HOT TOPICS | The Pope Dies, Hegseth's Incompetence & Chaos at the Pentagon - April 21st, 2025
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Good morning, everybody. Welcome to Hot Topics on the Don Lemon Show. So glad that you're here. I guess I can say happy Monday. I guess it's happy Monday. Well, it is, I guess, except the markets are cratering. The Pentagon is in chaos. The Pope has died after J.D. Vance visits him hours after a visit from the vice president. Are you tired of winning yet? Are we tired of winning yet? So, yes. Anyways, I just want to give you guys, show you what's happening in the markets right now. Because again, we start off the week with the Dow down. The Dow is now at 38,472. And it's down almost 670 by 679,000, okay? 669, excuse me, 669. So there we go. We start the week off with a dial down, the Pope passing, and turmoil as it relates to what's happening at the Pentagon and in our country.
So welcome to the show. Glad that you're here. I hope that you had a good weekend. I hope you had a happy Easter, the end of Passover, and such. But we have to get to business, and we have to figure out what is going on in our country.
What happened at the Vatican and why is Pope Francis's death significant?
And we do have to do what we have been promising ourselves to do, which is what? to be willing to sacrifice something because this is absolute, absolute madness. I'm sad that the Pope died. I'm sure you guys are too. But this is the Associated Press. And this is what the Associated Press is reporting as it relates to the Pope. Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff who ministered with a charming, humble style, dies at 88. He was one of the most controversial popes, but I don't believe in a bad way. I think he criticized this administration, meaning the Trump administration, for its handling of immigration and did not like that. Initially, he did not want to meet, we are told, reportedly with J.D.
Mance and then decided to at the very last minute, but was very stern with them and really chastising him for saying that they needed to be more humane and have more empathy. And so... And then J.D. Vance went on to meet with him. They're the pope who has died at 88. The pope has been sick. He is the people's pope. And you're right about that. Bless you. Bless the pope. This is J.D. Vance. We have J.D. Vance meeting with the pope. Here it is. Hello.
So good to see you.
God bless you and have a good morning. How are you? Fine, yourself? Yeah, thank you. Happy Easter to you, Father. I know you've not been feeling great, but it's good to see you in better health. These are for your children. Thank you. These are the gifts. These are also gifts for you as well. Thank you. It's beautiful. The Vatican tie, and then the rosaries for your wife, for your children, and the red one is for you. Thank you very much for your visit. Of course, of course. And thank you for seeing me.
Pray for you every day. Bless you.
Happy Easter. Well, that was a little uncomfortable. I mean, if you're just being honest, I mean, I thought it was extremely uncomfortable watching the interaction with J.D. Vance. I guess he's not real that comfortable in front of people generally, but I would imagine meeting the Pope would be... I guess some people would be overwhelmed by it, perhaps, you know, that, oh, my gosh, I'm meeting with the pope. But it was extremely uncomfortable, I think, to a little bit odd to watch. Am I wrong? And I'm not trying to just beat up on J.D. Vance because but I thought it was a little bit odd and almost robotic. But J.D. Vance, one of the people getting to meet with the pope just really hours before the pope passed.
There are some awful things going around the internet saying what J.D. Vance did to the Pope. There was one tweet up there that I've been seeing, and it's among many, one from Jack Schlossberg saying this, but again, I don't believe that happened, but we'll report the news. And it is a coincidence that the Pope just died moments, or excuse me, hours after visiting with J.D. Vance. Also, this is Joe Biden. Just to contrast the two, this is Joe Biden meeting with the Pope. This is in 2021. Watch this.
I'm not sure this is appropriate, but there's a tradition in America. The President has what is called a command coin that he gives to warriors and leaders.
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:12–1:31
2
What happened at the Vatican and why is Pope Francis's death significant?
1:31–10:30
3
How did J.D. Vance's meeting with Pope Francis differ from Joe Biden's visit?
10:30–39:58
4
What were Don Lemon's reactions to the Pope's policy positions and legacy?
39:58–59:06
5
What is the 'Signalgate' controversy involving Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth?
59:06–1:05:52
6
What details emerged about the second Signal chat and leaked Yemen strike plans?
1:05:52–1:12:24