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

Tomorrow: Trump Meets Putin In Push For Ukraine Deal

In less than 24 hours, a major summit between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will take place in Alaska. President Trump believes he can deliver a deal in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and says that both sides are ready to make peace. He is also teasing a second meeting which would include Ukraine’s President Zelensky. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 15, 20251 hr 24 min

Trump: Could Arrange Putin-Zelensky Meeting If Summit Goes Well

Just days before his face-to-face with Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump is getting an earful from European leaders as Russia makes more territorial gains in Ukraine. Plus, President Trump makes a surprise announcement about the upcoming Kenny Center honors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 14, 20251 hr 24 min

Hundreds Of Officers And Agents Deployed To DC

Nearly 1,000 federal agents and officers are on the streets of Washington DC as CNN gets community reaction about the visible presence of this temporary federal takeover. Plus, investigators are revealing new details about the shooting at the CDC in Atlanta last Friday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 13, 20251 hr 24 min

U.S. Officials Rush To Finalize Details Of Alaska Talks

President Trump previews his Friday summit with Putin in Alaska, as United States officials rush to finalize the details of this crucial face-to-face to end that war. Plus, local officials in Washington DC pushing back after Trump announced he is deploying National Guard troops in the nation’s Capitol. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 12, 20251 hr 24 min

Trump: Will Meet With Russia’s Putin “Very Shortly”

President Trump at the White House moments ago said he will soon announce details of a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. We bring you all the latest in this breaking news development. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 09, 20251 hr 40 min

Major Companies’ Earnings Calls Reveal Impact Of Tariffs

President Trump has slapped higher tariffs on nearly every country in the world which means, according to experts, Americans will be paying the highest tax rate on foreign goods since 1933 in midst of the Great Depression. Plus, protests erupt over Israel today as Prime Minister Netanyahu says he is planning for a full military takeover of all of Gaza. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 08, 20251 hr 18 min

Army: Suspected Gunman’s Motive Is Still Unknown

Key new details about the suspect accused of shooting five soldiers at Fort Stewart earlier today. An Army sergeant is in custody after he allegedly used his personal handgun to shoot five fellow soldiers this morning at the Fort Stewart military base in Georgia, according to base officials. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 07, 20251 hr 24 min

Trump Pushes Conspiracy Theory About A “Rigged” Job Report

President Trump is pressed on whether Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell is credible as CNN learns the White House is debating releasing a transcript of Maxwell’s recent meeting with the deputy attorney general. Plus, President Trump has been creating his own equations when it comes to jobs numbers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 06, 20251 hr 18 min

TX Gov Orders Arrest Of Absent Democratic Lawmakers

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has just ordered the arrest of state Democrats who skipped town and didn’t show up for today’s special session. How long can those Democrats stay away and hold up the vote as Republicans try to gerrymander the map? Plus, new reports that Israel is considering a full takeover of Gaza. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 05, 20251 hr 24 min

Tariffs, Fed Vote, Jobs & More: Major Week For U.S. Economy

President Trump announces a slew of new tariffs. Also, President Trump deploys two nuclear submarines after what he calls provocative statements by Russia’s former leader. Plus, a look at what CNN is learning about the transfer of Ghislaine Maxwell to a prison in Texas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 02, 20251 hr 24 min

Trump’s Tariff Arguments Met With Skepticism From Appeals Court

President Trump is pushing ahead with a slew of new tariffs but will his biggest deals yet come down to the 11th hour? Plus, an attorney behind the case challenging if Trump’s tariffs are even legal joins to discuss. Also, an Israeli human rights organization that is saying Israel is committing genocide in Gaza joins to discuss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 01, 20251 hr 18 min

Kamala Harris Will Not Run For California Governor

House Speaker Mike Johnson and Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi each join to discuss the Epstein files, Medicaid cuts, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and more. Plus, Canada plans to recognize a Palestinian state in September. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jul 31, 20251 hr 24 min

Searching for Answers About the Manhattan Mass Murders

The investigation into the deadly New York City office building. With new details about the gunman's weapon, his suicide note, and how surviving employees hid from the killer. An audacious demand from Ghislaine Maxwell, the woman serving 20 years in prison for grooming young teen girls for Jeffrey Epstein and friends. Texas residents get a say in Republican efforts to redraw the maps. One Democratic congresswoman who could very well lose her seat if her GOP colleagues get their way, weighs in. P...

Jul 30, 20251 hr 23 min

Trump Disputes Netanyahu’s Claim Of No Starvation In Gaza

With images of emaciated, dying children and Palestinians fighting for food, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu falsely stated there is no starvation in Gaza. What will President Trump do, if anything, to pressure Israel to alleviate this manmade humanitarian crisis? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jul 29, 20251 hr 24 min

Gaza Death Tolls Rising Due To Starvation

Tens of thousands of Israelis protested in Tel Aviv, calling on the Netanyahu government to end the mass starvation of the Palestinian people in Gaza as new images illustrate the dire hunger crisis, man made in the region. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jul 26, 20251 hr 25 min

Trump Tours Federal Reserve Renovations With Fed Chair

As Trump’s Jeffrey Epstein problem keeps growing, today he dispatched his deputy attorney general to Florida to meet with Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s girlfriend who groomed underage girls for Epstein. She is currently serving a 20 year sentence. Plus, Trump’s visit to the Federal Reserve headquarters was born from his continuing anger at Federal Reserve Chair Powell’s unwillingness, so far, to lower interest rates. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...

