The Briefing Room

BBC Radio 4
  • 4.9 (36)
  • NEWS COMMENTARY
  • UPDATED FORTNIGHTLY

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

  1. 3 DAYS AGO

    Are we still going to Mars?

    A month ago the Artemis II crew landed safely in the Pacific Ocean, completing their historic space mission to the far side of the moon. It’s been several decades since the last human mission to the moon - although this time there was no landing. However, the 4 astronauts travelled further from earth than any human ever has so far. David Aaronovitch asks his guests whether space exploration is back in fashion and if so what’s next? And are we any closer to a human mission to Mars and what would we hope to achieve there? Guests: Dr Julia Balm, Research Associate, Freeman Air and Space Institute in the School of Security Studies, King’s College London Professor Andrew Coates, Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London Libby Jackson, Head of Space, Science Museum, London Presenter: David Aaronovitch Producers: Caroline Bayley, Sally Abrahams, Kirsteen Knight Production Co-Ordinator: Maria Ogundele Sound Engineer: James Beard Editor: Richard Vadon

    28 min

  2. 30 APR

    Can Europe build digital sovereignty?

    Ask Claude a question, Google a query, order from Amazon, chat with mates on WhatsApp, tune in to Youtube. And where ever you do it from, you’ll never be somehow not in America. Because Britain, like Europe is dependent on US tech and as the AI revolution unfolds, governments are increasingly worried about it. The new buzz phrase is digital sovereignty. But what does that mean? Is it even feasible? And can the UK and the Europe take back control? David Aaronovitch talks to: Stanley Pignal, Europe editor at The Economist Cecilia Rikap, Associate Professor in Economics and Head of Research at the UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose Seb Johnson, founder of Scaling Europe, a media company focused on European Tech Presenter: David Aaronovitch Producers: Ben Carter, Sally Abrahams, Kirsteen Knight Production Co-ordinator: Gemma Ashman Sound engineer: James Beard Editor: Richard Vadon

    28 min

  3. 23 APR

    What's the conflict in Iran doing to the world economy?

    It’s almost two months since the United States and Israel went to war with Iran. And in spite of a ceasefire the vital Strait of Hormuz through which 20 per cent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passes on tankers, is still effectively closed. The oil price remains high, affecting economies around the world. The most recent assessment from the International Monetary Fund warned that the war could throw the world economy “off course” and a prolongued conflict risked causing a global recession. David Aaronovitch asks what this means for us now and whether an end to the conflict could re-set the world’s economies or have conditions changed for good? Guests: Joseph Stiglitz, American economist and recipient of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences and Professor at Columbia University Duncan Weldon, author and economist Diana Choyleva, economist and founder of Enodo Economics. Presenter: David Aaronovitch Producers: Caroline Bayley, Sally Abrahams, Kirsteen Knight Production Co-ordinator: Maria Ogundele Sound engineer: Neil Churchill Editor: Richard Vadon

    29 min

  4. 16 APR

    Is the triple lock pension guarantee sustainable?

    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 is a formula set 15 years ago and which some economists say is costing the government too much and should be scrapped. But it’s meant that the state pension has risen over recent years, pensioner poverty is far less of a problem and not surprisingly it’s popular with voters. David Aaronovitch asks what exactly is the triple lock, can we still afford it and is there an alternative? Guests Carl Emmerson, Partner at London Economics Sophie Hale, Research Director, Resolution Foundation Steve Webb, Partner at LCP and former Pensions Minister in Coalition Government Presenter: David Aaronovitch Producers: Caroline Bayley, Kirsteen Knight, Sally Abrahams Production co-ordinator: Maria Ogundele Sound engineers: Rod Farquhar and Dave O'Neill Editor: Richard Vadon

    29 min

  5. 9 APR

    Will Trump take Cuba?

    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. Donald Trump has talked about taking Cuba but could he? Would he? And And what would that even mean for Cubans and Americans? Step into the Briefing Room and together we’ll find out. Presenter: David Aaronovitch Producers: Ben Carter, Sally Abrahams and Kirsteen Knight Editor: Richard Vadon Production co-ordinator: Janet Staples Sound engineers: Rod Farquhar and Neil Churchill

    28 min

  6. 2 APR

    What's happened to the Gaza peace plan?

    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 launched his 20-point peace plan. Since then we’ve heard little about progress beyond the return of Israeli hostages - the first phase of the plan. David Aaronovitch and his guests discuss what's happening to the citizens of Gaza and what has to happen next if the peace plan is to be followed through. Guests: Rushdi Abu Alouf, BBC Gaza Correspondent Anshel Pfeffer, Israel Correspondent, The Economist Tahani Mustafa, Lecturer in International Relations, Deptartment of War Studies, King's College, London Aaron David Miller, Senior Fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Presenter: David Aaronovitch Producers: Caroline Bayley, Nathan Gower, Kirsteen Knight Production co-ordinator: Maria Ogundele Sound Engineers: James Beard and Gareth Jones Editor: Richard Vadon

    28 min

  7. 26 MAR

    Why is youth unemployment in the UK so high?

    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 in employment, education or training. And that includes recent graduates in that age bracket. They’re known as NEETS. David Aaronovitch and guests discuss why they're in this situation - is it down to the state of the economy, their own ability to work or that ever present fear - AI? Guests: Jack Kennedy, Senior Economist, Indeed Hiring Lab Lindsay Judge, Research Director, The Resolution Foundation Xiaowei Xu, Senior Research Economist, Institute for Fiscal Studies. John Burn-Murdoch, Chief Data Reporter, The Financial Times Presenter: David Aaronovitch Producers: Caroline Bayley, Nathan Gower, Kirsteen Knight Production Co-ordinator: Maria Ogundele Sound Engineer: James Beard Editor: Richard Vadon

    29 min

  8. 19 MAR

    What's the current state of the UK's armed forces?

    As contemporary hi-tech wars rage - Russia and Ukraine and the US-Israel war with Iran - The Briefing Room takes a hard look at the UK's armed forces. After telling his allies - including the UK - that he didn’t need them, President Trump called for them to help him open up the Strait of Hormuz, which has raised not just the question of should we, but could the UK do this? David Aaronovitch asks when it comes to big military operations what have we got? In this dangerous 21st century what do we need? Can we get it? And what about closer co-operation with other European countries? Guests: General Sir Richard Barrons, Senior Consulting fellow with the International Security Programme, Chatham House. Dr Jack Watling, Senior Research Fellow, Royal United Services Institute Shashank Joshi, Defence Editor, The Economist Ruth Harris, Executive Director for National Security and Data Science, RAND Europe Presenter: David Aaronovitch Producers: Caroline Bayley, Nathan Gower, Kirsteen Knight Production Co-ordinator: Maria Ogundele Sound Engineer: Neil Churchill and James Beard Editor Richard Vadon

    29 min
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Hosts & Guests

4.9
out of 5
36 Ratings

About

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

Information

  • Creator
    BBC Radio 4
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2026
  • Episodes
    386
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © (C) BBC 2026
  • Show Website
    The Briefing Room

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