The Briefing RoomEpisodes Episode guide
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16/04/2026
David Aaronovitch presents in-depth explainers on big issues in the news.
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09/04/2026
David Aaronovitch presents in-depth explainers on big issues in the news.
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02/04/2026
Combining original insights into major news stories with topical investigations.
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Why is youth unemployment in the UK so high?
What are the reasons for the large number of young people without a job in the UK?
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What's the current state of the UK's armed forces?
How ready to fight are the UK's armed forces?
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Why does the war with Iran threaten the global economy?
Oil and gas shipments from the Gulf have slowed dramatically - what are the repercussions?
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Why did the US and Israel launch a war with Iran, and what comes next?
What will happen to the Iranian regime now?
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Four years of war in Ukraine - when will it end?
Who is winning the war in Ukraine?
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Should the Government ban social media for young people?
What evidence is there that social media is harming young people?
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Iran - how vulnerable is the regime?
What will happen next in Iran?
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Venezuela – what now?
The Briefing Room asks what’s next for Venezuela?
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Should we worry about America’s security strategy?
What does the new US National Security Strategy mean for Europe and the rest of the world?
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Why are early career doctors angry?
Why is there a shortage of training posts for resident doctors?
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Are the old robbing the young?
Are we seeing inter-generational economic injustice?
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What's happening with the Ukraine peace plan?
Is there a viable peace plan for Ukraine on the table?
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What can the UK learn from the rest of Europe about asylum reform?
Is Denmark the right model for the UK's asylum policy?
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Why does the UK have a problem with productivity?
What are the consequences of the UK's low productivity growth?
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What's happening in Venezuela?
Why is there a military build-up off the coast of Venezuela?
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How should we handle historic public inquiries?
Are public inquiries working?
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Is there a crash coming?
Could an AI bubble or so-called ‘shadow banking’ threaten the global economy?
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Is the UK in a data crisis?
What’s gone wrong at the Office for National Statistics?
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Will the Gaza peace plan work?
What is the plan? And why is it happening now?
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Should the government worry about debt?
Should the UK and other countries worry about rising levels of government debt?
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Why don't we have ID cards in the UK?
David Aaronovitch and guests discuss identity cards.
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How close is the UK getting to the European Union?
Is Labour's promise of 'an improved and ambitious relationship' with Europe coming true?
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Is the tide turning in the Ukraine war?
What does a change in the Trump-Putin relationship mean for the war in Ukraine?
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The Trump hokey cokey is back - what happens to world trade now?
As President Trump raises tariffs again, what does this mean for world trade?
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Why is there a row about disability benefits?
David Aaronovitch and guests discuss why the benefits bill for disability has ballooned.
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Iran: What happens next?
David Aaronovitch and guests consider the implications of the Israel Iran conflict.
