Podcast
The Take
Hosted by Al Jazeera · EN
The Take is a daily interview-driven international news podcast hosted by award-winning journalist Malika Bilal. Each episode focuses on conversations with journalists and people directly impacted by the news of the day, offering our listeners the context necessary to understand what's in the headlines.
With millions of global listens, it's clear the conversations we're having on The Take are worth hearing. And critics think so too. The show has won the Online Journalism Awards, the Signal Awards, Lovie Awards, and Anthem Awards, among others.
125episodes
Episodes
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What’s behind the forced disappearances in Ecuador?
May 1900:22:33Tap to summarizeEcuadorians say civilians are being abducted off the street as part of the military crackdown on drug cartels. President Daniel Noboa deployed Ecuador’s military to combat gangs after declaring an ‘internal armed conflict’ in 2024. A new film from Al Jazeera's Faultlines hears from the family members of those who have been taken and human rights groups about the growing calls for justice. In this episode: Jeremy Young (@YoungRJeremy), Senior Investigative Producer, Al Jazeera Episode credits: This episode was produced by David Enders and Chloe K. Li with Tuleen Barakat, Marcos Bartolomé and our guest host, Kevin Hirten. It was edited by Tamara Khandaker. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube
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500 activists sailed toward Gaza. This is what happened.
May 1800:23:43Tap to summarizeWhat is it actually like on board a flotilla to Gaza, knowing you'll likely be targeted and imprisoned? Until now, it's a story that's been told mostly in fragments, one vertical video at a time. This is the inside story of what it is like on the Global Sumud Flotilla: the drone attacks, the safety drills, the calls home, and the Palestinians in Gaza waiting to see if civilians can break a siege backed by a superpower. This episode is part of a three-part documentary series, The Flotillas, by The Take and AJ+. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube
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Brief: Ceasefire extension in Lebanon doesn’t stop Israeli bombing. Palestinians mark 78 years since the Nakba
May 1700:06:32Tap to summarizeThis week: 228 days into a ceasefire, Israel has killed at least 870 Palestinians in Gaza. Ceasefire extension in Lebanon doesn’t stop Israeli bombing. Palestinians mark 78 years since the Nakba. Iran to present plan on Strait of Hormuz. Israel has killed more than 72,757 Palestinians in Gaza since October 7th, 2023. In this episode: Zeina Khodr, (@ZeinakhodrAljaz) Al Jazeera Correspondent Tohid Asadi, (@Htohid_._asadi) Al Jazeera Correspondent Tareq Abu Azzoum, (@abuoazzum) Al Jazeera Journalist Nour Odeh, (@nourodeh) Al Jazeera Correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced and mixed by Marthe van der Wolf. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Andrew Greiner and Munera AlDosari is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube
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Another Take: The cruise is over, but coronavirus has crews stranded at sea
May 1600:24:37Tap to summarizeEvery Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on June 1, 2020. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed. When coronavirus hit the cruise industry, many passengers were allowed to disembark and were repatriated to their home countries. But as of mid-May, about 100,000 crew members were still at sea, trying to get home. We speak with Sterling Howell, musician and cruise line entertainer crew member who was able to go home, Krista Thomas, former guest services director for Norwegian Cruises, and with many who are still stuck on board, including Ghoseawon “Albert” Luxmeeparsad, and other Mauritian crew members. For more: If you are struggling with mental health issues, there are suicide crisis lines available in many countries around the world. Here are some of those resources: Open Counseling International Association for Suicide Prevention Global Suicide Hotline Resources – WhatsApp In this episode: Sterling Howell, Cruise Ship Crewmember Krista Thomas, Former Guest Services Director for Norwegian Cruises Dr. Sami, Physician Gan, Cruise Ship Crewmember Episode credits: This episode was updated by Chloe K. Li. The original production team was Amy Walters with Dina Kesbeh, Priyanka Tilve, Ney Alvarez, Alexandra Locke and our host, Malika Bilal. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Adam Abou-Gad and Vienna Maglio. Andrew Greiner is lead of audience engagement. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube
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Hantavirus: how scared should we be?
May 1500:21:32Tap to summarizeThree people have died after a hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship, which provoked global concern and revived memories of COVID-19. Experts stress it is not the same virus, but after the pandemic, trust is fragile. What does this cruise ship outbreak reveal? In this episode: Dylan Scott (@dylanlscott), Senior Correspondent for Vox Episode credits: This episode was produced by Noor Wazwaz and Sarí el-Khalili with Chloe K. Li, Catherine Nouhan, Tuleen Barakat and our guest host, Kevin Hirten. It was edited by Tamara Khandaker. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube
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Iran, Taiwan, and trade: Trump’s high‑stakes return to Beijing
May 1400:22:02Tap to summarizeUS President Donald Trump returns to Beijing after nine years to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping. The trade war, conflict in Iran, and rising fears over Taiwan shape the talks. With global tensions mounting, can the two leaders find common ground, or will rivalry push the world further into crisis? In this episode: Erin Hale (@erinhale), Journalist Episode credits: This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolomé and Sarí el-Khalili with Spencer Cline, Catherine Nouhan, Tuleen Barakat, Alexandra Locke, and our guest host, Kevin Hirten. It was edited by Tamara Khandaker. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube
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How US donor bodies were sold for Israeli military training
May 1300:21:54Tap to summarizeThe University of Southern California has been selling bodies donated for scientific research and education to the U.S. Navy. Some are being used to train Israeli military surgical teams in Los Angeles – all without the donors’ consent. Watch the AJ+ documentary here and read the students' reporting here. In this episode: Dena Takruri (@denatakruri), AJ+ Senior presenter Episode credits: This episode was produced by Chloe K. Li with Spencer Cline, Catherine Nouhan, and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Tamara Khandaker. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhemm. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube
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Is the Pentagon’s UFO dump a political distraction?
May 1200:21:39Tap to summarizeThe US Department of Defense released 162 files on unidentified flying objects (UFOs), following an order from President Donald Trump. The files included documents from the FBI, NASA, and the US State Department. As conspiracy theories soar all over the internet, what’s really in the files, and how significant is the release? In this episode: Anthony Lappe (@anthonylappe), Television producer and investigative reporter Episode credits: This episode was produced by David Enders and Chloe K. Li with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Tuleen Barakat, Catherine Nouhan and our guest host, Kevin Hirten. It was edited by Tamara Khandaker. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube
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Inside US Democrats' Gaza fight - and what it means for 2028 elections
May 1100:24:13Tap to summarizeAs Kamala Harris weighs another run in 2028, the Democratic Party faces a split over Israel policy. A new report suggests it may have cost votes in 2024. With a base that has shifted dramatically, can the party keep up with what its voters now expect? In this episode: Omar Baddar (@OmarBaddar), Political Analyst Episode credits: This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolomé, Sonia Bhagat, Chloe K. Li, David Enders and Tuleen Barakat, with Spencer Cline, and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Tamara Khandaker and Noor Wazwaz. The Take production team is Marcos Bartolomé, Sonia Bhagat, Spencer Cline, Sarí el-Khalili, Tamara Khandaker, Chloe K. Li, Alexandra Locke, Catherine Nouhan, Alex Roldan, and Noor Wazwaz. Our host is Malika Bilal. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhemm. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube
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Brief: Israel continues to strike Gaza. Israeli attacks across Lebanon despite ceasefire
May 1000:07:40Tap to summarizeThis week, 221 days into a ceasefire, Israel has killed at least 850 Palestinians in Gaza. Israel continues to strike Gaza. Israeli attacks across Lebanon despite ceasefire. Iran reviewing US proposal to end the war In this episode: Zeina Khdor, (@ZeinakhodrAljaz), Al Jazeera Correspondent Hind Khadoury, ((@Hind_Gaza), Al Jazeera Correspondent Tareq Abu Azzoum, (@abuoazzum) Al Jazeera Correspondent Tohid Asadi, (@tohid_._asadi), Al Jazeera Correspondent Rory Challands, (@rorychallands), Al Jazeera Correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced and mixed by Marthe van der Wolf. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Andrew Greiner and Munera AlDosari is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube
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