

The Take
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.
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 10, 2024 • 5min
Brief: US announces more aid to Gaza as falling air drops fail to open
As Israel’s war on Gaza continues, we're coming to you on Sundays with a weekly roundup. This week: At least 25 people have starved to death in Gaza. The US said it would provide more aid as aerial drops killed at least five people. Palestinians prepared for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, despite the war, which is now in its 156th day. In this episode: Akram Al Sattari, Freelance Journalist Imran Khan (@ajimran), Al Jazeera Correspondent Hamdah Salhut (@HamdahSalhut), 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 Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Mar 9, 2024 • 21min
Another Take: Can Portugal confront its racist history?
Every Saturday, we revisit a story that’s in the news again. Portugal is holding its general election on Sunday. This originally aired on October 7, 2020. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed. Portugal’s antiracist movement had its largest protest in recent memory after George Floyd was killed by US police. The protest wasn’t only about an injustice an ocean away, but part of an ongoing struggle in a country that looks back fondly on its colonial past. What’s behind Portugal’s rosy view of history, and how does that affect Black activists fighting for their rights today? In this episode: Cristina Roldão, Sociologist and Activist Helena Vicente (@helenavicente__), Researcher and Activist with Grupo EduCAR (@grp.educar) Episode credits: This episode was updated by Sarí el-Khalili. The original production team was Negin Owliaei, Ney Alvarez, Dina Kesbeh, Alexandra Locke, Priyanka Tilve, Amy Walters, Stacey Samuel, Natalia Aldana, and our host Malika Bilal.. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.

Mar 8, 2024 • 19min
Sudan's new normal
Sudan’s civil war is nearly one year old, with no end in sight and the UN warning that five million people are at risk of starvation. In this episode: Hiba Morgan (@hiba_morgan), Al Jazeera Correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by David Enders and Sonia Bhagat with our host Malika Bilal. Ashish Malhotra and Sarí el-Khalili 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

Mar 7, 2024 • 19min
Gaza’s starvation looms over Biden’s State of the Union address
Will airdrops of food help people of Gaza on the brink of famine? That’s the case the Biden administration is making to the public as Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz visited Washington this week. Meanwhile, as Israel blocks aid, Palestinians are being forced to take extreme measures to avoid starvation. In this episode: Ali Harb (@Harbpeace), Al Jazeera Senior Producer Omar Abdel-Mannan (@Dr_Omar_AM), Pediatric Neurologist & Co-Founder, Health Workers 4 Palestine (@HealthWorkers4Pal) Episode credits: This episode was produced by Miranda Lin and Sarí el-Khalili with our host Malika Bilal. Ashish Malhotra and Zaina Badr 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

Mar 6, 2024 • 19min
Have Haiti’s gangs launched a coup?
Gangs freed thousands of prison inmates and attacked the country’s main airport, all while Prime Minister Ariel Henry is absent from the country. Haiti is under a state of emergency. What comes next? In this episode: Harold Isaac (@haroldisaac), Freelance Journalist For more: Has Haiti been kidnapped by gangs? Episode credits: This episode was produced by David Enders, Khaled Soltan and Chloe K. Li with our host Malika Bilal. Zaina Badr and Ashish Malhotra 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

Mar 5, 2024 • 14min
From India to Ukraine: the South Asians fighting in Russia’s war
Hundreds of South Asians are fighting Russia’s war on Ukraine, including from India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. They face physical danger and a language barrier, and some have disappeared or died. How did they end up there? And what are their governments doing to find out what happened to them? In this episode: Minelle Fernandez, Al Jazeera Correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Chloe K. Li and Sarí el-Khalili with our host Malika Bilal. Zaina Badr and Ashish Malhotra 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

Mar 4, 2024 • 25min
Super Tuesday: Will an 'uncommitted' vote risk Biden's reelection?
In Michigan, 100,000 protest votes have made waves across Democrats’ primary elections nationwide, just as the presidential election season is starting in earnest. The 'uncommitted' vote was far more successful than organizers expected. Now that this protest vote is here, and not going away, we look at why these votes matter and where it leaves President Joe Biden going into Super Tuesday. In this episode: Andy Levin (@RepAndyLevin), Former Michigan Congressman Ali Harb (@Harbpeace), Al Jazeera Correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Fahrinisa Campana and Sonia Bhagat with our host Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin 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

Mar 3, 2024 • 7min
Brief: Gaza ceasefire talks resume in Egypt without Israel
As Israel’s war on Gaza continues, we're coming to you on Sundays with a weekly roundup. This week: Desperately needed food and aid supplies are being airdropped into Gaza, but Palestinians and global aid groups say they’re far from enough. Israeli attacks on aid convoys are worsening the threat of widespread famine. And ceasefire negotiations resume in Cairo, though hopes for a lasting deal remain dim. It is day 149 of the war. In this episode: Akram Al Sattari, Freelance Gaza Journalist Willem Marx (@WillemMarx), Al Jazeera Journalist Ramesh Rajasingham (@rajasingham_UN), OCHA Deputy Head Hamdah Salhut (@HamdahSalhut), Al Jazeera Correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Miranda Lin and mixed by Amy Walters, in for 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 Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Mar 2, 2024 • 23min
Another Take: When it comes to Gaza, when is it a war crime?
Every Saturday, we revisit a story that’s in the news again. In October, Israel issued its first evacuation order in Gaza, demanding all Palestinians in Gaza’s largest city move south. Today, we’re revisiting what that meant under international humanitarian law. This episode originally aired on October 18, 2023. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed. In this episode: Taghreed El-Khodary (@Taghreed1), Journalist Giulia Marini, International Advocacy Officer at Al Mezan Center for Human Rights Episode credits: This episode was updated by Negin Owliaei. The original production team was Fahrinisa Campana, Amy Walters and our host, Malika Bilal. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Mar 1, 2024 • 11min
Palestinians were seeking food in Gaza City. Israeli forces opened fire.
Israeli forces open fire on Palestinians seeking food aid in Gaza City, resulting in over 100 deaths and 700 wounded. The episode discusses the chaotic and tragic scene, overwhelmed hospitals, lack of supplies, responsibility for the events, and global reactions to the crisis.