The Lead with Jake Tapper - podcast cover

The Lead with Jake Tapper

CNN Podcastswww.cnn.com
CNN's lead DC anchor and chief Washington correspondent, Jake Tapper, hosts this two-hour long weekday afternoon program, with headlines from around the country and the world, the top stories in national and international news, politics, health, money, the environment, sports and popular culture. The Lead also concentrates on bringing stories that aren't found on front pages—buried leads—to the forefront.
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Episodes

Dow closes at record high as global markets rally

The court filings are going in to start the process in case Donald Trump cannot meet the requirement for his New York bond. Plus, outrage on Capitol Hill as Republicans are furious over the last minute release of a bill to fund the government through September. Also, CNN is on the ground in Haiti as violent gangs try to take over the few parts of the country they don’t already control. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...

Mar 22, 20241 hr 22 min

Confusion in Texas as border law zigzags through courts

The controversial Texas immigration law that was on hold, then not on hold, then on hold, could soon be not on hold again. An appeals court today weighed whether state authority should have the power to arrest and deport anyone the United States illegally given that immigration is typically a federal enforcement issue. CNN is in Texas with what happens now. Plus, a push by Israeli extremists to take over Gaza and kick Palestinians out. How out of the mainstream in Israel is this proposed ethnic ...

Mar 21, 20241 hr 20 min

Trump says he would have to hold “fire sale” of his properties to post $464M bond

Will it be a fire sale for former President Trump as Trump himself floats the idea while he comes up with a way to pay New York State for his financial fraud and his multi-million dollar bond that grows interest by the day? Plus, CNN is at the prison where a former Trump aide now sits behind bars. Also, sentencing day for members of the six Mississippi law enforcement officers whom prosecutors say brutally tortured two black men. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoic...

Mar 20, 20241 hr 23 min

C.J. Rice is freed after more than a dozen years in prison

Where disinformation prevails and democracy fails Putin celebrates a resounding win, cementing another six years in power after the Russian presidential election. Plus, Haiti collapses into a gang-state and CNN is in the capitol to capture how violence is the law of the land. Also, Jake meets C.J. Rice after he finally tastes freedom after spending 12 years in prison for a crime he says he could not have committed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...

Mar 19, 20241 hr 23 min

D.A. Fani Willis can stay on GA elections case after top prosecutor resigns

Nathan Wade, the top prosecutor in Donald Trump’s Georgia election interference case, resigns hours after district attorney Fani Willis was given an ultimatum: either he goes, or she does. So, where does the case against Trump go from here? Plus, utter devastation after a string of tornadoes hits the midwest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 16, 202443 min

Trump in federal court for critical hearing in docs case

Moments ago the prosecutor in the New York Trump hush money payment case said he would be okay with a 30-day delay. This as the former president spent the day in a Florida courtroom as his lawyers argued for broad leeway under the Presidential Records Act as a reason to throw out the classified documents case. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 15, 20241 hr 24 min

Georgia judge drops six charges in Trump election subversion case

Six charges have been dismissed in the election subversion case in Fulton County, Georgia. A judge says a lack of detail led to his decision. What does this mean for the rest of Fani Willis's case? Plus, a bill forcing TikTok to cut ties with China passes in the House with huge bipartisan support. But, will it pass in the Senate? And, should the U.S. Senate be in the business of banning companies? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...

Mar 14, 20241 hr 27 min

Special counsel defends Biden classified docs investigation

Special counsel Robert Hur could have brought charges against President Biden and today explained on Capitol Hill why he did not. Republicans asked why there weren’t charges despite a report finding Joe Biden knowingly mishandled classified documents. Democrats accused Hurt of playing politics with his report. Plus, why did the Justice Department release a transcript of Biden's interview with Robert Hur just as the special counsel was showing up on Capitol Hill? We break down what the transcript...

Mar 13, 20241 hr 23 min

“Trump Employee 5” speaks publicly for first time

“Trump Employee 5”, a man named Brian Butler, an employee of Trump for 20 years, is a central witness in the investigation into former President Donald Trump’s handling of classified documents. He is now speaking publicly because he believes that voters should hear the truth about his former boss and the case before the November election. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 12, 20241 hr 24 min

Republicans criticize Biden address as “overly partisan”

The man Trump belittles as Sleepy Joe seemed quite fiery last night as the president tries to flip the script launching a campaign blitz just one day after his forceful State of the Union address. Plus, Donald Trump's one-on-one at Mar-a-Lago today, meeting with Hungary's Viktor Orban, the authoritarian leader known for anti-immigration nationalist rhetoric and who often cozies up to Vladimir Putin. Also, see what happened when CNN confronted Israeli protesters determined to make sure little foo...

Mar 09, 20241 hr 18 min

Biden to tout economy, draw sharp contrast with Trump tonight

President Joe Biden is expected to deliver his State of the Union address tonight in a high-stakes moment to convince voters to give him a second term in the White House. The president's speech is expected to include calls for higher taxes on corporations and the wealthy. He also plans to take a swipe at former President Donald Trump, vow to restore Roe and acknowledge his age. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...

Mar 08, 20241 hr 16 min

Trump-Biden rematch set as Haley exists race

Nikki Haley exits and clears the way for a Biden-Trump rematch. The president is making a play for her voters while Donald Trump is racking up some new GOP endorsements including a big one from Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Also, a look at the chances of a third-party candidate jumping into this race this hour. The chief strategist for No Labels party joins. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...

Mar 07, 202443 min

Supreme Court unanimously keeps Trump on Colorado ballot

All nine Supreme Court justices agree that Colorado cannot kick Trump off its 2024 ballots regardless of what he did on January 6th. There is a sharp divide in the court over important details despite this unanimous ruling. Plus, we'll get reaction from Trump's top Republican challenger, Nikki Haley, and from a conservative judge who thought the U.S. Supreme Court should disqualify Trump. Also, CNN is on the ground in yet another war torn country, this time its Haiti. We’re there to see up close...

Mar 05, 20241 hr 24 min

Will Willis be DQ'd?

Fani Willis' fate is now in a judge's hands. She's the woman who charged Donald Trump with attempting to overturn the 2020 election in the state of Georgia. But now she herself is facing allegations of an improper relationship with the special prosecutor she put on the case. The judge says he'll make his decision in about two weeks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 02, 20241 hr 12 min

Political split screen at the border

President Biden and Donald Trump are both in Texas trying to blame each other for the crisis at the border. Republicans and Democrats who represent border towns weigh in. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, Trump's legal team is pushing back as yet another state has tried to take him off its 2024 ballot. Also on today's show: We explore the chaos on the coast in Gaza after the Israeli military opened fire as crowds rushed food aid trucks. More than 100 people are believed to have been killed. Learn mo...

Mar 01, 20241 hr 41 min

McConnell to step down from Senate GOP leadership in November

Mitch McConnell is stepping down as Senate Republican leader, though he is going to stay on as the senator from Kentucky. The new era of Republican politics is now loading. Plus, a monster wildfire is exploding in Texas, burning through land 11 times the size of Washington, D.C. Also, President Biden’s met with his doctor for his annual physical in what is expected to be the last update on Biden’s health before November’s election. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adcho...

Feb 29, 20241 hr 32 min

Biden faces protest vote in Michigan primary over Gaza

The Speaker of the House Mike Johnson was cornered by the president of the United States and his fellow top congressional leaders at what is being called by the Senate majority leader as of one of the most intense meetings he's ever been to in the Oval Office. Plus, CNN's Christiane Amanpour returns to Bucha, Ukraine, two years later. Also, we are very close to learning whether President Biden has a major problem in a crucial battleground state of Michigan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visi...

Feb 28, 20241 hr 26 min

Some Dems use Michigan vote to send Biden a message on Gaza

A small but determined group of Democrats want to seize the moment and use the power of the vote in battleground Michigan to send a message to President Biden. They are demanding an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and military aid cut off to Israel. They want Democrats tomorrow to vote uncommitted instead for Biden. Congressman Dean Phillips, Biden's top democratic challenger in the primary race, joins. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...

Feb 27, 20241 hr 22 min

One-on-one with Gavin Newsom

The governor of California, one of the main Democrats floated, perhaps more than anyone else, as an alternative to Joe Biden, Gavin Newsom joins. Is he all in on President Biden's reelection bid? Gov. Newsom also discusses how he is trying to fix the problems in his state such as illegal immigration and skyrocketing homeless numbers. Plus, after two years since Russia invaded Ukraine, are Putin and his forces closer to threatening a NATO country in European territory? Learn more about your ad ch...

Feb 24, 20241 hr 33 min

Biden calls Putin “a crazy S.O.B.”

