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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.

The FBI is facing a new lawsuit from Fulton County Georgia one week after its raid, seizing boxes of ballots and other information from the 2020 election. Plus, President Trump’s new warnings to the leaders of Iran.
Feb 5, 2026
What happened to the mother of ‘Today’ show anchor Savannah Guthrie? Investigators say they believe she was taken from her home against her will. Plus, facing a contempt of Congress vote, President Bill and Secretary Hilary Clinton now say they are ready to testify about their connections to dead pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Feb 4, 2026
President Trump attempted earlier today to distance himself from the dead pedophile and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. A look at the revelations inside the Epstein files. Plus, an urgent search for the mother of Today Show anchor Savannah Guthrie.
Feb 3, 2026
New Epstein files were released today which include new unverified sexual assault allegations that list President Trump and former President Bill Clinton. Plus, former CNN anchor Don Lemon appears in federal court. He is one of two journalists arrested for being at a protest that interrupted a church service in Minnesota. The charges are setting off a major First Amendment debate.
Jan 31, 2026
Hundreds of 2020 ballot boxes are seized by the FBI. But, why and why was Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, on the ground there? Plus, an attempted jail break at the New York facility holding Luigi Mangione.
Jan 30, 2026
One day after calling for a little bit of a de-escalation, President Trump is now accusing the Minneapolis mayor of playing with fire, bucking calls to fire his Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and accusing a Democratic congresswoman who was attacked of staging it.
Jan 29, 2026
President Trump says he is going to personally oversee an honorable investigation into the death of Alex Pretti, the VA ICU nurse shot and killed by federal agents on Saturday. Plus, Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania joins to discuss how he’s preparing for possible immigration raids in his state.
Jan 28, 2026
The top Border Patrol official and some of his agents are expected to leave Minneapolis as CNN learns the Trump administration is deeply frustrated with how Gregory Bovino handled the fallout after the deadly shooting of Alex Pretti.
Jan 27, 2026
The first phase of the most extreme widespread winter storm the United States has seen in years is starting now. We break down the forecast. Plus, protests against Trump’s immigration crackdown are underway in Minneapolis
Jan 24, 2026
Did he try to unfairly take down Trump or was he standing up for democracy and the rule of law? The extreme partisan divide as lawmakers question former special counsel Jack Smith. Plus, a father and son in custody, church protesters arrested, and a fake image from the White House.
Jan 23, 2026






