The Briefing Room Podcast
David Aaronovitch and a panel of experts and insiders present in-depth explainers on big issues in the news
Episodes to download
-
![]()
Why is the water industry in so much trouble?
Thu 9 May 2024
Britain's biggest water suppliers are struggling with sewage, leaks and huge debts.
-
![]()
How does America fix its border crisis?
Thu 2 May 2024
Who's crossing the US border, why and how does the government tackle it effectively?
-
![]()
Are Britain's missing workers really a problem?
Thu 25 Apr 2024
1 in 5 people in the UK are not in paid work, but they're also not looking for a job.
-
![]()
-
![]()
What's happened to Hamas?
Thu 11 Apr 2024
What do we know about Hamas after 6 months of war with Israel?
-
![]()
What's the future of the state pension?
Thu 4 Apr 2024
David Aaronovitch and guests ask whether the state pension is sustainable in the long term
-
![]()
Election special 3. Uncertain times for the ANC in South Africa
Wed 20 Mar 2024
The ANC has been in power for 30 years, but as its popularity wanes, what happens next?
-
![]()
Election special 2. Elections without democracy
Wed 13 Mar 2024
In some countries election outcomes are predetermined, so why bother holding them at all?
-
![]()
India: Is democracy under threat?
Wed 6 Mar 2024
Prime Minister Modi is expected to win a third term, but what does that mean for India?
-
![]()
How is technology changing warfare?
Thu 29 Feb 2024
What have we learnt from recent conflicts and how might things change in the wars to come?
-
![]()
-
![]()
The synthetic opioids claiming lives in the UK
Thu 15 Feb 2024
Deaths from synthetic opioids in the UK are low but it's feared the problem could escalate
-
![]()
The crisis in dentistry: why is it happening and what should we do about it?
Thu 8 Feb 2024
Dental decay - the struggle to find an NHS dentist.
-
![]()
-
![]()
Is the UK prepared for more floods?
Thu 25 Jan 2024
More than six million homes are at risk - are we doing enough?
-
![]()
Why is local government in such trouble?
Thu 18 Jan 2024
Bankruptcy, debt, cuts to services - why some councils are struggling
-
![]()
Israel-Gaza: Is it turning into a regional conflict?
Thu 11 Jan 2024
From Houthi rebels in the Red Sea to attacks on the Lebanon-Israel border.
-
![]()
Brexit: Could we rejoin the EU even if we wanted to?
Thu 4 Jan 2024
Recent polling shows an appetite to rejoin the EU, but is this really a realistic option?
-
![]()
Aliens: Are we closer to finding intelligent life beyond Earth?
Thu 28 Dec 2023
A US whistleblower鈥檚 shocking claims about UFOs have sparked a new debate on aliens
-
![]()
What鈥檚 behind the record homelessness figures?
Thu 21 Dec 2023
Recent homelessness figures show an increasing number of people in temporary accommodation
-
![]()
What can the UK learn from other countries about assisted dying?
Thu 14 Dec 2023
What is and isn鈥檛 allowed in the UK and what could we learn from other countries?
-
![]()
Ukraine: what's the counter-offensive latest?
Thu 7 Dec 2023
As Ukraine heads into winter, how has their summer counter-offensive fared?
-
![]()
Net migration: What鈥檚 happening in the UK?
Thu 30 Nov 2023
As UK net migration hits a record high, what's going on behind the numbers?
-
![]()
Israel-Gaza war: What's going on in the West Bank?
Thu 23 Nov 2023
The world鈥檚 focus is on Gaza, but what鈥檚 happening in the other Palestinian territory?
-
![]()
Israel/Gaza: What happens next?
Thu 19 Oct 2023
It's nearly two weeks since the Israel/Hamas war broke out. How will it all end?
-
![]()
What was Hamas thinking?
Thu 12 Oct 2023
What was the thinking behind Hamas's attack on Israel and what comes next?
-
![]()
If Trump gets re-elected what does the world do?
Thu 5 Oct 2023
How's the world preparing for the possibility of Donald Trump winning the 2024 election?
-
![]()
What a murder in Canada tells us about India's place in the world
Thu 28 Sep 2023
How the murder of a Canadian Sikh in British Colombia turned the spotlight on India.
-
![]()
The UK鈥檚 financial headache
Thu 21 Sep 2023
How will the state of UK public finances shape Tory and Labour election manifestos?
-
![]()
Who do we think we are now?
Thu 14 Sep 2023
David Aaronovitch explores Britain's current political demography and asks who we are now.
