[2][3] She is a chief political correspondent for Stuff Digital, having previously worked for Newshub and the now-defunct Today FM.

[4] In October 2020, O'Brien's interview with Jami-Lee Ross, co-leader of the Advance New Zealand party, garnered 7 million views.

[5][6][7] In November 2021, Mediaworks, O’Brien’s former employer, rehired her to host the breakfast radio show on new talk station Today FM.

[8] O'Brien had appealed against a restraint of trade clause in her Discovery contract, which prevented her from joining Mediaworks for three months.

On 19 July 2023, it was announced that O'Brien would be joining New Zealand news publishing firm Stuff Digital as its chief political correspondent.

Christopher Luxon said the comment was "insensitive and inappropriate" because many people lost their jobs when Today FM closed.

[4][14] The citation read:[15] Courageous, tenacious, O'Brien wielded considerable influence on the 2018 political scene with her scoops, as a good member of the fourth estate should.