NFL gives vaccinated fans a chance to win Super Bowl tickets; CDC director warns of a possible winter Covid surge; Former president still banned on Facebook; Facebook oversight board keeps ban on Trump’s account, forces Zuckerberg to review decision within six months; Trump, House GOP leaders back Stefanik’s efforts to replace Cheney; McConnell says he’s “100%” focused on stopping Biden admin, Harris says “we are sincere” about working in bipartisan manner; Texas bills could empower partisan poll watchers, restrict drive-thru & 24-hour voting, add requirements for mail-in voting; Ukraine’s foreign minister talks to CNN about FBI’s investigation into Rudy Giuliani’s actions; FAA: 1,300 incidents of unruly airline passengers in 3 months; Airlines see spike in confrontations involving unruly passengers

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Drastic decline in number of daily vaccinations in U.S.; Biden says GOP is going through a “sort of mini-revolution”; Ukraine caught in the middle of U.S. political battles

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.

News

In the New York hush money trial, Donald Trump’s defense team is now cross-examining the prosecution’s first witness, former tabloid executive David Pecker. This is Pecker’s third day on the stand and today for the very first time he described the deal he helped broker with adult film star Stormy Daniels. A deal that is at the center of the case. 
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Trump’s Lawyers Cross-examine Former Tabloid Executive

Protests are underway across United States colleges and universities after weeks of tension over the Israel-Hamas war. Our reporters report live from campuses where protests continue. House Speaker Mike Johnson speaks at Columbia University amid the protests. 
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Tense Protests Rock major U.S. Colleges Over Israel-Hamas War

Former tabloid publisher David Pecker is under oath and on the record revealing just how far Donald Trump went allegedly to protect his 2016 presidential campaign. But, when it comes to whether Trump committed a felony in the process, how damaging was today’s testimony? Plus, what Pecker said went down in the room in the infamous meeting in August of 2015 that could hurt Donald Trump’s case nearly nine years later. 
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Pecker: Trump, Cohen asked me how I could “help the campaign”

The prosecution and defense sparred in opening statements during Donald Trump's hush money scheme. Did Trump violate a gag order? Crisis on college campuses; are Jewish students safe at School? Calls increase for Columbia University's President to resign over handling of antisemitism. Plus, the Supreme Court is set to decide if cities can punish people who are homeless, and a U.S. animation studio's work has been found on a North Korean server.
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The First Witness Takes the Stand in Trump Hush Money Case

A horrific scene outside of Trump’s New York City courthouse after a man lit himself on fire while inside the courthouse there was a major development in the hush money trial. How long can the prosecution hold out and keep its witness list outside of the hands of Donald Trump and his defense team? Also, in an extraordinary move, some 165 House Democrats came to the aid of Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, drawing the ire of hard-line Republicans. 
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Drastic decline in number of daily vaccinations in U.S.; Biden says GOP is going through a “sort of mini-revolution”; Ukraine caught in the middle of U.S. political battles

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