The Take

Canada is facing a separatist push unlike anything it has seen in decades. In Alberta, after hundreds of thousands signed a petition demanding a vote, a once fringe movement is now headed toward a government-backed referendum. Prime Minister Mark Carney warns this could become Canada’s Brexit moment. But how far could this movement really go?

In this episode: 

• Jason Markusoff (@markusoff), CBC Journalist

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Noor Wazwaz and Sarí el-Khalili with Marcos Bartolomé, Catherine Nouhan and our guest host, Tamara Khandakar. 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. 

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US President Donald Trump is tightening the screws on Cuba, with an indictment against former Cuban President Raul Castro and military threats that echo Washington’s playbook in Venezuela. But after surviving decades of US pressure, Cuba is preparing. As blackouts spread and tensions rise, is this just political theater, or the beginning of a major confrontation?

In this episode: 

• Lucia Newman (@lucianewman), Al Jazeera Senior Latin America Correspondent

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolomé and Sarí el-Khalili with Catherine Nouhan and our guest host, Tamara Khandaker. 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. 

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This is a story from the archives. This originally aired on March 28, 2025. None of the dates, titles or other references from that time have been changed. 

Palestinians in Gaza are preparing to mark the end of Ramadan with Eid al-Fitr. The holiday is happening during the escalation of Israel's war on Gaza, with aid blocked and families forced to flee again. Even focused on avoiding starvation, people are finding a way to mark the holiday during war.

In this episode: 

• Laila el-Haddad (@gazamom), Author & Journalist 

Episode credits:

This episode was updated by Sarí el-Khalili. The original production team was Sarí el-Khalili, Sonia Bhagat, and Chloe K. Li, Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Kylene Kiang, Kisaa Zehra, Remas Alhawari, Melanie Marich, Marcos Bartolomé, Hanah Shokeir, Alexandra Locke and our guest host, Kevin Hirten.

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.

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US President Donald Trump claimed a deal with Iran was “largely negotiated”, before later saying talks were still ongoing. A draft US-Iran memorandum of understanding has sparked backlash in Washington, alarm in Israel and fresh questions over sanctions, nuclear talks and the shaky ceasefire. So how close are the two sides to a real agreement?

In this episode:  

•  Ali Hashem (@alihashem), Al Jazeera Senior Correspondent

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by David Enders and Sarí el-Khalili with Catherine Nouhan, Tuleen Barakat, and our guest host, Kevin Hirten. It was edited by Tamara Khandaker.  

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. 

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

This is 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 three 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 & Political Commentator

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.

Connect with us:

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This week: 235 days into a ceasefire, Israel has killed at least 880 Palestinians in Gaza. The Iran and US were said to be making progress in negotiations. World Central Kitchen reduces its work in Gaza. Israel deports international activists. Israel has killed more than 72,775 Palestinians in Gaza since October 7th, 2023.

In this episode:

• Tohid Asadi, Al Jazeera Correspondent
• Tareq Abu Azzoum, (@abuoazzum) Al Jazeera Journalist
• Nida Ibrahim, (@nida_aljazeera) Al Jazeera Correspondent

Episode credits:

This episode was produced and mixed by Marthe van der Wolf. 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.

Connect with us:

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Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on February 21, 2021. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed.

Two viruses, two vaccines, one unequal system: Guinean health officials declared an Ebola epidemic after reporting the first cases of the virus since West Africa’s deadly outbreak ended in 2016. One thing that has changed since that last outbreak: the availability of a vaccine. But like we have seen with the coronavirus pandemic, the existence of a vaccine does not necessarily mean access to one.

In this episode:

• Nicolas Haque, Al Jazeera journalist
• Gladys Archange, Guinea country representative for Catholic Relief Services.
  

Episode credits:

This episode was updated by Marthe van der Wolf. The original production team was Negin Owliaei, Malika Bilal, Priyanka Tilve, Dina Kesbeh, Alexandra Locke, Ney Alvarez and Amy Walters.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Adam Abou-Gad and Vienna Maglio. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer.

Connect with us:

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We hear how San Diego’s Muslim community is grieving, supporting one another, and trying to move forward after an attack that shattered their sense of safety. How does a community begin healing after unimaginable loss?

In this episode:  

• Sarah Hassaine (@shassaine), Community Leader

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Chloe K. Li and Sarí el-Khalili, with Spencer Cline, Catherine Nouhan, Tuleen Barat, 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.  

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From mosques to temples, old religious battles are back in India’s courts. A law passed after the Babri Masjid dispute was meant to stop exactly this. But new claims are moving forward again, as Hindu nationalism grows and many Muslims fear the protections once promised to them are slipping away.

In this episode: 

• Yashraj Sharma (@yashjournals), Al Jazeera Reporter

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolomé and Sarí el-Khalili with Spencer Cline, Noor Wazwaz, Tuleen Barakat, and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Tamara Khandaker.  

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. 

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing the biggest crisis of his leadership after Labour’s bruising election losses sparked panic inside the party. As Nigel Farage and Reform UK gain ground, we examine why Starmer’s authority appears to be slipping before any formal challenge has even begun and whether Britain is entering another period of political instability.

In this episode: 

• Kieran Andrieu (@kieran_andrieu), Political Economist

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Noor Wazwaz and Sarí el-Khalili, with Spencer Cline, Tuleen Barakat, Catherine Nouhan and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Tamara Khandakar. 

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. 

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube