The Lead with Jake Tapper podcast

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.

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.

 

#1544

Trump Admin. Pushing for New Investigation Into Letitia James

President Trump says he is granting Iran a new extension, pausing the  threatened strikes ... more

2 hrs Ago

1 HR 29 MINS

1:29:19

2 hrs Ago


#1543

Sources: Iran Laying Traps For Potential U.S. Attack On Kharg Island

Sources say Iran is planting mines on Kharg Island before US troops possibly land there. W... more

Yesterday

1 HR 29 MINS

1:29:42

Yesterday


#1542

Talks To Fund DHS Ramp Up As Airport Lines Grow More Unpredictable

The NTSB reveals new details about the fire truck that crashed with an Air Canada flight c... more

25 Mar 2026

1 HR 30 MINS

1:30:09

25 Mar 2026


#1541

Iran Denies Talks With U.S. As Trump Claims “Points Of Agreement”

New footage shows when an Air Canada plane collided with a firetruck on the runway leaving... more

24 Mar 2026

1 HR 13 MINS

1:13:10

24 Mar 2026


#1540

Sources: Pentagon Considering Ground Troops To Take Kharg Island

TSA workers are calling out of work at near record levels causing massively long airport l... more

21 Mar 2026

1 HR 31 MINS

1:31:03

21 Mar 2026


#1539

Global Oil Prices Surge To $110 After Strikes On Energy Facilities

US billionaire President Trump insists the economic pain because of the war is only tempor... more

20 Mar 2026

1 HR 29 MINS

1:29:59

20 Mar 2026


#1538

Source: No Warning Sirens Ahead Of Strike That Killed 6 U.S. Troops

Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin faced tough questions on Capitol Hill today during a c... more

19 Mar 2026

1 HR 33 MINS

1:33:54

19 Mar 2026


#1537

Top U.S. Counterterrorism Official Resigns Over Iran War

Trump’s National Counterterrorism Center director resigned from his post today after sayin... more

18 Mar 2026

1 HR 30 MINS

1:30:07

18 Mar 2026


#1536

Cuba’s Power System Suffers Total Collapse

After weeks of a United States oil blockade, Cuba’s electric grid suffered a total collaps... more

17 Mar 2026

1 HR 30 MINS

1:30:25

17 Mar 2026


#1535

Judge Blocks Subpoenas In Jerome Powell Investigation

A federal judge just blocked subpoenas in the DOJ’s investigation into Federal Reserve Cha... more

14 Mar 2026

1 HR 39 MINS

1:39:59

14 Mar 2026


#1534

Iran’s New Supreme Leader Issues First Purported Message

Iran warns the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed as a tool of pressure against the West ... more

13 Mar 2026

1 HR 43 MINS

1:43:42

13 Mar 2026


#1533

Israel Says It Has Begun “Large-Scale” Strikes In Beirut Suburbs

Projectiles hit four commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, the key waterway where gl... more

12 Mar 2026

1 HR 29 MINS

1:29:51

12 Mar 2026


#1532

Pentagon: About 140 U.S. Service Members Wounded In Iran War

The United States has hit ten inactive mine laying boats near the Strait of Hormuz accordi... more

11 Mar 2026

1 HR 29 MINS

1:29:27

11 Mar 2026


#1531

Trump Speaks As U.S. Launches New Strikes On Iran

President Trump holds a news conference as the war on Iran enters its second week with no ... more

10 Mar 2026

1 HR 40 MINS

1:40:23

10 Mar 2026


#1530

New Imagery Suggests U.S. Responsible For Iran School Strike

The United States and Israeli war against Iran has already seen the deaths of at least 1,2... more

07 Mar 2026

1 HR 29 MINS

1:29:36

07 Mar 2026


#1529

Hegseth: Firepower Over Iran About To Surge Dramatically

President Trump fired Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem after her two heated hearings this we... more

06 Mar 2026

1 HR 41 MINS

1:41:35

06 Mar 2026


#1528

Senate Holds Initial Vote On Iran War Powers Resolution

The Joint Chiefs of Staff say that the United States will start striking progressively dee... more

05 Mar 2026

1 HR 30 MINS

1:30:52

05 Mar 2026


#1527

Iran’s Retaliatory Strikes Strand Travelers Across Middle East

The latest on the war with Iran. How stranded Americans can get out of the Middle East. As... more

04 Mar 2026

1 HR 30 MINS

1:30:44

04 Mar 2026


#1526

War Spirals In Middle East After US And Israel Strike Iran

As the United States continues to carry out strikes against Iran, the war appears to be ex... more

03 Mar 2026

1 HR 34 MINS

1:34:59

03 Mar 2026


#1525

Former President Clinton On Epstein: “I Did Nothing Wrong”

Former President Bill Clinton sat for a closed door deposition with the House Oversight Co... more

28 Feb 2026

1 HR 36 MINS

1:36:48

28 Feb 2026


#1524

House Democrat: Bill Clinton Deposition Sets Precedent To Depose Trump

The two leaked photos that broke the rules. A Republican congresswoman snapped images duri... more

27 Feb 2026

1 HR 38 MINS

1:38:23

27 Feb 2026


#1523

Democrats Bring Epstein Survivors To State Of The Union Address

More botched redactions, a high-profile name stepping back from his job, and depositions w... more

26 Feb 2026

1 HR 30 MINS

1:30:21

26 Feb 2026


#1522

Poll: Most Americans Say Trump Focused On Wrong Priorities

President Trump heads to the Capitol for his State of the Union address where he is expect... more

25 Feb 2026

1 HR 27 MINS

1:27:52

25 Feb 2026


#1521

Former British Ambassador To U.S. Arrested Amid Epstein Probe

Tens of millions of Americans are under storm warnings with some towns getting more than 3... more

24 Feb 2026

1 HR 28 MINS

1:28:34

24 Feb 2026