Don Lemon is back on television, and this time, nobody is deciding what makes air but him. The former CNN anchor has officially launched The Don Lemon Channel in partnership with Swerve TV, bringing his political commentary and news analysis to a dedicated streaming platform that expands on his already popular digital live series, Hot Topics With Don Lemon.

With more than 10 million followers across his social media channels, Lemon has spent the years since leaving CNN building an independent audience on his own terms, and The Don Lemon Channel is the next step in that build.

“We built this network on the idea that people want the truth delivered straight without a corporate boss deciding what makes air,” Lemon said in a statement. “Almost eleven million followers later, they are still asking for more. So we are giving them more. More hours, more voices, and now a channel on their televisions. That is what America is demanding. We go where the audience is.”

Before his much-talked-about departure from CNN in 2023, Lemon was one of the most prominent figures in primetime news journalism, covering civil rights movements, politics, and the COVID-19 pandemic, and reporting live from historic events including President Obama‘s inauguration and the 2012 Trayvon Martin shooting.

His exit from CNN set off a chain of moves that included a high-profile partnership with Elon Musk to bring The Don Lemon Show to X, a deal that ended after a 90-minute sit-down interview with the Tesla founder that resulted in Lemon’s contract being terminated before the show launched.

From there, Lemon found his footing in the digital space. His independence has also put him in the crosshairs of an administration that has made clear it has little appetite for dissenting media voices. In January 2026, Lemon was charged with conspiracy to deprive rights and interfering with religious freedoms after allegedly obstructing someone’s First Amendment rights by force. He entered Cities Church in St. Paul on January 18 alongside protesters who alleged that one of the pastors was an immigration enforcement official.

The charges made national headlines, with many viewing the prosecution as politically motivated. Lemon pleaded not guilty, maintaining that he was present strictly in his capacity as a journalist protected under the First Amendment.

The Don Lemon Channel is part of Lemon’s company, Lemon Media Network, and will feature twice-daily live programs, daily news drops, archival content, and partner programming from voices including The Monique Pressley Show, Josh the Progressive, Capitol Police officer Michael Fanone, and Dr. Frita.

The channel is available through Swerve TV, a FAST channel launched in 2021 that broadcasts live sports, tournaments, and digital media programming. Viewers can watch on Roku, Amazon Prime, and Sling TV, among other platforms. Swerve TV reaches a monthly audience of more than 30 million viewers and is accessible in over 80% of U.S. and Canadian households.

Steve Shannon, CEO of Swerve TV, framed the partnership around what Lemon has built independently. “After more than a decade anchoring primetime on CNN, Don has built his own independent network for his more than 10 million followers across multiple platforms,” Shannon said. “The Don Lemon Channel brings even more reach to his award-winning reporting and commentary, as well as to a cadre of other high-frequency, independent news voices.”

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