Jul 25, 20251 hr 24 min

Judge Denies DOJ Request To Unseal Epstein Grand Jury Docs

A slew of new details emerge in the Jeffrey Epstein case just as a judge declines to release some grand jury documents from the criminal investigation. CNN has confirmed that Attorney General Pam Bondi told Trump back in May that his name was one of many in the Epstein files. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jul 24, 20251 hr 25 min

Trump Has A Chance To Pursue Justice In Epstein Scandal

The Justice Department today says they want to speak with Ghislaine Maxwell, the once girlfriend and associate of pedophile and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Will she comply and would she tell the truth? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jul 23, 20251 hr 24 min

White House Punts To DOJ On Releasing More Epstein Files

Trump shows fake clips of President Obama in handcuffs and calls for the Washington Commanders to change their name back to the Redskins or else. Is operation change the subject underway? Trump drums up controversy while avoiding discussing his own connections to pedophile and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein and the scandal around it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jul 22, 20251 hr 24 min

Trump Filing Libel Lawsuit Over WSJ Report

Attorney General Pam Bondi, at the direction of President Trump, asked a federal judge to unseal grand jury testimony related to the prosecution of accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jul 19, 20251 hr 25 min

WH Faces Growing Criticism Over Handling Of Epstein Case

Senate Republicans shut down debate over controversial judicial nominee Emil Bove leading Democrats on that panel to walk out. The walkout left Democrats unable to question Bove on a range of issues including his involvement, if any, in decisions to keep the Epstein files out of the public eye. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jul 18, 20251 hr 24 min

Trump Dodges Appointing Special Counsel To Investigate Epstein

President Trump is frustrated by supporters’ continued demand to see the files on pedophile and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Today he called those supporters weaklings and suggested they take a hike. Plus, New York City Mayor Eric Adams is accused in a new lawsuit by a former police commissioner of running the NYPD as a criminal enterprise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jul 17, 20251 hr 24 min

Trump On Epstein Files: Bondi Can Release What She Finds Credible

President Trump is attempting a course correction on the controversy relating the DOJ’s Jeffrey Epstein memo by sharing conspiracy theories. House Speaker Mike Johnson now says the Justice Department should release everything they have on Epstein. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jul 16, 20251 hr 24 min

Sources: Bongino Returns To Work At FBI; Unclear If He Will Resign

President Trump is picking sides after a heated blowup over the Justice Department’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein pedophile case. What is going on at the DOJ? Plus, a look at President Trump’s pressure campaign on Vladimir Putin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jul 15, 20251 hr 25 min

Unanswered Questions Over What Officials Did During Critical Hours

The number two at the FBI is telling people that he might resign over the Epstein scandal. Plus, moments ago President Trump was on the ground in central Texas one week after the catastrophic flooding. CNN is digging into some of the still unanswered questions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jul 12, 20251 hr 25 min

Flash Floods In New Mexico Town Kill At Least Three People

Federal judges on the district level can no longer issue nationwide injunctions for the Supreme Court but they can certify class action lawsuits against the Trump administration. Plus, MAGA world remains outraged over the Trump Justice Department’s efforts to seemly try to close the case on Jeffrey Epstein and those who were his clients. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jul 11, 20251 hr 24 min

At Least 119 Dead, Estimated 160 Missing In Catastrophic TX Flooding

A look at the desperate search into the Texas floods as CNN learns new information about officials coordinating the emergency response. Plus, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) joins to discuss not seeking reelection and voting against Trump’s recent domestic policy bill. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jul 10, 20251 hr 25 min

Gov. Abbot Reports Number Of Missing Dramatically Rises To 161

The death toll in Texas is rising as well as the number of missing persons after deadly flooding. We bring you the latest from the ground in Texas as officials provide updates. Plus, Trump and Netanyahu meet to discuss a potential ceasefire deal in the Israel-Hamas war. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jul 09, 20251 hr 21 min

At Least 95 People Killed In Catastrophic Texas Floods

Texas is bracing for even more rain as rescuers are desperately searching for survivors after catastrophic flash floods in central Texas that began Friday morning and have killed at least 90 people including 27 children at a summer camp. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jul 08, 20251 hr 24 min

Hamas Submits “Positive Response” To Ceasefire In Major Step

Of the 50 Israeli hostages remaining in Gaza, the proposal calls for the release of 10 living hostages and 18 deceased during the ceasefire. On the first day of the ceasefire, Hamas would release eight living hostages in exchange for an unspecified number of Palestinian prisoners and detainees. Following the release, Israel would withdraw from parts of northern Gaza, and the two sides would begin negotiations toward a permanent ceasefire. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.co...

Jul 04, 20251 hr 29 min
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