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

Mar 5, 2024 · 27 min
Election special 3. Uncertain times for the ANC in South Africa
The ANC has been in power for 30 years, but as its popularity wanes, what happens next?
Feb 28, 2024 · 41 min
How is technology changing warfare?
What have we learnt from recent conflicts and how might things change in the wars to come?
Feb 22, 2024 · 28 min
Russia: State of the Nation
How tight is Putin's grip on power in Russia?
Feb 15, 2024 · 28 min
The synthetic opioids claiming lives in the UK
Deaths from synthetic opioids in the UK are low but it's feared the problem could escalate
Feb 8, 2024 · 29 min
The crisis in dentistry: why is it happening and what should we do about it?
Dental decay - the struggle to find an NHS dentist.
Feb 1, 2024 · 28 min
What’s the point of Ofsted?
The pros and cons of school inspections.
Jan 25, 2024 · 28 min
Is the UK prepared for more floods?
More than six million homes are at risk - are we doing enough?
Jan 18, 2024 · 28 min
Why is local government in such trouble?
Bankruptcy, debt, cuts to services - why some councils are struggling
Jan 11, 2024 · 28 min
Israel-Gaza: Is it turning into a regional conflict?
From Houthi rebels in the Red Sea to attacks on the Lebanon-Israel border.
Jan 4, 2024 · 29 min
Brexit: Could we rejoin the EU even if we wanted to?
Recent polling shows an appetite to rejoin the EU, but is this really a realistic option?
Dec 28, 2023 · 28 min
Aliens: Are we closer to finding intelligent life beyond Earth?
A US whistleblower’s shocking claims about UFOs have sparked a new debate on aliens
Dec 21, 2023 · 28 min
What’s behind the record homelessness figures?
Recent homelessness figures show an increasing number of people in temporary accommodation
Dec 14, 2023 · 28 min
What can the UK learn from other countries about assisted dying?
What is and isn’t allowed in the UK and what could we learn from other countries?
Dec 7, 2023 · 28 min
Ukraine: what's the counter-offensive latest?
As Ukraine heads into winter, how has their summer counter-offensive fared?
Nov 30, 2023 · 28 min
Net migration: What’s happening in the UK?
As UK net migration hits a record high, what's going on behind the numbers?
Nov 23, 2023 · 28 min
Israel-Gaza war: What's going on in the West Bank?
The world’s focus is on Gaza, but what’s happening in the other Palestinian territory?
Oct 19, 2023 · 28 min
Israel/Gaza: What happens next?
It's nearly two weeks since the Israel/Hamas war broke out. How will it all end?
Oct 12, 2023 · 38 min
What was Hamas thinking?
What was the thinking behind Hamas's attack on Israel and what comes next?
Oct 5, 2023 · 28 min
If Trump gets re-elected what does the world do?
How's the world preparing for the possibility of Donald Trump winning the 2024 election?
Sep 28, 2023 · 28 min
What a murder in Canada tells us about India's place in the world
How the murder of a Canadian Sikh in British Colombia turned the spotlight on India.