Usually all quirky music and fun, Eurovision this year has been marked by protests over Israel’s participation during its ongoing war on Gaza. Will it overshadow an event meant to unite? In this episode: Nils Adler ( @nilsadler1 ), Al Jazeera Journalist Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra and Chloe K. Li with our host Malika Bilal. Catherine Nouhan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmile...
May 10, 2024•17 min•Ep. 871
Israeli forces have seized control of Gaza’s Rafah border crossing, cutting off a vital route for humanitarian aid and potential sanctuary for civilians from a building offensive. What's next for the people stranded there? In this episode: Sara Khairat ( @sarakhairat ), Journalist Episode credits: This episode was produced by Sarí el-Khalili and Khaled Soltan with our host Malika Bilal. Catherine Nouhan and Fahrinisa Campana fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead ...
May 09, 2024•18 min•Ep. 870
Student protests are resonating with Palestinians, who face the destruction of nearly all universities in Gaza. Palestinian university presidents signed an open letter saying the protests serve as a “beacon of hope.” We look at what has been lost and what remains. In this episode: Jehad Abusalim ( @JehadAbusalim ), Executive Director, The Jerusalem Fund Heigo Parsa, University of Toronto Student Jasmine Al-Rawi, ( @studentsforpalestinesydneyuni ), University of Sydney Student Sesek Duran, Nation...
May 08, 2024•18 min•Ep. 869
As Hamas announced agreeing to a ceasefire proposal, questions remain about Israel’s next steps in the war on Gaza. Israel has ordered thousands of Palestinians to flee Rafah sheltering more than one million displaced people, sparking fears of a full-blown Israeli military assault on the southern Gaza city. In this episode: Willem Marx ( @WillemMarx ), Journalist Episode credits: This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan and Sarí el-Khalili with our host Kevin Hirten, in for Malika Bilal. Cathe...
May 07, 2024•18 min•Ep. 868
As aid barely trickles into Gaza, a group of activists is trying to take matters into its own hands. The Freedom Flotilla movement planned to set sail to Gaza, bringing more than 5000 tons of aid and taking on great personal risk. The Take looks into their years-long struggle to break Israel’s siege on Gaza. In this episode: Huwaida Arraf ( @huwaidaarraf ), Human Rights Attorney Episode credits: This episode was produced by Negin Owliaei with Tabish Talib and our host Malika Bilal. Our sound des...
May 06, 2024•25 min•Ep. 867
As Israel’s war on Gaza continues, we're coming to you on Sundays with a weekly roundup. This week: Gaza is experiencing famine. Ceasefire talks were continuing. Protests at US universities continued as graduation ceremonies began. Gaza's largest university is completely destroyed. It is day 212 of the war. At least 34,600 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed. In this episode: Hind Al Khoudary ( @Hind_Gaza ), Journalist in Gaza Hamdah Salhut, ( @hamdahsalhut ), Al Jazeera Correspondent John Hen...
May 05, 2024•6 min•Ep. 866
Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on January 21st, 2024. None of the dates or references from that time have been changed. More than one hundred journalists have been killed in Israel’s war on Gaza. The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate says 96 were targeted by Israel. Inside Gaza, journalists feel abandoned by the world they are informing. What’s happening to Gaza’s journalists and why? In this episode: Anan Quzmar (@QuzmarAnan), Volunteer at Palestinia...
May 04, 2024•22 min•Ep. 865
More than 1,000 people have been arrested in crackdowns on university protests across the United States. Facing police brutality, arrests, and attacks from counter-protesters, what will student protesters do next? In this episode: Dalia Darazim ( @columbiasjp ), Student at Columbia University, Organizing Member of Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine Sivan Gordon-Buxbaum ( @sivangb ), Student at Cornell University, Member of Cornell Jewish Voice for Peace Kianna Znika ( @lizzerdkweenz ), S...
May 03, 2024•19 min•Ep. 864
Israeli officials fear potential ICC prosecution over Gaza actions. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned top officials of possible arrest warrants, although the ICC has not confirmed issuing any. What would ICC arrest warrants mean for Israel's war on Gaza – and for international law? In this episode: Mark Kersten ( @MarkKersten ), Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice, University of the Fraser Valley Hamdah Salhut ( @hamdahsalhut ), Al Jazeera Correspondent Episode credits: This epi...
May 02, 2024•20 min•Ep. 863
Pro-Palestine encampments and protests at universities continue to spread across the US. Students at Columbia University have been threatened with expulsion and arrest. The Take spoke with Mariam Said, an alumna of Columbia, for her advice to student activists. In this episode: Mariam Said, Vice-President of the Barenboim-Said Foundation Episode credits: This episode was produced by David Enders, Sonia Bhagat and Ashish Malhotra with our host Malika Bilal. Catherine Nouhan fact-checked this epis...
May 01, 2024•16 min•Ep. 862
Palestinians have dug up more than 400 bodies from mass graves at two Gaza hospitals. Some have shown signs of torture and possible executions. The International Court of Justice had already issued a preliminary order against Israel after finding that its actions in Gaza might amount to genocide. So how will the world respond to this? In this episode: Akram al-Satarri ( @AlSatarri ) Journalist Episode credits: This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan and Chloe K. Li with our host Kevin Hirten,...
Apr 30, 2024•19 min•Ep. 861
Rebels fighting Myanmar’s government are making significant gains. Could they topple the coup leaders who took power just over three years ago? In this episode: Tony Cheng, ( @TLCBkk ) Al Jazeera Correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by David Enders, Khaled Soltan, and Sonia Bhagat with Kevin Hirten in for Malika Bilal. Zaina Badr, Sonia Baghat, and Manahil Naveed fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is A...
Apr 29, 2024•20 min•Ep. 860
As Israel’s war on Gaza continues, we're coming to you on Sundays with a weekly roundup. This week: The number of bodies found in a series of mass graves rose to nearly 400. Israelis continued to protest for the release of captives held in Gaza. Protests continued to grow on college campuses across the US. It is day 205 of the war. At least 34,300 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed. In this episode: Akram Al Satarri, Freelance journalist Hamdah Salhut, ( @hamdahsalhut ), Al Jazeera Correspond...
Apr 28, 2024•6 min•Ep. 859
Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on September 13, 2021. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed. Iraq’s Abu Ghraib prison was once a front-page headline in the “war on terror.” Today, public knowledge of the torture that made it infamous is starting to fade – but one US lawsuit for its victims is still going on. It centers on private contractors: companies that became an integral part of the US military efforts po...
Apr 27, 2024•29 min•Ep. 858
The US Supreme Court is hearing opening arguments on whether or not Donald Trump has presidential immunity in two of his current criminal cases. But what does that mean for future presidents and this year’s US elections? In this episode: Ciara Torres-Spelliscy, ( @ProfCiara) , Professor at Stetson University College of Law Episode credits: This episode was produced by Chloe K. Li and Fahrinisa Campana with Kevin Hirten, in for our host Malika Bilal. Zaina Badr fact-checked this episode. Our soun...
Apr 26, 2024•17 min•Ep. 857
University encampments have spread across the US since New York police first came onto Columbia University’s campus last week. In the second of a two-part series, The Take takes a look inside the Columbia encampment and the impact it’s having on campus. In this episode: Fadi Shuman, Columbia University Student Talia Jane, @taliaotg , Freelance Journalist Jonathan Ben-Menachem, @jbenmenachem , Columbia University Student Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra, Fahrinisa Cam...
Apr 25, 2024•19 min•Ep. 856
Tensions have been mounting at Columbia University for months, even before the school called police to clear a Gaza solidarity encampment. Pro-Palestine students say the administration hasn’t prioritized their safety. In the first of a two-part series, The Take goes behind the protests at Columbia. In this episode: Asiya Ahmed ( @_asiyahmed ), Senior Producer, AJ+ Mohsen Mahdawi, Co-President, Columbia Palestinian Students Union Chris Mendell, Staff Writer, The Columbia Spectator Episode credits...
Apr 24, 2024•23 min•Ep. 855
Certain Israeli military units could be sanctioned by the US State Department for the first time over allegations of serious human rights abuses. Those allegations made their way to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in December, according to a report from US news outlet ProPublica, but hadn’t been acted on until now. In this episode: Brett Murphy ( @BrettMMurphy ), ProPublica Reporter Episode credits: This episode was produced by Sonia Bhagat and Chloe K. Li with our host Malika Bilal. Chloe ...
Apr 23, 2024•18 min•Ep. 854
Lubna Al Rayyes dreamed about having a child. When she found out that meant having a Caesarean section in Gaza, her dream became a nightmare. Israel’s war on Gaza meant maternity wards were shut down. She had two choices: deliver on her own, or find a way out. In this episode: Gabrielle Berbey ( @gabrielleberbey ), Reporter and Producer, Reveal Salman Ahad Khan ( @salmanahadk ), Reporter and Producer, Reveal Episode credits: This episode was produced by Sonia Bhagat and Chloe K. Li with our host...
Apr 22, 2024•19 min•Ep. 853
As Israel’s war on Gaza continues, we're coming to you on Sundays with a weekly roundup. This week: The US voted against granting Palestinians full UN membership. Israel attacked Iran. The US Congress approved more military aid to Israel. It is day 198 of the war. At least 34,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed. In this episode: Gabriel Elizondo, ( @elizondogabriel ), Al Jazeera Correspondent Akram Al Satarri, Freelance journalist Dorsa Jabbari, ( @DorsaJabbari ), Al Jazeera Correspondent ...
Apr 21, 2024•6 min•Ep. 852
Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on February 3rd, 2020. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed. At the beginning of 2020, under the presidency of Donald Trump, the US and Iran stepped back from the edge of war. But Trump did bring more than a thousand sanctions, and for Iranians, that has meant normal life often feels like war. In this episode: Dorsa Jabbari ( @DorsaJabbari ), Al Jazeera Correspondent Lili Ghazia...
Apr 20, 2024•21 min•Ep. 851
The world’s largest election begins Friday in India, with close to one billion registered voters. Narendra Modi, the incumbent, remains extremely popular, but his Hindu nationalist agenda has come at the expense of minority rights. So, what would a third term of Modi mean for India? In this episode: Sidharth Bhatia ( @bombaywallah ), Founding Editor, The Wire Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra and Fahrinisa Campana with Kevin Hirten, in for Malika Bilal. Manahil Naveed...
Apr 19, 2024•18 min•Ep. 850
As the world awaits Israel’s reaction to Iran’s attacks, we look at two of its neighbors: Lebanon and Jordan, and their very different responses to what's already happened. What can they tell us about what’s to come? In this episode: Nabih Bulos ( @nabihbulos ), Middle East Bureau Chief, Los Angeles Times Episode credits: This episode was produced by David Enders and Sonia Bhagat with our host Malika Bilal. Catherine Nouhan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead o...
Apr 18, 2024•20 min•Ep. 849
While Palestinians in the Occupied West Bank watched Iranian missiles flying overhead en route to Israeli targets, they also had to contend with another fire on the ground. Armed Israeli settlers stormed Palestinian villages on Saturday night. The attacks are part of a wider escalation of violence Palestinians in the West Bank have faced since October 7. In this episode: Nida’ Ibrahim ( @nida_journo ), Al Jazeera Correspondent Hamdah Salhut ( @hamdahsalhut ), Al Jazeera Correspondent Episode cre...
Apr 17, 2024•18 min•Ep. 848
April 15 marks one year since fighting broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces and its paramilitary rival the Rapid Support Forces. The war has caused the largest displacement crisis in the world and a looming famine. We hear from previous guests to find out what the past year has been like, and what they still hold on to. In this episode: Hamid Khalahfallah ( @HamidMurtada ), Policy Analyst Nisrin Elamin ( @minlayla77 ), Assistant Professor of Anthropology, University of Toronto Mat Nashed ...
Apr 16, 2024•19 min•Ep. 847
Iran launched a direct attack on Israel on Saturday for the first time, firing more than 300 drones and missiles. Most were intercepted by Israel and its allies. What exactly happened, and how might Israel respond? In this episode: Dorsa Jabbari ( @DorsaJabbari ), Al Jazeera Correspondent Hamdah Salhut ( @HamdahSalhut ), Al Jazeera Correspondent Alex Gatopoulos ( @AlexGatopoulos ), Al Jazeera Defense Editor Ali Harb ( @HarbPeace ), Al Jazeera Journalist Maziar Motamedi ( @MotamediMaziar ), Al Ja...
Apr 15, 2024•18 min•Ep. 846
As Israel’s war on Gaza continues, we're coming to you on Sundays with a weekly roundup. This week: Iran directly attacked targets in Israel. Gaza's second largest city is destroyed. It's day 191 of the war. At least 33,600 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed. In this episode: Imran Khan ( @ajimran ), Al Jazeera Correspondent Dorsa Jabbari, ( @DorsaJabbari ), Al Jazeera Correspondent Heidi Zhou-Castro, ( @HeidiZhouCastro ) Al Jazeera Correspondent Akram Al Satarri, Freelance journalist Episode...
Apr 14, 2024•6 min•Ep. 845
Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on December 7, 2020. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed. Many Iranians had no idea who Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was when he was assassinated at the end of November 2020. But intelligence services in Israel and the United States had been tracking Iran’s top nuclear scientist for years. So what happened that day, and what will it mean for Iran? We are exploring Fakhrizadeh’s story and...
Apr 13, 2024•25 min•Ep. 844
Since the armed group Boko Haram kidnapped nearly 300 students in 2014 at an all-girls school in the town of Chibok, abductions have become a recurrent fixture in Nigeria, especially in the northern regions. Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy and has one of the strongest military forces on the continent, so why does the government still grapple with mass kidnappings? In this episode: Bukky Shonibare ( @BukkyShonibare ), Co-Founder of Bring Back Our Girls Movement Episode credits: This episode w...
Apr 12, 2024•17 min•Ep. 843
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 produced by David Enders and Fahrinisa Campana with our host Natasha Del Toro, in for Malika...
Apr 11, 2024•16 min•Ep. 842
