The Take

After US President Donald Trump's incendiary rhetoric pushed tensions toward the brink, Washington and Tehran have agreed to a ceasefire in the US-Israel war on Iran. But the deal is fragile, and key fronts like Lebanon remain tense, as Israel intensifies its attacks. What does this pause really change on the ground?

In this episode: 

• Imran Khan (@imranism), Al Jazeera Correspondent 

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by David Enders and Chloe K. Li with Spencer Cline, Catherine Nouhan, Tuleen Barakat and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Tamara Khandaker. 

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. 

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‘A whole civilization will die tonight’ was the latest in US President Donald Trump’s escalating threats to Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz. As the stakes rise, what potential does this brinkmanship have to reshape global power? 

In this episode: 

• Trita Parsi (@tparsi), Executive Vice President, Quincy Institute

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolomé and Chloe K. Li, with Spencer Cline, Catherine Nouhan, Tuleen Barakat, David Enders, and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Tamara Khandaker. 

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. 

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As Pakistan tries to mediate between the United States and Iran, another conflict is growing closer to home. What gives Pakistan leverage in the Iran crisis, and with violence is rising on the Afghan border, how long can it balance playing mediator in one conflict while being pulled deeper into another?

In this episode: 

• Osama Bin Javaid (@osamabinjavaid) , Al Jazeera correspondent 

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by David Enders, Sarí el-Khalili, Chloe K. Li with Catherine Nouhan, Tuleen Barakat and our host, Kevin Hirten. It was edited by Alexandra Locke. 

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. 

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As oil flows come under threat due to the Iran war, parts of Asia are already under strain. Fuel supplies are tightening, prices are rising, and some countries warn stocks may run out. Far from the battlefield, the impact is immediate. What does this reveal about just how fragile the global energy system is?

In this episode: 

• Vina Nadjibulla (@VinaNadjibulla), Vice-President of Research & Strategy, The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolomé and Sarí el-Khalili with Spencer Cline, Chloe K. Li, Tuleen Barakat and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Tamara Khandaker and Sarí el-Khalili. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. 

The Take production team is Marcos Bartolomé, Sonia Bhagat, Spencer Cline, Sarí el-Khalili, Tamara Khandaker, Chloe K. Li, Alexandra Locke, Melanie Marich, Catherine Nouhan, Alex Roldan, and Noor Wazwaz. Our host is Malika Bilal. 

Our editorial interns are Maya Hamadeh and Tuleen Barakat. Our engagement producers are Adam Abou-Gad and Vienna Maglio. Andrew Greiner is lead of audience engagement. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. 

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This week: 186 days into a ceasefire, Israel has killed at least 713 Palestinians in Gaza. Trump sets new deadline for Iran. Israel passes death penalty for Palestinians. Gaza yellow line continues to extend. Israel has killed at least 72,289 Palestinians in Gaza since October 7th, 2023.

In this episode:

• Tohid Asadi, Al Jazeera Correspondent
• Hani Mahmoud, Al Jazeera Correspondent
• John Hendren, (@johnhendren)Al Jazeera Correspondent
• Nida Ibrahim, (@nida_journo), Al Jazeera Correspondent
• Malik Traina, Al Jazeera Correspondent

 

Episode credits: 

This episode was produced and mixed by Marthe van der Wolf. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Andrew Greiner and Munera AlDosari is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer.

 

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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 Jesus at the center of his faith.    

In this episode: 

• Reverend Dr. Munther Isaac (@MuntherIsaac), Evangelical Lutheran Pastor in Bethlehem

Episode credits:

This episode was updated by Chloe K. Li. The original production team was Khaled Soltan, Zaina Badr, Miranda Lynn, Amy Walters, Ashish Malhotra, Chloe K. Lee, David Enders, Faranisa Kampana, Nigeen Oliyai, Sarí el-Khalili, Sonia Bagat and our host Malika Bilal. 

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Joe Plourde mixed this episode. Our engagement producers are Adam Abou-Gad and Vienna Maglio. Andrew Greiner is lead of audience engagement. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer.

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Before Israeli occupation, there was British colonialism. We speak to director Annemarie Jacir about Palestine 36, her epic film about the 1936 Palestinian revolt that almost succeeded, the often-forgotten roots of today’s crisis, and why this history still feels painfully present.

In this episode: 

• Annemarie Jacir (@AnnemarieJacir), Filmmaker and Writer

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by David Enders, Sonia Bhagat, and Sar​​í el-Khalili with Spencer Cline, Chloe K. Li, Catherine Nouhan, Tuleen Barakat and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Tamara Khandaker. 

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. 

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Strikes on Iran have killed senior figures, raising questions about who still holds power. We take a closer look at the key players inside Iran’s system and explain how it works, who shapes decisions and what the loss of top figures could mean for the country’s response to the war.

In this episode: 

• Ali Hashem (@alihashem), Senior Al Jazeera correspondent

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Noor Wazwaz, Sarí el-Khalili, with Spencer Cline, Tuleen Barakat, Catherine Nouhan, David Enders and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Tamara Khandaker. 

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. 

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The war on Iran is spreading into classrooms and campuses. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps threatened American universities in neighboring countries, after attacks on two Iranian universities over the weekend. Since the start of the war, at least 21 Iranian universities have reportedly been damaged. Why has education become a target of the US-Israeli war on Iran?

In this episode: 

• Setareh Sadeqi (@leelako), Assistant Professor at University of Tehran

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Chloe K. Li, Sonia Bhagat and Sarí el-Khalili with Spencer Cline, Catherine Nouhan, Tuleen Barakat, and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Tamara Khandaker. 

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. 

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Iran appears to believe it can survive this war. That calculation may be shaping its stance on a ceasefire, even as strikes continue and talk of US troops on the ground is growing. Why does Iran think it’s winning, and what would Tehran need to agree to stop fighting?

In this episode: 

• Alex Vatanka (@alexvatanka), Senior Fellow, Middle East Institute 

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by David Enders and Tamara Khandaker with Tuleen Barakat, Catherine Nouhan, and our guest host, Kevin Hirten. It was edited by Alexandra Locke. 

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. 

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube