thank you for your time and attention. "don lemon tonight" starts, right now, with the big star, d lemon. >> how you doing? you have a good weekend? >> better than i deserved. >> need a haircut. it's long, man. jeez. got a little fro going on. >> i'm sorry, did you want me to answer a question? >> talking to myself. that's like totally our relationship. >> you just showed no respect. >> that's our relationship. you'll start talking. i will be like, chris, i got something to say. by the way, all of our friends this weekend, agreed that you talk more than me. every-single person that we had lunch with yesterday. 100%, except for you. >> okay. what happened when the time was actually counted? >> well, you knew the time was being counted. so, you prepared yourself. you restrained yourself, as much as you can restrain yourself,

not to speak as much as you normally do. >> so, its was a setup? >> it was rigged. it's a setup. the whole thing is rigged. >> the whole thing. >> yeah. the whole thing. >> i'm part of the big lie. >> you are part of the big lie. you are the big lie. >> you think chris christie's running for president? >> is water wet? yeah, of course, he is going to run for president. now, is he going to win? that's a whole, different story. should he? that's a whole different story, as well. >> in this day and age, wouldn't you be nuts to put your hat in the ring so that you can just get chewed on for that much longer? >> yeah, i -- but i -- look. god bless him. i don't understand why anyone would want to be, you know, a politician, especially -- let alone, president of the united states, especially if you have somewhat of a good life. do you want that much scrutiny? that many people digging into everything? i mean, it's enough, as it is, with social media and the

information age. everyone already knows everything about you, right? but do you really want that? who would want to be the president of the united states? i can't imagine it. >> who would want to have the task? look. he couldn't even give a straight answer about the january-6th commission. now, we both know that chris christie knows there should be a commission. but he also knows you can't say that, if you want to survive in that party. what does that tell you? why even want to be involved with that? >> yeah. and there's -- i mean, there's other things, chris christie. you know, sometimes, chris christie is a really straight shooter. and then, other times, you know, as we have witnessed, he can obfuscate. let's -- let's just -- >> politicians are in the business of being tough to pin down. when it is not convenient. and look. we have allowed that culture to get away from us, in a way that, now, so many are so disaffected that they don't even hold these people to the same rules that they would in the rest of their lives. that's what i'm hoping we can get back to and closer to. >> yeah. just so you know, i wasn't

trying to be cool tonight. the time got away from me. >> the best thing that could happen to that tie is not to be worn. >> i didn't have time. >> last time i saw something like that, it was tied around an old-oak tree. >> it's a really old -- really old tie. the last time i -- yeah. yeah. yellow ribbon. i got it. i got it. the last time i saw something like this, it was on a -- the former guy. because it's one of those things. yeah. >> you put that on. hurt your whole head space. >> i saw you were going into the whole bolo thing and i bolted. i was like, oh, my gosh, look what time it is. have someone throw some powder on my face. >> that was a good one. i had a man on my show, who wanted us to believe 100%, and he believes -- >> overstock guy. >> -- that he was involved with a russian spy, at the direction of the fbi. he is now the money behind an organization, that will have a hand, maybe a heavy hand, in picking the volunteers for the next level of fraudit in

arizona. >> yeah. well, there's a lot of cuckooness going around. and some of you, you talked about tonight. i'll be kind. >> that guy. >> i won't say interviewed. i got to go. okay. see ya. i'm glad. it was good seeing you yesterday. >> i love you, d lemon. >> thanks for not picking up the check, again. i love you, too. have a great night. this is "don lemon tonight." thanks for joining. and we have got to talk about the cancer, really, that is spreading in this country. it's the truth. it's the hate. the hate that's spreading like a virus. leading to attacks that put americans in danger, every single day. the ignorance that allows hate to metastasize. the lies spread by too many elected officials, who are supposed to be leading us. but only care about their own, political skins. and the complete lack of common truth that is driving us apart in this country. it really is a sickness and it's happening everywhere you look. the anti-semitism, anti-semitic

attacks in cities across this country from los angeles, to new york. where police are increasing patrols tonight at synagogues, schools, and across jewish communities. it's sad. and after two -- that, after two anti-semitic incidents in the same brooklyn neighborhood happened on saturday night after a 29-year-old jewish man was punched, kicked, and pepper sprayed, last week, in times square. we had him on this program, on friday. two men reaarrested and charged. and in los angeles, a suspect arrested after several jewish people at a sushi restaurant were targeted. let's -- come on, people. what is going on? this is what the president of the united states is saying. calling the attacks on the jewish community, and i quote here, despicable. the vice president, kamala harris, saying the surge must be called out, condemned, and stopped. and in a time when hate-fueled violence is spreading, the three top republicans in the house are hiding their heads in the sand. ignoring multiple requests from

cnn to respond to hateful, ignorant lies from the qanon, space-laser congresswoman, who compares wearing a mask to jews being sent to the gas chamber in the holocaust. i said that slowly. yes. because i wanted you to hear it. that's what she is doing. wearing masks, to the holocaust, a comparison. this is a time when we need to call out the hate. we need to call out the cowardly leaders, who are afraid to speak the truth. call out kevin mccarthy, steve scalise, elise stefanik. who are too afraid to say what we, all, know. what they must know. they must know that this is wrong. >> you know, we can look back in a time in history where people were told to wear a gold star. and they were definitely treated like second-class citizens, so much so that they were put in trains and taken to gas chambers in nazi germany. and this is exactly the type of abuse that nancy pelosi is

talking about. >> and then, she doubled down on her own hateful ignorance. >> i stand by all of my statements. i said nothing wrong. and i think any -- any rational jewish person didn't like what happened in nazi germany. and any rational jewish person doesn't like what's happening with overbearing mask mandates, and overbearing vaccine policies. >> just any rational person. the silence of kevin mccarthy, in the face of that. stunning. it seems like she can say whatever she wants, no matter how blatant the lies, how offensive. no matter how disgusting the hate. and the leaders of the republican party are too afraid to call out one freshman congresswoman who is seemingly never met a lie or conspiracy theory that she didn't like. let's not forget her insane claim about these jewish-space

lasers controlled by the rothchild family. a frequent target of anti-semites. started the california wildfires, that's what she said. it's no accident, apparently, that marjorie taylor greene would say something anti-semitic now. what does it take to get a reprimand from kevin mccarthy? how low do you have to go, before he decides enough is enough? well, we know one republican who got reprimanded. one. we know one republican who paid a price for what she said for telling the truth, and that's liz cheney. is one of just a handful in her party, who aren't afraid to tell the truth now. between marjorie taylor greene's lies, quote, evil lunacy. republican congresswoman liz cheney. evil lunacy. yet, she is on the outs. while it seems, there's nothing the qanon congresswoman can say that won't -- that they won't tolerate. what are they afraid of? why are so-few republicans willing to stand up against the lies? why are truth tellers, like

congressman peter mayor, who so few and far between, why? >> first off, it's any comparisons to the holocaust. it's beyond reprehensible. this is -- i -- i don't even have words to describe how disappointing it is to see this -- this hyperbolic speech that, frankly, amps up and plays into a lot of the anti-semitism that we have been seeing in our society today. vicious attacks on -- on the streets of new york and in los angeles. >> if you don't stand up against the lies and the liars, what do you stand for? adam kinzinger, saying this. >> i do think kevin has failed to tell the truth to the republicans and to the american people. and it pains me to say it. it's not like i enjoy standing up and saying this. but people, the 74 million voters that voted for donald

