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 needs to happen next. From broken media narratives to corporate cowardice, no topic is off-limits. If you care about justice, visibility, and fighting back, this is the interview you need to see. 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 megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 this how World War III starts? What’s actually happening on the ground? And how much of this is driven by Trump’s need for distraction after his humiliating parade flop? Join us for a live breakdown of the facts, the fallout, and the frightening implications of one man’s foreign policy by ego. This episode is brought to you by MSI United States. Every woman deserves a choice. Rush your donation today to MSIUNITEDSTATES.ORG, or text "LEMON" to 511 511. Text Fees may apply. This episode is sponsored by Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at SHOPIFY. COM/lemon This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/donlemon and get on your way to being your best self. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 support. From the staggering price tag to the no-show allies to the contrast with the massive No Kings protests, this isn’t the flex Trump hoped for. Let’s talk about the spectacle, the silence, and what it all means. This episode is sponsored by Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at SHOPIFY. COM/lemon This episode is brought to you by MSI United States. Every woman deserves a choice. Rush your donation today to MSIUNITEDSTATES.ORG, or text "LEMON" to 511 511. Text Fees may apply. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/donlemon and get on your way to being your best self. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 were packed, the message was clear, and no tanks were needed to get people to show up. So...remind us again who’s got the momentum? Join us as we unpack the embarrassing contrast, the wasted taxpayer dollars, and why Trump’s obsession with spectacle can’t hide the growing dissent. This episode is sponsored by Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at SHOPIFY. COM/lemon This episode is brought to you by MSI United States. Every woman deserves a choice. Rush your donation today to MSIUNITEDSTATES.ORG, or text "LEMON" to 511 511. Text Fees may apply. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/donlemon and get on your way to being your best self. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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, journalists, and organizers reporting live from the front lines. This isn’t just analysis. It’s a rallying cry. Don’t miss it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 conversation goes deep. Plus: the ever-growing pile of Trump nonsense, legal failures, and the dangerous erosion of democratic norms happening right under our noses. No spin. No fluff. Just facts, frustration, and some hard truth from the people who’ve seen it all up close. Buckle up, it’s a lot. This episode is brought to you by Beam. Visit https://shopbeam.com/LEMON and use code LEMON to get our exclusive discount of up to 40% off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 polishing tanks for his party and pretending everything’s just fine. Meanwhile, Americans are bracing for the fallout, both literal and figurative. Is this the brink of World War III? Or just another day in this surreal reality show we call politics? Join Don and the Lemon Legends as we break down the global chaos, the domestic dysfunction, and the dystopian optics of it all. WE HAVE MERCH!! Purchase here: https://don-lemon-merch-store.myshopify.com/ This episode is brought to you by Beam. Visit https://shopbeam.com/LEMON and use code LEMON to get our exclusive discount of up to 40% off. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/donlemon and get on your way to being your best self. This episode is brought to you by Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at SHOPIFY. COM/lemon This episode is sponsored by Lean. Get started with 20% off when you enter LEMON20 at takelean.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 authoritarianism couldn’t get any more blatant, Senator Alex Padilla was detained and dragged out of a Kristi Noem press event for asking questions. Yes, really. Trump once claimed he’d “end the wars.” Instead, it looks like he’s starting new ones, both abroad and at home. Let's unpack the chaos, connect the dots, and ask the question on everyone’s mind: what the hell is happening? WE HAVE MERCH!! Purchase here: https://don-lemon-merch-store.myshopify.com/ This episode is brought to you by Beam. Visit https://shopbeam.com/LEMON and use code LEMON to get our exclusive discount of up to 40% off. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/donlemon and get on your way to being your best self. This episode is brought to you by Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at SHOPIFY. COM/lemon This episode is sponsored by Lean. Get started with 20% off when you enter LEMON20 at takelean.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 own state? Is this Kristi Noem’s version of “law and order”? Or just more of the GOP’s ongoing war on decency, democracy, and basic human rights? Join Don as we break down the footage, the fallout, and what this all means for the future of political dissent in America. It’s giving fascism. WE HAVE MERCH!! Purchase here: https://don-lemon-merch-store.myshopify.com/ This episode is brought to you by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Go to https://FFRF.US/Freedom or text DON to 511 511 and become a member today. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/donlemon and get on your way to being your best self. This episode is brought to you by Beam. Visit https://shopbeam.com/LEMON and use code LEMON to get our exclusive discount of up to 40% off. This episode is brought to you by Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at SHOPIFY. COM/lemon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 directly. And Eva Longoria took to social media to slam the cruelty of ICE detention practices. The message is loud and clear... enough is enough. While Trump tries to rule by fear, intimidation, and bad faith birthday parades, people are standing up and calling him out. Let’s talk about who’s speaking up, why it matters, and what happens next. WE HAVE MERCH!! Purchase here: https://don-lemon-merch-store.myshopify.com/ This episode is brought to you by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Go to https://FFRF.US/Freedom or text DON to 511 511 and become a member today. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/donlemon and get on your way to being your best self. This episode is brought to you by Beam. Visit https://shopbeam.com/LEMON and use code LEMON to get our exclusive discount of up to 40% off. This episode is brought to you by Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at SHOPIFY. COM/lemon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices