showcast
State of the Union
Hosted by CNN's Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, State of the Union features interviews with top newsmakers on politics and policy—covering Washington, the country, and the world.

On CNN’s State of the Union, Dana Bash presses White House Border Czar Tom Homan over the White House’s new plan to send ICE agents into US airports to support TSA. Next, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries responds, telling Dana that’s “the last thing that the American people need.” After, Israeli Ambassador to the US Michael Leither sits down with Dana to discuss the escalating war with Iran and whether the US and Israel are on the same page. After, Independent Congressman Kevin Kiley, Democ...Show moreratic Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, CNN Senior Political Commentator David Urban and CNN Political Commentator Ashley Allison join Dana to debate the White House plan to send ICE into airports. Finally, Dana responds to President Trump celebrating the death of former FBI Director and Special Counsel Robert Mueller.
Mar 22, 2026
On CNN’s State of the Union, Jake talks with US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz about the state of the Iran War and President Trump’s repeated claims that the US has already won. Then, Democratic Sen. Cory Booker sits down with Jake to discuss Democrats’ push to rein in Trump’s handling of the war. Next, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg joins Jake to discuss his perspective on the war with Iran as an Afghan War veteran, as well as his efforts to boost Democratic candidates ahead of...Show more the midterm elections. After, CNN Senior Political Commentator Adam Kinzinger, CNN Political Commentators Karen Finney and Brad Todd, and former New York Times Tehran correspondent Nazila Fathi join Jake to discuss the future of the war and the potential political consequences for President Trump. Finally, Jake responds to attacks by President Trump and his allies on journalists for reporting on the reality of the war with Iran.
Mar 15, 2026
On CNN’s State of the Union, Jake Tapper talks with Republican Sen. Thom Tillis about President Trump’s decision to fire DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. Next, Jake sits down with Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy to discuss reports the Trump administration is weighing deploying US troops to Iran as the war there escalates. After, Energy Secretary Chris Wright responds to rising energy prices in the US as the Iran War disrupts the global oil industry. Then, CNN Global Affairs Analyst Karim Sadjadpour, CNN ...Show morePolitical Commentator Jonah Goldberg, Hudson Institute Senior Fellow Rebeccah Heinrichs, and former State Department Senior Adviser Nayyera Haq join Jake to discuss Trump’s handling of the conflict in the Mideast. Finally, Jake responds forcefully to Trump administration criticism of CNN’s coverage of the war.
Mar 8, 2026
Dana Bash hosts a special edition of State of the Union after the US and Israel launch sweeping strikes on Iran, targeting its nuclear program and weapons systems and killing Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior officials, as President Trump vows bombing will continue “as long as necessary.”
Mar 1, 2026
On CNN’s State of the Union, Dana Bash talks to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent about the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down most of President Trump’s tariffs. Then, Dana sits down with California governor and potential 2028 candidate Gavin Newsom ahead of the release of his new memoir, “Young Man in a Hurry.” They discuss his complicated upbringing and relationship with his parents, his struggle with dyslexia, and his future as he weighs a potential 2028 presidential run. After, Democrati...Show morec strategist Rebecca Katz, Republican Congressman Mike Lawler, PBS host Margaret Hoover, and CNN Senior Political Commentator Van Jones break down the political fallout from the Supreme Court striking down most of President Trump’s tariffs. Finally, Dana talks to Reuters photographer Phil Noble about his historic photo of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor after his stunning arrest in the United Kingdom.
Feb 22, 2026
On CNN’s State of the Union, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer joins Jake to discuss Democrats’ demands to rein in immigration enforcement in exchange for ending a partial government shutdown. Next, White House Border Czar Tom Homan joins Jake to discuss the end of Trump’s Minneapolis crackdown, as well as whether the Department of Homeland Security has a credibility issue. Then, Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear joins Jake to discuss Trump’s efforts to interfere with the midterm elections. After,...Show more Jake presses Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin over the Trump administration’s failed attempt to indict six Democratic lawmakers. Finally, Jake gives the last word to three Epstein survivors who were in the room for Attorney General Pam Bondi’s controversial hearing on Capitol Hill this week.
Feb 15, 2026
On CNN’s State of the Union, Dana Bash interviews Rep. Hakeem Jeffries about Democrats’ demands to rein in ICE in exchange for funding the Department of Homeland Security. Next, CMS Administrator Dr. Oz sits down with Dana to discuss Americans’ skyrocketing health care costs as well as the growing measles outbreak in the US. Then, Dana asks Democratic Gov. Wes Moore about his redistricting push in Maryland, as well as President Trump’s decision to exclude him from a bipartisan meeting of governo...Show morers. After, CNN Senior Law Enforcement Analyst Andrew McCabe and CNN Chief Law Enforcement and Intelligence Analyst John Miller join Dana to break down the latest in the Nancy Guthrie Case. Finally, USA Today columnist Christine Brennan joins Dana to discuss the heartbreaking end to Lindsey Vonn’s Olympic comeback story.
Feb 8, 2026
On CNN’s State of the Union, Dana Bash presses Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche on the Trump administration’s handling of the FBI files, its arrest of journalists over a protest at a Minnesota church, and a controversial FBI raid on a Georgia elections office. Next, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Jamie Raskin, joins to respond. Then, Republican Sen. Ron Johnson pushes back against Democrats’ demands to rein in ICE in exchange for funding the Department of Homeland Se...Show morecurity. After, Democratic Rep. Debbie Dingell, former Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien, former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, and CNN Political Commentator Kristen Soltis Anderson discuss whether the backlash to Trump’s immigration crackdown could hurt Republicans in the midterms. Finally, Dana gives an update on the case of 5-year-old Liam Ramos and his father, who were detained by immigration agents in Minneapolis.
Feb 1, 2026
On CNN's State of the Union, in the wake of the second fatal shooting in Minneapolis, Dana Bash grills top border official Greg Bovino on what evidence he has that Alex Pretti was trying to impede law enforcement. She also pushes him on whether he still supports American's second Amendment rights and their rights to video law enforcement. Senator Chris Murphy responds to the interview calling it "bone-chilling" and calls on Democrats to freeze funding for the Department of Homeland Security. New...Show morely inaugurated New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill slams ICE and calls for them to be removed from the streets immediately. Republican Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt acknowledges that Americans "don't like what they are seeing" in Minneapolis. Both governors also discuss storm response in their state as a record winter storm batters the Midwest and East Coast.
Jan 25, 2026
On CNN’s State of the Union, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey joins Jake to respond to news that the Trump administration is putting hundreds of active-duty troops on standby to deploy to Minnesota. Frey told Jake, “I never thought in a million years that we would be invaded by our own federal government.”
Jan 18, 2026







