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

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.