The Lead with Jake Tapper

The Lead with Jake Tapper


Latest Episodes

Sources: U.S. believes Iran intentionally avoided hitting U.S. troops; Trump: Iran appears to be standing down after revenge strike; Gabbard: Trump admin failed to provide evidence of imminent threat
January 08, 2020

U.S. officials still concerned about threats from Iran's proxies; Trump: Iranian general should have been killed years ago; White House releases new photos of Trump consulting advisers last night in situation room; Trump opts not to use "big, powerful, ac

Trump claims U.S. saved many lives by killing Iranian general; Officials: U.S. Intel shows Iran moving military equipment; U.S. Forces on high alert for possible Iranian drone attacks; McConnell: I have the votes to set impeachment trial rules; 
January 07, 2020

Esper: U.S. not looking to start a war but "prepared to finish one"; Now: WH Officials briefing top Dem, GOP leaders on Iran strike; Trump on threat to hit Iranian cultural sites: "I like to obey the law"; Defense Secy Esper: Soleimani was planning to car

Huge crowds mourn Soleimani in Iran as Trump threatens cultural sites; Iran vows to retaliate against U.S. for killing top general; Trump on Iran vowing retaliation: "If it happens it happens"; 
January 06, 2020

Pres. Trump & Iran's leaders trade threats after deadly strike; Official: U.S. Expected to deploy B-52 Bombers for Iran contingency ops; U.S. Official: Military notifies Iraq of troop movement; Pentagon: No plans for U.S. to leave Iraq now; Iran vows to r

Trump: We did not kill Soleimani to start war with Iran; Iran vows "harsh revenge" after U.S. kills top general; Protests in Iraq after U.S. strike kills Iran's top military general; U.S. to deploy thousands of additional troops to Middle East;
January 03, 2020

Trump: "We do not seek Regime change" in Iran; Trump: We took action to "stop a war"; Top U.S. Gen: Soleimani planning "significant campaign of violence"; Iran's top General killed in strike ordered by Trump; Secretary of State: Deadly strike needed to st

U.S. Troops deploy to Iraq as siege of U.S. Embassy in Baghdad ends; Sen. Sanders raises $34.5M just weeks before Iowa caucuses; Report: Unredacted White House email calls Ukraine aid hold "clear direction" from Trump; Australian towns evacuated as w
January 02, 2020

N. Korea, Iran threaten Pres Trump as impeachment trial looms; Defense Secy Esper: Iran will regret additional provocations; Kim Jong Un threatens to test new strategic weapon; Iran: We are not afraid of war & can "break" the United States; Sanders & Butt

Protesters smash windows, scale walls at U.S. compound in Baghdad; Prosecutors: Stabbing suspect researched Hitler, local synagogues; Thousands trapped as fires scorch much of Australia; Cities around the world ring in 2020; 
December 31, 2019

Protesters smash windows, scale walls at U.S. compound in Baghdad; U.S. dispatches helicopters, Marines to protect Baghdad embassy; Trump blames Iran for protests at U.S. Embassy in Iraq, vows to hold regime responsible; Protesters storm U.S. Embassy comp

NYT: emails show Mulvaney's role in freezing Ukraine aid; 5 Jews stabbed at New York Hanukkah celebration; Hero church member who stopped TX gunman speaks; Buttigieg takes aim at Biden over Iraq war, "the worst foreign policy decision" in his lifetim
December 30, 2019

NYT: Bolton, Pompeo, Esper tried to convince Trump to release Ukraine aid in August meeting; NYT: top aide warned Mulvaney to "expect congress to become unhinged" if Ukraine money frozen; White House confirms Trump spoke to Putin Sunday; NY man charged w

President rails against House Speaker Pelosi in twitter rant; Pelosi: President Trump abused power for "personal gain"; 12 killed, dozens injured in Kazakhstan plane crash; Tour helicopter with seven people on board missing in Hawaii; 
December 27, 2019

McConnell, Schumer talks stall over rules for Senate trial; NYT: Dem officials see Sanders as "underestimated" in Iowa; Biden to visit Iowa in first campaign trip of 2020; Democratic candidates get personal on the campaign trail; Trump jokes movie will "n

GOP Senator "disturbed" by McConnell's coordination with WH; Trump attacks Pelosi, Dems after calling for unity; U.S. Military on high alert for North Korea launch; 2020 Election could feature a record gender gap;
December 26, 2019

Dems, GOP at an impasse over rules for Senate trial; Pelosi claims lots of Dems are pushing to be impeachment managers; Trump gripes about impeachment process as trial looms; WaPo: Trump already looking for next Secy. of State; Trump claims impeachment is

Trump attacks Pelosi, impeachment & FBI after call to troops; Giuliani: I've thought about being Trump's lawyer in Senate trial; Biden and Buttigieg target same voters in Iowa... Literally; At least five U.S. airports warn of potential measles exposu
December 24, 2019

Trump attacks Pelosi, impeachment & FBI after call to troops; Trump: McConnell can do whatever he wants in Senate trial; Ex-Bolton aide: He should come forward with what he knows; GOP Sources: McConnell open to setting rules of Senate impeachment trial wi