The Don Lemon Show

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 actor George Hahn to break it all down! 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! Did you all see Cory Booker's record-breaking 25 hour speech to congress? It was powerful, inspiring, and has been striking a chord with voters across the nation. Join Monique as she breaks it all down! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Good morning, Lemon Nation! While Don’s on the road today, we’re switching things up. Instead of our usual livestream, we’re sharing a special video featuring highlights from some of Don’s recent Substack interviews. From sharp political insights to unfiltered conversations you won’t see anywhere else, this mashup gives you a taste of what Don’s been cooking over on Substack. If you like what you see, make sure to check out donlemon.com and join us over there for even more exclusive content. We’ll be back live today at 5pm ET. Until then, enjoy the show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to another totally normal day in America, where the stock market is in freefall after Trump’s tariff bombshell, and Trump's MAGA loyalists are acting like everything is fine. Meanwhile, is Elon leaving DOGE? Don breaks down the economic mess, GOP drama, and what it all means for your wallet (and sanity). Plus, we’re joined by the legendary Kara Swisher to help make sense of the madness—with her signature blunt force insight. It’s messy, it’s wild, and it’s very on brand for 2025. Tap in, Lemon Nation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After Trump’s big Rose Garden moment announcing sweeping new tariffs, the stock market did what it does best in a panic: plummet. Investors aren’t buying the “Liberation Day” branding—and neither are we. Don breaks down the economic fallout from yesterday’s announcement, the real-world impact on American consumers and businesses, and whether Trump just declared a trade war on the U.S. economy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don sits down with Owner and CEO of Hickory Nut Gap farm Jamie Ager to dive into the impacts Trump policies are having on the farming community. The Trump administration axed two pandemic-era programs that earmarked millions of dollars for schools and food banks to buy locally grown fruits and vegetables. Consider the implications… Yes, Hickory Nut Gap Farm will be hurt by this move… But so too will underprivileged kids. It’s not hyperbole to say children will go hungry because of this Project 2025 fantasy. Tune in for a conversation you won't want to miss! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump is calling it Liberation Day—but for the economy, it might be more like Detonation Day. Today, he’s rolling out sweeping new tariffs, and economists, business leaders, and everyday Americans are bracing for impact. Will this move tank the stock market? Spark a trade war? Or trigger the kind of economic chaos that hits wallets nationwide? Don goes live to break down what these tariffs mean, who gets hurt, and whether this is strategy—or just more political spectacle with real-world consequences. Join us, Lemon Nation. The stakes just got higher. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey there Lemon Nation! A.I. is getting more advanced by the day. But is it going too far? Journalist Jacob Ward joins us to break down the impacts of recent developments in A.I. Are more people in danger of losing their jobs to A.I. bots? Let’s get into it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For once, there’s some good news for the Dems. Wisconsin voters just delivered a major win in the Supreme Court race—despite Elon Musk throwing his money at it, the people proved elections can’t be bought. And Senator Cory Booker’s record-breaking speech? Finally, a Democrat standing up and doing something with real conviction. But before we get too comfortable, let’s talk about the clouds on the horizon: today is “Liberation Day”—Trump’s tariff blitz is officially underway, and the economic uncertainty is already setting in. Hope is real—but so is the chaos. This morning Don is joined by Congressman Ro Khanna to break it all down. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don sits down with actor, writer, comedian, and host of Larry Wilmore: Black on the Air, the one and only Larry Wilmore, to unpack the drama surrounding Amber Ruffin’s sudden cancellation from the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. What does this say about who gets a platform in political comedy? Why are certain voices still considered too “risky” for the establishment? And how do comedians navigate the fine line between truth-telling and staying invited to the table? Smart, sharp, and unfiltered—this is a conversation you don’t want to miss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Senator Cory Booker took to the floor with a surprise filibuster—and it’s got everyone talking. Is this a bold stand for democracy, or political theater with no real payoff? Don breaks down what prompted Booker’s marathon speech, what he’s fighting for, and whether this move will shift the conversation—or just fade into the noise of a chaotic week in Washington. Join us live as we unpack the message, the moment, and the stakes. Lemon Nation, it’s time to dig in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Has Hillary Clinton finally been vindicated? In a sharp new New York Times op-ed, Hillary Clinton delivers a scathing critique of the Signal-gate scandal—and she’s not pulling punches. After years of being dragged through the mud over her emails, the MAGA crowd’s sudden silence (or spin) is as hypocritical as it is infuriating. But beyond the double standard, the real issue is national security. Tune in for Don's take! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The U.S. is deporting people straight into El Salvador’s brutal prison system—and now the administration has admitted it made at least one mistake. But how many others have been swept up without due process, without evidence, and without a chance to defend themselves? This morning, Don breaks down the disturbing truth behind these deportations, the human cost of these policies, and what it says about where our immigration system is heading. Tune in, Lemon Nation. This one matters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don sits down with writer at large for The New York Times and The New York Times Magazine Jim Rutenberg to dive into Trump's relationship with the media. Is the press still free? Or has Trump damaged it beyond repair? And how did this all start? Join Don and Jim to break it all down! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The next 48 hours could reshape everything. Between Tuesday’s high-stakes special election in Wisconsin and Wednesday’s so-called ‘Liberation Day’—Trump’s dramatic name for the day his new tariffs kick in—the vibes across the country are about to shift hard. Don breaks down how these two flashpoints could drastically impact public perception of the Trump administration, MAGA momentum, and the mood on the street. Will the tides turn—or is this just the beginning of even more chaos? Tune in, Lemon Nation. This one’s big. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trump says he’s not joking about running for a third term—and yes, he meant it. It’s unconstitutional, but since when has that stopped MAGA? As outrage grows across the country—from fiery town hall protests to Tesla takedown rallies—Don breaks down what this means for 2028, the Constitution, and whether the far-right is gearing up to toss the rulebook altogether. Buckle up, Lemon Nation—this one’s wild. 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! Here are the nominees: 🍋 Pete Hegseth – Signal shit-stirrer and full-time flag-waver, part-time functioning alcoholic. 🍋 Mike Waltz – Green Beret turned group chat gossip. Mike Waltz out here spilling national security takes like it’s high school drama. 🍋 Tulsi Gabbard – Former Democrat, current chaos agent, and future guest speaker at whatever fringe conference pays the most. 🍋 Pam Bondi – Florida’s most enthusiastic Trump defender, still treating ethics like a vague suggestion. 🍋 Marco Rubio – Florida senator turned hall monitor, now targeting international students like they’re a threat with a backpack. 🍋 Kristi Noem – Cruelty cosplay enthusiast, fresh off a photo op at a Salvadoran prison. America’s Governor… if you’re into dystopias and puppy killers. Who deserves the title? Who was the absolute worst this week? Join Don and Luenell to break it all down! 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 week, Trump signed an executive order to reshape voter laws in the U.S. How will this impact voters? What should you do to be prepared? Join Monique as she breaks it all down! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lemon Nation, today’s show is packed—and it starts with a disturbing trend: student protesters, here legally on visas, are being detained simply for speaking out. It's a chilling attack on free speech and due process, and it's happening right now. This brings us to puppy-killer Kristi Noem, who decided a photo op at a brutal Salvadoran prison was somehow a flex. Spoiler: it was just plain cruel. And in other news—more cuts to government workers, new slashes at HHS, and a growing number of Trump voters now filled with regret. It’s a whirlwind of chaos, cruelty, and consequences—join us live as we break it all down. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re not just imagining it—Americans are actually getting dumber. This isn’t just about MAGA slogans or the rise of conspiracy theories. A growing body of research shows that across all ages and demographics, test scores in reading comprehension, math, and basic problem-solving are dropping fast. From kids in classrooms to adults in the workplace, the numbers are clear: something is going very wrong. What’s behind this national brain drain—and what does it mean for the future of our country? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 looks at the nonsense around Signalgate and the national security threats it poses. But the security failures don't end there? Join Tara as she breaks it all down. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lemon Nation, it’s a wild news day and we’ve got a stacked show for you.🔥 We’re diving into the Atlantic’s bombshell story now being called Signalgate—where Trump’s team accidentally added a reporter to a group chat discussing military strikes. It's a scandal most people are pretty concerned about...that is unless you believe MAGA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let's talk about a moment that’s been making waves across Washington — one that you may feel conflicted about. At a Human Rights Campaign dinner, Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett referred to Texas Governor Greg Abbott as “Governor Hot Wheels.” Yes, the joke missed the mark, but the outrage from MAGA is absurdly hypocritical. Tune in for Don's take! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lemon Nation, we’re back again—because this story just keeps getting messier. The war plan group chat scandal is blowing up, and now the big question is: who’s getting fired? Senator Marco Rubio is already throwing Mike Waltz under the bus, and the blame game inside Trump’s circle has officially begun. Will anyone actually be held accountable? Or will it be more finger-pointing and gaslighting while national security takes a back seat? Tonight, we’re breaking down the fallout, the internal drama, and who might be next on the chopping block. Don’t miss it—join us live! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices