Inside Cher's 'Really Weird' Bond with Ex-Husband Sonny Bono, and the Heartbreaking Moment She Learned He Had Died

Douglas Miller/Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty; Gisela Schober/Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• Cher is being honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award in celebration of her spectacular career as part of 2026 Grammys weekend

• The singer, 79, has enjoyed a decades-long career that contained hits as one half of Sonny and Cher before her enormous success as a solo artist

• In 2004, Cher looked back at her journey and told PEOPLE why meeting late husband Sonny Bono was a catalyst for change throughout her life and drove her toward success

Cher's journey has been truly one-of-a-kind.

The singer, 79, is among the recipients ofThe Recording Academy's Special Merit Awards, named one of those awarded the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award.

PEOPLE spoke with Cher in 2004 for our 30th-anniversary double issue, asking her, along with other stars, to discuss a defining moment from the previous three decades. As Cher prepares for another defining moment this weekend, we look back on her response, which focuses on how her late husband, Sonny Bono, shaped her life and set her on the path she would later dominate on her own.

"What's the most significant moment in my life over the past 30 years? Well, meeting Sonny Bono is the thing that shaped my whole life in some sort of way, but since it happened 40 years ago, I'd have to say the next most important moment was splitting from him. We divorced in 1975, and it forced me to go out on my own," Cher told PEOPLE.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

"The truth is, I didn't want to go out on my own. I was comfortable being half of Sonny and Cher. I wanted to keep working with him and go on as a team. Growing up, I had all these ideas coming out of my ears. But I couldn't make them come together. Then I met Sonny and everything coalesced," she continued.

"From the first time I saw him, I thought he was the most interesting man I'd ever seen. He had a Beatles haircut and hippie boots and he was dressed so strangely. I was just mesmerized by him."

The duo reached a breaking point, both personally and professionally, in 1975, leading them to split in music and in life.

"We had two components to our relationship: personal and business. When we worked together, it was fabulous. Except for the money part of it, we were equal partners. We had a great time. Both of us were really funny. We enjoyed each other. But our home life was harsh," Cher acknowledged.

Marcello Salustri/Mondadori via Getty

"We didn't communicate well. We worked so hard and long and spent so many hours onstage that when we were together at home, it was strange. We worked so often, it took me a long time to realize I wasn't happy."

The split led to a "really weird" time, where the two continued to work and live together while trying to separate their lives."Then he did his own TV show and I did my own show, and then the network brought us together again. By then, a year had gone by. I was pregnant with my son [Elijah, by Gregg Allman]. I was pregnant by a person who was also divorcing me. And I was divorced from Sonny, but working with him. It was completely bizarre," she shared.

Cher said that she and Sonny "talked all the time," even through their most tumultuous stages.

"Through girlfriends and boyfriends, through ups and downs, we always talked. That's the way it was. You know, on the day of our divorce, he grabbed me and kissed me and stuck his tongue down my throat. I was really furious with him. Then we just started to laugh. It was hard for me to be angry with him. I could never do it very well," Cher said.

That special connection and camaraderie continued through Sonny's death. The singer-turned-politician died at age 62 in a skiing accident, and Cher's 1998 comeback albumBelievewas dedicated to him."I was in London [in 1998] when I heard that Sonny had died. [Chaz] called and told me, and it was too weird to comprehend. I said, 'Oh my God. Honey, are you okay?' But then after those words left my lips, I got completely hysterical. It was terrible," she recalled.

POOL/AFP via Getty

"I fell down on the floor. Everything was awful. I got on a plane and flew straight to Palm Springs, and everybody in his life was there."

Grief impacts everyone differently and years later, Cher acknowledged she was no exception."Strangely enough, I don't think of Sonny that often. Probably because I don't think of him as gone," she admitted.

"I think of him as someplace else. Not here, but not gone. And every so often something will happen or I'll see something and I'll think, 'Oh God, Sonny would think this is so funny.' "

Read the original article onPeople

byCristiano Ronaldo

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, ShowBiz, Sports

January 31, 2026

Inside Cher's 'Really Weird' Bond with Ex-Husband Sonny Bono, and the Heartbreaking Moment She Learned He Had Died

Douglas Miller/Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty; Gisela Schober/Getty NEED TO KNOW Cher is being honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award i...

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'Tell Me Lies' and why Gen Z is obsessed with sexy TV

In Los Angeles, bars arehostingwatch parties for the highly-anticipated weekly releases of "Tell Me Lies." And in New York City, more than 2,000 people have RSVPed for an upcoming"Heated Rivalry"look-alike contest.

Both shows have captivated young viewers enough to create a cultural moment rarely seen outside of sports in today's couch potato, streaming-friendly TV era: They're getting people out of the house to gather with other fans.

These shows are also hot, filled with sex-scenes, body parts and lots of forbidden and fiery romantic interactions.

And yet, research shows that Gen Z — the cohort born between 1997 and 2012 — ishaving less sexthan prior generations.

For young viewers who aren't engaging in sexual activities themselves but are seeking out emotional validation and connection, these stories may help fill a gap, explains Virginia Gramarosso, a 25-year-old Chicagoland health educator who works with middle schoolers, high schoolers and young adults.

Gramarosso says just because studies show Gen Z is having less sex doesn't mean they're not interested in and curious about sex.

"I think they still have desires related to sex... Consuming that media might almost fill that void," Gramarosso says.

Hulu's "Tell Me Lies" is back with Season 3, and believe it or not, the drama series is more deranged and twisted than ever.

Hulu premiered three episodes on Tuesday, Jan. 13, and so far, we're seeing an unraveling of the web of lies between Lucy (played by Grace Van Patten) and her friend group. Fans can expect major reveals, the start of new friendships, the fizzling out of other relationships, a new romantic pairing, a surprise pregnancy, and so much more drama.

To celebrate the new season, the cast of "Tell Me Lies," including stars Grace Van Patten and Jackson White, hit New York City for a screening hosted at The Corner Store on Jan. 12, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> From left: Actresses Sonia Mena, Grace Van Patten, Alicia Crowder and Catherine Missal attend the "Tell Me Lies" Season 3 premiere at The Corner Store on Jan. 12, 2026, in New York City.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Grace Van Patten plays Lucy in "Tell Me Lies."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Jackson White plays Stephen in "Tell Me Lies."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Spencer House plays Wrigley in "Tell Me Lies."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Catherine Missal plays Bree in "Tell Me Lies."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Sonia Mena plays Pippa in "Tell Me Lies."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Alicia Crowder plays Diana in "Tell Me Lies."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Branden Cook plays Evan in "Tell Me Lies."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Iris Apatow, Catherine Missal, Sonia Mena, Spencer House, Alicia Crowder, Jackson White, Grace Van Patten, Tom Ellis, Natalee Linez, Katherine Hughes and Branden Cook attend the "Tell Me Lies" Season 3 premiere in New York City.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Iris Apatow plays Amanda in "Tell Me Lies."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Tom Ellis plays Oliver in "Tell Me Lies."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Katherine Hughes plays Molly in "Tell Me Lies."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Natalee Linez plays Lydia in "Tell Me Lies."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Spencer House and Sonia Mena

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Katherine Hughes and Branden Cook

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Actor Tom Ellis and wife, "Tell Me Lies" creator and showrunner Meaghan Oppenheimer.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> From left: Spencer House, Catherine Missal, Sonia Mena, Alicia Crowder, Jackson White, Meaghan Oppenheimer, Grace Van Patten and Branden Cook attend the "Tell Me Lies" Season 3 premiere.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Meaghan Oppenheimer and Alicia Crowder attend SiriusXM Studios' "The Morning Mash Up" on Jan. 13, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Spencer House and Sonia Mena

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Sonia Mena

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Branden Cook

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Alicia Crowder

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Jackson White and Grace Van Patten

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Jackson White and Grace Van Patten

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Alicia Crowder, Spencer House, Sonia Mena, Jackson White, Grace Van Patten, Branden Cook and Meaghan Oppenheimer of "Tell Me Lies."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

'Tell Me Lies' cast: Grace Van Patten, Jackson White, more hit Season 3 premiere

Hulu's"Tell Me Lies"is back with Season 3, and believe it or not, the drama series is more deranged and twisted than ever.Hulu premiered three episodes on Tuesday, Jan. 13, and so far, we're seeing an unraveling of the web of lies between Lucy (played by Grace Van Patten) and her friend group. Fans can expect major reveals, the start of new friendships, the fizzling out of other relationships, a new romantic pairing, a surprise pregnancy, and so much more drama.To celebrate the new season, thecast of "Tell Me Lies,"including stars Grace Van Patten and Jackson White, hit New York City for a screening hosted at The Corner Store on Jan. 12, 2026.

Why Gen Z is having less sex

Research shows a general decline in teens and young adults engaging in sexual activity. In 2023, 32% of teens said they had sex, compared with 47% of teens in 2013, according to theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.This trend extends to older Gen Zers, too — about 24% of adults aged 18 to 29 had no sex in the past year, doubling since 2010, according to a study from theInstitute for Family Studies (IFS).

Emily Morehead, a Texas-based licensed professional counselor with expertise in sex and relationships, praised "smutty" entertainment for the way it can serve as a conversation-starter for young people.

When formal sex education is lacking or inconsistent, especially about LGBTQ+ sexual health, she says young people use what's around them – television, books, social media — to fill in the gap.

"I think Gen Z is craving information, and if the only media that they're getting representation with is social media or porn, they're not learning about real-life sex and real-life relationships that are safe and consensual and pleasurable," Morehead says.

Gramarosso adds that for some viewers, watching sex on TV can offer a sense of control that real-life dating doesn't amid ghosting, constant swiping on apps and social pressures.

"I think that the media can tie into that because they have an outlet for still engaging and almost expressing and connecting to their sexual wants and needs and questions without actually having to go out and talk to people and date people," Gramarosso says.

Gen Z's sex lives and dating style reflect a deeper trend of risk aversion — young people are alsodrinking less. While those things can be positive, they're also indicators that some Gen Zers may be socially isolated. Much of Gen Z missed out on pivotal years in the classroom or office during the pandemic, impacting their ability to socialize.

This follows a general trend of people reportingless desire to get married and have familiesat a young age.

More:No longer guilty: How romance books have changed readers attitudes toward sex in real life

When 'sexy entertainment' becomes mainstream

Morehead says that sexy entertainment has become more popular as Hollywood and the publishing industry have modernized how we speak about female pleasure. Both "Heated Rivalry" and "Tell Me Lies" are based on book series.

Claire Mazur, one of the founders of romance entertainment company831 Stories, previously told USA TODAY that spicy romance is now a "mainstream form of sex content" that's a direct "counterpoint to porn culture."

People may also be watching these shows as much for the intimacy as they are for the sex. For many viewers, the plot lines feel human, flawed and real.

With "Tell Me Lies," for example, a lot of viewers relate to the sentiment of knowing a person isn't good for you but struggling to walk away.

Where "Heated Rivalry" succeeds, Morehead notes, is in depicting sex and love in a way that shows communication and consent.

Experts say it's just important to remind young people that while it's great to enjoy types of media, they cannot replace genuine social and emotional connection.

"Watching relationships and watching these things play out cannot be in place of experiencing and living and creating relationships themselves," Gramarosso says.

Contributing: Clare Mulroy, Pamela Avila, Kelly Lawler

Rachel Hale's role covering Youth Mental Health at USA TODAY is supported by a partnership with Pivotal and Journalism Funding Partners. Funders do not provide editorial input. Reach her at rhale@usatoday.com and@rachelleighhaleon X.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:'Tell Me Lies,' 'Heated Rivalry' and Gen Z's smut TV obsession

byCristiano Ronaldo

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, ShowBiz, Sports

January 31, 2026

'Tell Me Lies' and why Gen Z is obsessed with sexy TV

In Los Angeles, bars arehostingwatch parties for the highly-anticipated weekly releases of "Tell Me Lies." And ...

