The Don Lemon Show

This morning we’re breaking down the latest batch of Epstein files, and once again, they contain multiple references to Donald Trump. At this point, the administration’s continued denial of Trump’s ties to Epstein is beyond implausible. It’s absurd. We’ll walk through what the newly released documents actually show, why they matter, and whether there’s any realistic path to accountability for thos...

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

Tonight we’re diving headfirst into what many are calling the Epstein cover-up, and the scope of it is staggering. The delays, the redactions, the missing materials, the shifting explanations, the attempts to conceal information have become impossible to ignore. For a growing number of people, this now feels worse than Watergate, not because of a single act, but because of the sustained effort to...

Don breaks down the explosive reporting surrounding CBS chief Bari Weiss pulling a planned 60 Minutes segment, a decision that has sent shockwaves through the journalism world. Don also highlights the courage of reporter Sharyn Alfonsi, who spoke out forcefully against the move in a blistering internal critique, raising urgent questions about editorial independence, corporate pressure, and the fut...

This morning we’re diving into the fallout from the long-awaited release of the Epstein files, and for many, it feels like a gut punch. On Friday, the DOJ released the files after a months-long bipartisan push and congressional demand for full transparency. But what came out was heavily redacted, with more missing than revealed. For survivors and advocates who hoped this moment would finally bring...

Don takes a stroll through Barack Obama’s 2025 favorites list, breaking down the songs, movies, and books that made the former president’s annual roundup. From standout tracks to must-watch films and page-turning reads, Don reacts to what made the list, what surprised him, and what’s getting added to his own queue. This episode is sponsored by Fatty15. Get an additional 15% off their 90-day subscr...

Tonight is the moment we’ve been waiting for. The deadline to release the Epstein files is here. Documents are beginning to come out, but it’s already clear many of them are heavily redacted, raising fresh questions about transparency and accountability. Will the full files ever actually be released? Who is still being protected? And will there ever be real accountability for those named and justi...

We live in an upside down world. New reports say that the Trump administration is "encouraging white men to sue if they believe they've been victims of DEI-related discrimination." Huh?! The chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has even posted on social media to spread this message, and the Vice President has reposted this and doubled down on the assertions. In a year when Black pe...

This is it. Today is the deadline for the full release of the Epstein files. After years of delays, deflections, and half-measures, the question is simple...will they actually be released? If they are, what else will we learn? Who else appears in the documents? And most importantly, will anyone named ever face real accountability? We’re joined this morning by Congressman Ro Khanna to break down wh...

Don takes on a persistent and deeply dishonest narrative: that the left is “normalizing antisemitism.” The reality is that it’s coming from the Republican Party. From government agencies soft-pedaling swastikas and nooses as merely “divisive,” to GOP nominees and youth organizations openly embracing Nazi rhetoric, this moment demands clarity about where the real danger lies. A sharp, unflinching b...

Tonight we’re counting down to a critical moment: tomorrow is the deadline to release the Epstein files. Time’s up. The pressure is on and the questions are louder than ever. Will the files actually be released? What’s in them? And what will we finally learn if they see the light of day? The stakes couldn’t be higher, and the silence from those in power is only fueling more suspicion. We’re joined...

Don sits down with writer and political analyst Ahmed Baba to take stock of the state of the nation, and it isn’t pretty. From Donald Trump’s disgusting comments following the tragic death of Rob Reiner, to his public tantrum insisting the economy is “perfect” while Americans struggle to afford basics, the disconnect between rhetoric and reality has never been more glaring. They break down Trump’s...

This morning we’re breaking down Donald Trump’s disastrous address to the nation from last night, an address that managed to say almost nothing while still being deeply embarrassing. It was easily one of the most useless speeches we’ve ever seen from a sitting president. The speech was packed with lies and delusion, as Trump appeared more interested in throwing a temper tantrum than addressing the...

Tonight we’re breaking down the chaos unfolding on Capitol Hill because the cracks inside MAGA just got a lot harder to ignore. In a stunning move, four Republicans broke ranks to force a House vote on extending the Affordable Care Act subsidies, putting leadership on the defensive and exposing growing unrest within the party. From internal GOP fractures to a MAGA administration that looks increas...

Don breaks down the failure of Bari Weiss’ CBS town hall with Erika Kirk, an event that ultimately fell flat with viewers. The ratings were weak, the response was mixed at best, and many were left questioning the editorial choices behind the broadcast. Don examines why the town hall struggled to connect, the lack of journalistic pushback, and what this moment may signal about CBS’s apparent attemp...

This morning, we’re diving into an explosive Vanity Fair article that’s sending shockwaves through Washington. The piece is based on extraordinary access to Susie Wiles, Trump’s chief of staff, who rarely speaks to the press. Over months of on-the-record conversations, Wiles opens up about the inner workings of the White House, the chaos behind the scenes, and even describes Trump as having an “al...

Don is joined by Michael Cohen to discuss the tragic death of Rob Reiner and his wife and the deeply disturbing response from Donald Trump that followed. In a moment that demanded compassion and basic human decency, Trump chose something else entirely. His words have sparked widespread outrage and disbelief, raising a stark question: how can anyone possibly defend this kind of response? Don and Mi...

Tonight, we’re breaking down an issue that will impact the health of millions of Americans. House Speaker Mike Johnson has made it clear he will not bring a vote to extend the enhanced subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, all but guaranteeing they expire at the end of this month. The result? Higher insurance premiums for millions of people who rely on Obamacare for coverage, starting next year...

Washington was rocked by an explosive new Vanity Fair article that pulls back the curtain on life inside Trump’s White House, and the revelations are stunning. The piece is based on a year’s worth of on-the-record conversations with Susie Wiles, Trump’s chief of staff, who rarely speaks to the press. Over 11 interviews, Wiles paints a vivid and troubling picture of a volatile president, describing...

This morning, we’re addressing the horrific and tragic murder of Rob Reiner and his wife, and the disturbing response from Donald Trump that followed. In a moment that called for basic decency and humanity, Trump chose cruelty instead. His words have sparked outrage not only from Democrats, but from Republicans as well, with some openly condemning his statement and breaking ranks in rare and strik...

Tonight we’re addressing the tragic and shocking murders of filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, who were found dead in their Los Angeles home. In the midst of this heartbreaking news, President Donald Trump sparked widespread outrage with his heartless and cruel response on social media, suggesting, without any evidence, that Reiner’s political views and criticism of him cont...

Don takes a closer look at the recent CBS town hall featuring Erika Kirk, the widow of Charlie Kirk, and what it signals about the direction the network may be heading under Bari Weiss’s leadership. While the event was framed as a moment of reflection and healing, the faith-driven language, tone, and noticeable lack of journalistic pushback raised eyebrows for many viewers. Don breaks down what wa...

This morning we’re confronting an incredibly dark and tragic weekend on multiple fronts. First, we’ll look at the horrific news of two more mass shootings, one in Australia and another at Brown University, senseless acts of violence that have shaken communities and left families devastated. We’ll also address the shocking and heartbreaking news that legendary filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife Mich...

Tonight breaking down the latest bombshell developments in the Epstein files. The House Oversight Committee has just released new photos showing Jeffrey Epstein alongside several powerful figures, including Donald Trump. As these images circulate, the pressure to release the full Epstein files is reaching a boiling point. What do these photos actually tell us? Why are so many documents still being...

This morning, Don is taking a hard look at the state of the economy, and let’s be honest, it’s bad. Prices keep climbing, families are feeling the squeeze, and according to a new AP-NORC poll, Donald Trump’s approval ratings are continuing to fall. Despite the mounting evidence, the Trump administration is still insisting everything is fine. Reality says otherwise. Then we pivot to breaking news o...