Burkina Faso just experienced the latest in a series of coups across West Africa. Frustration with the lavish lifestyle of aging heads of state, sustained security problems along the Sahel and an anti-colonial sentiment are all breeding discontent. But why so many countries and why now? Al Jazeera’s West Africa correspondent Nicolas Haque takes us to the centre of Burkina Faso’s coup and introduces us to some of the people driving this change.

In this episode: 
Nicolas Haque (@nicolashaque), Al Jazeera's West Africa Correspondent

Connect with The Take: 

Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Burkina Faso just experienced the latest in a series of coups across West Africa. Frustration with the lavish lifestyle of aging heads of state, sustained security problems along the Sahel and an anti-colonial sentiment are all breeding discontent. But why so many countries and why now? Al Jazeera&rsquo;s West Africa correspondent Nicolas Haque takes us to the centre of Burkina Faso&rsquo;s coup and introduces us to some of the people driving this change.
In this episode:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Nicolas Haque (<a href="https://twitter.com/nicolashaque">@nicolashaque</a>), Al Jazeera's West Africa Correspondent</li>
</ul>
Connect with The Take:&nbsp;
Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/AJTheTake">@AJTheTake</a>), Instagram (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/ajthetake/?hl=en">@ajthetake</a>) and Facebook (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheTakePod/">@TheTakePod</a>)

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.

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.

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Are coups catching on in West Africa?

As US President Donald Trump prepares to deliver his State of the Union address, we look at what he’s expected to outline, from foreign policy tensions and sweeping tariffs to immigration crackdowns, and the influence of the conservative blueprint known as Project 2025 on his agenda. What direction is he setting for his country next?

In this episode: 
Amanda Becker, Journalist

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolome and Melanie Marich, with Spencer Cline, Tamara Khandaker, Tuleen Barakat, Maya Hamadeh and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Sarí el-Khalili. 

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhemm. 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

As US President Donald Trump prepares to deliver his State of the Union address, we look at what he&rsquo;s expected to outline, from foreign policy tensions and sweeping tariffs to immigration crackdowns, and the influence of the conservative blueprint known as Project 2025 on his agenda. What direction is he setting for his country next?
In this episode:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Amanda Becker, Journalist</li>
</ul>
Episode credits:
This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolome and Melanie Marich, with Spencer Cline, Tamara Khandaker, Tuleen Barakat, Maya Hamadeh and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Sar&iacute; el-Khalili.&nbsp;
Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhemm. Alexandra Locke is The Take&rsquo;s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera&rsquo;s head of audio.&nbsp;
Connect with us:
@AJEPodcasts on&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/AJEPodcasts">Twitter</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/ajepodcasts/">Instagram,&nbsp;</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AJEPodcasts">Facebook</a>

What to expect from Trump’s State of the Union address

Acclaimed author Omar El Akkad writes a powerful reflection of Western hypocrisy over Gaza in his book, One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This. We speak to El Akkad on the immense suffering that has occurred over the past two years of Israel's genocidal war and examine how Western liberals failed the people of Gaza.

This is a story from the archives. This originally aired on October 10, 2025. None of the dates, titles or other references from that time have been changed. 

In this episode: 
Omar El Akkad, Writer 

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Haleema Shah, Amy Walters, and Tracie Hunte with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Duha Mossad, Farhan Rafid, 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 Twitter, Instagram, Facebook

Acclaimed author Omar El Akkad writes a powerful reflection of Western hypocrisy over Gaza in his book, One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This. We speak to El Akkad on the immense suffering that has occurred over the past two years of Israel's genocidal war and examine how Western liberals failed the people of Gaza.
This is a story from the archives. This originally aired on October 10, 2025. None of the dates, titles or other references from that time have been changed.&nbsp;
In this episode: 
<ul>
<li>Omar El Akkad, Writer&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Episode credits:
This episode was produced by Haleema Shah, Amy Walters, and Tracie Hunte with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Duha Mossad, Farhan Rafid, and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Kylene Kiang.&nbsp;
Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take&rsquo;s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera&rsquo;s head of audio.
Connect with us:
@AJEPodcasts on&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/AJEPodcasts">Twitter</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/ajepodcasts/">Instagram,&nbsp;</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AJEPodcasts">Facebook</a>

Omar El Akkad on the West’s hypocrisy over Gaza

This week: 144 days into a ceasefire, Israel has killed at least 612 Palestinians in Gaza.  Donald Trump's Board of Peace met in Washington DC. Israel escalated strikes in Lebanon. Israel has killed more than 72,070 Palestinians in Gaza since October 7th, 2023.

In this episode:
Hind Khoudary, (@hindkhoudary), Al Jazeera Correspondent
Kimberly Halkett, (@KimberlyHalkett), Al Jazeera Senior White House Correspondent
Hani Mahmoud, Al Jazeera Correspondent
Zeina Khodr, (@ZeinakhodrAljaz) Al Jazeera Correspondent

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by David Enders. 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. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

This week: 144 days into a ceasefire, Israel has killed at least 612 Palestinians in Gaza.  Donald Trump's Board of Peace met in Washington DC. Israel escalated strikes in Lebanon. Israel has killed more than 72,070 Palestinians in Gaza since October 7th, 2023.
In this episode:
<ul>
<li>Hind Khoudary, (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/hindkhoudary/?hl=en">@hindkhoudary</a>), Al Jazeera Correspondent</li>
<li>Kimberly Halkett, (<a href="https://x.com/KimberlyHalkett">@KimberlyHalkett</a>), Al Jazeera Senior White House Correspondent</li>
<li>Hani Mahmoud, Al Jazeera Correspondent</li>
<li>Zeina Khodr, (<a href="https://x.com/ZeinakhodrAljaz">@ZeinakhodrAljaz</a>) Al Jazeera Correspondent</li>
</ul>
Episode credits:
This episode was produced by David Enders. 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&rsquo;s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.
Connect with us:
@AJEPodcasts on&nbsp;X,&nbsp;Instagram,&nbsp;Facebook, and&nbsp;YouTube

Are coups catching on in West Africa?

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