Read More

Looking Back: Catherine O’Hara’s First-Ever PEOPLE Interview from 1986. The Comedy Icon Said She Wanted to 'Fall in Love'

Raeanne Rubenstein

NEED TO KNOW

• PEOPLE first interviewed comedy legend Catherine O'Hara in 1986

• During the interview, O'Hara spoke about an upcoming HBO project, her goals for the future and why she was notoriously selective about choosing roles

• O'Hara died on Friday, Jan. 30 at the age of 71

PEOPLE interviewedCatherine O'Hara, the late comedy legend, for the first time in 1986. The then 32-year-oldSecond City Televisionalum spoke to PEOPLE about her upcoming HBO special,Really Weird Tales, her goals for the future and why she was so picky about selecting roles.

An excerpt from the original 1986 interview by Franz Lidz is below.

Once called ''the funniest woman on TV,'' Catherine O'Hara spends much of her time these days bellying up against a snooker table at the Squeeze Club, a Toronto juice bar and pool hall.

No, the 32-year-old hasn't been reduced to hustling pool; she's merely hanging out with brothers Marcus and Michael, who own the club. But as far as O'Hara's fans are concerned, she might as well be making a living with her cue stick.

A cult heroine during her seven-year stint onSCTV,where she developed wiggy yet precise impersonations of Kate Hepburn,Brooke ShieldsandMeryl Streep, among others, O'Hara has become eclipsed by her own reclusion.

Gail Harvey/Toronto Star via Getty

That's what makes the new HBO special,Really Weird Tales,really special. Running throughout October, the collection of comedy episodes features suchSCTValumni as O'Hara,John Candy,Joe FlahertyandMartin Short. In a tale she co-wrote,I'll Die Loving,O'Hara plays a woman whose affections, once bestowed, cause people to blow up.

''Yes,'' she deadpans, ''I'm finally getting to play myself.''

Ron Galella, Ltd/Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Unlike her fictional lovers, O'Hara's career has all but sputtered out since she leftSCTVin 1983.

Two film roles (the vigilante Mister Softee driver inAfter Hoursand a bouncy Texas gossip inHeartburn) and sporadic TV work (such asThe Last PolkaandComic Relief) have been far outnumbered by projects she couldn't get or didn't want.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

''I don't think Catherine is ambitious in the sense that her career is important to her,'' says Flaherty.

Moviestore/Shutterstock

She certainly doesn't seem interested in material rewards. An oddly humble, at times ethereal woman, who once would go for months forgetting to cash her paychecks, O'Hara appears content to stay at home in her downtown Toronto row house or tool around town in her mother's bruised Comet, complete with a melted plastic Madonna on the dashboard.

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The sixth of seven children in a close-knit Irish Catholic family, Catherine began acting at age seven by playing the Virgin Mary in a Nativity parade. After graduating in 1973 from public high school (where she was named Miss Cheerleader), she joined Toronto'sSecond City— first as a waitress, then as Gilda Radner's understudy and finally as a cast member.

When Second City invaded TV in 1977, O'Hara became famous for such inspired creations as Lola Heatherton, the pouty Vegas chanteuse who once asked a fictive Mother Teresa, ''Don't you ever want to just take these people by the shoulders and say, 'Hey, why don't you get it together?' "

"Eventually," says O'Hara,SCTVgrew ''less than fulfilling.

"I lost enthusiasm. I wanted to learn more about acting. I wanted a personal life. I wanted to get scared again.''

Yet O'Hara, who in 1981 quitSaturday Night Liveafter one week, has earned a reputation as a performer who doesn't want to work.

''It's not true,'' she says. ''I read scripts and get a gut feeling about whether I want to be a part of them. Do I want my parents to see this? I'd just rather stay home than do something I know is bad and have to defend it later.''

ABC via Getty

According toSCTV'sDave (the McKenzie Brothers) Thomas: ''Catherine's dilemma is that she never packaged herself in a sleazy, commercial way. She won't play a librarian who turns into a nymphomaniac.''

Meanwhile, O'Hara insists that she's happy playing pool and calling her own shots.

Currently unattached, Catherine — who once datedDan Aykroyd—  is planning to ''fall in love, get married and have children. Maybe tomorrow.''

Otherwise, she claims, the only things she really wants are ''precious gems from strangers who expect nothing in return. And potatoes in any form.''

O'Hara's manager confirmed to PEOPLE that the actress died on Friday, Jan. 30. She was 71. No further details were shared.

She is survived by her husband, production designerBo Welch, and her grown sons, Matthew and Luke.

Read the original article onPeople

byCristiano Ronaldo

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, ShowBiz, Sports

January 31, 2026

Looking Back: Catherine O’Hara’s First-Ever PEOPLE Interview from 1986. The Comedy Icon Said She Wanted to 'Fall in Love'

Raeanne Rubenstein NEED TO KNOW PEOPLE first interviewed comedy legend Catherine O'Hara in 1986 During th...

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Journalist Don Lemon appears in court following arrest over protest at Minnesota church

Journalist Don Lemon was arrested overnight in Los Angeles on Friday. The arrest comes nearly two weeks after Lemon was at an anti-ICE protest that disrupted a service at a church in St. Paul, Minnesota.

A source familiar with the matter said a grand jury was empaneled Thursday. The FBI and Homeland Security Investigations, a law enforcement agency within the Department of Homeland Security, were involved in the arrest, sources said.

Lemon appeared in federal court in L.A. on Friday afternoon, where he was released on his own recognizance without posting bond.

The charges are related to a protest in which demonstrators entered St. Paul's Cities Church after discovering that one of its pastors is an ICE official.

According to court documents, Lemon and eight co-defendants were all indicted on one count each of conspiracy against religious freedom at a place of worship and injuring, intimidating and interfering with the exercise of the right of religious freedom at a place of worship. He did not enter a plea on Friday. His next hearing is scheduled for Feb. 9 in federal court in Minneapolis.

He does not have to report to probation or pretrial services for supervision, the judge said. Court permission is required for international travel, with the exception of a preplanned trip to France in June. He must also avoid contact with known victims or witnesses and known co-defendants.

Lemon appeared before the judge in a cream-colored double-breasted suit with a matching T-shirt, the same clothes he was wearing when he was arrested, CBS News learned. L.A. Mayor Karen Bass attended the hearing and was in the gallery.

"Last night, the DOJ sent a team of federal agents to arrest me in the middle of the night for something that I've been doing for the last 30 years, and that is covering the news," Lemon told reporters outside the courthouse following the hearing. "The First Amendment of the Constitution protects that work for me and for countless other journalists who do what I do. I stand with all of them, and I will not be silenced. I look forward to my day in court."

Abbe Lowell, Lemon's lawyer, previously confirmed he was in L.A. to cover this weekend's Grammy Awards.

"Don has been a journalist for 30 years, and his constitutionally protected work in Minneapolis was no different than what he has always done," Lowell said in a statement. "The First Amendment exists to protect journalists whose role it is to shine light on the truth and hold those in power accountable. There is no more important time for people like Don to be doing this work."

Lowell said the Justice Department has focused on arresting Lemon instead of investigating the federal agents who killedRenee GoodandAlex Prettiin Minnesota earlier this month, calling it "the real indictment of wrongdoing in this case."

"This unprecedented attack on the First Amendment and transparent attempt to distract attention from the many crises facing this administration will not stand. Don will fight these charges vigorously and thoroughly in court," he said.

According to the indictment, on Jan. 17, one day before the incident, two of the defendants posted plans for the protest to social media, but kept the location hidden.

The following morning, several dozen people, including Lemon and his eight co-defendants, gathered in the parking lot of a grocery store, where some of them "provided instruction" on what to do once they arrived at the church, the document reads.

Lemon began livestreaming to his social media channel during this gathering, the court documents state, during which he told his audience the group was preparing for a "resistance" operation against federal immigration policies.

"He took steps to maintain operation secrecy by reminding certain co-conspirators to not disclose the target of the operation and stepped away momentarily so his mic would not accidentally divulge certain points of the planning session," the indictment alleges.

Later in the livestream, before the group arrived at the church, Lemon again reiterated to his audience he would not divulge details of where they were going, the document states. And when driving to the church, Lemon said to one of the defendants during the livestream, "Don't give anything away," the court documents read.

Once in the church, Lemon and his eight co-defendants "oppressed, threatened, and intimidated the Church congregants and pastors by physically occupying most of the main aisle and row of chairs near the front of the Church, engaging in menacing and threatening behavior," prosecutors said in the indictment.

The indictment also alleges that Lemon and two co-defendants "largely surrounded" the pastor "in an attempt to oppress and intimidate him," and that Lemon and the protesters ignored the pastor's request that they leave the church.

At one point, the document reads, Lemon stood near the main door of the church and allegedly "confronted some congregants and physically obstructed them" as they tried to leave.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said in astatementFriday morning shared to social media that federal agents arrested Lemon and three of his co-defendants "in connection with the coordinated attack on Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota." They were identified as Jamael Lydell Lundy, Trahern Jeen Crews and Georgia Ellyse Fort, Bondi said.

Lundy, Fort and Crews all had their initial appearances in Minnesota federal court Friday, and they were all released on personal recognizance bonds.

The Justice Departmenthas arrestedat least seven of the nine co-defendants in the case. Nekima Levy Armstrong, former president for the Twin Cities chapter of the NAACP, and Chauntyll Louisa Allen, an elected member of the St. Paul School Board, along with William Kelly, were arrested last week.

CNN, where Lemon previously worked, said his arrest raises "profoundly concerning questions about press freedom and the First Amendment." The network said it will be following Lemon's case closely.

"The Department of Justice already failed twice to get an arrest warrant for Don and several other journalists in Minnesota, where a chief judge of the Minnesota Federal District Court found there was 'no evidence' that there was any criminal behavior involved in their work," CNN said in astatement."The First Amendment in the United States protects journalists who bear witness to news and events as they unfound, ensuring they can report freely in the public interest, and the DOJ's attempts to violate those rights is unacceptable."

Last week, a federal appellate courtdeclinedto order a lower court judge to sign arrest warrants for five people, including Lemon, in connection with a Jan. 18 anti-ICE protest inside the church. However, one of the three appellate court judges said he felt there was probable cause to justify the arrests, according to court filings and sources familiar with the matter.

The Justice Department had asked the appellate court to compel the U.S. District Court in Minnesota to sign the arrest warrants over civil rights charges alleging the defendants were unlawfully interfering with the churchgoers' constitutional-protected freedom to practice religion.

Federal prosecutors in the Minneapolis-based U.S. Attorney's Office had significant concerns with the strength of the evidence in the church protests, a source familiar with the matter told CBS News.

When the first three defendants were initially charged, no career officials from that office appeared in court, and the Justice Department sent two lawyers from the Civil Rights Division in Washington to handle the proceedings.

The magistrate judge overseeing the case only approved one civil rights charge in those original cases againstArmstrongand Allen. But the judge nixed a FACE Act charge against each of them on the grounds that there was no probable cause. Both were among those named in Friday's indictment.

The magistrate judge, Douglas Micko, also rejected five arrest warrants in the case for lacking probable cause, including Lemon's, CBS News previously reported.

The Justice Department has been scrutinizing the video of the pre-meeting that Lemon filmed before the protest, the source said. The Justice Department has been focusing on the gathering as alleged evidence of a conspiracy to interfere with people's religious rights. Lemon was filming the meeting as part of his reporting, the source added.

"Although Lemon's factual assertions and DOJ's justifications must be tested in court, this case could set a dangerous precedent for charging reporters who cover protests for the conduct of the protesters if there was any prior communications with the protesters, and could even expose American journalists embedded with the U.S. military to being charged with war crimes along with soldiers who may commit such crimes," said Julius Nam, a former federal prosecutor who handled civil rights cases.

Lemon worked at CNN for more than 15 years, butwas firedin 2023. He announced in early 2024 that he would be launching The Don Lemon Show on X, but the social media site owned by billionaire Elon Muskended the partnershipmonths later, shortly after Lemon interviewed Musk. Lemon now hosts ashowon YouTube.

Don Lemon arrested in Los Angeles, sources say

Alex Pretti's family reacts to video of scuffle 11 days before death

School principal speaks out about father and son detained by ICE: "Open your eyes"

byCristiano Ronaldo

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, ShowBiz, Sports

January 31, 2026

Journalist Don Lemon appears in court following arrest over protest at Minnesota church

Journalist Don Lemon was arrested overnight in Los Angeles on Friday. The arrest comes nearly two weeks after Lemon was a...

Read More

Russians feel strain of Putin's war with mobile internet shutdowns

Russians have put up withdrone attacks,rising pricesanda crackdown on free speech. But now, they are increasingly being asked to go without the internet on their phones, fraying nerves and leaving many feeling disconnected after four years ofwar in Ukraine.

Mobile internet outages have become part of the norm across the country, a measure authorities say is necessary to prevent attacks byUkrainian drones, some of which use the technology for navigation.

But Russians who spoke to NBC News, experts and even the country's hard-line pro-war bloggers have questioned this justification. Ukrainian drones continue to reach their targets inside Russia, even while users as far away as Kamchatka — some 4,350 miles from the Ukrainian border — are told "security concerns" are to blame for their lack of connectivity.

The outages have left ordinary Russians frequently unable to use their phones on the go — to make calls, order a taxi or pay for groceries. They have affected small businesses and left some people resorting to carrying cash or staying home for reliable Wi-Fi.

Parents of children with diabetes have told Russian media they are unable to use phone applications to monitor their blood sugar levels during blackouts.

It's not just outages that are causing consternation.

Russian authorities have increasingly enforced a so-called "white list" — a limited registry of government-approved websites that people can still access on their phones during outages, severely limiting the kind of information they get.

It comes against the backdrop of increasing restrictions on what Russians can do online, in a wider crackdown on free speech since the Kremlin's invasion —bans on Instagram and Facebook,YouTubeslowdowns, restrictions on foreign messaging apps such as WhatsApp and Telegram, as well as virtual private network services many Russians use to access censored content online.

All those interviewed by NBC News said they were wary of speaking to foreign media about a sensitive security topic, and did not want their personal details shared, fearing possible repercussions.

While the outages have not caused a mass outpouring of anger, some have tried to rally against the measures.

Anastasia, from the Tver region northwest of Moscow, said she had intended to join a protest for internet freedom in November that ultimately did not go ahead. She was fed up, she said, because outages leave her frequently unable to use messaging or taxi apps or navigation maps on her phone. Even some of the websites on the "white list" don't load during these blackouts, she said.

Anastasia said that on one occasion, her mother, a disabled pensioner, was left unable to pay for her groceries because card machines at her local store wouldn't work without a mobile connection. She had to walk to the nearest postal office, some distance away, to get cash. "Since then, she has been keeping some cash around. But it's inconvenient — we live in the 21st century," Anastasia said.

The official explanation aside, Anastasia said, she thinks the Kremlin is using the outages to prepare the Russian public for a "North Korea-like" model of the internet, heavily censored and restricted.

"I think authorities want to do something similar in our country," she said.

Some government officials have urged residents to treat the outages as an opportunity for a "digital detox," while a senior lawmaker for information policy told the state news agency Tass last month that the outages should be seen as a welcome break from "endlessly watching useless videos."

The governor of Oryol region, Andrey Klychkov, said the inconvenience is nothing compared to the "heroism" of Russian soldiers in Ukraine.

Increasingly, regional authorities have signaled that the outages don't have an expiry date and could last until the war ends.

"This is quite a desperate tactic because you are accepting mounting economic loss and disruption of civilian life," said Bob Tollast, a land warfare expert at the Royal United Services Institute, a defense and security think tank in London. Many Ukrainian drones have multiple navigation methods, such as GPS, to mitigate the impact of the outages, he said.

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Stopping drones connecting to a civilian cell network also requires the Russian government to black out large areas, he said, adding that any attempt to stop what is essentially a flying explosive device could have the unintended effect of sending it off course.

Artyom, from the western Chuvash Republic, told NBC News he has been experiencing mobile internet outages nearly every day. "It's happening because Ukrainian drones reach our territory, but blocking the internet doesn't seem to help," he said.

Even the country's prominent pro-war bloggers have expressed doubts.

"There's no evidence yet that shutting down the Internet has any impact on the effectiveness of enemy drone strikes,"war bloggerYuri Kotenok wrote last month, adding that the measure makes a "mockery" of ordinary Russians.

"The enemy immediately understood what countermeasures we would take. And they switched to satellites — they can't be jammed," popular pro-war Telegram channel "Two Majors"wrote, while blaming bureaucracy and lack of technological knowledge among Russia's upper military brass for the outages.

In September, the Russian Digital Ministry released a "white list" of websites that could still be accessed during outages — mostly government services, Russian search engine Yandex and Russian social networks. The list wasexpanded in Novemberto include some state media outlets, the website of Russia's post office, as well as taxi and weather services, among others.

Some people have complained that Telegram, that millions of Russians use and rely on for information daily — including for drone alerts — is not on the list despite being created by the Russian tech mogul Pavel Durov.

Presented as a temporary measure, the white lists have become part of Russia's wide-ranging censorship, said Sarkis Darbinyan, cyber lawyer and founder of digital rights organization RKS Global. "At any moment, Russian officials could get this idea — why not use this as a default model for the entire country?" Darbinyan said. "There is a big danger that in 2026, the authorities will adopt this model permanently."

The Russian Duma is currently reviewing a bill that would allow the country's powerful Federal Security Service to make telecom operators shut down communication services on their request "to protect against emerging threats to the security of citizens and the state."

The mobile internet outages are causing "huge discontent" among the Russian public, Darbinyan said, which the Kremlin can't ignore.

Russians aren't alone, with Iranianscut off from the internet for weeksafter authorities cracked down on nationwide unrest. In its own spin on white lists, the Islamic Republic is allowing access to the global Internet only for those with security clearance,according to an analysisfrom London-based think tank Chatham House.

Ilya, from the Belgorod region that borders Ukraine, called the outages and the inconveniences they cause to ordinary people like him "complete nonsense."

He said he had experienced intermittent outages, which left him feeling "completely disconnected from the world."

Another Russian, Anastasia, a marketing specialist from the western city of Voronezh, said she had experienced near-daily mobile internet outages — they come without any warning too, she said. "You just empirically realize that nothing is loading."

The outages have affected Anastasia's work, hampering her ability to respond to clients via messaging apps.

So she finds herself connecting to public Wi-Fi at coffee shops and shopping malls to stay connected on the go.

"We are not used to this anymore. It feels as if we are communicationally degrading," she said.

Anastasia said she was ready to accept the restrictions if they were "truly" protecting her safety. "But I know people are not very happy about it," she added.

byCristiano Ronaldo

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, ShowBiz, Sports

January 31, 2026

Russians feel strain of Putin's war with mobile internet shutdowns

Russians have put up withdrone attacks,rising pricesanda crackdown on free speech. But now, they are increasingly being a...

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