trump, that believe -- a number of them believe the election was stolen because their leaders have not told them otherwise. the people they trust have, either, been silent or not told them the truth. that's where kevin has failed, because he told the truth on january 13th. something around then. and then, he went to mar-a-lago, and said donald trump's the leader of the party. he's right. donald trump is the leader of the party. but we need to tell people the truth. >> he's right. he is right. right on. that's where the republican party is, right now. own it. the white gop is turning into a party of reactionaries. far outside the mainstream in america. and nowhere, is that more clear than when it comes to race. i want you to take a look at this. this is an "axios"/ipsos poll on america one year after george floyd. it shows white republicans and white democrats are living in two different americas. a stunning, 79% of white

republicans say the country has made the changes needed to give black-americans equal rights with white-americans. only 12% of white democrats agreed with that. just 8% of white republicans say the protests last year, over racial injustice, had a positive impact on society. compare that to 60% of white democrats. and 47% of white republicans say america is not a racist country. just 4% of white democrats agree. like i said, a party of reactionaries. the lack of a common truth and common sense driving americans apart. is it any wonder, the gop is so determined to kill the january-6th commission, before it even starts? not even allowing debate? they are doing everything they can -- that they can to hide the truth of what happened on one of

the darkest days in our history. even though, we all saw it, as i always say, with our own eyes. there it is, in front of your faces, right there. we saw violent, trump-supporting rioters beating police. hunting for the very lawmakers, who now want to bury the truth of what happened. the truth that those rioters could have killed them. rioters, chanting, hang mike pence. >> hang mike pence! hang mike pence! >> a senate vote on the january 6th commission looking likely, this week, with more and more republicans towing the party line and signaling that they're going to vote no. mitt romney saying, tonight, he'd be a rare-yes vote. apar majority leader kevin schumer saying this. >> we are going to vote on the january-6th commission in the senate. and the american people will see where every member stands. on the side of truth? or on the side of donald trump's big lie?

>> mixing up the names. kevin mccarthy and chuck schumer. chuck schumer, saying this. so, that's what all this is -- this is in service of. the big lie. the big lie, and the big liar. the disgraced, twice-impeached, one-term, former president, who lost the house, lost the senate, and lost the white house. that's why they're counting ballots in a sham audit in arizona. whatever -- i don't know why i would even call it an audit. it's just, like, a -- i don't know -- yeah -- yeah -- fraudit. i like that. thank you. i wish i could say it was me. that was my trusty-executive producer in my ear. fraudit. than thank you, maria. they are getting ready to fraudit ballots again in georgia following three fraudits, one including a hand recount last year. like i said, the lies, the ignorance, the hate, driving us apart. and if you don't stand up against the lies and the liars, if you don't stand up.

what do you stand for? it's obvious, what the republican party stands for, right now. lies and the lying liars who lie. she is one of the few republicans willing to stand up to the former president. her party threw her under the bus for it. so, why is liz cheney letting them off the hook for the big lie? >> how much culpability do republican elites have for fertilizing the soil for the big lie? >> that is -- that's not, at all, how i think about it, you'll be surprised to hear. before it begins? prilosec otc uses a unique delayed-release formula that works to turn down acid production, blocking heartburn at the source. with just one pill a day, you get 24-hour heartburn protection. take the prilosec otc two-week challenge. and see the difference for yourself. prilosec otc, 1 pill a day,

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♪ we've got 'em on the ropes. the billionaires buying elections. the corporate special interests poisoning campaigns with dark money, frantic to preserve big-money politics as usual. because the for the people act is on the verge of becoming law. reining in corporate lobbyists, finally banning dark money, and protecting our freedom to vote. billionaires and special interests, your day is nearly done. because it's time for the people to win.

you know what tomorrow marks? one year, can you believe it, since the murder of george floyd. the video of an officer with his knee on his neck shocking the world. spurring a global reckoning on race. protests lasting weeks. almost every-major city. george floyd's family is going to meet with president biden tomorrow. but, what has changed in a year, really? senators say that they are getting closer to a bipartisan deal to overhaul policing. but there's no deal, yet. matthew dowd joins me now. he is former chief strategist for president -- president george w. bush. and i hate to say gw, i think it's a little respectful. so i -- anyway, i almost said gw. but george w bush. thank you for joining us, sir. good to see you. >> you, too, don. you could just say 43. >> yeah. okay. all right. i like that.

it's interesting. when i think about it, you know, i knew it was tomorrow's the anniversary. but when i sat here in front of this camera and i actually said it to you. just think about how last we were in the middle of a pandemic. we were all in quarantine. we coopeuldn't leave our homes we saw this video. i mean, it's amazing to see what's happened in a year but is that year going to make a difference? let's put up this poll just to help us make the point. it's "axios"/ipsos. if our country has made the changes needed to give black-americans equal rights with white-americans. the interesting thing is, matthew, 79% of white republicans say yes, compared to just 12% of white democrats. what does that tell you about how the gop base views race? >> well, as you and i have talked about before, there's this huge discrepancy between where the gop is and where democrats and independents of the country are. where a third of the country is and where two-thirds of the country is. there was another poll last week, don, that said -- asking if we needed police reform of the country.

and overwhelmingly, independents and democrats said, absolutely, we need police reform. overwhelmingly, republicans said, no, we don't need police reform in our country today. and you have to -- i mean, watching the last four or five years, if we needed any reminder, and i guess, a lot of us needed it. is that we are a country, that is still -- which has struggled for 240 years. we have struggled with race through the entirety of our country. and every time we have one step forward, we take at least a half-a-step back, or even sometimes more than a step back. in that. and we've seen that throughout the history of the country. that every time we think, okay, we're going to actually modernize our republic. we are going to get to the point where diversity matters. we're going to get to the point where all men and women are created equal. we take a step back. and i think that's the situation we're in. where most of the country wants to move forward and deal with these issues, fundamentally. there is a -- one of the legacy two parties that says, no, actually, we want to go backward. >> yeah. yeah.

i mean, look, this poll shows that 47% of white republicans believe america is not a racist country. compared with just 4% of white democrats. i mean, how -- obviously, this is playing out in our politics. but what is going on here? how is this playing out in our politics right now? >> well, i -- i actually think it's -- i mean, do i think that -- that -- i don't think it's fair to describe a country, because a country's not a human being, as racist. do i think that there are many racists in america? yes. do i think that systemic racism exists today? yes. do i think systemic racism has existed through the entirety of our country and that many of our founding documents were based on systemic racism? absolutely, yes. but i still believe that what we're supposed to do is go towards a more-perfect union in this and we actually believe what was written. as i said, that all men and all women are created equal. but i think we're at a time, and you and i have had this conversation before. where diversity scares the heck out of a seg -- out of a segment

of our population. >> more than a heck, matthew. a hell. it scares the living daylights out of a big segment. i just learned something from you. i am going to let you finish. but when you said the country is not racist. i actually -- i actually agree with you because a country's made up of people. and so, do we have racist or racial issues in the country? absolutely. were we founded on racism or racist practices? absolutely. but i -- you know, i never thought about it, in that way, until you just said that. so, thank you for that. go on. sorry. >> no, sure. and -- and i think that's important to keep in mind. i mean, all of us, every single person, i -- i think it's important. every single person is born with biases and prejudices. and i think, what we're -- what we're sort of commanded to do or we should do is to struggle through those and identify those in ourselves. and i think what we have, now, is a -- is a major-political party in our country, who the majority says, nah, we're not

going to worry about that. we liked it before. we liked it in the 1950s. or actually, we liked it in the 1870s. because whites were in charge. and whites, as i said the other day, whites are still in charge. it's just they occupy 80% of the -- of the power in the country, and not 90%. and i -- it -- it's -- i think, we'll get through this, in the long-term, don. but it's very concerning, in the short-term, that we're still having this struggle. but let's keep in mind that, you know, emmett till was killed and as the people that killed emmett till were not found guilty. medgar evers was killed and the people that killed medgar evers were found not guilty. and so, the struggle is always long and it continues. but i think we should honor the legacy of those who have gone before us by keeping the fight going. >> uh-huh. uh-huh. i think, look. this is illustrative of where we are, especially with the republican party. so i want you to take a look at these three republican candidates in 2022. tonight, we are learning anti-government activist, ammon

bundy, who is currently barred from entering idaho capitol grounds, running for governor of the state. there is also mark mccloskey running for senate in missouri. and in wyoming, state senator anthony bouchard, who is trying to unseat liz cheney, revealing he impregnated a girl when he was 18. when you think about those -- the caliber of candidates. look. think about it. whatever you want. i just laid the facts out. what is going on here? do you think it's self-drukz? destruction? what? >> so i think these candidates represent, these candidates appearing now, in the past we would have called fringe candidates. they wouldn't get through the guardrails in place. that's no longer possible. republicans have thrown off any guardrails to any crazy, corrupt, or incompetent or criminal candidates and they are basically saying come on board, this is who we are. so those existed before. even as recently as they -- you

know, as in two or three elections ago. they -- they would try to put something in place where this didn't happen. i think it's a mistake and i have heard a number of democrats say this. that the gop is self-destructing. the gop represents -- it's going to get at least 45% of the vote in 2022 elections. at least 45% of the vote in the '24 elections and so the idea of banking on the gop self-destructing is not going to happen. and when you combine that 45% with gerrymandering, and the way that political jurisdictions basically determine this by geography. they're going to hold many levers of power. and so, anybody that doesn't want that to sort of bank a strategy that says, okay, they'll self-destruct. and therefore, everything will be fine. i think is mythic and completely flawed way to look at this. the only way it's going to be dealt with. if people proactively deal with it. us, in the media, talking about it. but then voters, fundamentally coming to a conclusion it's not who represents them but i think

democrats need to get off the self-destructive mantra and get on the what are we going to do about it? >> matthew dowd. you are the man. i don't know if you're channeling me or i am channeling you but there's nothing i disagree with. i said last week and people got upset that democrat -- democrats needed to be stronger. the republican party's obsolete. it needs to be restructured. but somehow, that is controversy -- controversial when it's the truth. it's the truth. banking on a party to self-destruct, that has created a monster. that is, you know, seems to be bulletproof. i don't know. you know? nothing sticks. >> i just think -- i -- i've been involved in a hundred campaigns and every time you count on the opponent blowing up themselves. >> yep. >> is a -- is a strategy that usually leads to a loss on your part. >> i said that for -- during the 2016 election. and guess what? i hate to say i told ya so. thank you, matthew dowd. >> thanks, don. >> be well. i will see you soon. so they just can't quit the

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the gop clinging to the big lie, at all costs. what's left when you got, you know, allegiance to a lie? that's all they have got. not much. jonathan swan joins me now. national political reporter for "axios." jonathan, thank you so much for joining. let's talk about what's going on with the republicans now. because they just can't shake this big lie. leadership can't even keep minor members in line. you are covering this every single day. you are deep in it. is there anything that you can see that could change this dynamic? >> well, one of the problems, don, is that polling shows that anywhere between 60 and 70% of republican voters. that's 6-0 and 7-0 percent of republican voters consider joe biden an illegitimate president. and that's not -- i mean, that's not a number -- you don't get to seven out of ten from some

isolated incident. you -- you -- you get that from years and years and years of fertilizing the soil for this. of telling voters that voter fraud is rampant. of telling them that people in the inner cities are voting, you know, four times a piece. illegal immigrants. all this stuff. you don't get it, without all of the years preceding 2020. and that's why, you know, it really is baked into the rhetoric. and that's how we get to this point. >> uh-huh. every time i look up, jonathan, you have an exclusive or some-big interview. one of the big interviews, along with exclusive information. i'm sure, liz cheney. let's play part of your s interview and then we'll talk about it. >> how much culpability do republican elites have for fertilizing the soil for the big lie? >> that is -- that's not, at all, how i think about it, you will be surprised to hear. >> why? >> i think that when you look at things like voter fraud, it certainly exists. i will never understand the resistance, for example, to voter i.d.

