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The Briefing Room

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

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes383Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
News CommentaryNews

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Latest Episodes

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 have increases this year of as much as £575. That’s because of the Triple Lock guarantee which... more

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 year of bombs, drones and talk of regime change, the island has not escaped close attention.... more

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

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Lillian Guerra
Professor of Cuban and Caribbean history; director of the Cuba program at the University of Florida
University of Florida
Episode: Will Trump take Cuba?
Will Grant
BBC correspondent for Mexico, Central America and Cuba
BBC
Episode: Will Trump take Cuba?
Christopher Sabatini
Senior research fellow for Latin America at Chatham House
Chatham House
Episode: Will Trump take Cuba?
Hal Hodson
America's editor at The Economist
The Economist
Episode: Will Trump take Cuba?
Rushdi Abu Alouf
BBC Gaza correspondent
BBC
Episode: What's happened to the Gaza peace plan?
Tahani Mustafa
Lecturer in international relations
King's College London
Episode: What's happened to the Gaza peace plan?
Aaron David Miller
Senior fellow
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Episode: What's happened to the Gaza peace plan?
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?

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
    Sweden6 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 Kingdom6 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.

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.
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.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Professions
Age Range
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Social Media Reach

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. Moral Maze
3. The Bottom Line
4. Political Fix
5. Political Thinking with Nick Robinson

How many episodes of The Briefing Room are there?

The Briefing Room launched 10 years ago and published 383 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. Lillian Guerra
2. Will Grant
3. Christopher Sabatini
4. Hal Hodson
5. Rushdi Abu Alouf
6. Tahani Mustafa
7. Aaron David Miller
8. Richard Barrons

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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