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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
UK Economy
Vladimir Putin
Climate Change
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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes393Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
News CommentaryNews

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Latest Episodes

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 examined arguably the most visible aspect of the migration question: the... more

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 and to act to replace cheap imported labour with better paid indigenous workers. Meanwhile ... more

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 power away from the centre to the English regions as his big idea. His central idea. The a... more

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 for the future of the species. But today in the developed world - and even beyond - the data ... more

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Recent Guests

Madeleine Sumption
Director of the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
Episode: Part 1: How's the government doing on immigration?
Dominic Casciani
BBC's Home and Legal Correspondent
BBC
Episode: Part 1: How's the government doing on immigration?
Jennifer Williams
Northern Correspondent at the Financial Times
Financial Times
Episode: Will a devolution revolution help boost the economy?
Tony Travers
Professor in Practice at the LSE Department of Government
London School of Economics
Episode: Will a devolution revolution help boost the economy?
Liam Sides
Associate Director of the Cities and Regions Team at Oxford Economics
Oxford Economics
Episode: Will a devolution revolution help boost the economy?
Thomas Pope
Chief Economist at the Institute for Government
Institute for Government
Episode: Will a devolution revolution help boost the economy?
Alice Evans
Visiting associate professor at Stanford University and author
Stanford University
Episode: Relationship recession: Why are fewer people coupling?
John Burn-Murdoch
Columnist and chief data reporter for the Financial Times
Financial Times
Episode: Relationship recession: Why are fewer people coupling?
Ali Vaez
Project Director, Iran, at the Crisis Group
Crisis Group
Episode: Iran: If the war is over...who won?

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
    Sweden9 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 Kingdom9 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.

Guests are described as top experts who explain issues accessibly and thoughtfully.
Listeners praise the show's depth, clarity, and balance across complex topics.
Audience notes high production quality and consistently engaging, informative discussions.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
Iran: If the war is over...who won?
Q: Shashank Joshi, on June 17th, Donald Trump and the Iranian president signed this Memorandum of Understanding. How did this come about?
The panel explains that the MOU emerged through a mix of direct talks, regional mediation by Pakistan and Qatar, and a US willingness to negotiate with Iran while attempting to bring other regional actors into alignment. The negotiation set was pragmatic, focusing on de-escalation, sanctions relief, and a framework for later nuclear talks rather than a comprehensive settlement.
Will Trump take Cuba?
Q: What sparked the latest Cuban crisis and why did oil become such a critical lever?
The crisis intensified after the Trump administration cut oil supplies to Cuba, which led to a severe energy shortfall; the regime depended on foreign oil, and private sector channels became essential, though limited, in keeping lights and basic services functioning.
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.

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 show consistently delivers in-depth, data-driven explainers on current events, combining a trusted host with a rotating panel of experts from journalism, academia, and policy think tanks. Episodes cover geopolitics, economics, technology policy, and the space of global affairs—with rigorous framing, clear language, and a balance between historical context and present-day dynamics. A standout trait is the panel format: fast-paced, challenging questions, and a focus on actionable insights rather than partisan rhetoric, which makes it valuable for listeners who want to understand “why it matters” beyond the headlines. Noteworthy elements include long-form explorations of big issues, cross-continental perspectives from seasoned reporters a... 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. The Week in Westminster
5. Political Fix

How many episodes of The Briefing Room are there?

The Briefing Room launched 10 years ago and published 393 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. Madeleine Sumption
2. Dominic Casciani
3. Jennifer Williams
4. Tony Travers
5. Liam Sides
6. Thomas Pope
7. Alice Evans
8. John Burn-Murdoch

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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