The Take

Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing the biggest crisis of his leadership after Labour’s bruising election losses sparked panic inside the party. As Nigel Farage and Reform UK gain ground, we examine why Starmer’s authority appears to be slipping before any formal challenge has even begun and whether Britain is entering another period of political instability.
In this episode:
Kieren Andrieu (@kieran_andrieu), Political Economist
Episode credits:
This episode was produced by Noor Wazwaz and Sarí el-Khalili, with Spencer Cline, Tuleen Barakat, Catherine Nouhan and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Tamara Khandakar.
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.
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Ecuadorians say civilians are being abducted off the street as part of the military crackdown on drug cartels. President Daniel Noboa deployed Ecuador’s military to combat gangs after declaring an ‘internal armed conflict’ in 2024. A new film from Al Jazeera's Faultlines hears from the family members of those who have been taken and human rights groups about the growing calls for justice.
In this episode:
Jeremy Young (@YoungRJeremy), Senior Investigative Producer, Al Jazeera
Episode credits:
This episode was produced by David Enders and Chloe K. Li with Tuleen Barakat, Marcos Bartolomé and our guest host, Kevin Hirten. It was edited by Tamara Khandaker.
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.
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What is it actually like on board a flotilla to Gaza, knowing you'll likely be targeted and imprisoned? Until now, it's a story that's been told mostly in fragments, one vertical video at a time. This is the inside story of what it is like on the Global Sumud Flotilla: the drone attacks, the safety drills, the calls home, and the Palestinians in Gaza waiting to see if civilians can break a siege backed by a superpower. This episode is part of a three-part documentary series, The Flotillas, by The Take and AJ+.
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This week: 228 days into a ceasefire, Israel has killed at least 870 Palestinians in Gaza. Ceasefire extension in Lebanon doesn’t stop Israeli bombing. Palestinians mark 78 years since the Nakba. Iran to present plan on Strait of Hormuz. Israel has killed more than 72,757 Palestinians in Gaza since October 7th, 2023.

In this episode:
Zeina Khodr, (@ZeinakhodrAljaz) Al Jazeera Correspondent
Tohid Asadi, (@Htohid_._asadi) Al Jazeera Correspondent
Tareq Abu Azzoum, (@abuoazzum) Al Jazeera Journalist
Nour Odeh, (@nourodeh) 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.

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Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on June 1, 2020. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed.
When coronavirus hit the cruise industry, many passengers were allowed to disembark and were repatriated to their home countries. But as of mid-May, about 100,000 crew members were still at sea, trying to get home.
We speak with Sterling Howell, musician and cruise line entertainer crew member who was able to go home, Krista Thomas, former guest services director for Norwegian Cruises, and with many who are still stuck on board, including Ghoseawon “Albert” Luxmeeparsad, and other Mauritian crew members.
For more:
If you are struggling with mental health issues, there are suicide crisis lines available in many countries around the world. Here are some of those resources:
Open Counseling
International Association for Suicide Prevention
Global Suicide Hotline Resources – WhatsApp
In this episode:
Sterling Howell, Cruise Ship Crewmember
Krista Thomas, Former Guest Services Director for Norwegian Cruises
Dr. Sami, Physician
Gan, Cruise Ship Crewmember
Episode credits:
This episode was updated by Chloe K. Li. The original production team was Amy Walters with Dina Kesbeh, Priyanka Tilve, Ney Alvarez, Alexandra Locke 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