During his broadcast on the evening of Monday, January 25, CNN's Don Lemon tore into Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri over the politician's complaints of being "canceled."
Hawley helped to incite the January 6 insurrection by trying to have votes from certain swing states decertified in Congress and by offering his support to the crowd of protestors who would storm the Capitol later that day.
The Senator's role in the mob's attempted overthrow of Democracy lead to the loss of his book deal, which he falsely claimed on Twitter was a violation of his Constitutional rights.
My statement on the woke mob at @simonschuster https://t.co/pDxtZvz5J0— Josh Hawley (@Josh Hawley) 1610062940.0
Shortly thereafter, Hawley also penned a New York Posteditorial in which he claimed that he was "muzzled" and a victim of "cancel culture."
As a reminder, he wrote this in The New York Post, one of America's most widely-circulated publications.
Though Hawley's words were widely mocked, perhaps the harshest takedown came from Don Lemon, who said of Hawley on CNN:
"He's a victim. Josh Hawley. He's a victim of cancel culture. Oh wait a minute, he's on the TV, he's so canceled that he's on your television. He's trying to sell that claim to Fox News just tonight."
don lemon called josh hawley a snowflake lol https://t.co/ZKAEKRDZ9K— Knobcore (@Knobcore) 1611631485.0
It made me kinda happy when Don Lemon asked Josh Hawley if he needs his binky...— Jason AKA The Dove of Oneness (@Jason AKA The Dove of Oneness) 1611632220.0
Lemon went on to say:
"Can't you see you're being played people if you fall for that B.S.? No one has muzzled Josh Hawley. What happened to Josh Hawley isn't cancel culture. It's called consequences."
"That's how the First Amendment works. Say whatever you want, but you gotta pay the price if you say something stupid, or you do something stupid or treasonous, or if you try to overturn a duly elected president, right?"
Don Lemon asking Josh Hawley if he needs a binkie on live tv is the only redeeming factor of Hawley’s existence.— A (@A) 1611630895.0
I'm living for Don Lemon ripping Josh Hawley a new one in his monologue tonight.— Missy Votes Blue! 🐝🚂🛩🚙 🚌 (@Missy Votes Blue! 🐝🚂🛩🚙 🚌) 1611630870.0
@donlemon you make my night better. Your talk about Josh Hawley made me laugh so hard! #doyouneedabinky— Debbie Fynn (@Debbie Fynn) 1611631022.0
In perhaps the most memorable moment of the monologue, Lemon looked right into the camera and asked:
"He's a victim. Oh my god, he's being canceled. Poor baby, do you need a binkie?"
Don Lemon talking about Josh Hawley right now is the most entertaining thing I’ve seen all day— bébé it’s cold outside (@bébé it’s cold outside) 1611630781.0
@donlemon is having too much fun slicing & dicing Josh Hawley for the absurdity of whining about "cancel culture"..… https://t.co/cEq064LRmH— D Anderson, BLM. (@D Anderson, BLM.) 1611630927.0
Right now on @CNN @donlemon to Josh Hawley "do you need a binkie?" Don you're a LEGEND https://t.co/zgJQUURMHV— Brigitte 🇺🇸Resister🌍 Writer/Geek/Nerd (@Brigitte 🇺🇸Resister🌍 Writer/Geek/Nerd) 1611630912.0
Finally, Lemon encouraged viewers to remember why Hawley lost his book deal in the first place.
"Don't fall for this, people. Think about the actions in the Capitol. Think about what happened, think about the people who died, think about the cops who were beaten by people. Think about all that."
I go to sleep every night listening to @donlemon.. was dozing off when he said about Josh Hawley’s claim that he is… https://t.co/1lV9TbRl49— Mimi-#StopTheAbuse (@Mimi-#StopTheAbuse) 1611670777.0
Don Lemon just tore into the GOP trying to whine about impeachment and Josh Hawley complaining about cancel culture… https://t.co/LeZ6wAc6JO— ⚖ 💛 Self Isolating from Stupid People (@⚖ 💛 Self Isolating from Stupid People) 1611631082.0
@MeidasTouch @donlemon had a great opening about Hawley on his show. He hit the nail on the head and parts of it wa… https://t.co/Og2xqoJTl8— LaTanya (@LaTanya) 1611632013.0
Lemon drew near unanimous praise from Twitter for his no-nonsense analysis of Hawley's "tantrum."
@HuffPost Don tells it like it is. Good for him. Gotta love him.— Nahhey (@Nahhey) 1611667211.0
.@donlemon you are a national treasure. Can we get a campaign going to send lil' joshie some binkies? https://t.co/JFKs4yRE4m— Kenneth Cole (@Kenneth Cole) 1611721322.0
@HawleyMO Awe. Poor widdle baby. Do you need a binkie??? https://t.co/nnp9rVRsmM— NONYA BIDNESS (@NONYA BIDNESS) 1611692783.0
As of the writing of this article, Hawley continues to insist he's being "muzzled" while on television programs, in printed editorials, on the floor of the Senate and wherever else he's been handed a platform to complain.