A remote Albanian island has a new nickname: Kushner Island. Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump and founder of investment firm Affinity Partners, plans to build a $14bn luxury resort there. The project has sparked large protests, with crowds chanting, “Albania is not for sale.” Is this the future Albanians want, or a sellout of their land to foreign wealth? In this episode: Mitchell Prothero (@mitchprothero), Journalist Episode credits: This episode was produced by Tamara Khandaker, Noor Wazwaz and Marcos Bartolomé with Spencer Cline, Jana Dabliz, and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Noor Wazwaz and Sarí el-Khalili. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. This episode was mixed by Rick Rush. The Take is produced by Marcos Bartolomé, Sonia Bhagat, Spencer Cline, Sarí el-Khalili, Tamara Khandaker, Alexandra Locke, Catherine Nouhan, Alex Roldan, and Noor Wazwaz. Our host is Malika Bilal. Our editorial intern is Jana Dabliz. Our engagement producers are Adam Abou-Gad and Vienna Maglio. 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

This week: 256 days into a ceasefire, Israel has killed at least 983 Palestinians in Gaza. Iran and US to agree on deal. Israel launches new attacks on Lebanon. Amnesty International accuses Israel of ethnic cleansing. Israel has killed at least 72,993  Palestinians in Gaza since October 7th, 2023.   In this episode: Tohid Asadi, Al Jazeera Correspondent Heidi Pett, (@heidipett_), Al Jazeera Correspondent Dmitry Medvedenko, (dmitry_aj), Al Jazeera Correspondent Nida Ibrahim, (@nida_journo), Al Jazeera correspondent Hani Mahmoud, (Ahaniabuishaiba), Al Jazeera Correspondent   Episode credits: This episode was produced and mixed by Marthe van der Wolf. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Andrew Greiner and Munera AlDosari is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer.   Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on June 13, 2024. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed. It's still spring in parts of the Northern Hemisphere, but the world faces scorching hot temperatures. Summer heat has arrived early, setting records, claiming lives, and expected to get worse. Who's responsible and what should be done about it? In this episode:  Johan Rockström (@jrockstrom), Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research  Jeff Goodell (@jeffgoodell), Author of “The Heat Will Kill You First”  Episode credits: This episode was updated by Tamara Khandaker. The original production was Sarí el-Khalili, Khaled Soltan, Ashish Malhotra, Tamara Khandaker and our host, Malika Bilal. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Adam Abou-Gad and Vienna Maglio. Andrew Greiner is lead of audience engagement. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

Palestinian-American comedian Mo Amer has spent years using humor to face pain, break silence, and speak for a people under fire. In a moment of deep loss, he turns to the stage again. What can comedy still cut through? This is a story from the archives. This originally aired on November, 7 2025. None of the dates, titles or other references from that time have been changed. In this episode:  Mo Amer (@realmoamer), Comedian, Actor & Writer Episode credits: This episode was updated by Noor Wazwaz. The original production team was Melanie Marich, Sonia Bhagat, Marcos Bartolomé and Tamara Khandaker, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Amy Walters, Haleema Shah, Sarí el-Khalili, Farhan Rafid, Fatima Shafiq, and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Kylene Kiang. 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. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

Israel and Iran may have stepped back from the brink for now, but Lebanon is still under fire. As families remain displaced and Israeli strikes continue, why do Lebanese civilians remain caught in the crossfire with no end in sight?  In this episode: Ali Hashem (@Alihashem), Al Jazeera Correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by David Enders and Tamara Khandaker with Spencer Cline, Sonia Bhagat, Jana Dabliz and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Noor Wazwaz and Sarí el-Khalili.  Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Rick Rush mixed this episode. 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

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to be the biggest in history, with controversies to match. From the US mass deportation campaign and travel restrictions to the war with Iran, football’s biggest stage is raising questions far beyond the game.  In this episode: Ashish Malhotra (@amalhotra2), Host, The Soccernomics Podcast Episode credits: This episode was produced by Tamara Khandaker and Sarí el-Khalili with Spencer Cline, Catherine Nouhan, and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Noor Wazwaz. Alex Roldan is our sound designer. Rick Rush mixed this episode. The Take production team is Marcos Bartolomé, Sonia Bhagat, Spencer Cline, Sarí el-Khalili, Tamara Khandaker, Alexandra Locke, Catherine Nouhan, Alex Roldan, and Noor Wazwaz. Our host is Malika Bilal.  Our editorial intern is Jana Dabliz. Our engagement producers are Adam Abou-Gad and Vienna Maglio. Andrew Greiner is lead of audience engagement. 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

This week: 249 days into a ceasefire, Israel has killed at least 951 Palestinians in Gaza. Israel attacks tent camp in Gaza city. 100 days since US and Israel launched war on Iran. Israel continues to strike Lebanon despite ceasefire. Israel has killed at least 72,961 Palestinians in Gaza since October 7th, 2023.     In this episode: Hani Mahmoud, (Ahaniabuishaiba), Al Jazeera Correspondent Ali Hashem, (@Alihashem), Al Jazeera Correspondent Almigdad Alruhaid, (@AlMigdadAruhaid), Al Jazeera Correspondent Nida Ibrahim, (@nida_journo), Al Jazeera correspondent Tareq Abu Azzoum, (@abuoazzum) Al Jazeera Senior Correspondent     Episode credits: This episode was produced and mixed by Marthe van der Wolf. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Andrew Greiner and Munera AlDosari is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer.   Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on May 21, 2021. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed. Los Angeles, California is home to the second largest unhoused population in the United States. As an end to the pandemic and eviction moratoriums draw nearer, we’re asking: what will it take to resolve LA’s crisis of homelessness? In this episode: Amina Waheed (@atwaheed), Al Jazeera Journalist Sammy Sumpter, LA Resident Joe Buscaino (@JoeBuscaino), LA Councilman  Martha Escudero (@ReclaimingHomes), Activist, Reclaiming our Homes Episode credits: This episode was updated by Sarí el-Khalili. The original production team was Priyanka Tilve, Amy Walters, Negin Owlieai, Ney Alvarez, Dina Kesbeh, Alexandra Locke, Stacey Samuel and our host, Malika Bilal.  Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Adam Abou-Gad and Vienna Maglio. Andrew Greiner is lead of audience engagement. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

A fast-growing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has crossed borders, raising alarms far beyond Central Africa. This time, the virus is a strain with no approved vaccine or treatment. As cases rise and governments scramble to respond, can the outbreak be contained before it spreads further? In this episode:  Catherine Soi (@cate_soi), Al Jazeera Correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolomé and Sarí el-Khalili with Spencer Cline, Tamara Khandaker, Jana Dabliz, and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Tamara Khandaker.  Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Rick Rush mixed this episode. 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

Getting a visa can be expensive, frustrating, and for many people, unsuccessful. So what happens when governments outsource that process to private companies? An investigation by Lighthouse Reports examines VFS Global, the world’s largest visa processing firm, revealing how billions in applications generate enormous profits, even when visas are denied. In this episode:  May Bulman (@maybulman), Investigative Editor, Lighthouse Reports Episode credits: This episode was produced by our guest host, David Enders, Sarí el-Khalili, and Catherine Nouhan. It was edited by Alexandra Locke.  Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Rick Rush mixed this episode. 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