Podcast · 320 episodes
The Lead with Jake Tapper
by CNN Podcasts · English
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.
Latest episodes
Trump: A.I. Industry Will “Self-Police” as Rogue Agents PersistThe episode is a CNN “The Lead” segment focused mainly on AI regulation and safety, plus several other political/legal stories.30 Sep 2026 · 1 h 31 min
Woman Sues Cornell and Chi Phi Fraternity Over Alleged Gang RapeThe episode centers on CNN’s “The Lead” with Jake Tapper, focusing on a New York prosecutor reopening an alleged Cornell University gang rape investigation and related civil litigation.29 Sep 2026 · 1 h 40 min
RNC Trains New “Special Monitors” to Scrutinize Voting MachinesThe episode (CNN’s The Lead) focuses on midterm-election security and broader political/economic fallout. Topic 1: The U.S.26 Sep 2026 · 1 h 30 min
All episodes
Trump: A.I. Industry Will “Self-Police” as Rogue Agents PersistThe episode is a CNN “The Lead” segment focused mainly on AI regulation and safety, plus several other political/legal stories.30 Sep 2026 · 1 h 31 min · 32 chapters
Woman Sues Cornell and Chi Phi Fraternity Over Alleged Gang RapeThe episode centers on CNN’s “The Lead” with Jake Tapper, focusing on a New York prosecutor reopening an alleged Cornell University gang rape investigation and related civil litigation.29 Sep 2026 · 1 h 40 min · 35 chapters
RNC Trains New “Special Monitors” to Scrutinize Voting MachinesThe episode (CNN’s The Lead) focuses on midterm-election security and broader political/economic fallout. Topic 1: The U.S.26 Sep 2026 · 1 h 30 min · 28 chapters
CNN, MS NOW, Politico Back at WH as Media Ban Lawsuit ProceedsThe episode centers on CNN’s legal fight over a Trump administration ban from White House grounds and press pool access, plus coverage of President Trump’s state visit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping…25 Sep 2026 · 1 h 35 min · 36 chapters
Judge in WH Press Ban Case: Will Respond “As Soon As I Can”A federal emergency hearing in the White House press ban case (CNN, MSNBC, Politico) ends without a ruling; Judge Timothy Kelly says he will decide “as soon as I can.” The episode also covers: (1) a…24 Sep 2026 · 1 h 30 min · 30 chapters
CNN Poll: Support for Trump’s Foreign Policy Falls to New LowThe episode covers multiple breaking stories and political developments: (1) a CNN investigation into an ICE shooting of 28-year-old Venezuelan DoorDash driver Wilbur Garces Perez in Austin, Texas;…23 Sep 2026 · 1 h 30 min · 35 chapters
Trump & NYC Mayor Mamdani Speak About Their MeetingThe episode centers on President Trump meeting NYC Mayor Zoran Mamdani at Gracie Mansion, while also covering the White House’s revocation of press access for CNN, MSNBC, and Politico and the First…22 Sep 2026 · 1 h 38 min · 35 chapters
Trump Says He’s Banning CNN, Politico, MS NOW from the WHPresident Trump announces he will ban CNN, MSNBC (MSNOW), and Politico from White House access, arguing they publish “fake news” and “purposely negative” coverage.19 Sep 2026 · 1 h 34 min · 33 chapters
Trump Seen with “Kennedy Center Demolished” PosterThe episode centers on multiple national and international stories: a court fight over whether President Trump’s name should be added to the Kennedy Center and whether the building could be…18 Sep 2026 · 1 h 31 min · 29 chapters
Trump Drags Down GOP with 48 Days to Go Until MidtermsThe episode centers on midterm politics and economic fallout under President Donald Trump, plus several major foreign-policy and legal developments.17 Sep 2026 · 1 h 35 min · 28 chapters
Senators Question Patel on Midterms, FBI’s 2020 Election ProbeThe episode focuses on election security and election-integrity oversight ahead of the midterms, plus separate segments on AI regulation and prediction markets.16 Sep 2026 · 1 h 31 min · 26 chapters
Trump Dismisses AI Concerns as a “Hoax”The episode focuses on President Trump dismissing AI safety warnings as a “hoax,” while multiple AI leaders and some lawmakers argue for faster government oversight.15 Sep 2026 · 1 h 34 min · 41 chapters
25 Years After 9/11: The Cost of Leaders’ DecisionsThe Lead (Jake Tapper) marks the 25th anniversary of 9/11 with Ground Zero, Flight 93, and Pentagon ceremonies, including a new moment of silence for illnesses linked to toxic exposure.12 Sep 2026 · 1 h 29 min · 32 chapters
Anthropic Issues Report on Blocking “Threat Actors” Using ClaudeThe episode covers three main stories: (1) President Trump’s promise of $5,000 to every American adult if Republicans keep control of the House and Senate, (2) a Supreme Court fight over whether…11 Sep 2026 · 1 h 30 min · 32 chapters
Ex-Anthropic Employee: A.I. Could “Kill Us All” by End of DecadeThe episode of The Lead (Jake Tapper) focuses on AI existential-risk warnings, U.S.10 Sep 2026 · 1 h 32 min · 31 chapters
Justice Dept Issues Subpoenas for Nevada Voter DataThe episode is a wide-ranging political news roundup focused on midterm-election legal fights, plus major national and international stories (Amazon cargo plane crash investigation, U.S.9 Sep 2026 · 1 h 33 min · 36 chapters
NTSB: Plane Hit Van Carrying 7 People After Leaving RunwayThe episode focuses mainly on a deadly aviation accident at Miami International Airport: an Amazon Air Boeing 767 runway overrun that became a “runway excursion.” The plane was traveling about 130…7 Sep 2026 · 1 h 31 min · 34 chapters
Clancy Defense Attorney: Jurors Robbed by “Lone Holdout”The episode covers multiple breaking news stories, led by the Lindsay Clancy triple-murder trial in Massachusetts.5 Sep 2026 · 1 h 30 min · 30 chapters
Clancy Defense Atty: One Juror “Refuses to Listen to the Law”The episode is primarily about two breaking U.S. stories: (1) the Lindsay Clancy murder trial in Massachusetts, where the judge orders jurors back for a seventh day after the defense says one juror…4 Sep 2026 · 1 h 30 min · 27 chapters
Lindsay Clancy Jury Remains DeadlockedThe Lead episode centers on three fast-moving stories: the Lindsay Clancy murder trial, U.S. politics and the midterms, and broader world/finance/sports segments.3 Sep 2026 · 1 h 30 min · 32 chapters
DHS Plans to Launch Voter Fraud Investigation SurgeThe episode focuses on two major U.S. political developments: (1) a whistleblower-backed dispute over new USPS mail-in ballot scanning procedures ahead of the midterms, and (2) a CNN-reported “voter…2 Sep 2026 · 1 h 29 min · 31 chapters
Two Dead, 15 Others May Be Missing in Grand Canyon Flash FloodThe episode covers breaking search-and-rescue updates from two flash-flood disasters: the Grand Canyon (U.S.) and catastrophic flooding in Nepal/China (including workers trapped in a hydropower…1 Sep 2026 · 1 h 30 min · 33 chapters
570+ Dead, 2,500 Missing in Nepal-China FloodFlash floods in Nepal and China after a glacier collapse/landslide have killed at least 579 in Nepal (expected to rise) and left about 2,500 missing; rescue teams face blocked access and risk of…29 Aug 2026 · 1 h 31 min · 31 chapters
Trump Signs Order Renaming Lake Ontario “Lake America”The Lead covers President Trump escalating tensions with Canada by renaming Lake Ontario to “Lake America,” plus multiple other news segments (Nepal flash floods, a Massachusetts infanticide trial,…28 Aug 2026 · 1 h 30 min · 28 chapters