The Don Lemon Show

Tonight, we break down all the latest developments in the Iran war crisis as tensions continue to escalate and the conflict spreads across the region. Iran is ramping up threats and retaliatory actions, with attacks and disruptions now impacting multiple countries and critical global shipping routes. Meanwhile, the economic fallout is hitting hard. Oil prices are surging, markets are sliding, and economists warn the risk of recession is rising as inflation climbs and uncertainty grows. And through it all, the Trump administration’s response raises serious questions about priorities, accountability, and whether anyone is truly in control. So where do...

Don breaks down the bizarre and often baffling moments from Trump’s latest Cabinet meeting where, instead of focusing on a growing war and economic instability, the conversation veered into rambling tangents, self-praise, and mixed messaging. At the same time, reports suggest Trump is already signaling boredom with the Iran conflict, even as it continues to escalate and drive global economic uncertainty. So what’s really going on here? Don unpacks the contradictions, the messaging chaos, and what it says about leadership in a moment that demands anything but distraction. Learn more about your ad choi...

The war in Iran is so unpopular, even with MAGA, that we are left searching for reasons why we are there. Many suggest these reasons are the quest for oil. Trump's ego, the Epstein files, Israel, and not to be overlooked: Christian Nationalism. Pete Hegseth is often seen leading prayer in official government capacity and is also known for his ties to controversial churches that believe such things as "women should not have the right to vote" and who would like to turn this country into a fundamentalist Christian nation. Today Don is joined by Pastor Cody Deese to...

The chaos out of the White House is reaching new levels. Don sits down with journalist and friend of the show Ahmed Baba to break down a Cabinet meeting that felt more like a praise session than governance, the eyebrow-raising moments that followed, and the constant stream of contradictions coming from the administration. As the tone from the top grows more erratic, they ask the bigger question: what does this mean for leadership, and how much longer can this continue? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tonight, Don breaks down the latest in the Iran war crisis as the situation continues to escalate with rising costs hitting Americans at home and no clear end in sight. The conflict is already driving up gas prices, and the economic ripple effects are only getting worse. Meanwhile, the messaging coming out of the Oval Office is… all over the place. As contradictions pile up and the rhetoric gets more extreme, the administration seems more focused on spinning the narrative than explaining the strategy. And in case you missed it, Trump says he doesn’t “want a stupid person being...

Things are not going well for Donald Trump. From a struggling war effort and mounting economic concerns to slipping poll numbers and increasingly erratic messaging, he is spiraling. Despite it all, his administration continues to praise him at every turn, sometimes in ways that feel more performative than grounded in reality. As the gap between rhetoric and reality grows, we ask the obvious question: how sustainable is this, and where does it all lead? This episode is sponsored by 120Life. Go to https://120Life.com—and use code DON for 20% off. Try it risk-free for two weeks. If your bl...

Are mainstream news outlets starting to look a lot like podcasters? Don sits down with Mediaite founding editor Colby Hall to unpack the noticeable shift in tone, style, and presentation across traditional media. From looser formats to personality-driven coverage, they discuss whether this evolution is about staying relevant or chasing clicks. What does this mean for credibility, trust, and the future of news? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tonight, Don breaks down the contradictions, the spin, and the outright falsehoods coming from the Trump administration as the Iran crisis deepens. From claims of productive negotiations to threats of massive escalation, the messaging keeps shifting, and the truth is getting harder to find. As the administration scrambles to justify its actions, the question is simple: how much of this is strategy, and how much is chaos? And more importantly, where does it end? This episode is sponsored by 120Life. Go to https://120Life.com—and use code DON for 20% off. Try it risk-free for two weeks. If your bl...

Don is joined by Reuters Chief National Security Reporter Phillip Stewart, Atlantic writer and friend of the show Tom Nichols, and independent reporter Jasper Nathaniel to break down the latest U.S. troop deployments to the Middle East. As tensions with Iran continue to rise, they discuss what this move really signals, whether escalation is inevitable, and how far this crisis could go. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This morning, we’re examining the all too obvious fact that the system is collapsing. From a wildly unpopular war in Iran that keeps escalating, to an economy that feels like it’s held together with duct tape and denial, to airport chaos that somehow gets worse by the day, and now untrained ICE agents thrown into the mix, everything is unraveling at once. And yet, the people in charge keep insisting everything is great. How long can this actually continue? At what point does this chaos just become the new normal? This episode is sponsored by 120Life. Go to h...

Don sits down with Ibram X. Kendi, renowned author, professor, and leading scholar on race and discriminatory policy in the United States, to discuss his latest book and the ideas shaping this moment. They dive into how “great replacement” theory has been used by authoritarian movements to exploit fear, racism, and division in order to gain and maintain power. From historical context to modern-day politics, the conversation explores how these narratives spread, why they resonate, and the real-world consequences they carry. 🍋 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tonight, we’re breaking down a situation that just keeps getting worse. The war with Iran continues to escalate, and the consequences are hitting hard, from rising gas prices to a weakening economy and growing instability at home. Meanwhile, public support is slipping fast. Polls show most Americans oppose the war and believe it’s making the country less safe, with approval numbers sinking as costs rise and the strategy remains unclear. So where does this go from here? How much worse can it get? And how long can this actually last? 🍋 This episode is sponsored by Shopify. See less ca...

Don takes a closer look at the growing disillusionment among some voters who supported Donald Trump expecting relief, change, or opportunity, and instead are facing more hardship. In this video, Don explores the gap between promises and reality, highlighting stories of voters who now feel left behind by policies they once believed would help them. 🍋 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This morning, we’re diving into one of the strangest disconnects yet in the war with Iran. Donald Trump is out here claiming “productive” negotiations are happening… meanwhile Iran is basically saying: what negotiations? So what exactly are we supposed to believe here? Is this strategy, spin… or just a narrative that exists entirely in Trump’s head? We’ll break down the conflicting claims, the timing of these statements, and why some are questioning whether this is about diplomacy, or optics, messaging, and even market manipulation. Because right now, the gap between reality and rhetoric is getting very hard to ignore...

Don sits down with Mabel Kabani and Wren Woodson of @newsgirls.reports , both former 60 Minutes journalists who left legacy media to build something of their own. They discuss the shifting landscape of mainstream media, the internal changes and pressures at CBS, and why so many journalists are stepping away from traditional outlets. Most importantly, they break down the growing importance of independent media in a time when trust, access, and editorial freedom are all being tested. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tonight, we’re breaking down Donald Trump seemingly “TACO-ing” on the Iran war, and the timing has people asking some very serious questions. After days of aggressive threats and escalating rhetoric toward Iran, the sudden shift in tone is raising eyebrows. Was this a strategic retreat… or something else entirely? Many are now wondering: was this all about the markets? With stocks swinging and economic uncertainty rising, did this escalation, and now de-escalation, conveniently move the financial needle? Friend of the show, Anthony "Mooch" Scaramucci joins us to break it all down. War threats. Market moves. And a narrative that kee...

Don reacts to Donald Trump’s response to the death of Robert Mueller and calls it exactly what it is: vile, disrespectful, and beneath the office. Instead of showing basic decency for a longtime public servant, Trump chose to attack and celebrate in a moment that should have been about respect and reflection. Don breaks down why this matters, what it says about leadership, and how moments like this reveal the character of those in power. This isn’t about politics, it’s about basic humanity. 🍋 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This morning, we’re diving into a wave of breaking chaos across the country. First, a terrifying situation at the airports, massive delays, long lines, and now tragedy. A jet collided with a truck at LaGuardia Airport, leaving two people dead and raising serious questions about safety and oversight. And what’s the response from Donald Trump? Sending ICE agents to airports. Because apparently, untrained, masked federal agents are now the solution to aviation crises. Then we turn to the escalating war with Iran. After threatening attacks on Iran’s power plants over the Strait of Hormuz, Trump is now wa...

Don and D. L. Hughley bring the heat in this unfiltered, anything-can-happen conversation. If you’re wondering what to expect from the upcoming tour, this is your preview, sharp, funny, and real. Buy tickets for upcoming DL + DL Shows: https://www.dlplusdl.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don and D. L. Hughley bring the heat in this unfiltered, anything-can-happen conversation. If you’re wondering what to expect from the upcoming tour, this is your preview, sharp, funny, and real. Buy tickets for upcoming DL + DL Shows: https://www.dlplusdl.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices