The Take

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Will Lebanon’s fragile peace hold after Israel’s strike on Beirut? Apr 01, 2025

Show notes

Shattering months of uneasy calm, Israel bombed Beirut for the first time since November’s truce with Hezbollah. The strike came after rockets were fired from Lebanon into Israeli territory — the second such incident in a week. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam urged the army to arrest those responsible, calling it a threat to national security. With tensions reigniting on both sides, will peace hold in Lebanon?

In this episode:

Nader Durgham (@NaderDurgham), Journalist

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan and Tamara Khandaker with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Ashish Malhotra, Chloe K. Li, Marcos Bartolomé, Sarí el-Khalili, Hanah Shokeir, Melanie Marich, and our 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.

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The Copernic Affair: The professor accused of a Paris bombing Mar 31, 2025

Show notes

Hassan Diab, a Lebanese-Canadian professor, has spent nearly 20 years defending himself against accusations of involvement in a 1980 bombing of the Copernic Street synagogue in Paris. The twists and turns of his case raise serious questions about justice, accountability, and the possibility of a wrongful accusation.

In this episode:

Dana Ballout, documentary producer
Alex Atack, journalist and audio producer

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolomé with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Hanah Shokeir, Melanie Marich, Noor Wazwaz and our guest host Manuel Rápalo. It was edited by 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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Brief: Gaza marks Eid al-Fitr as Israel begins new ground operation Mar 30, 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 began a new ground operation in South Gaza. Israel killed more journalists in Gaza. Israel bombed Beirut. It is day 541 of the war there, where more than 50,277 Palestinians have been killed.

In this episode:

Hind Khoudary, (@Hind_Gaza) Al Jazeera Correspondent
Tareq Abu Azzoum, (@TareqAzzom) Al Jazeera Correspondent
Ali Hashem, (@alihashem_tv) Al Jazeera Correspondent
Nour Odeh, (@nour_odeh) 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: What’s behind the rise in anti-trans bills in the US? Mar 29, 2025

Show notes

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on March 27, 2023. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed.

Transgender people in the US say they’re fighting for their rights – and their survival. Already this year, a record number of bills have been introduced by state lawmakers. They include everything from gender-affirming care for youth and access to public spaces to drag performances. Advocates worry that this could lead to wider attacks on the LGBTQ+ community and personal freedoms.

In this episode:

Chase Strangio (@ChaseStrangio), Deputy Director for Transgender Justice, American Civil Liberties Union
Eureka O’Hara (@EurekaOhara), drag queen and host of HBO’s ‘We’re Here’
Alex Petrovnia (@AlexPetrovnia), founder, Trans Formations Project

Episode credits:

This episode was updated by Tamara Khandaker. The original production team was Miranda Lin, Chloe K. Li, Amy Walters, and Alexandra Locke, with 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.

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How is Gaza celebrating Eid al-Fitr? Mar 28, 2025

Show notes

Palestinians in Gaza are preparing to mark the end of Ramadan with Eid al-Fitr. The holiday is happening during the escalation of Israel's war on Gaza, with aid blocked and families forced to flee again. Even focused on avoiding starvation, people are finding a way to mark the holiday during the war.

In this episode:

Laila el-Haddad (@gazamom), author and journalist

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Sarí el-Khalili, Sonia Bhagat, and Chloe K. Li with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Kylene Kiang, Kisaa Zehra, Remas Alhawari, Melanie Marich, Marcos Bartolomé, Hanah Shokeir, 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.

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‘Signal gate’: How Trump officials’ chat on bombing Yemen hit Washington Mar 26, 2025

Show notes

When a Signal group chat involving top US officials discussing plans to bomb Yemen included The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, it sparked a firestorm in Washington. Now, The Atlantic has published excerpts from the chat, including input from political figures such as JD Vance, Pete Hegseth, and Michael Waltz. We take a look at where the backlash has landed – and where it hasn't.

In this episode:

Ken Klippenstein (@kenklippenstein), Independent journalist

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra, Sonia Bhagat and Tamara Khanaker with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Hanah Shokeir, Khaled Soltan, Melanie Marich, Remas Al Hawari and our guest host, Kevin Hirten. 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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Will Tigray be caught in another devastating war? Mar 26, 2025

Show notes

War is looming once again in Tigray, a northern region of Ethiopia near the border with Eritrea. Political disputes are fragmenting the regional government and sparking warnings of a new crisis. Tigray has not yet recovered from a devastating war that ended in 2022. With aid cuts now worsening hunger and uncertainty, is it on the brink of another catastrophic conflict?

In this episode:

Samuel Getachew (@GetachewSS), Journalist

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Chloe K. Li, Sonia Bhagat, Sarí el-Khalili, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Khaled Soltan, Hanah Shokeir, Melanie Marich, Remas Alhawari, and our guest host, Kevin Hirten. 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

How Netanyahu’s political fate is tied to the war on Gaza Mar 25, 2025

Show notes

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking to remove senior government officials, including the head of the Shin Bet internal intelligence agency as well as the attorney general. Intense protests have erupted once again in Israel, as critics accuse the prime minister's actions of being politically motivated and of breaking the ceasefire with Hamas to stay in power. What does this increasing political pressure mean for Israel's war on Gaza?

In this episode:

Daniel Levy, President of the U.S/Middle East Project

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan and Tamara Khandaker, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Melanie Marich, Hanah Shokheir Remas Alhawari, and our guest host, Manuel Rapalo. 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

Who are Africa’s ‘ghost reporters’ writing pro-Russian propaganda? Mar 24, 2025

Show notes

Nonexistent writers publishing pro-Russian content in West African media is the subject of a recent Al Jazeera Investigative Unit film, Africa’s Ghost Reporters. So how does it all work, and who’s behind it?

In this episode:

Justin Yarga (@y_jus), Journalist

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Chloe K. Li and Ashish Malhotra with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Hanah Shokeir, Melanie Marich, and guest host, Kevin Hirten. It was edited by Noor Wazwaz.

The Take production team is Marcos Bartolomé, Sonia Bhagat, Spencer Cline, 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, Melanie Marich, and Hanah Shokeir. I’m your host 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: New evacuation orders in Gaza, Israel strikes Lebanon Mar 23, 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 struck Gaza for a sixth consecutive day and began issuing new evacuation orders. Israel's cabinet approved a plan to facilitate the removal of Palestinians from Gaza. It is day 534 of the war there, where more than 50,021 Palestinians have been killed.

In this episode:

Hani Mahmoud, Al Jazeera Correspondent
Zeina Khodr, (@Zeinakhodr_Aljaz) Al Jazeera Correspondent
Nour Odeh, (@nour_odeh) Al Jazeera Correspondent

Episode credits:

Connect with us:

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

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