Shortly after the United States started to ring in 2020 on Wednesday (and after more than a few drinks), CNN Tonight host Don Lemon announced he had a major New Year’s resolution for the upcoming election year that he wanted people to know about: “lean in harder” and “fight.” Essentially, he was vowing to be more biased in his reporting.
The topic of resolutions was first broached by Lemon when he sloppily asked his co-host, Brooke Baldwin, “Do you have resolutions or no?” That solicited this tipsy response from his friend:
BROOKE BALDWIN: This is the first year I'm like-- I really was a resolutions person. But I really just -- I want to just -- I don't know -- be my best self, take a moment to breathe. I mean, what we do is -- what we do is a privilege, but it's also not for the faint of heart. And I just want to make sure I'm taking moments to just like breathe and meditate and be good on my body. How about you?
“I'm going to lean in harder,” Lemon laughed. “I'm going to lean in harder.”
Baldwin seemed almost scared and definitely confused by Lemon’s declaration when she asked him to clarify. “I'm going to lean in harder. I'm sick of the craziness. So, you thought I was -- I went hard in 2019. Watch 2020, baby. There's more to come. I'm a soldier. I'm ready to fight,” he proclaimed.
Anyone who watches Lemon's nightly show knows there's only one side he fights for: the left.
Both agreed “it's a big year” and Lemon added he was going to “lean into work harder. We got to get ready. It's an election year. We're on the grind.”
From there, the duo gushed about how much love they received from fans while they’re out in public and traveling:
BALDWIN: We are. But it truly is a privilege to do what we do, and to all the people who say “hello,” and “thank you.” It is an honor.
LEMON: It is.
BALDWIN: To sit in our seats and to have the voice we have and the platform we have.
LEMON: Have you ever had so many people come up to you and say, “thank you for what you do?”
BALDWIN: I've never been high-fived more on a plane in my life.
LEMON: It’s amazing, right?
“Like, it's awesome. So, thank you so much,” Baldwin emoted before they shifted to talking about their friendship.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
CNN’s New Year's Eve Live
January 1, 2020
1:20:20 a.m. EasternDON LEMON: So, do you have resolutions or no?
BROOKE BALDWIN: This is the first year I'm like-- I really was a resolutions person. But I really just -- I want to just -- I don't know -- be my best self, take a moment to breathe. I mean, what we do is -- what we do is a privilege, but it's also not for the faint of heart. And I just want to make sure I'm taking moments to just like breathe and meditate and be good on my body. How about you?
- I'm going to lean in harder. [Laughter] I'm going to lean in harder.
BALDWIN: What does that mean?
LEMON: I'm going to lean in harder. I'm sick of the craziness. So, you thought I was -- I went hard in 2019. Watch 2020, baby. There's more to come. I'm a soldier. I'm ready to fight.
BALDWIN: It's a big year.
LEMON: It's a big year.
BALDWIN: For a lot of reasons.
LEMON: But, I'm going to be more grateful, spend more time with my family.
BALDWIN: Oh, yeah.
LEMON: But also lean into work harder. We got to get ready. It's an election year. We're on the grind.
BALDWIN: We are. But it truly is a privilege to do what we do, and to all the people who say “hello,” and “thank you.” It is an honor.
LEMON: It is.
BALDWIN: To sit in our seats and to have the voice we have and the platform we have.
LEMON: Have you ever had so many people come up to you and say, “thank you for what you do?”
BALDWIN: I've never been high-fived more on a plane in my life.
LEMON: It’s amazing, right?
BALDWIN: Like, it's awesome. So, thank you so much.
