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The Lead with Jake Tapper

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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 fo... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes1875Founded11 years ago
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News

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Artwork for The Lead

Latest Episodes

Midterm Election Day is tomorrow and nearly 56 million ballots have already been cast as Democrats hope to make historic gains in the House and Senate.

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With four days until the midterm elections, CNN is tacking key races that could make or break control of Congress with the latest polls, forecasts, and analysis.

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CNN’s team is all over the United States to bring you the latest on the key races that will decide the balance of power in Congress in next week’s midterm elections.

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With control of both the House and the Senate at stake both President Trump and former President Barrack Obama are back on the campaign trail this evening.

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Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Joe Manchin
Former West Virginia independent senator
Episode: DOJ Pushes for Injunction in Alaska Ballot Case
Debbie Wasserman Schultz
Florida Democratic congresswoman and former DNC chair
U.S. House of Representatives
Episode: DOJ Pushes for Injunction in Alaska Ballot Case
Pete Sessions
Republican congressman from Texas
U.S. House of Representatives
Episode: DOJ Pushes for Injunction in Alaska Ballot Case
Brianna Keilar
CNN anchor and correspondent
CNN
Episode: DOJ Pushes for Injunction in Alaska Ballot Case
Alan Steelman
Former Republican congressman from Texas
Episode: DOJ Pushes for Injunction in Alaska Ballot Case
Alan Sepinwall
Television writer and author of a book about Rod Serling
Episode: DOJ Pushes for Injunction in Alaska Ballot Case
Vicente Gonzalez
Democratic congressman representing Texas's 34th congressional district
U.S. House of Representatives
Episode: Slotkin Urges Dems to Unify at El-Sayed Campaign Event
Tim Kaine
Democratic senator from Virginia serving on the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees
U.S. Senate
Episode: Slotkin Urges Dems to Unify at El-Sayed Campaign Event
Blake Miley
Protester punched at a Trump rally in Youngstown, Ohio
Episode: Slotkin Urges Dems to Unify at El-Sayed Campaign Event

Host

Jake Tapper
Host of The Lead with Jake Tapper; CNN

Reviews

3.6 out of 5 stars from 2.5k ratings
  • Excellent.

    Jake Tapper is a great journalist

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DP’67
    United Statesa month ago
  • Tapper crushed that Max Miller interview

    An absolute masterclass in confronting the manipulations of a horrific abuser! Wow.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    moby2023
    United States3 months ago
  • Radical leftist

    Radical tranny leftist

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Blah blah 45789$
    United States6 months ago
  • Great reporting every day!

    Always outstanding!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lutabuta
    United States7 months ago
  • ridiculous

    bro yammers about how horrific Hassan is ….hours later CNN has him on for a segment! 😆. CNN is washed.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    loomasauris
    United States7 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some listeners feel coverage can tilt toward a particular political perspective.
Readers praise the host for rigorous questioning and strong political analysis.
Guests and coverage generally seen as credible with real-time reporting.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#247
Canada/News
Apple Podcasts
#121
South Korea/News
Apple Podcasts
#135
Ireland/News
Apple Podcasts
#176
Finland/News
Apple Podcasts
#184
Norway/News
Apple Podcasts
#191
Philippines/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Trump in Texas Where Democrats Hope to Snap Losing Streak in Key Races
Q: Do you trust the federal government? Can you still trust them at all?
Michael Preti says the family wants to trust the government but that their trust has waned after nine months without the evidence or accountability they have sought.
Trump in Texas Where Democrats Hope to Snap Losing Streak in Key Races
Q: What do you think you're going to find in these communications, and what would you do with that information?
Hinojosa says the withheld emails concern a relationship she characterizes as corrupt, citing Musk's donations, public contracts and tax benefits, and argues that lawmakers and taxpayers have a right to see the records.
Nearly 30 Million Ballots Cast in Midterm Elections So Far
Q: What does this mean for the ballots that have already been cast in your state, especially for those that the Justice Department suspects are not citizens?
Rob Bonta said California was continuing its normal ballot processing because no court order required a change, and he argued that the federal effort was unlawful.
Nearly 30 Million Ballots Cast in Midterm Elections So Far
Q: Why not explicitly call them out?
Joe Manchin called the ad vile and said Vivek Ramaswamy did not deserve to win, though his audio connection was poor.
NYT Poll: Senate Race a Toss-up in Deep-Red South Carolina
Q: What states could go their way to take control of the Senate and get 51 seats?
Tom Forman outlines possible Democratic pickups including Texas, Alaska, Ohio and Maine, while noting that Democrats must overcome Republican advantages in money and traditionally Republican states.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Age Range
Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Lead

What is The Lead about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The program features a fast-paced, two-hour news hour that blends national and international politics with health, economics, and culture. Guests run the gamut from presidents, lawmakers, and policy experts to top reporters and analysts, with frequent focus on how current events intersect policy, markets, and global affairs. Notable strengths include strong, in-depth political analysis, live reporting, and a willingness to push for accountability on major stories, making it a good fit for listeners who want context-rich, real-time discourse around breaking events and long-running policy debates. A standout trait is the host's ability to steer multi-segment conversations—from breaking headlines to detailed policy discussions—while maintainin... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Lead?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Lead:

1. State of the Union
2. The Source with Kaitlan Collins
3. The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer and Pamela Brown
4. CNN Inside Politics
5. Erin Burnett OutFront

How many episodes of The Lead are there?

The Lead launched 11 years ago and published 1875 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Lead?

Recent guests on The Lead include:

1. Joe Manchin
2. Debbie Wasserman Schultz
3. Pete Sessions
4. Brianna Keilar
5. Alan Steelman
6. Alan Sepinwall
7. Vicente Gonzalez
8. Tim Kaine

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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