The Don Lemon Show

Don sits down with Democratic strategist and friend of the show Mike Nellis to break down the latest primary results, the fallout from Thomas Massie’s loss, and what it all says about the current state of American politics.
As Donald Trump tightens his grip on the Republican Party, it is becoming clear that loyalty now matters more than principle, policy, or even basic decency. The political bar feels like it’s somewhere beneath the floorboards, and a growing number of Americans seem exhausted by the chaos, division, and nonstop outrage.
Where does the country go from here, and what does a path forward actually look like?
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This morning, we break down the latest primary election results and what they reveal about Donald Trump’s tightening grip on the Republican Party.
Representative Thomas Massie, a Republican who frequently aligned with Trump but broke with him on key issues, including calls for more transparency around the Epstein files, has now lost his primary. Combined with Senator Bill Cassidy losing his own race earlier, many see it as yet another sign that there’s little room left in today’s GOP for dissent.
But here’s the twist: Massie and Cassidy still have time left in office, and now, with no reelection campaigns ahead of them, they arguably have far less political pressure holding them back.
Could that create new problems for Trump? Could lawmakers with nothing left to lose become more willing to speak out, investigate, or push back?
The power struggle inside the Republican Party is intensifying, and Trump’s efforts to consolidate control may come with consequences he didn’t expect.
We are joined by National political reporter at The Bulwark, Joe Perticone.

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Tonight, we dive into the growing outrage surrounding reports of a massive $1.8 billion taxpayer-funded pool that could be used to reward Donald Trump’s political allies and inner circle.
Now, reports are surfacing that some of that money could potentially be directed toward January 6 defendants and insurrectionists, raising major questions about accountability, political favoritism, and the use of taxpayer dollars.
At the same time, new scrutiny is falling on the IRS after reports that claims and investigations involving Trump and his family are being slowed or blocked. The pattern is becoming impossible to ignore: one set of rules for the powerful, another for everyone else.
Don is joined by Tom Nichols of The Atlantic and former DOJ Pardon Attorney and Federal Public Defender Liz Oyer to break it all down.

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Don chats with Representative Dan Goldman for a powerful conversation aboard the ferry to Ellis Island, a fitting backdrop for a discussion about immigration, identity, and what America stands for.
Together, they dive into the current state of immigration policy, the role of ICE, and the growing debate around how migrants and asylum seekers are being treated in the United States today. They also discuss the controversy surrounding Trump’s $1.8 billion taxpayer-funded pool that could benefit political allies and loyalists, and what it says about the administration’s priorities.
Against the backdrop of one of the most important symbols of immigration in American history, Don and Congressman Goldman reflect on who gets welcomed into America, who gets targeted, and what kind of country we want to be moving forward.
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This morning, we break down the massive $1.8 billion taxpayer-funded pool that critics say could be used to benefit Donald Trump’s allies, inner circle, and political loyalists.
Now, reports are surfacing that some of that money could potentially go toward payments tied to January 6 defendants and insurrectionists, raising outrage and reigniting debates about accountability, political favoritism, and who government resources are really serving.
At the same time, it’s impossible to ignore the deep contradiction at the center of this debate: for decades, the federal government has argued that reparations for communities harmed by systemic racism and discrimination were unrealistic or impossible. Yet now, critics say taxpayer money may be flowing toward people tied to an attack on democracy itself.
Don is joined by former Capitol Police officer Michael Fanone, attorney Monique Pressley, and strategist and host of The Warning with Steve Schmidt, Steve Schmidt, to break it all down.

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This episode is brought to you by RadioActive Media. Visit RadioActiveMedia.com, or text the word, “PODCAST” to 511511. Start planning for 2026 now to get the lowest rates in Podcast and Radio. RadioActive Media can surpass your current strategies with new and innovative ways that “SOUND” better. Message and Data Rates May Apply.

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