STUDY: Broadcast Networks Are Hiding Lemon’s Grand Jury Indictment from t\their Audiences
3rd February 2026
When a grand jury on January 29 indicted former CNN host Don Lemon for allegedly participating in the disruption of a Minneapolis-area church service, the corporate media responded with unanimous outrage. But for all of their handwringing, not a single journalist has acknowledged even once on any of the big three broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, and NBC) that Lemon’s arrest was, in fact, the result of a grand jury indictment.
MRC analysts examined all coverage of Lemon’s arrest on the big three broadcast networks’ flagship morning (Good Morning America, CBS Mornings, and Today) and evening shows (ABC World News Tonight, CBS Evening News, and NBC Nightly News), from the morning of January 30 through the morning of February 3, 2026. Across the seven different reports about the incident, totaling just over 14 minutes, not once was it mentioned that Lemon’s arrest was not a reckless act by an out of control Justice Department, but rather the result of a grand jury indictment.
All three networks covered the event once on their evening newscasts on January 30, and a second time the following morning — for a total of 163 (ABC), 351 (CBS), and 334 seconds of coverage, respectively. CBS Mornings also ran a report just hours after the arrest on January 30.