The Briefing Room

by BBC Radio 4

David Aaronovitch and a panel of experts and insiders present in-depth explainers on big issues in the news

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Recent Episodes
  • Explainer: A history of US tariffs
    Jun 5, 2025 – 07:44
  • Explainer: Rare earths
    May 29, 2025 – 07:47
  • What is ransomware and what can be done to stop it?
    May 22, 2025 – 28:39
  • What is Israel's plan for Gaza?
    May 15, 2025 – 28:20
  • What are rare earths and why does everyone want them?
    May 8, 2025 – 28:02
  • Are India and Pakistan on the brink of war over Kashmir?
    May 1, 2025 – 29:25
  • Can the UK become an AI superpower?
    Apr 24, 2025 – 28:42
  • What cards does China hold?
    Apr 17, 2025 – 28:48
  • What's Trump's tariff hokey cokey all about?
    Apr 10, 2025 – 28:47
  • What's happening in Turkey?
    Apr 3, 2025 – 28:46
  • What is Putin's bottom line?
    Mar 27, 2025 – 28:54
  • What's the government trying to do to the NHS?
    Mar 20, 2025 – 28:51
  • Why is there a crisis in special educational needs?
    Mar 13, 2025 – 28:37
  • Europe's defence dilemma
    Mar 6, 2025 – 28:26
  • Explainer: What does Nato do?
    Feb 20, 2025 – 06:22
  • Explainer: A short history of conflict in Ukraine
    Feb 13, 2025 – 05:43
  • Explainer: How do weight-loss drugs work?
    Feb 7, 2025 – 05:21
  • Explainer: Who made the first electric car?
    Jan 30, 2025 – 07:09
  • Explainer: What is a Tariff?
    Jan 24, 2025 – 13:08
  • Why does Trump love tariffs?
    Jan 9, 2025 – 28:23
  • Is the push for the electric cars in trouble?
    Jan 2, 2025 – 28:51
  • Why we need to care about the Arctic
    Dec 26, 2024 – 28:41
  • Is chainsaw economics working in Argentina?
    Dec 19, 2024 – 28:24
  • Will new weight loss drugs save or bankrupt the NHS?
    Dec 12, 2024 – 28:19
  • What’s going on in Syria?
    Dec 5, 2024 – 28:19
  • Ukraine - what’s next?
    Nov 28, 2024 – 29:55
  • Why do we have such overcrowded prisons?
    Nov 21, 2024 – 27:55
  • European defence in the new Trump era
    Nov 14, 2024 – 28:46
  • What does the Budget mean for the UK’s economy?
    Nov 7, 2024 – 28:57
  • How do the Lebanon attacks alter the equation in the Middle East?
    Sep 23, 2024 – 28:22
  • Is Germany in trouble?
    Sep 12, 2024 – 28:38
  • How much trouble is the UK economy in?
    Sep 5, 2024 – 28:59
  • What we know (and don't know) about the new Mpox outbreak
    Aug 29, 2024 – 28:17
  • Global Tensions 3: Russia and the West
    Aug 21, 2024 – 34:28
  • Global Tensions 2: China, Taiwan and the South China Sea
    Aug 14, 2024 – 38:25
  • Global Tensions 1: The Middle East
    Aug 8, 2024 – 28:53
  • Can planning reform really boost economic growth?
    Aug 1, 2024 – 28:44
  • Health 3: How far could artificial intelligence transform medicine?
    Jul 11, 2024 – 36:41
  • Health 2: Why is anxiety and depression increasing in the UK?
    Jul 11, 2024 – 27:38
  • Health 1: Advances in cancer research and treatment
    Jul 11, 2024 – 36:27
  • South African and Indian elections: the aftermath
    Jul 4, 2024 – 28:52
  • What's happening in Sudan?
    Jun 27, 2024 – 28:45
  • What's the Biden ceasefire plan and will it work?
    Jun 20, 2024 – 28:39
  • What does Macron's gamble mean for France?
    Jun 13, 2024 – 28:48
  • Are Trump's legal cases really a problem for him?
    Jun 6, 2024 – 29:28
  • Ukraine: Who's winning the war?
    May 30, 2024 – 28:41
  • How much trouble are UK universities in?
    May 23, 2024 – 29:08
  • Avian flu is evolving but what risk does it pose to us?
    May 16, 2024 – 28:34
  • Why is the water industry in so much trouble?
    May 9, 2024 – 28:50
  • How does America fix its border crisis?
    May 2, 2024 – 28:49
Recent Reviews
  • phxroy
    Excellent!
    Terrific, quick primer on the topic, leaving you with an informed, working knowledge. I always look forward the podcast when I see it in my feed, as I know from several years consistent listening that it’s excellent! (A show on COVID in last six months left me with more nuanced information than I had learned elsewhere.)
  • avm1406
    5 stars
    Outstanding. From diversity of topics to the unique format that moves from one expert providing the in-depth backstory to an engaging dialogue with a panel. Always learn something new even on widely reported stories.
  • AdiKharo
    Brilliant
    You end the podcast knowing more than when you started it. And you are engrossed in the topic along the way. Brilliant. Great topics, great interviewer, great guests.
  • lalalahexd
    Nice podcast
    Really cool and the guests are well informed!
  • ab105194
    Excellent
    I was glad to discover this podcast. It provides a excellent analysis on a broad range of topics. It is very well presented. Highly recommended!
  • David G Bober
    The “In Our Time” of current affairs
    Always informative, never condescending.
  • NickAtHome
    Excellent podcast
    Rounded, thoughtful analysis of current issues
  • SamCat777
    Excellent Program
    Excellent program. Delivers well informed insight into current affairs.
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