The Briefing Room

BBC Radio 4

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

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393 episodes
Updated July 27

Episodes393

Newest first

Feb 24, 2022 · 29 min
Russia's invasion: will sanctions work?
Russia is facing international sanctions. What impact will they have?
Feb 17, 2022 · 29 min
What do drones mean for the future of warfare?
Drones are transforming the way wars are fought but should we be worried about it?
Feb 10, 2022 · 28 min
Will the levelling up plans work?
What does the government's recently published white paper mean for levelling up?
Feb 3, 2022 · 28 min
Is the Prime Minister’s Office fit for purpose?
How 10 Downing Street functions is under scrutiny. Can the problems be fixed?
Jan 27, 2022 · 28 min
How do we learn to live with Covid?
As Plan B Covid restrictions end how do we transition to a society that lives with Covid?
Jan 20, 2022 · 28 min
BBC Funding
With BBC funding under pressure, how might alternatives to the licence fee work?
Jan 13, 2022 · 28 min
Inflation
Prices are soaring. Inflation is at a 30 year high. How worried should we be?
Jan 6, 2022 · 29 min
Brexit: What Have We Learned?
Weighing up the costs and gains for the UK and Europe a year after Brexit.
Dec 30, 2021 · 29 min
Who Do We Think We Are?
David Aaronovitch explores the new political demography of Britain and asks who are we?
Dec 23, 2021 · 29 min
Space Wars and Laws
Could space be the next frontier for conflict? And what would it look like?
Dec 16, 2021 · 29 min
Ukraine: Could There Be War?
Russian troops are amassed close to the Ukrainian border - what's happening and why?
Dec 9, 2021 · 29 min
Afghanistan: What Now? What Next?
From insurgency to government - the challenges for the Taliban and the west.
Dec 2, 2021 · 29 min
Living in a Variant World
Where do Covid variants like Omicron come from? And what makes a variant dangerous?
Nov 25, 2021 · 29 min
Europe's Covid Surge
As parts of Europe struggle to contain Covid cases we ask what that means for them and us.
Oct 21, 2021 · 29 min
China Crisis?
With an energy shortage and growing debts, is China's economy in trouble?
Oct 14, 2021 · 29 min
Social Care - What's Changing?
Long neglected by many governments, what do the new proposals for social care mean?
Oct 7, 2021 · 28 min
Britain's Dirty Rivers
Sewage, chemicals, micro-plastics - how dirty are Britain's rivers? And what can be done?
Sep 30, 2021 · 28 min
Non-Fungible Tokens
What are NFTs? How do you buy and sell them? And how do they help British art and artists?
Sep 23, 2021 · 28 min
The UK's Energy Crisis
What lies behind the UK's energy problems, and how can we can stop it happening again?
Sep 16, 2021 · 28 min
Vaccine Passports and Booster Jabs
How useful might vaccine passports and booster jabs be over the winter?