showcast
The Lead with Jake Tapper
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 forefront.
President Trump reveals his thoughts on the Reagan-era commitment to Taiwan making it sound less like an ironclad promise and more like ancient history. A look at Trump’s recent talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping as he heads back to DC.
May 16, 2026
Xi Jinping makes clear that the United States will pay a price for any interference in Taiwan. Hear what President Trump said ahead of his final meeting at the U.S.-China summit. Plus a CNN exclusive, a top ethics attorney told acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, Trump’s former private attorney, to recuse himself from legal cases that involve the president.
May 15, 2026
President Trump is hours away from his face-to-face with Xi Jinping. A former White House insider joins to discuss their negotiations. Plus, a court overturns the murder convictions of Alex Murdaugh, the South Carolina lawyer who took the stand in his own defense denying that he killed his wife and son.
May 14, 2026
President Trump heads to China while leaving a pile of problems behind him back at home in the United States. Issue number one is American wages getting eating up by inflation. Plus, an American mayor is stepping down, pleading guilty to acting as an illegal agent of the Chinese government.
May 13, 2026
18 passengers on the cruise ship with the hantavirus outbreak are back home in the United States including one person experiencing symptoms. Plus, President Trump calls the latest Iranian negotiation counterproposal “garbage.”
May 12, 2026
CDC staff are now en route to that cruise ship with the hantavirus outbreak ready to escort Americans off and get them into a biocontainment unit in Nebraska. Plus, the Virginia Supreme Court rules the commonwealth’s new congressional maps are null and void.
May 9, 2026
Multiple states are now monitoring Americans who may have been exposed to the hantavirus. Plus, the United States confirmed Iranian attacks in the Strait of Hormuz. A look at what it means for the ceasefire and negotiations to end the war.
May 8, 2026
The FBI raided the office and business belonging to one of the most powerful Democrats in Virginia politics. Plus, paying tribute to CNN founder Ted Turner who died today at the age of 87.
May 7, 2026
Secretary of State Marco Rubio was front and center at the White House briefing room today where he underscored a new phase of the war with Iran. This as we are seeing a new power struggle over the Strait of Hormuz.
May 6, 2026
A new threat from Trump as the United States shoots down more Iranian boats and Iran attacks the United Arab Emirates. Plus, did taxpayer money help keep sexual harassment cases involving several members of Congress out of public eye?
May 5, 2026