The Take

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on February 8, 2023. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed. There’s been no accountability in the massive Beirut port explosion for five years. But a new hope suddenly emerged for families of the victims, when Judge Tarek Bitar reopened his dormant investigation into the blas...

Tel Aviv nightlife and the Burger King order of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were among the talking points of a viral podcast interview with the Nelk Boys. Influencer-driven podcasts are seeing a broader trend of interest in friendly interviews from world leaders and politicians, from Donald Trump to Kamala Harris. What happens when the powerful speak to massive new audiences without...

US President Donald Trump says AI is too “woke.” His executive order targets what he sees as liberal ideology in artificial intelligence tools in federal tech. But what biases already exist in AI tools like chatbots, and can the technology ever truly be neutral? In this episode: Alejandra Montoya-Boyer ( @alejandramontyb ), Senior Director, Center for Civil Rights and Technology Episod...

She was accused of having an affair. Then shot dead on camera, allegedly under orders from a tribal council in Balochistan. But only after the video of the killing went viral did authorities in Pakistan arrest suspects. What does the killing of Bano Bibi and Ehsan Ullah reveal about what it takes for victims to get justice? In this episode: Sadia Baloch ( @balochsadia2 ), Human Rights Defender Epi...

Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to a ceasefire after clashes along their disputed border, home to centuries-old temples and decades-old tensions. The conflict is tied to political dynasties, shifting alliances, and the growing influence of China. Can this ceasefire hold? In this episode: Tony Cheng ( @TLCBkk ), Al Jazeera Correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolo...

A choice between starvation or being shot at. That’s the decision many Palestinians in Gaza have been forced to make. More than 900 people have been killed at the GHF's aid distribution sites. Why is this happening, and what is being done to make it stop? In this episode: Diana Buttu ( @dianabuttu ), Human Rights Lawyer and Analyst Episode credits: This episode was produced by Tracie Hunte,...

This week, airdrops of aid are once more injuring Palestinians in Gaza. Israel intercepted the Handala. It is day 660 of the war in Gaza, where at least 59,733 Palestinians have been killed.  In this episode: Hani Mahmoud, Al Jazeera Correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced and mixed by David Enders. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engag...

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on July 23, 2024. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed. School’s out in Bangladesh, and students are up in arms against government job quotas. In response, there’s been a deadly crackdown in which authorities shut down all public universities and cut mobile phone servi...

DNA may be the new front line of immigration control. The US government has collected the DNA of more than 130,000 migrant children and teenagers, some as young as four, and stored their profiles in CODIS, the FBI’s criminal database. Officials say it’s about public safety. But privacy advocates say it turns civil immigration cases into permanent criminal surveillance. In this episode:...

US television network CBS seemingly handed President Donald Trump two major victories this week after announcing $16 million would settle his lawsuit against “60 Minutes” and cancelling the show of one of his fiercest critics, Stephen Colbert. But will this mark a turning point for media freedom in the US?  In this episode: Rusty Foster ( @TodayinTabs ), Writer, Today in Tabs Epis...

Sayfollah Musallet, a US citizen, was killed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank on July 11 — days before his 21st birthday. His death is one of nearly 1,000 killings involving settlers this year, and his American citizenship has helped draw rare calls for a US investigation. Could this case shift how Washington responds to West Bank settler violence? In this episode: Hesam Musalle...

Mexico City has seen an influx of foreign renters, including those calling themselves digital nomads. This has led to increasing housing prices, displacement of residents, changes to the city’s culture – and growing protests. How is Mexico City’s fight mirroring a global crisis of gentrification? In this episode: Adrián Acevedo Mansour ( @acevedomansour ), Mexico City Urba...

As President Trump cracks down in the fields on immigration, and an ICE raid in California left one farmworker dead, US Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins says there will be no amnesty for the undocumented. But who will replace those agriculture workers? “Able bodied” Medicaid recipients, according to Rollins. The experiment was tried before. It didn't work. In this episode: Manuel C...

