The Don Lemon Show

Another chaotic week is in the books, and the stakes just keep getting higher.
From growing economic anxiety and rising costs to new polling showing increasing concerns about Donald Trump’s mental fitness for the presidency, Americans are asking serious questions about where the country is headed.
Meanwhile, the fallout from the Supreme Court’s gutting of the Voting Rights Act is already playing out in Tennessee, where Republicans pushed forward a redistricting plan to dismantle the state’s only majority-Black district. And Tennessee is just the beginning. Similar fights are emerging across the country, raising alarms about representation, voting rights, and what the midterms could look like moving forward.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special Mother’s Day conversation, Don sits down with the woman who knows him best, his mom 💛
The two share heartfelt stories, laughs, and reflections on family, life, and the bond that shaped Don into who he is today.
A special celebration of moms everywhere and the people who keep us grounded no matter what.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Another week, another round of absolute chaos.
From Donald Trump turning a children’s event in the Oval Office into a rambling lecture about war and politics, to Kash Patel reportedly targeting The Atlantic in yet another escalation against the free press, the madness just kept coming.
Then there was Secretary of State Marco Rubio heading to the Vatican after months of Trump attacking the pope. Damage control? Sure feels like it.
And of course, the week wrapped with the Met Gala, an eye-popping display of wealth and excess that felt wildly disconnected from reality at a time when so many Americans are struggling with rising costs and economic uncertainty. Especially with Jeff Bezos attached to the event, the optics were… a lot.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don sits down with journalist Nick Valencia to discuss his latest reporting from inside the private prisons being used to hold ICE detainees.
The conversation dives into the growing role of for-profit detention centers, the conditions detainees are facing behind closed doors, and the massive financial incentives tied to expanded detention. From disease outbreaks to allegations of inadequate care, the reporting paints a disturbing picture of a system that prioritizes profit over humanity.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tonight, we break down the escalating redistricting battles happening across the country and the growing concerns about MAGA efforts to reducing Black political representation.
In Virginia, the only redistricting map that was actually approved directly by voters has now been overturned by the state Supreme Court.
So what does this mean for voting rights, representation, and the future of democracy heading into the midterms? More importantly, what can people actually do about it?
Then we pivot to growing concerns around hantavirus after reports that two people in New Jersey may have been exposed. What is hantavirus, how serious is it, and how worried should the public actually be?
Don is joined by political analyst and author Tiffany Cross to break it all down.

This episode is sponsored by FFRF. Visit https://ffrf.us/don or text DON 511511 to join or learn more. Because freedom belongs to all of us. Text Fees May Apply

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. BetterHelp makes it easy to get matched online with a qualified therapist. Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/donlemon

This episode is brought to you by Aura Frames. Exclusive $25-off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/DONLEMON. Promo Code DONLEMON
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices