The Briefing Room Podcast
David Aaronovitch and a panel of experts and insiders present in-depth explainers on big issues in the news
Episodes to download
-
![]()
What’s behind the Niger coup?
Thu 10 Aug 2023
Coups aren't unusual in Niger or the Sahel region as a whole but what's behind this one?
-
![]()
Is it Saudi's century?
Thu 3 Aug 2023
Saudi Arabia is a regional power but can it match its ambition to become a global one?
-
![]()
Can we meet the net zero challenge?
Thu 27 Jul 2023
Carbon emissions need to fall to zero by 2050 but can the world achieve that goal?
-
![]()
The China Threat
Thu 20 Jul 2023
Is the government failing in its handling of Chinese investment and interests in the UK?
-
![]()
What can schools do about record absences?
Thu 13 Jul 2023
Since the pandemic record numbers of children have not returned to regular schooling. Why?
-
![]()
What happened to the Israel/Palestine peace process?
Thu 6 Jul 2023
Many have tried to broker peace between Israel and Palestine, but is there any hope left?
-
![]()
Why is Britain getting inflation so wrong?
Thu 29 Jun 2023
Halving inflation by the end of the year was meant to be easy. Why is it proving so hard?
-
![]()
Ukraine: the long game
Thu 22 Jun 2023
Ukraine's spring offensive has begun. But what can it realistically achieve?
-
![]()
The Online Safety Bill
Thu 11 May 2023
How successful will the Online Safety Bill be in protecting children from harmful content?
-
![]()
Ukraine: Is it all about to change?
Thu 4 May 2023
A spring offensive appears imminent but how successful will it be?
-
![]()
Sudan conflict: what led to this?
Thu 27 Apr 2023
Sudan is a country that's rarely at peace but what lies behind the current conflict there?
-
![]()
Does Rishi Sunak's maths calculation add up?
Thu 20 Apr 2023
David Aaronovitch and guests dissect the Prime Minister's 'maths until 18' plan.
-
![]()
The AI Revolution
Thu 13 Apr 2023
How much should we embrace artificial intelligence and how much should we worry about it?
-
![]()
Trump's Legal Woes
Thu 6 Apr 2023
How serious are Donald Trump's legal battles and what are the political implications?
-
![]()
The Windsor Framework
Thu 2 Mar 2023
Does the proposed deal on Northern Ireland's trading arrangements work for all parties?
-
![]()
Who's Afraid of The Wagner Group?
Thu 23 Feb 2023
Are the 'Wagner' mercenaries fighting for Russia in Ukraine becoming a problem for Putin?
-
![]()
Why was the Turkey-Syria earthquake so bad?
Thu 16 Feb 2023
More than 40,000 people died in last week's earthquake, but why was it so deadly?
-
![]()
How worried should we be about avian flu?
Thu 9 Feb 2023
A new strain of avian flu is killing birds and mammals, but what's the risk to humans?
-
![]()
How do we get over-50s back into work?
Thu 2 Feb 2023
The government wants over-50s to re-enter the workforce, but will they come?
-
![]()
-
![]()
-
![]()
-
![]()
Ukraine: How will the war evolve in 2023?
Thu 5 Jan 2023
David Aaronovitch and guests discuss how the Ukraine Russia war might evolve in 2023.
-
![]()
Our Ageing World
Thu 29 Dec 2022
The global population is rapidly getting older. How do we deal with the impacts?
-
![]()
Can we colonise the Moon?
Thu 22 Dec 2022
Nasa plans to set up a lunar base in the next decade. Is that achievable?
-
![]()
Strikes: How can we avoid a return to the 1970s?
Thu 15 Dec 2022
As strikes continue across the UK, what's the government's strategy for dealing with them?
-
![]()
House of Lords reform
Thu 8 Dec 2022
How would Sir Keir Starmer's plan to scrap the House of Lords work and is it a good idea?
-
![]()
China's winter of discontent
Thu 1 Dec 2022
What's behind the protests and dissent against the Chinese leader Xi Jinping?
-
![]()
UK Trade Deals
Thu 24 Nov 2022
How is the UK government getting on with negotiating free trade deals around the world?
-
![]()
Could Vladimir Putin use nuclear weapons?
Thu 20 Oct 2022
What are the chances of the Russian leader turning the war in Ukraine nuclear?
