Don Lemon drops HUGE UPDATE after arrest

A few days ago, Trump's DOJ continued. its assault on the First Amendment by. arresting journalist Don Lemon. Now, fortunately, he's been released and we. are lucky enough to be able to speak. with him in one of his first discussions. post arrest. So, obviously, there's a. lot to talk about, but the real question. is, how are you doing? How how how has. everything been in the aftermath of what. I presume has been kind of a a whirlwind. last 48 or 72 hours here? >> You know what? That's a really great. question, Brian. Um, and I think a fair. answer. Would you be surprised if I say. it if I said I don't know?

>> No, I mean that you know look it's it's. I I I I think anything other than that. would have been you know uh would have. been difficult difficult to believe. I. mean I mean talk about highs and lows. from from what happened just a few days. ago to obviously you know there was a a. very viral clip of of you at the Grammys. and so I'm curious like what what was. what was the reception like for for you. in a room with all of those people? You. know, look, not notwithstanding the fact. that that there are folks in the.

entertainment industry, but you know, these are people who who fight to to. push back against against the excesses. and abuses of this administration on on. a daily basis. And and you are literally. on the front lines. >> Yeah. And you heard that. I mean, look, they were not shy about their criticism. of this administration at the Grammys, right? Right. and and some major artists. and usually as of late we've seen people. trying to you know you know move away. from politics in this but they were very. open uh to speaking about it and usually. when I cover these things like the. Grammys or something like that you know.

I'm not looking to talk to them about. politics or foreign policy or anything. like that you know it's it's you know. things that have to relate to the. industry like last year at the Grammys. we talked about the fires and they were. raising money for people with the fires. and of course there were other things. that sometimes they bring up uh but this. year people were very focused on ice and. were wearing you know, the ice out. buttons, um, and just not really shying. away from it. >> No one is illegal on stolen land. I. guess I want to say I'm up here as a. granddaughter of an immigrant. I.

wouldn't be here. [cheering]. [applause]. >> Um, yeah, I'm a product of bravery and I. think those people deserve to be. celebrated. >> It's inhumane. I don't recognize my. country at this moment right now. I'm. going to say. eyes out. [cheering]. >> But for me, Brian, what this is is.

freedom. It's the first amendment. and. you know and art artists are I think. some of the you know artists and. obviously journalists are the the true. um sort of examples of the first. amendment at its finest and what it's. supposed to be right and I believe. artists and journalists if you know if. journalists. >> especially corporate journalists sort of. do some self-correction they could. actually save our democracy in in this. moment and so that's why I wanted to. talk to I'm glad you brought that up but. it was it was a little odd first of all.

being the story, right? I don't like. being the story, but if I'm going to. have to be the story, then I I, you. know, I want to conduct myself properly. and I want to make sure that I stand up. for what is right. But that's why I. wanted to talk to you because you're an. example of journalism, of the the. freedom of the press, um especially now. that we're in this independent space and. um you know, we we are close to the. ground. we don't have the corporate. filters and I think it's important that.

we bring people the information um. without fear of favor and without it. being filtered through gatekeepers. >> You know, I I I was thinking about I've. been thinking about this a lot and and. of course I have friends and family as. I'm sure you do who constantly bring up. this idea of like are are you worried? What about the administration going. after you? And I think like we've all. been asked that question especially by. our loved ones. But I think the. alternative to not speaking up and not, you know, leaning 10 toes in is okay, you kind of take a take a back seat,

allow this administration to censor you. and silence you. And of course, they're. doing it without without much push back. as far as legacy media is concerned. And. they're doing it without without push. back with tech CEOs and universities and. law firms and other world leaders. And. so if he has kind of a glide path to. just full censorship, think about what's. on the other side of that. I mean that. is what true like autocracy looks like. And so we are a bull work here that and. so you know not saying anything is is. even worse because then we end up in an.

administration or or a regime really. where Trump has achieved what he wants. because he's he's successfully quashed. any disscent and that doesn't leave us. any more safe. And so while this might. be a dangerous and and difficult. position, and you can speak to that more. than anybody at this point, the. alternative is so much worse. And so. there is an obligation and a duty to. continue doing this this work no matter. what like the the dangers are. And. again, you you can you know, you can. attest to that better than anybody.

