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The Lead with Jake Tapper
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.

When immigration officials tried to arrest an undocumented immigrant in her courtroom, Judge Hannah Dugan allegedly tried to help him leave the building marking an escalation in the battle between the Trump administration and the judiciary. Plus, President Trump and Melania Trump land in Rome ahead of the funeral for Pope Francis.
Apr 26, 2025
Russia is dropping its deadliest bombs in months on Ukrainian civilians as Trump insists he is putting pressure on Russia to end the war. 12 people were killed and 90 were wounded in the capitol of Kyiv overnight. Plus, major questions about Trump’s trade war with China and what is really going on.
Apr 25, 2025
The word from the White House today is that there is opportunity for a big deal as Trump and his treasury secretary signaled potentially backing off of the stunning 145% tariffs on China. Plus, a look at the White House peace plan presented to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Apr 24, 2025
The White House is firmly backing defense secretary Pete Hegseth at least publicly even after admitting to sharing sensitive military information in a group chat with his wife, brother, and personal attorney. Plus, behind closed doors the president’s treasury secretary says the United States' trade war with China is unsustainable.
Apr 23, 2025
New details from the Vatican about the pope and the special request he made before he died. We look back on some of the defining marks the pope left on some of the issues of our time. Plus, defense secretary Pete Hegseth used another Signal group chat to share military strike plans. This time on the chat were his wife, his lawyer, and his brother.
Apr 22, 2025
We are learning new details about the condition of the undocumented migrant deported in error to El Salvador from the Democratic senator from Maryland who sat down with him face to face. Plus, reports reveal a clash between two of Trump’s money men, Elon Musk and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
Apr 19, 2025
Two individuals were killed and six were hospitalized after a mass shooting in Tallahassee, Florida at Florida State University. Officers shot the suspected gunman, who is now hospitalized. Our experts join to react with the latest.
Apr 18, 2025
A Pentagon source has described a purge at the Pentagon after a third Pentagon employee has been placed on administrative leave in the past 24 hours. Plus, a federal judge is threatening to hold the Trump administration in contempt of court over recent deportations.
Apr 17, 2025
A look at President Trump’s new threat to Harvard University and the White House’s demand for an apology. Plus, in his first television interview, a government whistleblower sounds the alarm about why he believes DOGE has taken sensitive data from his agency.
Apr 16, 2025
Despite admitting their own mistake and an order from the Supreme Court, the Trump administration says it will not bring back a man mistakenly deported to El Salvador. Plus, with students and teachers facing unsafe lead levels in public schools, the city of Milwaukee asked the Trump administration for help. We examine why they said no.
Apr 15, 2025