The Take

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

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov was detained in France for complicity in criminal activity. Some, including the Russian government, have called it an attack on free speech. What’s behind the uproar, and what’s at stake? In this episode: Tristan Redman (@TristanAJE), Al Jazeera Producer Episode credits: This episode was produced by Chloe K. Li, Amy Walters, and Sonia Bhagat, with Duha Mossad, Shraddha Joshi, Veronique Eshaya, Hagir Saleh, and our host Natasha Del Toro, in for Malika Bilal.  It was edited by Alexandra Locke. 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

Palestinian university students in the occupied West Bank live under the constant threat of arrest by the Israeli military, often without trial or charges. At Birzeit University, a center of Palestinian intellectual life, a staff member who documents those arrests explains the challenges that the best and brightest Palestinian students often face and the obstacles they create for their futures. In this episode: Sundos Hammad, Coordinator of the Right to Education Campaign at Birzeit University Episode credits: This episode was produced by Veronique Eshaya, 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. Veronique Eshaya is a student at the Investigative Reporting Program at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

As Ukraine pushes into Russian territory, Russia has answered with a large-scale attack targeting key infrastructure across Ukraine. With intense fighting in Belgorod and rapid advances in Donetsk, both sides are raising the stakes. What implications will the surprise offensive ultimately have on the future of the conflict? In this episode: Alex Gatopoulos (@alexgatopoulos), Defense Editor, Al Jazeera English Episode credits: This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan and Tamara Khandaker, with Duha Mosaad, Hagir Saleh, Shraddha Joshi 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. 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 monikers attracted by Iran’s network of allies in the Middle East are snapshots of a geopolitical alliance that shapes the region. As Israel seeks to shore up its own side of the chessboard and tensions rise, we take a deep dive. Who are the groups? And why did Iran back them in the first place? In this episode: Imran Khan (@ajimran), Al Jazeera English Senior Correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolomé and Veronique Eshaya with Shraddha Joshi, Tamara Khandaker, Manahil Naveed, Hagir Saleh and me, Natasha Del Toro, in for Malika Bilal. The Take production team is Amy Walters, Ashish Malhotra, Catherine Nouhan, Chloe K. Li, Duha Mosaad, Hagir Saleh, Khaled Soltan, Manahil Naveed, Marcos Bartolomé, Noor Wazwaz, Sarí el-Khalili, Shraddha Joshi, Sonia Bhagat, Tamara Khandaker, and Veronique Eshaya. I’m your host, Natasha del Toro. 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. Israel carried out its most significant strikes in Lebanon since the war began. Peace talks remained at an impasse. Israel continued issuing evacuation orders for people with nowhere to go. It is day 324 of the war. More than 40,223 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed. In this episode: Zeina Khodr, (@ZeinakhodrAljaz) Al Jazeera Correspondent Hamdah Salhut, (@HamdahSalhut) Al Jazeera Correspondent Mahmoud Alshawa, (@mahmoud.alshawa), freelance journalist 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 September 16, 2020. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed. Joe Biden kept his promise: The Democratic nominee for US President picked a woman as his running mate. Kamala Harris is a senator and the daughter of South Asian and Black immigrants. Now that we know she's on the ticket, we're revisiting an episode exploring the power of Black women voters — one of the most important slices of the American electorate in deciding who takes the White House. In this episode: Imaeyen Ibanga (@iiwrites), presenter and reporter for AJ+  Glynda Carr (@glyndacarr) president and CEO of Higher Heights for America Episode credits: This episode was updated by Amy Walters. The original production team was Ney Alvarez, Dina Kesbeh, Abigail Ony Nwaohuocha, Alexandra Locke, Priyanka Tilve, Amy Walters, Stacey Samuel, Graelyn Brashear, and 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, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Hope and dissent met at the 2024 DNC, from the electric atmosphere inside the Democrats’ convention to the frustration of those fighting to convince the party to change course on unwavering support for Israel. With Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris’s supporters, protesters and uncommitted delegates, we’re bringing you voices from the party often referred to as the Big Tent.  In this episode: LaToya Greenwood (@greenwoodrep), Former Member, Illinois House of Representatives Kathleen Purdy, Ohio Delegate, Democratic National Convention Henry Cline, Nebraska Delegate, Democratic National Convention Alex Melendrez (@ACMelendrez), California Delegate, Democratic National Convention  Abbas Alawieh (@AZAlawieh), Uncommitted Delegate, Democratic National Convention Maya Berry (@iMayaBerry), Executive Director, Arab American Institute  Lexis Zeidan (@lexisdenazeidan), Co-Chair, Uncommitted National Movement Jenin Alharithi (@amp_chicago), Coordinator, American Muslims for Palestine, Chicago Chapter Episode credits: This episode was produced by Chloe K. Li, Ashish Malhotra, and Sonia Bhagat, with Tamara Khandaker, Veronique Eshaya, Shraddha Joshi, and our host, 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 brutal killing of a Kolkata doctor has sparked nationwide fury, exposing India’s struggle with violence against women. With questions around the handling of the investigation and allegations of a coverup, what has the case revealed about India’s justice system and its ability to protect women in the workplace? In this episode: Pavni Mittal (@pavnimittal), Journalist Episode credits: This episode was produced by Tamara Khandaker and Veronique Eshaya, with Shraddha Joshi, Duha Mosaad, Hagir Saleh, Manahil Naveed, and Natasha del Toro, 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 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

Abortion could be punished more harshly than rape in Brazil if a proposed bill passes. The bill sparked protests and brought attention to feminists’ ongoing fight to loosen Brazil’s existing abortion legislation, which has remained unchanged for almost a century. In this episode: Luna Borges (@lunaborgess), Researcher and Lawyer Episode credits: This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolomé and Veronique Eshaya, with Mohammed Zain Shafi Khan 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

Massive anti-war protests, an assassination attempt, an incumbent US president standing down for re-election – all ahead of a Democratic National Convention set in Chicago. The headlines from the past few months have struck more than a few chords with those who remember the chaos and violence of the Democrats’ 1968 convention. As this year’s DNC begins, what can we learn from one of the most tumultuous political conventions the US has ever seen? In this episode: Garrison Hayes (@garrison_hayes), Journalist Howie Emmer, Activist during 1968 DNC Gerard ibn Earl Bilal, Multimedia producer  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Chloe K Li and Ashish Malhotra with Manahil Naveed, Veronique Eshaya, Shraddha Joshi, 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, Duha Mosaad, Hagir Saleh, Khaled Soltan, Manahil Naveed, Marcos Bartolomé, Sarí el-Khalili, Shraddha Joshi, Sonia Bhagat, Tamara Khandaker, and Veronique Eshaya. 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

We are coming to you on Sundays with weekly roundups as Israel's war on Gaza continues. Israel ordered further mass evacuations across Gaza. Peace negotiations continued. Ceasefire negotiations continued. Israel will get more weapons from the US. It is day 317 of the war. More than 40,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed. In this episode: Akram Al Satarri, journalist in Khan Younis Hamdah Salhut, (@HamdahSalhut) Al Jazeera Correspondent Kimberly Halkett, (@KimberlyHalkett), Al Jazeera White House Correspondent Nida Ibrahim, (@nida_journo), 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

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on May 1st, 2024. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed. 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 updated by Sarí el-Khalili. The original production team was David Enders, Sonia Bhagat, Ashish Malhotra, Catherine Nouhan, 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

Farmers forced to leave their fields, children out of school, and white phosphorus devastating lives – all this hangs over life in southern Lebanon, where the ongoing threat of escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah has been a constant presence for decades. How do residents continue to cope with these challenges? In this episode: Sara Salman (@sara_salman), AJ+ Journalist Episode credits: This episode was produced by Tamara Khandaker, Ashish Malhotra, and Sonia Bhagat, with Manahil Naveed, Veronique Eshaya and our host 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

There is cautious optimism as Bangladesh grapples with the aftermath of its student-led protests. Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus now leads a hopeful interim government tasked with securing elections. Will Bangladesh achieve true stability, or will a tumultuous political saga enter a new phase? In this episode: Tanvir Chowdhury (@tanvirbengal), Al Jazeera Bangladesh Correspondent/Producer Episode credits: This episode was produced by Tamara Khandaker, Chloe K. Li, and Sonia Bhagat with Amy Walters, Khaled Soltan, Duha Mosaad, Veronique Eshaya, Shraddha Joshi, Hagir Saleh, Manahil Naveed, and our host 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

Arguably the most famous third-party candidate in United States election history, Ralph Nader ran for president four times. He tells us why a third-party candidate is so crucial and provides some insight into this year’s race. In this episode: Ralph Nader (@RalphNader), Former US Presidential Candidate Episode credits:  This episode was produced by Sarí el-Khalili and Ashish Malhotra, with Amy Walters, Khaled Soltan, Duha Mosaad, Manahil Naveed, Veronique Eshaya, Shraddha Joshi, and our host 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

Ukraine is conducting its largest incursion into Russian territory since Russia first invaded Ukraine. At the same time, the Ukrainian military is outnumbered and under-equipped. Could this switch in strategy change the direction of the war? In this episode: Alex Gatopoulos (@AlexGatopoulos),  Defence Editor for Al Jazeera English Episode credits: This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan, and Chloe K. Li, with Amy Walters, Duha Mosaad, Manahil Naveed, 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. 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

Is Gaza heading in a new direction? Who is Yahya Sinwar, the newly appointed political leader of Hamas and what could his steadfast commitment to resistance mean for Gaza? In this episode:  Mohammad Alsaafin (@malsaafin), Senior Producer at AJ+ Episode credits:  This episode was produced by Tamara Khandaker and Chloe K. Li with Duha Mossad, Veronique Eshaya, Amy Walters, and our host Malika Bilal. The Take production team is Amy Walters, Ashish Malhotra, Catherine Nouhan, Chloe K. Li, Duha Mosaad, Khaled Soltan, Manahil Naveed, Marcos Bartolomé, Sarí el-Khalili, Sonia Bhagat, Tamara Khandaker, Mohammed Zain Shafi Khan and Veronique Eshaya. 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