The Take

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‘Alligator Alcatraz’: where are the missing detainees? Sep 29, 2025

Show notes

Hundreds of migrants have vanished from official records after being held at Florida’s so-called “Alligator Alcatraz,” leaving families and lawyers in the dark. With reports of abuse, secretive contracts, and mounting legal challenges, the state-run detention center has become a symbol of Donald Trump’s aggressive mass deportation agenda.

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In this episode:

Thomas Kennedy, Policy Analyst, Florida Immigrant Coalition

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Tracie Hunte and Tamara Khandaker with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Melanie Marich, Kisaa Zehra, Farhan Rafid, and our host, Natashe Del Toro. It was edited by Kylene Kiang.

The Take production team is Marcos Bartolomé, Sonia Bhagat, Spencer Cline, Sarí el-Khalili, Tracie Hunte, Tamara Khandaker, Kylene Kiang, Phillip Lanos, Chloe K. Li, Melanie Marich, Catherine Nouhan, Haleema Shah, Amy Walters, 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.

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Brief: Netanyahu at UN, Lebanon marks Nasrallah assassination Sep 28, 2025

Show notes

This week: Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the UN General Assembly as Israel continued its destruction of Gaza City. Lebanon marked one year since Israel's assassination of Hassan Nasrallah. It is day 723 of the war on Gaza, where more than 65,926 Palestinians have been killed.

In this episode:

Lucia Newman, (@lucianewman) Al Jazeera Correspondent
Tareq Abu Azzoum, (@abuoazzum) Al Jazeera Diplomatic Editor
Zeina Khodr, (@ZeinakhodrAljaz) 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 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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Ahmed al-Sharaa’s high-stakes bid to remake Syria Sep 26, 2025

Show notes

For the first time in nearly 60 years, a Syrian leader speaks at the UN. It was a symbolic moment for a nation long-isolated from the international stage. President Ahmed al-Sharaa says he can rebuild Syria through private investment and a deal with Israel. But how much can he concede in the name of progress, without losing Syrian public support?

In this episode:

Ali Harb (@Harbpeace), Al Jazeera senior producer

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Haleema Shah, Sari El-Khalili and Chloe K. Li, with Marcos Bartolomé, Melanie Marich, Farhan Rafid, and our guest host, Natasha Del Toro. It was edited by Kylene Kiang and 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.

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Inside the TikTok deal: the politics of the algorithm Sep 25, 2025

Show notes

TikTok’s feed is famous for knowing users better than they know themselves. Now, a US deal could put that power in the hands of Trump allies and tech giants. What might change for the 170 million Americans on the app – and what does this fight reveal about control of speech and data?

In this episode:

Robert Rogowsky, Professor of Trade and Economic Diplomacy at the Middlebury Institute for International Studies

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Tamara Khandaker, Sarí el-Khalili, and Chloe K. Li, with Manny Panaretos, Melanie Marich, Marcos Bartolomé, Kisaa Zehra, Farhan Rafid, and our guest host, Kevin Hirten. 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.

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Why Eswatini said yes to US deportees Sep 24, 2025

Show notes

The US has now struck deals with five African countries to accept deportees convicted of crimes. The individuals aren’t sent to their countries of origin, but to a third country. Eswatini took five men who aren’t its citizens. With Ghana, Rwanda, South Sudan and others signing on, what do these governments gain? And what happens to due process for the people caught in between?

In this episode:

Cebelihle Mbuyisa (@CebelihleM), Journalist

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Tracie Hunte, Sarí el Khalili, and Haleema Shah with Melanie Marich, Kisaa Zehra, and Farhan Rafid, and 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.

Connect with us:

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Will Europe boycott Israel? Sep 23, 2025

Show notes

From Madrid to Brussels, protesters are turning sports, culture, and trade into flashpoints over Israel’s war on Gaza. Europe’s leaders are proposing sanctions and recognition. Is this momentum strong enough to shift power? Or are governments offering small steps to manage unrest while avoiding deeper change?

In this episode:

Alys Samson Estapé, Organizer, Stop Complicity With Israel

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolomé and Haleema Shah with Manny Panaretos, Chloe K. Li, Melanie Marich, Kisaa Zehra, Farhan Rafid, and our 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.

Connect with us:

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What is the future of US dissent in the post-Charlie Kirk era? Sep 22, 2025

Show notes

A wave of firings has followed since the killing of controversial right-wing activist Charlie Kirk. From TV hosts and journalists to professors, critics who spoke honestly about his record have faced consequences, even as Kirk is elevated as a martyr by the right. What does this backlash reveal about who gets to speak freely in the US today?

In this episode:

Manisha Krishnan (@manishakrishnan), Senior Culture Editor, WIRED

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Tamara Khandaker, Tracie Hunte, and Sarí el-Khalili, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Chloe K. Li, Melanie Marich, Farhan Rafid, Kisaa Zehra, and our guest host, Natasha Del Toro. 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

Brief: US veto on Gaza at UN, Palestinians take refuge in dumps Sep 21, 2025

Show notes

This week: Displaced Palestinians are forced to live on garbage dumps. The US again vetoed a UN resolution to end the war on Gaza. An update on Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya. Today is Sunday, September 21. It is day 716 of the war in Gaza, where more than 65,208 Palestinians have been killed.

In this episode:

Hind Khoudary, (@Hind_Gaza) Al Jazeera Correspondent
James Bays, (@baysontheroad) Al Jazeera Diplomatic Editor
Charles Stratford, (@stratfordch) Al Jazeera Producer

Episode credits:

Connect with us:

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

Another Take: How Antifa hysteria took over the US Sep 20, 2025

Show notes

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on September 30, 2020. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed.

During the 2020 United States elections, President Donald Trump has focused much of his campaign rhetoric on mask-wearing, window-breaking Antifa as a new American enemy. But as long as fascism has existed, so too has the anti-fascist movement. So where did this misconception of Antifa as a shadowy cabal of leftists come from, and what is Antifa in reality?

Episode credits:

This episode was updated by Haleema Shah. The original production team was Negin Owliaei and Alexandra Locke with Abigail Ony Nwaohuocha, Dina Kesbeh, Priyanka Tilve, Amy Walters, Ney Alvarez, Stacey Samuel, Graelyn Brashear, and Malika Bilal.

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 X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

The White House Peace Vigil is dismantled – why? Sep 19, 2025

Show notes

For 44 years, 24 hours a day, a symbol of dissent has stood across from the White House – often considered the longest act of political protest in US history. The White House Peace Vigil greets visitors from all over the world, calling for nuclear disarmament and an end to war. Then it caught the eye of US President Donald Trump.

In this episode:

Marissa Lang, (@Marissa_Jae), Reporter, The Washington Post
Ellen Thomas, White House Peace Vigil Activist

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Noor Wazwaz, Sarí el-Khalili, Haleema Shah with Chloe K. Li, Kisaa Zehra, Melanie Marich, Farhan Rafid, and our host, Natasha Del Toro. 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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