President Biden shares unfiltered remarks on what he really thinks not just about Putin but also Donald Trump. Nikki Haley joins this hour to discuss the latest in the presidential race. Plus, an investigation is launched into a widespread cell phone outage. What cut service for so long for tens of thousands of AT&T customers? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 23, 20241 hr 24 min

Republicans brush off questions about ex-informant’s indictment

The impeachment inquiry against Joe Biden appears to be possibly on somewhat shaky ground after the Justice Department alleged that the former FBI informant who appeared to have dirt on President Biden was actually peddling lies and getting his dirt from Russian intelligence. Plus, at look at the woman with the dual U.S.-Russian citizenship who was detained in Russia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...

Feb 22, 20241 hr 24 min

White House: U.S. to impose new sanctions on Russia

A new warning from the Biden administration is that tough new sanctions are on the way for Russia for both the war in Ukraine and for the suspicious death of Putin's prominent critic Alexey Navalny. This as the Kremlin insists Navalny's remains cannot be released. Why not? Plus, what sources are now telling CNN about President Biden's new aggressive plan to go after the “crazy” statements that Donald Trump makes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...

Feb 21, 20241 hr 12 min

Kremlin: investigation into Navalny’s death is underway

The widow of Alexey Navalny shares a new message for Russians to not be silent. She is accusing the Kremlin of hiding her husband's body, alleging that he was poisoned and urging Russians to take to the streets after his death. CNN is in Russia as police are rounding up hundreds of people mourning Putin's fiercest critic. Plus, the late night skit that has disgraced former congressman George Santos coming after Jimmy Kimmel in court. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adc...

Feb 20, 202443 min

Judge orders Trump to pay nearly $355 in civil fraud case

In an absolutely staggering financial penalty for Donald Trump, a New York state judge ordered the former president and his companies to pay nearly $355 million for committing fraud. The judge found that Trump submitted “blatantly false” financial data when he applied for loans allowing him to get more favorable rates. There is one small victory in the ruling for Mr. Trump, the judge is not ordering the dissolution of the Trump organizations as prosecutors had asked for. Learn more about your ad...

Feb 17, 20241 hr 27 min

Fulton Country District Attorney Fani Willis testifies

The Georgia election subversion case against Donald Trump and 14 of his allies took a stunning turn when two top prosecutors testified under oath about their romantic relationship. Allegations of self-dealing have the potential to derail the indictment. However, nothing that happened today undercut the factual allegations against Trump, Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows, or the other GOP allies who are accused of trying to overturn the 2020 election. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoi...

Feb 16, 202435 min

Voters cast ballot to replace George Santos

A woman was shot five times by deputies after they mistook her for an intruder. She was not. Thankfully, she survived. We have the new body cam video and her attorney, Ben Crump, is in studio. Plus, after nine years away, Jon Stewart is back behind his desk managing to get under the skin of some Democrats. Also, voters in New York's third congressional district are braving today's winter storm in order to replace former congressman George Santos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastch...

Feb 14, 20241 hr 23 min

Biden remarks after recent Israeli operations in Gaza

Two Israeli hostages were rescued in Gaza by the IDF and new footage shows the early morning raid in Rafah. The White House says they’re concerned about some 100 Palestinians reportedly killed in the joint Israeli operation. President Biden makes remarks with the king of Jordan after calling Israel’s actions over the top just last week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 13, 20241 hr 29 min

Biden defends age, memory after special counsel report

Kamala Harris is leading the charge to defend President Biden in the wake of a special counsel repot that makes serious allegations about Biden's diminished faculties and faulty memory. He went before cameras yesterday to disprove the point and ended up calling the president of Egypt the president of Mexico. Also, fear grips citizens in in Gaza as Israel signals it is preparing for a new ground incursion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...

Feb 10, 20241 hr 24 min

Special counsel report: Biden willfully retained classified information but will not face charges

A scathing special counsel report released laid out in detail how President Biden's mishandled classified materials. The report includes photographs of documents, showing them kept under his TV in his Delaware home and classified documents about Afghanistan barely stored. However, the special counsel concluded the evidence does not establish Mr. Biden's guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, therefore prosecution would be unwarranted. Also, Colorado’s 2024 presidential ballot will likely include Trum...

Feb 09, 20241 hr 28 min

Senate Republicans block border bill they had demanded

Republicans in both the House and Senate are in what can be called disarray after failing to keep their party in line on the issues they demanded action on. Democratic Senator Joe Manchin joins to discuss the disfunction. Plus, we are one day away from Donald Trump’s first real case before the Supreme Court. He is trying to keep his name on election ballots in states across country. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...

Feb 08, 20241 hr 24 min
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