The Take

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Why did Bad Bunny's anthem to Puerto Rico strike a global chord? Feb 10, 2025

Show notes

Bad Bunny’s new album, Debi Tirar Mas Fotos, became the number-one streamed album worldwide. It mixes different Puerto Rican music genres and touches on themes of gentrification and a loss of cultural identity. How is the album bringing the Puerto Rican fight for survival to the world?

In this episode:

Jorell Meléndez-Badillo (@jorellmelendezb), Author of “Puerto Rico: A National History”

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolomé with Hanah Shokeir, Hagir Saleh, Melanie Marich 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, and Amy Walters. Our editorial interns are Melanie Marich, Hagir Saleh and Hanah Shokeir. 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: Fifth exchange takes place as Gaza ceasefire holds Feb 09, 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: An exchange of captives and prisoners took place between Hamas and Israel, but not all Palestinians were allowed to return home. Israeli troops began what is expected to be a full withdrawal from the Netzarim Corridor. It is day 492 of the war in Gaza, where more than 48,181 Palestinians have been killed.

In this episode:

Hind Khoudary, (@Hind_Gaza), Al Jazeera Correspondent
Nour Odeh, (@nour_odeh) Al Jazeera Correspondent
Hani Mahmoud, Al Jazeera Correspondent

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.

At Al Jazeera Podcasts, we want to hear from you, our listeners. So, please head to https://www.aljazeera.com/survey and tell us your thoughts about this show and other Al Jazeera podcasts. It only takes a few minutes!

Another Take: A history of Gaza’s worst and best days Feb 08, 2025

Show notes

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on November 6, 2023. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed.

On the coast of the Mediterranean Sea lies Gaza, a land that insists on living. Gaza is currently facing a war like nothing its people have seen before, but its history stretches far longer. Today, a brief history of Gaza and its people, on its worst and best days.

In this episode:

Jehad Abusalim (@JehadAbusalim), The Jerusalem Fund for Education and Community Development Executive Director

Episode credits:

This episode was updated by Chloe K. Li and Tamara Khandaker. The original production team was Chloe K. Li, David Enders, Miranda Lin and Sarí el-Khalili, with our host Natasha Del Toro, in for 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.

Link mentioned in episode:

The Take: The past, present, and future of Hamas

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Trump wants the US to take over Gaza. What does that mean? Feb 07, 2025

Show notes

President Trump has again restated his plans of turning Gaza into a new Riviera. Where did this idea come from – and how feasible is it?

In this episode:

Sharif Abdel Kouddous (@sharifkouddous), Journalist and Editor at Drop Site News

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Sarí el-Khalili, Sonia Bhagat, and Amy Walters with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Khaled Soltan, Melanie Marich, Hagir Saleh, Hanah Shokeir, and our 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

Has Trump broken Canada’s relationship with the US? Feb 06, 2025

Show notes

From booing at sports events to boycotting products, Canada is taking a sharp look at its neighbour to the south. United States President Donald Trump placed a 30-day pause on 25 percent tariffs on Canada after speaking with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. But what does the dispute reveal about the US and Canada’s shared future?

In this episode:

Stephen Marche (@StephenMarche), Journalist and Novelist

Episode credits:

And that’s the Take. This episode was produced by Tamara Khandaker, Sonia Bhagat, and Chloe K. Li, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Melanie Marich, Hagir Saleh, Hanah Shokeir, Khaled Soltan, and our 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

What’s behind Trump’s war on USAID? Feb 05, 2025

Show notes

USAID, America’s lead aid agency, could also be nearing its end, after US President Donald Trump ordered a halt to foreign aid. Trump said the agency was run by "lunatics", while billionaire Elon Musk called it "criminal".The US provides $72bn to 180 countries – but that aid has come under criticism in the past. So, what would it mean to pull the plug on USAID?

In this episode:

Anuradha Mittal (@Mittaloak), executive director, Oakland Institute

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Amy Walters, Sonia Bhagat, and Sarí el-Khalili, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Hagir Saleh, Khaled Soltan, Melanie Marich, Hanah Shokeir, 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 will President Ahmed Al-Sharaa shape Syria’s future? Feb 04, 2025

Show notes

Once an al-Qaeda-affiliated fighter, Syria’s interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa now governs a nation in flux. He claims to be focused on stability, dissolving rebel groups and rebuilding institutions. His visit to Saudi Arabia signals shifting alliances and efforts to ease sanctions. But can he truly redefine Syria’s future – and what will it mean for the region?

In this episode:

Osama bin Javaid (@osamabinjavaid), Al Jazeera English, correspondent

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan and Tamara Khandaker, with Sarí el-Khalili, Hagir Saleh, Melanie Marich, Hanah Shokeir, and our host, Natasha Del Toro. It was edited by Noor Wazwaz 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 Instagram, X, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

What Netanyahu’s return to the White House means for Gaza Feb 03, 2025

Show notes

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is heading to the US to meet with President Donald Trump. This is the first White House invitation to a foreign leader after Trump retook office. What does their renewed alliance mean for the world and for Gaza?

In this episode:

Ali Harb (@Harbpeace), Al Jazeera Journalist

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Tamara Khandaker, Ashish Malhotra, and Chloe K. Li with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Hagir Saleh, Melanie Marich, and our guest host, Kevin Hirten. 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, Hagir Saleh and Hanah Shokeir. 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

Another Take: What the billionaire space race means for the rest of us Feb 02, 2025

Show notes

Every weekend, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on July 19, 2021. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed.

The world’s richest man, Jeff Bezos, is heading to space on his own spaceship on July 20th – though he’s already been upstaged by another billionaire space tour. Where the global space race was once decided by the wealth of nations, now its future is increasingly determined by ultra-wealthy individuals worth more than many countries. Their pursuit of space could put new resources in reach, and it’s reshaping the laws of outer space – at least, the ones made by humans.

In this episode:

Lucianne Walkowicz (@RocketToLulu), Astronomer at the Adler Planetarium and Co-Founder of Just Space Alliance (@JustSpaceOrg)
Lisa Ruth Rand (@orbital_decay), Assistant Professor at the California Institute of Technology

Episode credits:

This episode was updated by Chloe K. Li and Sarí el-Khalili. The original production team was Alexandra Locke, with our host Malika Bilal.

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

Another Take: Gold, arms, Egypt – the downfall of a US senator Feb 01, 2025

Show notes

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on September 26, 2023. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed.

A US federal court has indicted New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez and his wife Nadine on corruption-related charges. The couple have reportedly accepted gold bars and hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash in exchange for providing sensitive information about US foreign policy and other favors for Egyptian officials. It’s not the first time Menendez, who heads the Senate’s foreign relations committee, has been accused of corruption — but the detailed nature of the charges this time could be much more damning.

In this episode:

Ali Harb (@Harbpeace), Al Jazeera English Journalist

Episode credits:

This episode was updated by Chloe K. Li and Sarí el-Khalili. The original production team was David Enders and Khaled Soltan, with our guest host Kevin Hirten.

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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