James O'Brien Daily

What is school actually for? As Education Secretary Lucy Powell takes aim at a “schooling straitjacket”, James asks whether children are being tested too much - or whether testing is necessary to measure their success.
Then, a new report suggests that nearly two-thirds of voters want Burnham to introduce a wealth tax on assets above £10 million. Why does asking the super-rich to contribute more remain controversial? Have we been gaslit into protecting wealth we will never possess?
This episode was recorded on the 3rd of August. 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.

Is Donald Trump bringing peace to Gaza, or simply claiming credit for something that has not happened yet? James examines a new US-led proposal, Israel’s telling silence, and the political forces that could still derail any agreement.
Plus, TSB staff are preparing legal action after their new owner, Santander, insisted they return to the office for three days a week. Who should decide where you work: you or your boss?
This episode was recorded on the 31st of July. 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.

Can climate change make your life feel better while making the world worse? James confronts the uneasy appeal of hotter British summers and asks how we can hold both truths at once: enjoying a warm evening in the garden while recognising the catastrophic reality of climate change.
Then, a challenging question about food. If organic eggs can have a bigger environmental footprint than caged ones, what does doing the “right” thing actually look like — and why aren’t more of us cutting down on meat and dairy?
This episode was recorded on the 30th of July. 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.

In today’s episode, James dissects Andy Burnham’s speech on one of Britain’s most long-running crises: social care. Can the Prime Minister deliver the reform we have been waiting decades for?
Plus, Green Party leader Zack Polanski has repeatedly refused to apologise to Nigel Farage over a reposted image of a guillotine T-shirt. Should Polanski say sorry — or does Farage’s response expose a glaring double standard in political language?
This episode was recorded on the 29th of July. 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.

France and Spain are facing devastating wildfires, mass evacuations and extreme heat — but why are so many of us tempted to look away? In today's episode, James confronts climate anxiety, news avoidance and the human reality behind the headlines.
Before that, an examination of Andy Burnham’s plans to give technical education greater status alongside academic learning.
This episode was recorded on the 28th of July. 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.