The Lead with Jake Tapper

GOP Senators brush off questions over Trump DOJ interference; AG Barr agrees to testify before House Judiciary Cmte next month; Focus shifts to more diverse states after Sanders wins NH; Sanders wins New Hampshire followed by Buttigieg, Klobuchar; Biden looks to black voters in SC for comeback; Bloomberg picks up several black lawmaker endorsements despite stop and frisk controversyTo learn more a...

Candidates look for clear win tonight after Iowa caucus; Sanders tells CNN "we're feeling good" as NH votesTo learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Biden & Buttigieg trade blows over experience, electability; Biden campaign downplays expectations in New Hampshire; Klobuchar campaign raised $3M since Friday night's debate; Klobuchar claims she is "surging" ahead of tomorrow's votes; Trump gets revenge, fires two key impeachment witnesses; Schumer calling for investigation into witness retaliation; Trump to Utah gov on Romney: "You keep him. We...

Vindman's lawyer: He was asked to leave "for telling the truth" because Trump "decided to exact revenge"; Sanders hits Buttigieg for donations from billionaires; 2020 Dems face critical test in New Hampshire after Iowa fiasco; Bloomberg touts endorsements from ex-Trump Navy Secretary & Dems that flipped GOP seats; Bill Taylor on being subject of Trump's attacks: "It's a little weird"; Taylor respo...

Trump: Pelosi & Schiff "vicious, horrible" people; Trump slams Pelosi, Romney at National Prayer Breakfast; Trump: Romney used his religion as a "crutch" for guilty vote; GOP Senators suggest Trump has learned a lesson, as he takes victory lap & slams Democrats; Trump attacks Romney, calls Pelosi "horrible" in ranting speech; Buttigieg & Sanders in virtual tie in Iowa, Sanders dismisses Buttigieg...

Romney only Republican to vote to convict TrumpTo learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former WH Chief of Staff John Kelly: "I believe John Bolton";  Kushner on impeachment: The President has been totally vindicated; Sekulow alludes to Bolton's book: This trial is not "a game of leaks and unsourced manuscripts"; Graham: "Totally support" Senators reviewing Bolton book; Witness fight reignited in wake of Bolton revelations; Trump defense team finishes opening arguments; Joe Biden say...

New CNN poll: 51% think Trump should be convicted & removed; More women say Trump should be removed than men; 86% of African American voters favor Trump's removal; Majority of voters under age 45 support Trump's removal; 69% want witnesses at president Trump's trial; 48% of republicans want witnesses at the trial; 58% say Trump abused power of the presidency; 57% believe Pres Trump obstructed cong...

Sources: House Republicans no longer expected to defend Trump in impeachment trial; Sources: Trial expected to start with contentious day with Democrats trying to force witnesses; Pompeo says State Department will investigate possible surveillance of ex-U.S. Ambassador; Indicted Giuliani associate says he watched Trump order aide to fire U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine in 2018; Eleven troops being trea...

House managers formally present articles to Senate; Senate expected to vote on whether to call trial witnesses; John Dean: I'd be astounded if Senate doesn't call witnesses; Senate impeachment starts as Giuliani associate implicates Trump; Ukraine's FM: I don't trust a word Parnas is saying; Ukraine launches investigation after text messages suggest surveillance on former U.S. Ambassador; Lawyer r...

Rep. Amash reacts to Pelosi's picks for impeachment managers; Yovanovitch wants investigation into "disturbing" surveillance; New letters: Giuliani had Trump's "knowledge and consent" to request meeting with Ukraine president; Klobuchar: there's a double standard for women in politics, but I can win presidency; Warren-Sanders feud takes center stage at CNN debate; Biden & Sanders spar over Iraq wa...

Some GOP Senators open to impeachment process; Sen. Paul: GOP may have to call Hunter Biden in trial; Trump supposed to be in Davos during start of impeachment trial; McConnell slams Pelosi for delaying impeachment trial; McConnell: Impeachment trial to start on Tuesday; Sen. Paul: If witnesses are allowed, I'll call for Hunter Biden; McCarthy: By holding articles, Pelosi helps Biden's 2020 bid; S...

Trump: WH has been consistent on threats from Iran; Trump officials struggle to defend claims of embassy plots; Esper: I saw no evidence of threats against four embassies; Iran accused of shooting protesters demonstrating against regime; Protesters in Iran call for regime's top leaders to step down; Pompeo: U.S. Strike on Iran's top general was part of a "bigger strategy"; Trump shares photoshoppe...

Trump now claims at least 4 embassies were potential targets; Pompeo claims Congress briefed on Soleimani embassy threats but several lawmakers say they weren't; Pompeo on attack: Didn't know when or where, but threat imminent; Pompeo won't define "imminent" on threat from Iran; Surveillance video captures moment of Ukraine plane crash; Pompeo: U.S. believes Iran "likely" shot down passenger plane...

CNN obtains video that purports to show missile striking object in sky over Tehran; Iran State Media: U.S. invited to be present for plane crash investigation; Iran Officials: Black box of crashed Ukraine flight is "damaged"; Iran Official: May need outside help reading data on black box; Report: Ukrainian plane changed directions before crashing; UK Prime Minister: "Body of information" plane was...

U.S. officials still concerned about threats from Iran's proxies; Trump: Iranian general should have been killed years ago; White House releases new photos of Trump consulting advisers last night in situation room; Trump opts not to use "big, powerful, accurate" missiles in retaliation for Iran strike; Iraqi military: two rockets land in Baghdad green zone, no casualties reported; Iran's supreme l...

Esper: U.S. not looking to start a war but "prepared to finish one"; Now: WH Officials briefing top Dem, GOP leaders on Iran strike; Trump on threat to hit Iranian cultural sites: "I like to obey the law"; Defense Secy Esper: Soleimani was planning to carry out attack within "days"; U.S. Intel shows Iran moving military equipment, including drones and missiles, over last few days; McConnell has th...

Pres. Trump & Iran's leaders trade threats after deadly strike; Official: U.S. Expected to deploy B-52 Bombers for Iran contingency ops; U.S. Official: Military notifies Iraq of troop movement; Pentagon: No plans for U.S. to leave Iraq now; Iran vows to retaliate against U.S. for killing of top general; Trump again warns U.S. may attack Iranian cultural sites; U.S. General: Letter about U.S. troop...

Trump: "We do not seek Regime change" in Iran; Trump: We took action to "stop a war"; Top U.S. Gen: Soleimani planning "significant campaign of violence"; Iran's top General killed in strike ordered by Trump; Secretary of State: Deadly strike needed to stop "imminent attack" & save American lives; Trump: Iranian Gen was planning "sinister attack" on Americans; U.S. to deploy thousands of additiona...

N. Korea, Iran threaten Pres Trump as impeachment trial looms; Defense Secy Esper: Iran will regret additional provocations; Kim Jong Un threatens to test new strategic weapon; Iran: We are not afraid of war & can "break" the United States; Sanders & Buttigieg out raise Biden in 4th quarter fundraising weeks before Iowa caucuses; 4th quarter fundraising: Sanders $34.5M, Buttigieg $24.7M, Biden $22...

Protesters smash windows, scale walls at U.S. compound in Baghdad; U.S. dispatches helicopters, Marines to protect Baghdad embassy; Trump blames Iran for protests at U.S. Embassy in Iraq, vows to hold regime responsible; Protesters storm U.S. Embassy compound after American airstrikes on Iran-backed militia; GOP Sen. Collins open to witnesses testifying in Senate trial; GOP Sen. Collins : "Inappro...

NYT: Bolton, Pompeo, Esper tried to convince Trump to release Ukraine aid in August meeting; NYT: top aide warned Mulvaney to "expect congress to become unhinged" if Ukraine money frozen; White House confirms Trump spoke to Putin Sunday; NY man charged with stabbing 5 people at Hanukkah celebration; Prosecutors: anti-Semitic writings found in suspect's home; Fed hate crime charges filed against ac...

McConnell, Schumer talks stall over rules for Senate trial; NYT: Dem officials see Sanders as "underestimated" in Iowa; Biden to visit Iowa in first campaign trip of 2020; Democratic candidates get personal on the campaign trail; Trump jokes movie will "never be the same" after his cameo cut from "Home Alone 2" in Canada; Fox News blames "Trump Derangement Syndrome" for movie edit despite clip bei...

Dems, GOP at an impasse over rules for Senate trial; Pelosi claims lots of Dems are pushing to be impeachment managers; Trump gripes about impeachment process as trial looms; WaPo: Trump already looking for next Secy. of State; Trump claims impeachment is making it harder for him to work with other leaders; WaPo: U.S. developing options to combat Russian interference; NYT: Moderate Republicans con...

Trump attacks Pelosi, impeachment & FBI after call to troops; Trump: McConnell can do whatever he wants in Senate trial; Ex-Bolton aide: He should come forward with what he knows; GOP Sources: McConnell open to setting rules of Senate impeachment trial without Schumer's support; Sources: Republicans want opening statements in Senate trial before decision on witness testimony; Schumer demands new d...