The Don Lemon Show

In this powerful and timely conversation, Don Lemon sits down with Sarah Kate Ellis, President & CEO of GLAAD, to break down the state of Pride in 2025—and why this year feels different. With over 700 anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced across the country and political rhetoric reaching dangerous new heights, Sarah unpacks where this wave of hatred is coming from, how it's impacting real lives, and what...

The Israel-Iran conflict is spiraling, and fast. After days of strikes and mounting civilian casualties, tensions in the region are hitting a boiling point. And now, Donald Trump is inserting himself into the chaos, publicly urging people to “immediately evacuate Tehran.” (Helpful? Not really. Alarming? Absolutely.) As the possibility of U.S. involvement grows, we’re asking the real questions: Is...

Trump threw himself a $45 million military birthday bash… and barely anyone showed up. The tanks rolled. The jets flew. But the vibes? Flat. The crowd? Sparse. And the headlines? Brutal. Now, the fallout begins. Join Don Lemon, Michael Fanone, and the Jolly Good Ginger as they break down what went wrong, why this parade flop matters, and what it reveals about Trump’s slipping grip on public suppor...

Well, that was...underwhelming. Trump’s $45 million birthday bash-slash-military-parade was supposed to be a flex. Instead, it flopped harder than his NFT collection. Sparse crowds, low energy, and, according to many who watched, absolutely boring. Meanwhile, the No Kings protest turned into something historic. Data analysts are reporting it may be the largest protest in U.S. history. The streets...

Join Don Lemon, Joy Reid, and Jim Acosta for a special livestream event as they unpack the No Kings protests rocking the nation. From the chilling crackdown on free speech to the MAGA movement’s authoritarian overreach, we’re diving into what this moment means for democracy. Don, Joy, and Jim will be in real-time conversation with the people who are on the ground. We’ll hear from activists, journa...

What do you get when you put Don Lemon, Tara Palmeri, Mike Nellis, Michael Fanone, and Glenn Kirschner in one livestream? A reality check we all desperately need. From the chaos in Los Angeles, where Trump’s administration keeps sending in troops no one asked for, to the rising tension between Israel and Iran (and U.S. involvement that feels like we’re inching toward World War III), this conversat...

Just one day before Trump’s multi-million-dollar birthday military parade, the world is teetering on the edge of global conflict. After Israel launched strikes on Iran, Iran retaliated, and now, the U.S. is reportedly stepping in. Because nothing says “peace through strength” like a potential world war... and a massive military parade. While tensions in the Middle East explode, Trump is busy polis...

Last night, Israel launched strikes on Iran, an unprecedented escalation that has global leaders on edge and many wondering: are we staring down the barrel of World War III? Meanwhile, back home, things aren’t looking any more stable. In Los Angeles, the Trump administration continues to back its unconstitutional deployment of the National Guard to silence protesters. And just when we thought the...

In a shocking and brutal display of authoritarian overreach, Senator Alex Padilla was forcibly removed from a Kristi Noem press event in Los Angeles. And by “forcibly,” we mean tackled and dragged to the ground by Noem’s security detail because apparently asking questions is now a punishable offense. So… this is where we are now? Elected officials being physically assaulted for showing up in their...

The tide is turning, and people are done staying quiet. Let's take a look at the growing chorus of voices speaking out against Donald Trump and his inhumane policies. From celebrities to lawmakers, folks are using their platforms to say what needs to be said. Kim Kardashian called the ICE raids what they are: inhumane. Tyler Perry and Doechii used their time at the BET Awards to call out Trump dir...

Elon Musk is backpedaling again. After throwing some spicy shots at Donald Trump, he’s now walking them back, saying he regrets his posts. Awww. Is this the end of their billionaire bromance feud? Or just a pause in the circus? Meanwhile, new reports reveal that the Fort Bragg soldiers at Trump’s speech were handpicked for optics, carefully curated to look the part and hold the "right" political v...

In this powerful sit-down, Don Lemon is joined by political commentator and journalist Ahmed Baba to break down the latest chaos from the Trump administration. From targeting immigrants who are following the rules to deploying the military to American cities (against the will of state leaders) this presidency is veering deeper into authoritarian territory by the day. California said “no thanks,” b...

The Trump administration keeps turning up the heat. First the National Guard, now the Marines. But is this military escalation really about maintaining peace, or manufacturing chaos? The media’s showing burning cars and chaos in the streets, but folks on the ground in LA are telling a very different story. Let's cut through the smoke (literally and figuratively) to ask: what’s actually happening i...

Don Lemon sits down with friend of the show and retired D.C. police officer Michael Fanone to unpack the latest descent into chaos. From the military escalation in L.A. (where the only thing being protected is Trump’s ego), to MAGA’s ongoing war on accountability, to the bizarre plans for Trump’s upcoming birthday parade, they break it all down. Why is Trump acting like a dictator on tour? And why...

The showdown is heating up. In the wake of escalating protests in Los Angeles, Donald Trump has steamrolled past state authority, first sending in the National Guard, then Marines, and now more National Guard, all without California’s consent. Governor Gavin Newsom says his state didn’t ask for this and doesn’t want it. And now? Trump is openly endorsing Newsom’s arrest. Yes, you read that right....

Don Lemon sits down with journalist Josh Vaughn and elected official Lamont Jones to expose the horrifying reality inside Dauphin County Prison in Pennsylvania, infamous for having double the national average of inmate deaths. Josh has spent years reporting on the systemic abuse at the prison: from a 17-day solitary confinement blackout to inhumane conditions like freezing cells and medical neglec...

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...

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...

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 civili...

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...

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, t...

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...

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...

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...

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...