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Anchored by Jake Tapper, The Lead airs at 4 p.m. ET on CNN.
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politics lead
Naughty politicians inspire sex scandal play
(CNN) – Mark Twain first told us that truth can be stranger than fiction, which is of course true. But in this instance, it's funnier, too.
That's the premise behind the off-Broadway comedy "Tail! Spin!," the story of some of the most memorable political sex scandals of recent times. Remember these classics?
Mark Sanford, former South Carolina Governor: "As much as I did talk about going to the Appalachian Trail, that isn't where I ended up."
Anthony Weiner, former U.S. Congressman: "I have engaged in several inappropriate conversations, conducted over Twitter, Facebook, email and occasionally on the phone with women I had met online."
Larry Craig, former Idaho Senator: "I am not gay. I have never been gay."
politics lead
Former Defense Secretary lays out disagreements with President Obama
New York (CNN) - A former senior member of President Barack Obama's national security team is panning the administration's decision to rule out the use of ground troops to fight ISIS and questioning Obama's leadership style.
"I take the position that when you're commander in chief that you oughta keep all options on the table...to be able to have the flexibility to what is necessary in order to defeat the enemy," former Defense Secretary and CIA Director Leon Panetta told CNN. "We're conducting air strikes. But to make those air strikes work, to be able to do what you had to do, you don't– you don't just send planes in and drop bombs. You've gotta have targets. You've gotta know what you're goin' after. To do that, you do need people on the ground."
Panetta's comments are a stinging rebuke of Obama at a crucial point in his administration as the president battles multiple national security threats, including ISIS, a resurgent Russia and the spread of Ebola.
national lead
Who might replace Eric Holder?
(CNN) - The surprise announcement on Thursday that Eric Holder will resign as attorney general has D.C. buzzing. And the big question on everyone's mind: Who will replace him?
Holder has been in his position since the start of President Barack Obama's first term. In fact, he's one of only three remaining original members of Obama's Cabinet (Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack are the others.) The attorney general also is a close personal friend of Obama, and sources tell CNN that the President will be looking to appoint a successor with whom he has a relationship.
politics lead
Mrs. Romney on sons running for office: Don't do it
Former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney sits on the sidelines now, hoping to mentor the next batch of presidential hopefuls. He offers some playful advice.
"Don't make any mistakes," Romney said with a laugh. "The funny thing is everyone says, 'Be spontaneous, don't act like you are being crafted.' Well, today, everything you say is being captured by video, or hand held camera ... so jokes for instance will get you in trouble."
Read "Mitt Romney to CNN: Rice appointment disappointing" here.
Asked if she would want any of her children run for public office, Ann Romney told CNN she was uncertain.
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