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The Lead with Jake Tapper

CNN Podcasts
Donald Trump
Fani Willis
Georgia
Republican Party
Stormy Daniels
Joe Biden
Gaza
U.S. State Of the Union
Tiktok
Israel-Hamas Conflict
Aaron Rodgers
Fulton County, Georgia
Wrongful Conviction
Pennsylvania
Justice System
Incompetent Legal Representation
Cj Rice
Election Subversion Case
Rico Charges
Sandy Hook School Shooting

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes1540Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
News

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Artwork for The Lead

Latest Episodes

TSA workers are calling out of work at near record levels causing massively long airport lines and it’s about to get much worse. Plus, the Pentagon is weighing deploying ground troops to Iran’s Kharg Island.

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US billionaire President Trump insists the economic pain because of the war is only temporary. An oil executive who was in key meetings today joins. Plus, top intelligence officials were back on Capitol Hill today, pressed about the biggest threats f... more

Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin faced tough questions on Capitol Hill today during a confirmation hearing while trying to separate himself from Kristi Noem, the DHS chief just fired by President Trump. Plus, Director of National Intelligence Tuls... more

Trump’s National Counterterrorism Center director resigned from his post today after saying that Iran posed no imminent threat to the United States. This and the latest in Trump’s war in Iran.

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Key Facts

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Contact Information
Podcast Host
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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Afro Man
Rapper known for the song because I got high
Independent artist
Episode: Global Oil Prices Surge To $110 After Strikes On Energy Facilities
Joe Kent
Former director of the National Counterterrorism Center
U.S. Government
Episode: Top U.S. Counterterrorism Official Resigns Over Iran War
Joyce Beatty
Congresswoman from Ohio
U.S. Congress
Episode: Cuba’s Power System Suffers Total Collapse
Paula Reid
CNN Chief Legal Affairs Correspondent
CNN
Episode: Judge Blocks Subpoenas In Jerome Powell Investigation
Seamus Hughes
Counterterrorism researcher
University of Nebraska Omaha
Episode: Judge Blocks Subpoenas In Jerome Powell Investigation
Dana Nessel
Michigan Attorney General
State Government
Episode: Iran’s New Supreme Leader Issues First Purported Message
Jonah Platt
Host of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt
Podcast host
Episode: Iran’s New Supreme Leader Issues First Purported Message
Shervin Peshavar
Advisor to Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi
Iranian opposition advisory
Episode: Iran’s New Supreme Leader Issues First Purported Message
Masih Ali-Najad
Journalist and activist, providing perspective from Iran
CNN/Independent journalist
Episode: Israel Says It Has Begun “Large-Scale” Strikes In Beirut Suburbs

Host

Jake Tapper
Host and lead anchor with CNN, central to the program's Washington reporting.

Reviews

3.6 out of 5 stars from 2.5k ratings
  • 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 States5 months ago
  • Free Speech

    Is not a tradition It’s the law

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Che Block
    United States6 months ago
  • Meghan Hays

    Your show is very informative but please don’t book Hays on your show or any other CNN show. She talks so fast it’s almost impossibly to understand what she’s saying

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Avid listener 227
    United States7 months ago
  • Don’t be Scared

    Make these Very Good Lying rep’s Pundits

    Answer The FN Question Asked. Make Them.!

    rep’s are Trained by🌎’s Greatest LIAR.The🍊

    Please Concentrate On Making Them Answer

    Question & Or Questions Asked @ The Time.

    It’s Not Hard. Stop them from Lying.! Answer

    The Question I Asked…. Just That Simple.!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    From Another Great Admirer
    United States9 months ago
  • Dr Phil?

    Really? I fInd CNN these days trying to keep Trump and his gang happy more than reporting pure journalistic truth. It’s extremely disturbing!

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    DaisymyBeagle
    United States9 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Guests and analysis are generally seen as credible and insightful, though reviews vary by episode.
The program's live elements and diverse set of correspondents are praised for depth and immediacy.
Audience appreciates expert perspectives from former officials and reporters.
Some listeners feel the host leans in a particular direction and prefer more even-handed questioning.
Listeners value the show's thorough, real-time coverage of fast-moving stories.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#137
Canada/News
Apple Podcasts
#233
Australia/News
Apple Podcasts
#93
Philippines/News
Apple Podcasts
#117
South Korea/News
Apple Podcasts
#118
South Africa/News
Apple Podcasts
#143
Ireland/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Top U.S. Counterterrorism Official Resigns Over Iran War
Q: How did President Trump respond to the allied challenges in securing support for the Hormuz Strait?
Trump publicly challenged allies, suggesting they are not needed, while arguing for the possibility of acting alone or with limited support, which reflects a shift in tone regarding alliance reliance.
Top U.S. Counterterrorism Official Resigns Over Iran War
Q: What is the significance of Joe Kent's resignation in the broader Iran policy debate?
Kent's resignation is presented as a high-profile sign of dissent within the administration, highlighting disagreements over the threat assessment and the rationale for pursuing war with Iran, and it raises questions about internal alignment on Iran policy.
Judge Blocks Subpoenas In Jerome Powell Investigation
Q: How is the local community responding to this incident?
Officials described a coordinated response with 605 law enforcement personnel, expanded security around houses of worship, and a public call for vigilance and unity in the wake of anti-Semitic threats.
Judge Blocks Subpoenas In Jerome Powell Investigation
Q: What can you tell us about the suspect's background?
The suspect had no prior criminal history or registered weapons, but DHS records indicated connections to Hezbollah; investigations are examining family ties and possible motives linked to regional conflicts.
Judge Blocks Subpoenas In Jerome Powell Investigation
Q: What is the latest on the Michigan synagogue attack?
Officials confirmed the attacker died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound; the FBI outlined the attack timeline and noted prior DHS flags; authorities emphasized stepped-up security and community support.

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 delivers fast-paced, two-hour coverage of national and international news with a strong focus on politics, policy, and live reporting. Episodes frequently combine in-depth briefings from Washington, on-the-ground reporting from conflict zones, and expert analysis from former officials and correspondents. The show stands out for weaving live press conferences and field reports with timely context, often exploring how global events affect energy markets, security, and domestic politics. This mix of breaking updates, strategic commentary, and high-profile guests makes it a go-to for readers seeking authoritative, real-time insight into unfolding crises and policy debates.

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Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Lead. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Lead and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Lead get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Lead?

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How many subscribers and views does The Lead have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Lead has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Lead?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Lead:

1. The Rachel Maddow Show
2. Erin Burnett OutFront
3. Main Justice
4. 60 Minutes
5. Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes Podcast

How many episodes of The Lead are there?

The Lead launched 11 years ago and published 1540 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?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Lead?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Lead from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on The Lead?

Recent guests on The Lead include:

1. Afro Man
2. Joe Kent
3. Joyce Beatty
4. Paula Reid
5. Seamus Hughes
6. Dana Nessel
7. Jonah Platt
8. Shervin Peshavar

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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