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Anchored by Jake Tapper, The Lead airs at 4 p.m. ET on CNN.
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national lead
Human trafficking survivor: Go after the johns
It is a shocking underworld, one that Americans usually associate with far away places, but a recent FBI sting reveals the terrifying reality that human trafficking is a real, and widespread problen in the U.S.
A raid in 70 cities led to the arrest of 70 pimps, and the rescue of 105 teenagers, some as young as 13 years old.
Asia Graves is a survivor of human trafficking, and nows work with young victims. She said the arrests will not curb the rate of exploitation, unless law enforcement starts targeting the demand side.
"It's making a dent, but you have to go after the 'johns' who are buying the sex," said Graves.
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politics lead
Analysis: Will Weiner scandal affect Clinton?
If "Carlos Danger" was expecting an invite over to the Clinton's house for a little summer barbecue action, he probably shouldn't hold his breath.
The political power couple is reportedly livid with Anthony Weiner, after his latest sexting scandal and naughty nom de plume hit the headlines.
A source close to the Clintons said they are upset because they care about Weiner's wife, Huma Abedin, a long-time aid to the former secretary of state. The source further says their beef is not political, even though Weiner has been making allusions to the former president's indiscretions when discussing his own bid for redemption.
The notion that the Weiner scandal could leave a taint with Hillary Clinton is "preposterous," said CNN contributor Paul Begala, a former adviser to President Bill Clinton.
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pop lead
Diane Lane is Hillary Rodham Clinton in new NBC miniseries
The Clinton name has been in the national spotlight since as long as any 25-year-old can remember, starting with then-Governor Bill Clinton's presidential campaign in 1992, his re-election campaign in 1996, then-Senator Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign in 2008, her cabinet appointment in 2009, the list goes on.
Now as the glare of 2016 lays in wait for Hillary Clinton's possible presidential campaign, Hollywood is seeking to capitalize on it all.
NBC announced Saturday that it will produce a four-hour miniseries – "Hillary" – based on the former first lady.
CNN films is also planning a documentary project on Hillary Clinton by Academy-Award winning director Charles Ferguson.
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world lead
Julian Assange: Convicting Bradley Manning would be 'the end of national security in journalism in the United States'
After spending three years in custody, the man accused of the largest leak of classified information in U.S. history will learn Tuesday whether he has been found guilty of aiding the enemy.
A verdict from the judge in the court-martial of Pfc. Bradley Manning has been reached, and will be announced at 1 p.m. ET Tuesday, according to a spokeswoman for the military district of Washington.
If Manning is found guilty, "the precedent will be set where if you give information to a publisher, to a journalist, and they publish, then anyone in the world can read it, and the U.S. military is saying that means the enemy can be aided because al Qaeda, for example, could read that information," said WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
Manning is accused of leaking more than 750,000 documents, videos and other information to WikiLeaks.
"This is a really serious attack. It's the most serious attack the administration is pursuing in its war against investigative journalism. It will be the end essentially of national security in journalism in the United States," said Assange.
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national lead
Sen. Cruz to Gov. Christie: Privacy isn't 'esoteric'
There is a power struggle going on about the direction of the Republican party, over everything from foreign policy, to the role of national security, to defunding Obamacare – and Texas freshman Sen. Ted Cruz is right in the thick of it.
Asked about the influence of libertarian-minded leaders in the GOP, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said at a Republican governors forum Thursday that when it comes to national security, those who oppose National Security Agency programs that monitor Americans' electronic activity were just wrong.
"These esoteric, intellectual debates – I want them to come to New Jersey and sit across from the widows and orphans and have that conversation," Christie said. "And they won't. That's a lot tougher conversation to have."
"It seems to me that the Fourth Amendment, the Fifth Amendment to our Constitution, the protections of the civil liberties of Americans, they aren't esoteric. They're the foundation of this country," Cruz said in response.
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