The Lead with Jake Tapper

Is this incredibly hot weather the new normal? At least 27 large wildfires are burning out west, fueled by insanely high temperatures. 70 million Americans from Indiana to Maine are under an alert from that same heat. Plus, Vladimir Putin says he and Kim Jong Un have taken their relationship to a new level. We examine what they are promising each other and what that might mean for the free world. ...

Another loss in court today for Donald Trump after New York’s highest court has declined to hear Trump’s appeal on a gag order in his hush money case. Plus, Sen. Bernie Sanders joins live to discuss what he wants to hear from pharmaceutical companies about the high cost of Ozempic, a medication for weight loss.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Biden campaign is dropping $50 million on new television ads in battleground states ahead of the presidential election. This as we are 10 days away from the first presidential debate which will air on CNN. Plus, dozens of wildfires burn thousands of acres across California. What is the rest of the summer going to be like?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

New information from Catherine, Princess of Wales, who says she’s making good progress against her cancer. Plus, the Supreme Court weighs in on several cases today, but not the January 6th immunity case. Also, with 144 days until the presidential election, House and Senate Republicans unite in support of Donald Trump.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From Nancy Pelosi to Taylor Swift, Donald Trump was on a tear behind closed doors meetings with House and Senate Republicans. We bring you direct quotes from Republicans inside those rooms. Plus, Trump’s face-to-face with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, his very first since the 2020 election. Also, new accusations facing Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas from a Senate Democrat.  Learn...

A Republican-led House vote is underway to impeach Attorney General Merrick Garland after he refuses to hand over audio of President Biden’s interview with the special counsel. Plus, a hate crime task force is launched to investigate repeated acts of antisemitism and vandalism in New York City. We explore some of the acts under investigation.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoice...

For the first time in the history of the United States, the child of a sitting president is a convicted felon. Hunter Biden has been found guilty on all charges on his federal gun trial. Will Hunter Biden head to prison and, if so, for how long? Plus, alleged leaked messages from the leader of Hamas reveal that he thinks Hamas is benefiting from the deaths of Palestinians in Gaza.  Learn more abou...

A doctor who treated the recent four Israeli hostages rescued in Gaza says the hostages were beaten and were malnourished. New footage of the operation is just in as we learn new details about the mission and the dozens of Palestinians killed in the process. Plus, Donald Trump meets with a probation officer. Also, closing arguments are now done and the jury now has the case in the Hunter Biden fed...

Starkly different messages from two starkly different men as President Biden warns about the state of democracy around the world and Trump vows for revenge. Plus, a dramatic turn in the Hunter Biden federal gun trail. Also, a look at the judge overseeing Trump’s classified documents trial.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Israel says it targeted a Hamas compound operating inside the school. Also, world leaders take the stage, marking 80 years since D-Day but it is the current conflicts that are top of mind. Plus, Steve Bannon is ordered to report to prison by July 1st.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dirty laundry is aired in court during Hunter Biden’s federal gun trial as his ex-wife and ex-girlfriend took the stand. We look at how testimony involving a crack pipe is being used to build the prosecution’s case. Plus, massive news in Donald Trump’s federal classified documents case as the judge delays hearings. The judge is also allowing more voices to weigh in on whether special counsel Jack...

Brand new rules at the U.S. border as the president clamps down on how many people can seek asylum. But, why now? Numbers on border crossings are down, but so are the numbers on President Biden’s polling on immigration. Plus, another state is charging Trump allies with crimes related to a 2020 fake electors scheme.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The question of the moment for the Trump campaign is if they should try to move the former president’s sentencing date in New York. The GOP convention begins July 15th in Milwaukee and sentencing begins July 11th. Plus, Anthony Fauci is back on Capitol Hill facing questions and some attacks about the Covid-19 pandemic.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

34 convictions, but what happens next? Donald Trump takes to the mic, airing familiar grievances and railing against the historic guilty verdicts in the hush money cover up case. We’ll tell you what the Trump team’s plan is moving forward. Plus, Sen. Rick Scott from Florida who is running to replace Mitch McConnell as the Senate GOP leader joins to discuss the verdict. Learn more about your ad cho...

The historic verdict is in: Donald J. Trump, the 45th president of the United States, has been found guilty by a jury of his peers on all 34 New York State felony counts of falsifying business records tied to the alleged Stormy Daniels hush money cover up. The former president of the United States is now a felon. We bring you all the latest in this historic verdict.  Learn more about your ad choic...

Donald Trump has been found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records. A former juror from another high-profile case joins to discuss what likely happened behind the closed doors today. We bring you all the latest in this historic verdict.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In just over four hours of deliberations, the jury in the New York hush money cover up trial is asking to hear read back of four parts of testimony. We bring you all the latest in the trial as twelve jurors will decide the fate of former President Trump.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Donald Trump’s New York hush money cover up trial is in its final phase as the prosecution is in the midst of giving its closing arguments. The prosecution argued that Trump corrupted those around him and that he got them to lie and cover it up. This follows nearly three hours of closing arguments from Trump’s defense attorney who attacked one of the prosecution’s witnesses, Michael Cohen.  Learn...

We are less than 24 hours away from the defense and the prosecution making their final pitches to the jury in Donald Trump’s New York hush money cover up trail. How strong is the prosecution’s case going into this final phase? A panel of experts including a former New York judge join to discuss. Plus, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is claiming a military strike on Rafah was a tragic mistake.  L...

Millions of Americans put aside conceptions of the economy as record travel starts the summer season off with a bang. Can President Biden capitalize off of this sentiment as the 2024 election creeps closer? Plus, a horror story in Haiti after an American couple serving as missionaries are killed by gangs. Also, the future of law enforcement, drones in danger zones.   Learn more about your ad choic...

In the Empire State, which no Republican presidential candidate has won in over 40 years, Donald Trump is setting his sights on New York and is trying to set inroads with Black and Hispanic voters. What does this political move say about the political moment we are in? Plus, Chinese fighter jets and warships encircle Taiwan. The Chinese government is insisting this is only a test.  Learn more abou...

The New York hush money cover up trial is quiet today but another case involving Trump is turning into a shouting match. Attorneys traded barbs in the federal classified documents case in Florida. This as Trump’s co-defendant accuses prosecutors of selectively and vindictively charging him with a crime. Plus, new footage shows the very moment three Israeli women were kidnapped by Hamas. This as No...

The defense rested in Donald Trump’s hush money cover up trail in New York. The jury is expected to begin deliberations next week in what will be no doubt a historic ruling in the very first criminal trial of a former president. Plus, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu joins live from Jerusalem a day after the decision by the International Criminal Court to seek an arrest warrant for both l...

The prosecution has rested its case in the New York hush money cover up trial and now it’s Donald Trump’s turn. His defense team has called a witness, Robert Costello, an attorney who at one point advised Michael Cohen. Costello has claimed Cohen has lied about him under oath during this trial. Star witness Michael Cohen admitted that he stole from the Trump Organization.  Learn more about your ad...

Shocking new video backs up allegations of domestic violence perpetrated by Sean “Diddy” Combs. The damning new video obtained exclusively by CNN shows clearly a violent assault. The video shows him throwing his ex-girlfriend to the ground, dragging her, and kicking her. This was in 2016. Why are we only seeing this tape now?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices