The Take

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Brief: Ceasefire in south Syria, Gaza students sit for exams Jul 20, 2025

Show notes

This week, Syria's government has declared a ceasefire in southern Syria. Israel bombed Syria and Lebanon. Students in Gaza struggle to complete exams. It is day 653 of the war in Gaza, where at least 58,765 Palestinians have been killed.

In this episode:

Mohammed Vall, (@Md_Vall) Al Jazeera Correspondent
Nour Odeh, (@nour_odeh) Al Jazeera Correspondent
Tareq Abu Azzoum, (@TareqAzzom) 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 Instagram, X, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Another Take: What can humanity do about heatwaves? Jul 19, 2025

Show notes

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on June 13, 2024. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed.

It's still spring in parts of the Northern Hemisphere, but the world faces scorching hot temperatures. Summer heat has arrived early, setting records, claiming lives, and expected to get worse. Who's responsible and what should be done about it?

In this episode:

Johan Rockström (@jrockstrom) – Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
Jeff Goodell (@jeffgoodell) – Author of The Heat Will Kill You First

Episode credits:

This episode was updated by Marthe van der Wolf. The original production team was Sarí el-Khalili and Khaled Soltan, with Ashish Malhotra, Tamara Khandaker 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. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.

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Why is Taiwan training for war with China? Jul 18, 2025

Show notes

Taiwan’s annual war games simulating a real Chinese invasion are bigger than ever. As China continues to ramp up military pressure on the island, what does it feel like to live in a place rehearsing for invasion?

In this episode:

William Yang (@WilliamYang120), Senior Analyst, International Crisis Group

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Tamara Khandaker, Noor Wazwaz, and Amy Walters with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Kisaa Zehra, Marya Khan, and our guest host, Manuel Rapalo. It was edited by Sarí el-Khalili.

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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Canary Mission: how has the site been used to target pro-Palestine activists? Jul 17, 2025

Show notes

Canary Mission, an anonymous pro-Israel group and website, has been blacklisting pro-Palestinian students, professors and activists for more than 10 years. Now, the Trump administration has revealed that it has been using the list to target academics for deportation. What is the impact?

In this episode:

Darryl Li (@dcli), Professor of Anthropology and Social Sciences, University of Chicago

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Diana Ferrero, Noor Wazwaz, Tracie Hunte and Chloe K. Li with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Kisaa Zehra, Marya Khan, Melanie Marich and our guest host, Manuel Rápalo. It was edited by Sarí el-Khalili and Kylene Kiang.

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Why is Israel escalating its strikes against Syria? Jul 15, 2025

Show notes

Israel has targeted Syrian government forces in a wave of deadly airstrikes, at the same time as violence has gripped the southern province of Suwayda. In the spotlight is Syria’s Druze minority, also present in Israel. What does the fighting spell for Syria’s future?

In this episode:

Osama Bin Javaid (@osamabinjavaid), Al Jazeera correspondent

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Amy Walters and Tamara Khandaker with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Duha Mosaad, Melanie Marich, Marya Khan, Kisaa Zehra, and our guest host, Manuel Rapalo. It was edited by Sarí el-Khalili and Kylene Kiang.

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Eating our way out of climate collapse Jul 15, 2025

Show notes

A third of greenhouse gas emissions come from the food industry, largely from meat, dairy and eggs. The international Plant Based Treaty aims to combat this by advocating for a vegan diet as a key solution to climate change. Backed by cities, universities, Nobel laureates and thousands of individuals, it seeks to align global efforts with the Paris Agreement.

This is a story from the archives. This originally aired on November 29, 2024. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed.

In this episode:

Juan Pablo Casadiego (@casadiego_juan), Plant Based Treaty Coordinator
Anita Krajnc (@animalrightsyay), Plant Based Treaty Coordinator

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolome and Veronique Eshaya with Sarí el-Khalili, Duha Mosaad, Hagir Saleh, Cole van Miltenburg, Manny Panaretos, and our guest host, Kevin Hirten. 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.

Connect with us:

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

Why are Afghan refugees being sent back to Taliban rule? Jul 14, 2025

Show notes

Afghans who fled decades ago are now being forced back to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan as Iran, Pakistan, or the US turn their backs on them. With refugees who were once promised safety now being deported into crisis, why are these countries choosing to abandon them, and what does this reveal about the state of asylum worldwide?

In this episode:

Obaidullah Baheer (@ObaidullaBaheer), Adjunct Lecturer, American University of Afghanistan

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Remas Alhawari and Marcos Bartolomé with Leonidas Sofogiannis, Kisaa Zehra, Melanie Marich, Sarí el-Khalili, and guest host, Kevin Hirten. It was edited by Kylene Kiang and 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, Haleema Shah, Khaled Soltan, Amy Walters, and Noor Wazwaz. Our editorial interns are Remas Alhawari, Marya Khan, and Kisaa Zehra. Our guest host is Kevin Hirten. 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

Brief: US citizen killed in Occupied West Bank, north Gaza bombed Jul 13, 2025

Show notes

As Israel’s war on Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria continues, we’re coming to you on Sundays with a weekly roundup. This week: Israeli settlers killed a Palestinian American in the occupied West Bank. Israeli soldiers continued shooting Palestinians in Gaza as they tried to obtain basic supplies.

It is day 646 of the war in Gaza, where at least 57,882 Palestinians have been killed.

In this episode:

Nour Odeh, (@nour_odeh) Al Jazeera Correspondent
Tareq Abu Azzoum, (@TareqAzzom) Al Jazeera Correspondent

Episode credits:

Connect with us:

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

Another Take: Why is Mexico City running out of water? Jul 12, 2025

Show notes

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on March 12, 2024. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed.

Mexico City’s residents are approaching a “day zero” where the government will no longer be able to provide them water. A city that was once built on water is now nearly dried up. How did this happen and what is being done to fix it?

In this episode:

Alejandra Cuellar (@ale_cuellar), Environmental Reporter, Dialogo Chino
Addi Palacios, Indigenous Activist

Episode credits:

This episode was updated by Tamara Khandaker. The original production team was Chloe K. Li, Negin Owliaei, Ashish Malhotra, and our host Malika Bilal.

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Can Trump strip Musk, Mamdani and others of their US citizenship? Jul 11, 2025

Show notes

US President Donald Trump is threatening to strip away citizenship from some naturalized citizens, including billionaire Elon Musk and New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. In a country where more than 25 million people are naturalized citizens, who is really at risk?

In this episode:

Heba Gowayed (@hebagowayed), professor of sociology, CUNY Hunter College and Graduate Center

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Tracie Hunte, Tamara Khandaker and Diana Ferrero with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Kisaa Zehra, Melanie Marich, Sarí el-Khalili, and our 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 Instagram, X, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

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