Sybil Wilkes Breaks Down What We Need to Know: January 30, 2026

Sybil Wilkes reminds us daily to “be informed, be empowered,” and today’s “What We Need to Know” segment underscores why that message is so critical. From civil rights protests involving prominent Black journalists to major shifts in government policy and the entertainment industry. Here is a breakdown of the critical updates you need on your radar right now.

Don Lemon’s Arrest Raises Press Freedom Concerns

Former CNN anchor Don Lemon, who found himself on the other side of the law while doing his job. Federal agents arrested Lemon late Thursday, charging him with violating federal law during a January 18 protest in St. Paul, Minnesota. Lemon was on the ground to observe and report on demonstrations against the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration crackdown. Despite a magistrate judge rejecting the case just last week, authorities moved forward with the arrest. Lemon maintains that he was present strictly in his capacity as a journalist, entering a church to document the events unfolding. He is scheduled to appear in federal court in Los Angeles, raising serious questions about press freedom and the surveillance of Black journalists covering social justice movements.