The Don Lemon Show

Don sits down with friends of the show Jolly, Will Westmoreland, and Qasim Rashid for a post-Christmas holiday conversation. They share the holiday traditions they observe, how those traditions connect to culture, faith, and family, and then zoom out to tackle a bigger question: how religious zealotry and extremism have increasingly been used to fuel division and discord across the country. From history to modern politics, they unpack how faith has been weaponized, and what gets lost when it is. It’s thoughtful, honest, and wide-ranging, part holiday hang, part serious reflection on where we are as a nation. This episode is sponsored by ZBiotics. Go to https://zbiotics.com/LEMON and use LEMON at checkout for 15% off first time orders. This episode is sponsored by 120Life. For a limited time, try 120Life and get 20% off. Just use the code “DON” at checkout at https://120Life.com. 120Life offers a risk-free trial with a full refund If your blood pressure doesn’t come down in 2 weeks. This episode is brought to you by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Make a tax-deductible donation to FFRF before December 31st. Or become a member and support their ongoing fight for reason, equality, and constitutional integrity. Go to https://FFRF.US/Winter25 or text DON to 511511 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don sits down with Mike Nellis to take stock of where the country stands coming out of the Christmas season. They talk about the mixed signals in the economy, the public mood after the holidays, and how people are really feeling as we turn the page on the year. The conversation also dives into the state of corporate media, what’s shifting, what’s breaking, and how trust, access, and power are reshaping the news landscape. Finally, Don and Mike look ahead to 2026, what to expect politically, culturally, and economically, and what signals are already flashing now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s the morning after Christmas, and Don is here to slow things down, reflect, and spend some time with Lemon Nation. While the economy continues to struggle and many Americans are feeling squeezed, holiday spending still hit record highs. So what’s really going on? Are people putting things on credit, dipping into savings, or trying to hold onto a sense of normalcy? Don breaks it all down and is joined by Sam Caucci to answer your biggest questions about the economy, consumer behavior, inflation, and what we can realistically expect as we head into the new year. This episode is sponsored by ZBiotics. Go to https://zbiotics.com/LEMON and use LEMON at checkout for 15% off first time orders. This episode is sponsored by 120Life. For a limited time, try 120Life and get 20% off. Just use the code “DON” at checkout at https://120Life.com. 120Life offers a risk-free trial with a full refund If your blood pressure doesn’t come down in 2 weeks. This episode is brought to you by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Make a tax-deductible donation to FFRF before December 31st. Or become a member and support their ongoing fight for reason, equality, and constitutional integrity. Go to https://FFRF.US/Winter25 or text DON to 511511 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s time for another holiday special. 🎄✨ Don is joined by friends of the show Katie Phang, George Hahn, and Rick Wilson for a festive, feel-good conversation. They’re sharing their favorite holiday traditions, must-have holiday foods, and the Christmas movies they simply can’t get through the season without. It’s cozy, fun, and full of laughs, a perfect way to slow down and enjoy the spirit of the season. This episode is sponsored by ZBiotics. Go to https://zbiotics.com/LEMON and use LEMON at checkout for 15% off first time orders. This episode is brought to you by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Make a tax-deductible donation to FFRF before December 31st. Or become a member and support their ongoing fight for reason, equality, and constitutional integrity. Go to https://FFRF.US/Winter25 or text DON to 511511 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

🎄✨ It’s a Christmas Eve Special, and Don is getting into the holiday spirit with friends of the show Reecie Colbert, Tara Setmayer, and Garrison Hayes for a fun, festive hangout. They’re talking all things Christmas, holiday traditions, favorite Christmas foods, must-watch holiday movies, and the little things that make this time of year special (and sometimes chaotic). It’s light, joyful, and exactly the kind of break we all need. No politics. Just laughs, memories, and holiday cheer. Happy Holidays Lemon Nation 🎁💛 This episode is sponsored by ZBiotics. Go to https://zbiotics.com/LEMON and use LEMON at checkout for 15% off first time orders. This episode is brought to you by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Make a tax-deductible donation to FFRF before December 31st. Or become a member and support their ongoing fight for reason, equality, and constitutional integrity. Go to https://FFRF.US/Winter25 or text DON to 511511 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don sits down with Michael Cohen to break down the latest developments in the Epstein files and the mounting evidence tying Donald Trump to Jeffrey Epstein. As new documents and revelations continue to surface, the DOJ appears determined to downplay or muddy the significance of what’s coming out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tonight we’re digging into the latest bombshell drop in the Epstein files, and it’s deeply disturbing. Newly released documents mention allegations of sexual assault involving Donald Trump, raising urgent questions about what has been kept from the public and why these materials are only surfacing now. But in a stunning twist, the DOJ is now claiming that some of the very documents it released may not be legitimate. So what are we supposed to believe? Who vetted this material? And why does every step of this process seem to deepen confusion rather than deliver clarity? We’ll break down what the documents actually say, what’s being questioned, and why this unfolding mess is fueling fears of incompetence, immorality, and a system incapable of telling the truth. This episode is sponsored by ZBiotics. Go to https://zbiotics.com/LEMON and use LEMON at checkout for 15% off first time orders. This episode is sponsored by 120Life. For a limited time, try 120Life and get 20% off. Just use the code “DON” at checkout at https://120Life.com. 120Life offers a risk-free trial with a full refund If your blood pressure doesn’t come down in 2 weeks. This episode is brought to you by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Make a tax-deductible donation to FFRF before December 31st. Or become a member and support their ongoing fight for reason, equality, and constitutional integrity. Go to https://FFRF.US/Winter25 or text DON to 511511 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don breaks down some of the most revealing documents to emerge from the latest batch of Epstein files, including letters and correspondence that raise serious questions and do not look good for Donald Trump. Don walks through what these documents show, why they matter, and how they complicate the ongoing efforts to downplay Trump’s connections to Epstein. As more material becomes public, the denials are getting harder to sustain, and the calls for accountability are growing louder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This morning we’re breaking down the latest batch of Epstein files, and once again, they contain multiple references to Donald Trump. At this point, the administration’s continued denial of Trump’s ties to Epstein is beyond implausible. It’s absurd. We’ll walk through what the newly released documents actually show, why they matter, and whether there’s any realistic path to accountability for those named. Then we pivot to the media meltdown inside MAGA world. From the chaos at the Turning Point USA summit to escalating wars within MAGA’s so-called “independent media,” the movement is fracturing in public. The infighting, the ego clashes, the contradictions, it’s all coming apart in real time. Joining us to break it all down is Will Sommer of The Bulwark, who helps us connect the dots between the Epstein revelations and a MAGA media ecosystem that’s clearly not doing well. This episode is sponsored by ZBiotics. Go to https://zbiotics.com/LEMON and use LEMON at checkout for 15% off first time orders. This episode is sponsored by 120Life. For a limited time, try 120Life and get 20% off. Just use the code “DON” at checkout at https://120Life.com. 120Life offers a risk-free trial with a full refund If your blood pressure doesn’t come down in 2 weeks. This episode is brought to you by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Make a tax-deductible donation to FFRF before December 31st. Or become a member and support their ongoing fight for reason, equality, and constitutional integrity. Go to https://FFRF.US/Winter25 or text DON to 511511 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don breaks down Nicki Minaj’s recent appearance at a Turning Point USA summit, where she went full MAGA, openly praising Donald Trump and JD Vance. Don walks through what she said, the reaction it sparked online, and what it means when major pop culture figures align themselves with far-right political movements. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tonight we’re diving headfirst into what many are calling the Epstein cover-up, and the scope of it is staggering. The delays, the redactions, the missing materials, the shifting explanations, the attempts to conceal information have become impossible to ignore. For a growing number of people, this now feels worse than Watergate, not because of a single act, but because of the sustained effort to keep the full truth from the public. And now, there’s yet another disturbing twist: a new video has surfaced of Jeffrey Epstein inside his jail cell. The footage raises more questions than it answers, and the DOJ has offered no explanation, no clarity, and no transparency about what the public is seeing or why this material is only emerging now. Why has transparency been resisted at every turn? Who is being protected? And will anyone connected to this ever face real accountability? This episode is sponsored by ZBiotics. Go to https://zbiotics.com/LEMON and use LEMON at checkout for 15% off first time orders. This episode is brought to you by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Make a tax-deductible donation to FFRF before December 31st. Or become a member and support their ongoing fight for reason, equality, and constitutional integrity. Go to https://FFRF.US/Winter25 or text DON to 511511 This episode is sponsored by 120Life. For a limited time, try 120Life and get 20% off. Just use the code “DON” at checkout at https://120Life.com. 120Life offers a risk-free trial with a full refund If your blood pressure doesn’t come down in 2 weeks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don breaks down the explosive reporting surrounding CBS chief Bari Weiss pulling a planned 60 Minutes segment, a decision that has sent shockwaves through the journalism world. Don also highlights the courage of reporter Sharyn Alfonsi, who spoke out forcefully against the move in a blistering internal critique, raising urgent questions about editorial independence, corporate pressure, and the future of one of the most trusted names in American journalism. What does this say about the direction CBS is taking? Who gets to decide what stories the public is allowed to see? A necessary conversation about media power, integrity, and the cost of speaking truth inside legacy newsrooms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This morning we’re diving into the fallout from the long-awaited release of the Epstein files, and for many, it feels like a gut punch. On Friday, the DOJ released the files after a months-long bipartisan push and congressional demand for full transparency. But what came out was heavily redacted, with more missing than revealed. For survivors and advocates who hoped this moment would finally bring justice and accountability, the release felt like a slap in the face. To make matters worse, the DOJ then removed certain images that had already been made public, only to quietly re-release them later. The confusion, the reversals, and the omissions have only fueled suspicion. So what’s being hidden? Why all the redactions? And why does it seem like there’s such an aggressive effort to shield Donald Trump? This episode is sponsored by ZBiotics. Go to https://zbiotics.com/LEMON and use LEMON at checkout for 15% off first time orders. This episode is brought to you by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Make a tax-deductible donation to FFRF before December 31st. Or become a member and support their ongoing fight for reason, equality, and constitutional integrity. Go to https://FFRF.US/Winter25 or text DON to 511511 This episode is sponsored by 120Life. For a limited time, try 120Life and get 20% off. Just use the code “DON” at checkout at https://120Life.com. 120Life offers a risk-free trial with a full refund If your blood pressure doesn’t come down in 2 weeks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don takes a stroll through Barack Obama’s 2025 favorites list, breaking down the songs, movies, and books that made the former president’s annual roundup. From standout tracks to must-watch films and page-turning reads, Don reacts to what made the list, what surprised him, and what’s getting added to his own queue. This episode is sponsored by Fatty15. Get an additional 15% off their 90-day subscription Starter Kit by going to https://fatty15.com/LEMON and using code LEMON at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tonight is the moment we’ve been waiting for. The deadline to release the Epstein files is here. Documents are beginning to come out, but it’s already clear many of them are heavily redacted, raising fresh questions about transparency and accountability. Will the full files ever actually be released? Who is still being protected? And will there ever be real accountability for those named and justice for the victims who have waited far too long? We’re going live to follow the developments in real time, break down what’s being released (and what isn’t), and talk honestly about whether this process is delivering truth or just another cover story. This episode is sponsored by ZBiotics. Go to https://zbiotics.com/LEMON and use LEMON at checkout for 15% off first time orders. This episode is brought to you by Graza. Take your food to the next level with Graza Olive Oil. Visit https://graza.co/DON and use promo code DON today for 20% off your first order! This episode is brought to you by MSI. Donate now to help millions of women get access to care — and to hope. You can Text LEMON to five eleven five eleven, or go to https://MSIUnited States.org. This episode is sponsored by Beam. Go to https://shopbeam.com/LEMON, use code LEMON, and take advantage of my exclusive offer for up to 40% off during Beam’s Dream Powder. So with my discount code, LEMON, you can get their best selling dream powder for just $39 dollars. This episode is sponsored by Ollie. Take the guesswork out of your dog's well-being. Go to https://ollie.com/lemon and use code lemon to get 60% off your first box! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We live in an upside down world. New reports say that the Trump administration is "encouraging white men to sue if they believe they've been victims of DEI-related discrimination." Huh?! The chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has even posted on social media to spread this message, and the Vice President has reposted this and doubled down on the assertions. In a year when Black people (Black women in particular) have experienced more job loss than any other demographic, this is the message coming from the white house? Join Don to break this craziness down. This episode is sponsored by Fatty15. Get an additional 15% off their 90-day subscription Starter Kit by going to https://fatty15.com/LEMON and using code LEMON at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is it. Today is the deadline for the full release of the Epstein files. After years of delays, deflections, and half-measures, the question is simple...will they actually be released? If they are, what else will we learn? Who else appears in the documents? And most importantly, will anyone named ever face real accountability? We’re joined this morning by Congressman Ro Khanna to break down what this deadline means, what happens next if the files are withheld, and why transparency in this case matters so deeply to the public. Join us live as we track the developments, separate fact from spin, and talk honestly about whether justice is finally within reach, or once again being pushed out of sight. This episode is sponsored by ZBiotics. Go to https://zbiotics.com/LEMON and use LEMON at checkout for 15% off first time orders. This episode is brought to you by Graza. Take your food to the next level with Graza Olive Oil. Visit https://graza.co/DON and use promo code DON today for 20% off your first order! This episode is brought to you by MSI. Donate now to help millions of women get access to care — and to hope. You can Text LEMON to five eleven five eleven, or go to https://MSIUnited States.org. This episode is sponsored by Beam. Go to https://shopbeam.com/LEMON, use code LEMON, and take advantage of my exclusive offer for up to 40% off during Beam’s Dream Powder. So with my discount code, LEMON, you can get their best selling dream powder for just $39 dollars. This episode is sponsored by Ollie. Take the guesswork out of your dog's well-being. Go to https://ollie.com/lemon and use code lemon to get 60% off your first box! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don takes on a persistent and deeply dishonest narrative: that the left is “normalizing antisemitism.” The reality is that it’s coming from the Republican Party. From government agencies soft-pedaling swastikas and nooses as merely “divisive,” to GOP nominees and youth organizations openly embracing Nazi rhetoric, this moment demands clarity about where the real danger lies. A sharp, unflinching breakdown of hypocrisy, power, and why misdirected panic only helps extremism thrive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tonight we’re counting down to a critical moment: tomorrow is the deadline to release the Epstein files. Time’s up. The pressure is on and the questions are louder than ever. Will the files actually be released? What’s in them? And what will we finally learn if they see the light of day? The stakes couldn’t be higher, and the silence from those in power is only fueling more suspicion. We’re joined tonight by Tara Palmeri to break down what this deadline means, what could come next, and why this moment matters so much. This episode is sponsored by ZBiotics. Go to https://zbiotics.com/LEMON and use LEMON at checkout for 15% off first time orders. This episode is sponsored by Aura Frames. Exclusive $35 off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/DONLEMON. Promo Code DONLEMON This episode is sponsored by Ollie. Take the guesswork out of your dog's well-being. Go to https://ollie.com/lemon and use code lemon to get 60% off your first box! This episode is brought to you by Graza. Take your food to the next level with Graza Olive Oil. Visit https://graza.co/DON and use promo code DON today for 20% off your first order! This episode is sponsored by Fatty15. Get an additional 15% off their 90-day subscription Starter Kit by going to https://fatty15.com/LEMON and using code LEMON at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don sits down with writer and political analyst Ahmed Baba to take stock of the state of the nation, and it isn’t pretty. From Donald Trump’s disgusting comments following the tragic death of Rob Reiner, to his public tantrum insisting the economy is “perfect” while Americans struggle to afford basics, the disconnect between rhetoric and reality has never been more glaring. They break down Trump’s increasingly erratic behavior, the widening gap between what he says and what people are living, and why his approval ratings continue to slide as patience wears thin across the country. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This morning we’re breaking down Donald Trump’s disastrous address to the nation from last night, an address that managed to say almost nothing while still being deeply embarrassing. It was easily one of the most useless speeches we’ve ever seen from a sitting president. The speech was packed with lies and delusion, as Trump appeared more interested in throwing a temper tantrum than addressing the very real problems facing the country. Instead of offering solutions, he tried to convince the American people, and himself, that everything is great, while openly telling people not to believe their own eyes when it comes to the economy. No plan. No accountability. Just denial, grievance, and self-congratulation. Join us live as we unpack the lies, the spin, and why this address landed as pathetic rather than presidential. This episode is sponsored by ZBiotics. Go to https://zbiotics.com/LEMON and use LEMON at checkout for 15% off first time orders. This episode is sponsored by Aura Frames. Exclusive $35 off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/DONLEMON. Promo Code DONLEMON This episode is sponsored by Ollie. Take the guesswork out of your dog's well-being. Go to https://ollie.com/lemon and use code lemon to get 60% off your first box! This episode is brought to you by Graza. Take your food to the next level with Graza Olive Oil. Visit https://graza.co/DON and use promo code DON today for 20% off your first order! This episode is sponsored by Fatty15. Get an additional 15% off their 90-day subscription Starter Kit by going to https://fatty15.com/LEMON and using code LEMON at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tonight we’re breaking down the chaos unfolding on Capitol Hill because the cracks inside MAGA just got a lot harder to ignore. In a stunning move, four Republicans broke ranks to force a House vote on extending the Affordable Care Act subsidies, putting leadership on the defensive and exposing growing unrest within the party. From internal GOP fractures to a MAGA administration that looks increasingly unable to control its own members, the dysfunction is on full display. Is this the beginning of a broader collapse or just another sign that the MAGA coalition is eating itself alive? This episode is sponsored by ZBiotics. Go to https://zbiotics.com/LEMON and use LEMON at checkout for 15% off first time orders. This episode is sponsored by Beam. Go to https://shopbeam.com/LEMON, use code LEMON, and take advantage of my exclusive offer for up to 40% off during Beam’s Dream Powder. So with my discount code, LEMON, you can get their best selling dream powder for just $39 dollars. This episode is brought to you by Graza. Take your food to the next level with Graza Olive Oil. Visit https://graza.co/DON and use promo code DON today for 20% off your first order! This episode is brought to you by MSI. Donate now to help millions of women get access to care — and to hope. You can Text LEMON to five eleven five eleven, or go to https://MSIUnited States.org. This episode is sponsored by Aura Frames. Exclusive $35 off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/DONLEMON. Promo Code DONLEMON Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don breaks down the failure of Bari Weiss’ CBS town hall with Erika Kirk, an event that ultimately fell flat with viewers. The ratings were weak, the response was mixed at best, and many were left questioning the editorial choices behind the broadcast. Don examines why the town hall struggled to connect, the lack of journalistic pushback, and what this moment may signal about CBS’s apparent attempt to shift right in search of a new audience. Is this a misread of what viewers actually want? And what does it mean for a legacy network navigating a rapidly changing media landscape? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This morning, we’re diving into an explosive Vanity Fair article that’s sending shockwaves through Washington. The piece is based on extraordinary access to Susie Wiles, Trump’s chief of staff, who rarely speaks to the press. Over months of on-the-record conversations, Wiles opens up about the inner workings of the White House, the chaos behind the scenes, and even describes Trump as having an “alcoholic’s personality.” We’re joined live by the author of the article, Chris Whipple, to break it all down. Why did Susie Wiles agree to this level of access? How are people inside the Trump administration reacting to these revelations? And what does this mean for the White House and the administration’s stability moving forward? This episode is sponsored by ZBiotics. Go to https://zbiotics.com/LEMON and use LEMON at checkout for 15% off first time orders. This episode is sponsored by Beam. Go to https://shopbeam.com/LEMON, use code LEMON, and take advantage of my exclusive offer for up to 40% off during Beam’s Dream Powder. So with my discount code, LEMON, you can get their best selling dream powder for just $39 dollars. This episode is brought to you by Graza. Take your food to the next level with Graza Olive Oil. Visit https://graza.co/DON and use promo code DON today for 20% off your first order! This episode is brought to you by MSI. Donate now to help millions of women get access to care — and to hope. You can Text LEMON to five eleven five eleven, or go to https://MSIUnited States.org. This episode is sponsored by Aura Frames. Exclusive $35 off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/DONLEMON. Promo Code DONLEMON Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices