The Don Lemon Show

This morning, we’re heading to Texas, where the GOP’s gerrymandering circus is back in full swing. After a two-week standoff, Democrats who fled the state to block the vote are finally returning. So… what now? Does this mean the GOP gets their rigged maps, or is there still a fight to be had? And more importantly, what does this mean for the future of elections in Texas, and how will other states respond? Because if Texas pulls it off, you can bet MAGA lawmakers elsewhere will be taking notes. This episode is brought to you by Brickhouse Whey Protein. Switch to BRICKHOUSE WHEY for guaranteed results or your money back. Go to http://thenewwhey.com and use promo code LEMON for 20% off. This episode is sponsored by 120 Life. Go to https://120life.com and use the code, “D-O-N ” to save 20% This episode is brought to you by Ollie. Head to Ollie.com/LEMON, tell them all about your dog, and use code LEMON to get 60% off your Welcome Kit when you subscribe today! They offer a Happiness Guarantee on the first box, so if you’re not completely satisfied, you’ll get your money back This episode is sponsored by Mint Mobile. Get this new customer offer and your 3-month Unlimited wireless plan for just 15 bucks a month at https://MINTMOBILE.com/DONLEMON. This episode is brought to you by Beam. Visit shopbeam.com/lemon and use code LEMON at checkout to get our exclusive discount of UP TO 40% off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tonight, we’re breaking down today’s Trump-Zelensky meeting. After the cringe-worthy disaster of their last sit-down, was this one any better? Did anything meaningful actually come out of it, and what does it mean for the future of the Ukraine-Russia conflict? Then we’ll shift gears to the media world, where MSNBC has rolled out a fresh rebrand. What’s changing, what’s not, and what does it say about the state of cable news right now? This episode is brought to you by Brickhouse Whey Protein. Switch to BRICKHOUSE WHEY for guaranteed results or your money back. Go to http://thenewwhey.com and use promo code LEMON for 20% off. This episode is sponsored by 120 Life. Go to https://120life.com and use the code, “D-O-N ” to save 20% This episode is brought to you by Ollie. Head to Ollie.com/LEMON, tell them all about your dog, and use code LEMON to get 60% off your Welcome Kit when you subscribe today! They offer a Happiness Guarantee on the first box, so if you’re not completely satisfied, you’ll get your money back This episode is sponsored by Mint Mobile. Get this new customer offer and your 3-month Unlimited wireless plan for just 15 bucks a month at https://MINTMOBILE.com/DONLEMON. This episode is brought to you by Beam. Visit shopbeam.com/lemon and use code LEMON at checkout to get our exclusive discount of UP TO 40% off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we're bringing you Don’s recent appearance on MSNBC’s The Beat with Ari Melber. Don and Ari dive into Trump’s obsession with reshaping culture to fit his narrative, and what that means for the state of today’s media. They tackle the big questions: What’s really happening to journalism in this environment? And what responsibility do journalists have in the face of political pressure, disinformation, and the nonstop spin cycle? It’s a sharp, candid conversation about the media, the message, and the moment we’re in. This episode is brought to you by ZBiotics. Go to https://zbiotics.com/LEMONDROPS and use LEMONDROPS at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Washington, D.C., masked and unidentified officers violently detained a delivery driver, an incident that feels less like America and more like a bad dystopian reboot. What is this country coming to? And Trump isn’t stopping there. He has suggested he could send troops into other Democratic-led cities in a full-on authoritarian flex to control places that don’t support him. Constitutional? Not really. Dangerous? Absolutely. Let's break it all down, because if this is the new “law and order,” we should all be very concerned. This episode is brought to you by Brickhouse Whey Protein. Switch to BRICKHOUSE WHEY for guaranteed results or your money back. Go to http://thenewwhey.com and use promo code LEMON for 20% off. This episode is sponsored by 120 Life. Go to https://120life.com and use the code, “D-O-N ” to save 20% This episode is brought to you by Ollie. Head to Ollie.com/LEMON, tell them all about your dog, and use code LEMON to get 60% off your Welcome Kit when you subscribe today! They offer a Happiness Guarantee on the first box, so if you’re not completely satisfied, you’ll get your money back This episode is sponsored by Mint Mobile. Get this new customer offer and your 3-month Unlimited wireless plan for just 15 bucks a month at https://MINTMOBILE.com/DONLEMON. This episode is brought to you by Beam. Visit shopbeam.com/lemon and use code LEMON at checkout to get our exclusive discount of UP TO 40% off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don sits down with Robert F. Smith to discuss his new book exploring the life, work, and enduring legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Together, they reflect on King’s vision for justice and equality, how it resonates in today’s America, and what it truly means to carry his mission forward. It’s a powerful conversation about history, impact, and the ongoing work still left to do. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What a week. Trump cozies up to Putin in Alaska, Melania goes to war with Hunter Biden for repeating already reported accounts of how she met Donald Trump through Epstein, and D.C. is still under military occupation. At this point, who even knows what’s coming next? It’s been chaos on overdrive, and tonight we’re breaking it all down, facts first, snark included. Grab a drink, settle in, and let’s unpack the madness together. This episode is brought to you by Brickhouse Whey Protein. Switch to BRICKHOUSE WHEY for guaranteed results or your money back. Go to http://thenewwhey.com and use promo code LEMON for 20% off. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/donlemon and get on your way to being your best self. This episode is brought to you by DeleteMe. Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you text DON to 64000. Message and data rates apply. This episode is sponsored by Wild Alaskan. Not all fish are the same! Get seafood you can trust. Go to https://wildalaskan.com/LEMON for $35 off your first box of premium, wild-caught seafood. This episode is brought to you by Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at https://shopify.com/lemon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don sits down with bestselling author and journalist Michael Wolff to dig into the inside story of Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein. How did Trump and Melania really meet, and was Epstein part of the picture? They also break down the latest twist: reports that Trump may sue Hunter Biden for repeating this explosive reporting. From the backstory to the legal threats, Wolff brings the receipts and the context. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Epstein scandal just keeps getting messier. Now Trump’s decided the best way to handle victims speaking out is to brand them all as “Democrats,” because apparently, that’s his magic eraser for any inconvenient truth. Meanwhile, the feud you didn’t have on your 2025 bingo card is heating up: Melania Trump vs. Hunter Biden. The spark? Hunter’s claims about Melania’s past ties to Epstein. It’s petty, it’s spicy, and it’s unfolding in real time. Grab your coffee, this morning’s tea is piping hot. This episode is brought to you by Brickhouse Whey Protein. Switch to BRICKHOUSE WHEY for guaranteed results or your money back. Go to http://thenewwhey.com and use promo code LEMON for 20% off. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/donlemon and get on your way to being your best self. This episode is brought to you by DeleteMe. Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you text DON to 64000. Message and data rates apply. This episode is sponsored by Wild Alaskan. Not all fish are the same! Get seafood you can trust. Go to https://wildalaskan.com/LEMON for $35 off your first box of premium, wild-caught seafood. This episode is brought to you by Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at https://shopify.com/lemon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don sits down with Ahmed Baba for a deep dive into the latest political chaos, from Trump’s National Guard occupation of D.C. over crime that doesn’t actually exist, to the escalating fight in Texas. They break down why it’s critical to keep pushing back against these power grabs and what’s at stake if we don’t. This episode is brought to you by ZBiotics. Go to https://zbiotics.com/LEMONDROPS and use LEMONDROPS at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California is officially jumping into the fight against Trump and MAGA’s racist, unconstitutional gerrymandering schemes in Texas and beyond. Governor Gavin Newsom spoke out today, calling for action, and it’s clear: the gloves are off. Democrats are finally showing some fight. Joining us to break it all down are Reecie Colbert and our very own Lemon Legends. From the legal battles to the political stakes, we’re covering how this showdown could shape the future of our elections. This episode is brought to you by Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at https://shopify.com/lemon This episode is sponsored by ZBiotics. Go to https://zbiotics.com/LEMON and use LEMON at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics. This episode is sponsored by Wild Alaskan. Not all fish are the same! Get seafood you can trust. Go to https://wildalaskan.com/LEMON for $35 off your first box of premium, wild-caught seafood. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/donlemon and get on your way to being your best self. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don sits down with a former broadcast executive and TV producer to talk about her new venture, ShopRedBag, a marketplace to fight back against the wave of DEI rollbacks, giving consumers a place to discover and support diverse brands. They discuss why backing these brands matters now more than ever, the rapidly shifting media landscape, and where the industry is headed. From the challenges of the present to the possibilities of the future, it’s a candid conversation about business, culture, and change. This episode is brought to you by ZBiotics. Go to https://zbiotics.com/LEMONDROPS and use LEMONDROPS at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This morning, we’re turning the spotlight where it belongs. Remember all the chatter in D.C. about Biden’s cognitive state? Has anyone stopped to examine Trump’s? His rants have always been unhinged, but lately they’re reading less like a political speech and more like an escaped patient from the memory ward. Case in point: his bizarre remarks at the Kennedy Center, which were… something. And now, it’s not just embarrassing press clips. Trump’s erratic, reality-detached behavior may actually be having serious ripple effects on the economy. And if that’s not enough, he’s already deployed the National Guard in D.C. and is openly floating plans to do the same in other Democrat-led cities across the country. This isn’t about safety, it’s an authoritarian power play dressed up as “law and order.” The goal isn’t to protect people; it’s to control them. Let’s talk about what’s really going on. This episode is brought to you by Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at https://shopify.com/lemon This episode is sponsored by ZBiotics. Go to https://zbiotics.com/LEMON and use LEMON at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics. This episode is sponsored by Wild Alaskan. Not all fish are the same! Get seafood you can trust. Go to https://wildalaskan.com/LEMON for $35 off your first box of premium, wild-caught seafood. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/donlemon and get on your way to being your best self. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don sits down for another episode of The Lemon Cohen Report, where he and Michael Cohen dig into what Cohen knew, and what he didn’t, about the allegations against Donald Trump. It’s candid, revealing, and full of behind-the-scenes insight you won’t hear anywhere else. This episode is brought to you by ZBiotics. Go to https://zbiotics.com/LEMONDROPS and use LEMONDROPS at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This morning, we’re joined by Rep. Jolanda Jones to break down the mess in Texas-GOP gerrymandering, the redistricting power grab, and Governor Abbott’s latest moves. Can Texas Democrats hold the line? What’s next in this fight? And how do we stop this blatantly unconstitutional scheme? Then, attorney and TV host Symone Redwine joins us to unpack the breaking news about Wendy Williams. From political overreach to pop culture bombshells, we’ve got it all. You won't want to miss this! This episode is brought to you by Brickhouse Whey Protein. Switch to BRICKHOUSE WHEY for guaranteed results or your money back. Go to http://thenewwhey.com and use promo code LEMON for 20% off. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/donlemon and get on your way to being your best self. This episode is brought to you by Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at https://shopify.com/lemon This episode is sponsored by Wild Alaskan. Not all fish are the same! Get seafood you can trust. Go to https://wildalaskan.com/LEMON for $35 off your first box of premium, wild-caught seafood. This episode is brought to you by Lean. Doctors created a healthier way to lose weight by capturing the power of natural ingredients -- like CARALLUMA. Let's get you started with 20% off. Use code LEMON20 at https://TAKELEAN.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tonight, Don is breaking down the chaos: Trump’s authoritarian move to take control of the D.C. police, deploy the National Guard in the city, and even threaten to do the same in other blue cities. Oh, and his new pick to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics? They’re suggesting we just… suspend the jobs report. Because apparently, if the numbers make you look bad, you can just hide them. WTF is happening? To unpack it all, Don is joined by Angie “Pumps” Sullivan, host of the I’ve Had It podcast, because honestly, after this week’s headlines, we’ve all had it. This episode is brought to you by Brickhouse Whey Protein. Switch to BRICKHOUSE WHEY for guaranteed results or your money back. Go to http://thenewwhey.com and use promo code LEMON for 20% off. This episode is brought to you by DeleteMe. Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you text DON to 64000. Message and data rates apply. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/donlemon and get on your way to being your best self. This episode is sponsored by ZBiotics. Go to https://zbiotics.com/LEMON and use LEMON at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics. This episode is brought to you by Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at https://shopify.com/lemon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This morning, we’re diving headfirst into the madness. First up: Trump’s plan to deploy the National Guard in D.C. to “combat crime” (which has actually been dropping for years) and to clear out homeless people...because why have even an ounce of humanity when you can flex authoritarian muscle instead? We’ll also dig into the redistricting fight, what’s at stake for the future of elections, and all the other hot topics heating up this week. Joining us is Jennifer Welch of the I’ve Had It podcast, because honestly, after this week’s headlines, she’s not the only one who’s had it. This episode is brought to you by Brickhouse Whey Protein. Switch to BRICKHOUSE WHEY for guaranteed results or your money back. Go to http://thenewwhey.com and use promo code LEMON for 20% off. This episode is brought to you by DeleteMe. Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you text DON to 64000. Message and data rates apply. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/donlemon and get on your way to being your best self. This episode is sponsored by ZBiotics. Go to https://zbiotics.com/LEMON and use LEMON at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics. This episode is brought to you by Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at https://shopify.com/lemon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Earlier today, Trump held an unhinged press conference announcing his plans to take federal control of the D.C. police and deploy the National Guard in the nation’s capital. His justification? “Crime.” The reality? D.C.’s crime stats are at their lowest in years, a detail he conveniently left out. Tonight, we’re joined by Symone Redwine and Jolly to break down the authoritarian vibes, the political theater, and the facts Trump hopes you won’t check. This episode is brought to you by Brickhouse Whey Protein. Switch to BRICKHOUSE WHEY for guaranteed results or your money back. Go to http://thenewwhey.com and use promo code LEMON for 20% off. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/donlemon and get on your way to being your best self. This episode is brought to you by Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at https://shopify.com/lemon This episode is sponsored by Wild Alaskan. Not all fish are the same! Get seafood you can trust. Go to https://wildalaskan.com/LEMON for $35 off your first box of premium, wild-caught seafood. This episode is brought to you by Lean. Doctors created a healthier way to lose weight by capturing the power of natural ingredients -- like CARALLUMA. Let's get you started with 20% off. Use code LEMON20 at https://TAKELEAN.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trump is reportedly considering deploying the National Guard in D.C. to combat crime and remove homeless people. Yes, you read that right, using military force to disappear the most vulnerable. What is this fascist nonsense? He’s holding a press conference on it this morning, and we’re here with all the breaking news and context he won’t give you. Then we’ll pivot to the latest redistricting updates. What exactly is the GOP trying to pull, how far could they get, and what would it mean for the future of our elections? Spoiler: none of it is good for democracy. Buckle up, it’s going to be a wild one. This episode is brought to you by Brickhouse Whey Protein. Switch to BRICKHOUSE WHEY for guaranteed results or your money back. Go to http://thenewwhey.com and use promo code LEMON for 20% off. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/donlemon and get on your way to being your best self. This episode is brought to you by Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at https://shopify.com/lemon This episode is sponsored by Wild Alaskan. Not all fish are the same! Get seafood you can trust. Go to https://wildalaskan.com/LEMON for $35 off your first box of premium, wild-caught seafood. This episode is brought to you by Lean. Doctors created a healthier way to lose weight by capturing the power of natural ingredients -- like CARALLUMA. Let's get you started with 20% off. Use code LEMON20 at https://TAKELEAN.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don sits down with Michael Cohen to break down the news of the day starting with MAGA’s Olympic-level hypocrisy over Texas Democrats leaving the state. (Reminder: Mike Johnson literally sent the House home to avoid an Epstein vote. But sure, tell us more about “doing your job.”) They also dig into the state of Democratic messaging, why it so often feels scattered, and what it’s going to take for the party to get on the same page heading into the next election. Nothing is off limits, hypocrisy will be called out, receipts will be shown. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s been one of those weeks where reality felt like a bad TV script, so naturally, we’re doing a Week in Review special. From the never-ending Epstein-Trump scandal (and the meeting that was… then wasn’t… then totally was) to the Texas redistricting power grab, ICE lowering its hiring bar, and that brutal new South Park episode, we’re covering it all. Joining us is the one and only Godfrey, comedian, truth-teller, and professional nonsense detector, to help us laugh through the chaos while still breaking down the facts. This episode is brought to you by Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at https://shopify.com/lemon This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/donlemon and get on your way to being your best self. This episode is sponsored by Wild Alaskan. Not all fish are the same! Get seafood you can trust. Go to https://wildalaskan.com/LEMON for $35 off your first box of premium, wild-caught seafood. This episode is brought to you by DeleteMe. Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you text DON to 64000. Message and data rates apply. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don sits down with Texas State Rep. James Talarico, one of the Democratic lawmakers who recently left the state in a bold move to block the GOP’s latest push for racially discriminatory gerrymandering. They break down the high-stakes fight in Texas, what’s driving it, why it matters, and what’s really at stake for voters’ rights and the future of democracy. In a moment when taking a stand has never been more important, Rep. Talarico shares why he and his colleagues are willing to put it all on the line. This episode is brought to you by Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at https://shopify.com/lemon This episode is sponsored by DeleteMe. Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you text DON to 64000. Message and data rates apply. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This morning, we start in Texas, where the GOP’s latest redistricting scheme is a masterclass in gerrymandering, and they’re not stopping there. The MAGA playbook is clear: rig the maps, rig the elections, and then roll it out to as many states as possible. Democracy, but make it optional. Then, we’ll dig into the latest jobs numbers and the state of the economy with Sam Caucci, founder and CEO of 1Huddle. What’s working, what’s flopping, and what the data really says. And finally, ICE. They can’t find enough recruits, so their fix is to… drop the requirements. Because apparently “warm body” is now a qualification. This episode is brought to you by Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at https://shopify.com/lemon This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/donlemon and get on your way to being your best self. This episode is sponsored by Wild Alaskan. Not all fish are the same! Get seafood you can trust. Go to https://wildalaskan.com/LEMON for $35 off your first box of premium, wild-caught seafood. This episode is brought to you by DeleteMe. Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you text DON to 64000. Message and data rates apply. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welp… the Epstein meeting saga just keeps getting weirder. First, reports said top Trump officials were gathering to strategize damage control. Then JD Vance called it “fake news.” Now? Turns out it did happen after all. These people couldn’t keep their story straight if you stapled it to them. Meanwhile, in Texas, the redistricting fight is hitting a dangerous new level. Senator John Cornyn says the FBI will help track down Democratic lawmakers who left the state to block the vote. Legal? Constitutional? Sounds like a hard no, but apparently, that’s just a minor detail to the GOP. Tonight, the one and only Beto O’Rourke joins us to break it all down. From shady meetings to political manhunts, it’s a lot. Let’s get into it. This episode is sponsored by ZBiotics. Go to https://zbiotics.com/LEMON and use LEMON at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics. This episode is brought to you by DeleteMe. Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you text DON to 64000. Message and data rates apply. This episode is sponsored by Wild Alaskan. Not all fish are the same! Get seafood you can trust. Go to https://wildalaskan.com/LEMON for $35 off your first box of premium, wild-caught seafood. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/donlemon and get on your way to being your best self. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well, well, well, the big Epstein strategy meeting hosted by JD Vance? Canceled. Yep, the same meeting CNN reported was set for last night to help Team Trump figure out how to contain the Epstein fallout. Now they’re claiming it was “never going to happen.” Sure. Let's unpack the chaos, the walk-backs, and what this says about just how panicked Trump World really is behind the scenes. Then we shift gears to take on the state of the media: How did we get to this point, and why are so many major outlets suddenly so eager to bend the knee to Trump? Where’s the spine? Where’s the journalism? Joining us to break it all down is Perry Bacon Jr. of The New Republic. Don’t miss this one! This episode is sponsored by ZBiotics. Go to https://zbiotics.com/LEMON and use LEMON at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics. This episode is brought to you by DeleteMe. Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you text DON to 64000. Message and data rates apply. This episode is sponsored by Wild Alaskan. Not all fish are the same! Get seafood you can trust. Go to https://wildalaskan.com/LEMON for $35 off your first box of premium, wild-caught seafood. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/donlemon and get on your way to being your best self. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The internet is in full meltdown mode over the new American Eagle ad featuring Sydney Sweeney, but is all the outrage actually missing the point? Don breaks down the backlash, unpacks what’s really fueling it, and explains why letting distractions like this dominate the conversation only helps the people in power stay unaccountable. Let’s refocus. There’s more at stake than denim and headlines. This episode is brought to you by ZBiotics. Go to https://zbiotics.com/LEMONDROPS and use LEMONDROPS at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices