach children to read and write, but do we teach them how to actually express themselves? James questions why oracy is so often overlooked, as callers share how struggling to express themselves can leave them feeling shut down in society. This episode was recorded on the 16th of October. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

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 restrictions on Starlink and military intelligence to the possibility of Europe having to fill the gap left by a retreating America. Financial Times chief Ukraine correspondent Christopher Miller joins James to explore the impact on Ukraine’s fight for survival and the fears facing its people. Plus, an ITV investigation exposes racist comments by Reform UK candidates and councillors, raising serious questions about the party’s vetting process and Nigel Farage’s response. Where does the line between “legitimate concerns” and outright racism lie and could the public’s rejection of racist politics offer a reason for hope? This episode was recorded on the 15th of October. James O'Brien Daily is a Global production, available every week day on Global Player, or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.