HOT TOPICS | Surgeon General? More Like Surgeon General Warning - May 8th, 2025

The conclave has spoken and the world has a new Pope. He’s a centrist, aiming to balance tradition with modernity. But of course, that’s not sitting well with the MAGA crowd, who were apparently hoping for a pope that quoted Fox News and issued communion with a side of culture war. Now, right-wing Twitter is in meltdown mode, accusing the Vatican of “going woke” (because what isn’t woke these days?) and demanding a pope who reflects their version of morality. 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. This episode is brought to you by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Whether you’ve always been secular or left religion behind, if you don’t want someone else dictating the trip for you, F-F-R-F has your back. Join us. Go to FFRF.US/Freedom or text the word, “DON” to five eleven five eleven and become a member today. Text fees may apply. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey there Lemon Community! Co-Founder and CEO of The Seneca Project, Tara Setmayer brings us this week's episode of The Setmayer Sound Off! Tara dives into the corruption surrounding Trump's presidency. While MAGA leaders tell us we need to make cuts, they seem to just get richer. Join Tara as she breaks it all down. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trump’s new pick for Surgeon General is raising eyebrows...and blood pressure. Known for pushing pseudo-science and questioning actual medical consensus (because of course), she’s exactly the kind of anti-expert the MAGA base usually loves. But here’s the twist: her nomination is causing serious infighting within the movement. Turns out, not everyone is on board with Trump's pick. So what does this say about the future of healthcare in America? And what happens when political loyalty trumps medical qualifications? 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. This episode is brought to you by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Whether you’ve always been secular or left religion behind, if you don’t want someone else dictating the trip for you, F-F-R-F has your back. Join us. Go to FFRF.US/Freedom or text the word, “DON” to five eleven five eleven and become a member today. Text fees may apply. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Don Lemon Show’s head writer Peter Rothpletz is back for Episode 3 of Snark & Awe! This time, he’s joined by Host of the Jack Cocchiarella show, Jack Cocchiarella to unpack MAGA's obsession with using slurs and offensive language. Was this the motivation behind so many Trump voters? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The chaos continues under the Trump administration, and today’s headlines are a brutal reminder of just how messy things have gotten. Fed Chair Jerome Powell is now warning of stagflation. You know, that fun economic cocktail of rising prices and slowing growth. Meanwhile, FAA budget cuts are hitting hard, and it shows: Newark Airport is reportedly a disaster zone, with delays, staffing shortages, and confusion piling up faster than the luggage. Oh, and while America spirals, the world is watching the Vatican as the conclave prepares to choose a new Pope. So… no pressure. Let's break down the economic instability, the transportation chaos, and what to expect as the Catholic Church looks for its next leader...all while the U.S. continues its descent into dysfunction. 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. This episode is brought to you by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Whether you’ve always been secular or left religion behind, if you don’t want someone else dictating the trip for you, F-F-R-F has your back. Join us. Go to FFRF.US/Freedom or text the word, “DON” to five eleven five eleven and become a member today. Text fees may apply. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the Trump administration, the line between journalism and propaganda isn’t just blurry, it’s practically nonexistent. The White House is now openly sharing content from hyper-partisan outlets, cherry-picking spin over substance and pushing narratives that serve the MAGA agenda, facts optional. But here’s the complication: the First Amendment protects it all, from Pulitzer-winning journalists to rage-filled podcasters to TikTok influencers ranting from the front seat of their car. So how do we separate real reporting from state-sanctioned noise? And what happens when the most powerful office in the country becomes just another partisan media outlet? Journalist Jacob Ward breaks it all down! Catch Jacob Ward's Warning every Wednesday at 2pm ET on The Don Lemon Show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, we’re digging into the explosive story behind Mr. Deepfakes, the man behind one of the most prolific non-consensual AI porn sites, who has finally been exposed. While he made money off stolen faces and fake fantasies, real women suffered the consequences: reputations damaged, careers impacted, and trauma inflicted without ever stepping in front of a camera. Don is joined by Laurie Segall, the CEO of Mostly Human Media, to break down the investigation, the tech loopholes that let this thrive, and what this moment says about the urgent need for regulation and accountability in the world of AI-generated exploitation. It’s not just creepy, it’s criminal. And it’s time to talk about it. Follow Laurie Segall @mostlyhumanmedia 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. This episode is brought to you by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Whether you’ve always been secular or left religion behind, if you don’t want someone else dictating the trip for you, F-F-R-F has your back. Join us. Go to FFRF.US/Freedom or text the word, “DON” to five eleven five eleven and become a member today. Text fees may apply. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s Oval Office meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Carney, Trump once again leaned into his favorite fantasy: annexing Canada. After Carney firmly asserted that Canada is not for sale, Trump smirked and replied, “Never say never.” Yes, this is real life. As America spirals through economic instability and global backlash, Trump is out here cosplaying land baron like it’s 1867. This kind of strongman land-grab nonsense isn’t just embarrassing, it’s isolating the U.S. further on the world stage. Let's break down the latest diplomatic facepalm and what it says about Trump’s obsession with power, borders, and ignoring reality. 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. This episode is brought to you by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Whether you’ve always been secular or left religion behind, if you don’t want someone else dictating the trip for you, F-F-R-F has your back. Join us. Go to FFRF.US/Freedom or text the word, “DON” to five eleven five eleven and become a member today. Text fees may apply. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we are joined by Samantha Barry, Editor-in-Chief of Glamour magazine, to unpack everything we saw at last night’s Met Gala. From bold looks to unexpected guests to the theme hits (and misses), we’re diving into the red carpet chaos and cultural conversation behind fashion’s biggest night. Who nailed it? And what does it all say about where fashion and celebrity is headed next? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Because nothing says “freedom” like bringing back Alcatraz, Trump has now floated the idea of reopening the infamous prison island. Yes, that Alcatraz, the one we turned into a museum because we thought we were done with locking people away on remote rocks. So… why now? And who does he plan to put there? (Spoiler: it’s probably not white-collar criminals or corrupt politicians.) Is this just another MAGA stunt? Or are we watching the early stages of state-sponsored prison camps take shape right before our eyes? Let's break down the absurdity, the authoritarian undertones, and the truly dystopian vibes coming from the Trump administration’s latest "idea." Because apparently the 2025 policy agenda is now just one bad Netflix thriller at a time. 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. This episode is brought to you by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Whether you’ve always been secular or left religion behind, if you don’t want someone else dictating the trip for you, F-F-R-F has your back. Join us. Go to FFRF.US/Freedom or text the word, “DON” to five eleven five eleven and become a member today. Text fees may apply. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices