Lemon LIVE at 5 | Waltz Out, Rubio In? What Is Even Happening? - May 1st, 2025

This morning, we’re diving into Trump’s increasingly authoritarian agenda because the vibes aren’t just bad, they’re fascist-adjacent. First up: Harvard. Trump’s declared war on the Ivy League, now threatening to revoke the university’s tax-exempt status because they didn’t align with his political narrative. Free speech? Academic freedom? Apparently not when it makes Dear Leader uncomfortable. Then there’s the Alien Enemies Act, a centuries-old law Trump is now using to deport people en masse. A federal judge just ruled that his use of the law exceeds its legal scope. So the question is: Will they listen to the courts? Or are we just tossing the Constitution out the window for good? Don breaks down the legal overreach, the political revenge, and how much longer this democracy can function with this level of power abuse. Spoiler: It’s not looking great. This episode is sponsored by Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at SHOPIFY. COM/lemon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tonight on The Don Lemon Show, we’re breaking down the utter madness that is today’s news cycle because the Trump administration just pulled another political stunt straight out of the chaos playbook. First, Mike Waltz is out as National Security Advisor. Then, plot twist! He’s suddenly named U.N. Ambassador just hours later. And who’s filling in as National Security Advisor? None other than Marco Rubio, because apparently being Secretary of State just isn’t keeping him busy enough. Joining Don to make sense of the nonsense is Congressman Suhas Subramanyam, who’s been on the front lines pushing back against Trump’s policies and power grabs. It’s reshuffling, it’s reckless, and it’s all happening in real time. Buckle up, Lemon Nation. This episode is sponsored by Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at SHOPIFY. COM/lemon 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 reflects on the last 100 days and breaks down how the democrats are reacting. While Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Senator Cory Booker are standing up to the Trump administration, others are busy bending the knee. Looking at you Chuck Schumer and Gretchen Whitmer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yesterday, Trump held a Cabinet meeting to reflect on the first 100 days of his second term, and let’s just say, reality did not make the guest list. Despite sinking approval ratings and plummeting public support for everything from tariffs to mass deportations, the administration spent the entire meeting showering Trump with praise like it was a loyalty test, not a policy check-in. Don breaks down the bizarre back-patting session, the growing gap between MAGA world and actual America, and what it says about the state of leadership in 2025. Spoiler: the country’s on fire, and they’re toasting marshmallows. This episode is sponsored by Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at SHOPIFY. COM/lemon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Don Lemon Show’s head writer Peter Rothpletz is back for Episode 2 of Snark & Awe! This time, he’s joined by Town & Country Contributing Editor Andrew Zucker to unpack the shifting tides in Gen Z’s political vibes. Is the generation that helped fuel the meme wars finally over MAGA? Are we witnessing the moment when Trumpism becomes… cringe? They break down the data, the discourse, and whether Gen Z is actually moving on, or just getting louder about it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don sits down with Michael Fanone and Michael Cohen to break down the chaos that’s defined Trump’s first 100 days back in office, and spoiler...it’s not pretty. From spiraling economic turmoil and job-killing tariffs, to unconstitutional deportations and nonstop attacks on anyone who dares disagree, this presidency is already rewriting the definition of dysfunction. Whether it’s punishing critics, bulldozing legal norms, or turning the government into a revenge tour, one thing’s clear: the damage is real, and it’s only just begun. Join Don, Fanone, and Cohen as they unpack the madness and what it means for the future of the country (if there’s still one left to fix). This episode is sponsored by Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at SHOPIFY. COM/lemon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Should AI Have Boundaries? As AI becomes more powerful and more accessible, the debate over morality and responsibility is heating up. Journalist Jacob Ward joins us to explore the ethical minefield surrounding artificial intelligence. At the center of it all: Elon Musk’s Grok AI, which reportedly may include a model that will do anything it’s asked to do no matter how dangerous, unethical, or flat-out wrong. If you ask AI to do something harmful… and it says yes, who’s to blame? The user? The creator? The code? It’s not science fiction anymore...it’s here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last night, Trump sat down with ABC’s Terry Moran for what was supposed to be a presidential interview. What we got instead? A familiar blend of denial, deflection, and delusion. From flat-out lies to wild exaggerations, Trump steamrolled through reality...even when Moran tried to fact-check him (which, let’s be honest, didn’t happen nearly enough). The result? A chaotic mess that leaves us wondering: do facts even matter anymore? Don breaks down the most jaw-dropping moments, the missed opportunities, and the dangerous normalizing of nonsense from a man who still refuses to admit truth has consequences. It’s not journalism’s finest hour, but it’s one we definitely need to talk about. This episode is sponsored by Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at SHOPIFY. COM/lemon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trump's second presidential term has hit the 100 day mark, and there is no question, it has been a chaotic mess so far defined by unconstitutional acts, a crumbling economy, and attacks on anyone who speaks out. But what have the democrats been doing to fight back? Don takes a look at some of the best (and worst) performances from democrats over Trump's first 100 days. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s Day 100 of Trump’s second term, and not only is the economy spiraling, but America’s patience with the ultra-wealthy is wearing dangerously thin. Public opinion of billionaires is sinking fast, with Elon Musk’s approval ratings plummeting and Jeff Bezos now quietly walking back Amazon’s plan to show how Trump’s tariffs are jacking up prices. (Because heaven forbid people know who’s actually making things worse.) Tonight, Don breaks down the growing resentment toward America’s richest, and how, once again, it feels like the billionaires are selling out the rest of the country to protect their own bottom line. Pop the popcorn, Lemon Nation, the class divide is about to get a lot louder. This episode is sponsored by Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at SHOPIFY. COM/lemon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices