The Lead with Jake Tapper

The Lead with Jake Tapper

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.

Episodes

January 23, 2026 89 mins
The first phase of the most extreme widespread winter storm the United States has seen in years is starting now. We break down the forecast. Plus, protests against Trump’s immigration crackdown are underway in Minneapolis   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Did he try to unfairly take down Trump or was he standing up for democracy and the rule of law? The extreme partisan divide as lawmakers question former special counsel Jack Smith. Plus, a father and son in custody, church protesters arrested, and a fake image from the White House.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Trump now claims he’s one step closer of the United States acquiring the arctic island of Greenland, which belongs to Denmark. Congressman Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) joins to discuss.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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President Trump sends world leaders scrambling as he speaks on Gaza, Greenland, NATO, Venezuela, and more. Plus, a major winter storm is brewing and is threatening snow and ice from Texas all the way to the Carolinas.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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January 19, 2026 89 mins
President Trump sends an extraordinary message to the prime minister of Norway saying that since he did not win the Nobel Peace Prize he no longer needs to think purely about peace in his efforts to take over Greenland.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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January 16, 2026 90 mins
A new CNN poll on the economy and foreign policy and everything in between showing that most Americans believe Trump’s job so far has been a failure. Plus, a new round of presidential pardons including one woman getting a Trump clemency for the second time.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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President Trump is threatening to use the Insurrection Act to put military troops in Minnesota. How far will he go in his immigration crackdown? Plus, what Venezuela’s opposition leader revealed about her face-to-face with Donald Trump.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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A majority of Americans are revealing they do no approve of the way the Trump administration and ICE are currently operating. Plus, President Trump is refusing to take military action by the United States off the table in Iran after weeks of deadly protests there against the Iranian regime.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Jake provides in-depth coverage of the recent resignations at the US Attorney's Office in Minnesota, following the Justice Department's handling of an ICE agent's deadly shooting of Renee Nicole Goode in Minneapolis. The show dives into the protests erupting in Minneapolis, featuring first-hand accounts from the ground.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Minnesota officials just announced they are suing the Trump administration over its ramped up immigration operations in the state. Plus, a growing number of Republicans are pushing back against the White House after the Justice Department opened a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Another day of tension two days after an ICE agent shot and killed a woman in her car. CNN has now obtained the video captured by ICE agent Jonathan Ross on his phone of the tense moments just before he fired the deadly shots.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Growing tensions in Minneapolis after yesterday’s shooting by an ICE officer that killed a 37-year-old woman. Minneapolis officials now say that federal officials are blocking them from investigating the shooting.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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January 7, 2026 108 mins
Crowds are gathering in south Minneapolis after an ICE officer shot and killed a 37-year-old woman in her car as Trump officials and Minnesota officials clash on what exactly unfolded.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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The world reacts to Stephen Miller telling Jake that the United States is going to take Greenland. Plus, a new Capitol rally after the deadly riots there five years ago today incited by President Trump who then refused to accept that he lost the 2020 election.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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A classified urgent briefing to top lawmakers is taking place on Capitol Hill over the extraordinary situation in Venezuela. The briefing comes after President Trump ordered the United States military to conduct unprecedented strikes on Venezuela and capture its leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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The fraud allegations are starting to mount as the Trump administration turns its attention to Minnesota. Hear from one lawmaker who says Republicans have a larger goal to cut funding from the entire state. Plus, new video as more protestors take to the streets of Iran  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Zohran Mamdani is sworn in as mayor of New York City. What will his first action be? Plus, a New Year’s tragedy occurs at a ski resort in Switzerland leaving about 40 people dead. How champaign bottles lit with sparklers may have ignited the disaster. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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The countdown to January 1st is on and we look at what authorities will be watching one year after a deadly attack. Plus, an iconic bourbon brand stops production at one of its distilleries. Also, new details on the first known United States attack inside Venezuela.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Global diplomacy is on the menu at Mar-a-Lago but is President Trump making progress toward ending foreign conflicts? Plus, more than 20 million Americans are under winter weather alerts as a powerful storm sweeps across the country.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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One week after what was mandated to be the total release of the Epstein files, we are now learning that task is proving far more ambitious by the day amid continued questions over what has been redacted and what hasn’t. Plus, a Mar-a-Lago meeting between President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky is reportedly set for Sunday.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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