CNN Podcasts

The Lead with Jake Tapper

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CNN's lead DC anchor and chief Washington correspondent, Jake Tapper, hosts this two-hour long weekday afternoon program, with headlines from around the country and the world, the top stories in national and international news, politics, health, money, the environment, sports and popular culture. The Lead also concentrates on bringing stories that aren't found on front pages—buried leads—to the forefront.

Be sure to visit the podcast's website and support the creator: www.cnn.com

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CNN Podcasts

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Key impeachment witness Lt. Co. Alexander Vindman fired from White House job; Dem candidates sharpen attacks ahead of first primary in NH; One-on-one with impeachment witness Bill Taylor; Coronavirus cases on cruise ship in Japan triple to 61, include 11 07.02.2020 11:37

Vindman's lawyer: He was asked to leave "for telling the truth" because Trump "decided to exact revenge"; Sanders hits Buttigieg for donations from billionaires; 2020 Dems face critical test in New Hampshire after Iowa fiasco; Bloomberg touts endorsements from ex-Trump Navy Secretary & Dems that flipped GOP seats; Bill Taylor on being subject of Trump's attacks: "It's a little weird"; Taylor respo...

Trump takes a victory lap with off-the-rails speech; Red State Dem Senator Doug Jones explains vote to convict Trump; Buttigieg & Sanders in virtual tie in Iowa, awaiting full results; China reports two newborns infected with coronavirus; 06.02.2020 12:09

Trump: Pelosi & Schiff "vicious, horrible" people; Trump slams Pelosi, Romney at National Prayer Breakfast; Trump: Romney used his religion as a "crutch" for guilty vote; GOP Senators suggest Trump has learned a lesson, as he takes victory lap & slams Democrats; Trump attacks Romney, calls Pelosi "horrible" in ranting speech; Buttigieg & Sanders in virtual tie in Iowa, Sanders dismisses Buttigieg...

Senate acquits President Trump of impeachment charges 05.02.2020 20:53

Romney only Republican to vote to convict TrumpTo learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Trump team concludes, focus shifts to witness fight; Ernst comments on Biden echo 2015 McCarthy on Benghazi; Trump reveals peace plan alongside indicted Israeli PM; New video shows Bryant's helicopter moments before crash; 28.01.2020 39:37

Former WH Chief of Staff John Kelly: "I believe John Bolton"; Kushner on impeachment: The President has been totally vindicated; Sekulow alludes to Bolton's book: This trial is not "a game of leaks and unsourced manuscripts"; Graham: "Totally support" Senators reviewing Bolton book; Witness fight reignited in wake of Bolton revelations; Trump defense team finishes opening arguments; Joe Biden say...

Brand new CNN polls reveal voters' pulse on impeachment; Trump's legal team argues impeachment process a "charade"; Senate gears up for tense battle over witnesses on first day of impeachment trial; Candidates make massive push in Iowa, caucus in 14 days 20.01.2020 39:49

New CNN poll: 51% think Trump should be convicted & removed; More women say Trump should be removed than men; 86% of African American voters favor Trump's removal; Majority of voters under age 45 support Trump's removal; 69% want witnesses at president Trump's trial; 48% of republicans want witnesses at the trial; 58% say Trump abused power of the presidency; 57% believe Pres Trump obstructed cong...

Trump adds high profile, controversial picks to defense team; Parnas: Trump tried to fire Ukraine Amb. multiple times; Pentagon now says 11 service members hurt in Jan 8 missile strike; Trump: Impeachment trial is "rigging the election again against Berni 17.01.2020 39:54

Sources: House Republicans no longer expected to defend Trump in impeachment trial; Sources: Trial expected to start with contentious day with Democrats trying to force witnesses; Pompeo says State Department will investigate possible surveillance of ex-U.S. Ambassador; Indicted Giuliani associate says he watched Trump order aide to fire U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine in 2018; Eleven troops being trea...

Chief Justice, Senators sworn in for Trump impeachment trial; House Democrats call on Senate to hear evidence from Giuliani associate in impeachment trial; Trump: Senate trial "should go very quickly"; 16.01.2020 39:33

House managers formally present articles to Senate; Senate expected to vote on whether to call trial witnesses; John Dean: I'd be astounded if Senate doesn't call witnesses; Senate impeachment starts as Giuliani associate implicates Trump; Ukraine's FM: I don't trust a word Parnas is saying; Ukraine launches investigation after text messages suggest surveillance on former U.S. Ambassador; Lawyer r...

House approves sending impeachment articles to the Senate, appoints 7 managers to serve as Senate prosecutors; Newly released letters, texts, notes show Giuliani's push to meet with Ukraine pres; Candidates make final cases to IA voters during CNN debate 15.01.2020 8:28

Rep. Amash reacts to Pelosi's picks for impeachment managers; Yovanovitch wants investigation into "disturbing" surveillance; New letters: Giuliani had Trump's "knowledge and consent" to request meeting with Ukraine president; Klobuchar: there's a double standard for women in politics, but I can win presidency; Warren-Sanders feud takes center stage at CNN debate; Biden & Sanders spar over Iraq wa...

Candidates make final preparations before CNN debate; House to vote tomorrow to send articles of impeachment to Senate; Burisma hack seems to mimic Russia's 2016 election interference; Trump on imminent threat: "It doesn't really matter"; 14.01.2020 39:22

Some GOP Senators open to impeachment process; Sen. Paul: GOP may have to call Hunter Biden in trial; Trump supposed to be in Davos during start of impeachment trial; McConnell slams Pelosi for delaying impeachment trial; McConnell: Impeachment trial to start on Tuesday; Sen. Paul: If witnesses are allowed, I'll call for Hunter Biden; McCarthy: By holding articles, Pelosi helps Biden's 2020 bid; S...

Special Edition: CNN: state dept security officials weren't notified of "imminent" threats to 4 specific embassies, WH struggles to back up claim; Trump claims it doesn't matter if threats against U.S. were "imminent" because of Soleimani's past 13.01.2020 6:29

Trump: WH has been consistent on threats from Iran; Trump officials struggle to defend claims of embassy plots; Esper: I saw no evidence of threats against four embassies; Iran accused of shooting protesters demonstrating against regime; Protesters in Iran call for regime's top leaders to step down; Pompeo: U.S. Strike on Iran's top general was part of a "bigger strategy"; Trump shares photoshoppe...

WH struggles to explain claim of "imminent threat"; Ukrainian Foreign Minister: Pilot's last words sounded "peaceful" before crash; Sen Bernie Sanders makes appearance with Larry David; Pelosi reveals she's ready to send articles of impeachment to Senate 10.01.2020 39:34

Trump now claims at least 4 embassies were potential targets; Pompeo claims Congress briefed on Soleimani embassy threats but several lawmakers say they weren't; Pompeo on attack: Didn't know when or where, but threat imminent; Pompeo won't define "imminent" on threat from Iran; Surveillance video captures moment of Ukraine plane crash; Pompeo: U.S. believes Iran "likely" shot down passenger plane...

U.S. Official: Iran mistakenly shot down Ukraine plane with two missiles; Iranian Officials: Ukraine plane was on fire before it crashed; CNN on the ground where Iranian missile hit in Iraq; Pelosi: McConnell not guaranteeing "fair" impeachment trial; 09.01.2020 39:27

CNN obtains video that purports to show missile striking object in sky over Tehran; Iran State Media: U.S. invited to be present for plane crash investigation; Iran Officials: Black box of crashed Ukraine flight is "damaged"; Iran Official: May need outside help reading data on black box; Report: Ukrainian plane changed directions before crashing; UK Prime Minister: "Body of information" plane was...

Sources: U.S. believes Iran intentionally avoided hitting U.S. troops; Trump: Iran appears to be standing down after revenge strike; Gabbard: Trump admin failed to provide evidence of imminent threat 08.01.2020 39:51

U.S. officials still concerned about threats from Iran's proxies; Trump: Iranian general should have been killed years ago; White House releases new photos of Trump consulting advisers last night in situation room; Trump opts not to use "big, powerful, accurate" missiles in retaliation for Iran strike; Iraqi military: two rockets land in Baghdad green zone, no casualties reported; Iran's supreme l...

Trump claims U.S. saved many lives by killing Iranian general; Officials: U.S. Intel shows Iran moving military equipment; U.S. Forces on high alert for possible Iranian drone attacks; McConnell: I have the votes to set impeachment trial rules; 07.01.2020 39:26

Esper: U.S. not looking to start a war but "prepared to finish one"; Now: WH Officials briefing top Dem, GOP leaders on Iran strike; Trump on threat to hit Iranian cultural sites: "I like to obey the law"; Defense Secy Esper: Soleimani was planning to carry out attack within "days"; U.S. Intel shows Iran moving military equipment, including drones and missiles, over last few days; McConnell has th...

Huge crowds mourn Soleimani in Iran as Trump threatens cultural sites; Iran vows to retaliate against U.S. for killing top general; Trump on Iran vowing retaliation: "If it happens it happens"; 06.01.2020 39:10

Pres. Trump & Iran's leaders trade threats after deadly strike; Official: U.S. Expected to deploy B-52 Bombers for Iran contingency ops; U.S. Official: Military notifies Iraq of troop movement; Pentagon: No plans for U.S. to leave Iraq now; Iran vows to retaliate against U.S. for killing of top general; Trump again warns U.S. may attack Iranian cultural sites; U.S. General: Letter about U.S. troop...

Trump: We did not kill Soleimani to start war with Iran; Iran vows "harsh revenge" after U.S. kills top general; Protests in Iraq after U.S. strike kills Iran's top military general; U.S. to deploy thousands of additional troops to Middle East; 03.01.2020 39:27

Trump: "We do not seek Regime change" in Iran; Trump: We took action to "stop a war"; Top U.S. Gen: Soleimani planning "significant campaign of violence"; Iran's top General killed in strike ordered by Trump; Secretary of State: Deadly strike needed to stop "imminent attack" & save American lives; Trump: Iranian Gen was planning "sinister attack" on Americans; U.S. to deploy thousands of additiona...

U.S. Troops deploy to Iraq as siege of U.S. Embassy in Baghdad ends; Sen. Sanders raises $34.5M just weeks before Iowa caucuses; Report: Unredacted White House email calls Ukraine aid hold "clear direction" from Trump; Australian towns evacuated as wildfi 02.01.2020 39:42

N. Korea, Iran threaten Pres Trump as impeachment trial looms; Defense Secy Esper: Iran will regret additional provocations; Kim Jong Un threatens to test new strategic weapon; Iran: We are not afraid of war & can "break" the United States; Sanders & Buttigieg out raise Biden in 4th quarter fundraising weeks before Iowa caucuses; 4th quarter fundraising: Sanders $34.5M, Buttigieg $24.7M, Biden $22...

Protesters smash windows, scale walls at U.S. compound in Baghdad; Prosecutors: Stabbing suspect researched Hitler, local synagogues; Thousands trapped as fires scorch much of Australia; Cities around the world ring in 2020; 31.12.2019 39:21

Protesters smash windows, scale walls at U.S. compound in Baghdad; U.S. dispatches helicopters, Marines to protect Baghdad embassy; Trump blames Iran for protests at U.S. Embassy in Iraq, vows to hold regime responsible; Protesters storm U.S. Embassy compound after American airstrikes on Iran-backed militia; GOP Sen. Collins open to witnesses testifying in Senate trial; GOP Sen. Collins : "Inappro...

NYT: emails show Mulvaney's role in freezing Ukraine aid; 5 Jews stabbed at New York Hanukkah celebration; Hero church member who stopped TX gunman speaks; Buttigieg takes aim at Biden over Iraq war, "the worst foreign policy decision" in his lifetime 30.12.2019 39:37

NYT: Bolton, Pompeo, Esper tried to convince Trump to release Ukraine aid in August meeting; NYT: top aide warned Mulvaney to "expect congress to become unhinged" if Ukraine money frozen; White House confirms Trump spoke to Putin Sunday; NY man charged with stabbing 5 people at Hanukkah celebration; Prosecutors: anti-Semitic writings found in suspect's home; Fed hate crime charges filed against ac...

