The Don Lemon Show

It’s a new year, and tonight we’re looking ahead at what’s coming next. Last year, Trump and MAGA made chaos feel like the norm, and all signs suggest they’re planning to take it to another level in 2026. So what should we actually expect? What fights are on the horizon? And how do we prepare for what’s ahead? But it’s not all doom and gloom. We’ll also talk about the good things coming our way, the moments of hope, and where there’s room for optimism as we start this new chapter. Joining Don tonight is the always-hilarious Jay Jurden, bringing sharp takes, big laughs, and some much-needed humor as we kick off the new year together. This episode is sponsored by 120Life. For a limited time, try 120Life and get 20% off. Just use the code “DON” at checkout at https://120Life.com. 120Life offers a risk-free trial with a full refund If your blood pressure doesn’t come down in 2 weeks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re kicking off the year with a little love from our friends. 💛 In this video, we share a mashup of New Year’s wishes from some of the incredible voices who make this community so special, including Sunny Hostin, Reecie Colbert, Jay Jurden, Alec Baldwin and more. It’s a joyful, celebratory moment full of gratitude, good vibes, and appreciation for Lemon Nation. Thank you for being part of this journey with us. Here’s to an amazing year ahead! 🍋 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy New Year, Lemon Nation. This morning we’re starting 2026 with some tough but necessary conversations. First, we’ll look at growing public concern around Donald Trump’s health. From recent appearances to repeated inconsistencies, many are questioning whether he’s in worse shape than we’re being told and why transparency seems so limited. Then we turn to an issue affecting millions of Americans right now: healthcare costs. With enhanced healthcare subsidies officially expired, premiums are already rising for families across the country. What does this mean for people living paycheck to paycheck? Will some be forced to delay care or go without coverage entirely? We’ll break down what’s happening, what options (if any) remain, and what comes next for Americans caught in the middle. Join us and friend of the show Dr. Frita live as we unpack the realities shaping the year ahead. This episode is sponsored by 120Life. For a limited time, try 120Life and get 20% off. Just use the code “DON” at checkout at https://120Life.com. 120Life offers a risk-free trial with a full refund If your blood pressure doesn’t come down in 2 weeks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us for a New Year’s Eve LIVE special, starting at 6 PM CT / 7 PM ET, as Don takes over New Orleans for a night that’s guaranteed to be wild, chaotic, and unforgettable. We’re talking special guests, big surprises, and nonstop energy from start to finish. There will be food, music, dancing, drinks, and a whole lot of “you had to be there” moments. No scripts. No snoozing. Just vibes. Whether you’re throwing a watch party or tuning in from the couch, this is where you want to be when the clock hits midnight. 🥂🎆 Ring in the New Year with Don and Lemon Nation! It’s going to be a NIGHT. This special is brought to you by Tequila Don Julio. Nothing says a proper New Year's toast like Tequila Don Julio 1942. It's the perfect way to welcome 2026. Thanks to Don Julio for being part of tonight's celebration. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are following up on a story we brought to you a few months ago: Tyler Perry is facing more allegations and a second lawsuit. The latest accusations are for sexual assault and a disturbing pattern of manipulation. The production studio Lionsgate is also being named as enabling Perry's behavior. Join Don and guest Jason Lee to break down this story. This episode is brought to you by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Make a tax-deductible donation to FFRF before December 31st. Or become a member and support their ongoing fight for reason, equality, and constitutional integrity. Go to https://FFRF.US/Winter25 or text DON to 511511 This episode is sponsored by 120Life. For a limited time, try 120Life and get 20% off. Just use the code “DON” at checkout at https://120Life.com. 120Life offers a risk-free trial with a full refund If your blood pressure doesn’t come down in 2 weeks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Good morning Lemon Nation. We have lived through a hell of a year and most of that hell was brought to us by Donald Trump and his MAGA cult. Whether it was through intentional actions, F-ups, or pure ignorance, we all bear the consequences of the most cruel and incompetent administration of our lifetimes. Join Don at 10am EST to go through the best of the worst from MAGA. This episode is brought to you by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Make a tax-deductible donation to FFRF before December 31st. Or become a member and support their ongoing fight for reason, equality, and constitutional integrity. Go to https://FFRF.US/Winter25 or text DON to 511511 This episode is sponsored by 120Life. For a limited time, try 120Life and get 20% off. Just use the code “DON” at checkout at https://120Life.com. 120Life offers a risk-free trial with a full refund If your blood pressure doesn’t come down in 2 weeks. WE HAVE MERCH!! Purchase here: https://don-lemon-merch-store.myshopify.com/ WATCH & Subscribe on YouTube @TheDonLemonShow! Become a member of our channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXs0PlIGUDSXfBaF7j-1euA/join Follow Don on Substack! Listen on Apple, Spotify and iHeart Radio! