The Lead with Jake Tapper

A crucial week before the caucuses in Iowa and Trump is not there, instead preparing for court. He is falsely calling the January 6th criminals "hostages." This as Michelle Obama says she is “terrified" about what 2024 election results will bring. Plus, a CNN correspondent is embedded with a group migrants trying to get across the U.S. border from Mexico. Also, a missing door found in an Oregon ba...

The US Supreme Court said Friday it will review the Colorado Supreme Court’s unprecedented decision removing former President Donald Trump from that state’s ballot. This as Trump is back in Iowa expected to speak at a live event ahead of the Iowa caucuses. Plus, a new batch of documents related to convicted dead pedophile Jeffrey Epstein has just been released. Also, subject of TV dramas for years...

A 17-year-old gunman killed a sixth grade student and wounded five other people Thursday at Perry High School near Des Moines, Iowa, authorities said. The gunman, who died of a self-inflicted wound, was armed with a pump-action shotgun and a small caliber handgun. Also, we look at key takeaways from the latest trove of unsealed documents from a lawsuit related to Jeffrey Epstein. Plus, ISIS is cla...

The White House is lambasting members of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet. Specifically, two right-wing extremists whom critics say are calling for the ethnic cleansing of Gaza leaving some in the Biden administration to wonder if Netanyahu will have to choose between Biden and extremists in Netanyahu's government. Plus, in his first CNN interview since becoming House speaker, M...

Dr. Claudine Gay is stepping down as the president of Harvard University. Was it the poorly received congressional testimony about antisemitism on campus or the mounting accusations of plagiarism? Plus, a deadly airport runway inferno in Tokyo after two planes collide. Also, a senior leader of Hamas was assassinated in an explosion in Beirut. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices....

Russia launches its biggest air attack on Ukraine, unleashing unprecedented missiles and drones across the country with schools, factories, warehouses, and hospitals hit in one of the largest air assaults of this war. Plus, President Trump has been removed from the 2024 primary ballot again, this time in Maine. We examine how his rivals are responding. Plus, a rogue wave is causing chaos in Califo...

We have a brand-new CNN report revealing how Trump operatives flew fake elector ballots to D.C. in a last-ditch effort to overturn the 2020 election. We bring you those details and audiotapes detailing their plot. Also, Nikki Haley is under scrutiny over controversial comments she made on the campaign trail. Plus, the house where four University of Idaho students were murdered was demolished just...

Senior U.S. officials are urging their Mexican counterparts to do a lot more to drive down the number of border encounters. These meetings come as a record number of migrants is overwhelming both sides of the border. Plus, the latest development in another attempt to keep Trump’s name off a state primary ballot next year. Also, a look at why Americans are spending so confidently and yet don’t beli...

A top Israeli official is meeting with the White House over Israel's war over Hamas as the administration asks Israel to scale back the war strategy. Also, a new caravan of thousands of migrants is headed to the U.S. border from southern Mexico one day before Secretary of State Antony Blinken heads to Mexico City in an effort to deal with the crisis. Plus, if you're planning to return an unwanted...

The Supreme Court rejected a request by special counsel Jack Smith to fast-track arguments on whether Trump has any immunity from federal prosecution for alleged crimes he committed while in office. The court did not explain its reasoning and there were no noted dissents. Plus, an unprecedented number of immigrants are coming across the border as Biden makes an urgent call to Mexico to help manage...

Terrifying scenes in the Czech Republic after a gunman's deadly rampage, killing his father and then targeting a school. What we are learning at this hour about this rare type of attack for Europe. Plus, all eyes are on the U.S. Supreme Court as special counsel Jack Smith pushes back today against team Trump. Will the justices weigh in on whether or not Trump has immunity before Christmas? First,...

Any moment now we are expecting team Trump to appeal the ruling by the Colorado Supreme Court that Trump disqualified himself from the 2024 ballot for engaging in an insurrection. A former U.S. attorney general under Trump is here to discuss. Plus, new signs from both Israel and Hamas that a temporary pause might be on the table. Also, the US has reached an agreement to secure the release of six w...

Democratic Senator John Fetterman from Pennsylvania joins to discuss border security, his party backing Israel wholeheartedly, and says he's not a Progressive. Also, a volcanic eruption is creating warnings and wonder around the world. Plus, GOP presidential hopefuls blitz Iowa as caucuses near.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The White House is pushing Israel to adjust its rules of engagement after the IDF accidentally killed three hostages. New gripping accounts emerge from hostages formerly held by Hamas describing their horror while in captivity including dodging airstrikes from Israeli forces. Plus, Jews in America are being targeted again, after more than 200 fake bomb threats and SWAT calls in one week alone. We...

A jury ordered Rudy Giuliani to pay nearly $150 million to two Georgia election workers for the harm caused by defamatory statements he made about them following the 2020 election. Freeman and Moss were awarded more than $16 million each for defamation, $20 million each for emotional distress and $75 million total in punitive damages, stemming from a series of statements Giuliani and others, inclu...

CNN’s Clarissa Warn gains access to southern Gaza to report first-hand on the horrifying reality on the ground as Biden has a new message for the government of Israel. Also, an exclusive CNN investigation into the nation’s largest credit union, Navy Federal, reveals an alarming disparity between White and Black applicants. Plus, deliberations are underway in the defamation lawsuit against Rudy Giu...

A federal judge has just paused Donald Trump’s 2020 election interference case which could lead to his March 2024 trial being delayed. Plus, the White House is working to square Biden’s “indiscriminate bombing” comment with claim that Israel is trying to limit civilian causalities. This as political appointees and Biden administration staffers are expected to hold a vigil in front of the White Hou...

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met on Capitol Hill with lawmakers and at the White House to request aid and make the case that his country is fighting a losing battle with Russia. Plus, Present Biden privately tells supporters that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu needs to change his strategy and his plans for Gaza and that Netanyahu himself needs to change. Will Biden's comments impact t...

For the very first time, the U.S. Supreme Court will decide if Donald Trump can be prosecuted for the things he did as president. Plus, as the humanitarian catastrophe worsens, critical aid into Gaza is delayed at one crossing and completely cut off at another. What is being done by President Biden and others to alleviate the suffering? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/ad...

Essentially trapped in Gaza, what do some Palestinians really think of Hamas and the conflict? Plus, the state of Texas is pushing back on a court order that allowed a woman to terminate a high-risk pregnancy. The case challenges one of the strictest abortion bans in the nation. Also, Hunter Biden speaks out on Republicans who want to tie his legal problems to his father. Learn more about your ad...

Liz Cheney joins to talk about Tump, Kevin McCarthy, House Speaker Mike Johnston, and her fears for what the U.S. might look like in 2025. Plus, a look at the threats to public officials, lawmakers, and election workers. Who is making them, why, and what can be done? Also, Trump is in court today as GOP rivals campaign in New Hampshire and Iowa.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoi...

Three people were killed and one person is in critical condition after a shooting on the UNLV campus, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police said Wednesday. The suspect was also killed, police said. Plus, in a vote that is happening now, Senate Republicans are threatening to block funding for Israel and Ukraine. Democratic Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware joins discuss what’s in the aid package.  Learn mor...

New warnings of an apocalyptic situation in Gazza as Israel takes deadly aim at Hamas. Plus, Chairman of the Intelligence Committee Sen. Mark Warner joins to discuss the GOP being willing to block Ukraine and Israel aid if border funding is not included.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Donald Trump is now claiming President Biden, not himself, is a threat to American democracy. This as there is six weeks left until the Iowa caucuses. Plus, Israel is expanding its war, targeting Hamas in all of Gaza, even in the south where Israel first told Palestinians to flee for safety.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, regrettably, is over and the White House is blaming Hamas. Now, Israeli strikes resume in Gaza while Prime Minister Netanyahu is facing new criticism and tough questions about warnings his government received and dismissed as recently as last summer about impending Hamas attacks. Also, the locks have been changed on George Santos's office already, just hours...