The Take

Israel’s war on Gaza has turbocharged its already booming military-tech industry, with weapons and surveillance systems tested on Palestinians continuing to be sold around the world. Israel’s role as a global arms innovator has only deepened since October 7, 2023, and some governments and corporations are profiting. In this episode: Antony Loewenstein ( @antloewenstein ), author, The P...

Elon Musk may have resigned from the Department of Government Efficiency, but few believe he’s stepping away from power. In under a year, DOGE brought Silicon Valley-style disruption to Washington, consolidating federal data and dismantling oversight. Now, Musk is expected to channel what he gained into a private AI venture – with public systems still in reach. In this episode: Matt Bi...

As Israel’s war on Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria continues, we're coming to you on Sundays with a weekly roundup. This week:  Israel continued to attack Palestinians seeking aid. Hamas responded to a US ceasefire proposal. The Israeli government approved new settlements in the Occupied West Bank. It is day 604 of the war in Gaza, where more than 54,381 Palestinians have been killed. In this episo...

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on September 25, 2024. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed. The world's largest diaspora of international adoptees comes from South Korea. Among them are mixed-race children who were forcibly sent for adoption due to the country's racist laws. One Black adoptee's search for a hom...

Will Poland’s next president be a former football hooligan or a Mr Bonjour? With citizens heading to the polls for the second round of voting this weekend, Poland will decide between Karol Nawrocki, the candidate backed by US President Donald Trump, and Warsaw's mayor, the pro-European Union Rafal Trzaskowski. The divided country on Russia’s border has a major decision ahead In this ep...

In 2017, the US dropped the “mother of all bombs” in a remote village in Afghanistan’s Achin district. Al Jazeera made the journey to see what’s left: homes destroyed, health problems mounting, and no accountability in sight. In this episode: Osama Bin Javaid ( @osamabinjavaid ), Al Jazeera Correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Sarí el-Khalili,...

Tren de Aragua was a little-known gang in Venezuela – until recently. US President Donald Trump’s focus on the group has thrust it into the spotlight, as hundreds of Venezuelans have been deported from the United States. In this episode: Mike LaSusa ( @mikelasusa ), deputy director of content, InSight Crime Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters and Ashish Malhotra,...

The United States and Israel are backing a new aid initiative in Gaza that critics say sidelines the United Nations and violates humanitarian principles. With biometrics and military ties, is it really about help or control? In this episode: Ali Harb ( @Harbpeace ), Al Jazeera Senior Producer Episode credits: This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan and Chloe K. Li, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer C...

The Trump administration’s crackdowns on pro-Palestinian activism look eerily similar to a conservative proposal to target universities and international students it claims are part of a “terrorist support network”.  Who is behind the plan, and what will its impact be? In this episode: Tariq Kenney-Shawa ( @tksshawa ), AJ+ producer and US policy fellow, Al-Shabaka&...

As Israel’s war on Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria continues, we're coming to you on Sundays with a weekly roundup. This week: Israel killed nine of a Palestinian doctor's 10 children. Israel attacked Palestinian police attempting to secure aid distribution. Israeli soldiers shot at diplomats in the occupied West Bank. It is day 597 of the war in Gaza, where more than 53,901 Palestinians have been...

Protesters across the United States defy curfews and risk arrest to protest against police brutality. The US has seen demonstrations like this before, but this feels different. To understand why, we speak with Hanif Abdurraqib, a cultural critic and editor at GEN magazine. We also speak with Madiha Nawaz, a graduate student and Washington, DC resident who unexpectedly faced the police at her doors...

Josh Paul, the first US official to resign over Israel's war on Gaza, joins The Take to explain why he stepped down, his new efforts lobbying in Washington, and why he believes that US support for Israel’s war fuels conflict abroad and makes Americans less safe at home. In this episode: Josh Paul, Former US State Department official Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhot...

The world was shocked when a gunman shot and killed Mexican influencer Valeria Marquez while she livestreamed herself at a beauty salon. President Claudia Sheinbaum’s government says it will investigate the murder as a possible case of femicide. Will it mark a turning point for a nation that has long struggled with staggering levels of gender-based violence? In this episode: Julia Galiano-Ri...

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is facing one of the deepest crises in its history. United States President Donald Trump sanctioned lead prosecutor Karim Khan earlier this year, grinding the court’s work to a crawl. Khan is now on leave as he faces a sexual misconduct investigation. How is the court functioning in his absence, and what does it mean for the future of international acco...

The administration of US President Donald Trump has granted refugee status to 49 white Afrikaners, echoing a debunked conspiracy theory about “white genocide” in South Africa. The move comes after Trump cut aid to the nation and threatened to boycott meetings with its government. What’s behind Trump’s fixation on South Africa? In this episode: Joseph Dana ( @ibnEzra ), writ...

What would the end of US sanctions mean for Syria? The handshake between US President Donald Trump and interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa was a dramatic shift, signaling the end of 46 years of US sanctions against Syria. Now, the door is opening to more investment and international aid, and Syrians poured into the streets in celebration. How did the deal come together, and what might it mean...

As Israel’s war on Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria continues, we're coming to you on Sundays with a weekly roundup. This week: Israel began a new military operation in Gaza, killing more than 300 Palestinians since Thursday. Earlier in the week, Israel bombed two hospitals, killing a journalist it had previously wounded. It is day 590 of the war in Gaza, where more than 53,272 Palestinians have bee...

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on May 10, 2024. None of the dates, titles, or other references have changed. Usually all quirky music and fun, Eurovision has been marked by protests over Israel’s participation during its ongoing war on Gaza. Will it overshadow an event meant to unite? In this episode: Nils Adler ( @nilsadler1 ), Al Jazeera Journal...

A hundred years after the birth of Malcolm X, and in the shadow of a second Trump presidency, Ibram X. Kendi – author of the international bestseller How to Be an Antiracist – returns to the meaning of Malcolm’s legacy in his newest book. What does it reveal about where the US is now, and what still needs to be said about race in America? In this episode: Ibram X Kendi ( @ibramxk...

Gaza is starving. As Palestinians mark 77 years since the Nakba, families are still under bombardment, cut off from aid and struggling to survive. With US President Donald Trump touring the Gulf, what will it take to bring relief to Palestinians? In this episode: Youmna ElSayed ( @YoumnaElSayed17 ), Al Jazeera correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Sarí el-Khalili, Soni...

Recently elected Pope Leo XIV is the first pontiff from the United States, just as the country's president is shaking up the global order. With both the US and the Catholic Church deeply divided, what does Pope Leo’s selection mean for Catholics in the US and worldwide? In this episode: Hoda Abdel-Hamid ( @hodaaje ), Al Jazeera correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy...

United Nations agencies are facing an unprecedented financial crisis, with the United States abruptly pulling aid, European contributions shrinking, and global budgets shifting to defence. Deep cuts, mass layoffs and sweeping reforms are under way, jeopardising food, shelter and other aid for millions around the world. How can the UN adapt to survive? In this episode: Gabriel Elizondo ( @elizondog...

Feeling lonely? You’re not the only one, and it’s not just in your head. The World Health Organization has called loneliness a global health threat, linked to serious physical and mental harm. But researchers say connection is a skill we can relearn, and rebuilding it might just save our lives. This episode originally aired on December 13, 2023. All dates, titles, and references reflec...

As Israel’s war on Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria continues, we're coming to you on Sundays with a weekly roundup. This week: Israel approved a new plan for displacing Palestinians in Gaza. A Turkish student arrested in the US for her views on Gaza was released. Talks between the US and Iran were scheduled to resume. It is day 583 of the war. More than 53,253 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed....

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on October 25, 2024. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed. The sex trafficking trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs is under way in New York. The music mogul courted controversy since the 1990s and now faces allegations of trafficking and coercing women into drug-fueled sexual...