This week, Syria's government has declared a ceasefire in southern Syria. Israel bombed Syria and Lebanon. Students in Gaza struggle to complete exams. It is day 653 of the war in Gaza, where at least 58,765 Palestinians have been killed.  In this episode: Mohammed Vall, ( @Md_Vall ) Al Jazeera Correspondent Nour Odeh, ( @nour_odeh ) Al Jazeera  Correspondent Tareq Abu Azzoum, ( @TareqAz...

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on June 13, 2024. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed. It's still spring in parts of the Northern Hemisphere, but the world faces scorching hot temperatures. Summer heat has arrived early, setting records, claiming lives, and expected to get worse. Who's responsible and what shou...

Taiwan’s annual war games simulating a real Chinese invasion are bigger than ever. As China continues to ramp up military pressure on the island, what does it feel like to live in a place rehearsing for invasion? In this episode: William Yang ( @WilliamYang120 ), Senior Analyst, International Crisis Group Episode credits: This episode was produced by Tamara Khandaker, Noor Wazwaz, and Amy Wa...

Canary Mission, an anonymous pro-Israel group and website, has been blacklisting pro-Palestinian students, professors and activists for more than 10 years. Now, the Trump administration has revealed that it has been using the list to target academics for deportation. What is the impact? In this episode: Darryl Li ( @dcli ), Professor of Anthropology and Social Sciences, University of Chicago Episo...

Israel has targeted Syrian government forces in a wave of deadly airstrikes, at the same time as violence has gripped the southern province of Suwayda. In the spotlight is Syria’s Druze minority, also present in Israel. What does the fighting spell for Syria’s future? In this episode: Osama Bin Javaid ( @osamabinjavaid ), Al Jazeera correspondent Episode credits: This episode was...

A third of greenhouse gas emissions come from the food industry, largely from meat, dairy and eggs. The international Plant Based Treaty aims to combat this by advocating for a vegan diet as a key solution to climate change. Backed by cities, universities, Nobel laureates and thousands of individuals, it seeks to align global efforts with the Paris Agreement. This is a story from the archives. Thi...

Afghans who fled decades ago are now being forced back to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan as Iran, Pakistan, or the US turn their backs on them. With refugees who were once promised safety now being deported into crisis, why are these countries choosing to abandon them, and what does this reveal about the state of asylum worldwide? In this episode: Obaidullah Baheer ( @ObaidullaBaheer ), Adjunct Lecture...

As Israel’s war on Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria continues, we’re coming to you on Sundays with a weekly roundup. This week: Israeli settlers killed a Palestinian American in the occupied West Bank. Israeli soldiers continued shooting Palestinians in Gaza as they tried to obtain basic supplies. It is day 646 of the war in Gaza, where at least 57,882 Palestinians have been killed.  In t...

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on March 12, 2024. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed. Mexico City’s residents are approaching a “day zero” where the government will no longer be able to provide them water. A city that was once built on water is now nearly dried up. How did this happen and wh...

US President Donald Trump is threatening to strip away citizenship from some naturalized citizens, including billionaire Elon Musk and New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. In a country where more than 25 million people are naturalized citizens, who is really at risk? In this episode: Heba Gowayed ( @hebagowayed ), professor of sociology, CUNY Hunter College and Graduate Center Episode credit...

The UK has outlawed Palestine Action, grouping it with ISIL and al-Qaeda. Supporters of the group now risk up to 14 years in prison, and arrests of protesters opposed to the listing have already begun. What does the decision reveal about the UK’s approach to protest and civil disobedience, and how might it reshape the wider Palestine solidarity movement? In this episode: Hil Aked, ( @hil_ake...

Coral reefs are dying at a record speed, putting a backbone of global food chains at critical risk. More than 80 percent of coral reefs are now hit by mass bleaching. Reefs feed millions, protect coasts and shape economies. What happens when they vanish – and is the world doing enough to stop it? In this episode: Heather Starck ( @HeatherStarck ), Executive Director, Coral Reef Alliance&nbsp...