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This morning we’re breaking down Donald Trump’s latest attempt to turn the Epstein files into a political weapon. Trump is now calling on the Department of Justice to release any Epstein-related material involving Democrats, openly saying he wants to “embarrass them.” It’s an absurd and dangerous move, taking something horrific and deeply serious and twisting it into a partisan distraction, all while ignoring the fact that Trump himself appears repeatedly in the Epstein files. We’ll unpack why this tactic matters, what it reveals about Trump’s desperation, and how it undermines the very idea of accountability and justice for victims. Then we pivot to Nancy Pelosi’s recent ABC News interview, where she predicted that Democrats will take back the House in 2026. Is that realistic? What would it take to pull it off? And how much does the current chaos factor into that path forward? This episode is brought to you by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Make a tax-deductible donation to FFRF before December 31st. Or become a member and support their ongoing fight for reason, equality, and constitutional integrity. Go to https://FFRF.US/Winter25 or text DON to 511511 This episode is sponsored by 120Life. For a limited time, try 120Life and get 20% off. Just use the code “DON” at checkout at https://120Life.com. 120Life offers a risk-free trial with a full refund If your blood pressure doesn’t come down in 2 weeks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don sits down with friends of the show Jolly, Will Westmoreland, and Qasim Rashid for a post-Christmas holiday conversation. They share the holiday traditions they observe, how those traditions connect to culture, faith, and family, and then zoom out to tackle a bigger question: how religious zealotry and extremism have increasingly been used to fuel division and discord across the country. From history to modern politics, they unpack how faith has been weaponized, and what gets lost when it is. It’s thoughtful, honest, and wide-ranging, part holiday hang, part serious reflection on where we are as a nation. This episode is sponsored by ZBiotics. Go to https://zbiotics.com/LEMON and use LEMON at checkout for 15% off first time orders. This episode is sponsored by 120Life. For a limited time, try 120Life and get 20% off. Just use the code “DON” at checkout at https://120Life.com. 120Life offers a risk-free trial with a full refund If your blood pressure doesn’t come down in 2 weeks. This episode is brought to you by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Make a tax-deductible donation to FFRF before December 31st. Or become a member and support their ongoing fight for reason, equality, and constitutional integrity. Go to https://FFRF.US/Winter25 or text DON to 511511 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don sits down with Mike Nellis to take stock of where the country stands coming out of the Christmas season. They talk about the mixed signals in the economy, the public mood after the holidays, and how people are really feeling as we turn the page on the year. The conversation also dives into the state of corporate media, what’s shifting, what’s breaking, and how trust, access, and power are reshaping the news landscape. Finally, Don and Mike look ahead to 2026, what to expect politically, culturally, and economically, and what signals are already flashing now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s the morning after Christmas, and Don is here to slow things down, reflect, and spend some time with Lemon Nation. While the economy continues to struggle and many Americans are feeling squeezed, holiday spending still hit record highs. So what’s really going on? Are people putting things on credit, dipping into savings, or trying to hold onto a sense of normalcy? Don breaks it all down and is joined by Sam Caucci to answer your biggest questions about the economy, consumer behavior, inflation, and what we can realistically expect as we head into the new year. This episode is sponsored by ZBiotics. Go to https://zbiotics.com/LEMON and use LEMON at checkout for 15% off first time orders. This episode is sponsored by 120Life. For a limited time, try 120Life and get 20% off. Just use the code “DON” at checkout at https://120Life.com. 120Life offers a risk-free trial with a full refund If your blood pressure doesn’t come down in 2 weeks. This episode is brought to you by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Make a tax-deductible donation to FFRF before December 31st. Or become a member and support their ongoing fight for reason, equality, and constitutional integrity. Go to https://FFRF.US/Winter25 or text DON to 511511 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s time for another holiday special. 🎄✨ Don is joined by friends of the show Katie Phang, George Hahn, and Rick Wilson for a festive, feel-good conversation. They’re sharing their favorite holiday traditions, must-have holiday foods, and the Christmas movies they simply can’t get through the season without. It’s cozy, fun, and full of laughs, a perfect way to slow down and enjoy the spirit of the season. This episode is sponsored by ZBiotics. Go to https://zbiotics.com/LEMON and use LEMON at checkout for 15% off first time orders. This episode is brought to you by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Make a tax-deductible donation to FFRF before December 31st. Or become a member and support their ongoing fight for reason, equality, and constitutional integrity. Go to https://FFRF.US/Winter25 or text DON to 511511 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

🎄✨ It’s a Christmas Eve Special, and Don is getting into the holiday spirit with friends of the show Reecie Colbert, Tara Setmayer, and Garrison Hayes for a fun, festive hangout. They’re talking all things Christmas, holiday traditions, favorite Christmas foods, must-watch holiday movies, and the little things that make this time of year special (and sometimes chaotic). It’s light, joyful, and exactly the kind of break we all need. No politics. Just laughs, memories, and holiday cheer. Happy Holidays Lemon Nation 🎁💛 This episode is sponsored by ZBiotics. Go to https://zbiotics.com/LEMON and use LEMON at checkout for 15% off first time orders. This episode is brought to you by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Make a tax-deductible donation to FFRF before December 31st. Or become a member and support their ongoing fight for reason, equality, and constitutional integrity. Go to https://FFRF.US/Winter25 or text DON to 511511 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don sits down with Michael Cohen to break down the latest developments in the Epstein files and the mounting evidence tying