The Take

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Can Europe’s music festivals break from pro-Israel funders? Jun 10, 2025

Show notes

Barcelona’s Sónar Festival, a major music and technology event, is seeing artist withdrawals after revelations about its parent company, Superstruct. The live events giant is backed by the investment firm KKR, linked to Israeli weapons makers and illegal West Bank settlements, prompting a growing boycott.

In this episode:

Dania Shihab, Artist

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolomé and Tamara Khandaker, with Sarí el-Khalili, Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Kisaa Zehra, Mariana Navarrete, and our host, Natasha del Toro. It was edited by Noor Wazwaz and Sarí el-Khalili. Special thanks to Noelia Ramírez.

Joe Plourde mixed this episode. 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.

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

How to become a bike-friendly city? Lessons from a Paris revolution Jun 09, 2025

Show notes

Smog once choked Paris streets. Now, cleaner air, grassroots pressure and a bold city agenda are reshaping how the city breathes and moves. From bottom-up activism to political pushback, Paris’s transformation reveals a success story in the fight to reclaim public space.

In this episode:

Natacha Butler (@natachabut), Al Jazeera Correspondent
Daniel Grajales, Member of Paris en Selle

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolomé and Sarí el-Khalili, with Kylene Kiang, Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Mariana Navarrete, Remas Alhawari, Kisaa Zehra, and our host, Manuel Rápalo. It was edited by Alexandra Locke.

The Take production team is Marcos Bartolomé, Sonia Bhagat, Sarí el-Khalili, Tamara Khandaker, Phillip Lanos, Chloe K. Li, Kylene Kiang, Ashish Malhotra, Khaled Soltan, Amy Walters, and Noor Wazwaz. Our editorial interns are Remas Alhawari, Kingwell Ma, Mariana Navarrete, 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.

Joe Plourde mixed this episode. 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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@AJEPodcasts on Instagram, X, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Brief: Multiple air strikes on Beirut, Israel admits to arming gangs in Gaza Jun 08, 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: Dozens of Palestinians killed across Gaza during the Eid weekend. Israel admits to arming armed gangs in Gaza. Lebanon once again attacked by Israeli forces. It is day 611 of the war in Gaza. At least 54,772 Palestinians have been killed.

In this episode:

Ibrahim Al-Khalili, (@hemaalkhalili1), Al Jazeera Journalist
Zeina Khodr, (@ZeinakhodrAljaz), Al Jazeera Senior Correspondent
Imogen Kimber, (@ImogenKimber), Al Jazeera Senior Producer
Hamdah Salhut, (@hamdahsalhut), Al Jazeera Correspondent

Episode credits:

This episode was hosted by Nida Ibrahim and produced by Marthe van der Wolf. 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 is fueling South Korea’s political drama? Jun 07, 2025

Show notes

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on January 14th, 2025. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed.

Impeachment proceedings against suspended South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol are in full swing. Authorities have made a second attempt to detain him over his brief martial law declaration, but he remains holed up in his fortified residence, backed by supporters waving US flags and “Stop the Steal” banners. What lies ahead for South Korea?

In this episode:

Se-Woong Koo, Managing Editor of Korea Exposé

Episode credits:

This episode was updated by Sarí el-Khalili. The original production team was Sarí el-Khalili, Sonia Bhagat, Amy Walters, Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Melanie Marich, Hagir Saleh, Noor Wazwaz, and our guest host, Kevin Hirten.

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.

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

How the myth of democracy fuels the US forever wars Jun 06, 2025

Show notes

From Vietnam to Iraq and Afghanistan, US wars left not freedom but ruin. In a recent book, co-authors Noam Chomsky and Nathan Robinson expose how American elites sell violence as virtue, using the myth of democracy to justify endless war.

In this episode:

Nathan Robinson (@NathanJRobinson), Co-Author of The Myth of American Idealism

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolomé, Haleema Shah, and Sonia Bhagat, with Manny Panaretos, Mariana Navarrete, Remas Alhawari, Kisaa Zehra, and our guest host, Kevin Hirten. It was edited by Kylene Kiang.

