The Don Lemon Show

What started as protests against ICE raids has spiraled into something far more dangerous. Despite California officials saying they had things under control, Trump has now deployed not just the National Guard, but marines and even more National Guard to Los Angeles, all without the state’s consent. Governor Gavin Newsom is calling it what it is: federal overreach. So… is this a violation of states’ rights? Is Trump trying to provoke violence for political gain? And if this can happen in California, what’s stopping it from happening in your state next? Let's break it all down. The power grab, the escalation, the implications. Is this what autocracy looks like in America? ...Yeah. It kind of is. Join us for receipts, resistance, and absolutely no sugarcoating. WE HAVE MERCH!! Purchase here: https://don-lemon-merch-store.myshopify.com/ This episode is brought to you by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Go to https://FFRF.US/Freedom or text DON to 511 511 and become a member today. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/donlemon and get on your way to being your best self. This episode is brought to you by Beam. Visit https://shopbeam.com/LEMON and use code LEMON to get our exclusive discount of up to 40% off. This episode is brought to you by Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at SHOPIFY. COM/lemon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This conversation was too good to keep buried in the Substack archives. In this candid and wide-ranging sit-down, Don Lemon is joined by political analyst and writer Ahmed Baba to talk about the chaos of the current political moment and why independent media is more essential than ever. From the grift-filled mess that is Trump’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” to the hilariously public meltdown of the Trump/Elon bromance, nothing is off-limits. Smart. Sharp. And very snarky. You won’t want to miss it. WE HAVE MERCH!! Purchase here: https://don-lemon-merch-store.myshopify.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the second time today, we’re going live to break down the disturbing escalation in Los Angeles. Protests against ICE raids turned into a national crisis after Trump deployed the National Guard without California’s request, the first time a president has done that in decades. And now? The administration is reportedly preparing to deploy Marines. Yes, you read that right. Marines. Against civilians. For protesting. California officials are demanding they leave. Trump and his cabinet are doubling down. So we have to ask: Is this the American Gestapo? Has protest officially been reclassified as a threat to MAGA authority? Join us as we dig into the constitutional chaos, the growing authoritarian playbook, and what this all means for democracy, free speech, and your right to fight back. Spoiler alert: It’s not looking great. WE HAVE MERCH!! Purchase here: https://don-lemon-merch-store.myshopify.com/ This episode is brought to you by Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at SHOPIFY. COM/lemon This episode is sponsored by Lean. Get started with 20% off when you enter LEMON20 at takelean.com. This episode is brought to you by Beam. Visit https://shopbeam.com/LEMON and use code LEMON to get our exclusive discount of up to 40% off. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/donlemon and get on your way to being your best self. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thousands of Los Angeles residents hit the streets to protest ICE’s increasingly aggressive raids, exercising their First Amendment rights, as Americans tend to do. But instead of listening or de-escalating, Donald Trump decided to call in the National Guard. That’s right: federal troops, deployed without the governor’s request for the first time in decades. California officials are demanding they stand down. Trump’s cabinet is doubling down. So the question is: Are we witnessing the rise of an American Gestapo? Is this just more MAGA authoritarian cosplay, or something far more dangerous? We’re digging into the legal, political, and moral chaos of the moment, because if the federal government is now targeting citizens for protesting injustice… that’s not law and order. That’s a crackdown. Buckle up, Lemon Nation. This is not normal. WE HAVE MERCH!! Purchase here: https://don-lemon-merch-store.myshopify.com/ This episode is brought to you by Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at SHOPIFY. COM/lemon This episode is sponsored by Lean. Get started with 20% off when you enter LEMON20 at takelean.com. This episode is brought to you by Beam. Visit https://shopbeam.com/LEMON and use code LEMON to get our exclusive discount of up to 40% off. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/donlemon and get on your way to being your best self. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don Lemon sits down with acclaimed Broadway producer Brian Anthony Moreland for a powerful conversation about representation, storytelling, and the transformative power of theatre. As the only Black lead producer on Broadway this season, Moreland is making waves with the bold new revival of Othello. Whether you’re a theatre lover or just someone who believes in the power of art to shape culture, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss. This episode is sponsored 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

