The Take

US President Donald Trump says removing President Nicolas Maduro is about reclaiming Venezuela’s oil. But as Washington pushes for access, major oil companies are hesitating. Why is Venezuela being labeled “uninvestable,” and what does that skepticism reveal about power, instability and the future of Venezuela’s vast oil reserves? In this episode: Anneke Ball ( @annekeball...

Iran’s protests started with economic demands. Now, the Iranian government says it’s ready for war. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has told Iranian protesters that “help is on the way,” as Washington discusses military options. Could tension spread far beyond Iran? In this episode:  Negar Mortazavi ( @NegarMortazavi ), Center for International Policy Senior Fello...

A ceasefire in Aleppo has halted days of deadly fighting, after clashes between Syrian forces and Kurdish fighters. With civilians displaced and trust deeply shaken, questions are growing about whether Syria’s post-war transition can survive long term. In this episode:  Bernard Smith ( @JazeeraBernard ), Correspondent, Al Jazeera Episode credits: This episode was produced by Noor Wazwaz...

A deadly ICE operation in Minneapolis has sparked protests and political conflict. US officials say a federal immigration agent acted in self-defense, while local leaders, citing video evidence, reject that narrative and demand accountability. With investigations ongoing and trust fractured between federal and local authorities, what does this moment reveal about who controls oversight when federa...

 This week: 102 days into a cease fire, Israel has killed at least 439 Palestinians in Gaza. Weather continued to threaten the lives of displaced Palestinians in Gaza. Israel issued demolition orders for a playground in the occupied West Bank. Israel has killed more than 71,409 Palestinians in Gaza since October 7th, 2023. In this episode: Hind Khoudary, ( @hindkhoudary ) Al Jazeera Correspondent...

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on July 7, 2025. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed. When AI data centers come to town, companies promise jobs and opportunity. But what about all the water needed to keep data centers running? In one drought-stricken community in Brazil, residents must weigh the choices. How do...

Iranians have taken to the streets in nationwide protests against the country's economic crisis. During a police crackdown on protesters, dozens of people have been killed and more have been arrested. US President Donald Trump has warned Iran that if the brutality continues, Iran would be “hit very hard by the United States.” Why is the US threatening intervention?  In this episod...

In the three months since the US unveiled a 20-point Gaza plan, more than 400 Palestinians have been killed and thousands injured in near-daily Israeli attacks. Gaza has been fragmented, with Israel controlling over half its territory. Is this "peace plan" truly about peace?  In this episode: Mohammed Mhawish ( @mohamhawish ), Journalist and Writer  Episode credits: This episode was prod...

Artificial intelligence is moving fast - from chatbots to autonomous systems and physical machines. As investment surges, so do concerns about job losses, surveillance, warfare and whether the boom can last. We take a look at where AI is headed in 2026 and the growing resistance against unchecked technological power. In this episode: Brian Merchant ( @bcmerchant ), Writer, Blood in the Machine Epi...

Israel has become the first country in the world to recognize the breakaway region of Somaliland since it declared independence in 1991. What does the move mean for regional tensions around the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, and what will aligning with Israel mean for Somaliland? In this episode: Faisal Ali ( @FaisalAHAli ), Journalist, Al Jazeera English Episode credits: This episode was produced by T...

What happens when the US says it will “run” a country? President Donald Trump says the US will take control of Venezuela after arresting President Nicolas Maduro. The move has few modern parallels and raises urgent questions about sovereignty, oil, and regional stability. Why now? In this episode:  Lucia Newman, Al Jazeera’s Latin America editor Episode credits: This episode...

This week: 95 days into a ceasefire, Israel has killed at least 418 Palestinians in Gaza.   Israel placed new restrictions on NGOs operating in Gaza. As a new year began, Palestinians in Gaza continued to put hopes in a fragile ceasefire. Israel has killed at least 71,384 Palestinians in Gaza since October 7th, 2023. In this episode: Hani Mahmoud, Al Jazeera Correspondent Tareq Abu Azzoum, ( @abuo...

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on August 19, 2025. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed. With nearly 3 million Twitch followers, Hasan Piker is one of the internet’s biggest political streamers. He blends humor, culture and masculinity talk with sharp political commentary, drawing young men away from the...

We’re looking back at 10 of the episodes that defined 2025 at The Take. This originally aired on November 19. None of the dates or references have been changed. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is operating in an unprecedented way during US President Donald Trump’s second term. The agency has existed for over 20 years, but now operates as a masked force. Imposters posing as ag...

We’re looking back at 10 of the episodes that defined 2025 at The Take. This originally aired on September 11. None of the dates or references have been changed. Shot while answering a question about mass shootings, outspoken gun-rights advocate and conservative activist Charlie Kirk was killed on a university campus. What does this moment signal for escalating political violence and the sta...

We’re looking back at 10 of the episodes that defined 2025 at The Take. This originally aired on September 3. None of the dates or references have been changed. Inside Gaza City, as the Israeli military escalates its takeover, Al Jazeera continues to report from the ground on the day-to-day reality for more than a million Palestinians still there. As top scholars declare that Israel is commi...

As the year wraps up, we're looking back at 10 of the episodes that defined our year at The Take. This originally aired on August 28. None of the dates, titles, or other references has been changed. Thousands of US troops are on warships stationed near Venezuela. President Donald Trump says the move is to fight drug cartels that the US has labelled “terrorist” organizations. In respons...

We’re looking back at 10 of the episodes that defined 2025 at The Take. This originally aired on July 3. None of the dates or references have been changed. Are AI chatbots dulling our brains? A new MIT study suggests critical thinking skills are at risk from tools like ChatGPT. What does scientific research say about what happens to brains that rely on artificial intelligence? And how can yo...

This week: 88 days into a ceasefire, Israel has killed at least 411 Palestinians in Gaza.  Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to meet Donald Trump. Palestinians mourned actor and director Mohammad Bakri. Israel has killed more than 71,266 Palestinians in Gaza since October 7th, 2023. In this episode: Ibrahim Al Khalili, ( @_ibrahimalkhalili ) Al Jazeera Correspondent Nida Ibrahim, ( @nida_journo ) Al...

As the year wraps up, we're looking back at 10 of the episodes that defined our year at The Take. This originally aired on June 24, 2025. None of the dates, titles, or other references have been changed. 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” Iran...

As the year wraps up, we're looking back at 10 of the episodes that defined 2025 at The Take. This originally aired on June 27. None of the dates, titles, or other references have been changed. 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 voi...

As 2025 wraps up, we're looking back at 10 of the episodes that defined our year at The Take. This originally aired on May 8. None of the dates, titles, or other references have been changed. It’s the biggest military escalation between India and Pakistan in decades. Missile strikes, drone attacks and deadly shelling have struck on both sides of the border in the disputed region of Kashmir....

As 2025 wraps up, we're looking back at 10 of the episodes that defined our year at The Take. This originally aired on March 21. None of the dates, titles, or other references have been changed. Backlash to Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s alliance is hitting Tesla hard. The company is facing boycotts, protests, and attacks on cars, showrooms and charging stations. Tesla stock is plummeting. The...

We’re looking back at 10 of the episodes that defined 2025 at The Take. This originally aired on February 10. None of the dates or references have been changed. Bad Bunny’s new album, Debí Tirar Más Fotos, became the number-one streamed album worldwide. It mixes different Puerto Rican music genres and touches on themes of gentrification and a loss of cultural identity. Ho...

We're looking back at 10 of the episodes that defined 2025 at The Take. This originally aired on January 30. None of the dates or references have been changed. Bodies are lining the streets of Goma and hospitals are overwhelmed after an escalation in the long-simmering conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Rwandan-backed M23 group claims it took control of the city, and the DRC has cal...