The Take

As Israel’s war on Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and Iran continues, we’re coming to you on Sundays with a weekly roundup. This week: US strikes Iran. Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil released. Israel continues to kill Palestinian aid seekers. It is day 625 of the war in Gaza, where at least 55,908 Palestinians have been killed. 

In this episode:

• Tohid Asadi, Al Jazeera Reporter
• Nour Odeh (@nourodeh), Al Jazeera Senior Correspondent
• Moath Kahlout (@moath_kahlout), Al Jazeera Journalist
• Phil Lavelle (phillavelle), Al Jazeera Correspondent

Episode credits:

This episode was hosted by Nida Ibrahim and produced by Marthe van der Wolf. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Adam Abou-Gad 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 Instagram, X, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on January 30, 2024. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed.

Weeks after Boeing came under fire for a near-catastrophic incident aboard one of its planes, Alaska Airlines 1282 was forced to make an emergency landing when part of its wall blew off mid-flight. It’s not the first time a 737 Max has had problems. So what’s being done?

In this episode:

Alex Macheras (@AlexInAir), Aviation Analyst, Host, On-Air with Dan and Alex

Episode credits:

This episode was updated by Amy Walters. The original production team was Ashish Malhotra, Fahrinisa Campana, Chloe K Li and our host Malika Bilal. 

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Adam Abou-Gad and Vienna Maglio. Aya Elmileik is lead of audience engagement. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.

How did MAGA become Trump’s biggest opponent of a US strike on Iran? The Republican base is split over Trump’s rhetoric about getting involved in another foreign war. Conservative stalwarts like Tucker Carlson and Steve Bannon are pushing back. Could a US strike on Iran be a blow against Trump at home?

In this episode: 

• Ali Harb (@HarbPeace), Al Jazeera journalist

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra, Sonia Bhagat and Amy Walters with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Mariana Navarette, Khaled Soltan, Remas AlHawari, Kisaa Zehra, and our host, Manuel Rapalo. It was edited by 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:

@AJEPodcasts on Instagram, X, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

A 15-year-old pulls the trigger on a presidential candidate in Bogota, and Colombia’s ghost of political violence suddenly feels very present. Is the latest episode of political violence a sign that Colombia's peace process has failed, and can it promise fair elections in 2026?

In this episode:

• Juanita Goebertus Estrada (@JuanitaGoe), Human Rights Watch Americas division director

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Tamara Khandaker, Sonia Bhagat and Haleema Shah with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Chloe K. Li, Mariana Navarrete, Khaled Soltan, Remas Alhawari and our guest 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:

@AJEPodcasts on Instagram, X, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

US President Donald Trump has deployed hundreds of troops to Los Angeles in response to protests against immigration raids. It’s been widely considered to be an illegal deployment. Meanwhile, hotlines to support service members have been seeing an uptick in complaints and questions. What happens when those in uniform are ordered to confront the very people they swore to protect?

In this episode:

• Steve Woolford, Counselor with the GI Rights Hotline

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Amy Walters, Sonia Bhagat, and Chloe K. Li with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Melanie Marich, and our guest host, Manuel Rapalo. 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:

@AJEPodcasts on Instagram, X, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

After Israel’s strikes on Iranian cities, Iran launches a wave of retaliatory attacks. With mass evacuations under way in Tehran, the government struggles to control the growing panic. What does this mean for Iran’s future, and how is the leadership reshaping the narrative?

In this episode:

• Narges Bajoghli (nargesbajoghli), professor of Middle East Studies

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan and Haleema Shah, with Sonia Bhagat, Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Tamara Khandaker, Mariana Navarrete, Remas Alhawari and our guest 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:

@AJEPodcasts on Instagram, X, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

What does it mean to be the “other”? Viet Thanh Nguyen, a South Vietnamese-born American writer links his personal story to US actions abroad and at home, discussing ICE raids, protests, and the war on Gaza, showing how these issues are deeply connected.

In this episode:

• Viet Thanh Nguyen (@viet.thanh.nguyen.writer), Author, “To Save and to Destroy: Writing as an Other” 

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Chloe K. Li, Sonia Bhagat, and Haleema Shah, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Mariana Navarrete, Sarí el-Khalili, Kisaa Zehra, Remas Alhawari, Marcos Bartolomé, and guest host Natasha Del Toro. It was edited by Noor Wazwaz. Joe Plourde mixed this episode. 

The Take production team is Marcos Bartolomé, Sonia Bhagat, Sarí el-Khalili, Tamara Khandaker, Phillip Lanos, Chloe K. Li, Ashish Malhotra, Haleema Shah, Khaled Soltan, Amy Walters, and Noor Wazwaz. Our editorial interns are Remas Alhawari, Mariana Navarrete, and Kisaa Zehra. Our guest host is Kevin Hirten. Our engagement producers are Adam Abou-Gad and Vienna Maglio. Aya Elmileik 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. 

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Instagram, X, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

As Israel’s war on Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria continues, we're coming to you on Sundays with a weekly roundup. This week: Israel attacks Iranian nuclear sites and Tehran. Palestinians continue to be attacked and killed at aid sites across Gaza. Five Western countries announce sanctions on two Israeli ministers. It is day 618 of the war on Gaza where at least 55,362 Palestinians have been killed. 

In this episode:

• Caley Callahan, Al Jazeera Journalist
• Tohid Asadi, Al Jazeera Reporter
• Tareq Abu Azzoum, (@abuoazzum), Al Jazeera Correspondent
• Nour Odeh, (@nourodeh), Al Jazeera Senior Correspondent

Episode credits:

This episode was hosted by Nida Ibrahim and produced by Marthe van der Wolf. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad 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 Instagram, X, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

After Israel launched strikes in Tehran and other Iranian cities, Iran responded with its own firepower. What is behind this dramatic escalation, and what will it mean for the region and beyond?

In this episode:

• Dorsa Jabbari (@DorsaJabbari), Al Jazeera Correspondent

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolomé, Amy Walters, and Tamara Khandaker with Catherine Nouhan, Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Mariana Navarette, Haleema Shah, and our guest host, Manuel Rapalo. It was edited by Noor Wazwaz. 

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Joe Plourde mixed this episode. 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:

@AJEPodcasts on Instagram, X, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

AI chatbots can reduce anxiety and depression, according to recent research. As chatbot therapy goes mainstream, can it replace a real therapeutic relationship?

In this episode:

• Michael Alcée (@mike_drop_1), Clinical Psychologist and Author

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Noor Wazwaz and Chloe K Li, with Sarí el-Khalili, Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Kisaa Zehra, Mariana Navarrete, Remas Alhawari, and our guest host, Natasha del Toro. It was edited by Alexandra Locke. 

Joe Plourde mixed this episode. 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 Instagram, X, Facebook, Threads and YouTube