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.
A new AI rival from China is shaking up Silicon Valley. DeepSeek matches ChatGPT’s power but was built faster and for a fraction of the cost. How did they do it, and what comes next?
In this episode:
Episode credits:
This episode was produced by Sarí el-Khalili, Sonia Bhagat, and Amy Walters, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Melanie Marich, Hagir Saleh, Hanah Shokeir, and our guest host, Kevin Hirten. It was edited by Noor Wazwaz.
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. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.
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Bodies are lining the streets of Goma, and hospitals are overwhelmed after an escalation in the long-simmering conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The Rwandan-backed M23 group claims it took control of the city, and the DRC has called it a declaration of war by Rwanda. But why is Rwanda involved and what are its interests?
In this episode:
Episode credits:
This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra, Sonia Bhagat, and Chloe K. Li with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Hagir Saleh, Hanah Shokeir, Melanie Marich, Noor Wazwaz and our guest host, Kevin Hirten.
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. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.
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@AJEPodcasts on Instagram, X, Facebook, Threads and YouTube
Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro is facing a critical moment. Violence near the Venezuelan border, a state of emergency, and US deportation flights have tested his leadership. Can Petro hold onto power and regain the trust of a divided nation?
In this episode:
Episode credits:
This episode was produced by Amy Walters, Sonia Bhagat, and Sarí el-Khalili with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Hagir Saleh, Melanie Marich, and Hanah Shokeir, and our host, Kevin Hirten. It was edited by Noor Wazwaz.
Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editor is Hisham Abu Salah. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.
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@AJEPodcasts on Instagram, X, Facebook, Threads and YouTube
After a long-awaited ceasefire, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians return to find their homes in ruins. As they face the overwhelming task of rebuilding their lives, what happens next?
In this episode:
Episode credits:
This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan and Ashish Malhotra with Sonia Bhagat, Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Hagir Saleh, Melanie Marich, Hanah Shokeir, and me, Kevin Hirten. It was edited by Noor Wazwaz.
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. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.
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‘Drill, baby, drill’ is the new refrain of President Donald Trump’s second term. As Trump pulls out of the Paris Accords – again – The Take speaks with activist Tori Tsui on getting back into the fight and managing climate anxiety.
In this episode:
Episode credits:
This episode was produced by Tamara Khandaker, Sonia Bhagat, and Chloe K. Li, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Hagir Saleh, Melanie Marich, Amy Walters, Hanah Shokeir, and our host, Kevin Hirten, in for Malika Bilal. It was edited by Noor Wazwaz.
The Take production team is Marcos Bartolomé, Sonia Bhagat, Sarí el-Khalili, Tamara Khandaker, Phillip Lanos, Chloe K. Li, Ashish Malhotra, Khaled Soltan, and Amy Walters. Our editorial interns are Melanie Marich, Hagir Saleh and Hanah Shokeir. Our guest host is Kevin Hirten. Our engagement producers are Adam Abou-Gad and Vienna Maglio. Aya Elmileik is lead of audience engagement.
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. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.
Correction Jan. 27, 2025: A statement indicated that the Israeli military emitted more carbon through bombing Gaza in the first two months of 2023 than 33 countries combined. That figure is incorrect. Emissions exceeded those of more than 20 countries.
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We are coming to you on Sundays with weekly roundups as Israel's war in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria continues. A second exchange of captives and prisoners took place between Hamas and Israel. Israeli troops opened fire on Palestinians in Gaza. Israel said it would delay its scheduled withdrawal from south Lebanon. It is day 478 of the war in Gaza, where more than 47,107 Palestinians have been killed.
In this episode:
This episode was produced and mixed by David Enders. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.
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Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on August 11, 2021. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed.
One year after a contested election and many protests, the movement to free Belarus from President Alexander Lukashenko has boiled over into neighboring states. This also means Belarusians around the world might fear the long arm of Lukashenko’s rule. Olympic sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya was quick to escape, but others faced a tragic end. What is happening in Belarus and how much power does Lukashenko hold beyond its borders?
In this episode:
Episode credits:
This episode was updated by Sarí el-Khalili. The original production team was Amy Walters, Dina Kesbeh, Alexandra Locke, Negin Owleie, Priyanka Tilve, Ney Alvarez, Tom Fenton, and our host, Malika Bilal.
Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Adam Abou-Gad and Vienna Maglio. Aya Elmileik is lead of audience engagement. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.
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There is no ceasefire in the occupied West Bank. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the start of a “large-scale military operation” in Jenin targeting a hospital and refugee camp. Meanwhile, a new US administration has endorsed Israel’s “biblical dominion” and lifted sanctions on settlers. What does this new escalation mean for Palestinians, and what might come next?
In this episode:
Episode credits:
This episode was produced by Sarí el-Khalili, Sonia Bhagat, and Amy Walters with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Khaled Soltan, Marcos Bartolome, Melanie Marich, Hagir Saleh, Hanah Shokeir, and our host, Kevin Hirten. It was edited by Noor Wazwaz.
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. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.
Connect with us:
@AJEPodcasts on Instagram, X, Facebook, Threads and YouTube
Mass deportations, trade threats and revived border policies. Trump’s return puts Mexico on edge. How are these plans being felt on the ground, and what’s being done to prepare?
In this episode:
Episode credits:
This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolomé, Sonia Bhagat, Khaled Soltan and Tamara Khandaker with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Hagir Saleh, Melanie Marich, Hanah Shokeir, and our guest host, Kevin Hirten. It was edited by Noor Wazwaz.
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. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.
Connect with us:
@AJEPodcasts on Instagram, X, Facebook, Threads and YouTube
Expansions of illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank are proceeding at a record pace, and in the US town of Teaneck, New Jersey, some residents are organizing to fight real estate sales to American Jews. It’s set off accusations of anti-Semitism and ratcheted up tension in the small community. What’s next for Teaneck?
In this episode:
Episode credits:
This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolomé, Duha Mossad, Hagir Saleh, Cole van Miltenburg and our host, Kevin Hirten. It was edited by Sarí El-Khalili.
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. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.
Connect with us:
@AJEPodcasts on Instagram, X, Facebook, Threads and YouTube
From declaring an emergency on the US-Mexico border to announcing that the US will retake the Panama Canal, Donald Trump introduced several bold proposals in his inaugural address. Now, as he enters his second term, what might the Trump world order look like?
In this episode:
Trita Parsi (@tparsi), Executive Vice President, The Quincy Institute
Episode credits:
This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra, Sonia Bhagat, Amy Walters, Chloe K. Li and Khaled Soltan with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Hagir Saleh, Melanie Marich, Hanah Shokeir and our host Kevin Hirten. It was edited by Noor Wazwaz.
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. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.
Connect with us:
@AJEPodcasts on Instagram, X, Facebook, Threads and YouTube
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