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

Trump To Announce Shipbuilding Effort As Venezuela Tensions Flare

The President and top Pentagon brass reportedly are about announce the US Navy will build more warships as the US ramps up aggressive action to seize oil tankers near Venezuela. Plus, Epstein survivors speak out to decry the actions of the Justice Department and its handling of the release of the files. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 23, 20251 hr 33 min

Garcia: Epstein Doc Redactions “Absolutely Breaking The Law”

The United States Justice Department released at least some of the many files it has on dead pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. CNN teams are going through the release documents, bringing updates. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 20, 20251 hr 33 min

Kennedy Center Board Votes To Rename It “Trump Kennedy Center”

Investigators believe they have identified the suspect in the Brown University shooting that killed two students and injured nine others. Plus, the day before the Justice Department must publicly release its files on Jeffrey Epstein, House Democrats unveiled more than 60 new photographs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 19, 20251 hr 26 min

Trump Orders “Complete Blockade” Of Oil Tankers Into Venezuela

The House speaker is on defense as four Republicans break with his party and side with Democrats to force a vote on a healthcare deal. Plus, a Senate Republican and key ally of the president joins to discuss Trump’s new actions in Venezuela. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 18, 20251 hr 30 min

Authorities Give Update In Brown University Killings

Four days after the deadly shooting at Brown University in Rhode Island police release a new photograph, giving the closest look yet of the person of interest. Plus, Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced two counts of first degree murder charges against Nick Reiner, the 32-year-old son of famed film director Rob and his wife Michele who were found dead in their home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...

Dec 17, 20251 hr 40 min

Authorities Give Updates In Brown University Killings

Democratic Congressman Seth Magaziner from Rhode Island joins to discuss the Brown University mass shooting that left two students dead and injured nine others over the weekend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 16, 20251 hr 42 min

New Photos From Epstein Estate Show Trump, Bill Clinton & Others

Trump, Bannon, Clinton, and Gates are just some of the men seen in new photos linked to the dead pedophile Jeffery Epstein. A look at why Democrats on the House Oversight Committee call the images significant. Plus, stunning details behind the arrest of former Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 13, 20251 hr 31 min

Senate Rejects Health Care Bills As Obamacare Deadline Looms

Can a majority in a deeply divided Congress agree on a health care fix before the deadline in less than three weeks when premiums for millions of Americans could go up drastically? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 12, 20251 hr 31 min

Trump: U.S. Seized Oil Tanker Off Coast Of Venezuela

Two healthcare votes are set to fail tomorrow as the deadline to save Americans from skyrocketing premiums tics even closer. Is there any hope for a bipartisan deal before the end of the year? Plus, a substantial escalation in the U.S. conflict against Venezuela. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 11, 20251 hr 33 min

Australia Social Media Ban Takes Effect For Teens Under 16

Children in Australia are waking up now blocked from their social media accounts after the country passed a world first social media ban for kids under 16-years-old. Could this be the first domino in a global trend? Plus, President Trump is minutes away from a major speech on the economy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 10, 20251 hr 30 min

Trump On Paramount’s Hostile Bid: “I Don’t Know Enough About It”

One of the biggest brands in media is making an aggressive pitch to own Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. A look at why this mattes with tech journalist Kara Swisher. Plus, a Senate race shakeup in Texas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 09, 20251 hr 31 min

FIFA Awards Trump Its New “FIFA Peace Prize”

President Trump is setting the stage for the one of the biggest sporting events on the globe — the 2026 World Cup. Somehow, he has earned himself a peace prize in the process. Plus, did the US Supreme Court just create a rush to redraw congressional maps mid decade nationwide? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 06, 20251 hr 31 min

2021 DC Pipe Bomb Suspects Arrested, Facing Explosives Charges

It was the grainy video that spurred conspiracy theories for years and now the FBI says they finally know who put those pipe bombs outside the Republican and Democratic National Committee headquarters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 05, 20251 hr 35 min

Sen. Paul: “Buck Stops” With Hegseth On Follow-Up Boat Strike

A Pentagon watchdog points fingers at Pete Hegseth and sources say that the inspector general report finds that he risked endangering the lives of US troops by sharing sensitive war plans in a Signal group chat. Plus, chilling new footage from Jeffrey Epstein’s private island. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 04, 20251 hr 31 min

Trump Says Strikes On Land To Start In Venezuela “Soon”

President Trump appears to doze off during his own cabinet meeting while just minutes earlier we learn new details about that second follow-up strike on the suspected drug boat. Plus, as many Americans are struggling with the cost of living, Donald Trump says that any questions about affordability are a Democratic scam. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 03, 20251 hr 30 min

WH Confirms Follow-Up Strike On Alleged Drug Boat

President Trump and his top national security officials meet behind closed doors about the next steps for Venezuela. This comes as lawmakers from both parties are raising grave concerns about a follow-up strike on an alleged drug vessel in the Caribbean where the US military killed survivors of the first strike. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 02, 20251 hr 32 min

Trump Says He’s Canceling Anything Biden Signed Via Autopen

President Trump is escalating his already aggressive immigration crackdown in the wake of the shooting of two National Guardsmen in Washington, DC. He’s taking an even closer look at immigrants legally in the United States and those waiting to get in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 29, 20251 hr 30 min

Police: Suspect Apparently Targeted National Guard Troops

Two West Virginia National Guardsmen were shot in downtown Washington, DC just blocks away from the White House. Both guardsmen are in critical condition and officials are calling this a targeting shooting saying they were ambushed by a lone gunman. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 27, 20251 hr 30 min

Americans In Limbo As WH Delays Health Care Announcement

Signals emerge that the United States and Ukraine are closer to a plan that could be the first step toward negotiating an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine. Plus, behind the scenes discussions on Capitol Hill about health care reform. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 26, 20251 hr 30 min

Judge: Trump Prosecutor Lindsey Halligan Appointed Unlawfully

A federal judge tosses the indictments against two perceived Trump opponents, former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. A look at why the judge says the Trump loyalists behind those indictments was unlawfully appointed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 25, 20251 hr 30 min

Trump And Mamdani Meet In Friendly Oval Office Chat

Polar opposites of the American political spectrum, Donald Trump and Zohran Mamdani, meet at the White House. Also, a look into what the people of Ukraine want from the resolution to the war. Plus, the holiday rush begins one week out from Thanksgiving. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 22, 20251 hr 30 min

Trump Goes Off On Dems Who Told Troops To Disobey Illegal Orders

How can the United States have a stronger than expected jobs report while the unemployment rate went up? Plus, the Justice Department opens up yet another mortgage fraud investigation, this one involving Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff of California. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 21, 20251 hr 31 min

White House Yet To Say If Trump Has Received Epstein Bill

So, when will America finally see the highly-anticipated Epstein files? Who are the pedophile's clients? How much data will be redacted? Attorney General Pam Bondi is weighing in. Plus, updates in the criminal case against former FBI director James Comey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 20, 20251 hr 31 min

Thune: Epstein Bill Could Be Passed In Senate As Soon As Tonight

First the House and now the Senate is voting possibly as soon as tonight on the Epstein files and releasing them. This as lawmakers agree it is time see everything the Justice Department has on the dead pedophile and sex-trafficker Jeffrey Epstein and any other accomplice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 19, 20251 hr 33 min

Trump: “I Probably Would” Talk To Venezuela’s Maduro

House Republicans have Trump’s blessing after he now says he wants them to release the Epstein files. But, why make America wait? Plus, is the criminal case against former FBI director James Comey tainted? A judge is raising questions about profound investigative missteps. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 18, 20251 hr 30 min

Trump Orders Investigation Into Ties Between Top Dems & Epstein

A top prosecutor just put in charge of the Jeffrey Epstein case is now investigating Epstein's ties to key Democrats. Plus, prison employees have been fired after a whistleblower revealed Ghislaine Maxwell’s cushy conditions behind bars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 15, 20251 hr 31 min

Epstein Emails Renew Questions About What Trump Knew & When

New questions and new messages all emerging from the 20,000 newly-released documents related to the dead pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Donald Trump’s name keeps appearing. Who and what else is mentioned? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 14, 20251 hr 30 min

Soon: House To Vote On Ending Record-Long Government Shutdown

The House is now taking the final step before voting to end the longest government shutdown in history. Plus, thousands of files related to Jeffrey Epstein have been released. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 13, 20251 hr 32 min

Financial Times: Trump Donors Receiving Benefits From WH Moves

A CNN exclusive on how the United Kingdom is cutting off the United States when it comes to the deadly boat strikes. Plus, a key House committee is meeting tonight with the final vote to reopen the government now set for tomorrow afternoon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 12, 20251 hr 30 min

Soon: Senate Vote On Ending Government Shutdown

At any moment almost every Senate Republican and eight Senate Democrats are going to vote on funding the federal government. Plus, a wave of staffing problems as a result of the shutdown and airlines are ready to cancel even more flights. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 11, 20251 hr 30 min
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