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Anchored by Jake Tapper, The Lead airs at 4 p.m. ET on CNN.
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politics lead
Ex-presidents cost taxpayers millions
As if we needed further proof that being leader of the free world is a cushy gig, a new report shows that the perks keep rolling in long after a commander-in-chief leaves office.
According to the Congressional Research Service, taxpayers forked over $3.7 million last year to pay for the four remaining presidents: Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton. And that number doesn't include the additional money we spend on their lifetime of Secret Service.
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politics lead
Sen. Paul has a second filibuster on the horizon
The last time he led a filibuster, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., carried out the people’s business for 13 straight hours – until he realized he had some personal business to take care of.
“I’ve discovered there are some limits to filibustering and I’m going to have to go take care of one of those in a few minutes here.,” he said, wrapping up his marathon protest of the Obama administration’s answer to his question about their drone program.
The Kentucky Republican is again planning to make his point with a filibuster: he’ll protest the gun violence legislation introduced by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., which is expected to come up next month.
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national lead
Is same-sex marriage "too new" for the Supreme Court?
The Supreme Court heard arguments in the Proposition 8 case today - California's voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage.
"Traditional marriage has been around for thousands of years," said Justice Samuel Alito. "Same-sex marriage is very new. I think it was first adopted in the Netherlands in 2000. So there isn't a lot of data about its effect. And it may turn out to be a - a good thing; it may turn out not to be a good thing, as the supporters of Proposition 8 apparently believe."
California's Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom knows firsthand the newness of same-sex marriage. As Mayor of San Francisco in 2004, having the city clerk issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples put Newsom in a firestorm.
"I know of no evidence whatsoever in places like Spain since 2005, and other countries in the world, where marriage as an institution has been under any sort of assault," says Newsom.
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money lead
Sports teams honored for charity work receive huge tax breaks
The White House today honored two professional sports teams - the L.A. Galaxy soccer team, and the L.A. Kings hockey team - for their championship seasons and their community service.
The players give time and donations in spades. But while these guys may be paying it forward, the professional leagues they play in - the National Hockey League and Major League Soccer - are not paying much of anything in the way of taxes. Despite the fact that their home state of California is deeply in debt, both of these jock juggernauts are tax-exempt.
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world lead
CNN exclusive: New details emerge on who really shot Osama bin Laden
The killing of Osama bin Laden was the greatest victory in the war on terror, turning the SEALs that took out bin Laden, members of Seal Team Six, into instant legends.
But even President Obama says he does not know the answer to one critical question: Who delivered the shot that killed Osama bin Laden?
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