The Take

Clashes erupted in Senegal after opposition figure Ousmane Sonko was sentenced to two years in prison on June 1. He was accused of raping a woman who worked in a massage parlor; the court cleared Sonko of rape but found him guilty of a separate offense, immoral behavior towards individuals younger than 21. Sonko’s supporters have reacted with violent protests in the streets and at least 15 people have died. They claim charges against Sonko are a ploy to prevent him from running in the 2024 presidential elections.

In this episode: 

• Nicolas Haque (@nicolashaque), Al Jazeera correspondent

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Amy Walters with Sonia Bhagat and our host, Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Tim St. Clair mixed this episode.

Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Stand-up comedy only recently emerged in China, but one bad joke is threatening to wipe it out. Last month, the comedian Li Haoshi, better known as ‘House’, used a Chinese military slogan as his punchline. Li was placed under investigation and the event’s production company was fined $2 million. Other standup performances were immediately suspended. Critics say it’s part of a wider crackdown on all forms of cultural entertainment that could challenge the Chinese government’s own narrative. 

In this episode: 

• Katrina Yu (@Katmyu), Al Jazeera China correspondent

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Miranda Lin with Ashish Malhotra and host Kevin Hirten, in for Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. This episode was mixed by Tim St. Clair.

Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

In Iran’s Kasra Hospital, the parents of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini embraced in a hallway, grieving their daughter who died after being detained by the country’s morality police. Journalist Niloofar Hamedi captured the moment in a photo and tweeted it out. Within the week, she was arrested. A week later, journalist Elahe Mohammadi was also arrested after reporting from Amini’s funeral. Iran erupted in protests after Amini’s death, and demonstrators were met with a swift crackdown. Thousands of people were detained, including Hamedi and Mohammadi, who remain imprisoned to this day. On May 29 and 30, their trials finally began behind closed doors. What will happen to these journalists whose reporting helped spark an uprising?

In this episode: 

• Dorsa Jabbari (@DorsaJabbari), Al Jazeera correspondent

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by David Enders with Negin Owliaei, Chloe K. Li, and our host, Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Tim St. Clair mixed this episode.

Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

There’s a clear winner in Thailand’s election – the Move Forward party came through with three times the vote of the leading government party. That was two weeks ago. The people of Thailand, led by the youth, came out in a move against the ruling elite. But to claim power, Move Forward also needs to win a vote in Thailand’s senate, appointed by the military. Now that Thailand has voted for change, will the country have the opportunity to see it through?

In this episode: 

• Tony Cheng (@TLCBkk), Al Jazeera Bangkok correspondent 

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Amy Walters with Chloe K. Li and our host, Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Tim St. Clair mixed this episode.

Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Tina Turner, whose music career spanned five decades, died last week at the age of 83. With her dynamic stage presence, powerful vocals, and electrifying energy, she consistently delivered unforgettable live performances that captivated audiences around the world. Though she was American, Turner said she felt she was a bigger star outside the United States. There’s been an outpouring of tributes to her from her fans around the world, from Australia to Albania. So what’s behind her international appeal? 

In this episode: 

• Taro Gold (@TaroGold), author and singer
• Chelsi West Ohueri (@AnthroBalkans), assistant professor of Slavic and Eurasian studies, University of Texas
• Eileen Shenkmann, Tina Turner fan
• Andrew Thomas (@and_thomasComms), Al Jazeera correspondent 
• Jadey O'Regan (@hellodrjadey), lecturer of contemporary music, University of Sydney
• Scott Dawkins (@dawkins_scott), Tina Turner fan
• Andrew Coombes, (@andrewcoombes), Al Jazeera producer 
• Stefanie Batten Bland, assistant professor of theater and dance, Montclair State University 

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Sonia Bhagat and Ashish Malhotra, and our host, Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. This episode was mixed by Tim St. Clair.

Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Are we on the verge of another workplace revolution? It’s possible to work fewer hours and keep the same level of pay and productivity, according to results of the largest-ever trial of a four-day workweek held in the United Kingdom. Traditional work routines were upended by the COVID-19 pandemic, and there’s increased demand for more flexible schedules. But in many parts of the world, even a five-day week is a luxury. So can a four-day workweek work for everyone?

In this episode: 

• Juliet Schor (@JulietSchor) Sociology Professor at Boston College and Lead Researcher, 4-Day Week Global
• Wen Fan, Associate Professor at Boston College and Researcher, 4-Day Week Global
• Kıvanç Eliaçık (@Diskinsesi) International Director for the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey (DISK)
• Ignacia López, Chilean Labor Lawyer
• Jaya Dass (@Randstad_SG) Managing Director of Permanent Recruitment in Asia Pacific at Randstad

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Miranda Lin and our host, Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. This episode was mixed by Tim St. Clair.

Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. 

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group, has rocked Sudan for six weeks now. The doctors expected to treat the wounded are dealing with crisis after crisis. Supplies are limited and many hospitals that have survived gunfire and shelling are reported to have become military outposts. Doctors also say they face harassment campaigns based on their past political activity. Only a handful of hospitals remain open across the country. The Take hears how medical staff in Sudan are organizing themselves and keeping people alive through the chaos. 

In this episode: 

• Dr. Ahmed Omer, emergency medicine specialist
• Mat Nashed (@matnashed), journalist

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Negin Owliaei, David Enders and our host, Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Tim St. Clair mixed this episode.

Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Will the war in Ukraine hinge on Bakhmut? It’s been almost one year since the fight for the town began. Now, Russia state media is finally claiming victory in the battle, but Ukrainian military officials say the war may soon turn. Newly supplied by NATO countries, Ukraine is preparing for a counteroffensive that might strike a territory at the heart of Russia’s interests. As for Bakhmut, which was largely captured by Russian mercenaries with the Wagner Group, they will be withdrawing – leaving the Russian military to take their place. So what’s next for Ukraine?

In this episode: 

• Mansur Mirovalev (@mirovalev), journalist covering Ukraine for Al Jazeera 
• Charles Stratford (@stratfordch), Al Jazeera correspondent

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Amy Walters, with Chloe K. Li and our host, Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Tim St. Clair mixed this episode.

Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Vinicius Junior, a star footballer for Real Madrid, says Spain’s top league “now belongs to racists.” The Afro-Brazilian player’s declaration comes after a match in which opposing fans from Valencia were filmed chanting the racial epithet “monkey” at him after an altercation on the pitch. This isn’t the first time Vinicius has been targeted by racial abuse this season, and he’s called out Spain’s La Liga for being complicit. Will this latest incident prompt the league to act? 

In this episode: 

• Moha Gerehou (@MohaGerehou) Journalist and anti-racism activist
• Tim Vickery (@Tim_Vickery) Football journalist based in Brazil

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Sonia Bhagat with Ashish Malhotra and our host, Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Tim St. Clair mixed this episode.

Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

English rivers are polluted. Could giving them legal rights clean them up? In the town of Lewes, the answer to that question was yes. In February, the town’s council voted yes to a rights of river motion, the first in the UK. This motion is the first step in a two-year long journey to give the River Ouse legal representation and rights. The UK is facing heavy river pollution: most of them are not swimmable, and all failed a quality test in 2019. Since then, government testing of rivers has only plummeted. Lewes’ council now takes on the task of figuring out what exactly rights of a river should be. 

In this episode: 

• Matthew Bird (@mjbirdy), mayor and former councillor of Lewes 

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Chloe K. Li and our host, Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Tim St. Clair mixed this episode.

Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook