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The Lead with Jake Tapper

CNN Podcasts
Donald Trump
Jeffrey Epstein
Iran
President Trump
FBI
Trump Administration
Nancy Guthrie
Government Shutdown
Venezuela
Ghislaine Maxwell
United States
Congress
Ice
Charlie Kirk
Hurricane Melissa
Savannah Guthrie
Epstein Files
Political Violence
Ukraine
Obamacare

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes1596Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
News

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Latest Episodes

Trump says Iran shot down a United States Army Apache helicopter and says the United States must respond. Is this the start of yet another major escalation? CNN is live at the White House and Iran.

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Israel and Iran are suspending military operations against each other after a wave of strikes exchanged overnight.  Plus, a look at the upcoming election in Maine.

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A shakeup is coming to some of the nation’s biggest spy agencies and the man doing the firing will be Bill Pulte, a controversial Trump loyalist that the president wants to be acting director of national intelligence despite having no intel or nation... more

The transcript is out revealing exactly what Pam Bondi told lawmakers about the Epstein files and how she passed the buck to the man President Trump wants to succeed her. Plus, CNN traces the source of the latest ebola outbreak.

Learn more about you... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Jim Sciutto
CNN Chief National Security Correspondent
CNN
Episode: WSJ: Trump Urges Pulte to Start Firing Intel Employees
Benjamin Wittes
Editor-in-Chief of Lawfare
Lawfare
Episode: WSJ: Trump Urges Pulte to Start Firing Intel Employees
Corrine Hajar
Washington Post editor
The Washington Post
Episode: WSJ: Trump Urges Pulte to Start Firing Intel Employees
Valerie Geiger
Maine State Representative
Maine State Legislature
Episode: WSJ: Trump Urges Pulte to Start Firing Intel Employees
Derek Van Dam
CNN Meteorologist
CNN
Episode: WSJ: Trump Urges Pulte to Start Firing Intel Employees
Todd Blanche
Acting Attorney General and Trump nominee
Department of Justice
Episode: Bondi Transcript: Blanche “In Charge” of Entire Release of Epstein Files
Tim Burchett
U.S. Representative (R-TN)
Congressional office
Episode: Scott Kelley Fried by CBS After Clash with Management
Scott Pelley
Former 60 Minutes correspondent
CBS News
Episode: Scott Kelley Fried by CBS After Clash with Management
Steve Hilton
Political commentator
Former UK political adviser, political commentator
Episode: Scott Kelley Fried by CBS After Clash with Management

Host

Jake Tapper
Host of the program; CNN chief national correspondent and lead anchor for political coverage.

Reviews

3.6 out of 5 stars from 2.5k ratings
  • Radical leftist

    Radical tranny leftist

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Blah blah 45789$
    United Statesa month ago
  • Great reporting every day!

    Always outstanding!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lutabuta
    United States2 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 States2 months ago
  • Disappointed

    I often listen to this podcast but have been growing increasingly disappointed by it. Tapper’s coverage used to be very fair but lately I find that he questions and pushes back on Democrats far more than Republicans. He should be pushing back equally on all politicians.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    JPPHL
    United States7 months ago
  • Free Speech

    Is not a tradition It’s the law

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Che Block
    United States9 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Reporting style is clear, credible, and timely for policy audiences.
Prominent guests and live reporting add valuable context.
The host delivers fair, balanced coverage with strong guests.
Some listeners feel coverage is too one-sided or partisan.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#173
Canada/News
Apple Podcasts
#87
South Africa/News
Apple Podcasts
#117
Sweden/News
Apple Podcasts
#150
Israel/News
Apple Podcasts
#162
Philippines/News
Apple Podcasts
#166
Ireland/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Police: Three Adults Killed in San Diego Mosque Shooting
Q: How did the response unfold on the ground, and what role did the security guard play?
The officers arrived quickly, entered the mosque, and reported that a security guard outside helped prevent further harm, which is highlighted as a crucial factor in limiting casualties.
Police: Three Adults Killed in San Diego Mosque Shooting
Q: What do authorities say about the motive and possible links to a larger organization?
Authorities indicated they were treating it as a hate crime for now and were exploring whether the suspects were inspired or connected to a larger group, while noting the unusual aspect of two shooters in a single incident.
Sen. Cassidy Bucks Trump on Iran, Ballroom after Primary Defeat
Q: What are the chances of success based on what you've read in the filing?
The legal standing is a major hurdle; reporters note that prosecutors will have to show a concrete injury caused by the defendants' actions, and the argument about ongoing death threats may or may not meet standing in current court interpretations.
Trump Won’t Commit to Taiwan Arms Sale
Q: Does it concern you at all that President Trump did not directly and explicitly commit to this arms sale to Taiwan?
The congressionally mandated Taiwan Relations Act requires the U.S. to provide for Taiwan's defense, and lawmakers emphasized that the policy remains in effect even as the president considers reviewing or delaying sales.
Iran & U.S. Trade Shots, Iran Attacks UAE
Q: What is the current status of the ceasefire between the US and Iran?
Analysts suggest the ceasefire is fragile and at risk of collapsing as both sides engage in renewed hostilities and strategic posturing, with hopes for negotiations yet to yield concrete de-escalation.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Lead

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

The program provides high-velocity political and global affairs coverage, rotating through hard news, live reporting, and expert analysis on topics like U.S. domestic politics, foreign policy, national security, health, and technology. Episodes frequently center on major political developments, courtroom and Oversight Committee dynamics, international diplomacy, and high-profile interviews, blending live updates with panel discussions and journalist perspectives. A standout pattern is combining political reporting with timely context from analysts, former officials, and subject-matter experts, making complex stories accessible for a broad audience of professionals and engaged citizens. The show's pacing, breadth of topics, and clear emphasi... more

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How many listeners does The Lead get?

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How many subscribers and views does The Lead have?

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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. Erin Burnett OutFront
4. The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer and Pamela Brown
5. CNN Inside Politics

How many episodes of The Lead are there?

The Lead launched 11 years ago and published 1596 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Lead?

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What guests have appeared on The Lead?

Recent guests on The Lead include:

1. Jim Sciutto
2. Benjamin Wittes
3. Corrine Hajar
4. Valerie Geiger
5. Derek Van Dam
6. Todd Blanche
7. Tim Burchett
8. Scott Pelley

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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