The Lead with Jake Tapper

As Russia continues to make provocative moves near Ukraine’s border, United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with top Russian officials in the latest rounds of diplomatic talks. Blinken said the meeting was “not a negotiation” as he expressed a deeper understanding of Russia’s concerns and their position.  There are new tensions inside the White House over a proposal to vaccinate migrants at the United States border with Mexico. Some officials see this as a way to address public health concerns while critics worry the policy would encourage more people to come to the United States.  To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

22 Jan 20221h 17min

President Biden has been clarifying some of his comments after his nearly two hour news conference. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki joins to answer some of the lingering questions. The State Department has approved the transfer of United States weapons from allies to Ukraine in order for Ukraine to defend itself from a Russian invasion. Armed Services Committee member Senator Joni Ernst joins to answer what more Biden can do to discourage Russia from invading. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

21 Jan 20221h 17min

There is no new episode of the The Lead showcast. If you haven’t already, please check out CNN’s other podcasts and showcasts at cnn.com/audio. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

20 Jan 20221min

5G was supposed to roll out across the country but several airlines say 5G interferes with the technology planes use to land in bad weather. Now, Verizon and AT&T are delaying the activation of 5G towers near some airport runways. The White House website to request free at-home Covid-19 tests is live as the Omicron variant continues to blaze across America. COVIDtests.gov will allow Americans to receive four tests per household. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

19 Jan 20221h 17min

With the U.S. averaging over 776,00 new Covid cases per day, the Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy warns the Omicron wave has not yet peaked. Dr. Peter Hotez, from the Texas Children's Hospital, joins to discuss early results from an Israeli study that shows a fourth dose of the Covid vaccine can increase antibodies. The FBI confirms it is investigating the hostage stand-off in which a 44-year-old British national took a rabbi and three others hostage at a Dallas area synagogue on Saturday as a terrorism related incident. Plus, Virginia Governor Youngkin’s first actions in office include repealing the school mask mandate, but several large school districts are already pushing back on his executive order. Hosted by Poppy Harlow in for Jake Tapper. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

18 Jan 202239min

There's a group of Russian operatives inside Ukraine and according to a U.S. intelligence official, those operatives are looking to create a false pretense for Vladimir Putin to give the orders for Russians to invade. National security adviser Jake Sullivan joins to discuss this awful development for President Biden. In a sign of how overwhelming the Omicron variant is, two of the country's largest pharmacy chains are shutting down some stores because so many of their employees are out sick.  To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

15 Jan 20221h 17min

The Department of Justice has filed the most serious charges yet related to the January 6th attack on the Capitol. The DOJ has arrested and charged the head of the far-right Oath Keepers with seditious conspiracy to use force to undermine the election and he is not alone.  The United States Supreme Court has blocked the Biden administration's nationwide vaccine and testing mandate for big businesses this afternoon. However, the court did allow a vaccine mandate for certain health care workers to go into effect nationwide. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

14 Jan 20221h 17min

The United States may be turning a corner in the pandemic as coronavirus cases could be peaking in parts of the country. Today, Dr. Anthony Fauci and the acting FDA commissioner said Omicron is so efficient at spreading that almost everyone in the United States will at least be exposed to it.  The January 6th select committee is asking top House Republican Kevin McCarthy if he would like to voluntarily cooperate. Rep. Adam Kinzinger joins to give updates on if McCarthy will provide information to the investigation. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

13 Jan 20221h 17min