Nayib Bukele, El Salvador’s millennial president, governs with an "iron fist." Under his leadership, 74,000 people have been imprisoned since 2022 as part of a massive crackdown on crime. Rights groups say he’s suspended civil liberties in the process. But polls show voters approve, putting Bukele on track for a landslide reelection victory. So, at what cost?

In this episode: 
Manuel Rapalo (@Manuel_Rapalo), Al Jazeera Correspondent

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra and Sarí el-Khalili with our host, Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan and Chloe K. Li fact-checked this episode.

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.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Nayib Bukele, El Salvador’s millennial president, governs with an "iron fist." Under his leadership, 74,000 people have been imprisoned since 2022 as part of a massive crackdown on crime. Rights groups say he’s suspended civil liberties in the process. But polls show voters approve, putting Bukele on track for a landslide reelection victory. So, at what cost?
In this episode: 
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Manuel Rapalo (<a href="https://twitter.com/manuel_rapalo">@Manuel_Rapalo</a>), Al Jazeera Correspondent</li>
</ul>
Episode credits:
This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra and Sarí el-Khalili with our host, Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan and Chloe K. Li fact-checked this episode.
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.
Connect with us:
@AJEPodcasts on <a href="https://twitter.com/AJEPodcasts">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ajepodcasts/">Instagram, </a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AJEPodcasts">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.threads.net/@ajepodcasts">Threads</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzGHKb8i9vTwjZkiFu6LhzsLUKFkYO60I">YouTube</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.

The Take

The Take - Disco

‘World’s coolest dictator’ set for reelection in El Salvador

This week: 172 days into a ceasefire, Israel has killed at least 677 Palestinians in Gaza. Trump has given Iran a 48-hour ultimatum. Israel is intensifying attacks on Gaza. Israel has launched an incursion into Lebanon. Israel has killed more than 72,253 Palestinians in Gaza since October 7th, 2023.

In this episode:
Mohamed Vall, Al Jazeera Correspondent
Zein Basravi, (@virtualzein) Al Jazeera Correspondent
Tareq Abu Azzoum, (@abuoazzum) Al Jazeera Senior Correspondent
Zeina Khodr, (@ZeinakhodrAljaz) Al Jazeera Correspondent
Nida Ibrahim, (@nida_journo), 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

This week: 172 days into a ceasefire, Israel has killed at least 677 Palestinians in Gaza. Trump has given Iran a 48-hour ultimatum. Israel is intensifying attacks on Gaza. Israel has launched an incursion into Lebanon. Israel has killed more than 72,253 Palestinians in Gaza since October 7th, 2023.
In this episode:
<ul>
<li>Mohamed Vall, Al Jazeera Correspondent</li>
<li>Zein Basravi, (@virtualzein) Al Jazeera Correspondent</li>
<li>Tareq Abu Azzoum, (@abuoazzum) Al Jazeera Senior Correspondent</li>
<li>Zeina Khodr, (@ZeinakhodrAljaz) Al Jazeera Correspondent</li>
<li>Nida Ibrahim, (@nida_journo), Al Jazeera correspondent</li>
</ul>
Episode credits:&nbsp; 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&rsquo;s executive producer.
&nbsp;
Connect with us:
@AJEPodcasts on&nbsp;X,&nbsp;Instagram,&nbsp;Facebook, and&nbsp;YouTube

Brief: Trump gives Iran a 48hr ultimatum, Israel is intensifying attacks on Gaza

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on June 2, 2025. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed.

Elon Musk may have resigned from the Department of Government Efficiency, but few believe he’s stepping away from power. In under a year, DOGE brought Silicon Valley-style disruption to Washington, consolidating federal data and dismantling oversight. Now, Musk is expected to channel what he gained into a private AI venture – with public systems still in reach.

In this episode: 
Matt Binder (@mattbinder), Writer of Disruptionist

Episode credits:

This episode was updated by Tamara Khandaker. The original production team was Tamara Khandaker, Sonia Bhagat, Chloe K. Li, Sarí el-Khalili, Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Kisaa Zehra, Mariana Navarrete, Alexandra Locke, and Natasha Del Toro.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Adam Abou-Gad and Vienna Maglio. Andrew Greiner is lead of audience engagement and 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 2, 2025. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed.
Elon Musk may have resigned from the Department of Government Efficiency, but few believe he&rsquo;s stepping away from power. In under a year, DOGE brought Silicon Valley-style disruption to Washington, consolidating federal data and dismantling oversight. Now, Musk is expected to channel what he gained into a private AI venture &ndash; with public systems still in reach.
In this episode:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Matt Binder (<a href="https://x.com/mattbinder">@mattbinder</a>), Writer of<a href="https://www.disruptionist.com/"> Disruptionist</a></li>
</ul>
Episode credits:
This episode was updated by Tamara Khandaker. The original production team was Tamara Khandaker, Sonia Bhagat, Chloe K. Li, Sar&iacute; el-Khalili, Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Kisaa Zehra, Mariana Navarrete, Alexandra Locke, and Natasha Del Toro.
Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Adam Abou-Gad and Vienna Maglio. Andrew Greiner is lead of audience engagement and Alexandra Locke is The Take&rsquo;s executive producer.
Connect with us:
@AJEPodcasts on <a href="https://twitter.com/AJEPodcasts">X</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ajepodcasts/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AJEPodcasts">Facebook</a>, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzGHKb8i9vTwjZkiFu6LhzsLUKFkYO60I">YouTube</a>

Another Take: What did Elon Musk get from DOGE – and what’s next?

As US President Donald Trump pushes deeper into war with Iran, Europe is keeping its distance, calling it “not our war”. But as strikes on Gulf energy facilities send oil and gas prices soaring, that distance is being tested. In a rare joint move, leaders from across Europe and Japan have pledged to help stabilize energy markets and ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Can Europe stay out of the fighting while being pulled in by its economic consequences?

In this episode: 
Sven Kühn von Burgsdorff, Former EU Diplomat

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by David Enders and Chloe K. Li, with Spencer Cline, Sonia Baghat, Tuleen Barakat, Catherine Nouhan 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-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. 

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

As US President Donald Trump pushes deeper into war with Iran, Europe is keeping its distance, calling it &ldquo;not our war&rdquo;. But as strikes on Gulf energy facilities send oil and gas prices soaring, that distance is being tested. In a rare joint move, leaders from across Europe and Japan have pledged to help stabilize energy markets and ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Can Europe stay out of the fighting while being pulled in by its economic consequences?
In this episode:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Sven K&uuml;hn von Burgsdorff, Former EU Diplomat</li>
</ul>
Episode credits:
This episode was produced by David Enders and Chloe K. Li, with Spencer Cline, Sonia Baghat, Tuleen Barakat, Catherine Nouhan and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Sar&iacute; el-Khalili.&nbsp;
Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. &nbsp;Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take&rsquo;s executive producer.&nbsp;
Connect with us:
@AJEPodcasts on <a href="https://twitter.com/AJEPodcasts">X</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ajepodcasts/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AJEPodcasts">Facebook</a>, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzGHKb8i9vTwjZkiFu6LhzsLUKFkYO60I">YouTube</a>

‘World’s coolest dictator’ set for reelection in El Salvador

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