>> Yeah. But listen, not I don't want to be. selfish about this because I know that. you have a much broader answer which. you've kind of touched on and what you. were just saying, but when you heard. about what happened to me and to the. other journalist, what did you think, Brian? >> Look, I I the the sad part is I I wasn't. surprised. Um it it kind of feels like a. matter of time the fact that Trump is. going down this list. I mean, he started. with Leticia James and James Comey and. uh and you know, Adam Schiff is on there.

and then he moves over to like Tim Walls. and Jacob Fry and he's arrested judges. and we've seen Padilla get arrested and. so it's, you know, >> not to mention suing, don't forget suing. journalists and suing news, >> suing journalists, suing the New York. Times, suing I mean anybody you know who. CBS and Paramount and uh ABC for $16. million and And I I think he has been. successful in normalizing us to this. idea that that this is just what happens.

in the United States. And and that's the. part I want to push back against because. like we cannot become accustomed to this. idea where the president of the United. States just sues people or silences. people or wields his FCC against. comedians for the crime of telling. jokes. And and I think that what what. kind of heartened me to see was like all. of the push back left, right, and center. against what had happened to you. And uh. and and that needs to happen every. single time. Like that cannot diminish. just because oh, we've seen this before.

Was was that something that that. surprised you? Um you know, to see all. of the push back even in a world where. everybody kind of expects Trump to go. after his enemies. >> Well, I got to Yes. the the very simple. answer or straightforward answer to your. question is yes. And can you imagine. though we're so connected to our. devices, right? Especially in what we. do. We're there and we're like, "Oh, well, we got to report it. This is what. we do. We have some breaking news or. this just happened." And imagine not. having any communications. for, you know, 12 hours, right? And so I.

had no idea what was going on in the. world. None. until I walked out and when. I saw the scrum of cameras and news. people there, I was floored. I was like, "Really? Are you kidding me?" I had no. idea. And I was very pleasantly. surprised. I mean, there were. helicopters following me like I was OJ. Simpson on the interstate. It was crazy. [snorts] But I had no idea until I got. to um, you know, to my friend's house. where I'm staying and I looked at the. news coverage and I said,

>> "Holy shit.". >> It was the biggest It was the biggest. story probably in the world. >> Yeah. at that. Yeah. >> But I mean like how how bizarre that. that even while you're in there, you. have no idea. And you could have very. well walked out to, you know, one or two. people and and you know, God knows how. many other things could have happened. that day that just might have, you know, taken all the attention, sucked up all. the oxygen. >> Yeah. But I wondered, Brian, and you can. answer this better than I can. I think. I'm too close to it. Is this the thing. that gets people to say, especially.

journalism and the media, and I'm not. talking about the corporate bosses. because they still want to make their. money and they still want their mergers. and acquisitions, but for the. journalists to say, "Okay, enough. already. I I I can't do this. I can't. have the false equivalence. I can't do. it." And just before you answer, I say maybe it is because people who I. didn't have such great relationships. with and for for what whatever reasons, I don't know why. Um, you know, professional jealousy or competition or. whatever reached out and said, you know, I know we haven't been friendly lately,

but I just want to tell you this is. up and I'm sorry this happened to. you and I'd love to like sit down and. have a drink with you soon. So, is this. a thing? Maybe. I I would love if that. would happen. That just gets journalists. to say, "Fuck no, we're not doing this. anymore.". >> Look, I I I hope so. And I think for two. reasons. One, this isn't about like this. isn't about whether somebody agrees with. you or your coverage. This is about this. is about the precedent that it. establishes moving forward. And I think. Republicans are starting to realize that.

if Trump establishes precedents that. could turn around and bite them in the. ass as we move forward. I mean like. there. I think that that's a very pronounced. worry for them. Like this idea of of. okay, so everybody here in the. right-wing media ecosystem is going to. just sit idly by and be silent as this. happens. What can happen when we have a. Democratic president in office? And I. think that's been a worry for them as. they see things get like the abuses grow.

more and more. On the flip side, look, there are always going to be people for. whom Trump can do no wrong and and we've. seen some of them too. And you know, the. the reality is that that those people. would would sacrifice their firstborn if. Trump asked them to. And so I think that. we're seeing a growing dichotomy. between, you know, the the slavish. devotees to Trump, these people on. right-wing media who are just going to. be his mouthpieces no matter what. No. matter what ICE agents, uh, you know, what what crimes they commit or who they.

shoot or what journalists they arrest, those people are always going to be on. board. But there's a growing there's a. growing um disparity between those. people and and even the people they. speak with, like even just any even. right-wing regular Americans. And I. think that they're recognizing, oh, that's that shit's cultish behavior, you. know? Like, that's that's not. necessarily reflective of me. Maybe in. 2024 things felt a little bit different. I I could I could align myself with a. more right-wing government, right-wing. campaign, but like this is what. right-wing governance looks like in.

action. And if that's if that's what it. looks like, where you've got, you know, Caroline Levit basically doing her best. uh uh North Korea lady impression on a. daily basis, it's like I I don't know. I. I I'm I'm seeing people get more and. more uncomfortable with that on on a. daily basis. >> You're you're very astute. Right on. Because the people I spoke to uh even at. the Grammys said to me, uh, "Hey, look, I'm a Republican. I don't like what. happened to you. That's not right. Uh. I'm a conservative. I voted for Donald. Trump and um I don't necessarily agree.

with everything that you say, but this. is wrong and I'm in your corner on this. one." I'm seeing that from I I don't. hear that a lot coming from uh. conservatives now. The the MAGA faithful. and you know the crazy people of the. world uh like God is that like the Benny. Johnson's and the Megan Kelly's or. whatever who just are grifting out there. on the right. They're going to keep you. know fueling the fire and and and and. and putting gasoline on the fire because. that's how they get clicks and ratings. right or well I don't know money. But I.

think for most sensible people, whether. you're a conservative or not, you. realize like we need a we need a an. independent free press. >> Yeah. You know what was so interesting, I think, about uh the Grammys was just a. year ago, I mean, these people wouldn't. be caught dead talking about about. politics, but certainly not like some. aligning themselves with liberal. politics. It it became so out of vogue. to to align yourself with the left. I. mean, look, I'm I'm I'm I'm a I'm a I'm.

a Democrat. Like, it's it's I would be. the the f it's [clears throat] it sucks. that I have to admit it, but but you. know, it was it was c toxic. It was. cultural suicide to uh to align yourself. with the Democrats or some Democratic or. progressive position just a year ago. And and that that's what that's what. gave birth to all of these manosphere. podcasts. And I mean it the Democrats. had lost culture and that which was. bizarre to say because I grew up like in. the Barack Obama era and he was cool and.

we had George W. Bush was decidedly. uncool and and I think in one fell swoop. we saw so much of that snap back and and. politics is downstream of culture and. you have all of these you know all of. these big names and and voices and and. popular ones. I mean, musicians even. even have like a more prominent role in. society than than even actors do, right? >> Yeah. and and for all of those people to. be so unapologetically. outspoken in terms of um in terms of.

pushing back against what this. administration is doing was was a was a. really like heartening thing to see. because again like I I I didn't know. when when culture would would swing back. to the left and I think we saw it happen. thanks to Trump way faster than anybody. anticipated. We were talking about some. of those uh the manosphere and now I'm. seeing people like um is it Andrew. Schultz? Is that his name? >> Andrew Schultz. Oh yeah. He's just you. just you just know he's like in pain. right now and and as well he look go on.

>> No, I want you to finish that. But like. he he didn't realize that this was going. to happen. I mean he supported him. He. had him on the on on his show and they. were talking him and Charlemagne. So all. of these people and and the other folks. on and now they're surprised that Donald. Trump is doing what he's doing. Like. really like come on. >> surprised that the guy who who who. wielded like mass deportation now signs. at his rallies is doing mass. deportations. I mean like there there is. no world in which you had almost 80.

million people who saw this coming, but. you have like six or seven who. had no clue that any of this. could could come about. like the whole. like half the country, a whole half of. the country was yelling about this exact. thing happening. But now you've got, you. know, Andrew Schultz and Joe Rogan who. had no idea this was coming. And you can. you can hear in their voices how they. kind of just have their tails between. their legs now as this stuff happens and. they have to talk about it because they. host shows and the subtext to everything. is like, well, you know, I was I this.

guy was sitting across uh across the. table from me as I was, you know, basically filating him for my audience. M that's vivid. >> How's that? [laughter] How's that for. some imagery? Is that for some uh for. some imagery for you? >> Thank you for that, Brian. No, look, I I. am I'm surprised. Here's the thing. That. shows you that not everybody with a. microphone should be talking about. politics, especially if you don't these. these people have no idea about politics. and policy. Why are they doing it there? Look, they're comedians. You can talk.

Look, it's a obviously freedom of. speech, but sometimes things are so. important that you have to leave the. expert opinion to the experts. You know. what I'm saying? >> Um, and not everybody's meant to. interview a presidential candidate or a. president. And if you are if you don't. believe that you are. I I [clears throat] don't know maybe you. should realize maybe you should have. some um some. a enough self-awareness to realize like. maybe this is beyond I should leave this.

to the journalist. You know what I'm. saying? >> Yeah. I mean look there there I think. these people are learning that there are. consequences to their actions and. sometimes the consequences are small you. know when you're dealing with podcast. but then sometimes the consequences have. global implications and uh and I think. these people are realizing that. >> that right now um so Don I what what's. next now what does this process uh bring. you. >> I will answer I will answer that however. I wanted to I just saw that we have a. video when you asked me about knowing or. not knowing I think you can see like the. look on my face this is when I walked.

out and can play and just let play the. sound low and I'll talk over it. But. this is when I walked out um of jail and. my husband is kind of leading the way. and I'm looking going, "What the is. going on here?" And I, you know, I kept. then the cameraman right here, this. cameraman, there so many people there, one of them falls down. I try to help. him up. Um and and then I, you know, I. had to make my way. You see Matt Gutman. Um there's one of the photographers who.

works for my team. But once I got to. that thing and I saw the helicopters, it. started really to sort of hit home about. how big it was. But I'm just sort of. looking around like look at my face. >> I'm like, "Holy what is going on. here?". >> So, uh, what is next for me? I don't. really know, Brian. But I will tell you, I don't know. Look, I know what's next. for me is that this is serious. These. are criminal and federal um charges. So, I have to take them seriously, but. they're not going to steal my joy. I. still have to live and they're not going. to silence me. I still have to report. and do what I what I do here on my.

channel and and everywhere, you know, public speaking or whatever. I'm still. going to do what I do. I have to. It's. not it's not just my livelihood. This is. my profession. Um this is, you know, this is a mission for me to be able to. tell the truth and to be closer to the. people, closer to the ground without the. corporate influence. And I have to say. people like you have who've been so. great uh you know in advising me you. know just because I was like some big.

deal cable guy you know I told you. coming into this that doesn't mean that. I'm going to be a big streamer. >> People don't know who I am. What's your. advice Brian? You know and you gave me. some advice and David gave me advice and. others and I really took that to heart. and I think the reason that I've been. successful in that is that I did not. come in thinking like I was some big. shot or I didn't I don't judge it. I. just do it. And I think that's part of. the reason for the success, but also. because of the support we have as. independent in this independent media. space. Do you disagree with that?

>> No, I think I think that's I think. that's spot on. And and I think that you. know you what we've seen over the last. few days is there is a there's a big. difference between how independent media. operates and legacy media operates. And. I I think the scarcity mindset that. exists in legacy media or corporate. media doesn't exist in independent. media. and and there is a sense that you. know we need to support each other. There is enough enough to go around um. and and there is a broader mission I. think that that all of us are focused on. and that's that's uh that's why we do.

this. >> Um but look I I just want to say that. that I'm I'm grateful for uh for your. voice. I'm grateful for the fact that. you're that you're fighting as hard as. you are. I I know that I speak on behalf. of, you know, myself and all of all of. these other folks in independent media. and saying we see we see, you know, what. could be a Tuesday for us in what you're. dealing with right now. And so, uh, and. so any any support, any help, um, any. amplification you need, we're all we're. all, you know, behind you 100%. So, uh,

just want to just want to thank you for. for fighting as hard as you are. >> And thank you very much, Brian. It goes. the same to to you as well, from me to. you. So, thank you so much. And I'll see. I'll see you around these independent. streets very soon. [music].