The Lead with Jake Tapper

In the decades long debate over how to solve the crisis at the border, Ron DeSantis is shipping migrants late at night to Martha’s Vineyard. Plus, we look inside the negotiations that went on for over 20 hours to avoid a rail strike that could have crippled the country’s economy. Then, a source tells CNN that President Biden is ready to finally hear directly from the families of Brittney Griner an...

The White House steps in as freight rail workers threaten to strike. The contingency plans are under discussion as President Biden weighs using federal authority to intervene. Plus, a former Trump appointed U.S. attorney joins to describe the Justice Department corruptly pressuring how and whether he prosecuted cases related to Trump and Trump’s rivals. To learn more about how CNN protects listene...

Stocks tumble as the Dow drops more than 1,000 points prompting fears the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates more aggressively. Plus, a Twitter whistleblower warns of security threats within the social network. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Biden delivers a speech about his initiative to reduce cancer deaths in the United States. Then, Ukraine’s impressive gains force Russian troops to retreat. But, are these advances temporary as the Kremlin launches retaliatory strikes? Plus, a message from the Queen’s oldest son, the new King. Also, questions over the list of best colleges and universities in the U.S. after one prestigio...

As the Royal Family's meticulous plans are laid out as an official period of mourning begins. Plus, King Charles starts his reign as the world watches to see what kind of leader he might be. And in the US, CNN asks Texas' top law enforcement officer why he allegedly said no one will lose their jobs over the massacre in Uvalde. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/pr...

We continue our special, three-hour edition of The Lead, as Jake and a bevy of guests discuss the life and legacy of Queen Elizabeth II, who died today at the age of 96. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In hour #1 of a special, three-hour edition of The Lead, Jake and a bevy of guests discuss the life and legacy of Queen Elizabeth II, who died today at the age of 96. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Washington Post reports FBI agents found nuclear documents at Mar-a-Lago, material so secret that only a tight circle knew they even existed. So, why were those documents there? Plus, former Russian spies, operatives who defected from the Kremlin’s secret service agency, tell all about the inner workings of the FSB. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy L...

CNN obtained a new video showing a fraudulent Trump elector escorting operatives into an elections office on the same day a voting machine at that very office was breached. Authorities are now investigating whether this is yet another coordinated effort to subvert the democratic process. Plus, explosive wildfires out west, major flooding on the east coast, and fear of blackouts due to record heat....

A judge sided with former President Donald Trump allowing a special master to sift through documents seized by the FBI at Mar-a-Lago, forcing a major delay in the Justice Department’s case. Plus, President Biden is on the road with a midterm message to voters in key swing states just 64 days out from Election Day. Then, a billionaire’s granddaughter was abducted on a jog. Police say they know who...

As we wait for a judge to decide whether to appoint a special master to review the materials seized from Mar-a-Lago, we have just learned that the FBI recovered empty folders that were marked as classified, raising a host of new questions. Then, the unemployment rate edges up. Plus, climate change is reshaping the landscape of flood zones. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, vis...

One of the ways Trump’s legal team describes the dispute over classified documents seized from Mar-a-Lago is that it is like an overdue library book. We have new details to determine if a judge will order an independent review. Then, President Biden is just hours away from delivering a rare primetime address. He’s expected to issue a dire warning about extremism. To learn more about how CNN protec...

Donald Trump’s lawyers have only hours left to respond to the DOJ’s blockbuster court filing complete with a stunning picture and details about how prosecutors say Trump’s team tried to hide classified material to obstruct the FBI investigation. Then, we explore the frightening reality where election workers are getting their instructions from conspiracy theories. Plus, it is day three without wat...

Mikhail Gorbachev, the last leader of the former Soviet Union, has died at the age of 91. Gorbachev died after a long illness, Russian state news agencies reported. Plus, President Biden spoke in Pennsylvania today and remarked about his determination to ban assault weapons. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcast...

The Justice Department takes the lead on reviewing documents seized from Mar-a-Lago as team Trump keeps up its fight to get in on the process. Plus, wild scenes of violence as a grocery store is shot up in Oregon, an apartment is set on fire to lure shooting victims out in Houston, and an NFL rookie is shot in an attempted robbery in DC. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit...

The Justice Department revealing significant concerns over Top Secret documents and lax security at Mar-a-Lago and it's push for the FBI's unprecedented search at the former president’s home. Plus, Donald Trump’s reaction to the affidavit's release. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A redacted version of the Mar-a-Lago affidavit will be released tomorrow. How much could we learn tomorrow about why the FBI executed its unprecedented search at Trump’s home? Plus, the U.S. responds after three service members are injured in Syria by rocket fire. Then, Senator Elizabeth Warren joins to respond to some of the criticisms of Biden’s student loan debt forgiveness plan. To learn more...

President Biden comes through on a campaign promise after announcing his plan to forgive student debt for certain borrowers. Plus, Florida congressional candidate Maxwell Frost joins after being projected to win Florida’s 10th Congressional District. Also, we examine a proposal to tackle homelessness which includes offering empty hotel rooms. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy,...

Team Trump just curiously confirmed that hundreds of pages of secret documents had been held at Mar-a-Lago. A letter from May of this year just released reveals that the National Archives made it clear to team Trump they worried about classified material being stored improperly at Mar-a-Lago. Also, the U.S. urges Americans to leave Ukraine immediately after warnings of a possible Russian attack. T...

The daughter of a spiritual guide to Putin was killed in a car bomb attack. Russia is blaming Ukraine, but it might be more complicated. Then, a viral bystander video captures a man being beaten by three law enforcement officers in Arkansas. Plus, will President Biden fulfill a campaign promise and cancel student loan debt for millions of Americans? If he does, will it make inflation worse? To lea...

Prosecutors in Georgia outline why they want Senator Lindsey Graham to appear before a special grand jury as this latest case investigating efforts to overturn the 2020 election takes a new turn. Also, Russia threatens to take Europe’s largest nuclear power plant offline. Plus, the tech giant Apple is warning a security flaw could allow iPhones and iPads to get hacked. To learn more about how CNN...

Multiple courtrooms had former President Donald Trump on their agendas today. In Florida, a judge decided the public will get to see new documents related to the FBI's unprecedented search of the former president's Mar-a-Lago property. In New York, Trump's long-time CFO Allen Weisselberg pled guilty and agreed to testify against his former boss' organization. Also today: Walmart, Walgreen's, and C...

Rudy Giuliani, a target in Atlanta’s 2020 election probe, wrapped up six hours of grand jury testimony today. Meanwhile, former Vice President Pence discussed weighing his “unique role,” amongst other "Constitutional" concerns, in considering whether he would testify for the Jan. 6 Committee. Plus, updated Covid boosters targeting the Omicron variants are expected to come in September. To learn mo...

Trump White House lawyers Pat Cipollone and Patrick Philbin have been interviewed by the FBI regarding the records taken to Mar-a-Lago after Trump left office. Then, Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney’s political future will be determined by Republican voters tonight. Plus, new water cuts have been ordered by the federal government for several states in the southwest. To learn more about how CNN...

Grand jury subpoenas from Georgia and the Justice Department show investigations of top Trump allies are intensifying. At the same time, top Democrats are joining with Republicans to press for answers about the unprecedented FBI search at Mar-a-Lago. Also, it has been one year since the fall Kabul and CNN shows what life in Afghanistan is now like under Taliban rule. To learn more about how CNN pr...