The Lead with Jake Tapper

More and more Democratic states are getting rid of school mask mandates as the United States waits for guidance from the White House and the CDC. But, it might be too soon to start throwing those masks out. Is Vladimir Putin’s mind in the gutter? The Russian autocrat made a seemingly sexual joke about the Ukrainian president on Tuesday.  To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit...

President Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz met at the White House Monday where they held a joint press conference. Biden vowed to stop the Nord Stream 2, an undersea pipeline set to deliver gas from Russia to Germany, if Russia invades Ukraine. Chancellor Scholz joins Jake Tapper for an exclusive one-on-one interview. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/priv...

Former Vice President Mike Pence called out former President Donald Trump, saying he was wrong and had no right to overturn the 2020 election. Pence continued to say nothing could be more “un-American” than for one person to decide the outcome of an election. The Republican National Committee censures the two Republican members of Congress on the January 6th committee. We discuss the Republican ci...

In the wake of two police officers gunned down in New York City, President Biden says defunding the police is not the answer. One of his top advisers joins to discuss the future of policing in America. New details on how the top ISIS leader was killed during a U.S. raid. CNN is on the ground with a look at how the facts line up with what the Pentagon is claiming. To learn more about how CNN protec...

A former NFL head coach is suing the league for discrimination using a text message mix-up as proof. He is also alleging his boss offered him big bucks to lose games. Former NFL wide receiver Donté Stallworth joins to discuss the discrimination lawsuit. Plus, the Pentagon deploys 3,000 United States military troops in Eastern Europe as Russia is seen expanding its military presence in the region....

Pfizer is requesting emergency use authorization for its Covid-19 vaccine for children under 5 years of age. Vaccination rates for currently eligible recipients are the lowest among the age group of 5-11 years of age.  Tom Brady, who many consider the greatest NFL quarterback of all time, has officially announced his retirement. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/...

From mask mandates to vaccine requirements, new calls today to consider changing all the rules as the United States nears what could be the endemic phase of Covid-19. We’ll explore the metrics that experts want to use moving forward. With just four days until the Winter Olympics begin, Beijing is trying to distract the international area away from some of its controversies. To learn more about how...

More officers were killed last year while working than any other year since 1995, excluding the 9/11 attacks in 2001. The San Francisco Police Chief joins to contextualize the surge in homicides targeting police and what it will take to keep cities safe.  The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley says if Russia invades Ukraine it will be horrific. Gen. Milley further believes an i...

President Biden says he’s made one decision when it comes to naming a replacement for retiring Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer. Today at the White House, Biden confirmed the nominee will be the first Black woman on the high court. Russia added even more forces near its border with Ukraine as President Biden tried to ease tensions by phone. Meanwhile, Ukraine's foreign minister says Russia has...

Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer plans to announce he will soon retire, leaving President Biden with the opportunity to nominate a replacement. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said that he is looking to follow a fast timeframe to confirm Biden's nominee. Scientists are working to develop a universal Covid-19 vaccine according to Dr. Fauci. Is this idea of a universal coronavirus vaccine r...

President Biden said he is willing to order sanctions directly on Vladimir Putin if Russia enters the Ukraine. CNN teams are witnessing more military arrive in Ukraine as the White House characterizes an invasion as "imminent."  While we have boosters and vaccines, some companies are working on a fourth shot aimed just at the Omicron variant. Pfizer and BioNTech have begun a clinical trial for the...

President Biden spoke with key U.S. allies to discuss Russia’s possible invasion of Ukraine as the Pentagon announced that as many as 8,500 U.S. troops have been put on heightened alert for a possible deployment to Eastern Europe. If necessary, the troops would join NATO forces.  New signs suggest the worst of the Omicron wave could be over while the fight over how schools should respond is heatin...

As Russia continues to make provocative moves near Ukraine’s border, United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with top Russian officials in the latest rounds of diplomatic talks. Blinken said the meeting was “not a negotiation” as he expressed a deeper understanding of Russia’s concerns and their position.  There are new tensions inside the White House over a proposal to vaccinate migra...

President Biden has been clarifying some of his comments after his nearly two hour news conference. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki joins to answer some of the lingering questions. The State Department has approved the transfer of United States weapons from allies to Ukraine in order for Ukraine to defend itself from a Russian invasion. Armed Services Committee member Senator Joni Ernst join...

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5G was supposed to roll out across the country but several airlines say 5G interferes with the technology planes use to land in bad weather. Now, Verizon and AT&T are delaying the activation of 5G towers near some airport runways. The White House website to request free at-home Covid-19 tests is live as the Omicron variant continues to blaze across America. COVIDtests.gov will allow Americans to r...

With the U.S. averaging over 776,00 new Covid cases per day, the Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy warns the Omicron wave has not yet peaked. Dr. Peter Hotez, from the Texas Children's Hospital, joins to discuss early results from an Israeli study that shows a fourth dose of the Covid vaccine can increase antibodies. The FBI confirms it is investigating the hostage stand-off in which a 44-year-old...

There's a group of Russian operatives inside Ukraine and according to a U.S. intelligence official, those operatives are looking to create a false pretense for Vladimir Putin to give the orders for Russians to invade. National security adviser Jake Sullivan joins to discuss this awful development for President Biden. In a sign of how overwhelming the Omicron variant is, two of the country's larges...

The Department of Justice has filed the most serious charges yet related to the January 6th attack on the Capitol. The DOJ has arrested and charged the head of the far-right Oath Keepers with seditious conspiracy to use force to undermine the election and he is not alone.  The United States Supreme Court has blocked the Biden administration's nationwide vaccine and testing mandate for big business...

The United States may be turning a corner in the pandemic as coronavirus cases could be peaking in parts of the country. Today, Dr. Anthony Fauci and the acting FDA commissioner said Omicron is so efficient at spreading that almost everyone in the United States will at least be exposed to it.  The January 6th select committee is asking top House Republican Kevin McCarthy if he would like to volunt...

President Joe Biden delivered a major speech on voting rights while in Atlanta on Tuesday, expressing his frustration at Republicans who blocked voting rights legislation. Rep. Cori Bush joins to discuss Biden’s speech and if congress can pass election reform.  CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky and NIH director Dr. Anthony Fauci testified in the Senate today about the Biden administration's pande...

More and more hospitals are reaching capacity as the Omicron variant continues to surge across the nation. Some hospitals have even started to staff their facilities with the US military’s National Guard.  At least 8 kids are among the 17 killed with dozens more injured after a major fire impacted a Bronx apartment building. The blaze was caused by a malfunctioning electric space heater, the fire...

The Supreme Court's conservative majority on Friday appeared ready to reject a vaccine or testing requirement aimed at large businesses. Yet, in a separate challenge, some justices seemed more open to a vaccine mandate aimed at certain health care workers. Fewer jobs were added in December than in any other month in 2021. Sen. Chris Van Hollen joins to discuss the 3.9% unemployment rate and some g...

One year ago today, five people lost their lives during or immediately after the Capitol riot and the very democracy of the United States was attacked and shaken. Today, we look back on the events before, during, and after the insurrection to examine the state of far-right extremism in America. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad ch...

Backlash is growing as the CDC updates its isolation guidance causing only more bewilderment again. Why does this make it so much harder for businesses and schools to open? On the eve of the insurrection anniversary, the January 6th House select committee turns its attention to Trump’s former press secretary Stephanie Grisham. On the afternoon of January 6th, Grisham became the first Trump adminis...