The Lead with Jake Tapper

Zohran Mamdani is sworn in as mayor of New York City. What will his first action be? Plus, a New Year’s tragedy occurs at a ski resort in Switzerland leaving about 40 people dead. How champaign bottles lit with sparklers may have ignited the disaster. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The countdown to January 1st is on and we look at what authorities will be watching one year after a deadly attack. Plus, an iconic bourbon brand stops production at one of its distilleries. Also, new details on the first known United States attack inside Venezuela. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Global diplomacy is on the menu at Mar-a-Lago but is President Trump making progress toward ending foreign conflicts? Plus, more than 20 million Americans are under winter weather alerts as a powerful storm sweeps across the country. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One week after what was mandated to be the total release of the Epstein files, we are now learning that task is proving far more ambitious by the day amid continued questions over what has been redacted and what hasn’t. Plus, a Mar-a-Lago meeting between President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky is reportedly set for Sunday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Many mentions of President Trump in the latest DOJ release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein. Plus, what the Justice Department says about the letter signed by a “J. Epstein” sent to imprisoned pedophile Larry Nassar. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The President and top Pentagon brass reportedly are about announce the US Navy will build more warships as the US ramps up aggressive action to seize oil tankers near Venezuela. Plus, Epstein survivors speak out to decry the actions of the Justice Department and its handling of the release of the files. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The United States Justice Department released at least some of the many files it has on dead pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. CNN teams are going through the release documents, bringing updates. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Investigators believe they have identified the suspect in the Brown University shooting that killed two students and injured nine others. Plus, the day before the Justice Department must publicly release its files on Jeffrey Epstein, House Democrats unveiled more than 60 new photographs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The House speaker is on defense as four Republicans break with his party and side with Democrats to force a vote on a healthcare deal. Plus, a Senate Republican and key ally of the president joins to discuss Trump’s new actions in Venezuela. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Four days after the deadly shooting at Brown University in Rhode Island police release a new photograph, giving the closest look yet of the person of interest. Plus, Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced two counts of first degree murder charges against Nick Reiner, the 32-year-old son of famed film director Rob and his wife Michele who were found dead in their home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Democratic Congressman Seth Magaziner from Rhode Island joins to discuss the Brown University mass shooting that left two students dead and injured nine others over the weekend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Trump, Bannon, Clinton, and Gates are just some of the men seen in new photos linked to the dead pedophile Jeffery Epstein. A look at why Democrats on the House Oversight Committee call the images significant. Plus, stunning details behind the arrest of former Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Can a majority in a deeply divided Congress agree on a health care fix before the deadline in less than three weeks when premiums for millions of Americans could go up drastically? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Two healthcare votes are set to fail tomorrow as the deadline to save Americans from skyrocketing premiums tics even closer. Is there any hope for a bipartisan deal before the end of the year? Plus, a substantial escalation in the U.S. conflict against Venezuela. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Children in Australia are waking up now blocked from their social media accounts after the country passed a world first social media ban for kids under 16-years-old. Could this be the first domino in a global trend? Plus, President Trump is minutes away from a major speech on the economy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One of the biggest brands in media is making an aggressive pitch to own Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. A look at why this mattes with tech journalist Kara Swisher. Plus, a Senate race shakeup in Texas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Trump is setting the stage for the one of the biggest sporting events on the globe — the 2026 World Cup. Somehow, he has earned himself a peace prize in the process. Plus, did the US Supreme Court just create a rush to redraw congressional maps mid decade nationwide? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It was the grainy video that spurred conspiracy theories for years and now the FBI says they finally know who put those pipe bombs outside the Republican and Democratic National Committee headquarters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A Pentagon watchdog points fingers at Pete Hegseth and sources say that the inspector general report finds that he risked endangering the lives of US troops by sharing sensitive war plans in a Signal group chat. Plus, chilling new footage from Jeffrey Epstein’s private island. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Trump appears to doze off during his own cabinet meeting while just minutes earlier we learn new details about that second follow-up strike on the suspected drug boat. Plus, as many Americans are struggling with the cost of living, Donald Trump says that any questions about affordability are a Democratic scam. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Trump and his top national security officials meet behind closed doors about the next steps for Venezuela. This comes as lawmakers from both parties are raising grave concerns about a follow-up strike on an alleged drug vessel in the Caribbean where the US military killed survivors of the first strike. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Trump is escalating his already aggressive immigration crackdown in the wake of the shooting of two National Guardsmen in Washington, DC. He’s taking an even closer look at immigrants legally in the United States and those waiting to get in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Two West Virginia National Guardsmen were shot in downtown Washington, DC just blocks away from the White House. Both guardsmen are in critical condition and officials are calling this a targeting shooting saying they were ambushed by a lone gunman. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Signals emerge that the United States and Ukraine are closer to a plan that could be the first step toward negotiating an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine. Plus, behind the scenes discussions on Capitol Hill about health care reform. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A federal judge tosses the indictments against two perceived Trump opponents, former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. A look at why the judge says the Trump loyalists behind those indictments was unlawfully appointed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Polar opposites of the American political spectrum, Donald Trump and Zohran Mamdani, meet at the White House. Also, a look into what the people of Ukraine want from the resolution to the war. Plus, the holiday rush begins one week out from Thanksgiving. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How can the United States have a stronger than expected jobs report while the unemployment rate went up? Plus, the Justice Department opens up yet another mortgage fraud investigation, this one involving Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff of California. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

So, when will America finally see the highly-anticipated Epstein files? Who are the pedophile's clients? How much data will be redacted? Attorney General Pam Bondi is weighing in. Plus, updates in the criminal case against former FBI director James Comey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

First the House and now the Senate is voting possibly as soon as tonight on the Epstein files and releasing them. This as lawmakers agree it is time see everything the Justice Department has on the dead pedophile and sex-trafficker Jeffrey Epstein and any other accomplice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

House Republicans have Trump’s blessing after he now says he wants them to release the Epstein files. But, why make America wait? Plus, is the criminal case against former FBI director James Comey tainted? A judge is raising questions about profound investigative missteps. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A top prosecutor just put in charge of the Jeffrey Epstein case is now investigating Epstein's ties to key Democrats. Plus, prison employees have been fired after a whistleblower revealed Ghislaine Maxwell’s cushy conditions behind bars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

New questions and new messages all emerging from the 20,000 newly-released documents related to the dead pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Donald Trump’s name keeps appearing. Who and what else is mentioned? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The House is now taking the final step before voting to end the longest government shutdown in history. Plus, thousands of files related to Jeffrey Epstein have been released. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A CNN exclusive on how the United Kingdom is cutting off the United States when it comes to the deadly boat strikes. Plus, a key House committee is meeting tonight with the final vote to reopen the government now set for tomorrow afternoon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

At any moment almost every Senate Republican and eight Senate Democrats are going to vote on funding the federal government. Plus, a wave of staffing problems as a result of the shutdown and airlines are ready to cancel even more flights. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Right now millions of Americans are choosing health care plans and seeing their health care premiums skyrocket. Now, as the longest government shutdown in American history continues, many flights across the country are being cancelled or delayed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Delta, United, Southwest Airlines all announce they are preemptively cancelling flights ahead of the Trump’s administration’s plan to reduce air traffic starting tomorrow because of the government shutdown. Plus, Nancy Pelosi announces plans to retire from Congress after nearly 40 years in the House. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Supreme Court justices are sounding skeptical about the president’s power to impose tariffs as the plaintiffs argue the president has gone too far. Plus, historic wins after Election Day 2025 including Zohran Mamdani. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Voters are racing to try to get their ballots in these final hours amid long lines in New York City and across the country. We bring you all the latest on Election Day in America. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We are just hours from Election Day and we break down key races in Virginia, New York, New Jersey, California, and more. Plus, a look at why premiums for health care are going up. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

New details about what the FBI says could have been an ISIS inspired terrorist attack. Plus, two federal judges weigh in on SNAP benefits set to expire tomorrow because of the government shutdown. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Two assistant United States attorneys are suspended after mentioning facts about President Trump and the January 6th attack in court documents. A federal judge just weighed in. Plus, Britain’s King Charles strips his brother Andrew of his title. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dozens are killed and the devastation is significant after Hurricane Melissa pummeled multiple Caribbean islands. CNN reporters are standing by throughout the region with the latest details on the damage. Plus, what CNN is learning about covert CIA efforts targeting Venezuela’s Maduro regime. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hurricane Melissa, history’s second strongest hurricane in the Atlantic, is unleashing on the island of Jamaica. We bring you the latest on this historic storm. Plus, Israel Defense Forces are again pounding Gaza with air strikes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hurricane Melissa is the now the strongest storm on planet earth this year. The storm is bearing down on Jamaica tonight as a deadly Category 5 hurricane with sustained winds of 175 miles per hour. Plus, millions of low income Americans who rely upon food stamps are at risk of losing them in just days due to the government shutdown. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As tensions rise with Venezuela, the USS Gerald R. Ford strike group is leaving Europe to head closer to South America. This as a key ally to Vladimir Putin arrives in the U.S. for meetings with the White House. This Putin ally joins live. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Pentagon expands where it’s targeting suspected drug boats with yet another hit in the eastern Pacific. Now, one county’s leader says he is moving missiles amid growing tensions with the United States. Plus, a massive sports gambling scandal rocks the NBA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

New images show portions of the White House are now rubble even though President Trump previously said that the structure would not change with the addition of the ballroom. Plus, Russia launches a large scale attack against Ukraine and NATO’s secretary general is huddling with Trump working to drive an end to the war. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In her posthumously published memoir that hit shelves this morning, Virginia Giuffre exposes details of the horrors she endured at the hands of Jeffrey Epstein, his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, and their powerful friends. Plus, President Trump is demanding $230 million from his own Justice Department. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From airlines to banks, Facebook and Starbucks, to baseball tickets, companies across the country and around the world are trying to get back to normal after serious issues took their websites and services offline. Plus, James Comey’s legal team launches several different efforts to get the charges against him thrown out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices