The Take

The US military is increasing its presence in Puerto Rico as the Trump administration prepares for a possible clash with Venezuela over alleged drug trafficking. Ten thousand troops, advanced jets, drones and the USS Iwo Jima now sit on an island still scarred by decades of military pollution. What does this new buildup mean for Puerto Rico’s future?

In this episode:

• Israel Melendez Ayala (@IsraelAyala144), Writer and Historian

Episode credits:

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

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Rick Rush 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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Each winter, Delhi is smothered in a toxic smog that chokes its residents, sending many to hospitals for acute respiratory ailments. The government has pledged to tackle the air pollution crisis, but the reality remains difficult. Amid fears that India’s capital is becoming unlivable, residents are now demanding real action after a decade of breathing the world’s dirtiest air.

In this episode:

• Yashraj Sharma (@yashjournals), independent journalist

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Tamara Khandaker and Haleema Shah, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Fatima Shafiq, Farhan Rafid, and our guest host Kevin Hirten. It was edited by Kylene Kiang.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. This episode was mixed by Rick Rush. 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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One year after Bashar al-Assad’s fall, Syrians are returning home and trying to rebuild their lives. But questions over transitional justice and minority protections are testing whether this new Syria can become more than just another chapter of survival.

In this episode:

• Leila Nachawati (@leila_na), writer and professor

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolomé, Noor Wazwaz, Melanie Marich, and Haleema Shah, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Diana Ferrero, Farhan Rafid, Fatima Shafiq Tamara Khandaker, and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Kylene Kiang. 

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, Haleema Shah, 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. This episode was mixed by Rick Rush. 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: 60 days into a ceasefire, Israel has killed at least 367 Palestinians in Gaza.  Israel said it would reopen Gaza's border with Egypt. Despite ongoing violence, Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank sought to find some normalcy. Israel has killed more than 70,354 Palestinians in Gaza since October 7th, 2023.

In this episode:

• Hind Khoudary, (@Hind_Gaza) Al Jazeera Correspondent
• Hani Mahmoud, Al Jazeera Correspondent
• Nour Odeh, (@osamabinjavaid) 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 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 have documented civilian killings that took place by their hand. How will that legacy affect the current fight ahead for the country?

In this episode:

• Emran Feroz (@Emran_Feroz), Journalist
• Patricia Gossman (@pagossman), Human Rights Watch Associate Asia Director

Episode credits:

This episode was updated by Noor Wazwaz. The original production team Negin Owliaei with  Dina Kesbeh, Priyanka Tilve, Ney Alvarez, Alexandra Locke,Tom Fenton , Stacey Samuel and Amy Walters and our host, Malika Bilal. Tom Fenton is our story editor. Alex Roldan is our sound designer. Aya El-Mileik is our engagement producer. 

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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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 (@rachelmsavage), Southern Africa correspondent, The Guardian

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Tracie Hunte, Haleema Shah, Noor Wazwaz, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Diana Ferrero, Farhan Rafid and Fatima Shafiq, Tamara Khandaker, and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Kylene Kiang. 

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. This episode was mixed by Rick Rush. 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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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 Professor of Latin Studies, New York University

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Melanie Marich, Haleema Shah, Tracie Hunte, and Diana Ferrero with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Chloe K. Li, Fatima Shafiq, Farhan Rafid, Tamara Khandaker, and our guest host, Manuel Rapalo. It was edited by Kylene Kiang. 

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. This episode was mixed by Rick Rush. 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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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:

• Zeyad Kadur, uncle of Mohammed Ibrahim

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Haleema Shah, Noor Wazwaz, and Tracie Hunte, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Diana Ferrero, Farhan Rafid, Fatima Shafiw, Tamara Khandaker, and our host, Natasha Del Toro. It was edited by Kylene Kiang.

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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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 hold now?

In this episode:

• Shola Lawal, (@Shollytupe) Journalist

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolomé and Melanie Marich, with Diana Ferrero, 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. This episode was mixed by Rick Rush. 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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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 Makuch, National Security Reporter

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Tamara Khandaker,  and Chloe K. Li with Fatima Shafiq, and our host, Natasha Del Toro. It was edited by Noor Wazwaz. 

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. 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