- Former New York Times writer Nikole Hannah-Jones was paid $40,000 for a 45-minute speech at a high school near the university she works at – and threatened a $100,000 penalty if it was recorded.
- Although it was held at a school, the talk was part of a program run by the Arlington Public Library. The exorbitant speaking fee reportedly sent the library over budget by $7,500.
- The contract with Hannah-Jones also forbid any recording of the event with a $100,000 penalty for any violation.