The Don Lemon Show

Deadly tornadoes just tore through Kentucky and Missouri, leaving devastation in their path and thousands still waiting on FEMA aid that hasn’t shown up. Not exactly shocking, considering Trump and the MAGA crew gutted the agency, slashing resources and stacking it with loyalists instead of experts. So now, with more severe storms on the way, communities are left asking: what are we supposed to do? Don breaks down the impact of these storms, the disgraceful delay in federal response, and how disaster relief has become just another casualty of this administration’s war on competence. Because when you dismantle government on purpose, don’t be surprised when it doesn’t show up. 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 brought to you by Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at SHOPIFY. COM/lemon This episode of The Don Lemon Show is sponsored by 120 Life. Go to https://120life.com and use the code, “D-O-N ” to save 20% 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. 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

In a move that feels ripped from a dystopian satire, the Justice Department is now using the False Claims Act (yes, the one meant to catch fraud) to go after universities and institutions with diversity programs. Because under the Trump administration, fighting racism is now considered racist, and DEI efforts are somehow the real threat to America. Let’s be clear, this isn’t about fraud. It’s about targeting institutions Trump sees as too liberal, too inclusive, or just too inconvenient. It’s red meat for the base and a direct attack on the communities already fighting for visibility and opportunity. Don breaks it all down...the legal tactics, the political theater, and what this crackdown on DEI means for the future of equity in education and beyond. 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 brought to you by Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at SHOPIFY. COM/lemon This episode of The Don Lemon Show is sponsored by 120 Life. Go to https://120life.com and use the code, “D-O-N ” to save 20% 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joe Biden’s recent cancer diagnosis has sparked concern across the country, and predictably, it’s also unleashed some of the worst takes imaginable from MAGA world. Leading the charge? Vice President J.D. Vance, who wasted no time turning a serious health issue into a political cheap shot. Because empathy, apparently, isn't part of the America First platform. Tune in for Don's take! 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

Trump is proudly promoting his latest masterpiece: the “Big Beautiful Bill.” But like most things in MAGA-world, the branding is shinier than the substance. This bill is packed with cuts to Medicaid, funding for mass deportations, and a slew of policies that read less like legislation and more like a wishlist from a dystopian fever dream. Unsurprisingly, it’s facing major hurdles in Congress, and not just from Democrats. Tonight, Don breaks down what’s actually in the bill, who it would hurt, and what happens if it somehow passes. Spoiler: it’s not “big” and “beautiful”...it’s just brutal. Let’s unpack the spin, the substance, and what it means for everyday Americans who aren’t billionaires or immigration officers. This episode of The Don Lemon Show 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 Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at SHOPIFY. COM/lemon 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 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

President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with cancer, and while those close to him are keeping the messaging measured, the questions are piling up. Did he know earlier? What did this mean for his ability to serve? And how does this revelation fit with the recent wave of reporters and former allies openly questioning his mental fitness while in office? Let’s get into the facts, the speculation, and the uncomfortable truth about aging, power, and political denial. This episode of The Don Lemon Show 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 Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at SHOPIFY. COM/lemon 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 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

The Democratic Party is once again setting itself on fire...this time over David Hogg, the 25-year-old DNC vice chair who's daring to suggest that maybe, just maybe, some underperforming lawmakers should face a primary. Now party leadership is scrambling to push him out instead of, you know, listening to him. Why are they doing this? And why is bold, youth-led change always treated like a threat? Let’s talk about the real problem and why the Dems can’t stop tripping over their own messaging. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey there Lemon Nation! Today, Legal analyst, political commentator and Host of the Make It Make Sense Daily Digital Show, Monique Pressley brings us a new episode of The Week With Monique! This past week, we saw a lot of MAGA policies that were obviously driven by racism...and even more that will disproportionately hurt marginalized communities. But it looks like poor white communities may also see some trouble. Join Monique to break it all down! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to The Sour Lemon Special! Every week, we break down the most outrageous, corrupt, and downright awful behavior from the people in power—and this time, we’ve got a stacked lineup of contestants. Who will take home the title of this week’s Sour Lemon? You decide! Join Don and comedian Akilah Hughes to break it all down! This episode is brought to you by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Go to FFRF.US/Freedom or text DON to 511 511 and become a member today. This episode of The Don Lemon Show 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 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 BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/donlemon and get on your way to being your best self. 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

Just when you thought we’d hit peak dystopia, DHS and “ICE Barbie” Kristi Noem are reportedly considering a new reality show where immigrants compete for U.S. citizenship. Yes, seriously. The working title? “The American.” Because apparently, we’re now turning human rights into primetime entertainment. How would it work? Who decides who’s “American enough”? And how did we go from give us your tired, your poor to give us a good camera angle and a sob story? Don breaks down the terrifyingly real details of this immigration-as-reality-TV nightmare and what it says about the current administration’s obsession with cruelty as content. Because apparently deportation wasn’t humiliating enough without a ratings bump. This episode is brought to you by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Go to FFRF.US/Freedom or text DON to 511 511 and become a member today. This episode of The Don Lemon Show 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 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 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 sits down with the authors of Cop Cop: Breaking the Fixed System of American Policing for a powerful conversation about what's really broken in U.S. law enforcement and how we start to fix it. From entrenched culture to lack of accountability, they unpack how the system too often protects itself instead of the people it serves...and how marginalized communities bear the brunt of the consequences. What would real reform look like? And is it even possible without completely rethinking the role of police in American society? It’s honest, urgent, and a conversation we need right now. This episode is brought to you by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Go to FFRF.US/Freedom or text DON to 511 511 and become a member today. This episode of The Don Lemon Show 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 Beam. Visit https://shopbeam.com/LEMON and use code LEMON to get our exclusive discount of up to 40% off. This episode of The Don Lemon Show is sponsored by Wild Alaskan. Go to wildalaskan.com/LEMON for $35 off your first box of premium, wild-caught seafood. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Grok AI is out here serving up white genocide conspiracy theories....unprompted. And when asked why, it casually admitted it had been instructed to do so. So... who gave those instructions? (Cough cough Elon, anyone?) Tonight, Don is joined by tech journalist Taylor Lorenz to break down what’s really going on with Grok, why it’s pushing dangerous far-right talking points, and what this means for the future of AI, information, and basic reality. Is this just a bug? A feature? Or is your algorithm now just another foot soldier in a culture war? Let’s get into it before the bots gaslight us all. This episode of The Don Lemon Show is sponsored by Wild Alaskan. Go to https://wildalaskan.com/LEMON for $35 off your first box of premium, wild-caught seafood. This episode of The Don Lemon Show 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 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 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 there Lemon Community! Co-Founder and CEO of The Seneca Project, Tara Setmayer brings us this week's episode of The Setmayer Sound Off! Tara dives into the corruption surrounding Trump and his MAGA cabinet...corruption that seems to be out in the open. Join Tara to break it all down! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kristi Noem faced real pushback from Democrats (finally), as lawmakers grilled her over her growing resume of poor decisions. Meanwhile, RFK Jr. tried to hold court at his own hearing only to be disrupted by protesters and pressed by lawmakers who actually still believe in facts. Imagine that. And of course, Marjorie Taylor Greene is back at it. This time trying to submit personal opinions as actual evidence in a hearing. Thankfully, Dems have had enough and are pushing back hard. From misinformation to courtroom cosplay, today’s political drama proves one thing: the chaos isn’t slowing down, but at least someone’s finally fighting back. Let’s get into it. 🍋 This episode of The Don Lemon Show is sponsored by Wild Alaskan. Go to https://wildalaskan.com/LEMON for $35 off your first box of premium, wild-caught seafood. This episode of The Don Lemon Show 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 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 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

Donald Trump is on a deportation spree, shipping out refugees from across the globe, often without due process. But somehow, white South African farmers are being welcomed with open arms. Wonder why? (Spoiler: it’s racism.) To break down what’s really happening in South Africa and where this “white genocide” myth came from, Don sits down with Simon Allison, co-founder of The Continent and one of the smartest voices covering the region. They unpack the dangerous misinformation fueling U.S. immigration policy, what the data actually says (hint: there is NO white genocide), and how South Africa’s complex challenges are being twisted to serve far-right fantasies. It’s time to separate fact from fear-mongering and call out the hypocrisy for what it is. This episode is brought to you by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Go to FFRF.US/Freedom or text DON to 511 511 and become a member today. This episode of The Don Lemon Show 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 Beam. Visit https://shopbeam.com/LEMON and use code LEMON to get our exclusive discount of up to 40% off. This episode of The Don Lemon Show is sponsored by Wild Alaskan. Go to wildalaskan.com/LEMON for $35 off your first box of premium, wild-caught seafood. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Buckle up, Lemon Nation, today’s news cycle is doing the most. First up, the Diddy trial continues, with Cassie Ventura testifying for a second day. The details? Let’s just say they’re deeply disturbing and very, very salacious. We’ll break down the latest from inside the courtroom and what it could mean going forward. Then, Grok AI (yes, Musk’s pet chatbot project) is apparently serving up “white genocide” conspiracy content without even being asked. Let’s be clear: white genocide is not happening in South Africa...but disinformation definitely is, and now AI is helping spread it. And finally, an update on the Menendez brothers. We’ve got new developments in their sentencing saga, decades after the case first captivated the country. Celebrity scandal, AI chaos, and a true crime twist...welcome to 2025. Let’s get into it. 🍋 This episode of The Don Lemon Show 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 Beam. Visit https://shopbeam.com/LEMON and use code LEMON to get our exclusive discount of up to 40% off. This episode of The Don Lemon Show 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 the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Go to FFRF.US/Freedom or text DON to 511 511 and become a member today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AI is worming its way into every corner of our lives, and now Google and OpenAI are knocking on the White House’s door, asking for permission to train their models on copyrighted material. Yep, they want to feed the machines your favorite books, songs, and scripts...all without paying the people who made them. So what does that mean for artists, writers, and creatives who still rely on, you know, being paid for their work? Journalist Jacob Ward joins us to break down how this could reshape (or bulldoze) the creative industries. Are we about to hand over human creativity to the algorithm overlords? Or is there still room for actual people in a world increasingly built by bots? Let’s get into it—before the machines write this show, too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Diddy trial continues to grip the nation. After Cassie Ventura’s emotional testimony, all eyes are on what’s next. This morning, TMZ’s Charles Latibeaudiere joins Don to break down the latest developments, the legal implications, and where this high-profile case may be headed. Then we pivot to the ongoing political chaos, because what else would 2025 bring? Trump is reportedly accepting a $400 million private jet from Qatar. Yes, you read that right. No, it’s not ethically allowed. But that hasn’t stopped him before. The grift is no longer subtle, and even some MAGA loyalists are starting to squint a little at the golden plane-shaped red flag. Scandal, corruption, and courtroom drama...it’s all happening. Tune in. 🍋 This episode of The Don Lemon Show 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 Beam. Visit https://shopbeam.com/LEMON and use code LEMON to get our exclusive discount of up to 40% off. This episode of The Don Lemon Show 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 the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Go to 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 is back! It’s been a rough few weeks. Don sits down with Michael Cohen to break it all down. WATCH & Subscribe on YouTube @TheDonLemonShow! Become a member of our channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXs0PlIGUDSXfBaF7j-1euA/join Follow Don on Substack at donlemon.com! Listen on Apple, Spotify and iHeart Radio! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s Day 2 of the Diddy trial, and things are heating up. Cassie has taken the stand. What did she say, and how might her testimony reshape the case? Don breaks it all down. But that’s not the only chaos we’re tracking. Over in the Trump administration, ethics are once again being treated like a suggestion. Qatar is reportedly gifting a $400 million plane to the U.S. but somehow Trump’s crew is treating it like a personal toy. Even worse? Trump allegedly plans to keep it when he leaves office. Because what’s a little international corruption between friends, right? From celebrity courtroom drama to high-level grifting, we’ve got it all tonight. Welcome to America, 2025. This episode of The Don Lemon Show 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 BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/donlemon and get on your way to being your best self. This episode of The Don Lemon Show 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 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

Don is back! And so is the news circus we call America. First up, Trump’s tariff “win” with China, which is actually a massive walk-back after the economy started gasping for air. He created the crisis, hit pause, and now wants a trophy for it. Spoiler: we’re not buying it. Then there’s the refugee situation. White South African farmers are being welcomed with open arms, while refugees from Black and brown countries are being rounded up, deported, and tossed into mass detention centers without due process. So much for "equal treatment under the law." Don breaks it all down, the spin, the racism, and the chaos you deserve to understand without the nonsense. Glad to be back. Let’s get into it. 🍋 This episode of The Don Lemon Show 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 BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/donlemon and get on your way to being your best self. This episode of The Don Lemon Show is sponsored by Wild Alaskan. Go to wildalaskan.com/LEMON for $35 off your first box of premium, wild-caught seafood. 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

Tonight, we’re diving into the chaos of the day...because there’s a lot. First up: Trump’s tariff “win” that’s actually a loss. He blinked, paused the China tariffs, and now he’s trying to spin it like a masterstroke. Don’t fall for it. When the markets tank and you retreat, that’s called backing down, not “playing 4D chess.” Then we get into the deeply telling policy shift: White South African farmers are being granted refugee status, while Black and brown refugees are being thrown into mass detention centers with no due process. Tell us more about how this isn’t about race. And finally, we’ll bring you the latest in the Diddy trial. What happened in court today, what’s next, and what it means as this high-profile case unfolds.\ Joining us tonight: journalist and author Jemele Hill, and attorney and author Areva Martin...two sharp minds to help us unpack it all. Grab a drink. It’s going to be a ride. 🍋 This episode is brought to you by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Go to FFRF.US/Freedom or text DON to 511 511 and become a member today. This episode of The Don Lemon Show 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 Beam. Visit https://shopbeam.com/LEMON and use code LEMON to get our exclusive discount of up to 40% off. This episode of The Don Lemon Show is sponsored by Wild Alaskan. Go to wildalaskan.com/LEMON for $35 off your first box of premium, wild-caught seafood. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trump is now calling for pharmaceutical price cuts and floating tax hikes on the rich, and suddenly long-held GOP talking points are… looking suspiciously like Democratic policies. So what’s happening here? Is this the dawn of Trumpian socialism? Or are Democratic ideas only “evil” until Trump decides to rebrand them as his own? Let's dive into the ideological blender that is MAGA in 2025. Do they have any real principles? Or is the platform now just “whatever Dear Leader said this morning on Truth Social”? It’s not left. It’s not right. It’s just chaos in a red hat. This episode is brought to you by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Go to FFRF.US/Freedom or text DON to 511 511 and become a member today. This episode of The Don Lemon Show 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 Beam. Visit https://shopbeam.com/LEMON and use code LEMON to get our exclusive discount of up to 40% off. This episode of The Don Lemon Show is sponsored by Wild Alaskan. Go to wildalaskan.com/LEMON for $35 off your first box of premium, wild-caught seafood. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don sits down with journalist and author Charles Blow at Baldwin & Co. bookstore for a powerful and timely conversation about what a second Trump presidency means for Black America. What now? What’s at stake? And how should the Black community engage with an administration that has repeatedly shown hostility toward its interests? This is an unfiltered, deeply personal conversation about strategy, survival, and strength in uncertain times. Don’t miss it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey there Lemon Nation! Today, Legal analyst, political commentator and Host of the Make It Make Sense Daily Digital Show, Monique Pressley brings us a new episode of The Week With Monique! We have a new pope! He is the first American to hold the title. But is he also the first black pope? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just when you think it can’t get weirder, it does. Today, Trump is meeting with Beijing officials and signaling he might lower China tariffs to 80% (because economic chaos is apparently a feature, not a bug). Meanwhile, he’s appointed Jeanine Pirro (yes, that Jeanine Pirro from Fox News) as the new U.S. Attorney for D.C., in case you were wondering if the justice system could get more politicized. And if that weren’t enough whiplash, the country is still processing the news of a new American pope, which has sent MAGA world into a fresh meltdown over the Catholic Church not falling in line with their culture war agenda. This morning, Reecie Colbert joins us to break it all down, from courtroom cosplay to tariff tap-dancing, and what it all means for a country that can barely catch its breath. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The conclave has spoken and the world has a new Pope. He’s a centrist, aiming to balance tradition with modernity. But of course, that’s not sitting well with the MAGA crowd, who were apparently hoping for a pope that quoted Fox News and issued communion with a side of culture war. Now, right-wing Twitter is in meltdown mode, accusing the Vatican of “going woke” (because what isn’t woke these days?) and demanding a pope who reflects their version of morality. This episode is sponsored by Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at SHOPIFY. COM/lemon 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 the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Whether you’ve always been secular or left religion behind, if you don’t want someone else dictating the trip for you, F-F-R-F has your back. Join us. Go to FFRF.US/Freedom or text the word, “DON” to five eleven five eleven and become a member today. Text fees may apply. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices