The Take

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 response, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has ordered troops to the border and called on citizens to mobilize to defend the country. Is Trump’s mission about fighting drugs, or is it a signal of broader US intervention?

In this episode:

• Alessandro Rampietti (@rampietti), Al Jazeera Reporter

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Tamara Khandaker, Noor Wazwaz, Kylene Kiang, Diana Ferrero and Tracie Hunte, with Manny Panaretos, Melanie Marich, Farhan Rafid, Kisaa Zehra, and our guest host, Kevin Hirten. It was edited by Amy Walters and Sarí el-Khalili.

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 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 you use AI tools while protecting your ability to think for yourself?

In this episode:

• Celia Ford (@cogcelia), Science Journalist and Neuroscientist

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Haleema Shah, Sonia Bhagat and Tamara Khandaker, with Marcos Bartolomé, Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Melanie Marich, Kisaa Zehra, Remas Alhawari, and our guest host, Manuel Rapalo. 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.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

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 Jazeera Correspondent
• Zeina Khodr, (@ZeinakhodrAljaz) 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.

Connect with us:

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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” Iranians. In a civilization shaped by millennia of empire and resistance, those words land differently. What does liberation mean to Iranians as the US and Israel call for regime change?

In this episode:

• Hamid Dabashi (@dabashihamid), Professor of Iranian Studies, Columbia University

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Chloe K. Li, Sonia Bhagat, and Haleema Shah, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Ashish Malhotra, Tamara Khandaker, Mariana Navarrete, and our host, Manuel Rápalo. It was edited by Kylene Kiang and 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. 

Connect with us:

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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 voice of a generation. How did he get here, and could he be here to stay?

In this episode:

• Max Rivlin-Nadler (@MaxRivlinNadler), co-owner and reporter, Hell Gate NYC

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra, Sonia Bhagat and Amy Walters, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Melanie Marich, Remas Al Hawari, Kisaa Zehra, Mariana Navarette, and our host, Manuel Rapalo. It was edited by Kylene Kiang and Noor Wazwaz. 

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editor is Hisham Abu Salah. Alexandra Locke is the Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.

Connect with us:

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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. With dozens of civilians dead and both countries trading blame, can the two nuclear powers contain the dispute?

In this episode:

• Charu Kasturi (@CharuKasturi), Senior Editor and Writer, Al Jazeera

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Haleema Shah, Marcos Bartolome and Tamara Khandaker, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Kingwell Ma, Mariana Navarette, Kisaa Zehra, and our guest host, Manuel Rapalo. 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.

Connect with us:

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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 US attorney general and Trump called the attacks “domestic terrorism”. In this episode, we look at what is driving public opposition to Tesla.

In this episode:

• Bobby Allyn (@BobbyAllyn), Tech Correspondent, NPR
• Jen Cousins, Tesla Takedown Activist 

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Sarí el-Khalili, Sonia Bhagat, and Tamara Khandaker, with Ashish Malhotra, Hanah Shokeir, Melanie Marich, Remas Alhawari, Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, and our guest host, Kevin Hirten. It was edited by Noor Wazwaz. 

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editor is 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:

@AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

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. How is the album bringing the Puerto Rican fight for survival to the world?

In this episode:

• Jorell Meléndez-Badillo (@jorellmelendezb), Author of “Puerto Rico: A National History”  

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolomé, with Hanah Shokeir, Hagir Saleh, Melanie Marich and our guest host, Natasha Del Toro. 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.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

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 called it a declaration of war by Rwanda. But why is Rwanda involved and what are its interests?

In this episode:

• Kambale Musavuli (@kambale), Analyst, Center for Research on the Congo-Kinshasa

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra, Sonia Bhagat and Chloe K. Li, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Hagir Saleh, Hanah Shokeir, Melanie Marich, and our guest host, Kevin Hirten. 

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. We’ll be back tomorrow.

Connect with us:

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This week: 81 days into a ceasefire, Israel has killed at least 394 Palestinians in Gaza. Palestinians in Gaza continued to struggle to find food. Israel further expanded its presence in Syria. Israel has killed more than 70,925 Palestinians in Gaza since October 7th, 2023.

In this episode:

• Hani Mahmoud, Al Jazeera Correspondent
• Tareq Abu Azzoum, (@abuoazzum) Al Jazeera Correspondent
• Gabriel Elizondo, (@elizondogabriel) Al Jazeera Correspondent
• Gemma Nash, (@GemmaNash10) Al Jazeera Presenter

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.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube