The Lead with Jake Tapper

President Biden said he is willing to order sanctions directly on Vladimir Putin if Russia enters the Ukraine. CNN teams are witnessing more military arrive in Ukraine as the White House characterizes an invasion as "imminent." While we have boosters and vaccines, some companies are working on a fourth shot aimed just at the Omicron variant. Pfizer and BioNTech have begun a clinical trial for their Omicron-specific Covid-19 vaccine candidate. To learn more about how CNN protects listener...

President Biden spoke with key U.S. allies to discuss Russia’s possible invasion of Ukraine as the Pentagon announced that as many as 8,500 U.S. troops have been put on heightened alert for a possible deployment to Eastern Europe. If necessary, the troops would join NATO forces. New signs suggest the worst of the Omicron wave could be over while the fight over how schools should respond is heating up. Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has signed into action a ban on mask mandates in schools....

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...

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...

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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...

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...

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....

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...

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...

President Joe Biden delivered a major speech on voting rights while in Atlanta on Tuesday, expressing his frustration at Republicans who blocked voting rights legislation. Rep. Cori Bush joins to discuss Biden’s speech and if congress can pass election reform. CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky and NIH director Dr. Anthony Fauci testified in the Senate today about the Biden administration's pandemic response as Covid-19 hospitalizations in the US reach a new record high. To learn more about...

More and more hospitals are reaching capacity as the Omicron variant continues to surge across the nation. Some hospitals have even started to staff their facilities with the US military’s National Guard. At least 8 kids are among the 17 killed with dozens more injured after a major fire impacted a Bronx apartment building. The blaze was caused by a malfunctioning electric space heater, the fire commissioner said. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

The Supreme Court's conservative majority on Friday appeared ready to reject a vaccine or testing requirement aimed at large businesses. Yet, in a separate challenge, some justices seemed more open to a vaccine mandate aimed at certain health care workers. Fewer jobs were added in December than in any other month in 2021. Sen. Chris Van Hollen joins to discuss the 3.9% unemployment rate and some good news about much Americans are taking home. To learn more about how CNN protects listener...

One year ago today, five people lost their lives during or immediately after the Capitol riot and the very democracy of the United States was attacked and shaken. Today, we look back on the events before, during, and after the insurrection to examine the state of far-right extremism in America. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Backlash is growing as the CDC updates its isolation guidance causing only more bewilderment again. Why does this make it so much harder for businesses and schools to open? On the eve of the insurrection anniversary, the January 6th House select committee turns its attention to Trump’s former press secretary Stephanie Grisham. On the afternoon of January 6th, Grisham became the first Trump administration official to resign as a result of the insurrection. To learn more about how CNN protects...

Thousands are stuck and stranded on a busy Virginia interstate and some are with babies and dogs, no food or water, and are quickly running out of gas if they haven’t already. How did this happen? The January 6th committee has released new text messages from Sean Hannity about the insurrection. The messages reveal Hannity was concerned about Trump’s strategy and conduct before, during, and after the attack on the Capitol. The committee has asked Hannity for his voluntary cooperation with...

As kids return to class, there is mass confusion and anxiety from coast to coast about whether schools are going to open. Meanwhile, the number of children being hospitalized for coronavirus has almost tripled in some states since the beginning of December. Further, the FDA announced today they are recommending the Pfizer booster shot for teens ages 12 to 15. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Medical experts are encouraging Americans to stay home tonight for New Years Eve. Hospitals are slammed and schools aren’t sure how to reopen safely. Will the new year look too much like the last one? 100-mile-per-hour winds are spreading flames across neighborhoods in Colorado. Hundreds of homes are burning in the blink of an eye. We may now know what started the sudden fires. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Sources tell CNN the FDA will likely sign off on kids as young as 12 to be eligible for the Pfizer booster shot in a few days. This as the United States is quickly nearing a record number of children hospitalized with COVID-19. Right now President Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin are talking on the phone ahead of a key meeting between the United States and Russia. Biden is urging Putin to take steps to de-escalate tensions on Russia’s border with Ukraine, warning of dire economic...

A New York federal court jury has found Ghislaine Maxwell guilty on five of six counts related to her role in Jeffrey Epstein's sexual abuse of minors. Maxwell, who now faces up to 65 years in prison, showed no reaction when the verdicts were read. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said several areas of science backed their decision to shorten the isolation period for people who come into contact with the coronavirus. She admitted the changes were partially driven by Americans being fed up...