The Briefing Room

BBC Radio 4

4.8 (19)
NEWS
EVERY TWO WEEKS

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

6 DAYS AGO

What’s going on in Syria?

In under two weeks Syrian rebels have moved through the country and taken Damascus - bringing to an end 50 years of rule by the Assad family. The country borders Israel, Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq, and in which Iran and Russia take the most active of interests. So why did the government of Bashar Al Assad fall so fast, who are HTS the rebels who toppled him, and what does it mean for the region and the world? Charles Lister, Senior Fellow and the Director of the Syria and Countering Terrorism & Extremism programs at the Middle East Institute in Washington DC. Lina Khatib, Director of the SOAS Middle East Institute. Chris Phillips, professor of international relations at queen Mary’s university, an associate at Chatham House and author of The Battle for Syria. Shashank Joshi, defence editor at The Economist. Presenter: David Aaronovitch Producers: Charlotte McDonald, Kirsteen Knight and Beth Ashmead Latham Sound engineers: Rod Farquhar, Neva Missirian Editor: Richard Vadon Production Co-ordinator: Gemma Ashman

28 min
28 NOV

Ukraine - what’s next?

North Korean troops are fighting Ukrainians in Russia, while Ukraine has finally been permitted to use US missiles deep into Russian territory. It’s over 1000 days since Vladimir Putin’s full scale invasion of his neighbour and the circle of those involved in the conflict seems to widen. But though the situation changes the central question doesn’t. That question being which side can best stay the bloody course of this war? Ukraine and the West or Russia and its allies? Where do things stand now? Michael Clarke, Visiting Professor in the Department of War Studies, King’s College, London and former Director of the Royal United Services Institute Elina Ribakova, Senior Fellow at Peterson Institute of International Economics in Washington DC Defence Editor of the Economist, Shashank Joshi Presenter: David Aaronovitch Producers: Charlotte McDonald, Kirsteen Knight and Beth Ashmead Latham Sound engineers: Rod Farquhar, Neva Missirian Editor: Richard Vadon Production Co-ordinator: Gemma Ashman

30 min
21 NOV

Why do we have such overcrowded prisons?

Our prisons are overcrowded, the Government recently released a group of prisoners early to ease the pressure. Britain seems to incarcerate more people per head of population compared to any other Western European country. Now the Government has announced there is going to be a Review of Sentencing to see what we can do to reduce the number of people in prison. Recently an eight week consultation period began, during which members of the public can send in their thoughts on how to tackle these issues. Why have prisons have become so over-crowded, and what we can do about it? John Podmore, former prison governor and prison inspector and author of Out of Sight Out of Mind: Why Britain's Prisons Are Failing Nicola Padfield, Emeritus Professor of Criminal and Penal Justice, at the University of Cambridge Catherine Heard, Director of the World Prison Research Programme, Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research, Birkbeck, University of London Presenter: David Aaronovitch Producers: Charlotte McDonald, Kirsteen Knight and Beth Ashmead Latham Sound engineers: Rod Farquhar, Neva Missirian Editor: Richard Vadon Production Co-ordinator: Gemma Ashman

28 min
14 NOV

European defence in the new Trump era

All over Europe and in the corridors of Nato policy makers are discussing the implications for the continent of the Trump victory in the American presidential election. For 70 years the alliance with the USA has been the foundation stone of European defence. During his last term in office, it was reported that Trump wanted to take the US out of Nato. That didn’t happen but he made clear his discontent at the lack of defence spending among member states. Can that alliance can be maintained, if so on what terms and if not, what then? Guests: Heather Conley, a senior advisor to the think tank, the German Marshall Fund's (GMF) board of trustees Elisabeth Braw, who is now at the Atlantic Council’s Transatlantic Security Initiative Shashank Joshi, Defence Editor, of The Economist Presenter: David Aaronovitch Producers: Charlotte McDonald, Kirsteen Knight and Beth Ashmead Latham Sound engineer: Rod Farquhar Editor: Richard Vadon Production Co-ordinator: Gemma Ashman

29 min
7 NOV

What does the Budget mean for the UK’s economy?

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has delivered the first Labour Budget in 14 years. Naturally there was a flurry of instant responses to individual tax measures, but what about the big picture? Well, more than a week has passed, and the dust is settling. We thought it was time to return to a panel of experts who we spoke to in September. Is this really a once in a generation budget? What will it mean for the government’s finances and services? Will it bring much needed growth? And what might the re-election of Donald Trump mean for the British economy? Guests: Paul Johnson, Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies Mehreen Khan, economics editor of The Times Chris Giles, economics commentator at The Financial Times. Presenter: David Aaronovitch Producers: Charlotte McDonald, Diane Richardson and Kirsteen Knight Sound engineer: Rod Farquhar and Neva Missirian Editor: Richard Vadon Production Co-ordinator: Gemma Ashman

29 min
23 SEPT

How do the Lebanon attacks alter the equation in the Middle East?

David Aaronovitch and guests discuss the recent events in Lebanon. Israel has been widely blamed for a series of pager and walkie-talkie attacks targeting members of Hezbollah. Does this mark the invention of a new kind of warfare and what might the wider consequences be for the region? Guests: Shashank Joshi, The Economist's defence editor Professor Lina Khatib, Director of the Middle East Institute at SOAS University of London Ronen Bergman, Israeli investigative journalist for The New York Times Presenter: David Aaronovitch Producers: Natasha Fernandes and Ben Carter Sound engineer: Neil Churchill Editor: Richard Vadon

28 min
12 SEPT

Is Germany in trouble?

David Aaronovitch and guests discuss the challenges facing Germany. Worries over the economy and immigration have seen the far right AfD party gain support in the former east Germany. Guests: Guy Chazan, Berlin bureau chief at the Financial Times Dr Constanze Stelzenmuller, Director of the Center on the United States and Europe at Brookings Institution Marcel Fratzscher, President DIW Berlin - German Institute for Economic Research and Professor at Humboldt University Berlin Thiemo Fetzer, Professor of Economics at Warwick and Bonn Universities Presenter: David Aaronovitch Producers: Caroline Bayley, Kirsteen Knight and Ben Carter Sound engineer: James Beard Editor: Richard Vadon Production Co-ordinator: Gemma Ashman

29 min
5 SEPT

How much trouble is the UK economy in?

Last month the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, warned that "things would get worse before they got better". The Chancellor Rachel Reeves has already said that there's a £22 billion black hole in the government's finances left by the Conservatives. The budget at the end of October, we're told, will be "painful". But just how bad a state is the UK economy really in? And how constrained is the new government by manifesto promises it made not to raise the main taxes on working people? Guests: Paul Johnson, Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies Mehreen Khan, Economics editor at The TImes Chris Giles, Economics Commentator at The Financial TImes Presenter: David Aaronovitch Producers: Ben Carter, Caroline Bayley and Kirsteen Knight Sound engineers: Sarah Hockley and Gareth Jones Editor: Richard Vadon Production Co-ordinator: Gemma Ashman

29 min

See All (325)

David Aaronovitch

Host

4.8

out of 5

19 Ratings

Excellent

21/08/2020

Yonnykins

This is one of my favourite podcasts. Always clear and informative and lots of detail and a good style.
Review

28/10/2019

Rioja (Dublin)

The Briefing Room is an intelligent and thorough review of pressing current issues. The one on the Constitution was brilliant and comprehensive. Sorry to hear you are going to be less frequent. Keep up the good work. Noel
Great!

06/09/2019

gabhann

Love this show for its clarity, quality of information and format. Keep them coming! Gabhann
Proper unpacking.

12/01/2018

Thebeiruttaxi

If the ticker tape fast food style news feed and analysis of mainstream programming (both TV and Radio) isn't filling you up then this is the podcast for you. Proper unpacking of issues and a deep enough dive into the subject to leave you feeling satisfied that you now have a more holistic understanding of the issue. This will help prevent you joining the street corner ravers who flitter over complex events with the authority and absolutism of an opinionated teenager. Proper analysis for grown ups.

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

Creator

BBC Radio 4
Years Active

2016 - 2024
Episodes

325
Rating

Clean
Show Website

The Briefing Room
Provider

BBC Studios Distribution Limited has identified itself as a trader for this podcast and confirmed that this product or service complies with European Union law. Address 1 Television Centre 101 Wood Lane London London W12 7FA United Kingdom Phone Number +44 7590176301 Email greg.styger@bbc.com