Shows / The Briefing Room
The Briefing Room
David Aaronovitch and a panel of experts and insiders present in-depth explainers on big issues in the news
Episodes
- The Briefing Room
How might the midterms affect US foreign policy?
The foreign policy of the second Trump administration has caused consternation to allies from Denmark to Korea. What had seemed solid and settled in the…
- The Briefing Room
Has France become ungovernable?
Will the French accept that changes need to be made to fix their ailing economy? Political paralysis and a debt crisis has led to 5 prime ministers in the last…
- The Briefing Room
How will climate change affect our farms?
Will we still be able to grow enough food as temperatures rise and rainfall becomes more erratic? What changes will farmers need to make to keep feeding the…
- The Briefing Room
Why does the Yemen war matter to the world?
The ceasefire between the Saudi-backed Yemen government and the Houthi rebels is over. As the fighting for control of land and sea intensifies, what are the…
- The Briefing Room
Are Gen Z movements reshaping politics?
In May, the Chief Justice of India unwittingly gave a name to a generational protest. He called unemployed young people “cockroaches” and the mass youth…
- The Briefing Room
How do we prepare for a future water shortage?
Did you step outside this morning and feel something odd on your face or neck? Its called rain. We’ve hardly had any this summer and the result was the…
- The Briefing Room
Part 2: How do we reform social care?
Until recently Baroness Louise Casey was going to deliver her huge review of English social care by 2028. Then the PM changed and so did the date. Now the…
- The Briefing Room
Part 1: How do we reform social care?
It’s social care time again. That moment every five years when politicians and civil servants are on the cusp of coming up with a new system to replace the…
- The Briefing Room
Part 2: How's the government doing on immigration?
According to polls immigration remains near the top - or at the top - of public concerns. And now a new prime minister inherits that popular anxiety. Last week…
- The Briefing Room
Part 1: How's the government doing on immigration?
New PM, old problems. When Labour took office they vowed to tackle the people smuggling gangs behind the small boats crossings, to reduce net inward migration…
- The Briefing Room
Will a devolution revolution help boost the economy?
Power to the people! Or, at any rate power to the mayors! As government prepares for yet another new prime minister it is keenly aware that this one has moving…
- The Briefing Room
Relationship recession: Why are fewer people coupling?
For previous generations, coupling was something only trains did. Then it became a word to describe the business of finding a partner. An important business…
- The Briefing Room
Iran: If the war is over...who won?
Two weeks ago a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Americans and the Iranians aiming at ending a bomb, missile-and-drone conflict that has…
- The Briefing Room
Is Russia under pressure from Ukraine?
The war between Russia and Ukraine has shifted closer to Moscow. In the past week Ukraine has sent drones, made by Ukraine, to Moscow. While many were…
- The Briefing Room
Ten years of The Briefing Room
It's ten years since the Briefing Room was first transmitted in May 2016. And what a decade it's been. To mark the tenth anniversary the programme looks at the…
- The Briefing Room
Are we still going to Mars?
A month ago the Artemis II crew landed safely in the Pacific Ocean, completing their historic space mission to the far side of the moon. It’s been several…
- The Briefing Room
Can Europe build digital sovereignty?
Ask Claude a question, Google a query, order from Amazon, chat with mates on WhatsApp, tune in to Youtube. And where ever you do it from, you’ll never be…
- The Briefing Room
What's the conflict in Iran doing to the world economy?
It’s almost two months since the United States and Israel went to war with Iran. And in spite of a ceasefire the vital Strait of Hormuz through which 20 per…
- The Briefing Room
Is the triple lock pension guarantee sustainable?
This month retired people saw their state pensions rise by 4.8 per cent. That’s comfortably above the current inflation rate and means that some pensioners…
- The Briefing Room
Will Trump take Cuba?
If you sail 90 miles from Key West in Florida you’ll make landfall on the island of Cuba, run by a regime that America has never liked. And since this is the…
- The Briefing Room
What's happened to the Gaza peace plan?
The world’s attention is currently fixed on the US-Israel war with Iran and the effect it’s having on the Gulf region and global energy prices. But it was only…
- The Briefing Room
Why is youth unemployment in the UK so high?
It's a tough time for any young person looking for a job at the moment. While overall unemployment is running at just over 5 percent, there’s particular…
- The Briefing Room
What's the current state of the UK's armed forces?
As contemporary hi-tech wars rage - Russia and Ukraine and the US-Israel war with Iran - The Briefing Room takes a hard look at the UK's armed forces. After…
- The Briefing Room
Why does the war with Iran threaten the global economy?
It could be that the US-Israel war with Iran ends soon. That was the message from Donald Trump this week. But it may not. The longer the war continues the more…
- The Briefing Room
Why did the US and Israel launch a war with Iran, and what comes next?
It's less than a week since the start of the US-Israel war with Iran. And it's already spread across the Gulf region as Iran retaliates. Ayatollah Ali…
- The Briefing Room
Four years of war in Ukraine - when will it end?
It’s four years this week since Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine. And by this summer the conflict will have gone on for longer than the First World War…
- The Briefing Room
Should the Government ban social media for young people?
Pressure is building in the UK for a ban on social media use for young people as countries across the world watch Australia, which introduced its own ban for…
- The Briefing Room
Iran - how vulnerable is the regime?
In early January street protests in Iran turned deadly - thousands were killed by Iranian forces. What started as a demonstration about economic conditions had…
- The Briefing Room
Venezuela – what now?
Following the dramatic capture of the President of Venezuela and his wife by US special forces on January 3rd, The Briefing Room asks what’s next for…
- The Briefing Room
Should we worry about America’s security strategy?
As both the year and the current series of The Briefing Room draw to a close, Europe and much of the world have been digesting a lengthy document outlining the…
- The Briefing Room
Why are early career doctors angry?
In a few days time resident doctors -who used to be known as junior doctors - will go on strike. Just before Christmas and with flu on the rise. This will be…
- The Briefing Room
Are the old robbing the young?
In her budget the Chancellor increased the state pension by 4.8 % in line with the government's triple lock formula. It was good news for pensioners but is it…
- The Briefing Room
What's happening with the Ukraine peace plan?
President Trump wants an end to the war in Ukraine. The Ukrainians want peace too - but not at any cost. The past week saw the emergence of a leaked US 28 -…
- The Briefing Room
What can the UK learn from the rest of Europe about asylum reform?
This week the government announced an overhaul of the UK’s asylum system with the stated aim of making Britain look a lot less attractive to those planning to…
- The Briefing Room
Why does the UK have a problem with productivity?
The Chancellor, Rachel Reeves has been widely trailing this month’s budget and the difficult decisions she’ll have to make in just under two weeks time. This…
- The Briefing Room
What's happening in Venezuela?
Something is going in the southern Caribbean. The world’s largest aircraft carrier - the American USS Gerald R Ford- is on its way to the region. Small boats…
- The Briefing Room
How should we handle historic public inquiries?
When a disaster or serious event happens, such as the Grenfell Tower fire, the Manchester Arena terrorist attack or the Covid pandemic, you can be pretty sure…
- The Briefing Room
Is there a crash coming?
Some of the biggest figures in finance, from the CEO of JPMorganChase to the Governor of the Bank of England, have been warning of potential shocks to the…
- The Briefing Room
Is the UK in a data crisis?
As Rachel Reeves approaches a tricky budget, her job has got that much harder. Some of our most fundamental economic data, statistics that policymakers are…
- The Briefing Room
Will the Gaza peace plan work?
There have been in celebrations in Israel and Gaza at the announcement of a ceasefire and the beginning of a longer term plan for peace and reconstruction in…
- The Briefing Room
How prepared are we for the next pandemic?
Five years ago we in the UK were in the false lull between the first wave of covid and the second, between the first variant and the second, between the first…
- The Briefing Room
How prepared are we for cyber threats?
From councils disrupted by ransomware, leaked defence data or individuals duped by deep fakes, the UK faces increasing cyber threats. David Aaronovitch asks…
- The Briefing Room
How prepared are we for climate change?
The UK is getting hotter. And wetter. Extreme weather events in the UK are happening more often. And that trend won’t stop any time soon. It all means more…
- The Briefing Room
Should the government worry about debt?
In a time of sluggish economic growth, the favourite way of squaring the circle of spending more but not increasing taxes is to borrow - and we have. Keeping…
- The Briefing Room
Why don't we have ID cards in the UK?
For years there has been an argument, sometimes loud, sometimes subdued, on whether Britain needs an ID card system. One big reason given for wanting them is…
- The Briefing Room
How close is the UK getting to the European Union?
'Britain is back on the world stage' said Prime Minister Keir Starmer in May following the first UK-EU summit since the UK left the EU in January 2020. Outline…
- The Briefing Room
Is the tide turning in the Ukraine war?
It’s been 3 1/2 years since Russia launched an unprovoked invasion of its Ukrainian neighbour. Ukraine’s capacity to resist has depended on two things: its own…
- The Briefing Room
The Trump hokey cokey is back - what happens to world trade now?
The Trump hokey cokey is back. Tariffs on, tariffs reduced - now they’re heading back up again. It really got going on April 2nd- President Trump’s so-called…
- The Briefing Room
Why is there a row about disability benefits?
The Government was forced into a humiliating climbdown over its controversial benefits bill this week, and any savings the Treasury had hoped to make were…
- The Briefing Room
Iran: What happens next?
President Trump says the conflict between Israel and Iran is over after 12 days. For the US and Israel the declared objective has been to destroy Iran’s…
The Briefing RoomExplainer: Tensions over Kashmir
Following a deadly terrorist attack in Indian administered Kashmir in April a short military conflict broke out between India and Pakistan. For a brief history…
- The Briefing Room
Explainer: Putin’s motivation for war with Ukraine
As the Ukraine war grinds on with little sign of Russian president, Vladimir Putin agreeing to a ceasefire we trace the evolution of his attitude towards…
- The Briefing Room
Explainer: A history of US tariffs
Tariffs have dominated the first few months of President Trump’s second term. But where did he get the idea from? Ben Carter spoke to Douglas Irwin, professor…
- The Briefing Room
Explainer: Rare earths
Rare earths and critical minerals are precious resources everyone seems to want but what are they and what are they used for? David Aaronovitch speaks to Ellie…
- The Briefing Room
What is ransomware and what can be done to stop it?
In the past few weeks Marks & Spencer, the Co-op and Harrods have all been grappling with the effects of cyber attacks. The most profitable form of cyber…
- The Briefing Room
What is Israel's plan for Gaza?
Dire warnings of famine in Gaza, a broken ceasefire and the start by the Israeli government of a new “intense” offensive which could forcibly displace…
- The Briefing Room
What are rare earths and why does everyone want them?
President Trump has signed a minerals deal with Ukraine, which will give the US access to some of Ukraine’s natural resources. The US president also said he’d…
- The Briefing Room
Are India and Pakistan on the brink of war over Kashmir?
Tension is high in Indian administered Kashmir following the killing on 22nd April of 26 civilians almost all of whom were Hindu tourists. They were visiting…
- The Briefing Room
Can the UK become an AI superpower?
The Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer wants the UK to become “one of the great AI superpowers”. Earlier this year the government published a plan to use…
- The Briefing Room
What cards does China hold?
President Trump’s fury with China shows no sign of abating. High tariffs - first imposed by the US but now on both sides - are giving way to a very real trade…