The Take – Details, episodes & analysis

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on August 3, 2023. None of the references from that time have been changed.

In a Texas maximum security prison, Dennis Wayne Hope has served 27 years in solitary confinement – more than half his life. On any given night in the US, more than 120,000 prisoners are isolated just like him. United Nations experts have strongly urged a global ban on solitary confinement that lasts more than 15 days, denouncing it as a form of psychological torture. Today, the story of how Dennis set out to change that and what it says about prison in the United States.

In this episode: 

• Rhana Natour (@RNatourious), correspondent for Al Jazeera's Fault Lines

Episode credits:

This episode was updated by Sarí el-Khalili. The original production team was Khaled Soltan, Miranda Lin, and our host, Kevin Hirten, in for 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

Israel’s ongoing military operation in the occupied West Bank is the largest of its kind since 2002. It marks a significant escalation from the increased military assaults and settler violence that have already been seen since October 7. Why is this happening now?

In this episode:

• Diana Buttu (@dianabuttu), Human Rights Lawyer & Analyst

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Tamara Khandaker, Sarí el-Khalili, and Sonia Bhagat, with Shraddha Joshi, Duha Mosaad, Hagir Saleh, and our host Natasha del Toro, in for Malika Bilal.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.

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

The US is pushing a ‘decisive moment’ for ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has wrapped up his latest Middle East trip. As US demands for an end to Israel’s war on Gaza are loud and clear outside the Democratic National Convention. But as the blame game continues over the war dragging closer to its eleventh month, and with tens of thousands of Palestinians killed, will the US exert enough influence on Israel to secure a lasting ceasefire?

In this episode:

• Ali Harb (@Harbpeace), Senior Producer at Al Jazeera

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan, with Duha Mosaad, Manahil Naveed, Shraddha Joshi, and our host Kevin Hirten, in for Malika Bilal. 

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Joe Plourde mixed this episode. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.

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

The European Hospital is one of the few medical facilities still functioning in Gaza, but now the staff has shrunk significantly with the departure of international doctors. We spoke to two American doctors about the atrocities they witnessed and the colleagues they had to leave behind. 

In this episode: 

• Dr. Adam Hamawy, Former US Army Combat Trauma Surgeon 
• Dr. Mohamad Abdelfattah, Palestinian-American ICU Doctor

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Tabish Talib and Sarí el-Khalili, with Ashish Malhotra, Tamara Khandaker, Manahil Naveed and 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 Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

It’s the Donald Trump trial made for the tabloids. Accused of an affair with an adult film star and a payment allegedly made to cover it up ahead of the 2016 US election. Eight years later, Trump is seeking the presidency again. What’s the impact of the scandal this time?

In this episode: 

• Kristen Saloomey (@KSaloomey), Al Jazeera Correspondent 

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra, Sarí el-Khalili, and Zaina Badr, with Manahil Naveed, Marcos Bartolomé and 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 Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi has been killed in a helicopter crash, along with the foreign minister and six others. Now, the government will have to carry out elections during a turbulent moment for Iran and the region. How will Raisi’s death play out?

In this episode: 

• Resul Serdar Atas (@ResulSerdarAtas), Senior International Correspondent, Al Jazeera English
• Maziar Motamedi (@MotamediMaziar), Al Jazeera Journalist

For more:

The Take: What will happen to Julian Assange if he is extradited?

The Take: Are Israeli officials under threat of ICC prosecution?

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by David Enders, Zaina Badr, Manahil Naveed, and Chloe K. Li, with Catherine Nouhan and 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, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.

Connect with us:

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

The Darien Gap is a dangerous stretch of jungle on a strip of land that connects North and South America. In recent years, stricter Central American border policies have driven hundreds of thousands of people to make this treacherous trek. The number of children among them has skyrocketed. We follow one family as they navigate the crossing.

In this episode: 

• John Holman (@johnholman100), Al Jazeera English Correspondent

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Tamara Khandaker and Fahrinisa Campana, with Manahil Navid and Tabish Talal, and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Alexandra Locke.

The Take production team is Amy Walters, Ashish Malhotra, Catherine Nouhan, Chloe K. Li, David Enders, Duha Mosaad, Khaled Soltan, Manahil Naveed, Marcos Bartolomé, Sarí el-Khalili, Sonia Bhagat, Tabish Talib, Tamara Khandaker, and Zaina Badr. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. 

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

We are coming to you on Sundays with weekly roundups as Israel's war on Gaza continues. A helicopter carrying Iran's president and foreign minister is missing. Intense fighting and Israeli strikes continued in north Gaza.The White House has approved more weapons for Israel. The US military opened a pier off Gaza's coast to deliver aid and the International Court of Justice was asked to stop Israel's offensive in Rafah. Israeli politicians increased pressure It is day 226 of the war. More than 35,386 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed.

In this episode:

• Resul Serdar, (@ResulSerdarAtas), Al Jazeera Correspondent
• Hani Mahmoud, Al Jazeera Correspondent
• Kimberly Halkett, (@KimberlyHalkett), Al Jazeera White House Correspondent
• James Bays, (@baysontheroad), Al Jazeera Diplomatic Editor
• Mohammed Jamjoom, (@MIJamjoom), Al Jazeera Senior 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

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on July 17, 2020. None of the dates or references from that time have been changed. 

A three-year undercover investigation into the world's most powerful gun lobby ended last year with an explosive report by Al Jazeera's investigative unit that revealed a link between the National Rifle Association and Australia's far right. Journalists from the unit walk us through how they got the story.

In this episode: 

• Peter Charley (@petecharley), Manager of Al Jazeera's Investigative Unit
• Jeremy Young (@YoungRJeremy), Al Jazeera Senior Producer 

Episode credits:

This episode was updated by Amy Walters. The original production team was Amy Walters, with Dina Kesbeh. Priyanka Tilve. Ney Alvarez. Alexandra Locke, and Morgan Waters. 

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

From the resurrection of dead leaders, to cloned voices of politicians and Bollywood stars, political campaigns are shaking up India’s general election by heavily investing in AI technology. Could it be a blueprint for elections everywhere? 

In this episode: 

• Nilesh Christopher, (@nilchristopher), Technology Journalist

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra, Chloe K. Li and Sonia Bhagat with our host Malika Bilal. Catherine Nouhan and Manahil Naveed 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