The Take

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Is AI headed for a breaking point? Jan 07, 2026

Show notes

Artificial intelligence is moving fast - from chatbots to autonomous systems and physical machines. As investment surges, so do concerns about job losses, surveillance, warfare and whether the boom can last. We take a look at where AI is headed in 2026 and the growing resistance against unchecked technological power.

In this episode:

Brian Merchant (@bcmerchant), Writer, Blood in the Machine

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Tamara Khandaker and Chloe K. Li, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Fatima Shafiq, and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Noor Wazwaz.

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.

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What does Israel’s recognition of Somaliland mean for the region? Jan 06, 2026

Show notes

Israel has become the first country in the world to recognize the breakaway region of Somaliland since it declared independence in 1991. What does the move mean for regional tensions around the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, and what will aligning with Israel mean for Somaliland?

In this episode:

Faisal Ali (@FaisalAHAli), Journalist, Al Jazeera English

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Tracie Hunte, Sarí el-Khalili, and Melanie Marich, with 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. 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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After the shock of Maduro’s capture, what’s next for Venezuela? Jan 04, 2026

Show notes

What happens when the US says it will “run” a country? President Donald Trump says the US will take control of Venezuela after arresting President Nicolas Maduro. The move has few modern parallels and raises urgent questions about sovereignty, oil, and regional stability. Why now?

In this episode:

Lucia Newman, Al Jazeera’s Latin America editor

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Noor Wazwaz and David Enders with Farhan Rafid and our host, Kevin Hirten. It was edited by Alexandra Locke.

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. 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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Brief: New Israeli restrictions on NGOs in Gaza take effect Jan 04, 2026

Show notes

This week: 95 days into a ceasefire, Israel has killed at least 418 Palestinians in Gaza. Israel placed new restrictions on NGOs operating in Gaza. As a new year began, Palestinians in Gaza continued to put hopes in a fragile ceasefire. Israel has killed at least 71,384 Palestinians in Gaza since October 7th, 2023.

In this episode:

Hani Mahmoud, Al Jazeera Correspondent
Tareq Abu Azzoum, (@abuoazzum) Al Jazeera Correspondent
Sinem Koseoglu, (@sinemkoseoglu) 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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Another Take: Twitch to politics – Hasan Piker on Gaza and the US right-wing Jan 03, 2026

Show notes

Every Saturday, we revisit 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 3 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

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, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.

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2025 in Review: Is ICE in the US operating as secret police? Jan 02, 2026

Show notes

We’re looking back at 10 of the episodes that defined 2025 at The Take. This originally aired on November 19. None of the dates or references have been changed.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is operating in an unprecedented way during US President Donald Trump’s second term. The agency has existed for over 20 years, but now operates as a masked force. Imposters posing as agents have committed crimes such as kidnapping and sexual assault. The FBI has urged ICE officers to unmask and identify themselves. How did the agency get here?

In this episode:

Hannah Allam (@HannahAllam), Reporter, ProPublica

Episode credits:

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

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2025 in Review: What Charlie Kirk’s death says about political division in the US Jan 01, 2026

Show notes

We’re looking back at 10 of the episodes that defined 2025 at The Take. This originally aired on September 11. None of the dates or references have been changed.

Shot while answering a question about mass shootings, outspoken gun-rights advocate and conservative activist Charlie Kirk was killed on a university campus. What does this moment signal for escalating political violence and the state of US politics?

In this episode:

Matthew Boedy (@MatthewBoedy), Professor of Rhetoric, University of North Georgia

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Amy Walters, Sarí el-Khalili, Diana Ferrero and Tamara Khandaker, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Melanie Marich, Chloe K. Li, Farhan Rafid, Kisaa Zehra, and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Noor Wazwaz and Kylene Kiang. Special thanks to Negin Owliaei.

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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2025 in review: What does survival look like in Gaza City? Dec 31, 2025

Show notes

We’re looking back at 10 of the episodes that defined 2025 at The Take. This originally aired on September 3. None of the dates or references have been changed.

Inside Gaza City, as the Israeli military escalates its takeover, Al Jazeera continues to report from the ground on the day-to-day reality for more than a million Palestinians still there. As top scholars declare that Israel is committing genocide and US plans for a "Gaza Riviera" continue to circulate, how are Palestinians bracing for what comes next?

In this episode:

Hani Mahmoud, Al Jazeera Correspondent

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Amy Walters, Tamara Khandaker, Sarí el Khalili and Diana Ferrero, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Melanie Marich, Farhan Rafid, Kisaa Zehra, 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. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.

Special thanks to Youmna ElSayed.

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2025 in Review: Is Trump trying to start a war with Venezuela? Dec 30, 2025

Show notes

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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2025 in Review: Is ChatGPT hurting our critical thinking skills? Dec 29, 2025

Show notes

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

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