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The Briefing Room

BBC Radio 4
Russia
Ukraine
Donald Trump
United States
Tariffs
China
Israel
European Union
NATO
Iran
Electric Vehicles
Gaza
Climate Change
UK Economy
Vladimir Putin
Artificial Intelligence
Hamas
United Kingdom
Global Trade
Brexit

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes397Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
News CommentaryNews

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Latest Episodes

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 movement that had begun in the wake of the sudden cancellation of a national exam took on the tit... more

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 declaration this month of drought status across two thirds of England and almost all of Wales. The... more

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 whole shebang is timed for next summer. Last week we looked at what we mean by social care, who... more

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 perceived arbitrary and unfair way in which we in the UK pay for the care that many adults nee... more

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Recent Guests

Nayana Prakash
Research affiliate at the Minderoo Centre for Technology and Democracy, University of Cambridge
Minderoo Centre for Technology and Democracy, University of Cambridge
Episode: Are Gen Z movements reshaping politics?
Erica Frantz
Associate Professor in Political Science
Michigan State University
Episode: Are Gen Z movements reshaping politics?
Matthew Cebul
Lead Research Fellow
Nonviolent Action Lab, Harvard Kennedy School
Episode: Are Gen Z movements reshaping politics?
John Armitt
Sir John Armitt, Chair of The Public Private Partnership Commission
Public Private Partnership Commission
Episode: How do we prepare for a future water shortage?
Jim Hall
Professor of Climate and Environmental Risk at Oxford University
University of Oxford
Episode: How do we prepare for a future water shortage?
Heather Smith
Senior Lecturer in Water Governance at Cranfield University
Cranfield University
Episode: How do we prepare for a future water shortage?
Thea Stein
Chief Executive of the Nuffield Trust, health and social care think tank
Nuffield Trust
Episode: Part 2: How do we reform social care?
Simon Botry
Leads The King's Fund's Work on Adult Social Care
The King's Fund
Episode: Part 2: How do we reform social care?
Andrew Dilnot
Economist, former chair of a commission on funding adult social care
Independent Economist
Episode: Part 2: How do we reform social care?

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
    Sweden10 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 Kingdoma year ago
  • 👌

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

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    mrakwekwe
    Sweden2 years 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.

Experts explained complex issues with accessible language.
Host asks incisive questions and keeps discussions balanced.
Some listeners felt voice tone or pace affected engagement on a few episodes.
Panel discussions are high quality and deeply informative.

Chart Rankings

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Are Gen Z movements reshaping politics?
Q: What are the prospects for lasting political change from these movements?
While some movements achieve immediate wins, durable reform depends on how youth engage with institutions, the balance between outsider tactics and institutional participation, and whether leadership structures can translate mobilization into long‑term policy changes.
Are Gen Z movements reshaping politics?
Q: How has social media shaped Gen Z protests in different countries?
Social media amplified reach and organization, with platforms banned in some places but others like Discord in Nepal enabling planning and mobilization, while distrust in traditional media pushed youth to rely on image‑based, platform‑native communication.
Are Gen Z movements reshaping politics?
Q: What sparked the Indian cockroach protests and how did they evolve?
The protests erupted after the NEET exam cancellation due to leaked questions, sparking mass youth demonstrations across states with social media playing a central role, eventually leading to police violence and a ministerial resignation.
Will a devolution revolution help boost the economy?
Q: What does economic devolution mean in terms of spending powers and what might be devolved to local authorities?
Spending powers would move from centralized budgets to local mayoral or combined authorities, creating a single pot with ring-fenced components (transport, adult skills, some health segments) to give local areas flexibility while preserving core services.
Will a devolution revolution help boost the economy?
Q: Jen, in 2024 Labour gets in after 14 years. Can you remind us what their promise was concerning regional devolution?
Keir Starmer promised a devolution revolution, aiming to accelerate and deepen devolution beyond previous administrations, including expansion of mayoral powers and potential institutional changes like an elected nations and regions chamber.

Audience Metrics

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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?

This program consistently explores high-stakes public policy topics through a policy-forward lens, with discussions ranging from social care reform and funding models to immigration, devolution, and demographic shifts. Episodes frequently feature expert guests from think tanks, academia, journalism, and public institutions, plus a moderator who guides rigorous, evidence-based debates. A notable strength is the ability to translate complex policy trade-offs into accessible takeaways, while incorporating international comparisons and real-world implications for families, businesses, and governance. The format tends to balance historical context with current data, often highlighting potential policy pathways, costs, and political consideration... 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 Thinking with Nick Robinson
3. Moral Maze
4. Newscast
5. Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government

How many episodes of The Briefing Room are there?

The Briefing Room launched 10 years ago and published 397 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. Nayana Prakash
2. Erica Frantz
3. Matthew Cebul
4. John Armitt
5. Jim Hall
6. Heather Smith
7. Thea Stein
8. Simon Botry

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