The Take

Approximately 1,500 former banana workers in Costa Rica say a US-made pesticide has left them sterile. Though banned in the United States in the 1970s, the chemical DBCP was still used by US fruit companies in countries with lax regulations. Decades later, those affected are still fighting for justice. In this episode: Yara Elmjouie ( @yelmjouie ),  AJ+ presenter Episode credits: This episode...

Iran and the United States are holding indirect nuclear talks, mediated by Oman, with the next round set for Saturday. Both sides report progress, but major gaps remain. Iran seeks sanctions relief and civilian uranium enrichment, while the US insists on stricter limits. Could this be the moment the long-stalled negotiations finally produce a breakthrough? In this episode: Dorsa Jabbari ( @DorsaJa...

Pope Francis, the first Latin American and Jesuit pontiff, has died at age 88. His papacy broke barriers and redefined the Catholic Church’s global image — but also left tough questions unanswered. We look back on his legacy, the controversies that followed him, and what comes next for the church. In this episode: Virginia Pietromarchi ( @vpietromarchi ), Al Jazeera journalist  Ep...

The United States military is ramping up its presence in Japan, Guam and Hawaii as tensions with China grow over Taiwan. A new documentary reveals how this buildup is affecting local communities. In a region that is also a staging ground for potential conflict, how are some residents pushing back? In this episode: Dan Ming ( @DanMing ), Evident Media correspondent Episode credits: This episode was...

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 bomb Palestinians in Gaza  sheltering in tents. The US and Iran met again to negotiate. A picture of a Palestinian amputee won a major award. It is day 562 of the war in Gaza, where more than 51,065 Palestinians have been killed. In this episode: Hi...

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on March 29, 2024. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed. Easter holds special meaning for Christian Palestinians. For Good Friday, we speak to a Palestinian pastor raised in Bethlehem who underlines the parallels between the Israeli oppression of his people and the crucifixion of...

What happens when the US ignores its own courts? Kilmar Abrego Garcia was deported despite a judge’s order and imprisoned in El Salvador in one of the most notorious prisons in the world. The case reveals how gang allegations – often baseless – are still being used to deport immigrants. We unpack the decisions making it possible to turn Abrego Garcia’s life upside down. In...

As Israel continues its assault on Gaza and military raids in the occupied West Bank, thousands of Palestinians - including children - remain in Israeli prisons, many without charge. It’s not a new phenomenon, with more than 800,000 Palestinians detained by Israel since the occupation began in 1967. On the 51st Palestinian Prisoners’ Day, we speak to a former prisoner about his experie...

From scientists to students, travellers to the US are being stopped, searched and sometimes sent home for what is on their phones. What is the new reality at US borders under President Donald Trump – and how should you navigate it? In this episode: Albert Mokhiber ( @albertmokhiber ), lawyer Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters, Sonia Bhagat, and Tamara Kandakhar with Ph...

Sudan’s civil war has entered its third year. The Sudanese military has retaken the capital, Khartoum, but fighting is escalating in Darfur, where the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group is attacking the country’s largest camp for displaced people. As the humanitarian crisis deepens, is there any hope for peace? In this episode: Hiba Morgan ( @hiba_morgan ), Al Jazeera corresponden...

Betar US claims responsibility for giving names of pro-Palestinian activists, including Mahmoud Khalil, to the Trump administration. We examine Betar’s roots, reach, and the institutions that surround it. Who’s backing this group, and why are students its latest target? In this episode: Jonah Valdez ( @jonahmv ), reporter, The Intercept Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy...

As Israel’s war on Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria continues, we're coming to you on Sundays with a weekly roundup. This week: Video emerged showing Israel killing Palestinian medics, contradicting official Israeli claims about what happened to them.  Americans protested at the White House. It is day 555 of the war there, where more than 50,912 Palestinians have been killed. In this episode: H...

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on April 11, 2024. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed. Interest in tax resistance is spiking in the US, ahead of the April 15 deadline when most Americans’ tax bills will come due. How many of them know where those tax dollars go, and how much of those taxes fund wars arou...

Many of the images that have been seen from Israel’s war in Gaza have already been seen for the last time. With Gaza under siege from the Israeli military and tech companies censoring and taking down material, the responsibility falls on the people of Gaza to document and archive their own evidence of war crimes and genocide. How will it survive? In this episode: Lila Hassan ( @lilahass ), I...

Ecuador heads to the polls gripped by spiraling violence and political uncertainty. Once one of South America’s safest nations, it now has the highest homicide rate in the region. The presidential run-off pits Daniel Noboa, the incumbent who’s militarised the streets, against Luisa Gonzalez, a left-winger promising social reform. Both offer starkly different futures. Which will voters...

Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine has not halted the surrogacy boom there. Instead, the industry has adapted, despite the war risking surrogate mothers’ physical and mental wellbeing. Why is Ukraine the main surrogacy hub in Europe – and at what cost? In this episode: Patricia Simón ( @patriciasimonn ),   journalist, La Marea Episode credits: This episode was produced by...

Spain’s housing crisis has driven hundreds of thousands to the streets, demanding affordable housing. Over the past decade, home prices have increased by almost 50 percent. Rents are soaring, and not enough properties are available for rent. It’s a story that’s echoing in many cities across the world. What will Spain do next? In this episode: Jaime Palomera (@ JaimePalomera ), co...

United States President Donald Trump has initiated sweeping tariffs against even some of his country’s closest allies. It has caused alarm from analysts, consumers and trading partners. But who will be the biggest loser of Trump’s trade war? In this episode:  Vina Nadjibulla ( @VinaNadjibulla ),  Vice President of Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada Episode credits: This episode was...

As Israel’s war on Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria continues, we're coming to you on Sundays with a weekly roundup. This week: Video emerged showing Israel killing Palestinian medics, contradicting official Israeli claims about what happened to them.  Americans protested at the White House. It is day 548 of the war there, where more than 50,669 Palestinians have been killed. In this episode: M...

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on March 29, 2021. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed. When France's President Emmanuel Macron announced a controversial bill on “Islamist separatism” in 2020, members of the country’s Muslim population worried about what would happen next. As France's politici...

Afghan women’s rights activists are facing deportation from Pakistan, along with hundreds of thousands of Afghans living there. The activists risk imprisonment or death if they return to life under the Taliban in Afghanistan. Afghans have sought refuge in Pakistan for years, but the government says they cannot remain there indefinitely. As international resettlement programs shut down and Pa...

With academics leaving the US, funding cuts looming over universities for alleged failures to combat antisemitism, and foreign students facing deportation for pro-Palestinian activism, the Trump administration’s policies are being felt at colleges across the United States. What’s behind the fixation on universities and what will be its long term impact on higher education in the US? In...

The powerful earthquake that hit Myanmar has been compounding the crises facing a country in an ongoing civil war. With thousands feared dead and aid in short supply, Myanmar faces a race against time to save survivors and rebuild in the aftermath. In this episode: Bob Kitchen ( @bobkitchen ), Vice President of Emergencies, International Rescue Committee Episode credits: This episode was produced...

Shattering months of uneasy calm, Israel bombed Beirut for the first time since November’s truce with Hezbollah. The strike came after rockets were fired from Lebanon into Israeli territory — the second such incident in a week. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam urged the army to arrest those responsible, calling it a threat to national security. With tensions reigniting on both sides...

Hassan Diab, a Lebanese-Canadian professor, has spent nearly 20 years defending himself against accusations of involvement in a 1980 bombing of the Copernic Street synagogue in Paris. The twists and turns of his case raise serious questions about justice, accountability, and the possibility of a wrongful accusation. In this episode: Dana Ballout, documentary producer Alex Atack, journalist and aud...