The Take

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 episode: 

• Narges Bajoghli (@nargesbajoghli), Associate Professor of Middle East Studies, Johns Hopkins University

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Chloe K. Li and Melanie Marich, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Tamara Khandaker, and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Kylene Kiang. 

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. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.

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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 produced by Chloe K. Li, Noor Wazwaz, and Tamara Khandaker, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Fatima Shafiq, and our host, Kevin Hirten. It was edited by Kylene Kiang. 

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. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio. 

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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

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Tamara Khandaker and Chloe K. Li, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Fatima Shafiq, and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Noor Wazwaz.

Our engagement producers are Adam Abou-Gad and Vienna Maglio. Andrew Greiner is lead of audience engagement.

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. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.

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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 Tracie Hunte, Sarí el-Khalili, and Melanie Marich, with Fatima Shafiq, Farhan Rafid, Tamara Khandaker, and our guest host Kevin Hirten. It was edited by Noor Wazwaz and Kylene Kiang. 

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. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.

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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 was produced by Noor Wazwaz and David Enders with Farhan Rafid and our host, Kevin Hirten. It was edited by Alexandra Locke. 

The Take production team is Marcos Bartolomé, Sonia Bhagat, Spencer Cline, Sarí el-Khalili, Diana Ferrero, Tracie Hunte, Tamara Khandaker, Kylene Kiang, Phillip Lanos, Chloe K. Li, Melanie Marich, Catherine Nouhan, and Noor Wazwaz. Our editorial interns are Farhan Rafid, and Kisaa Zehra. Our host is Malika Bilal. 

Our engagement producers are Adam Abou-Gad and Vienna Maglio. Andrew Greiner is lead of audience engagement.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Joe Plourde mixed this episode. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.

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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, (@abuoazzum) Al Jazeera Correspondent
• Sinem Koseoglu, (@sinemkoseoglu) Al Jazeera Correspondent

Episode credits:

This episode was produced and mixed by David Enders. 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. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

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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 US alt-right. And on Gaza, he has become one of the loudest US voices for Palestine.

In this episode: 

• Hasan Piker, @hasanthehun, online streamer

Episode credits:

This episode was updated by Tamara Khandaker. The original production team was Tracie Hunte, Sonia Bhagat Chloe K. Li, Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Melanie Marich, Julia Muldavin, Kisaa Zehra, Farhan Rafid, Sarí el-Khalili, and our host, Malika Bilal. 

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. 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, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.

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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 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 this episode:

• Hannah Allam (@HannahAllam), Reporter, ProPublica

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Haleema Shah, Sarí el-Khalili and Diana Ferrero, with Melanie Marich, Farhan Rafid, Fatima Shafiq, Tamara Khandaker, and our guest host, Natasha Del Toro. It was edited by Noor Wazwaz and Kylene Kiang.

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. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.

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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 state of US politics?

In this episode:

• Matthew Boedy (@MatthewBoedy), Professor of Rhetoric, University of North Georgia

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Amy Walters, Sarí el-Khalili, Diana Ferrero and Tamara Khandaker, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Melanie Marich, Chloe K. Li, Farhan Rafid, Kisaa Zehra, and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Noor Wazwaz and Kylene Kiang. Special thanks to Negin Owliaei.

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. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.

Connect with us:

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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 committing genocide and US plans for a "Gaza Riviera" continue to circulate, how are Palestinians bracing for what comes next?

In this episode:

• Hani Mahmoud, Al Jazeera Correspondent

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Amy Walters, Tamara Khandaker, Sarí el Khalili and Diana Ferrero, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Melanie Marich, Farhan Rafid, Kisaa Zehra, and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Noor Wazwaz. 

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. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio. 

Special thanks to Youmna ElSayed.

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