The Take

Clive Baldwin, Senior Legal Advisor at Human Rights Watch who led the Chagos report, explains how the UK and US displaced Chagossians and turned the islands into a military base. He recounts archival evidence of racist motives. He outlines the long legal fight, international rulings, and calls for reparations and a right of return.

Alex Gatopoulos, Al Jazeera defence editor with deep knowledge of military strategy, breaks down U.S. troop movements and limited ground options near Iran. He maps seizure scenarios and escalating risks. He explains why air power alone cannot topple governments and how Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz shifts regional leverage.

Abdulla Hawez, a researcher on Iraq and Iran with on-the-ground analysis, breaks down who holds power in Iraq and the tangled roles of Shia, Sunni and Kurdish factions. He traces post-election paralysis, U.S. influence over oil revenues, Iran-backed militias' reach, and how strikes have turned Iraq into a multi-actor battlefield. He also outlines the economic strain and risks of deepening fragmentation.

Ed Augustin, a British journalist based in Havana, reports from the front lines of Cuba’s crisis. He discusses Cuba’s military preparations and historical lessons from past US attempts to overthrow the government. He covers nationwide blackouts, humanitarian convoys delivering solar panels and medicine, and political moves to court Cuban Americans and outside investment.

Black rain fell over Tehran after oil depot strikes in the US-Israel war on Iran filled the sky with toxic petrochemical smoke. The contamination can seep into lungs, soil and water, with long-term risks from cancer to lasting environmental damage. What happens when the air people breathe becomes part of the battlefield? In this episode:  Narges Bajoghli, Cultural Anthropologist, Johns Hopkins University Episode credits: This episode was produced by Noor Wazwaz, Marcos Bartolomé and Sarí el-Khalili with Catherine Nouhan, Tuleen Barakat, and our guest host, Tamara Khandaker. It was edited by 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.  Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

Justin Dargin, energy expert and senior fellow focused on Gulf energy markets, explains how strikes on gas infrastructure ripple worldwide. He outlines why targeting energy escalates conflict. He walks through LNG processing, Qatar export routes, who pays higher prices first, impacts on electricity and food, and why the Global South faces the worst pain.

Zeina Khodr, Al Jazeera senior correspondent covering Lebanon and frontline fighting, and Zein Basravi, Al Jazeera correspondent on Gulf and regional security, discuss Trump's 48-hour ultimatum to Iran and its ripple effects. They cover Iran's strikes on Gulf energy, Israeli incursions into southern Lebanon, evacuations and civilian displacement, and intensifying attacks on Gaza's security forces.

Matt Binder, a New York tech reporter and writer of Disruptionist, breaks down Elon Musk's stint with DOGE and its fallout. He covers alleged cuts versus reality, questionable data consolidation and privacy risks, staffing and vetting concerns, and how scraped government data could feed private AI or business moves. Short, sharp, and focused on the most consequential developments.

Sven Kühn von Burgdorff, a retired EU diplomat with postings from Cuba to South Sudan, offers sharp takes on European foreign policy. He discusses why EU leaders refuse to secure the Strait of Hormuz, naval and mandate limits, and the political costs of joining a US‑led conflict. He also warns how a wider Iran war could reshape NATO, migration flows, and transatlantic ties.

Abid Hussain, Al Jazeera Digital correspondent in Islamabad covering security and regional conflicts. He describes recent low-cost drone strikes reaching sensitive areas. He discusses public reactions in Islamabad, details of the March 13 incidents, and ties between militant groups across the border. He also explores civilian impacts on border communities and broader regional implications.