The Take

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on November 6, 2023. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed. On the coast of the Mediterranean Sea lies Gaza, a land that insists on living. Gaza is currently facing a war like nothing its people have seen before, but its history stretches far longer. Today, a brief history of Gaza...

President Trump has again restated his plans of turning Gaza into a new Riviera. Where did this idea come from – and how feasible is it? In this episode: Sharif Abdel Kouddous ( @sharifkouddous ), Journalist and Editor at Drop Site News Episode credits: This episode was produced by Sarí el-Khalili, Sonia Bhagat, and Amy Walters with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Khaled Soltan, Melanie...

From booing at sports events to boycotting products, Canada is taking a sharp look at its neighbour to the south. United States President Donald Trump placed a 30-day pause on 25 percent tariffs on Canada after speaking with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. But what does the dispute reveal about the US and Canada’s shared future? In this episode: Stephen Marche ( @StephenMarche ), Journalist a...

USAID, America’s lead aid agency, could also be nearing its end, after US President Donald Trump ordered a halt to foreign aid. Trump said the agency was run by "lunatics", while billionaire Elon Musk called it "criminal".The US provides $72bn to 180 countries – but that aid has come under criticism in the past. So, what would it mean to pull the plug on USAID? In this episode: Anuradh...

Once an al-Qaeda-affiliated fighter, Syria’s interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa now governs a nation in flux. He claims to be focused on stability, dissolving rebel groups and rebuilding institutions. His visit to Saudi Arabia signals shifting alliances and efforts to ease sanctions. But can he truly redefine Syria’s future – and what will it mean for the region? In this episode: Osa...

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is heading to the US to meet with President Donald Trump. This is the first White House invitation to a foreign leader after Trump retook office. What does their renewed alliance mean for the world and for Gaza? In this episode: Ali Harb ( @Harbpeace ), Al Jazeera Journalist Episode credits: This episode was produced by Tamara Khandaker, Ashish Malhotra, a...

Every weekend, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on July 19, 2021. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed. The world’s richest man, Jeff Bezos, is heading to space on his own spaceship on July 20th – though he’s already been upstaged by another billionaire space tour. Where the global space race was once decided b...

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on September 26, 2023. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed. A US federal court has indicted New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez and his wife Nadine on corruption-related charges. The couple have reportedly accepted gold bars and hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash in exchange...

A new AI rival from China is shaking up Silicon Valley. DeepSeek matches ChatGPT’s power but says it was built faster and for a fraction of the cost. How did they do it, and what comes next? In this episode: Caiwei Chen ( @CaiweiC ), reporter, MIT Technology Review Episode credits: This episode was produced by Sarí el-Khalili, Sonia Bhagat, and Amy Walters, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer...

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: Kambale Musavuli ( @kambale ), Analyst...

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: Christina Noriega ( @c_mnoriega ), Journalist Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters, Sonia Bhagat, and Sar&iacu...

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:  Maram Humaid ( @MaramGaza ), Al Jazeera Journalist Episode credits: This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan and Ashish Malhotra with Sonia Bhagat, Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Hagir Sal...

‘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: Tori Tsui ( @toritsui ), Climate Activist Episode credits: This episode was produced by Tamara Khandaker, Sonia Bhagat, a...

As Israel’s war on Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria continues, we're coming to you on Sundays with a weekly roundup. This week: 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...

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 lo...

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...

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:  Julia Galiano ( @juliagaliano ), Journalist Episode credits: This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolomé, Sonia Bhagat, Khaled Soltan and Tamara Khandaker with Phillip Lanos, Spe...

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:  Rich Siegel, Teaneck resident Episode...

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 Ashis...

Just hours before President Trump’s second term begins, many immigrants face uncertainty. Trump has pledged to use law enforcement, the military, and federal agencies for mass deportations, along with ending birthright citizenship, and reversing outgoing president Joe Biden’s border policies. What does this mean for immigrants who’ve built a life in the US? In this episode: ...

As Israel’s war on Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria continues, we're coming to you on Sundays with a weekly roundup. This week: A ceasefire began in Gaza Sunday morning after a brief delay. Palestinians in Gaza responded by celebrating, and in many cases, attempting to return to their homes. It is day 471 of the war in Gaza, where at least 46,899 Palestinians have been killed. In this episode: Hani...

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on May 20, 2024. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed. The Darien Gap is a dangerous stretch of jungle on a strip of land that connects North and South America. In recent years, stricter Central American border policies have driven hundreds of thousands of people to make this trea...

From embracing Zionism as a Holocaust survivor to becoming a vocal critic of Israeli policies, renowned doctor and author Gabor Maté reflects on the evolution in his thinking, on trauma as a driving force behind Zionism and Israel, and on how collective Jewish trauma has been exploited by Israel to justify its war in Gaza. In this episode: Gabor Mate ( @DrGaborMate ), Physician and Author E...

Hamas and Israel have agreed to a ceasefire set to start on Sunday. The deal includes humanitarian aid to Gaza, Israel’s gradual withdrawal, the release of Israeli captives, and a Palestinian prisoner release. As Palestinians in Gaza hope to leave 15 months of devastation behind, can this agreement hold or is it another fragile promise? In this episode: Diana Buttu ( @dianabuttu ), Human Rig...

Impeachment proceedings against suspended South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol are in full swing. Authorities have made a second attempt to detain him over his brief martial law declaration, but he remains holed up in his fortified residence, backed by supporters waving US flags and “Stop the Steal” banners. So, what lies ahead for South Korea? In this episode: Se-Woong Koo, managing e...