The Take

United Nations agencies are facing an unprecedented financial crisis, with the United States abruptly pulling aid, European contributions shrinking, and global budgets shifting to defence. Deep cuts, mass layoffs and sweeping reforms are under way, jeopardising food, shelter and other aid for millions around the world. How can the UN adapt to survive?

In this episode:

• Gabriel Elizondo (@elizondogabriel), Al Jazeera correspondent

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolomé and Tamara Khandaker, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Kisaa Zehra, Mariana Navarrete, and our host, Manuel Rapalo. It was edited by Alexandra Locke.

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. 

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

Feeling lonely? You’re not the only one, and it’s not just in your head. The World Health Organization has called loneliness a global health threat, linked to serious physical and mental harm. But researchers say connection is a skill we can relearn, and rebuilding it might just save our lives.

This episode originally aired on December 13, 2023. All dates, titles, and references reflect that time and remain unchanged.

In this episode:

• Niobe Way (@niobe_way), New York University Professor of Developmental Psychology

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Miranda Lin, Sarí el-Khalili, Zaina Badr, and our guest host Natasha del Toro.

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

As Israel’s war on Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria continues, we're coming to you on Sundays with a weekly roundup. This week: Israel approved a new plan for displacing Palestinians in Gaza. A Turkish student arrested in the US for her views on Gaza was released. Talks between the US and Iran were scheduled to resume. It is day 583 of the war. More than 53,253 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed.

In this episode:

• Hamdah Salhut (@hamdahsalhut), Al Jazeera Correspondent
• Tareq Abou Azzoum (@@TareqAzzom), Al Jazeera Correspondent
• Alan Fisher (@AlanFisher), 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 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.

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

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on October 25, 2024. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed.

The sex trafficking trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs is under way in New York. The music mogul courted controversy since the 1990s and now faces allegations of trafficking and coercing women into drug-fueled sexual performances. The Take looks back at the rise of one of the most powerful men in Hollywood and the significance of his arrest.

In this episode:

• Kim Osorio (@kimosorio1), Hip-hop Journalist

Episode credits:

This episode was updated by Haleema Shah. This original production team was Chloe K. Li, Khaled Soltan, Amy Walters, and Sarí el-Khalili with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Duha Mosaad, Hagir Saleh, Cole Van Miltenburg, and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Noor Wazwaz. 

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. 

Connect with us:

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

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), Al Jazeera senior editor and writer

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:

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

Israel bombed Yemen’s Sanaa airport and Hodeidah port within 24 hours, as tensions have been escalating in response to Israel's war on Gaza. On Sunday, the Houthis launched missiles that landed near Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. What does it mean for Yemenis facing this escalation?

In this episode:

• Maysaa Shuja al-Deen (@maysaashujaa), Yemeni writer and researcher

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Chloe K. Li, Sonia Bhagat, and Sarí el-Khalili with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Khaled Soltan, Kisaa Zehra, Kingwell Ma, Remas Alhawari, Mariana Navarette 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 Instagram, X, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin celebrates 25 years in power this week, along with a Victory Day parade attended by leaders from around the world. We chart his rise to power, how his worldview has changed, and what we can expect from him next.

In this episode:

• Mikhail Zygar (@zygaro), Writer & Author of The Last Pioneer Substack

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Amy Walters, Sonia Bhagat, Ashish Malhotra with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Khaled Soltan, Khaled Soltan, Kingwell Ma, Remas Al Hawari, Mariana Navarette, Kisaa Zehra, and our guest host, Natasha Del Toro. It was edited by 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:

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

Drones struck the Conscience, a ship carrying humanitarian aid in international waters, after more than two months of blockade by Israel of aid into Gaza. Freedom Flotilla Coalition organizers believe Israel, which has attacked their ships in the past, is responsible. Israel has not commented on the strikes. What does this attack mean for Palestinians in Gaza – and activists trying to break the siege?

In this episode:

• Huwaida Arraf (@huwaidaarraf), Human Rights Lawyer

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan and Tamara Khandaker, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Sarí el-Khalili, Marcos Bartolomé, Mariana Navarrete, Haleema Shah, Remas Alhawari, and our guest host, Manuel Rapalo. It was edited by Alexandra Locke. 

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

TikToks claiming luxury brand goods are manufactured in Chinese factories have gone viral in shoppers’ feeds. This comes after the closure of a major import loophole and 145% tariffs on Chinese goods. What do these videos reveal about American consumer culture and the course of this trade war?

In this episode:

• Caiwei Chen (@CaiweiC), Reporter at MIT Technology Review

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Sarí el-Khalili and Chloe K. Li, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Ashish Malhotra, Tamara Khandaker, Amy Walters, Marcos Bartolomé, and our guest host, Natasha del Toro. It was edited by Noor Wazwaz. 

The Take production team is Marcos Bartolomé, Sonia Bhagat, Spencer Cline, 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, Kisaa Zehra, and Kingwell Ma. Our guest host is Natasha del Toro. Our engagement producers are Adam Abou-Gad and Vienna Maglio. Aya Elmileik 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 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: Dozens of Palestinians in Gaza have starved to death. Drones struck a ship in the Mediterranean with aid bound for Gaza. Israel attacked Syria. It is day 576 of the war in Gaza, where more than 52,495 Palestinians have been killed.

In this episode:

• Ibrahim al Khalili, (@hema.alkhalili) Al Jazeera Correspondent
• Imran Khan, (@ajimran) 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 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