CNN announced Friday that Jake Tapper will assume the role of permanent host of the network’s long-running Sunday morning news show “State of the Union.” Since Candy Crowley’s departure late last year, CNN has been using and probably auditioning a number of temporary hosts. Tapper will continue to anchor his weekday show “The Lead with Jake Tapper” and start his “State” duties in June.
“I am thrilled that Jake will take on this additional role at such a pivotal time in the election cycle,” Zucker said in a statement. “He has the perfect combination of skills that make him uniquely qualified — he’s a relentless reporter, a gifted storyteller, and a terrific interviewer who doesn’t stop until he gets answers. We are lucky to have him on both ‘The Lead’ and ‘State of the Union.'”
Tapper, one of only a handful of mainstream media journalists respected by conservatives, has had his name attached to two other prestigious Sunday morning shows. During his time at ABC News, Tapper appeared to be in the running to host “This Week.” That job eventually went to former-Clinton staffer George Stephanopoulos.
As recently as this month, there were rumors Tapper might take over for the retiring Bob Schieffer as host of the CBS Sunday show “Face the Nation.” That job went to another left-wing partisan, John Dickerson.
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