Legal analyst, political commentator, and host of Make It Make Sense Daily, Monique Pressley is back with another sharp and unfiltered episode of The Week With Monique! This time, she’s unpacking the epic fallout between Donald Trump and Elon Musk—because of course the fate of the nation is being shaped by two fragile egos in full public meltdown. How did we end up here? And more importantly, what does their messy breakup mean for the rest of us? Monique breaks it all down with insight, receipts, and just the right amount of side-eye. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s Day 2 of the Trump–Elon Split, and the drama is only getting juicier. As the public feud between Donald Trump and Elon Musk escalates, we’re bringing in our Lemon Legends to weigh in on the pettiness, the power plays, and the fallout. Who’s winning this breakup? Who’s losing their mind? And what does this messy meltdown mean for the rest of us? Join Don and the Legends for a wild ride through ego, influence, and the end of a very weird bromance. WE HAVE MERCH!! Purchase here: https://don-lemon-merch-store.myshopify.com/ This episode is brought to you by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Go to https://FFRF.US/Freedom or text DON to 511 511 and become a member today. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/donlemon and get on your way to being your best self. This episode is sponsored by Lean. Get started with 20% off when you enter LEMON20 at takelean.com. This episode is brought to you by Beam. Visit https://shopbeam.com/LEMON and use code LEMON to get our exclusive discount of up to 40% off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to another morning in America, where two of the world's pettiest billionaires are beefing...loudly, publicly, and stupidly. Today, we’re breaking down all the drama as we head into Day 2 of the Trump/Elon meltdown. The insults are flying, the egos are bruised, and Tesla stock is already feeling the heat. Who comes out on top in this mess? More importantly… what does this feud mean for the rest of us mere mortals trying to survive their chaos? Grab your coffee. It’s going to be another absurd ride. WE HAVE MERCH!! Purchase here: https://don-lemon-merch-store.myshopify.com/ This episode is brought to you by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Go to https://FFRF.US/Freedom or text DON to 511 511 and become a member today. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/donlemon and get on your way to being your best self. This episode is sponsored by Lean. Get started with 20% off when you enter LEMON20 at takelean.com. This episode is brought to you by Beam. Visit https://shopbeam.com/LEMON and use code LEMON to get our exclusive discount of up to 40% off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Billionaires Are Behaving Badly. Don Lemon sat down with the Jolly Good Ginger to break down the chaos in the news cycle—and just as they started rolling, the Elon Musk vs. Donald Trump feud exploded. From the petty jabs to the wild accusations, Don and Jolly dive into it all with razor-sharp insight and plenty of laughs. It’s egos, grift, and grade-A drama served with a side of truth. Don’t miss this hilarious and unfiltered take on the stories dominating the headlines. This episode is sponsored 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

It’s not a bromance—it’s a breakup! Elon Musk and Donald Trump are officially in their messy public feud era. From cryptic jabs to full-blown accusations (yes, Elon just suggested Trump is in the Epstein files), this split is playing out like a Real Housewives reunion, but with more billionaires and less accountability. What set it off? What does it mean for MAGA world? And is this just the beginning of an even uglier war between two egos too big to share the spotlight? Tonight, Don is joined by the brilliant Joy Reid and Reecie Colbert to unpack the drama, the fallout, and what this chaos means for the future of politics, tech, and whatever the hell this country is turning into. Don’t miss it. WE HAVE MERCH!! Purchase here: https://don-lemon-merch-store.myshopify.com/ This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/donlemon and get on your way to being your best self. This episode is brought to you by Beam. Visit https://shopbeam.com/LEMON and use code LEMON to get our exclusive discount of up to 40% off. This episode is sponsored by Lean. Get started with 20% off when you enter LEMON20 at takelean.com. This episode is brought to you by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Go to https://FFRF.US/Freedom or text DON to 511 511 and become a member today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CNN’s Jim Acosta joins Don Lemon to break down all the chaos dominating the headlines—from Trump’s ongoing grift to Elon Musk’s messy political pivot, to the so-called 'Big Beautiful Bill' that’s anything but. No spin, no fluff—just two seasoned journalists digging into what matters, what’s broken, and what’s next. This episode is sponsored 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

🐔 Another day, another flop from the so-called “deal maker.” Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” is crashing and burning, with his own allies turning on it. Even Elon Musk is calling it an abomination. And while Trump throws tantrums about the Fed and threatens tariffs he never actually enforces, everyday Americans are stuck waiting for the economic “greatness” he keeps promising but never delivers. Let's break down all the ways Trump is flailing: 🚫 No legislative wins 📉 No economic boom 🐓 Just a whole lot of backtracking, finger-pointing, and failure Tune in as we unpack the mess! WE HAVE MERCH!! Purchase here: https://don-lemon-merch-store.myshopify.com/ This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/donlemon and get on your way to being your best self. This episode is brought to you by Beam. Visit https://shopbeam.com/LEMON and use code LEMON to get our exclusive discount of up to 40% off. This episode is sponsored by Lean. Get started with 20% off when you enter LEMON20 at takelean.com. This episode is brought to you by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Go to https://FFRF.US/Freedom or text DON to 511 511 and become a member today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don Lemon sits down with Democratic strategist and former senior advisor to Kamala Harris, Mike Nellis, for a candid conversation about the 2024 election fallout. From strategic missteps to messaging failures, they unpack how Democrats lost ground and what it will take to rebuild. Can the party course-correct before 2028? What issues are voters actually prioritizing? And is the current leadership up to the challenge? It’s real talk, tough truths, and a blueprint for what comes next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

White House press secretary turned author Karine Jean-Pierre is making headlines, this time for her new book Independent (dropping this October) and her surprise announcement that she’s leaving the Democratic Party to register as… you guessed it… an Independent. Yes, the same Karine who served as the voice of the Biden administration and a key mouthpiece for the Democratic Party is now singing a different tune. So what gives? Is this a principled shift or a carefully timed rebrand? Join us as we break down what this move really means, how it’s being received inside the Beltway, and whether this is a quiet rebuke of the party… or just a savvy pivot ahead of 2028. WE HAVE MERCH!! Purchase here: https://don-lemon-merch-store.myshopify.com/ This episode is sponsored by Lean. Get started with 20% off when you enter LEMON20 at takelean.com. This episode is brought to you by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Go to https://FFRF.US/Freedom or text DON to 511 511 and become a member today. This episode is brought to you by Beam. Visit https://shopbeam.com/LEMON and use code LEMON to get our exclusive discount of up to 40% off. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/donlemon and get on your way to being your best self. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Legacy news is in freefall, with ratings plummeting and more Americans opting to turn away from traditional mainstream news sources. And to make things worse, the Trump administration is ready to kick it while it’s down, slashing funding to public broadcasting altogether. Why? Because informed citizens are inconvenient when you're trying to run a disinformation campaign from the Oval Office. As Americans turn away from traditional outlets and toward independent media, we ask: what’s next? Can the media rebuild public trust? Or is this the final season of “Mainstream Media: The Series”? Journalist Oliver Darcy joins us to unpack the collapse, the consequences, and the chaos. Is this the end of an era? WE HAVE MERCH!! Purchase here: https://don-lemon-merch-store.myshopify.com/ This episode is sponsored by Lean. Get started with 20% off when you enter LEMON20 at takelean.com. This episode is brought to you by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Go to https://FFRF.US/Freedom or text DON to 511 511 and become a member today. This episode is brought to you by Beam. Visit https://shopbeam.com/LEMON and use code LEMON to get our exclusive discount of up to 40% off. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/donlemon and get on your way to being your best self. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey Lemon Nation! There's trouble in Big Beautiful Paradise! Freshly departed from the Trump administration, Elon Musk has called MAGA's spending bill a "disgusting abomination," triggering responses from both Republicans and Democrats. Join Don at 5pm EST to break down all of the drama! WE HAVE MERCH!! Purchase here: https://don-lemon-merch-store.myshopify.com/ This episode is brought to you by Beam. Visit https://shopbeam.com/LEMON and use code LEMON to get our exclusive discount of up to 40% off. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/donlemon and get on your way to being your best self. This episode is sponsored by Lean. Get started with 20% off when you enter LEMON20 at takelean.com. This episode is brought to you by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Go to https://FFRF.US/Freedom or text DON to 511 511 and become a member today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get ready for a no-holds-barred conversation as Don sits down with the legendary Kathy Griffin for a wild, witty, and wildly real discussion. They get into everything...Trump, MAGA madness, the high stakes of the 2028 election, the state of the media (it’s not great), and how we fight back. Plus, Kathy opens up about what Pride Month means to her and why now is the time to speak up, stand up, and stop sugarcoating. It’s unfiltered. It’s fearless. And it’s exactly what you need right now. This episode is sponsored 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

Why is everyone so scared of Donald Trump? Let's dive into the troubling trend of institutions bending the knee to the orange overlord. From major law firms cutting shady deals to stay in Trump’s good graces (and losing real clients in the process), to media outlets softening coverage, playing the “both sides” game, or settling lawsuits they should have fought, cowardice is the word of the day. And it doesn’t stop there. Social media companies have started implementing Trump’s whims like he’s their CEO, and even universities like Columbia are folding faster than a cheap suit, caving to pressure and handing him political wins on a silver platter. Where’s the spine? Where’s the resistance? If we don’t push back now, we’re handing over the country to fear, fascism, and a fragile ego in a red tie. Let’s break it all down and call out the cowardice. WE HAVE MERCH!! Purchase here: https://don-lemon-merch-store.myshopify.com/ This episode is brought to you by Beam. Visit https://shopbeam.com/LEMON and use code LEMON to get our exclusive discount of up to 40% off. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/donlemon and get on your way to being your best self. This episode is sponsored by Lean. Get started with 20% off when you enter LEMON20 at takelean.com. This episode is brought to you by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Go to https://FFRF.US/Freedom or text DON to 511 511 and become a member today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey there Lemon Nation! We have some exclusive insight into the Diddy trial. We are joined by attorney and legal analyst Symone Redwine to break it all down! Then...let's dive into Pride. The rainbows are still up, the hashtags still trending, but the joy feels a little quieter. Why? Because while we celebrate visibility, MAGA is waging an all-out war on it. Corporate America? Folding faster than a lawn chair. Companies once flaunting rainbows are now cowering in the face of backlash, choosing profit over principle. Because apparently, “inclusion” is only marketable when it’s easy. So if you’re angry, you’re not alone. If you’re scared, you’re not alone. And if you’re ready to fight back? You’re exactly where you need to be. 🌈✊ This episode is brought to you by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Go to https://FFRF.US/Freedom or text DON to 511 511 and become a member today. This episode is sponsored by Lean. Get started with 20% off when you enter LEMON20 at takelean.com. This episode is brought to you by Beam. Visit https://shopbeam.com/LEMON and use code LEMON to get our exclusive discount of up to 40% off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Republican Senator Joni Ernst responded to concerns about Medicaid cuts with the ever-comforting words: “We’re all going to die.” Cool cool cool. Tonight, we’re unpacking the very real consequences of that mindset, from RFK Jr. and HHS slashing vaccine research funding, to the Trump administration quietly limiting COVID vaccine access, to MAGA gutting support for our nation’s top scientific research institutions. Public health? Who needs it! Join us as we ask: Is this just cruelty as policy, or is there an actual plan? Either way, buckle up. The nihilism is bipartisan, but the damage is disproportionately MAGA. Let’s break it all down with facts, fury, and just enough humor to survive the news cycle. This episode is brought to you by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Go to https://FFRF.US/Freedom or text DON to 511 511 and become a member today. This episode is sponsored by Lean. Get started with 20% off when you enter LEMON20 at takelean.com. This episode is brought to you by Beam. Visit https://shopbeam.com/LEMON and use code LEMON to get our exclusive discount of up to 40% off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Legal analyst, political commentator, and host of Make It Make Sense Daily, Monique Pressley is back with another episode of The Week With Monique! This time, we’re talking about pardons...Trump-style. Once a solemn and rare presidential power, pardons have now become a VIP perk for anyone who can offer Trump enough praise and cash. Fraud? Violence? Treason-lite? No problem, just kiss the ring and open your wallet. Monique breaks down how Trump has turned clemency into a loyalty program for the rich, the corrupt, and the sycophantic. What does this mean for justice in America? Let’s make it make sense. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

🍋 Buckle up, Lemon Nation, it’s time for another Sour Lemon Special! 🍋 Each week, we round up the most shameless, unhinged, and flat-out dangerous antics from the people supposedly in charge, and this week’s circus does not disappoint. Elon’s doing whatever the hell that was again, RFK Jr. is putting public health in a chokehold, and Candace Owens is spreading lies like it’s a full-time job (because... it is). And that’s just the beginning. Who will walk away with the crown for Worst Human of the Week? That’s for you to decide. Don Lemon and George Hahn are bringing the facts, the snark, and absolutely no mercy. 🍋🔥 This episode is sponsored by MSI Choices. Every woman deserves a choice. Rush your donation today to MSIUNITEDSTATES.ORG, or text "LEMON" to 511 511. Text Fees may apply. This episode is brought to you 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. 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 SHOPIFY. COM/lemon Catch Don Lemon and DL Hughley at City Winery NYC Live on Monday, June 23rd at 7:30 PM! Buy tickets here: https://citywinery.com/new-york-city/events/dl-dl-anything-goes-don-lemon-and-dl-hughley-5hj4zs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey there, Lemon Nation! Turns out, the resistance is alive and well. Across the country, voters are showing up to Republican town halls, demanding answers and calling out the chaos of Trump’s unconstitutional agenda. From healthcare rollbacks to mass deportations to gutting social programs, folks have had enough, and they’re making noise. This morning, we’re joined by Congressman Robert Garcia, who’s been making waves in D.C. as one of the boldest voices pushing back against the MAGA machine. What’s working? What’s next? And how can we all keep the pressure on? Let’s break it down. This episode is sponsored by MSI Choices. Every woman deserves a choice. Rush your donation today to MSIUNITEDSTATES.ORG, or text "LEMON" to 511 511. Text Fees may apply. This episode is brought to you 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. 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 SHOPIFY. COM/lemon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don sat down with the Jolly Good Ginger to dive into the MAGA chaos facing the country. And they have a message for white people... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just what we needed...more chaos. Tonight on Lemon Live at 5, Don is back with the Lemon Legends to break down the latest headlines. First up: Are we staring down another pandemic? The Department of Health and Human Services just pulled funding for the bird flu vaccine… because why not gamble with public health? Then, in a legal whiplash moment, an appeals court has frozen the freeze —meaning Trump’s tariffs are back on… for now. Who's keeping track anymore? Join us for the facts, the snark, and the breakdowns (both political and emotional). This episode is sponsored by MSI Choices. Every woman deserves a choice. Rush your donation today to MSIUNITEDSTATES.ORG, or text "LEMON" to 511 511. Text Fees may apply. This episode is brought to you 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. 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 SHOPIFY. COM/lemon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump is all in on crypto — but where did this obsession come from? And what does it say about the state of politics, power, and profit? Following his high-profile crypto summit, journalist Jacob Ward joins us to unpack Trump’s evolving relationship with cryptocurrency. From past skepticism to present-day grift, we dig into how this pivot happened, what it means, and why it matters. Spoiler: When Trump finds a hustle, he doesn’t let go. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices