The Don Lemon Show

Don Lemon sits down with Congressman Robert Garcia, newly elected Ranking Member of the House Oversight Committee. They dive into Garcia’s bold plans to push back on Trump-era policies, hold the line on democracy, and steer the Democratic Party forward. Plus, they break down that painfully awkward Pete Hegseth press conference because someone has to talk about it. If you're wondering who's ready t...

NYC Mayor Eric Adams is back and running for re-election. Despite swirling questions about his ties to Donald Trump, past investigations, and a record that has plenty of New Yorkers side-eyeing City Hall, Adams says he’s ready for round two. So what’s the plan? How does he defend the controversies? And can he convince voters he deserves another term? Don sits down with the Mayor himself to ask the...

The Trump administration is getting real defensive about the Iran situation, and this morning’s Pentagon press conference didn’t exactly inspire confidence. Pete Hegseth, in full Real Housewives energy, took to the podium to defend the U.S. strikes and came off… petty, agitated, and possibly hungover? Was he channeling national security or Bravo drama? Either way, the spin isn’t spinning, the answ...

Don Lemon sits down with Democratic strategist Mike Nellis to unpack one of the biggest political surprises of the year: Zohran Mamdani’s decisive win in the NYC Mayoral Primary. How did a progressive candidate pull off such a resounding upset against establishment heavyweight Andrew Cuomo? What does this say about the shifting tides within the Democratic Party, and what comes next? Don and Mike b...

Oh, Donald… please don’t embarrass us in front of the other world leaders. With the NATO Summit underway, all eyes are on Trump, and not for the right reasons. From bizarre past performances to the NATO chief now referencing Trump being called “daddy,” the international stage is already bracing for chaos. Allies are nervous. Diplomats are sweating. And Americans? Mostly cringing. Join Don Lemon as...

Fifteen months, 750,000 strong - and one big lesson: authenticity wins. Don opens up about the channel's success and the path so far. 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 podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Well, that escalated quickly. In a stunning upset, progressive Zohran Mamdani obliterated Democratic establishment favorite Andrew Cuomo in the NYC mayoral primary. While insiders predicted a close race, few expected a landslide, and certainly not this fast of a concession from Cuomo. So, what does this overwhelming victory mean for the general election? And more importantly, what should the Democ...

Trump’s so-called “ceasefire plan” collapsed in what feels like record time. Tensions between Iran and Israel are still boiling over, and the deal he touted as a diplomatic win? DOA. We’ll break down what went wrong, what happens next, and why Trump’s foreign policy “wins” keep slipping through his fingers. Then we’ll pivot to the heat, literal and political, in New York City. It’s Election Day, a...

Good morning, Lemon Nation! Today, we’re diving into the rapidly escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. After Trump loudly declared a ceasefire, it took less than a news cycle for both countries to go back to lobbing missiles and insults. And now Trump, clearly frustrated, has responded with a quote for the history books: "They don't know what the f** they're doing."* Well, the same could be...

Don Lemon sits down with political strategist Steve Schmidt for a sharp, unfiltered conversation on the state of the world and the chaos at home. They break down the U.S. strike on Iran, Iran’s swift retaliation on a U.S. base in Qatar, and what this dangerous tit-for-tat means for America’s future. Plus, they dive into the broken state of U.S. politics where extremism runs rampant, leadership is...

Tensions are rising, and fast. Iran has just launched a retaliatory attack on a U.S. base in Qatar, following American strikes over the weekend. Is this the final move in an already dangerous game of escalation… or just the beginning? Don breaks it all down. Then we pivot to the political circus unfolding a little closer to home: the NYC mayoral race. Don is joined by former Ohio State Senator Nin...

The U.S. has officially launched strikes on Iran. What does this mean for global stability? Is war now inevitable, or is there still a way out? Tensions in the Middle East are spiraling, allies are on edge, and Trump is already playing this as a win. Join Don to break down the facts, the fallout, and what happens next because this isn’t just foreign policy, it’s our future on the line. This episod...

Don Lemon sits down with NYC mayoral candidate Michael Blake for a candid and wide-ranging conversation about the future of New York City. Blake lays out his bold vision for the city, from public safety and housing to economic opportunity and government accountability, and explains why he believes he’s the leader New York needs right now. They also dive into the unique strategy behind candidates c...

Don Lemon sits down with political commentator and writer Ahmed Baba for a timely and wide-ranging conversation. Coming off the heels of Juneteenth, they reflect on what the holiday truly represents in today’s political climate and how freedom, equality, and justice are still up for debate in many corners of the country. Then, they turn to the growing rift inside the MAGA movement. As Trump’s poli...

Trump’s legal losing streak continues! Today, we're breaking down two major court rulings that just smacked down the Trump administration’s overreach. First up: A federal judge ordered the release of Mahmoud Khalil, calling his detention an unlawful retaliation for his pro-Palestinian views. The judge didn’t mince words, saying there’s real evidence that immigration charges were being weaponized t...

In honor of World Refugee Day, Don sits down with David Miliband, President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee, for a powerful and urgent conversation about the global refugee crisis. With a record 122 million people displaced worldwide, Miliband breaks down the root causes of this staggering number and the human toll behind the statistics. They also examine the far-reaching implication...

Donald Trump says he’ll make a decision about U.S. involvement in Iran… in two weeks. Sound familiar? That’s because “two weeks” has become Trump’s go-to stall tactic for everything, from healthcare plans to tax returns to infrastructure. So what’s really going on? Is this strategic ambiguity, political theater, or just a guy who doesn’t know what he’s doing? Join us as we unpack Trump’s latest de...

For this special Juneteenth conversation, Don Lemon sits down with John Conyers III to reflect on the meaning of the day, the long fight for Black freedom, and the legacy of his father, the late Congressman John Conyers, one of the longest-serving members of Congress and a tireless advocate for civil rights. From introducing the original bill to make Martin Luther King Jr. Day a national holiday t...

Happy Juneteenth! 🇺🇸✊🏽 Today we’re honoring the spirit of freedom and diving into the very real battles still being fought to protect it. Don kicks things off with a breakdown of the latest MAGA meltdowns (yes, they’re still happening), from conspiracy-fueled rants to public tantrums over basic accountability. Then, we’re joined by The Good Liars, the viral duo known for confronting chaos with c...

In this inspiring and insightful conversation, Don Lemon sits down with cosmetic chemist and BeautyStat founder Ron Robinson to talk about his journey from aspiring doctor to beauty industry trailblazer. With decades of experience at brands like Estée Lauder and Avon, Ron shares how he built his award-winning skincare brand into a major player in the beauty world while making inclusivity a central...

It’s official, the MAGA meltdown has begun. As Trump stumbles toward another foreign policy disaster, this time with Iran, some of his most loyal far-right cheerleaders are suddenly slamming the brakes. Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, Charlie Kirk… yes, those people… are now speaking out against Trump's reckless escalation and apparent thirst for war. Is this a principled stand or just performative...

Don Lemon sits down with Andrew Yang for a wide-ranging and unfiltered conversation about the future of American politics and technology. Yang shares why he believes the two-party system is broken, what's holding Democrats back, and why it’s time to rethink how we engage voters. Then they dive into the rise of artificial intelligence, what it means for the economy, the workforce, and whether our l...

We’ve got a jam-packed show today starting with the headlines rocking Hollywood. Tyler Perry has been accused and sued for sexual harassment and assault. Joining us to break it all down is TMZ’s own Charles Latibeaudiere, with the latest on what’s been confirmed, what’s being alleged, and where things may go next. Then we pivot to the brewing civil war inside MAGA world. Turns out not all of Trump...

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander was arrested by ICE after peacefully questioning whether or not they had a warrant. Can ICE even arrest U.S. citizens? Brad will join us live to walk us through what happened and why he's not backing down in the face of Trump's increasingly authoritarian playbook. Then, we're diving into a bombshell breaking story: new accusations surfacing against media mogul...

In today’s livestream, we dive into the shocking news out of New York City: Democratic Comptroller Brad Lander has been arrested by ICE. Yes, you read that right...ICE. Since when does Immigration and Customs Enforcement have the authority to arrest U.S. citizens, let alone elected officials? Lander’s so-called “crime”? Asking to see a warrant. This is the latest in a disturbing pattern of crackdo...