The Lead with Jake Tapper

A shakeup is coming to some of the nation’s biggest spy agencies and the man doing the firing will be Bill Pulte, a controversial Trump loyalist that the president wants to be acting director of national intelligence despite having no intel or national security experience.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The transcript is out revealing exactly what Pam Bondi told lawmakers about the Epstein files and how she passed the buck to the man President Trump wants to succeed her. Plus, CNN traces the source of the latest ebola outbreak.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

CBS fires journalist Scott Pelley from 60 Minutes and there’s continued disagreement about what occurred. Plus, is powering the artificial intelligence boom coming at the expense of local communities?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From a role in housing to the acting director of national intelligence, reactions pour in about Trump selecting a loyalist with no demonstrated national security or intelligence experience.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Trump administration now says it will abide by a court ruling to pause the creation of a $1.8 billion fund meant to compensate those who the administration says were wrongly targeted by the government. The pause was ordered by a federal judge in Virginia last week.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former Attorney General Pam Bondi defended her role in the release of the Epstein files in a closed door interview. A look at what she in the room about Ghislaine Maxwell. Plus, President Trump says he is near a final decision on Iran.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A series of strikes from the United States and Iran as a tentative agreement emerges to open the Strait of Hormuz and start nuclear talks, according to US officials. Plus, protestors gather outside an ICE detention facility in New Jersey for the seventh day in row while lawyers say inside detainees are on a hunger strike over the conditions they’re enduring.   Learn more about your ad choices. Vis...

A slew of ads and attacks from the Republican establishment over the past year and a half against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton are all gone now that Paxton is the GOP pick to face Democrat James Talarico in one of the most contested fights for the Senate.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Will a Trump-backed candidate unseat Republican Senator John Cornyn in Texas? We go live to Texas as the voters decide. Plus, Iran warns of retaliation after US strikes.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sources say the White House is optimistic about a deal to end the war with Iran despite disputes about the country’s nuclear program. Plus, John Cornyn and Ken Paxton battle for the Texas Senate nomination.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The president is at odds with growing pushback even from Republicans over his fund to compensate those who feel wronged by the federal government. Plus, Tulsi Gabbard is stepping down from her post as director of national intelligence.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From legitimate cases of grievance, to January 6 rioters, to election deniers, to even a television network. Many come forward claiming they were wronged by the federal government and they want in on Trump’s $1.776 billion anti-weaponization fund.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The United States announces new charges against Raúl Castro, brother of Fidel Castro. He is charged for his role in the 1996 killing of three Americans in planes over international waters. Plus, a new lawsuit from two police officers who defended the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Trump, his family, and his businesses are now all protected under new terms added in a settlement with the Treasury Department, the Justice Department, and the IRS. A look at the settlement that creates a fund to compensate people the Trump administration feels were unfairly targeted by past administrations.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Authorities in San Diego provide updates on a deadly shooting at the largest mosque in San Diego. This as a source tells CNN a security guard was among the three victims.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Trump reveals his thoughts on the Reagan-era commitment to Taiwan making it sound less like an ironclad promise and more like ancient history. A look at Trump’s recent talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping as he heads back to DC.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Xi Jinping makes clear that the United States will pay a price for any interference in Taiwan. Hear what President Trump said ahead of his final meeting at the U.S.-China summit. Plus a CNN exclusive, a top ethics attorney told acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, Trump’s former private attorney, to recuse himself from legal cases that involve the president.  Learn more about your ad choices. Vis...

President Trump is hours away from his face-to-face with Xi Jinping. A former White House insider joins to discuss their negotiations. Plus, a court overturns the murder convictions of Alex Murdaugh, the South Carolina lawyer who took the stand in his own defense denying that he killed his wife and son.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Trump heads to China while leaving a pile of problems behind him back at home in the United States. Issue number one is American wages getting eating up by inflation. Plus, an American mayor is stepping down, pleading guilty to acting as an illegal agent of the Chinese government.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

18 passengers on the cruise ship with the hantavirus outbreak are back home in the United States including one person experiencing symptoms. Plus, President Trump calls the latest Iranian negotiation counterproposal “garbage.”   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

CDC staff are now en route to that cruise ship with the hantavirus outbreak ready to escort Americans off and get them into a biocontainment unit in Nebraska. Plus, the Virginia Supreme Court rules the commonwealth’s new congressional maps are null and void.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Multiple states are now monitoring Americans who may have been exposed to the hantavirus. Plus, the United States confirmed Iranian attacks in the Strait of Hormuz. A look at what it means for the ceasefire and negotiations to end the war.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The FBI raided the office and business belonging to one of the most powerful Democrats in Virginia politics. Plus, paying tribute to CNN founder Ted Turner who died today at the age of 87.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Secretary of State Marco Rubio was front and center at the White House briefing room today where he underscored a new phase of the war with Iran. This as we are seeing a new power struggle over the Strait of Hormuz.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A new threat from Trump as the United States shoots down more Iranian boats and Iran attacks the United Arab Emirates. Plus, did taxpayer money help keep sexual harassment cases involving several members of Congress out of public eye?   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices