
Why are men jailed at US prison setting themselves alight?
Imprisoned people are setting themselves on fire at a US jail. At Red Onion State Prison in Virginia, we examine the racism and abuse that leave them feeling they have no other way to protest. Are these issues isolated to Red Onion, or do they reflect a deeper, systemic problem within US prisons? UPDATE: On Wednesday, November 27th, the Virginia Department of Corrections shared a statement with The Take outlining their account of what happened to the prisoners:“In recent months, six inmates at Red Onion State Prison have burned themselves using improvised devices that were created by tampering with electrical outlets. To be clear, these inmates did not set themselves on fire or self-immolate, as some reports have ludicrously suggested. Some of the inmates were treated for burns at the Department’s secure medical facility at the VCU Medical Center and cleared to return to the facility, while others did not require outside medical treatment. All six inmates have been referred to mental health staff for treatment, and it should be noted that several of these inmates have a history of engaging in self-harm.” In this episode: Noel Hanrahan (@PrisonRadio), legal director for Redwood Justice Fund and co-director of Prison Radio Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters, Sonia Bhagat, and Ashish Malhotra with Sarí el-Khalili, Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Duha Mosaad, Khaled Soltan, Hagir Saleh, Cole Van Miltenburg, and our host, Malika Bilal. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editor is Hisham Abu Salah. 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
27 Nov 202418min

Trapped for gold: The dangers facing illegal miners in South Africa
Hundreds of illegal gold miners known as “Zama Zamas” are in an underground standoff against police in South Africa. Authorities are cutting off food and supplies to lure the miners out. As the standoff intensifies, their lives are threatened, thousands of feet below ground. In this episode: Kimon de Greef (@kimon_de_greef), Journalist Episode credits: This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan and Chloe K. Li with Sarí el-Khalili, Ashish Malhotra, Manny Panaretos, Duha Mosaad, Hagir Saleh, and our host, Kevin Hirten, in for Malika Bilal. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editor is Hisham Abu Salah. 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
26 Nov 202419min

What’s behind the Sahel’s wave of coups?
What does the wave of coups in the Sahel mean for its people? Since 2020, Central and West Africa have faced more than 10 coup attempts. Meanwhile, global powers are shifting, as Russia eclipses France and the United States in the region’s geopolitics. In a region where people are demanding security and dignity, what could lie ahead for the rest of the decade? In this episode: Nicolas Haque (@nicolashaque), Al Jazeera Correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolomé and Shraddha Joshi with Hisham Abu Salah, Duha Mossad, Hagir Saleh, and our host Kevin Hirten, in for Malika Bilal. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editor is Hisham Abu Salah. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. The Take production team is Amy Walters, Ashish Malhotra, Catherine Nouhan, Chloe K. Li, Cole van Miltenburg, Duha Mosaad, Hagir Saleh, Hisham Abu Salah, Khaled Soltan, Marcos Bartolomé, Phillip Lanos, Sarí el-Khalili, Sonia Bhagat, Shraddha Joshi, and Tamara Khandaker. 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
25 Nov 202422min

Brief: Hamas announces death of captive, US vetoes UN resolution
As Israel’s war on Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and Iran continues, we’re coming to you on Sundays with a weekly roundup. This week: Hamas announced the death of an Israeli captive. Wide scale Israeli strikes continued in Gaza and Lebanon. Palestinian fears of the annexation of the West Bank are increasing. It is day 415 of the war in Gaza, where more than 44,000 Palestinians have been killed. In this episode: Tareq Abu Azzoum, (@tareqazzom) Al Jazeera Correspondent Hind Al Khoudary, Al Jazeera Correspondent Ali Hashem, (@alihashem_tv) Al Jazeera Correspondent Zein Basravi, (@virtualzein) Al Jazeera Correspondent Gabriel Elizondo, (@elizondogabriel) Al Jazeera Correspondent 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.
24 Nov 20246min

Another Take: A radical antidote for climate despair
Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on November 14, 2022. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed. Fossil fuels are a time bomb, and humans are entitled to stop them. That’s the argument of “How to Blow Up a Pipeline,” a book by Andreas Malm calling for activist groups like Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion to adopt radical tactics against the fossil fuel industry, including property damage. As COP27 enters its second week, greenwashing is rife, protest is limited, and fossil fuel emissions are still rising. After over a quarter-century of UN-sponsored talking, Malm argues it’s time for people to take action into their own hands. In this episode: Andreas Malm, author of “How to Blow Up a Pipeline” and professor at Lund University Episode credits: This episode was updated by Tamara Khandaker. The original production team was Alexandra Locke, Negin Owliaei, Chloe K. Li, Ruby Zaman, and our host Halla Mohieddeen, in for Malika Bilal. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editor is Hisham Abu Salah. 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
23 Nov 202421min

ICC issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant. What’s next?
The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif. These arrest warrants will now be sent to all 124 member states of the ICC. What does it mean for the men who have been charged – and the future of the ICC? In this episode: Mark Kersten (@MarkKersten), Assistant Professor of Criminology & Criminal Law, University of the Fraser Valley Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra, Tamara Khandaker, Sonia Bhagat, and Amy Walters with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Duha Mosaad, Hagir Saleh, Cole van Miltenburg, and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Alexandra Locke. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editor is Hisham Abu Salah. 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
22 Nov 202421min

Is the Russia-Ukraine war entering uncharted territory?
A new phase in the Russia-Ukraine war is continuing to escalate. Ukraine sent US and UK-made missiles into Russia this week, while the Kremlin has loosened its policy for using nuclear weapons. Where does the war go from here? In this episode: Yulia Shapovalova, Al Jazeera Correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra, Sonia Bhagat, and Chloe K. Li with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Cole Van Miltenburg, Duha Mosaad, Hagir Saleh and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Alexandra Locke. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editor is Hisham Abu Salah. 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
21 Nov 202420min

The faces behind Trump’s Cabinet picks
President-elect Donald Trump is quickly naming his Cabinet, set to shape his agenda for the next four years. While some Americans are eager for change, others are dismayed by his picks. So how will Trump’s cabinet carry out his vision and navigate the challenges ahead? In this episode: Matthew Bartlett (@MRBartlettNH), Republican Strategist and Former US State Department Appointee Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters, Sonia Bhagat, and Sarí el-Khalili with Cole Van Miltenburg, Duha Mosaad, Hagir Saleh, and our host, Natasha Del Toro. It was edited by Alexandra Locke. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editor is Hisham Abu Salah. 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
20 Nov 202422min