Jake Tapper steers the Inside Politics ship today live from Anchorage, where President Trump is scheduled to touch down for his historic summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin and try to end the Russia-Ukraine war Trump vowed to end within the first 24 hours of his second term. Today will be their very first face- to-face meeting in more than six years, and potentially the most consequential.

Aug 15, 2025

First: The White House and the Kremlin are gearing up for what could be a defining moment in global diplomacy, as both President Trump and Putin get a head start on tomorrow's psychological chess with new public comments this morning.  Plus: President Trump is ramping up his federal police takeover of Washington DC, putting more national guardsmen on duty and expanding the mission to round the clock enforcement.  And: Two political titans of the Obama years join us for a strategy session on the question plaguing their party: What is the Democrat's path back to power?

Aug 14, 2025

We begin today's show during another lengthy, wide-ranging press conference by President Trump, this one coming after he announced the latest Kennedy Center honorees. Our in-depth analysis of his comments begins with CNN's Kristen Holmes.

Aug 13, 2025

First: President Trump says his unprecedented takeover of the Washington, DC police could extend to other cities across the country. But is the new White House push. about public protection or political posturing? Or maybe both?  Plus: The Texas House just failed to meet a quorum for the fifth time in a row as the Republican governor warns redistricting is inevitable.  And: The president picks a MAGA loyalist to run the nation's most important economic statistics agency, leaving Wall Street questioning whether crucial data can still be taken at face value.

Aug 12, 2025

As today's show gets underway, we are following breaking news regarding a remarkable moment in US history. President Trump has just announced plans to take over law enforcement in the District of Columbia by putting Washington DC police under federal control and deploying nearly 1,000 national guard troops to the capital's streets.

Aug 11, 2025

Trump, set to meet with Putin this week. Trump allies look to hold house by redrawing maps beyond Texas. Has RFK Jr. lived up to the vaccine promises he made to Congress?

Aug 10, 2025

First: Texas Democrats who left the state in protest face a deadline to get back to the capital. If they don't the Texas attorney general says he'll seek a court order to fire them.  Plus: She prosecuted President Trump and now his Justice Department may prosecute her. The DOJ subpoenas Letitia James, looking for information about her case against the Trump Organization.  And: We introduce you to the biggest company you may never have heard of. It's worth more than Disney, Mcdonald's or Bank of America. And it just signed a $10 billion contract with the Pentagon.

Aug 8, 2025

First: The US puts a patchwork of tariffs on nearly every major trading partner. The markets are shrugging. But will your wallet be shrinking?  Plus: Will GOP attempts to gain seats in the House through redistricting spread to other Republican-led states?  And: John King is back on the road in an Arizona heat wave to take the temperature on a potential midterm flashpoint.

Aug 7, 2025

As today's show begins, we're following breaking news out of Georgia, where the US Army's Fort Stewart is in lockdown for an active shooter situation. CNN's Isabel Rosales begins our coverage from Atlanta.

Aug 6, 2025

First: President Trump is desperate to move on from the Jeffrey Epstein saga engulfing his administration. But even his own party is helping to keep it front and center. We have breaking news on the House Republican push for answers.  Plus: The political firestorm in Texas is exploding across the country as Democrats declare war on the GOP push to deliver the president more seats in Congress ahead of the midterm elections. But what's their actual plan?  And: Bernie Sanders, Elon Musk, and the Pope ... we break down a new poll showing where they land on the popularity charts.

Aug 5, 2025