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The Briefing Room

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes381Founded10 years ago
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NewsNews Commentary

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Latest Episodes

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 six months ago that a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was agreed and President Trump la... more

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 concern about a large group of 16 to 24 year olds - almost a million of them (12.8%) who are not ... more

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 telling his allies - including the UK - that he didn’t need them, President Trump called for ... more

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 collateral damage to the world economy. Mostly because of the impact of energy prices. But... more

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Recent Guests

Richard Barrons
Former commander and defence analyst
Chatham House / Strategic Defence Review contributor
Episode: What's the current state of the UK's armed forces?
Ben Chu
Policy and analysis correspondent for BBC Verify
BBC Verify
Episode: Why does the war with Iran threaten the global economy?
Bill Farren-Price
Senior Research Fellow and Head of Gas Research
Oxford Institute for Energy Studies
Episode: Why does the war with Iran threaten the global economy?
Rosemary Kelanic
Director of the Middle East Program
Defense Priorities
Episode: Why does the war with Iran threaten the global economy?
Anshel Pfeffer
Israel correspondent for The Economist
The Economist
Episode: Why did the US and Israel launch a war with Iran, and what comes next?
Ali Ansari
Professor, founding director of the Institute of Iranian Studies at St Andrews University
St Andrews University
Episode: Why did the US and Israel launch a war with Iran, and what comes next?
Burcu Ozcelik
Senior Research Fellow for Middle East Security at RUVE? (Royal United Services Institute)
Royal United Services Institute
Episode: Why did the US and Israel launch a war with Iran, and what comes next?
Laurel Rapp
Director of the US and North America Programme at Chatham House
Chatham House
Episode: Why did the US and Israel launch a war with Iran, and what comes next?
Anton Grushetskyi
Executive Director of the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology
Kyiv International Institute of Sociology
Episode: Is the tide turning in the Ukraine war?

Host

David Aaronovitch
Host of The Briefing Room

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 1.1k ratings
  • Short, sharp, focused.

    My favorite podcast! The Newscast team could learn a lot from this one.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Anders Torp
    Sweden5 months ago
  • Exceptional broadcasting

    David interrogates a panel of subject experts to explain (only allowing accessible language) very complicated but current issues. The episode of 23 October ‘market crash’, is an exceptional example. Have a listen you’ll learn - I promise. Thank you BBC Thank you David

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Emma Eveleigh
    United Kingdom5 months ago
  • 👌

    Always very high quality and relevance. Excellent in depth discussions.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    mrakwekwe
    Swedena year ago
  • Very informative, great to hear the background explained clearly. But such a tragic situation.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Fiona JW
    2 years ago
  • BR usually 5 star but here no mention at all of left of centre French politics....

    Podcast Addict
    3
    chrisdye
    2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

High-quality, in-depth discussions that stay relevant across topics.
The show is consistently insightful, delivering punchy, balanced analysis with top guests.
Some notes mention strong preferences about guest voices or tone in specific episodes, but overall the feedback is positive about the rigor and clarity.
Listeners praise the host's thorough, principled questioning and the depth of expert panels.
Many describe it as essential listening for understanding current affairs with credible experts.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Iran - how vulnerable is the regime?
Q: Arash Azizi, how do these recent protests compare with others we've seen in the past?
These protests are the largest since 2009 and have been more insurrectionary and rejectionist of the regime compared to previous movements.
Iran - how vulnerable is the regime?
Q: Can you tell us who was actually doing the repressing?
Repression was carried out by various state organs including the army, police, and Revolutionary Guard, with a crackdown resulting in thousands of deaths.
Iran - how vulnerable is the regime?
Q: Kasra Naji, can you remind us how this spate of protests began?
The protests started unexpectedly at the end of December with shopkeepers in Tehran's bazaar, who were protesting the economic collapse due to mismanagement and sanctions.
What can the UK learn from the rest of Europe about asylum reform?
Q: What impact have those policies had?
Denmark reported the lowest number of asylum applications in 40 years due to its tough policies.
What can the UK learn from the rest of Europe about asylum reform?
Q: What proportion of asylum seekers do actually arrive on small boats because they get all the attention? Are they the majority of people who come?
They are not the majority; 39% of people who claimed asylum last year arrived on small boats, with others arriving through various unauthorized routes and visas.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Briefing Room

What is The Briefing Room about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The program offers concise, in-depth analysis of current affairs through panel-driven discussions that illuminate complex issues in politics, economics, and international relations. Episodes frequently center on the mechanics of news events, geopolitical developments, policy debates, and the implications of government actions, often featuring multiple experts and insiders who tease apart nuance and present evidence-based perspectives. A standout aspect is the structured, troubling-to-optimistic spectrum of coverage: topics are timely, well-researched, and explained with clear reasoning, making it a strong resource for professionals seeking a deeper understanding of how global events connect to policy and markets. The format tends to be punc... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Briefing Room?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Briefing Room:

1. More or Less
2. Political Fix
3. The Bottom Line
4. Political Thinking with Nick Robinson
5. The Week in Westminster

How many episodes of The Briefing Room are there?

The Briefing Room launched 10 years ago and published 381 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Briefing Room?

Recent guests on The Briefing Room include:

1. Richard Barrons
2. Ben Chu
3. Bill Farren-Price
4. Rosemary Kelanic
5. Anshel Pfeffer
6. Ali Ansari
7. Burcu Ozcelik
8. Laurel Rapp

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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