EU leaders are to gather for an emergency defence summit to discuss Ukraine and wider European security, with France's President Emmanuel Macron warning that the continent is at a "turning point of history". No representative from the UK will be in attendance because of Brexit. Where does this leave us and what should Starmer do?

Top doctors have urged the government to implement an outright ban on smacking children as evidence shows it offers no benefit and causes physical and emotional damage. James asks whether you were hit by your parents in a way that, although acceptable at the time, caused you trauma? Or did you hit your kids and now regret it?

This episode was recorded on the 6th March. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

US Vice President JD Vance has denied insulting British troops after describing a UK-backed proposal as "20,000 troops from some random country that hasn't fought a war in 30 or 40 years". Does the UK actually have any power to influence the Ukrainian peace process? Why does Vance keep attacking the UK specifically?

Also, Donald Trump has imposed the latest round of tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China. James speaks with Dmitry Grozoubinski, Founder of ExplainTrade and author of "Why Politicians Lie About Trade", to explain what this means.

And, James speaks with Victoria Rose, a consultant plastic surgeon who’s been to Gaza to provide medical support several times, before Israel denied her access on three occasions in February. 

This episode was recorded on the 5th March. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

President Donald Trump has paused US military aid to Ukraine, in a shocking move that has been welcomed by the Kremlin. Can Europe cope without America’s support? Why is Donald Trump aligning with a nation that has historically been the sworn enemy? And, has the need for a re-armed and re-unified Europe ever been more urgent?

This episode was recorded on the 4th March. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Donald Trump and his Vice President JD Vance’s Oval Office meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky descended into a huge row, such that the Ukrainian President was asked to leave without signing a deal with the US that would have jointly developed Ukraine's valuable minerals as part of a peace-settlement. What, if anything, did Trump and Vance achieve on Friday, and what does their vilification of the Ukrainian president mean?

This episode was recorded on the 3rd March. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

James analyses Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s meeting with President Donald Trump yesterday with the help of LBC’s Political Editor Natasha Clark, who was one of the journalists at the White House, and Phillips O'Brien, Professor of Strategic Studies at the University of St Andrews. Was the meeting a success?

A 14-year-old boy has lost a court case he brought against his own parents after they moved him from London to a Ghanaian boarding school. He claims they tricked him into the move by saying he’d just be visiting a sick relative. Do you approve of what the parents did? Should parents be allowed to do this at all?

This episode was recorded on the 28th February. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has arrived in Washington for talks with US President Donald Trump. He intends to negotiate for a US security guarantee in Ukraine. What will success look like for Starmer and, by association, Ukraine?

Teachers want guidance on schooling children about the “manosphere” to tackle the spread of Andrew Tate-style misogyny in classrooms. How has online misogyny manifested itself in your life?

This episode was recorded on the 27th February. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Defence Secretary John Healey has said the “world has changed” and that Britain must prioritise “hard power” over “soft power”. What actually is soft power, and is he right?

Donald Trump has shared an AI generated video of “Trump Gaza”, featuring golden Trump statues, bearded belly dancers and Benjamin Netanyahu on a sunbed. James and his listeners try to work out exactly what the US Government hope to achieve with this.

And, it’s Wednesday, which means James and LBC Political Correspondent Aggie Chambre analyse Prime Minister’s Questions.

This episode was recorded on the 26th February. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

The US has sided twice with Russia in votes at the United Nations on resolutions marking the third anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. What does this mean for Ukraine, and the free world?

Also, James presses play on some of Keir Starmer’s announcement of the "biggest sustained defense budget increase since the Cold War", in which the Prime Minister specifies how he intends to support peace in Ukraine.

And, Labour’s 1.5 million new homes pledge is in doubt due to a shortage of skilled workers. James asks about the reality of working on building sites, the likelihood of Labour achieving its pledge and how we should attract workers to come here to do the work.

This episode was recorded on the 25th February. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

The far-right AfD Party has made historic gains in Germany’s federal election, winning a record 20.8%, but does the AfD offer anything to its supporters other than anti-migrant rhetoric? 

And, polling shows almost a third of children in the UK have refused to go to school at least once in the past year. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has indicated that this is linked to “casual parenting”, but what is the difference between “I won't” go to school and “I can't”?

This episode was recorded on the 24th February. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has indicated that spending cuts will have to be found to fund a boost to the defence budget. How do you persuade the public that we need to spend more on defence and what is the current state of the British military? 

Prime Minister Keir Starmer is meeting with Donald Trump next Thursday, in his first visit to the White House since the President’s inauguration. How should Starmer approach this visit and the lies that Trump has told about Ukraine and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy this week?

And, LBC Political Correspondent Aggie Chambre will be explaining just what the Alliance for Responsible Citizens - the right wing conference at which Jordan Peterson, Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch have been in attendance - is all about.

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