The Take

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What does the US military want in Guam, Japan and Hawaii? Apr 21, 2025

Show notes

The United States military is ramping up its presence in Japan, Guam and Hawaii as tensions with China grow over Taiwan. A new documentary reveals how this buildup is affecting local communities. In a region that is also a staging ground for potential conflict, how are some residents pushing back?

In this episode:

Dan Ming (@DanMing), Evident Media correspondent

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra, Sonia Bhagat, and Sarí el-Khalili, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Marcos Bartolome, Marina Navarrete, and our guest host, Natasha del Toro. It was edited by Noor Wazwaz.

The Take production team is Marcos Bartolomé, Sonia Bhagat, Sarí el-Khalili, Tamara Khandaker, Phillip Lanos, Chloe K. Li, Ashish Malhotra, Khaled Soltan, Amy Walters, and Noor Wazwaz. Our editorial interns are Remas Alhawari, Kisaa Zehra, and Mariana Navarrete. Our guest host is Natasha Del Toro. 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.

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Brief: Six weeks without aid in Gaza, US bombs Yemen Apr 20, 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 bomb Palestinians in Gaza sheltering in tents. The US and Iran met again to negotiate. A picture of a Palestinian amputee won a major award. It is day 562 of the war in Gaza, where more than 51,065 Palestinians have been killed.

In this episode:

Hind Khoudary, (@Hind_Gaza) Al Jazeera Correspondent
Moath Al Kahlout, (@kahlout_moath) Al Jazeera Correspondent
James Bays, (@baysontheroad) Al Jazeera Diplomatic Editor
Charles Stratford, (@stradfordch) Al Jazeera Correspondent
Step Vaessen, (@stepvaessen) 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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Another Take: The meaning of Easter in Palestine Apr 19, 2025

Show notes

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on March 29, 2024. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed.

Easter holds special meaning for Christian Palestinians. For Good Friday, we speak to a Palestinian pastor raised in Bethlehem who underlines the parallels between the Israeli oppression of his people and the crucifixion of Jesus at the center of his faith.

In this episode:

Reverend Munther Isaac (@MuntherIsaac), Evangelical Lutheran Pastor in Bethlehem

Episode credits:

This episode was updated by Amy Walters. The original production team was Khaled Soltan with Chloe K. Li and our host, Malika Bilal.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Joe Plourde mixed this episode. 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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Why does the Trump administration refuse to bring Abrego Garcia back to the US? Apr 18, 2025

Show notes

What happens when the US ignores its own courts? Kilmar Abrego Garcia was deported despite a judge’s order and imprisoned in El Salvador in one of the most notorious prisons in the world. The case reveals how gang allegations – often baseless – are still being used to deport immigrants. We unpack the decisions making it possible to turn Abrego Garcia’s life upside down.

In this episode:

Nayna Gupta, (@nayna_gupta), American Immigration Council Policy Director

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Tamara Khandaker, Sonia Bhagat and Amy Walters, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Kisaa Zehra, Mariana Navarrete, and our guest host, Natasha Del Toro. 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.

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Held without justice: A look inside Israeli prisons Apr 17, 2025

Show notes

As Israel continues its assault on Gaza and military raids in the occupied West Bank, thousands of Palestinians - including children - remain in Israeli prisons, many without charge. It’s not a new phenomenon, with more than 800,000 Palestinians detained by Israel since the occupation began in 1967. On the 51st Palestinian Prisoners’ Day, we speak to a former prisoner about his experience.

In this episode:

Walid Habbas (@walidhabbas), Researcher, Palestinian Forum for Israeli Studies (Madar)

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Sarí el-Khalili, Sonia Bhagat, and Ashish Malhotra, with Mariana Navarrete, Remas Alhawari, Kisaa Zehra, Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, and our guest host, Natasha del Toro. 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.

Connect with us:

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

Traveling to the US? Here's what you should know Apr 16, 2025

Show notes

From scientists to students, travellers to the US are being stopped, searched and sometimes sent home for what is on their phones. What is the new reality at US borders under President Donald Trump – and how should you navigate it?

In this episode:

Albert Mokhiber (@albertmokhiber), lawyer

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Amy Walters, Sonia Bhagat, and Tamara Kandakhar with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Marcos Bartolomé, Sarí el-Khalili, Mariana Navarrete, Kisaa Zehra, Remas Alhawari, and our host, Natasha del Toro. 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.

Connect with us:

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

Two years into Sudan’s civil war: What lies ahead? Apr 15, 2025

Show notes

Sudan’s civil war has entered its third year. The Sudanese military has retaken the capital, Khartoum, but fighting is escalating in Darfur, where the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group is attacking the country’s largest camp for displaced people. As the humanitarian crisis deepens, is there any hope for peace?

In this episode:

Hiba Morgan (@hiba_morgan), Al Jazeera correspondent

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan and Tamara Khandaker, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Sarí el-Khalili, Marcos Bartolme, Sonia Baghat, Mariana Navarrete, Kisaa Zehra, Remas AlHawari, and our guest host, Manuel Rapalo. It was edited by Noor Wazwaz and Sarí el-Khalili.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editor is 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 Betar US and why is it targeting pro-Palestinian activists? Apr 14, 2025

Show notes

Betar US claims responsibility for giving names of pro-Palestinian activists, including Mahmoud Khalil, to the Trump administration. We examine Betar’s roots, reach, and the institutions that surround it. Who’s backing this group, and why are students its latest target?

In this episode:

Jonah Valdez (@jonahmv), reporter, The Intercept

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Amy Walters, Sonia Bhagat, and Sarí el-Khalili, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Marcos Bartolomé, Melanie Marich, Remas Alhawari, Kisaa Zehra, and our guest host, Natasha del Toro. It was edited by Noor Wazwaz.

The Take production team is Marcos Bartolomé, Sonia Bhagat, Sarí el-Khalili, Tamara Khandaker, Phillip Lanos, Chloe K. Li, Ashish Malhotra, Khaled Soltan, Amy Walters, and Noor Wazwaz. Our editorial interns are Melanie Marich, Remas Alhawari, Kisaa Zehra, Mariana Navarrete. 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: Indirect Iran-US talks in Oman, Israel bombs hospital in Gaza Apr 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: Video emerged showing Israel killing Palestinian medics, contradicting official Israeli claims about what happened to them. Americans protested at the White House. It is day 555 of the war there, where more than 50,912 Palestinians have been killed.

In this episode:

Heidi Zhou-Castro, (@HeidiZhouCastro) Al Jazeera Correspondent
Tareq Abou Azzoum, (@TareqAzzom) Al Jazeera Correspondent
Nour Odeh, (@nour_odeh) Al Jazeera Correspondent
Shihab Rattansi, (@shihab_rattansi) Al Jazeera Correspondent

Episode credits:

Connect with us:

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

Another Take: How much of Americans’ tax money funds war? Apr 12, 2025

Show notes

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on April 11, 2024. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed.

Interest in tax resistance is spiking in the US, ahead of the April 15 deadline when most Americans’ tax bills will come due. How many of them know where those tax dollars go, and how much of those taxes fund wars around the world?

In this episode:

Lindsay Koshgarian (@lindsaykosh), Program Director of the National Priorities Project at the Institute for Policy Studies

Episode credits:

This episode was updated by Tamara Khandaker. The original production team was David Enders, Fahrinisa Campana, Zaina Badr, Sonia Bhagat, and our host Natasha Del Toro.

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 Instagram, X, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

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