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

Tech Analyst Testifies About Michael Cohen’s Phones

The criminal hush money cover up trial of former President Trump is well underway. Our panel breaks down the latest witness testimony and developments in the trial. Plus, President Biden makes his most direct comments yet on the protests which have erupted from coast to coast on college campuses. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 03, 20241 hr 23 min

UCLA Cancels Classes After Violent Clashes Between Protesters

From New York to California and points in between, confrontations between students and police continue. Plus, Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Israel trying to push a ceasefire. Also, from the trial to the trail, Trump hits two battleground states today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 02, 20241 hr 24 min

Protestors Storm Columbia Building, Barricade Themselves Inside

Campus protests are hitting a whole new level at Columbia University with violence and vandalism and anti-war demonstrators barricading themselves in a university building. The university is warning people to stay away from campus. Plus, the major move coming from the Biden administration aiming to reclassify marijuana after criminalizing for nearly 90 years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...

May 01, 20241 hr 29 min

Police Arrest Protestors At University of Texas-Austin

Columbia University, the epicenter of the weeklong pro-Palestinian protests, said it has begun suspending students who refused to abide by a deadline to vacate the campus encampment. Another Ivy League school, Cornell University, said it was suspending student protesters who declined to move to an alternate location. The college protests are raising legal questions around free speech. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...

Apr 30, 20241 hr 24 min

Michael Cohen’s Former Banker Testifies in Trump Trial

A new witness in Donald Trump’s hush money cover up trial, the prosecution just called its third witness, Gary Farrow, a banker who worked with Michael Cohen at the time the payments were made to former Playboy model Karen McDougal and porn actress and director Stormy Daniels, both of whom alleged romantic entanglements with Donald Trump. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 27, 20241 hr 32 min

Trump’s Lawyers Cross-examine Former Tabloid Executive

In the New York hush money trial, Donald Trump’s defense team is now cross-examining the prosecution’s first witness, former tabloid executive David Pecker. This is Pecker’s third day on the stand and today for the very first time he described the deal he helped broker with adult film star Stormy Daniels. A deal that is at the center of the case. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 26, 20241 hr 31 min

Tense Protests Rock major U.S. Colleges Over Israel-Hamas War

Protests are underway across United States colleges and universities after weeks of tension over the Israel-Hamas war. Our reporters report live from campuses where protests continue. House Speaker Mike Johnson speaks at Columbia University amid the protests. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 25, 20241 hr 25 min

Pecker: Trump, Cohen asked me how I could “help the campaign”

Former tabloid publisher David Pecker is under oath and on the record revealing just how far Donald Trump went allegedly to protect his 2016 presidential campaign. But, when it comes to whether Trump committed a felony in the process, how damaging was today’s testimony? Plus, what Pecker said went down in the room in the infamous meeting in August of 2015 that could hurt Donald Trump’s case nearly nine years later. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...

Apr 24, 20241 hr 23 min

The First Witness Takes the Stand in Trump Hush Money Case

The prosecution and defense sparred in opening statements during Donald Trump's hush money scheme. Did Trump violate a gag order? Crisis on college campuses; are Jewish students safe at School? Calls increase for Columbia University's President to resign over handling of antisemitism. Plus, the Supreme Court is set to decide if cities can punish people who are homeless, and a U.S. animation studio's work has been found on a North Korean server. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoi...

Apr 23, 20241 hr 25 min

Full jury panel selected for Trump trial

A horrific scene outside of Trump’s New York City courthouse after a man lit himself on fire while inside the courthouse there was a major development in the hush money trial. How long can the prosecution hold out and keep its witness list outside of the hands of Donald Trump and his defense team? Also, in an extraordinary move, some 165 House Democrats came to the aid of Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, drawing the ire of hard-line Republicans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podc...

Apr 20, 202444 min

Judge removes two Trump trial jurors

The shocking actions that leads to two jurors in the Trump hush money case suddenly being dismissed in an unusual occurrence. Plus, name calling and fresh threats for House Speaker Mike Johnson by hard-right Republicans demanding he keep his hands off the rule which, as of now, allows just one member of Congress to force a vote to remove him as speaker. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 19, 20241 hr 36 min

Senate votes to end Mayorkas impeachment trail

House Speaker Mike Johnson finds a way to allow votes on aid to Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan but it’s his path forward that has his party in an uproar. Speaker Johnson joins to answer if he needs helps from Democrats. Plus, a brand new filing from the hush money case includes a line of questioning the prosecution may take if Trump takes the stand. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 18, 20241 hr 29 min

USC: it’s a safety issue, not about free speech

A deep divide in the U.S. Supreme Court is on display today as justices challenge whether prosecutors have been overzealous using obstruction charges against rioters. Plus, a valedictorian’s speech is canceled, the criticism about the muslim student that lead to objections on the campus of the University of Southern California. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 17, 20241 hr 25 min

Pro-Palestinian protests disrupt traffic in several U.S. cities

Day one of the New York hush money cover up case against Donald Trump wraps. A playboy model will be allowed to testify and the infamous Access Hollywood tape will not be allowed to be aired in court. Plus, a critical meeting at the Capitol as House Speaker Johnson is weighing his next move in the wake of the weekend attack from Iran. Will Speaker Johnson isolate support for Israel for an aid package without attaching new aid for Ukraine? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.co...

Apr 16, 20241 hr 27 min

Pentagon moving more assets to Middle East in face of Iran threat

The US has been on high alert for a significant Iranian retaliatory attack on Israel in recent days as fears grow of a wider regional war. Plus, the House passed a modified surveillance bill, just two days after an earlier version failed to advance in a public rebuke to GOP leadership. The bill, which reauthorizes the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, also needs to pass the Senate ahead of an April 19 deadline. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...

Apr 13, 20241 hr 26 min

O.J. Simpson, known for double-murder trial, dead at 76

O.J. Simpson, Heisman Trophy winner most known for the double murders of his ex-wife and Ron Goldman, the crimes of which he was infamously acquitted, has died of cancer at the age of 76. Plus, comedian Conan O’Brien joins in studio to discuss his latest project. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 12, 20241 hr 24 min

Trump says if president, he would not sign a federal abortion ban

In classic Donald Trump fashion, the former president is giving his supporters whiplash after blasting both Arizona and Florida for their abortion bans just two days after saying abortion should be left up the states. Plus, another Hail Mary appeal hearing from Donald Trump as his legal team tries to stop the Stormy Daniels case from beginning. Also, from tornado warnings to flash flood emergencies, the United States is on severe weather alert as dangerous storms move in. Learn more about your a...

Apr 11, 20241 hr 23 min

Arizona Supreme Court upholds extreme Civil War era abortion ban

The Arizona Supreme Court ruled the state must comply with a 160-year-old law barring all abortions, the only exception being to save a pregnant woman’s life. There are no exceptions for incest or rape. Plus, Donald Trump is rejected again in yet another attempt to delay the New York hush money trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 10, 20241 hr 23 min

Trump releases video stating states will decide abortion rights

Donald Trump weighed in on abortion saying he believes states should decide abortion legislation. The former president did not indicate the number of weeks during a pregnancy at which he thought it would be appropriate to ban abortion but reiterated his support for certain exceptions. Plus, the State Department said 304 aid trucks entered Gaza yesterday, the highest number since the war began. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...

Apr 09, 20241 hr 21 min

U.S. calls for independent probe into killing of aid workers

The strongest earthquake to rock New Jersey in more than 240 years. There are reports of structural damage. Plus, two Israeli military officers were fired in connection for the airstrike which killed seven aid workers in Gaza. Will Israel do more in the wake of criticism of the deadly strike? Also, Bob Costas joins to discuss March Madness college basketball. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...

Apr 06, 20241 hr 22 min

Biden to Netanyahu: make changes or face consequences

President Biden warned Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu that the United States could change its policies toward Israel if they do not stop the killing of innocent civilians. Sen. Bernie Sanders joins to discuss. Also, Donald Trump was rejected by two judges in separate criminal cases today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 05, 20241 hr 23 min

Special counsel blasts judge’s order in classified documents case

In the strongest rebuke yet, special counsel Jack Smith goes in blasting how judge Aileen Cannon is handling the classified documents case in Florida. We lay out what has the prosecutors so upset. Also, Chef Jose Andres speaks out and accuses the Israeli military of systematically targeting his aid workers and killing them in Gaza. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 04, 20241 hr 24 min

Seven World Central Kitchen workers killed in Israeli airstrike

Israel apologizes for a strike that killed aid workers delivering food in Gaza. Unintentional targets is how Israel describes the drone strike that killed seven aid workers from all over the world working for the World Central Kitchen organization. Plus, the new Republican attempt to rename an international airport after Donald J. Trump. Also, a look at what could be a last chance to write in some small way, a major wrong more than 100 years for the horrific Tulsa race massacre. Learn more about...

Apr 03, 202442 min

Authorities update plans to clear MD port after bridge collapse

In Atlanta, an orange SUV rammed into the gate of an FBI field office. Plus, brand new images of the aftermath of a deadly airstrike. Iran says the attack hit a consulate building in Syria. Also, as crews begin hauling debris from the river where a bridge collapsed in Baltimore, authorities update plans on reopening a Maryland port. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 02, 202441 min

Maryland gov: clearing bride wreckage is a daunting task

Specifics measures revealed on the massive operation to reopen a critical shipping port and to get that collapsed bridge off a cargo ship in Baltimore including cutting the bridge into pieces, tug boats, barges, and cranes. We ask a Republican who calls himself a budget hawk about the role of congress. Plus, what has so many fish freaked out near Florida spinning and swimming upside down? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...

Mar 30, 202443 min

Sam Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years in prison

Sentencing day for Sam Bankman-Fried who will spend decades behind bars for one of the biggest financial fraud cases ever. Will the customers he swindled ever get their money back? Also, in the wake of the Baltimore bridge collapse, how many other bridges across the country are at risk of falling? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 29, 202444 min

Search underway for six presumed dead in bridge collapse

Investigators all day were aboard the ship responsible for the catastrophic bridge collapse in Baltimore, interviewing crew and doing inspections as the families of six bridge workers hold out hope remains will be recovered. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg joins to discuss. As well, the head of the Army Corps of Engineers joins to discuss the enormous effort to clear all that mangled metal and reopen this major east coast shipping port. Also, CNN's John King on how Arizona voters feel ab...

Mar 28, 202442 min

Major Baltimore bridge collapses after being hit by cargo ship

State and federal officials have confirmed there is an active search and rescue effort in Baltimore after a cargo ship struck a bridge, causing it to collapse. Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott joins to provide updates as crews search for six missing people. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 27, 202444 min

Appeals court trims Trump bond to $173M

Donald Trump was given ten more days to pay his bond and the amount he owes was cut down. Also, Trump’s hush money trial will begin on April 15th. Plus, Israel cancels a high-stakes Washington visit after the United States allows a UN Gaza ceasefire resolution to pass. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 26, 202441 min

Russia: 40 killed, 100+ injured in concert hall attack near Moscow

Gunman opened fire on crowds at a concert hall in Moscow. At least forty people have been killed and one hundred plus people have been wounded according to Russian media who have called the attack an act of terrorism. Plus, Catherine, the Princess of Wales, has been diagnosed with cancer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 23, 20241 hr 18 min
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