President rails against House Speaker Pelosi in twitter rant; Pelosi: President Trump abused power for "personal gain"; 12 killed, dozens injured in Kazakhstan plane crash; Tour helicopter with seven people on board missing in Hawaii; 27.12.2019 40:06

McConnell, Schumer talks stall over rules for Senate trial; NYT: Dem officials see Sanders as "underestimated" in Iowa; Biden to visit Iowa in first campaign trip of 2020; Democratic candidates get personal on the campaign trail; Trump jokes movie will "never be the same" after his cameo cut from "Home Alone 2" in Canada; Fox News blames "Trump Derangement Syndrome" for movie edit despite clip bei...

GOP Senator "disturbed" by McConnell's coordination with WH; Trump attacks Pelosi, Dems after calling for unity; U.S. Military on high alert for North Korea launch; 2020 Election could feature a record gender gap; 26.12.2019 38:17

Dems, GOP at an impasse over rules for Senate trial; Pelosi claims lots of Dems are pushing to be impeachment managers; Trump gripes about impeachment process as trial looms; WaPo: Trump already looking for next Secy. of State; Trump claims impeachment is making it harder for him to work with other leaders; WaPo: U.S. developing options to combat Russian interference; NYT: Moderate Republicans con...

Trump attacks Pelosi, impeachment & FBI after call to troops; Giuliani: I've thought about being Trump's lawyer in Senate trial; Biden and Buttigieg target same voters in Iowa... Literally; At least five U.S. airports warn of potential measles exposure; A 24.12.2019 40:19

Trump attacks Pelosi, impeachment & FBI after call to troops; Trump: McConnell can do whatever he wants in Senate trial; Ex-Bolton aide: He should come forward with what he knows; GOP Sources: McConnell open to setting rules of Senate impeachment trial without Schumer's support; Sources: Republicans want opening statements in Senate trial before decision on witness testimony; Schumer demands new d...

Schumer uses new ammo to push for witnesses, docs; Trump announces evangelical rally in Miami next week; House Dems say they still need McGahn to testify; House Democrats: McGahn testimony could result in more articles of impeachment against Trump; 23.12.2019 40:07

Schumer renews push for docs amid newly released emails; New emails: aid freeze began 90 mins after Trump-Ukraine call; Email: WH asked officials to keep quiet over Ukraine aid freeze; Durbin: senators have gone too far in revealing trial votes; Dem sen: may vote to acquit if Dems don't connect dots in case; 200 evangelical leaders back Trump after popular Christian magazine calls for his removal...

Sources: Dems privately preparing for Senate trial; CNN: Trump's Florida holiday raises concern among WH aides; Facing tough re-election, Sen. Jones talks impeachment vote; Biden: I've tried to focus on Trump, not attacking other Democratic candidates; 20.12.2019 38:43

House leaves for holidays without sending articles to Senate; Pelosi invites Trump to deliver State of the Union Feb 4; Can Trump argue he hasn't been impeached if articles not sent?; Wash Post: Trump got Ukraine election conspiracy from Putin; Sources: Trump distressed Senate trial might be delayed; 25 Jewish members of Congress call for Trump adviser Stephen Miller to resign; Vulnerable Senate D...

Dems may use articles as leverage to force "fair" Senate trial; Pelosi won't commit to sending articles to Senate; Trump: I don't feel like I'm being impeached, it's a "hoax"; Putin echoes GOP argument against Trump impeachment; 19.12.2019 38:37

House not voting on resolution naming impeachment managers; McConnell: "Beyond me" why Pelosi thinks she has leverage; Trump attacks deceased Dem Congressman, suggests he's in hell; Rep. Jeff Van Drew announces switch to GOP with Trump; Some in GOP criticize Trump for attacking dead Congressman; Putin blames Democrats for Trump's impeachment; Trump Admin pushes back against new bill punishing Russ...