The Briefing Room

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

Radio 4,388 episodes

Episodes

ListGrid

Is Russia under pressure from Ukraine?
As Ukrainian drones hit Moscow, how much pressure is Russia under?
21 May 2026,27 mins
Ten years of The Briefing Room
The Briefing Room looks back over the ten years since the programme started in May 2016.
14 May 2026,28 mins
Are we still going to Mars?
David Aaronovitch discusses the future of space exploration.
07 May 2026,28 mins
Can Europe build digital sovereignty?
Europe relies on US tech but can it find away to wean itself off it?
30 Apr 2026,28 mins
What's the conflict in Iran doing to the world economy?
How has the US-Israel war with Iran affected the global economy?
23 Apr 2026,28 mins
Is the triple lock pension guarantee sustainable?
Why is the state pension protected by the triple lock?
16 Apr 2026,28 mins
Will Trump take Cuba?
Donald Trump says he might 'take' Cuba, but what would that mean for Cubans and Americans?
09 Apr 2026,28 mins
What's happened to the Gaza peace plan?
As the Middle East is engulfed by war, what prospects are there for peace in Gaza?
02 Apr 2026,28 mins
Why is youth unemployment in the UK so high?
What are the reasons for the large number of young people without a job in the UK?
26 Mar 2026,28 mins
What's the current state of the UK's armed forces?
How ready to fight are the UK's armed forces?
19 Mar 2026,28 mins
Why does the war with Iran threaten the global economy?
Oil and gas shipments from the Gulf have slowed dramatically - what are the repercussions?
12 Mar 2026,28 mins
Why did the US and Israel launch a war with Iran, and what comes next?
What will happen to the Iranian regime now?
05 Mar 2026,28 mins
Four years of war in Ukraine - when will it end?
Who is winning the war in Ukraine?
26 Feb 2026,28 mins
Should the Government ban social media for young people?
What evidence is there that social media is harming young people?
19 Feb 2026,28 mins
Iran - how vulnerable is the regime?
What will happen next in Iran?
12 Feb 2026,28 mins
Venezuela – what now?
The Briefing Room asks what’s next for Venezuela?
08 Jan 2026,28 mins
Should we worry about America’s security strategy?
What does the new US National Security Strategy mean for Europe and the rest of the world?
18 Dec 2025,28 mins
Why are early career doctors angry?
Why is there a shortage of training posts for resident doctors?
11 Dec 2025,29 mins
Are the old robbing the young?
Are we seeing inter-generational economic injustice?
04 Dec 2025,28 mins
What's happening with the Ukraine peace plan?
Is there a viable peace plan for Ukraine on the table?
27 Nov 2025,28 mins
What can the UK learn from the rest of Europe about asylum reform?
Is Denmark the right model for the UK's asylum policy?
20 Nov 2025,28 mins
Why does the UK have a problem with productivity?
What are the consequences of the UK's low productivity growth?
13 Nov 2025,28 mins
What's happening in Venezuela?
Why is there a military build-up off the coast of Venezuela?
06 Nov 2025,28 mins
How should we handle historic public inquiries?
Are public inquiries working?
30 Oct 2025,28 mins
Is there a crash coming?
Could an AI bubble or so-called ‘shadow banking’ threaten the global economy?
23 Oct 2025,44 mins
Is the UK in a data crisis?
What’s gone wrong at the Office for National Statistics?
16 Oct 2025,28 mins
Will the Gaza peace plan work?
What is the plan? And why is it happening now?
09 Oct 2025,28 mins
UK Resilience
How prepared are we for climate change?
The UK is becoming hotter and wetter but is it prepared to deal with that reality?
14 Aug 2025,28 mins
UK Resilience
How prepared are we for cyber threats?
Deepfakes, ransomware, data leaks: cyber crime is evolving fast. But can we keep up?
21 Aug 2025,28 mins
UK Resilience
How prepared are we for the next pandemic?
Covid is in the rear view mirror but are we equipped to deal with the next pandemic?
28 Aug 2025,41 mins