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
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Middle East Youthquake
Thu 12 Dec 2019
Protests have swept through Iran, Iraq and Lebanon - what lies behind the unrest?
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Malta: Shady People in a Sunny Place
Thu 5 Dec 2019
Why has the premier of the EU's smallest state, and a former British colony, resigned?
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General Election Promises: Tax and Spend?
Thu 28 Nov 2019
Who are the people who are going to pay for the politicians' promises?
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Brexit: a pivotal week?
Thu 24 Oct 2019
Where have this week's events in Westminster left the UK's efforts to leave the EU?
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Turkey, Syria and the Kurds
Thu 17 Oct 2019
How the US withdrawal from northern Syria could reshape the political map of the region.
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Climate change and meat: what's the beef?
Thu 10 Oct 2019
What difference would it make to climate change if we reduce meat consumption?
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Britain’s constitutional dilemma: who now runs the country?
Thu 26 Sep 2019
Does the constitution need an overhaul - and is it time to have a written constitution?
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What are the Risks of Vaping?
Thu 19 Sep 2019
Recent deaths in the USA have been linked to e-cigarette use, leading to calls for a ban.
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The United Kingdom, Brexit and its History
Thu 5 Sep 2019
Can history help us make better sense of the political turmoil we are living through?
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Has Narendra Modi changed India?
Thu 23 May 2019
How has Narendra Modi changed India economically, politically and as a global power?
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Could the United States and Iran go to war?
Thu 16 May 2019
As tensions rise between Iran and the United States, is there a danger of armed conflict?
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Should vaccinations be compulsory?
Thu 9 May 2019
With measles infections on the rise in the UK, should vaccinations be made compulsory?
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Does the UK have an opioid problem?
Thu 2 May 2019
Opioid prescriptions have rocketed in the UK in recent years - how worried should we be?
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What drives religious intolerance?
Thu 25 Apr 2019
Is religious intolerance on the rise, and if so, what's behind it?
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What's in the Mueller report?
Thu 18 Apr 2019
What's in the Mueller report - and what are the implications for US politics?
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What Next For Europe?
Thu 11 Apr 2019
As Britain prepares for departure, what does the future hold for the rest of the EU?
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How divided are we?
Thu 4 Apr 2019
How has Brexit divided Britain, and what might unify the country?
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Should we worry about Huawei?
Thu 21 Feb 2019
Does Chinese telecoms giant Huawei present a threat to national security?
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Should we scrap GCSEs?
Thu 14 Feb 2019
A senior Tory MP says GCSEs are pointless and they should be abolished. Is he right?
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Britain's car-making future under threat
Thu 7 Feb 2019
Is car-making in the UK doomed? David Aaronovitch gets a briefing from industry experts.
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Why are so many people sleeping rough in Britain?
Thu 31 Jan 2019
Why are so many people sleeping rough in Britain, and what can be done about it?
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Brexit and Ireland: What's at stake?
Thu 24 Jan 2019
How might Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic be affected by Britain leaving the EU?
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Is Britain’s political system broken?
Thu 17 Jan 2019
Brexit has stretched the parliamentary system to its limits - is it irretrievably broken?
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Universal Credit: What's gone wrong and can it be fixed?
Thu 10 Jan 2019
How did universal credit come about, and why has its roll-out been delayed?
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Climate Change: is time running out?
Thu 20 Dec 2018
After the Katowice summit where does the world now stand on climate change?
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Brexit: Where Next?
Thu 13 Dec 2018
Theresa May has been back in Brussels to meet EU leaders. What's the future of Brexit now?
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Les Gilets Jaunes
Thu 6 Dec 2018
As Paris braces for another weekend of demonstrations, we ask what's going on in France.
