The Take

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Twitch to politics: Hasan Piker on Gaza and the US right-wing Aug 19, 2025

Show notes

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 produced by Tracie Hunte, Sonia Bhagat, and Chloe K. Li with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Melanie Marich, Julia Muldavin, Kisaa Zehra, Farhan Rafid, and our host, Malika Bilal. 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.

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The children abandoned by South Korea’s adoption policy Aug 18, 2025

Show notes

The world’s largest diaspora of international adoptees comes from South Korea. Among them are mixed-race children who were forcibly sent for adoption due to the country’s racist laws. One Black adoptee’s search for a home reflects hard truths about the past of hundreds of thousands of international adoptees.

This is a story from the archives. This originally aired on September 25 2024. None of the dates, titles or other references from that time have been changed.

In this episode:

Anna Kook (@annakook), AJ+ Reporter

This episode was produced by Amy Walters and Sarí el-Khalili, with Khaled Soltan, Chloe K. Li, Duha Mosaad, Sonia Bhagat, Phillip Lanos, Hisham Abu Salah, and our host, Malika Bilal. 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, 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. 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 X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

Brief: Starvation in Gaza continues, New settlement announced Aug 17, 2025

Show notes

This week: Israel continued to attack north Gaza. An Israeli minister announced an aggressive plan to build settlements. Palestinian journalists in Gaza fear for their safety. It is day 681 of the war in Gaza, where at least 61,369 Palestinians have been killed.

In this episode:

Taeq Abu Azzoum, (@TareqAzzom) Al Jazeera Correspondent
Ibrahim al Khalili, (@hema.alkhalili) Al Jazeera Correspondent
Hamdah Salhut, (@hamdahsalhut) Al Jazeera Correspondent
Hani Mahmoud, 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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@AJEPodcasts on Instagram, X, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Why is Trump meeting Putin in Alaska? Aug 15, 2025

Show notes

What does the Alaska summit hold for Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin? The two presidents will meet Friday, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is not invited. As Russia is gaining ground in Ukraine, what could a deal look like, and who will pay the price?

In this episode:

Osama Bin Javaid (@osamabinjavaid), Al Jazeera Correspondent

This episode was produced by Diana Ferrero, Amy Walters, Sonia Bhagat, and Noor Wazwaz, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Melanie Marich, Chloe K Li, Julia Muldavin, Kisaa Zehra, Farhan Rafid, and our host, Malika Bilal. 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 X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

Why countries back Palestinian statehood but arm Israel Aug 14, 2025

Show notes

Australia is joining a growing list of countries saying they will recognize Palestine as a state - a move Palestinians and their advocates warn is symbolic at best, and dangerous at worst - even as those same countries continue supplying arms to Israel. So what does recognizing Palestinian statehood actually mean?

In this episode:

Antony Loewenstein (@antloewenstein), Author of The Palestine Laboratory

This episode was produced by Tamara Khandaker, Amy Walters, Sonia Bhagat, and Tracie Hunte, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Nadia Hoummouri, Melanie Marich, Kisaa Zehra, and our guest host, Kevin Hirten. It was edited by Kylene Kiang 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:

@AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

What is the future of journalism in Gaza? Aug 13, 2025

Show notes

Hundreds of journalists have been killed by Israel in Gaza since October 7, 2023. Inside the enclave, reporters feel abandoned by the very world they’re informing. What’s happening to Gaza’s journalists, and why?

This is a story from the archives. This originally aired on January 22, 2024. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed.

In this episode:

Anan Quzmar (@QuzmarAnan), Volunteer at the Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate
Ismael al Dahdouh, Journalist
Akram al Satarri, Journalist

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Amy Walters and Sarí el-Khalili, with Ashish Malhotra, Chloe K. Li, David Enders, Fahrinisa Campana, Khaled Soltan, Miranda Lin, Negin Owliaei, Sonia Bhagat, Zaina Badr, and our host Malika Bilal.

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

Al Jazeera journalists killed in Gaza again. Who will bear witness? Aug 11, 2025

Show notes

Five Al Jazeera journalists, including correspondents Anas al-Sharif and Mohammed Qreiqeh, were killed in an Israeli strike on a press tent in Gaza. They had lived the story they told, from hunger and displacement to the relentless bombardment. As Israel plans to seize Gaza City, what will the world lose without the ears and eyes who bore witness from inside?

In this episode:

Mohamed Moawad (@moawady), Managing Editor, Al Jazeera Arabic

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Noor Wazwaz, Sarí el-Khalili, Amy Walters, Sonia Bhagat, and Diana Ferrero, with Melanie Marich, Chloe K Li, Kisaa Zehra, Manny Panaretos, Nadia Hammouri and guest host, Kevin Hirten. It was edited by Kylene Kiang 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:

@AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

When AI agents take the lead, do humans lose control? Aug 11, 2025

Show notes

AI agents are taking charge. They’re booking appointments, managing your inbox, and handling tasks with minimal input. They promise convenience, but some have leaked data, made surprise purchases, and even tried to replicate themselves. Big Tech and the military are betting big on their future. As we hand over more control, are we ready for what comes next?

In this episode:

Grace Huckins (@grace_huckins), AI Reporter, MIT Technology Review

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Sarí el-Khalili, Amy Walters, Diana Ferrero, and Sonia Bhagat, with Phillip Lanos, Melanie Marich, Marya Khan, Kisaa Zehra, Farhan Rafid, and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Kylene Kiang.

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, Amy Walters, and Noor Wazwaz. Our editorial interns are Marya Khan, Kisaa Zehra, and Farhan Rafid. Our host is Malika Bilal. 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 X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

Brief: Israeli plans for Gaza City, Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah Aug 10, 2025

Show notes

This week: Israel announced plans to occupy Gaza City. An NGO has called US-backed aid distribution sites in Gaza "orchestrated killing". Lebanon's government says it will disarm Hezbollah by the end of the year. It is day 674 of the war in Gaza, where at least 61,369 Palestinians have been killed.

In this episode:

Ibrahim al Khalili, Al Jazeera Correspondent
Behdad Mahichi, Al Jazeera Producer
Zeina Khodr, (@ZeinakhodrAlJaz) Al Jazeera Correspondent

Episode credits:

Connect with us:

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

Another Take: In Tanzania, the Maasai may lose their land – again Aug 09, 2025

Show notes

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on July 11, 2022. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed.

In the shadow of Serengeti National Park, some 70,000 people may soon lose the land that is their home. They’re Maasai, an indigenous semi-nomadic people living alongside safari tours and game hunters. The Tanzanian government says an area where they live, Loliondo, is overpopulated and that it is threatening a precious ecosystem famed for its wild animals. It looks like a classic case of human vs animal – but the animals are also attractive to trophy hunters, and for the Maasai, the story goes much deeper.

In this episode:

Joseph Oleshangay (@Oleshangay), Human Rights Lawyer
Anuradha Mittal (@Mittaloak), Executive Director, Oakland Institute
Parselelo Kantai, Journalist and Writer

Episode credits:

This episode was updated by Tamara Khandaker. The original production team was Alexandra Locke, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, Ruby Zaman, Ney Alvarez, 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.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

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