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Anchored by Jake Tapper, The Lead airs at 4 p.m. ET on CNN.
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world lead
Is Putin moving nukes in Crimea?
(CNN) - Russian tanks, Russian artillery, Russian air defense systems and Russian troops - all heading into Ukraine.
That's what American Gen. Phillip Breedlove, the commander of NATO forces in Europe, said Wednesday that his government has seen over the past few days - Moscow's latest such alleged incursion into the nation, parts of which remain in turmoil after months of violence.
Russian officials frequently deny claims that the military has moved into disputed parts of the Ukraine, and this time is no exception. In a report from the country's state-run TASS news agency, Russian military spokesman Igor Konashenkov blasted what he called Breedlove's "alarmist anti-Russian allegations."
world lead
U.S. sailors attacked in Turkey, have bags placed over heads
(CNN) - Three U.S. Navy sailors were assaulted and had bags placed over their heads during a stop in Istanbul, Turkey, according to U.S. military officials.
The incident, captured on video, happened Wednesday when sailors from the USS Ross were attacked by members of the Turkish Youth Union, according to local Turkish press accounts.
"US Navy officials are working with the embassy and NCIS to investigate the incident. The three sailors were unharmed and are safely back aboard. They did not require medical attention," Capt. Greg Hicks, a spokesman with U.S. European Command told CNN.
pop lead
Parts of Jon Stewart's new movie 'Rosewater' actually filmed in Iran
(CNN) – Comedian Jon Stewart's job, for decades, has been to make people laugh.
For 15 years Stewart has been mocking politicians and the media as host of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show." So the first film Stewart has written and directed might be something of a surprise for his fans. "Rosewater" is a deadly serious drama about Canadian-Iranian journalist Maziar Bahari, who was thrown in prison for reporting on 2009's so-called Green Movement.
When Stewart told people he wanted to do it, his team thought it was a little crazy.
FULL POST
politics lead
Third video emerges of Obamacare architect insulting voters
By CNN chief Washington correspondent Jake Tapper
Washington (CNN) - A third video emerged Wednesday of MIT economist Jonathan Gruber, one of the architects of the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, insulting voters and suggesting their ignorance was exploited by those pushing passage of the health care law.
Neither the White House nor Gruber would comment.
In this one, Gruber was discussing how then-Sen. John Kerry, D-Massachusetts, pushed forward a way to add a tax on expensive health insurance plans, or "Cadillac Plans," that would purportedly tax the insurance companies though Gruber suggests everyone knew the companies would just pass on the additional cost to customers.
pop lead
Why Jon Stewart took on directing 'Rosewater'
For more of our interview with director and comedian Jon Stewart, watch "The Lead with Jake Tapper" on CNN at 4 p.m. ET.
(CNN) – Hollywood's current preference for big superhero flicks and reliable franchises with multiple sequels, left comedian Jon Stewart scrambling to find someone willing to take on the story of a Canadian journalist imprisoned in Iran, accused of working with various spy agencies.
"We tried to get it off the ground as a film and had trouble finding people that would do it for the money we were offering, which was free. We were saying, do this for free. So, I ended up doing it," Stewart said in an interview with CNN's "The Lead with Jake Tapper."
FULL POST
