The Lead with Jake Tapper

The criminal hush money cover up trial of former President Trump is well underway. Our panel breaks down the latest witness testimony and developments in the trial. Plus, President Biden makes his most direct comments yet on the protests which have erupted from coast to coast on college campuses. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From New York to California and points in between, confrontations between students and police continue. Plus, Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Israel trying to push a ceasefire. Also, from the trial to the trail, Trump hits two battleground states today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Campus protests are hitting a whole new level at Columbia University with violence and vandalism and anti-war demonstrators barricading themselves in a university building. The university is warning people to stay away from campus. Plus, the major move coming from the Biden administration aiming to reclassify marijuana after criminalizing for nearly 90 years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Columbia University, the epicenter of the weeklong pro-Palestinian protests, said it has begun suspending students who refused to abide by a deadline to vacate the campus encampment. Another Ivy League school, Cornell University, said it was suspending student protesters who declined to move to an alternate location. The college protests are raising legal questions around free speech. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A new witness in Donald Trump’s hush money cover up trial, the prosecution just called its third witness, Gary Farrow, a banker who worked with Michael Cohen at the time the payments were made to former Playboy model Karen McDougal and porn actress and director Stormy Daniels, both of whom alleged romantic entanglements with Donald Trump. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the New York hush money trial, Donald Trump’s defense team is now cross-examining the prosecution’s first witness, former tabloid executive David Pecker. This is Pecker’s third day on the stand and today for the very first time he described the deal he helped broker with adult film star Stormy Daniels. A deal that is at the center of the case. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Protests are underway across United States colleges and universities after weeks of tension over the Israel-Hamas war. Our reporters report live from campuses where protests continue. House Speaker Mike Johnson speaks at Columbia University amid the protests. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former tabloid publisher David Pecker is under oath and on the record revealing just how far Donald Trump went allegedly to protect his 2016 presidential campaign. But, when it comes to whether Trump committed a felony in the process, how damaging was today’s testimony? Plus, what Pecker said went down in the room in the infamous meeting in August of 2015 that could hurt Donald Trump’s case nearly nine years later. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The prosecution and defense sparred in opening statements during Donald Trump's hush money scheme. Did Trump violate a gag order? Crisis on college campuses; are Jewish students safe at School? Calls increase for Columbia University's President to resign over handling of antisemitism. Plus, the Supreme Court is set to decide if cities can punish people who are homeless, and a U.S. animation studio's work has been found on a North Korean server. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A horrific scene outside of Trump’s New York City courthouse after a man lit himself on fire while inside the courthouse there was a major development in the hush money trial. How long can the prosecution hold out and keep its witness list outside of the hands of Donald Trump and his defense team? Also, in an extraordinary move, some 165 House Democrats came to the aid of Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, drawing the ire of hard-line Republicans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The shocking actions that leads to two jurors in the Trump hush money case suddenly being dismissed in an unusual occurrence. Plus, name calling and fresh threats for House Speaker Mike Johnson by hard-right Republicans demanding he keep his hands off the rule which, as of now, allows just one member of Congress to force a vote to remove him as speaker. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

House Speaker Mike Johnson finds a way to allow votes on aid to Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan but it’s his path forward that has his party in an uproar. Speaker Johnson joins to answer if he needs helps from Democrats. Plus, a brand new filing from the hush money case includes a line of questioning the prosecution may take if Trump takes the stand. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A deep divide in the U.S. Supreme Court is on display today as justices challenge whether prosecutors have been overzealous using obstruction charges against rioters. Plus, a valedictorian’s speech is canceled, the criticism about the muslim student that lead to objections on the campus of the University of Southern California. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Day one of the New York hush money cover up case against Donald Trump wraps. A playboy model will be allowed to testify and the infamous Access Hollywood tape will not be allowed to be aired in court. Plus, a critical meeting at the Capitol as House Speaker Johnson is weighing his next move in the wake of the weekend attack from Iran. Will Speaker Johnson isolate support for Israel for an aid package without attaching new aid for Ukraine? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The US has been on high alert for a significant Iranian retaliatory attack on Israel in recent days as fears grow of a wider regional war. Plus, the House passed a modified surveillance bill, just two days after an earlier version failed to advance in a public rebuke to GOP leadership. The bill, which reauthorizes the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, also needs to pass the Senate ahead of an April 19 deadline. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

O.J. Simpson, Heisman Trophy winner most known for the double murders of his ex-wife and Ron Goldman, the crimes of which he was infamously acquitted, has died of cancer at the age of 76. Plus, comedian Conan O’Brien joins in studio to discuss his latest project. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In classic Donald Trump fashion, the former president is giving his supporters whiplash after blasting both Arizona and Florida for their abortion bans just two days after saying abortion should be left up the states. Plus, another Hail Mary appeal hearing from Donald Trump as his legal team tries to stop the Stormy Daniels case from beginning. Also, from tornado warnings to flash flood emergencies, the United States is on severe weather alert as dangerous storms move in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Arizona Supreme Court ruled the state must comply with a 160-year-old law barring all abortions, the only exception being to save a pregnant woman’s life. There are no exceptions for incest or rape. Plus, Donald Trump is rejected again in yet another attempt to delay the New York hush money trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Donald Trump weighed in on abortion saying he believes states should decide abortion legislation. The former president did not indicate the number of weeks during a pregnancy at which he thought it would be appropriate to ban abortion but reiterated his support for certain exceptions. Plus, the State Department said 304 aid trucks entered Gaza yesterday, the highest number since the war began. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The strongest earthquake to rock New Jersey in more than 240 years. There are reports of structural damage. Plus, two Israeli military officers were fired in connection for the airstrike which killed seven aid workers in Gaza. Will Israel do more in the wake of criticism of the deadly strike? Also, Bob Costas joins to discuss March Madness college basketball. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Biden warned Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu that the United States could change its policies toward Israel if they do not stop the killing of innocent civilians. Sen. Bernie Sanders joins to discuss. Also, Donald Trump was rejected by two judges in separate criminal cases today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the strongest rebuke yet, special counsel Jack Smith goes in blasting how judge Aileen Cannon is handling the classified documents case in Florida. We lay out what has the prosecutors so upset. Also, Chef Jose Andres speaks out and accuses the Israeli military of systematically targeting his aid workers and killing them in Gaza. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Israel apologizes for a strike that killed aid workers delivering food in Gaza. Unintentional targets is how Israel describes the drone strike that killed seven aid workers from all over the world working for the World Central Kitchen organization. Plus, the new Republican attempt to rename an international airport after Donald J. Trump. Also, a look at what could be a last chance to write in some small way, a major wrong more than 100 years for the horrific Tulsa race massacre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In Atlanta, an orange SUV rammed into the gate of an FBI field office. Plus, brand new images of the aftermath of a deadly airstrike. Iran says the attack hit a consulate building in Syria. Also, as crews begin hauling debris from the river where a bridge collapsed in Baltimore, authorities update plans on reopening a Maryland port. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Specifics measures revealed on the massive operation to reopen a critical shipping port and to get that collapsed bridge off a cargo ship in Baltimore including cutting the bridge into pieces, tug boats, barges, and cranes. We ask a Republican who calls himself a budget hawk about the role of congress. Plus, what has so many fish freaked out near Florida spinning and swimming upside down? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sentencing day for Sam Bankman-Fried who will spend decades behind bars for one of the biggest financial fraud cases ever. Will the customers he swindled ever get their money back? Also, in the wake of the Baltimore bridge collapse, how many other bridges across the country are at risk of falling? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Investigators all day were aboard the ship responsible for the catastrophic bridge collapse in Baltimore, interviewing crew and doing inspections as the families of six bridge workers hold out hope remains will be recovered. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg joins to discuss. As well, the head of the Army Corps of Engineers joins to discuss the enormous effort to clear all that mangled metal and reopen this major east coast shipping port. Also, CNN's John King on how Arizona voters feel about Biden or Trump as the November election creeps closer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

State and federal officials have confirmed there is an active search and rescue effort in Baltimore after a cargo ship struck a bridge, causing it to collapse. Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott joins to provide updates as crews search for six missing people. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Donald Trump was given ten more days to pay his bond and the amount he owes was cut down. Also, Trump’s hush money trial will begin on April 15th. Plus, Israel cancels a high-stakes Washington visit after the United States allows a UN Gaza ceasefire resolution to pass. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Gunman opened fire on crowds at a concert hall in Moscow. At least forty people have been killed and one hundred plus people have been wounded according to Russian media who have called the attack an act of terrorism. Plus, Catherine, the Princess of Wales, has been diagnosed with cancer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The court filings are going in to start the process in case Donald Trump cannot meet the requirement for his New York bond. Plus, outrage on Capitol Hill as Republicans are furious over the last minute release of a bill to fund the government through September. Also, CNN is on the ground in Haiti as violent gangs try to take over the few parts of the country they don’t already control. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The controversial Texas immigration law that was on hold, then not on hold, then on hold, could soon be not on hold again. An appeals court today weighed whether state authority should have the power to arrest and deport anyone the United States illegally given that immigration is typically a federal enforcement issue. CNN is in Texas with what happens now. Plus, a push by Israeli extremists to take over Gaza and kick Palestinians out. How out of the mainstream in Israel is this proposed ethnic cleansing of Gaza? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Will it be a fire sale for former President Trump as Trump himself floats the idea while he comes up with a way to pay New York State for his financial fraud and his multi-million dollar bond that grows interest by the day? Plus, CNN is at the prison where a former Trump aide now sits behind bars. Also, sentencing day for members of the six Mississippi law enforcement officers whom prosecutors say brutally tortured two black men. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Where disinformation prevails and democracy fails Putin celebrates a resounding win, cementing another six years in power after the Russian presidential election. Plus, Haiti collapses into a gang-state and CNN is in the capitol to capture how violence is the law of the land. Also, Jake meets C.J. Rice after he finally tastes freedom after spending 12 years in prison for a crime he says he could not have committed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nathan Wade, the top prosecutor in Donald Trump’s Georgia election interference case, resigns hours after district attorney Fani Willis was given an ultimatum: either he goes, or she does. So, where does the case against Trump go from here? Plus, utter devastation after a string of tornadoes hits the midwest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Moments ago the prosecutor in the New York Trump hush money payment case said he would be okay with a 30-day delay. This as the former president spent the day in a Florida courtroom as his lawyers argued for broad leeway under the Presidential Records Act as a reason to throw out the classified documents case. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Six charges have been dismissed in the election subversion case in Fulton County, Georgia. A judge says a lack of detail led to his decision. What does this mean for the rest of Fani Willis's case? Plus, a bill forcing TikTok to cut ties with China passes in the House with huge bipartisan support. But, will it pass in the Senate? And, should the U.S. Senate be in the business of banning companies? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Special counsel Robert Hur could have brought charges against President Biden and today explained on Capitol Hill why he did not. Republicans asked why there weren’t charges despite a report finding Joe Biden knowingly mishandled classified documents. Democrats accused Hurt of playing politics with his report. Plus, why did the Justice Department release a transcript of Biden's interview with Robert Hur just as the special counsel was showing up on Capitol Hill? We break down what the transcript reveals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“Trump Employee 5”, a man named Brian Butler, an employee of Trump for 20 years, is a central witness in the investigation into former President Donald Trump’s handling of classified documents. He is now speaking publicly because he believes that voters should hear the truth about his former boss and the case before the November election. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The man Trump belittles as Sleepy Joe seemed quite fiery last night as the president tries to flip the script launching a campaign blitz just one day after his forceful State of the Union address. Plus, Donald Trump's one-on-one at Mar-a-Lago today, meeting with Hungary's Viktor Orban, the authoritarian leader known for anti-immigration nationalist rhetoric and who often cozies up to Vladimir Putin. Also, see what happened when CNN confronted Israeli protesters determined to make sure little food, if any, makes it into Gaza despite the overwhelming humanitarian crisis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Joe Biden is expected to deliver his State of the Union address tonight in a high-stakes moment to convince voters to give him a second term in the White House. The president's speech is expected to include calls for higher taxes on corporations and the wealthy. He also plans to take a swipe at former President Donald Trump, vow to restore Roe and acknowledge his age. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nikki Haley exits and clears the way for a Biden-Trump rematch. The president is making a play for her voters while Donald Trump is racking up some new GOP endorsements including a big one from Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Also, a look at the chances of a third-party candidate jumping into this race this hour. The chief strategist for No Labels party joins. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

All nine Supreme Court justices agree that Colorado cannot kick Trump off its 2024 ballots regardless of what he did on January 6th. There is a sharp divide in the court over important details despite this unanimous ruling. Plus, we'll get reaction from Trump's top Republican challenger, Nikki Haley, and from a conservative judge who thought the U.S. Supreme Court should disqualify Trump. Also, CNN is on the ground in yet another war torn country, this time its Haiti. We’re there to see up close how the explosion of gangs and crime have taken over. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fani Willis' fate is now in a judge's hands. She's the woman who charged Donald Trump with attempting to overturn the 2020 election in the state of Georgia. But now she herself is facing allegations of an improper relationship with the special prosecutor she put on the case. The judge says he'll make his decision in about two weeks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Biden and Donald Trump are both in Texas trying to blame each other for the crisis at the border. Republicans and Democrats who represent border towns weigh in. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, Trump's legal team is pushing back as yet another state has tried to take him off its 2024 ballot. Also on today's show: We explore the chaos on the coast in Gaza after the Israeli military opened fire as crowds rushed food aid trucks. More than 100 people are believed to have been killed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mitch McConnell is stepping down as Senate Republican leader, though he is going to stay on as the senator from Kentucky. The new era of Republican politics is now loading. Plus, a monster wildfire is exploding in Texas, burning through land 11 times the size of Washington, D.C. Also, President Biden’s met with his doctor for his annual physical in what is expected to be the last update on Biden’s health before November’s election. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Speaker of the House Mike Johnson was cornered by the president of the United States and his fellow top congressional leaders at what is being called by the Senate majority leader as of one of the most intense meetings he's ever been to in the Oval Office. Plus, CNN's Christiane Amanpour returns to Bucha, Ukraine, two years later. Also, we are very close to learning whether President Biden has a major problem in a crucial battleground state of Michigan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A small but determined group of Democrats want to seize the moment and use the power of the vote in battleground Michigan to send a message to President Biden. They are demanding an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and military aid cut off to Israel. They want Democrats tomorrow to vote uncommitted instead for Biden. Congressman Dean Phillips, Biden's top democratic challenger in the primary race, joins. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The governor of California, one of the main Democrats floated, perhaps more than anyone else, as an alternative to Joe Biden, Gavin Newsom joins. Is he all in on President Biden's reelection bid? Gov. Newsom also discusses how he is trying to fix the problems in his state such as illegal immigration and skyrocketing homeless numbers. Plus, after two years since Russia invaded Ukraine, are Putin and his forces closer to threatening a NATO country in European territory? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Biden shares unfiltered remarks on what he really thinks not just about Putin but also Donald Trump. Nikki Haley joins this hour to discuss the latest in the presidential race. Plus, an investigation is launched into a widespread cell phone outage. What cut service for so long for tens of thousands of AT&T customers? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices