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
10 snips
Mar 17, 2026 • 22min
Who will answer for the Iranian schoolchildren killed in Minab?
Hoda Katebi, writer, organizer and labor lawyer, speaks about the Minab school strike that killed more than 170 children. She discusses evidence linking a Tomahawk missile to the attack. She critiques U.S. investigations and rhetoric, explores emotional impacts on the Iranian diaspora, and outlines ways Americans might push for accountability.
7 snips
Mar 16, 2026 • 23min
Why Iranians are taking to Tehran's streets during war
Foad Izadi, Associate Professor at the University of Tehran and commentator on U.S.-Iran relations, gives an on-the-ground Tehran perspective. He describes daily life under bombardment and family coping strategies. He discusses how students’ worldviews are shifting, Iran’s strategic use of the Strait of Hormuz, regional security dynamics, and demands for ceasefire and compensation.
7 snips
Mar 15, 2026 • 20min
What the Iran war looks like from the occupied West Bank
Nour Odeh, Al Jazeera correspondent in Ramallah who covers Israeli affairs and regional conflicts. She describes life in the West Bank amid missile fallout, settler violence, and daily restrictions. She links local pressures to wider U.S.-Israel-Iran dynamics and warns how tactics used in Gaza are spreading across the region.
5 snips
Mar 15, 2026 • 7min
Brief: Iranian missiles hit central Israel, Israel continues to carry out strikes on Gaza.
Tohid Asadi, Al Jazeera correspondent reporting from the region. He describes Iranian missile barrages into Israel and Hezbollah rocket launches. He explains the strategic significance of Kharg Island and U.S. strikes on Iranian oil infrastructure. He recounts impacts of precision strikes in Beirut and continuing Israeli strikes across Gaza.
Mar 14, 2026 • 25min
Another Take: Iran, the US and the standoff in the Strait of Hormuz
Kimberly Halkett, a Washington-based Al Jazeera correspondent covering U.S. policy, and Zein Basravi, Al Jazeera’s Tehran-based reporter, explore the US–Iran standoff. They discuss rising tensions near the Strait of Hormuz. They cover US policy moves like IRGC designation and sanctions. They examine tanker sabotage claims, Iran’s strategic options, and on-the-ground dynamics in the strait.
36 snips
Mar 12, 2026 • 21min
Why China’s citizens are rooting for Iran in the US-Israel war
Katrina Yu, Al Jazeera correspondent in Beijing who covers China’s foreign and economic policy, unpacks how the US-Israel war hits China’s energy lifelines. She explores domestic price and manufacturing impacts. She outlines Beijing’s quiet diplomacy, limits on military action, and how the crisis could shift trade ties and summit dynamics.
16 snips
Mar 11, 2026 • 22min
How will Iran’s new supreme leader change the war?
Ali Hashem, Al Jazeera senior correspondent with 20+ years covering Middle East conflicts, explains who Mojtaba Khamenei is and the power networks behind him. He discusses why the succession happened now. He explores signals of continuity and possible shifts toward confrontation. He describes Iranian public reactions and the immediate survival and long-term challenges facing the country.
Mar 10, 2026 • 23min
The hidden battlefield: Censorship in the Israel–Iran war
Diana Buttu, human rights lawyer and analyst who combines legal expertise with lived perspective, speaks from Haifa about censorship and information control in the Israel–Iran conflict. She describes limits on filming, media access and foreign reporting. She traces how tactics used in Gaza shape regional messaging and highlights who is silenced and overlooked.
18 snips
Mar 9, 2026 • 21min
How oil is at the center of the US-Israel war with Iran
Zein Basravi, Al Jazeera senior correspondent in Doha with frontline Middle East reporting experience. He traces why oil sits at the heart of regional conflict. He breaks down recent strikes and the oil price surge. He explains the strategic chokehold of the Strait of Hormuz. He weighs regional spillover risks and the human toll.
8 snips
Mar 8, 2026 • 19min
Why Israel’s war on Hezbollah keeps returning
Hala Jaber, British-Lebanese award-winning reporter known for decades of conflict coverage, joins to unpack Lebanon’s latest bombardment. She describes mass displacement and Israel’s tactic of punishing Shiite communities. She explains why Israel’s bid to turn civilians against Hezbollah has failed and outlines Hezbollah’s rationale for escalation. She reflects on Lebanon’s resilience and regional stakes.
