Jake Tapper
The Lead with Jake Tapper

The Lead with Jake Tapper

Airs weekdays from 5-7 pm ET on CNN

The Lead, which has won two Emmy awards and twice been nominated for best live news broadcast, covers headlines from around the country and the globe, the top stories in national and international news, politics, health, money, the environment, sports and popular culture, and concentrates on bringing stories that aren’t found on front pages—buried leads—to the forefront.

Watch clips on CNN The Lead podcast
State of the Union

State of the Union

Co-hosted with Dana Bash, airs Sundays 9 to 10 am ET, and again at noon

Tapper imparts his political expertise on State of the Union by conducting interviews with top newsmakers on politics and policy, covering Washington, the country and the world. He has hosted CNN’s Sunday morning show since June 2015.

Watch clips on CNN State of the Union podcast

Recent highlights

August 2026

< class="card__title card__title--sm">Investigating the victims of the “drug boat” strikes

August 2026

< class="card__title card__title--sm">Interview with Rep. Max Miller

August 2026

< class="card__title card__title--sm">Ben Sasse is going home

July 2026

< class="card__title card__title--sm">Jenny Racicot says Graham Platner raped her

July 2026

< class="card__title card__title--sm">Victims of the strike on the Iranian school

July 2026

< class="card__title card__title--sm">18 Days in Minnesota

July 2026

< class="card__title card__title--sm">Former Platner girlfriend describes his “toxic” behavior

Documentaries and series

Tapper hosts the highly acclaimed CNN Original series United States of Scandal, and has written and hosted numerous documentaries.

Out of Office

New digital series, CNN

< class="card__title card__title--md">Out of Office
United States of Scandal

CNN Original Series

< class="card__title card__title--md">United States of Scandal
Trumping Democracy: An American Coup

CNN Special Report

< class="card__title card__title--md">Trumping Democracy: An American Coup
Former Russian hostage and U.S. Marine Trevor Reed

CNN, 2022

< class="card__title card__title--md">Former Russian hostage and U.S. Marine Trevor Reed
What went wrong in the U.S. war in Afghanistan

CNN, 2021

< class="card__title card__title--md">What went wrong in the U.S. war in Afghanistan
An American Hero: The Uncommon Valor of Clint Romesha

CNN, in five parts

< class="card__title card__title--md">An American Hero: The Uncommon Valor of Clint Romesha
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5
Lynyrd Skynyrd: Uncivil War

VH1, 2002

< class="card__title card__title--md">Lynyrd Skynyrd: Uncivil War
Medal of Honor recipients Clint Romesha and Ty Carter Link pending

More on CNN: Jake’s CNN profile and CNN.com