RCFP Seeks to Unseal Court Records Related to FBI Search of Washington Post Reporter’s Home

Editorial: FBI raid on WaPo reporter’s home threat to press freedom

The search of Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson's home, the seizure of her communications devices and the implicit message sent to her sources directly undermine the intent of that law. This kind of aggressive law enforcement action against a journalist — particularly one engaged in reporting on the federal workforce — has a chilling effect not only on reporters but also on the sources who rely on them to expose wrongdoing and inform the …

Comedian warns Trump raid on reporter signals threat to press freedom

Comedian Michael Ian Black argued that the Trump administration’s raid on Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson’s home should alarm Americans, framing it as a warning to anyone who speaks out. The FBI seized Natanson’s devices in connection with a national security leak investigation, but Black noted the case appears to fall outside exceptions in the Privacy Protection Act. He wrote that the raid sends a clear message about the administration…

A 'chilling effect': Press freedom advocates denounce the raid on a Washington Post journalist's home

The action 'signals a growing assault on independent reporting and undermines the First Amendment.'

Press freedom advocates worry raid on Washington Post journalist's home will chill reporting

Press freedom advocates are concerned this week's raid on a Washington Post journalist's home will deter reporting on government actions and silence whistleblowers. If that's the case, the Trump administration could hardly have chosen a more compelling target. Hannah Natanson…

‘It may portend something more ominous’

‘Jeff Bezos needs to speak up’Jonathan Chait at The AtlanticFBI agents “searched the home of the Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson,” but “journalists are supposed to enjoy legal protections from raids,” says Jonathan Chait. If the “government could treat them as criminals for acquiring nonpublic information, their work — protected by the First Amendment — would become impossible.” The “question that has hung over” the Post since owner Jef…

NewsGuild denounces FBI raid on reporter’s home

Union journalists are raising concerns that the government’s actions threaten the freedom of the press enshrined in the first amendment WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 15, 2026) — On Wednesday, the FBI raided the home of Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson, a member of the Washington-Baltimore NewsGuild and Washington Post Guild. Her union, affiliated with the Communications […] The post NewsGuild denounces FBI raid on reporter’s home appeared fi…