i think you ought to have to show i.d. to go vote. there is a big difference, between that, and a president of the united states, who loses an election, after he tried to steal the election. and refuses to concede. >> so, i get -- listen. there's no nuance, anymore. but i -- i kind of get what she is saying. she can believe in, you know, voter i.d.s or what -- what have you. but she thinks republicans bear no responsibility for cultivating trump's big lie? can you clarify that, please? >> yeah. that's right. i mean, so -- so, i agree with you. you can separate the two. and she -- she has said, unequivocally, that donald trump is lying when he says he -- he -- you know, the election was stolen. but she wants to put that in a silo. and she believes, or at least says she believes, that there is no connection to, you know, so many republicans believing this lie. and all the rhetoric that came, for many many years before, talking about voter fraud, et

cetera. the other thing she says which, again, i find to be a stretch. is she -- she says that she doesn't see any connection, between donald trump -- donald trump's big lie and all of these efforts, in the states, by republicans, to pass these restrictive-voter laws. so again, she wants to contain the big lie in a silo. and -- and basically, ignore all the other context on each side of it. >> but, jonathan, they are saying they're doing it because the election was stolen. i mean, so i don't understand the logic. >> exactly. right. right. like, you only need to listen to a number of the -- i mean, the more sophisticated of the state lawmakers will -- will deny that. but you're exactly right, don. many -- many times, you just have to listen to them. they will say they are doing this because the election was stolen or that, you know, trump was -- was stolen from trump. and many of the measures they are putting in place, at the state level, are in direct

response to some of these complaints that donald trump has made. so, it just, as you say, it -- it -- >> defies logic. it defies logic, especially when you look at, you know, a great correspondent, donie o'sullivan, he talks to trump supporters all the time. and they'll say what about all those ballots that were under the desks in georgia? and so on. and the -- the truck that did this? and the, you know, the ones that came from asia because they had bamboo on them. all that came from the big lie. so, i mean, look. liz cheney. at least she's got some backbone but she can't have it both ways. she can't say that the rhetoric didn't, really, contribute to this. and then, you know, while she gets kicked out of leadership. you know, there's marjorie taylor greene. she's comparing mask mandates to the holocaust, jonathan. why are so few of her colleagues even willing to call her out on this bs? >> well, one of the starkest polls that we ever did, don, was we compared the popularity of

marjorie taylor greene with leaders, like mitch mcconnell and -- and liz cheney. and the fact is, among republican voters, it's not even close. marjorie taylor greene is far-more popular. she has a higher approval than mitch mcconnell and liz cheney. so, if you want to understand how the party views those figures, you just need -- again -- you just need to poll voters. and it -- it's really, really stark. liz cheney, right now, don, is three-times more popular among democrats than republicans. so, she's -- she's a -- she's a woman. she's a woman without a party, even though she's very conservative. the party is not where she's at. >> it's just nutty. i do feel like, sometimes, i -- sitting here, and i'm living a twilight-zone episode. thank you, jonathan swann. jonathan, you can check out the interview with liz cheney. jonathan, appreciate it. i will see you soon. be well.

so, he's outspoken on social issues. and he doesn't just talk. he takes action. so, why is lebron james keeping quiet on this? >> do you mind me asking if that -- if you are confirming that you did get the vaccine? >> it's -- it's not a big deal. ♪ ♪ smooth driving pays off. saving is easy when you're in good hands. allstate. click or call for a quote today. i booked our hotel on kayak. it's flexible if we need to cancel. cancel. i haven't left the house in a year. nothing will stop me from vacation. no canceling. flexible cancellation.

