
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.
Latest episodes

8 snips
Mar 29, 2025 • 1h 25min
Stocks Plunge Amid Tariff Fears
A hard Friday tumble was brought on by tariff fears as stocks fall and Wall Street braces for President Trump to follow through on his threat to impose a string of tariffs on nations around the world. Plus, JD Vance is headed home after a whirlwind visit to Greenland. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 28, 2025 • 1h 25min
Judge Orders WH To Preserve Chat Messages On Military Strikes
The same judge that blocked Trump’s deportation flights is overseeing a lawsuit in court regarding the Signal group chat with a journalist accidentally added. Trump’s national security adviser during his first term joins to discuss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 27, 2025 • 1h 25min
Appeals Court Rules Against Trump On Deportations
Moments ago in the Oval Office President Trump defended his defense secretary and says he wouldn’t oppose a new investigation into why highly sensitive details about United States military strikes were shared in a group chat with a journalist. Plus, an appeals court hands the White House a loss, upholding a block on Trump’s deportations using the Alien Enemies Act. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

4 snips
Mar 26, 2025 • 1h 25min
Trump Claims “No Classified Info” Shared In War Plan Chat
President Trump is defending the top advisor who somehow added a journalist to a conversation about a looming military strike while his top intelligence officials try to shift responsibility. Plus, a major deal between Russia and Ukraine but with caveats. We examine what the Kremlin is demanding from the United States first. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 25, 2025 • 1h 25min
Trump Officials Discussed War Plans In Unclassified Group Chat
Shock, confusion, and a lot of anger in Washington after a journalist revealed he was added to a text chain with Trump administration officials who were planning highly sensitive military strikes. So, how in the world does this happen? Will anyone be punished for this major security failure? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 22, 2025 • 1h 25min
Judge: Trump’s Use Of 1798 Act Has “Frightening” Implications
How far will a judge go in challenging the Trump Justice Department over the deportation flights? Did the planes takeoff against the judge’s order? Plus, flights are once again landing in one of the world’s busiest airports, Heathrow in London, after a shutdown that caused a global ripple effect. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 21, 2025 • 1h 25min
Trump Signs Order Aimed At Dismantling Education Department
Trump takes a controversial step towards dismantling the Department of Education. We examine what this order aims to change and not change about education in America. Since the president does not have the standing to destroy the department, we look at how he is attempting to dismantle it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 20, 2025 • 1h 25min
DOJ Granted One More Day To Hand Over Deportation Flight Data
The Trump administration is not backing off from attacking judges who rule against them. So, how far can and will President Trump go if he does not like a judge’s orders? Plus, as lawmakers face voters at home from Trump to DOGE to the economy and immigration, Republicans are getting an earful. Yet, Democrats are also getting an earful about entirely different issues. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 19, 2025 • 1h 41min
Astronauts Splash Down After Extended Stay In Space
Astronauts splash down off the coast of Florida, finally coming home after their week long mission in space became nearly a ten month stay on the International Space Station. Plus, Putin agrees to pause attacks on some Ukraine targets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 18, 2025 • 1h 25min
Hearing On Whether WH Defied Judge’s Deportation Order
A court battle just wrapped about whether the Trump White House violated a judge’s order when the Trump administration deported alleged gang members from the United States to El Salvador. Plus, Trump is now claiming Biden’s preemptive pardons of the members of the House January 6th Committee, among others, are void. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices