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Al Jazeera

The Take is a daily interview-driven international news podcast hosted by award-winning journalist Malika Bilal. Each episode focuses on conversations with journalists and people directly impacted by the news of the day, offering our listeners the context necessary to understand what's in the headlines.

With millions of global listens, it's clear the conversations we're having on The Take are worth hearing. And critics think so too. The show has won the Online Journalism Awards, the Signal Awards, Lovie Awards, and Anthem Awards, among others.

The Take

We’re looking back at 10 of the episodes that defined 2025 at The Take. This originally aired on February 10. None of the dates or references have been changed.
 
Bad Bunny’s new album, Debí Tirar Más 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.
 
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 X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

2025 in Review: Why did Bad Bunny's anthem to Puerto Rico strike a global chord?

We're looking back at 10 of the episodes that defined 2025 at The Take. This originally aired on January 30. None of the dates or references have been changed.
 
Bodies are lining the streets of Goma and hospitals are overwhelmed after an escalation in the long-simmering conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Rwandan-backed M23 group claims it took control of the city, and the DRC has called it a declaration of war by Rwanda. But why is Rwanda involved and what are its interests?
 
In this episode:
 
 • Kambale Musavuli (
@kambale • ), Analyst, Center for Research on the Congo-Kinshasa
 
Episode credits:
 
This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra, Sonia Bhagat and Chloe K. Li, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Hagir Saleh, Hanah Shokeir, Melanie Marich, and our guest host, Kevin Hirten. 
 
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. We’ll be back tomorrow.
 
Connect with us:
 
@AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

2025 in Review: Rwanda, M23, and the battle for Goma

This week: 81 days into a ceasefire, Israel has killed at least 394 Palestinians in Gaza. Palestinians in Gaza continued to struggle to find food. Israel further expanded its presence in Syria. Israel has killed more than 70,925 Palestinians in Gaza since October 7th, 2023.
 
In this episode:
 
 • Hani Mahmoud, Al Jazeera Correspondent
 • Tareq Abu Azzoum, (
@abuoazzum • ) Al Jazeera Correspondent
 • Gabriel Elizondo, (
@elizondogabriel) Al Jazeera Correspondent Gemma Nash, (@GemmaNash10) Al Jazeera Presenter 
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 Andrew Greiner and Munera AlDosari 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 X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

Brief: Mediators say Israeli ceasefire violations threaten deal

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on August 6. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed.
 
Are US tariffs about to end the “add to cart” era? United States President Donald Trump’s move to end the de minimis exemption closes a loophole used by Shein, Temu and others to ship duty-free. With costs likely passed to shoppers, consumers are starting to rethink the real price of ultra-cheap clothing.
 
In this episode:
 
 • Aja Barber (
@ajabarber • ), author, 
Consumed 
Episode credits:
 
This episode was updated by Tracie Hunt. The original production team was Noor Wazwaz, Amy Walters, Sonia Bhagat and Sarí el-Khalili, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Marya Khan, Melanie Marich, Kisaa Zehra and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Kylene Kiang.
 
Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Joe Plourde mixed this episode. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhem. Andrew Greiner is lead of audience engagement. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio. 
 
Connect with us:
 
@AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

Another Take: What US tariffs mean for Shein and Temu shoppers

Beset by food shortages, blackouts, and severe inflation, a growing number of Cubans are leaving the island. What’s driving them, where are they going, and why is the government no longer trying to stop it from happening?
 
In this episode:
 
 • Andrés Pertierra (
@ASPertierra • ), historian
 
Episode credits:
 
This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolomé and Tamara Khandaker, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Fatima Shafiq, Farhan Rafid, and our host, Kevin Hirten. It was edited by Kylene Kiang.
 
Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad el-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio. 
 
Connect with us:
 
@AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

What’s driving Cuba’s largest exodus in decades?

Why does the public understanding of disability lag so far behind reality? TikTok influencer and disability activist Imani Barbarin lays this out for her audiences on social media, where she has amassed nearly a million followers across platforms. In this episode, Barbarin shares her perspectives on disability at the intersection of issues, including COVID and the genocidal war on Gaza.
 
In this episode:
 
 • Imani Barbarin (
@Imani_Barbarin • ), Disability Advocate
 
Episode credits:
 
This episode was produced by Melanie Marich and Haleema Shah, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Tracie Hunte, Diana Ferrero, Fatima Shafiq, Farhan Rafid, and our guest host, Kevin Hirten. It was edited by Kylene Kiang and 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 X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

Imani Barbarin on disability rights, COVID and the war on Gaza

Christmas lights are back on in Bethlehem for the first time since Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza began. Yet behind the celebrations, deep economic hardships and mounting pressure from Israeli military incursions and settler violence continue to shape daily life for Palestinian Christians across the occupied West Bank.
 
In this episode:
 
 • Rev Dr Fares Abraham (
@faresabraham • ), Founder and President, Levant Ministries
 
Episode credits:
 
This episode was produced by Tracie Hunte and Sarí el-Khalili, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Haleema Shah, Fatima Shafiq, Farhan Rafid, Tamara Khandaker, and our host, Malika Bilal. 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 X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

Bethlehem marks Christmas under shadow of Gaza war

A Hanukkah celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach ended with a mass shooting when two gunmen opened fire, killing 15 people. In a country with some of the world’s strictest gun laws, how were a father and son able to carry out an attack that sent shockwaves across Australia?
 
In this episode:
 
 • Danielle Robertson (
@Danielle_Rob • ), Al Jazeera Correspondent
 
Episode credits:
 
This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolomé and Melanie Marich, with Sarí el-Khalili, Farhan Rafid, Fatima Shafiq, Diana Ferrero, Tamara Khandaker and our guest host, Kevin Hirten. 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 X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

Will the Bondi Beach shooting change Australia’s gun laws?

Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have seized the Heglig oilfield, a critical site located on the border of Sudan and South Sudan. The capture of vital oil infrastructure is part of the RSF's latest push to dominate the country's Kordofan region. What will this takeover mean for the next stage of Sudan's war?
 
In this episode:
 
 • Hiba Morgan (
@hiba_morgan • ), Al Jazeera Correspondent
 
Episode credits:
 
This episode was produced by Haleema Shah, Sarí el-Khalili, and Melanie Marich, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Diana Ferrero, Fatima Shafiq, Farhan Rafid, and our host Malika Bilal. It was edited by Kylene Kiang. 
 
The Take production team is Marcos Bartolomé, Sonia Bhagat, Spencer Cline, Sarí el-Khalili, Tamara Khandaker, Kylene Kiang, Diana Ferrero, Tracie Hunte, Phillip Lanos, Chloe K. Li, Melanie Marich, Haleema Shah, and Noor Wazwaz. Our editorial interns are Farhan Rafid and Fatima Shafiq. Our host is Malika Bilal. Our engagement producers are Adam Abou-Gad and Vienna Maglio. Andrew Greiner is lead of audience engagement.
 
Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Rick Rush 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.
 
Connect with us:
 
@AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

What does RSF capture of Heglig oilfield mean for Sudan’s war?

This week: 67 days into a ceasefire, Israel has killed at least 383 Palestinians in Gaza. A winter storm killed at least 14 Palestinians in Gaza. Israel approved further settlements in the occupied West Bank. Israel has killed more than 70,656 Palestinians in Gaza since October 7th, 2023.
 
In this episode:
 
 • Ibrahim Al Khalili, (
@_ibrahimalkhalili • ) Al Jazeera Correspondent
 • Hind Khoudary, (
@Hind_Gaza • ) Al Jazeera Correspondent
 • Nour Odeh, (
@osamabinjavaid • ) 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 Andrew Greiner and Munera AlDosari 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 X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

Brief: Winter storm compounds misery of Gaza's displaced

A potential US TikTok ban is edging closer into becoming law. The House of Representatives passed a bill that would effectively ban the app, citing national security concerns. If the bill makes it through the Senate, President Joe Biden has indicated he would sign it into law. But protesting TikTok users say targeting one app also targets freedom of information and creators’ livelihoods.
 
In this episode: 
 
 • Alexander Howard (
@digiphile • ), Author & Analyst of Digital Government Issues 
 • Callie Goodwin (
@CallieGoodwin • ), Founder of Sparks of Joy Co
 
Episode credits:
 
This episode was produced by Sarí el-Khalili, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei and Amy Walters with our host Malika Bilal. Chloe K Li and Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode.
 
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 Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Is a US bill to ban TikTok a step down a slippery slope?

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