Joe Plourde mixed this episode. 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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@AJEPodcasts on Instagram, X, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Why is the Dominican Republic deporting Haitian migrants? Jun 05, 2025

Show notes

The Dominican Republic has deported nearly 150,000 people it claims are of Haitian descent since October 2024. Many of them are unaccompanied minors or people born in the Dominican Republic but stripped of citizenship in 2013. While officials say they are enforcing immigration laws, a recent Al Jazeera documentary points to a deeper history of anti-Blackness and anti-Haitian sentiment on the island.

In this episode:

Natasha Del Toro (@ndeltoro), Al Jazeera journalist

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Tamara Khandaker, Sonia Bhagat and Ashish Malhotra, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Khaled Soltan, Mariana Navarrete, Kisaa Zehra, Remas Alhawari, Kingwell Ma, and our guest host, Manuel Rapalo. It was edited by Kylene Kiang.

Joe Plourde mixed this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah,Mohannad Al-Melhem, Kylene Kiang. 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 is Trump cracking down on Chinese students? Jun 04, 2025

Show notes

The US will begin revoking visas for Chinese students, including those in “critical fields” or with connections to the Chinese Communist Party. The US State Department has said this is to stop the exploitation of US universities and protect national security. Who is losing out in this latest development in US-China tensions?

In this episode:

Zichen Wang (@ZichenWanghere), Research Fellow & Director for International Communications at the Center for China and Globalization

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Sarí el-Khalili, Sonia Bhagat, and Chloe K. Ki, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Remas Alhawari, Mariana Navarrete, Kingwell Ma, Kisaa Zehra, Khaled Soltan, and our guest host, Natasha del Toro. It was edited by Kylene Kiang.

Joe Plourde mixed this episode. 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

How Israel’s military industry profits from war in Gaza Jun 03, 2025

Show notes

Israel’s war on Gaza has turbocharged its already booming military-tech industry, with weapons and surveillance systems tested on Palestinians continuing to be sold around the world. Israel’s role as a global arms innovator has only deepened since October 7, 2023, and some governments and corporations are profiting.

In this episode:

Antony Loewenstein (@antloewenstein), author, The Palestine Laboratory

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan, Sonia Bhagat and Ashish Malhotra, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Kingwell Ma, Kisaa Zehra, Mariana Navarette, Manny Panaretos and our guest host, Kevin Hirten. It was edited by Kylene Kiang.

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

What did Elon Musk get from DOGE – and what’s next? Jun 02, 2025

Show notes

Elon Musk may have resigned from the Department of Government Efficiency, but few believe he’s stepping away from power. In under a year, DOGE brought Silicon Valley-style disruption to Washington, consolidating federal data and dismantling oversight. Now, Musk is expected to channel what he gained into a private AI venture – with public systems still in reach.

In this episode:

Matt Binder (@mattbinder), Writer of Disruptionist

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Tamara Khandaker, Sonia Bhagat, and Chloe K. Li with Sarí el-Khalili, Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Kisaa Zehra, Mariana Navarrete, and our guest host, Natasha Del Toro. It was edited by Alexandra Locke.

The Take production team is Marcos Bartolomé, Sonia Bhagat, Sarí el-Khalili, Tamara Khandaker, Phillip Lanos, Chloe K. Li, Ashish Malhotra, Haleema Shah, Khaled Soltan, Amy Walters, and Noor Wazwaz. Our editorial interns are Remas Alhawari, Kingwell Ma, Mariana Navarrete, 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: Israel kills Palestinians seeking food, Hamas responds to US Jun 01, 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: Israel continued to attack Palestinians seeking aid. Hamas responded to a US ceasefire proposal. The Israeli government approved new settlements in the Occupied West Bank. It is day 604 of the war in Gaza, where more than 54,381 Palestinians have been killed.

In this episode:

Hind Khoudary, (@Hind_Gaza) Al Jazeera Correspondent
Nida Ibrahim, (@nidajourno) 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.

Connect with us:

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

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