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State of the Union

CNN

Hosted by CNN's Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, State of the Union features interviews with top newsmakers on politics and policy—covering Washington, the country, and the world. read less

Our Editor's Take

The State of the Union podcast interviews people who influence the world's trajectory. Hosts Dana Bash and Jake Tapper of CNN question politicians about White House agendas. The hosts also talk to global policymakers and leaders. Their conversations provide answers most listeners won't get from leaders. This is the podcast version of their TV show.

US presidents give one State of the Union address per year. This podcast, though, addresses the nation every Sunday. Fans of shows like NBC Meet the Press may like this program. The hosts talk to newsworthy individuals as newsworthy events happen. A leaked joke about a beloved politician caused a presidential staffer to quit. The podcast implores listeners to question-was the leak or the joke worse?

State of the Union explores topics like weaponizing race and hate rallies. Episodes discuss security threats, like three objects shot down in North American airspace. Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee Rep. Mike Turner gives listeners intel. He references Chinese spy balloons and talks about America declaring air sovereignty. Turner tells the podcast America needs better radar and integrative missile defense systems.

President Biden's National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan joins the podcast. In his episode, he and Bash discuss billions of dollars in aid provided to Ukraine. Bash asks Sullivan whether Biden will supply Ukraine with fighter jets. Listeners will learn how the White House will react if China gives lethal aid to Russia.

Senator Susan Collins' interview explains her conflicted vote for Brett Kavanaugh. Her decision helped him become a Supreme Court Justice. She explains on the show how she feels now.

Elections are a frequent topic on State of the Union. The hosts conduct interviews about who will be running for the presidency-and who won't be. State of the Union is timely and factual. But it's also a public service. When audiences don't know all the facts or what to think, this episode provides context.

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Interviews with: US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, Republican Congressman Dan Crenshaw, Ambassador Michael Herzog, US Senator Marco Rubio
Oct 15 2023
Interviews with: US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, Republican Congressman Dan Crenshaw, Ambassador Michael Herzog, US Senator Marco Rubio
First, in the aftermath of a brutal terrorist attack by Hamas, Israel is now preparing for a ground war in Gaza and making it clear that this is only the beginning. Now the question is how civilians, including Americans, can stay safe amidst the escalating violence. We're joined by US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, who will share his insights on this issue. Then, amidst President Joe Biden's strong support for Israel and his commitment to ensuring they have the resources they need to defend themselves, a divide is emerging within the Republican field over the conflict. How would a Republican approach the situation in the Middle East? We've got an exclusive interview with former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley to explore this. Plus, as US officials promise increased support for Israel, internal strife among House Republicans over the choice of their speaker continues. With Congress facing paralysis, the question looms: will they be able to deliver aid in time? Joining us for discussion is Republican Congressman Dan Crenshaw. Also, what are the potential outcomes of the imminent ground invasion, and what strategies can be employed to secure the release of Americans detained by Hamas? We are joined by Ambassador Michael Herzog and US Senator Marco Rubio to discuss. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Interviews with: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, Former Vice President Mike Pence, Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin, Republican Congressman Mike Lawler, Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel Thomas Nides, Former Defense Secretary Mark Esper
Oct 8 2023
Interviews with: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, Former Vice President Mike Pence, Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin, Republican Congressman Mike Lawler, Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel Thomas Nides, Former Defense Secretary Mark Esper
Israel responds after brutal Hamas terror attacks by formally declaring war. Will that war engulf the Middle East? US Secretary of State Antony Blinken joins Dana to discuss. Next, Congress rushes to condemn the Hamas attack and pledges to aid Israelis. But will the lack of a formal House Speaker hamper any US response? Dana gets reaction from key lawmakers, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin, and Congressman Mike Lawler. Then, with hundreds Israeli civilians killed and "a significant number" abducted, the world scrambles to understand how Hamas could pull off such a massive surprise attack. Dana speaks with Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, former US Ambassador to Israel Thomas Nides, and former Defense Secretary Mark Esper about what went wrong and how Israel will respond. Finally, our panel of experts discusses the challenges facing Israel and what to expect in the days and weeks ahead. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Interviews with: Democratic Sen. Mazie Hirono, GOP Presidential Candidate Will Hurd, and Democratic Rep. Dan Goldman
Aug 13 2023
Interviews with: Democratic Sen. Mazie Hirono, GOP Presidential Candidate Will Hurd, and Democratic Rep. Dan Goldman
First, Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii joins Jake to discuss what she witnessed after touring the wildfire devastation on Maui. Jake asks Sen. Hirono whether the federal response to the Maui fires is enough and gets her reaction to officials saying none of the 80 warning sirens on Maui were ever activated. To wrap-up, Jake asks Hirono if she thinks President Biden should declare a climate emergency.Next, Jake interviews GOP presidential candidate Will Hurd, who reacts to Georgia prosecutors obtaining messages showing Trump’s team was behind a 2021 voting systems breach. Jake then asks Hurd if he thinks he’ll achieve the polling and donor thresholds he needs to qualify for the debate and what his refusal to sign the RNC debate pledge means for the future of his campaign. To close, Jake asks if Hurd supports Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's policy of bussing migrants to Democratic-run cities.After, Jake speaks with Democratic House Oversight Committee member Rep. Dan Goldman about Attorney General Garland's decision to appoint a special counsel in the DOJ’s Hunter Biden probe. Jake asks Goldman if President Biden displayed a lapse of judgement with how he responded to his son's controversial business dealings. Finally, our panel discusses rivals Trump and DeSantis taking their campaign fight to the Iowa State Fair, Trump’s expected announcement on whether he’ll join the first Republican debate, and the political fallout from the Hunter Biden investigation.  To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices