The Lead with Jake Tapper

Acosta blames state prosecutor's office: They were ready to let Epstein walk without jail time; Acosta defends secret plea deal for Jeffrey Epstein; Acosta: We now have hindsight & live in a different world; Acosta: We did the deal because we wanted to see Epstein in jail; Harris follows Warren and Sanders in attaching campaigns to Ocasio-Cortez; Pelosi makes unity pitch after spat with Ocasio-Cortez saying "Make me the target", not new Democrats; Warren confronted at campaign event, makes promise on Israeli occupations; U.K. ambassador resigns after Trump attacks him over leaked cable; U.K. ambassador to U.S. says he can't continue in job, returning to Britain; U.K. PM candidate refused to back embattled ambassador to U.S.; Girls celebrate their role models at World Cup paradeTo learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joe Biden calls for labor secretary Acosta to resign; Top Dems call for labor secretary Alex Acosta to resign for role in cutting "deal of a lifetime" for Jeffrey Epstein; Bill Clinton statement: "knows nothing" of alleged Epstein crimes; Biden on Obamacare: starting over would be a "sin"; Biden fiercely defends Obamacare as rivals call to replace it; Harris struggles to clarify "Medicare for all" stance; Biden releases tax returns, made $15M+ since leaving WH; Sen Kaine: Trump should feel badly for victims "preyed upon"; Sen. Tim Kaine: Acosta must go; Trump steps up attacks on U.K. Ambassador to U.S., calling him "wacky" and a "very stupid guy"; Politico: Trump admin members known to party with U.K. Ambassador who Trump now calls "wacky"; Senior British leaders defending Ambassador attacked by Trump; State Dept: no WH guidance to cut ties with U.K. Ambassador; Billionaire who shook up two presidential races dies at 89To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Prosecutors: Epstein "was well aware" many victims were minors; Prosecutors: Epstein sexually abused "dozens of minor girls"; Prosecutors charge politically-connected financier Jeffrey Epstein with operating trafficking ring, sexually abusing minors; Trump on accused predator Epstein in 2002: "terrific guy"; Any moment: Women's soccer world champions return to U.S.; Warren raises $19.1M in 2nd quarter, more than Sanders & Harris; Swalwell is first Dem to drop out of 2020 race for president; Poll: Biden is only 2020 Dem with wide lead over Trump in hypothetical matchup; Harris courts South Carolina voters after sparring with Biden; Harris struggles to clarify her busing stance after attacking Biden's past positions at debate; Daily Mail: U.K. ambassador said Trump administration "uniquely dysfunctional"; Daily Mail: In leaked cables, U.K. ambassador said Trump survives controversy like Schwarzenegger in "Terminator"; NYT: Scabies & shingles outbreaks at detention center; children left unfed, unbathed; Trump: Migrants in detention centers "very happy... in much better shape"; Trump administration continues fight for census question; Barr: Decision on census "in the next day or two"; Barr: Mueller testimony is being done by Dems for "public spectacle"; Trump lauds admin for leadership on environment as U.S. rolls back regulations, pulls out of Paris accord; Trump offers revisionist history on California wildfires; Trump puts questionable price tag on Green New Deal at $100 trillion; Happening now: Women's soccer world champions return to U.S.; U.S. women's team arrives home after winning World CupTo learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Trump falsely claims citizenship question often included; Source: justice dept to pursue census citizenship question; Sources: Trump frustrated with commerce secretary Ross; Trump: border detention centers are "run beautifully"; Former VP Biden defends his record on busing; VP Biden defends himself: "Look at my record"; Biden on Harris's attack: I didn't want to get into that scrum; Biden: I wasn't prepared for Harris to come at me like that; Joe Biden insists "People know who I am"; Biden: I've never been accused of being unable to spar; Biden: Trump is "The bully that I knew my whole life"; Biden: Trump is dissing allies, embracing thugs; Biden: There will be no NATO if Trump is re-elected; Biden: Trump gave Kim Jong Un legitimacy, got nothing back; Biden: idea that trade war benefits anyone is "ludicrous"; Exclusive: Biden on health care, college costs & debt; Biden: people shouldn't have to give up private health plans; Biden expresses skepticism of Ocasio-Cortez's mass appeal; Biden: I will raise tax rate to 39.5 %; Biden: undocumented immigrants should get access to healthcare; Biden: I don't think crossing border should be decriminalized; Biden: would be great to have female VP or pres if I lose; Biden doesn't commit to picking female vice president; Biden: a president's role is to persuade not just fight;To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

USGS seismologist: chance of another damaging quake today; USGS: At least 58 aftershocks after 6.4 earthquake; Kern County Fire: Ridgecrest Hospital is being evacuated; Officials report broken water mains, rock slides, power lines down; Largest earthquake in 20 years hits Southern California; USGS: At least 73 aftershocks after 6.4 earthquake; Source: Military chiefs concerned about politicization of July 4th; WH aides working overtime to fill event space with crowd; Trump baby blimp makes appearance on National Mall; Troops reportedly given messaging guidance, talking points today; California early quake alert didn't warn all CA residents; USGS: At least 85 aftershocks after 6.4 earthquakeTo learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Source: Military chiefs concerned about politicization of July 4th; WH refuses to say how much July 4th event will cost taxpayers; Wash. Post: Parks dept. to divert $2.5M to help pay for July 4th event; Trump says he's "absolutely moving forward" with census citizenship question contradicting his own officials; 2020 Dems descend on Iowa ahead of July 4th celebrations; Biden campaign raised $21.5 million in second quarter, more than Sanders but less than Buttigieg; Harris: President Trump is a "predator"; 2020 candidate Pete Buttigieg on Trump's July 4th plan; Trump: Migrants are living far better now than where they came from, in safer conditions; Buttigieg takes in $24.8M last quarter in fundraising; DHS chief orders investigation into report of "disturbing" social media posts by border agents; Border patrol agent warns of derogatory culture at CBP; DHS watchdog report: A manager described conditions at border facility a "ticking time bomb"; Pediatricians share drawings from migrant children of their time in U.S. custody; Judge rebuked for saying teen accused of rape deserves leniency because he "comes from a good family"To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Trump claims military "thrilled" to be on display at July 4th event; Trump's July 4th event criticized as politicizing military; Trump to speak from the National Mall on July 4th; WH defends July 4th extravaganza as "patriotic"; Escalating tensions; Pres Trump to Iran: you are "playing with fire"; Retired Four Star General launches national service campaign; Trump baby blimp gets permit for July 4th on National Mall; Gingrich: "what kind of idiot" would complain about the president wanting to celebrate our country?; New CNN poll: 74% of Americans consider border situation a crisis, but reasons why depend on party; Group of democrats visit more migrant holding facilities to survey conditions; Conway: Trump on his way to earning Nobel peace prize; New CNN poll: 40% approve of Trump handling of North Korea; House democrats file lawsuit to obtain Trump tax returns; Sanders campaign raises $18 million in second quarter; Buttigieg admits struggle to win over minority voters; Trump campaign, RNC raise $105 million in second quarter; Former lawmakers cashing in on Hill experience as lobbyists; Former senator lobbying for company tied to Russian oligarch; Rep. Ocasio-Cortez & Sen. Cruz team up to stop lawmakers from becoming lobbyists; DOJ to plaintiffs: 2020 census won't include citizenship questionTo learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

New CNN Poll: Biden support down 10%, support for Harris up 9%; New CNN Poll: Only 4 candidates polling above 5%: Biden 22%, Harris 17%, Warren 15% and Sanders 14%; New CNN Poll: Harris, Warren make steep gains after first debates; NYT: Trump may allow N. Korea to keep nukes in exchange for freeze; Ivanka embraces role as top adviser, diplomat & daughter; Trump praises Putin, Kim Jong Un & Saudi Crown Prince at World Summit; Iran breaches uranium limit agreed to in 2015 nuke deal; Sources: Pompeo's taxpayer-funded security used for personal errands; Sources: Pompeo's security detail used to pick up dog, Chinese food; Hong Kong police use tear gas after protesters storm gov't headquarters forcing an evacuation; Ocasio-Cortez details "unconscionable" conditions at migrant centers on U.S.-Mexico border; Ocasio-Cortez says migrants forced to drink out of toilets at border detention centers; CBP investigating offensive posts in secret Facebook group for border agents; Artist let go after drawing scathing image of TrumpTo learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Biden defends record after bruising debate; Source close to Biden on debate performance: "Not great"; Swalwell to Biden: "Time to pass the torch"; Booker reacts to Biden's fierce defense of civil rights record; Biden: I never ever opposed voluntary busing; Harris targets Biden for opposing federally mandated busing; Biden tries to explain busing stance: I was against the federal government ordering busing; Biden and Harris busing exchange highlights divide for Dems; Trump jokes with Putin about election interference; Trump and Putin joke about "fake news" despite Russia's long record of murdering and jailing journalist; Supreme court to hear key political cases just ahead of 2020 election; Supreme court to hear cases on immigration, abortion, LGBT rights in election year; Supreme court to decide fate of "dreamers" before 2020 election; Charlottesville driver sentenced to life in prisonTo learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What the first debate means for candidates' strategies tonight; Frontrunners to square off in second Dem debate tonight; Biden, Sanders, Harris & Buttigieg in debate tonight; Obama campaign strategist on make-or-break debate moments; Supreme court rules fed courts can't stop questionable political district mapping; Chief Justice Roberts sides with liberals on census case, conservatives on district mapping; Supreme court blocks citizenship question from 2020 census for now, returns case to lower court; Trump suggests delaying 2020 census over supreme court ruling; House about to vote on senate's $4.6B border bill; Pelosi: House will pass senate's $4.6B border bill; Pelosi: Dems will "reluctantly" pass senate's border bill; Castro: Border drowning deaths "should piss us all off"; TV gremlins haunt debate, but '76 SNAFU was worseTo learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices