The Take

Could Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s third trip to the United States during President Donald Trump's administration mean a ceasefire in Gaza is close at hand? As Netanyahu lands in Washington, DC, for a week of discussions on topics such as Gaza and Iran, what pressures is he facing at home? In this episode: Daniel Levy, President of the US/Middle East Project, former Israeli ne...

When AI data centers come to town, companies promise jobs and opportunity. In one drought-stricken community in Brazil, residents are weighing the choices. How do communities balance the economic boost and environmental cost of hosting water-reliant data centers? In this episode: Laís Martins (‪ @laismartins.com ‬), Investigative Journalist Episode credits: This episode was produced by Marc...

As Israel’s war on Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria continues, we’re coming to you on Sundays with a weekly roundup. This week: Ceasefire negotiations continued between Israel and Hamas as Israel's attacks on Gaza continued. US contractors said live ammunition had been used against Palestinians seeking aid in Gaza. Israel continued attacks in Lebanon, including a drone strike on a car near Bei...

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on September 4, 2024. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed. Never-before-seen footage. A trove of long-forgotten 35mm reels. An archive of the Algerian Independence War. It’s all the work of Yugoslavian Stevan Labudović, the cameraman for Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito....

A year after a deadly crackdown, Kenya’s streets are alive with protests again, this time after a blogger died in police custody and officers shot a demonstrator at close range. As outrage grows, so do calls for accountability. Why does police brutality persist in Kenya, and how do officers continue to evade justice? In this episode: Irũngũ Houghton ( @irunguhoughton ), Executive Director, A...

Are AI chatbots dulling our brains? A new MIT study suggests critical thinking skills are at risk from tools like ChatGPT. What does the science say happens to brains that rely on AI? And how can you use AI tools while protecting your ability to think for yourself? In this episode: Celia Ford ( @cogcelia ), Science Journalist and Neuroscientist Episode credits: This episode was produced by Haleema...

The conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) involving a long history with neighboring Rwanda has created one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world. With a United States-brokered agreement between the DRC and Rwanda to end the war, will there be peace? In this episode: Kambale Musavuli ( @kambale ), Analyst, Center for Research on the Congo-Kinshasa Episode credits: This ep...

The US Supreme Court has reshaped birthright citizenship – and the judiciary itself. US President Donald Trump is claiming victory after last week’s Supreme Court ruling that federal judges cannot issue nationwide injunctions. Has the ruling reshaped the power of the presidency? In this episode: Leon Fresco ( @FrescoLeon ), immigration attorney Episode credits: This episode was produce...

Israel’s bombs have stopped, but grief and fear linger in Iran. As families search the rubble for loved ones, authorities are intensifying crackdowns, branding activists and minorities as Israeli agents. How can Iranians rebuild under tighter repression? In this episode:  Alex Shams ( @alexshams_ ), Editor-in-Chief of Ajam Media Collective  Episode credits: This episode was produce...

As Israel’s war on Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria continues, we’re coming to you on Sundays with a weekly roundup. This week: Iran and Israel reach a ceasefire. Seven Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza. An investigation reveals Israeli soldiers ordered to shoot at aid seekers. It is day 632 of the war in Gaza, where at least 56,412 Palestinians have been killed.  In this episode: Phil Lave...

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on July 31, 2024. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed. As internet connections gradually come back online in Bangladesh after deadly protests sparked a shutdown, we hear what students experienced and why they say the protests are not over. In this episode:  Nazifa Zahnat, st...

Thirty-three years old, socialist, Muslim – and now, the likely Democratic nominee for mayor of New York City. Zohran Mamdani was barely known a few months ago. Today, he may be the most popular political voice of a generation. How did he get here – and could he be here to stay? In this episode: Max Rivlin-Nadler ( @MaxRivlinNadler ), Co-owner and Reporter at Hell Gate NYC Episode cred...

As global attention turned to Israel and Iran, violence against Palestinians continued. In Gaza, people are still being bombed and starved. What does this moment reveal about who gets protected, and who is forgotten? In this episode: Diana Buttu, ( @dianabuttu ), Human rights lawyer and analyst Episode credits: This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolomé, Sonia Bhagat, and Chloe K. Li, wi...

After bombing Iran, US President Donald Trump tried to turn down the temperature in the Middle East with a ceasefire declaration on Truth Social. The all-caps announcement fell flat as both continued striking. How long can a truce hold when each side insists the other broke it first? In this episode: Alex Gatopoulos ( @AlexGatopoulos ), Al Jazeera English Defense Editor Episode credits: This episo...

Israel claims Iran is closer than ever to building a nuclear weapon. But as it targets Iran, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his nation’s attacks will also “liberate” Iranians. In a civilization shaped by millennia of empire and resistance, those words land differently. What does liberation mean to Iranians as the US and Israel call for regime change? In this episode: Hami...

The US has bombed nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz. Meanwhile in Washington, political parties are divided about President Donald Trump’s decision to strike. What could be next in what many fear to be a regional war? In this episode:  Akbar Shahid Ahmed, ( @AkbarSAhmed ), HuffPost Senior Diplomatic Correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by A...

As Israel’s war on Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and Iran continues, we’re coming to you on Sundays with a weekly roundup. This week: US strikes Iran. Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil released. Israel continues to kill Palestinian aid seekers. It is day 625 of the war in Gaza, where at least 55,908 Palestinians have been killed.  In this episode: Tohid Asadi, Al Jazeera Reporter Nour Od...

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on January 30, 2024. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed. Weeks after Boeing came under fire for a near-catastrophic incident aboard one of its planes, Alaska Airlines 1282 was forced to make an emergency landing when part of its wall blew off mid-flight. It’s not the first...

How did MAGA become Trump’s biggest opponent of a US strike on Iran? The Republican base is split over Trump’s rhetoric about getting involved in another foreign war. Conservative stalwarts like Tucker Carlson and Steve Bannon are pushing back. Could a US strike on Iran be a blow against Trump at home? In this episode:  Ali Harb ( @HarbPeace) , Al Jazeera journalist Episode credit...

A 15-year-old pulls the trigger on a presidential candidate in Bogota, and Colombia’s ghost of political violence suddenly feels very present. Is the latest episode of political violence a sign that Colombia's peace process has failed, and can it promise fair elections in 2026? In this episode: Juanita Goebertus Estrada ( @JuanitaGoe ), Human Rights Watch Americas division director Episode c...

US President Donald Trump has deployed hundreds of troops to Los Angeles in response to protests against immigration raids. It’s been widely considered to be an illegal deployment. Meanwhile, hotlines to support service members have been seeing an uptick in complaints and questions. What happens when those in uniform are ordered to confront the very people they swore to protect? In this epis...

After Israel’s strikes on Iranian cities, Iran launches a wave of retaliatory attacks. With mass evacuations under way in Tehran, the government struggles to control the growing panic. What does this mean for Iran’s future, and how is the leadership reshaping the narrative? In this episode: Narges Bajoghli ( nargesbajoghli ), professor of Middle East Studies Episode credits: This episo...

What does it mean to be the “other”? Viet Thanh Nguyen, a South Vietnamese-born American writer links his personal story to US actions abroad and at home, discussing ICE raids, protests, and the war on Gaza, showing how these issues are deeply connected. In this episode: Viet Thanh Nguyen ( @viet.thanh.nguyen.writer) , Author, “To Save and to Destroy: Writing as an Other”&n...

As Israel’s war on Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria continues, we're coming to you on Sundays with a weekly roundup. This week: Israel attacks Iranian nuclear sites and Tehran. Palestinians continue to be attacked and killed at aid sites across Gaza. Five Western countries announce sanctions on two Israeli ministers. It is day 618 of the war on Gaza where at least 55,362 Palestinians have been kille...

After Israel launched strikes in Tehran and other Iranian cities, Iran responded with its own firepower. What is behind this dramatic escalation, and what will it mean for the region and beyond? In this episode: Dorsa Jabbari ( @DorsaJabbari ), Al Jazeera Correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolomé, Amy Walters, and Tamara Khandaker with Catherine Nouhan, Ph...