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really, really important segment, right here. please, sit down. watch it. basketball superstar, lebron james, won't say whether he has received or will receive the coronavirus vaccine. james. outspoken on social issues, like racial justice and voting rights. very outspoken. says his own vaccination status is not a big deal. >> my family. you know, for the majority. i mean, for 99.9% that. so, you know, it's about the

health and safety of my family and that's what it came down to. me being available to my teammates on the floor is me taking care of my body. >> do you mind me asking if you are confirming that you did get the vaccine? >> it's not -- it's not a big deal. >> but, to many, it is a very big deal, including for my next guest. steven a smith. host of espn's first take and host and executive producer of stephen a's world on espn plus. steven a, thank you. man. >> thank you. >> i love your outspokenness. i -- thank you for doing this. this bothers you. you said that lebron can't have it both ways. that he, either, wants to be out front and center, bringing a voice to issues. or he doesn't. tell me why this is so important to you. >> well, i think that, you know, obviously, you know, you had me on your show a few months ago. when i decided to -- to take the vaccine. i had my reservations. there's a plethora of people within the african-american community that has had -- that -- that have had our reservations about taking the

vaccine. but ultimately, you know, when you go into icus or what have you, you see things that have been so profoundly detrimental to the african-american community. you take a stand, and you take a position. i'm not of the position that lebron james normally, under normal circumstances, should feel any obligation, whatsoever, to divulge whether or not he's taken the vaccine. but considering the multitude of issues that he's been willing to tackle. considering what provoked him to do so, because of concerns for his community, his people. those are his words. these are the kind of things that he has said, time and time and time, again. then, why would you not speak on the issue of being vaccinated or not? that's what i am talking about. of course, he's a -- you know, he's a citizen. he is entitled to his privacy. we, all, know that. and lebron james is the ultimate role model. he is an incredible athlete. an incredible humanitarian, as far as i'm concerned. one of the best people we ever seen in the world of sports. but on this particular issue, his unwillingness to divulge

where he stands and why he feels what ever it is that he feels. i'm going to say that it's -- it's flagrantly inconsistent with all the positions that he has taken, and the reasons he has used for taking those positions. >> also, if you look at -- i mean, look, if lebron james sneezes, the fans want to know does he have a cold, right? if he twists an ankle. if he has a sore shoulder. if he does whatever. and so, his health is of importance and interest to the legions of fans around the world. but also, steven, and i am sure you have seen this. i was in the barbershop the other day. it's been a while. two weeks, which is a long time. and these people were giving me all of these stories about i have a cousin who is -- works for this. and someone who works for a doctor. they give me all of this false information. and i'm sitting there, in the chair, going, you guys must be kidding me. and i thought -- i think, you know, the reasons they are giving for not taking the

vaccine. look. you -- you're a private citizen -- you do what you want. but there -- the information is false. there are black doctors and scientists. who worked on vaccine strategy in developing the vaccine. this is not -- >> that's true. >> -- the tuskegee experiment. we have moved beyond that. >> right. >> do you understand what i'm saying? lebron has a huge influence with that. >> absolutely, he does. he does. no question about it. and you know my story in terms of the ceo and president of virtual-health system in south jersey was the one that called me, brought me down to south jersey and showed me the inordinate amount of african-americans that were being hospitalized and in icu units because of covid-19. and how devastating an effect it was having on the african-american community. but then again, let's get back to le jon brams in terms of specifics. he was in the news and i have to speak on the issue today because lebron james, a couple days

before his playoff game against the phoenix suns was at his agent's house, rich paul, in beverly hills. the individuals in attendance were all tested. all of those safety protocols and the safety measures were taken to ensure that there was no danger, whatsoever. but the reality was, an abundance of people didn't know that. so when you saw a picture of lebron james at this event. you had fans, all over the country, talking about, wait a minute. there were nba players that were sat down because they put themselves in those compromising positions. and as a result, you never know what could happen. they could potentially contaminate a person, without knowing or all of this other stuff. again, that turned out not to be true but that wasn't something lebron james enlightened us about. the nba enlightened us about it. you know, other people in the nba did that. but not lebron james. why would you not do that? >> let me read a statement and then i will let you continue. the statement says to clarify any remaining misconception, lebron james briefly attended an outdoor event last week, where parentents were required to be vaccinated or return a negative-test result.

under current-nba rules, vaccinated players are permitted to engage in outside activities including their individual commercial arrangements. agreements. excuse me. no, arrangements, i'm sorry. such as sponsor appearances or ad shoots. so do you think the statement is implying his vaccine status here? his vaccination status? >> i'm not going to say that. and not only that, i'm not going to allow that to -- to -- to influence my thinking because here's the deal, don. we've seen lebron james speak on a plethora of issues. speak very educated wise. very intelligently about a plethora of issues. he is definitely more than capable of speaking for himself. he is not just a smart dude. he is brilliant. make no mistake about it. he's something special. and when you listen to him speak on the -- in the issues that he has spoken about, it's thought provoking. he's obviously done his research. he knows what the hell he's talking about. et cetera, et cetera. and he's enlightened us about a lot of things he feels and how

in tune he is with what's going on not just in our society as a whole but throughout the world. he has spoken on a multitude of issues, on many occasions. he hasn't spoken about this. despite numerous opportunities, that he's had to do so. obviously, that will raise an antenna, and make you wonder why he insists on not speaking on such a thing, at all. particularly, when he recognizes how it's ravaged our nation. how it's ravaged the world globally. and what kind of profound impact it's had on our communities. that's why i said what i said. because optics matter. particularly, when it comes to lebron james. you put yourself in this position. you know it's going to conjure up questions and to give those weak answers that he gave, the other day, when asked about it before a playoff game against the phoenix suns. i just thought was beneath what we've come to know, appreciate, and fully expect from lebron james. and in that instance, he was a fragrant disappointment. >> steven a, thank you. i can't really add much to that,

except for, i think he should talk to people. and he should be more forthcoming about how he feels about the vaccine or at least promoting. i think -- i think he should actually get out there and promote people getting the vaccine because we really, really need it. people have died. black people have been overly affected. more so, than any other ethnicity by this. on the front lines and what have you. by covid-19. thank you, steven a. >> i don't mind arguing. i don't mind arguing but i can't argue with that. >> i will see you soon. keep up the great work. thank you. >> thank you, it's one of new york city's biggest vevents. people come from all over the world, but now one group isn't allowed. the pride parade is banning -- take this. come on, pride parade. you got to get your act together. they're banning police. don't do it.

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you don't want to become what you fight against. you don't want to become what you fight against. so take this. organizers of the new york city pride parade banning the new york police department from participating in the annual parade this year and every year until at least 2025. not good. the group says a police presence at the parade threatened members of the lgbtq+ community and people of color, saying, quote, the sense of safety that law enforcement is meant to provide can instead be threatening and at times dangerous to those in our community who are most often targeted with excessive force and/or without reason. a spokesman for the nypd tells cnn this, and i quote again. the idea of officers being excluded is disheartening and runs counter to our shared

values of inclusion and tolerance. the ban also disappointing to nypd officers who are part of the lgbtq community. the group that represents them says the parade organizers are taking the low road, and i'm not going to gloss over the very complicated relationship between the lgbtq community and police, especially in new york city, going all the way back to stonewall, right? i understand that. trust me. i'm a member of the lgbtq community. remember the first pride marches began as a protest a year after the 1969 stonewall riots when the nypd raided a gay bar in manhattan's greenwich village at a time when police routinely harassed gay people and establishments. but now, okay, this is 2021, people. lgbtq officers who want to make a difference for their communities are being banned from attending an event by their own community. if the end goal is inclusivity and equality, banning them from a pride event is not anything to

be proud of. reconsider that, okay? we can do better than that. next, anti-semitic hate crimes are surging. one republican decides to compare masks to the holocaust. stay with us. this is the sound of an asthma attack... that doesn't happen. this is the sound of better breathing. fasenra is a different kind of asthma medication.

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