The Take

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on xx, 20xx. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed. Since the American-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, the US has trained thousands of Afghan security forces. Among them are militias that were backed by the US Central Intelligence Agency. For years, activists and journalists h...

South African authorities are investigating how at least 17 men ended up on Russia’s front lines in Ukraine. Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of ex-president Jacob Zuma, is accused of luring the men with promises of job training. She denies it, and says she was also duped. What's next for the Zuma family and for the men still trapped in Ukraine? In this episode: Rachel Savage ( @rachelmsavag...

The US is ramping up military threats and rhetoric against Venezuela. With 15,000 US troops deployed in the Caribbean Sea, strikes on alleged drug boats, and more than 80 alleged traffickers killed, the escalating military presence in the region has Venezuelans on edge. What's really driving these two countries closer to war? In this episode: Alejandro Velasco ( @AleVelascoNYU ), Associate Profess...

Palestinian-American Mohammed Ibrahim was just 15 years old when he was arrested by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank for allegedly throwing rocks. He was freed after more than nine months. But his story isn’t unique. Each year, Israel systematically detains hundreds of Palestinian children and prosecutes them in military courts. So what did it take to free Mohammed? In this episode:...

Right before results of a highly-contested election were due to be announced, Guinea-Bissau’s government fell to a military coup that leaders in West Africa are calling a sham. In a nation where most people rely on growing cashews for a living, cocaine trafficking casts a long shadow. Guinea-Bissau is often referred to as “Africa’s first narco-state.” What does the future h...

The rapid development of drone technology has changed how wars are fought. Ukraine’s growing arsenal of drones has strengthened its chances against an overpowered Russian military force. As tech companies are investing in this new technology of death and destruction, what will the Russia-Ukraine war’s legacy of drone warfare look like even after a peace deal? In this episode: Ben Makuc...

This week: 53 days into a ceasefire, Israel has killed at least 347 Palestinians in Gaza.  Israel is expanding the area under its control in Gaza. Israel killed at least 13 people in Syria. Israel has killed more than 70,000 Palestinians in Gaza since October 7th, 2023. In this episode: Ibrahim al-Khalili, ( @_ibrahimalkhalili ) Al Jazeera Correspondent Tareq Abu Azzoum, ( @abuoazzum ) Al Jazeera...

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on November 28, 2024. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed. A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah has taken effect, aiming to end more than a year of war in Lebanon. As displaced families return home and celebrations erupt in Lebanon’s streets, uncertainty looms over how...

"Buy now, pay later" has become a retail fixture seemingly overnight, and Cyber Monday is set to be its biggest sales day yet. But as “pay in 4” platforms offer customers freedom and flexibility, are they also opening the door to a wave of unregulated debt? In this episode: Emily Stewart, Senior Correspondent, Business Insider  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Tamara...

Mass school kidnappings in northern Nigeria are back in the headlines as families beg the government to bring their children home. At the same time, President Donald Trump and US conservatives are accusing Nigeria of a “Christian genocide.” Is this really about religion or a deeper security crisis? In this episode: Yinka Adegoke ( @yinkawrites ), Africa editor, Semafor Episode credits:...

From Wisconsin to California, Indigenous nations are reacquiring land. It’s part of a global “landback” movement to return stolen Native lands to tribal control. Is the restoration of land   just symbolic, or does it represent a real step forward on the path   to restoring   Native culture and tribal sovereignty? In this episode: Rebecca Nagle ( @rebeccan...

A United Nations resolution built on Donald Trump’s Gaza plan promises a ceasefire, foreign peacekeepers and a new “Board of Peace” to govern the Gaza Strip. But with no real accountability for Israel and Palestinians sidelined, is this an end to the war — or a blueprint for a new kind of occupation? In this episode:   Ali Harb ( @Harbpeace ), Al Jazeera Senior Produce...

Sports used to be about the game. Now, for millions of fans, it’s about the bet . A 2018  Supreme Court decision turned sports into a multibillion-dollar machine — one that’s  fuelling  addiction and hitting young men the hardest. How did a quiet policy change unleash an industry preying on America’s loneliest, most financially anxious people? In this episode...

This week: 46 days into a ceasefire, Israel has killed at least 342 Palestinians in Gaza. Palestinian factions in Gaza said they would reject an international force there. Israel killed at least 14 people in Lebanon. Israel has killed more than 69,733 Palestinians in Gaza since October 7th, 2023. In this episode: Hani Mahmoud, Al Jazeera Correspondent Tareq Abu Azzoum, ( @abuoazzum ) Al Jazee...

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on September 1, 2024. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed. Sheikh Hasina has won a fourth straight term as Bangladesh’s prime minister. The daughter of the country’s founding father earned her own reputation as a pro-democracy leader. But in recent years she has been...

More than 150 Palestinians from Gaza landed in Johannesburg on a mysterious charter flight run by a little-known group called Al-Majd Europe. South Africa says it was blindsided, but Israel calls the move “voluntary emigration”. The journey is raising fears that these flights are becoming a new way to push Palestinians off their land. In this episode: Abeer Ayyoub ( @AbeerAyyoub ), Ind...

The battle over the investigation files of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has reached a new turn with the US Congress voting for the Department of Justice to release its information on the case. As the world waits for what the full files may reveal, what do we know about the rich and elite who surrounded Epstein? In this episode:  Prem Thakker ( @prem_thakker ), political corresponden...

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 agents have committed crimes such as kidnapping and sexual assault. The FBI has urged ICE officers to unmask and identify themselves. How did the agency get here? In thi...

Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal has sentenced ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death for crimes against humanity committed during a violent crackdown in 2024. Amid an unstable political landscape, will Hasina’s sentencing be a step forward for Bangladesh, or will it spark more unrest in the country? In this episode: Ahmede Hussain, Editor, The Deltagram Episode credits...

The United States healthcare system is in crisis. With federal funding cuts and costs set to rise if government subsidies are allowed to expire, millions might not be able to afford health insurance next year. How did healthcare get to be so expensive and complicated in the world’s richest country? In this episode: Dylan Scott ( @dylanlscott ), Senior Correspondent, Vox Episode credits: This...

This week: 39 days into a ceasefire, Israel has killed at least 260 Palestinians in Gaza. Palestinians from Gaza were sent to South Africa under unclear circumstances. Exchanges of remains continued between Hamas and Israel. Israel has killed more than 69,192 Palestinians in Gaza since October 7th, 2023. In this episode: Bernard Smith, ( @JazeeraBernard ) Al Jazeera Correspondent Nour Odeh, ( @nou...

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on Nov 3, 2023. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed. ‘Wait for the Great Nakba’ – a warning of forced mass displacement that vigilante settlers have been spreading, as Israeli violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank reaches levels not seen in dec...

After years of hype and sky-high bets, artificial intelligence (AI) may be heading for a crash. Jobs, investments, and faith in the technology could all suffer. But could a burst bubble be good for the field’s long-term outlook? We speak to an AI industry insider. In this episode: Paul Ford ( @ftrain ), president and co-founder, Aboard Episode credits: This episode was produced by Sar&iacute...

After two weeks of being held in a US immigration detention center, British Muslim journalist and political commentator Sami Hamdi is set to be released. In this episode, we hear from his wife, Soumaya Hamdi, about Sami's pro-Palestine advocacy, her family's ordeal and what her husband's arrest says about free speech under Donald Trump. In this episode:  Soumaya Hamdi, wife of Sami Hamdi Huss...

Days after Shein opened its first location in Paris, France is threatening to ban the Chinese fast-fashion giant. The threat follows months of hand-wringing over Shein’s growing footprint in France, topped off by the discovery of child-like sex dolls and weapons from third-party sellers on its website. on its third-party online marketplace. With growing backlash, will the controversial compa...