Don Lemon and Jennifer Welch launch weekly politics and pop culture show

Don Lemon and Jennifer Welch are launching The Weekend Read, a weekly show premiering Oct. 16 and airing every Friday on IHIP Media’s YouTube channel and Lemon’s Substack. The debut adds another cross-platform politics-and-culture program as the November midterms approach and gives both hosts a regular weekend outlet after guest spots on each other’s shows.

Why it matters: - The Weekend Read gives Don Lemon and Jennifer Welch a weekly video-and-news format aimed at weekend audiences tracking politics, pop culture and the biggest gossip-driven headlines. - The launch comes in the final stretch before the Nov. 3 midterm elections, when political attention and online news consumption are expected to intensify. - The show extends both hosts’ media brands beyond their existing podcasts, newsletters and digital channels.

What happened: - Lemon Media Network and I’ve Had It Podcast Media announced The Weekend Read on Oct. 15, 2026. - The first episode premieres Friday, Oct. 16. - New episodes will stream every Friday on the I’ve Had It YouTube channel and Don Lemon’s Substack. - Don Lemon and Jennifer Welch will co-host the show.

The details: - Each episode will break down the biggest stories in politics and pop culture. - The show will also cover gossip and the headlines people are talking about heading into the weekend. - The format is open-ended, and the announcement says nothing is off-limits. - The launch window is before Election Day, but the series is set to continue weekly after Nov. 3. - The I’ve Had It YouTube channel is available at watch here. - Don Lemon’s Substack is available at read here.

Between the lines: - The partnership formalizes a collaboration that started when Lemon and Welch appeared on each other’s shows. - Lemon is positioning the show as a way to help audiences make sense of what he described as chaos, confusion and bad news from the administration. - Welch framed the pairing as a weekly reset, saying the two hosts make a strong on-air duo. - The show appears designed for a fast, conversational audience that wants political analysis mixed with entertainment and personality-driven commentary.

What's next: - The show will debut Friday and then move into a weekly Friday release pattern. - Lemon Media Network and IHIP Media will likely use the program to reach audiences across YouTube, Substack and their broader podcast ecosystems. - The series will roll through and beyond the midterm election period, giving the hosts a continuing platform as political news cycles shift.

The bottom line: - The Weekend Read is a new weekly bet on cross-platform political commentary with built-in audience overlap, timed to capitalize on election-season attention and weekend news habits.