HOT TOPICS: Trump's $20M Taxpayer Ad Scandal & Vance Faces Racism Row

Donald Trump's administration has allocated $20 million in taxpayer funds for campaign-style TV ads featuring the president, with at least $2.5 million already spent on airtime. The White House says they are legitimate public-service announcements, while critics from both parties have questioned why taxpayers are footing the bill. Then, Vice President JD Vance is facing backlash after telling Florida State Rep. Angie Nixon to "get the hell out" and saying she "doesn't belong in America." We break down the controversies, the money and the rhetoric and Angie Nixon joins the show to respond.   FIND THE DON LEMON SHOW: Youtube: / @thedonlemonshow  Substack: https://substack.com/@donlemon Facebook: facebook.com/donlemon Instagram: instagram.com/donlemonofficial Tik Tok: tiktok.com/@donlemonofficial LEMON NATION: Website: donlemon.com Buy Merch: https://don-lemon-merch-store.myshopi... DL Tour Dates: https://www.dlplusdl.com BUSINESS ENQUIRES: Contact [email protected] for any advertising or interview requests

Former White House Communications director Anthony Scaramucci joins Don to break down Donald Trump's extraordinary TIME interview, his concerns about Democrats taking control of Congress, and his statement that he would consider pardoning members of his administration. What does Trump's answer reveal about how he's approaching the midterms and what could happen if Democrats take control on Capitol Hill? Scaramucci weighs in on Trump, the Republican Party and the battle for Congress. FIND THE DON LEMON SHOW: Youtube: / @thedonlemonshow Substack: https://substack.com/@donlemon Facebook: facebook.com/donlemon Instagram: instagram.com/donlemonofficial Tik Tok: tiktok.com/@donlemonofficial LEMON NATION: Website: donlemon.com Buy Merch: https://don-lemon-merch-store.myshopi... DL Tour Dates: https://www.dlplusdl.com BUSINESS ENQUIRES: Contact [email protected] for any advertising or interview requests

Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth are escalating their attacks on the American press, with Hegseth accusing parts of the media of "treason" and Trump continuing his praise of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Don breaks down the growing clash between the administration and journalists and speaks to Historian Timothy Snyder. Plus, Cornell University is facing intense scrutiny over its handling of disturbing sexual assault allegations involving members of the Chi Phi fraternity. No criminal charges were initially filed, but prosecutors have now reopened the investigation and the case is expected to go before a grand jury. FIND THE DON LEMON SHOW: Youtube: / @thedonlemonshow Substack: https://substack.com/@donlemon Facebook: facebook.com/donlemon Instagram: instagram.com/donlemonofficial Tik Tok: tiktok.com/@donlemonofficial LEMON NATION: Website: donlemon.com Buy Merch: https://don-lemon-merch-store.myshopi... DL Tour Dates: https://www.dlplusdl.com BUSINESS ENQUIRES: Contact [email protected] for any advertising or interview requests

Is Donald Trump becoming political poison for his own party? Don Lemon breaks down Ken Paxton's newly leaked audio, Thom Tillis's "WTF moment," and María Elvira Salazar's campaign ad challenging Trump's immigration crackdown. Marjorie Taylor Greene now says "MAGA is dead," and Tucker Carlson says Trump should have been removed from office over what he described as a threat of nuclear war. Texas Railroad Commission candidate Jon Rosenthal joins Don to discuss his campaign and why Republican strategist Karl Rove says he'll cross party lines to vote for him. 🍋   FIND THE DON LEMON SHOW: Youtube:    / @thedonlemonshow  Substack: https://substack.com/@donlemon Facebook: facebook.com/donlemon Instagram: instagram.com/donlemonofficial Tik Tok: tiktok.com/@donlemonofficial   LEMON NATION: Website: donlemon.com Buy Merch: https://don-lemon-merch-store.myshopi... DL Tour Dates: https://www.dlplusdl.com   BUSINESS ENQUIRES: Contact [email protected] for any advertising or interview requests

Senator Eric Schmitt called Jack Smith a "dirtbag" and suggested he committed perjury—then his supposed gotcha unraveled over the Atlanta Hawks and the Iowa Hawkeyes. Don breaks down the hearing, Smith's defense of his Trump investigations, and an administration that continues making excuses for January 6 insurrectionists. Former Capitol defender Michael Fanone joins Don to discuss the hearing, the attack he survived, and Trump's efforts to rewrite January 6. PLUS: Sean "Diddy" Combs is reportedly receiving "VIP treatment" behind bars, including access to massages, alcohol and a cell phone. His release date has also reportedly been moved up again.  FIND THE DON LEMON SHOW: Youtube: / @thedonlemonshow Substack: https://substack.com/@donlemon Facebook: facebook.com/donlemon Instagram: instagram.com/donlemonofficial Tik Tok: tiktok.com/@donlemonofficial LEMON NATION: Website: donlemon.com Buy Merch: https://don-lemon-merch-store.myshopi... DL Tour Dates: https://www.dlplusdl.com BUSINESS ENQUIRES: Contact [email protected] for any advertising or interview requests

Sean "Diddy" Combs has been behind bars for more than two years but explosive new claims suggest the music mogul may be living a surprisingly comfortable life in federal prison. Former inmates claim Diddy has other prisoners cooking, cleaning and doing his laundry, even giving him massages, while allegedly gaining access to contraband including alcohol and a cellphone. Combs' representatives dispute the characterization and say he follows prison rules. Don is joined by Sharay Hayes, better known as "The Punisher," who testified at Diddy's federal trial about his paid sexual encounters involving Combs and Cassie Ventura. Now, The Punisher reacts to the allegations surrounding Diddy's life behind bars and takes us back inside one of the most explosive celebrity trials in recent memory. GUEST: Sharay Hayes  @SharayPunisherHayes   http://yourhardreset.com FIND THE DON LEMON SHOW: Youtube: / @thedonlemonshow Substack: https://substack.com/@donlemon Facebook: facebook.com/donlemon Instagram: instagram.com/donlemonofficial Tik Tok: tiktok.com/@donlemonofficial LEMON NATION: Website: donlemon.com Buy Merch: https://don-lemon-merch-store.myshopi... DL Tour Dates: https://www.dlplusdl.com BUSINESS ENQUIRES: Contact [email protected] for any advertising or interview requests

A stunning twist in the case of Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez, the 28-year-old Venezuelan man shot by an ICE officer during a stop in Austin. Now, Garcés Pérez is the one facing federal charges and potentially up to 20 years in prison. In an EXCLUSIVE interview with Don, his attorney Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch says his legal team was effectively shut out as the charges unfolded and raises serious concerns about his treatment in federal custody. Garcés Pérez still has a bullet lodged in his body, according to his attorney, who says he has not received the medical care he needs. DHS says he is receiving appropriate treatment. Meanwhile, major questions remain about what happened during the encounter, including why the ICE officer who shot Garcés Pérez was not wearing a body camera.

Karen Bass is fighting to keep her job and with just weeks to go until Election Day, the pressure is mounting. In an exclusive interview, the Los Angeles mayor speaks to Don as she battles City Councilmember Nithya Raman in a closely watched race for control of America's second-largest city. Don presses Mayor Bass on the latest polls, her record at City Hall, homelessness, affordability, public safety and why she believes Los Angeles voters should give her another four years. FIND THE DON LEMON SHOW: Youtube: / @thedonlemonshow Substack: https://substack.com/@donlemon  Facebook: facebook.com/donlemon Instagram: instagram.com/donlemonofficial Tik Tok: tiktok.com/@donlemonofficial  LEMON NATION: Website: donlemon.com Buy Merch: https://don-lemon-merch-store.myshopi... DL Tour Dates: https://www.dlplusdl.com BUSINESS ENQUIRES: Contact [email protected] for any advertising or interview requests

Veterans speak out over President Trump's war with Iran, warning about the human cost, the lack of a clear exit strategy and the consequences of dragging America deeper into another prolonged conflict. Army veteran and activist Jolly Good and retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Pat Spearman discuss why veterans are pushing back, what Americans should understand about sending service members into harm's way, and whether Washington has learned anything from America's previous wars. Trump said this week that the U.S. will win the Iran war "very soon." These veterans have questions about where this ends. FIND THE DON LEMON SHOW: Youtube: / @thedonlemonshow Substack: https://substack.com/@donlemon Facebook: facebook.com/donlemon Instagram: instagram.com/donlemonofficial Tik Tok: tiktok.com/@donlemonofficial LEMON NATION: Website: donlemon.com Buy Merch: https://don-lemon-merch-store.myshopi... DL Tour Dates: https://www.dlplusdl.com BUSINESS ENQUIRES: Contact [email protected] for any advertising or interview requests

Trump spent years calling President Biden "Sleepy Joe." Now the cameras keep catching him with his own eyes closed. He nodded off again during an Oval Office event, at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, before facing questions over claims he made from the Resolute Desk. Don breaks down the footage, Trump's disputed claims, and the remarkable moment Marco Rubio insisted he had never seen the president fall asleep, only for Congressman Ted Lieu to confront him with video of Trump appearing to doze while Rubio himself was speaking. Don is joined by psychotherapist Elliott Connie to discuss sleep, exhaustion and what we can and cannot, responsibly conclude from watching someone appear drowsy on camera. PLUS: Lindsay Clancy returns to court for the first time since her murder trial ended in a mistrial. Prosecutors are weighing whether to retry the Massachusetts mother in the deaths of her three children, while Clancy's defense is fighting to prevent a second trial. The first jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict on whether Clancy should be convicted or found not guilty by reason of lack of criminal responsibility. Don breaks down what happens next in one of the country's most closely watched criminal cases. FIND THE DON LEMON SHOW: Youtube: / @thedonlemonshow Substack: https://substack.com/@donlemon Facebook: facebook.com/donlemon Instagram: instagram.com/donlemonofficial Tik Tok: tiktok.com/@donlemonofficial LEMON NATION: Website: donlemon.com Buy Merch: https://don-lemon-merch-store.myshopi... DL Tour Dates: https://www.dlplusdl.com BUSINESS ENQUIRES: Contact [email protected] for any advertising or interview requests