Donald Trump to Jeffrey Epstein. As new documents and revelations continue to surface, the DOJ appears determined to downplay or muddy the significance of what’s coming out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tonight we’re digging into the latest bombshell drop in the Epstein files, and it’s deeply disturbing. Newly released documents mention allegations of sexual assault involving Donald Trump, raising urgent questions about what has been kept from the public and why these materials are only surfacing now. But in a stunning twist, the DOJ is now claiming that some of the very documents it released may not be legitimate. So what are we supposed to believe? Who vetted this material? And why does every step of this process seem to deepen confusion rather than deliver clarity? We’ll break down what the documents actually say, what’s being questioned, and why this unfolding mess is fueling fears of incompetence, immorality, and a system incapable of telling the truth. This episode is sponsored by ZBiotics. Go to https://zbiotics.com/LEMON and use LEMON at checkout for 15% off first time orders. This episode is sponsored by 120Life. For a limited time, try 120Life and get 20% off. Just use the code “DON” at checkout at https://120Life.com. 120Life offers a risk-free trial with a full refund If your blood pressure doesn’t come down in 2 weeks. This episode is brought to you by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Make a tax-deductible donation to FFRF before December 31st. Or become a member and support their ongoing fight for reason, equality, and constitutional integrity. Go to https://FFRF.US/Winter25 or text DON to 511511 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don breaks down some of the most revealing documents to emerge from the latest batch of Epstein files, including letters and correspondence that raise serious questions and do not look good for Donald Trump. Don walks through what these documents show, why they matter, and how they complicate the ongoing efforts to downplay Trump’s connections to Epstein. As more material becomes public, the denials are getting harder to sustain, and the calls for accountability are growing louder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 those named. Then we pivot to the media meltdown inside MAGA world. From the chaos at the Turning Point USA summit to escalating wars within MAGA’s so-called “independent media,” the movement is fracturing in public. The infighting, the ego clashes, the contradictions, it’s all coming apart in real time. Joining us to break it all down is Will Sommer of The Bulwark, who helps us connect the dots between the Epstein revelations and a MAGA media ecosystem that’s clearly not doing well. This episode is sponsored by ZBiotics. Go to https://zbiotics.com/LEMON and use LEMON at checkout for 15% off first time orders. This episode is sponsored by 120Life. For a limited time, try 120Life and get 20% off. Just use the code “DON” at checkout at https://120Life.com. 120Life offers a risk-free trial with a full refund If your blood pressure doesn’t come down in 2 weeks. This episode is brought to you by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Make a tax-deductible donation to FFRF before December 31st. Or become a member and support their ongoing fight for reason, equality, and constitutional integrity. Go to https://FFRF.US/Winter25 or text DON to 511511 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 megaphone.fm/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 keep the full truth from the public. And now, there’s yet another disturbing twist: a new video has surfaced of Jeffrey Epstein inside his jail cell. The footage raises more questions than it answers, and the DOJ has offered no explanation, no clarity, and no transparency about what the public is seeing or why this material is only emerging now. Why has transparency been resisted at every turn? Who is being protected? And will anyone connected to this ever face real accountability? This episode is sponsored by ZBiotics. Go to https://zbiotics.com/LEMON and use LEMON at checkout for 15% off first time orders. This episode is brought to you by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Make a tax-deductible donation to FFRF before December 31st. Or become a member and support their ongoing fight for reason, equality, and constitutional integrity. Go to https://FFRF.US/Winter25 or text DON to 511511 This episode is sponsored by 120Life. For a limited time, try 120Life and get 20% off. Just use the code “DON” at checkout at https://120Life.com. 120Life offers a risk-free trial with a full refund If your blood pressure doesn’t come down in 2 weeks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 future of one of the most trusted names in American journalism. What does this say about the direction CBS is taking? Who gets to decide what stories the public is allowed to see? A necessary conversation about media power, integrity, and the cost of speaking truth inside legacy newsrooms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 justice and accountability, the release felt like a slap in the face. To make matters worse, the DOJ then removed certain images that had already been made public, only to quietly re-release them later. The confusion, the reversals, and the omissions have only fueled suspicion. So what’s being hidden? Why all the redactions? And why does it seem like there’s such an aggressive effort to shield Donald Trump? This episode is sponsored by ZBiotics. Go to https://zbiotics.com/LEMON and use LEMON at checkout for 15% off first time orders. This episode is brought to you by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Make a tax-deductible donation to FFRF before December 31st. Or become a member and support their ongoing fight for reason, equality, and constitutional integrity. Go to https://FFRF.US/Winter25 or text DON to 511511 This episode is sponsored by 120Life. For a limited time, try 120Life and get 20% off. Just use the code “DON” at checkout at https://120Life.com. 120Life offers a risk-free trial with a full refund If your blood pressure doesn’t come down in 2 weeks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices