The Lead with Jake Tapper

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is back in Israel trying to stop the war from restarting. Can he help secure the release of the eight Americans still being held hostage by Hamas before bombs start dropping again? Plus, one of the innocent Palestinian college students in Vermont describes the moment the gunman came after him and his friends. His family says this crime was motivated by bigotry. So, why no hate crime charges? Plus, a gag order has just been reinstated on Donald Trump who keeps personally attacking the judge and his clerk in the civil fraud trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the truce expiration looms, Israel says a new group of hostages has been freed including an American citizen. Some of the hostages’ families sit down with Jake for an exclusive interview. This as Qatar says 30 Palestinians, 16 minors and 14 women, are being released Wednesday in exchange for the release of hostages in Gaza. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Officials say thirty more Palestinians were freed from Israeli prisons as 12 more hostages were freed from Hamas, but not two American women. What happened to the deal cut last week that was thought to have included them? Plus, a CNN exclusive with the father of Emily Hand, the 9-year-old kidnapped by Hamas. Also, former Republican Congressman Liz Cheney is naming names and shares what fellow Republicans would tell her secretly behind closed doors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After more than 50 days of being held captive by Hamas, 11 more hostages are freed tonight after Israel and Hamas agree to pause fighting for a few more days, leading to more hostage releases to come. Plus, a look at the Palestinian prisoners who Israel is letting go and the two-tiered justice system for many of them that led to so many being held without trial in the first place. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's show was preempted by CNN's continuing live coverage of the Middle East hostage release. If you haven’t already, please check out CNN’s other podcasts and showcasts at cnn.com/audio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As today's show begins, the FBI is investigating a car explosion at the US-Canadian border near Niagara Falls. Two people in the car died. This happened just a few hours ago at the Rainbow Bridge connecting New York and Canada. According to law enforcement services, the car accelerated in the US side, went airborne, and crashed and exploded near a checkpoint. In response, authorities shut down all four land-border crossings between the US and Canada near Niagara Falls. Our coverage begins with CNN's Brynn Gingras. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As today show begins we're awaiting word on a deal to release some of the hostages kidnapped by Hamas. The full Israeli cabinet is meeting to give what is believed to be a final approval of the deal. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously asked them to support the deal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First: Donald Trump pushes back on a federal judge who put limits on what the former president can say and where he can say it. We take you inside the courtroom and explain why today's hearing matters so much. Plus: Big news for the White House today about the fate of the hostages kidnapped by Hamas and the negotiations to get them released. And: Hundreds of employees at tech giant OpenAI threaten to quit over the firing of their founder and face of the company, Sam Altman. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The remains of a hostage are found inside Gaza making it the second such discovery this week as Israeli forces comb areas around the Al-Shifa hospital and uncover evidence of a hidden terrorist operation run by Hamas. Plus, in the 2024 race, age is still a problem, perhaps a bigger problem, for President Biden, as voters in a key primary state weigh in on a brand-new CNN poll. Also, a Republican who says he was also once given some unwanted hostile physical attention from then Speaker Kevin McCarthy, joins. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The special counsel investigating hunter Biden is now using a Los Angeles grand jury as part of the investigation into the business dealings of President Biden's son. Plus, inside the scathing House Ethics Committee report on Rep. George Santos which reviews the alleged trips he bought and the campaign money he used to buy Botox and settle his own credit card debt. Also, new video shows a tunnel shaft at Gaza hospital complex. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A hospital in Gaza is now a military scene where Israel and the U.S. say Hamas is hiding a command center. But, what is the goal of this specific operation? Also, Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie joins to comment on Nikki Haley suggesting she might pardon Donald Trump. Plus, Hunter Biden wants to subpoena Donald Trump. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Biden just arrived in San Francisco preparing for his first meetings ahead of his one-on-one tomorrow with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Plus, a defining vote for the new House speaker, but does he have bigger problems as GOP colleagues are physically throwing blows? House Republican Rep. John James of Michigan joins to talk about the chaos in his conference. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump is on a 2024 campaign of vengeance and vile remarks vowing to root out his political opponents and leveling everyone against him as vermin while making some extreme plans to round up every undocumented immigrant and put them in camps. Plus, former Trump attorney Michael Cohen joins to discuss Donald Trump Jr. finishing up his testimony in the New York civil fraud trial. Also, our correspondents on the ground provide the latest updates on the Isreal-Hamas war. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A global outcry sounds over the civilian deaths in Gaza. America’s top diplomat, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, said far too many Palestinians have been killed. This as we learn about warnings from other American envoys in Arab countries. Plus, sources are telling CNN the FBI has seized the phones of New York City Mayor Eric Adams as an investigation heats up into possible illegal campaign contributions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Democratic Senator Joe Manchin says he won’t seek re-eleciton, but will he run for higher office? Plus, a plumber, a maid, and even a chauffeur may be among the names of people who may be a witness in the criminal case against former President Trump. Also, Kevin McCarthy sits down for an exclusive interview with CNN one month after his fall as speaker of the House. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Democracy won and MAGA lost” according to President Biden after big wins for Democrats including Ohio voters approving a constitutional right to an abortion and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear winning reelection. Plus, for the very first time in American history, the daughter of a former president of the United States has been forced to testify as a witness in a case against her father. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tonight’s The Lead showcast has been pre-empted by breaking news coverage of election day in America. For recent news updates, be sure to visit CNN’s ‘5 Things’ at: edition.cnn.com/audio/podcasts/5-Things Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A historic and contentious day in court court has just come to a close after Donald Trump spent the day on the stand in New York repeatedly clashing with the judge, the very person who will decide how much the Trumps must pay after having been found liable for fraud. Plus, the Palestinian Ministry of Health says more than 10,000 deaths have taken place in Gaza since Israeli launched its military offensive nearly a month ago. For information on the Israel-Gaza conflict, check out CNN’s podcast ‘Tug of War: Attack on Israel’ here: https://link.chtbl.com/-lB8n-bJ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Israel has just claimed responsibility for an attack outside a hospital in Gaza City. Footage shows multiple people dead and injured people on the ground near the Al Shifa Hospital which is Gaza’s largest medical facility. Also, the military leader of Hezbollah spoke on Friday to warn that clashes at the Israel-Lebanon border have a possibility of escalating into a broader Middle East conflict. For information on the Israel-Gaza conflict, check out CNN’s podcast ‘Tug of War: Attack on Israel’ here: https://link.chtbl.com/-lB8n-bJ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tonight’s The Lead showcast has been pre-empted by breaking news coverage of the Isreal-Hamas war. For recent news updates, be sure to visit CNN’s ‘5 Things’ at: edition.cnn.com/audio/podcasts/5-Things Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices