This week, the FBI conducted a raid on the home of Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson, confiscating her electronic devices as part of an investigation into a government contractor accused of mishandling classified information. Natanson has extensively covered the Trump administration’s bureaucratic changes, including large-scale government layoffs. The raid is part of a wider trend of pressure on the press, including lawsuits, budget cuts, and growing consolidation in media and technology.

Jameel Jaffer, director of Columbia University’s Knight First Amendment Institute, commented, “It’s hard not to view this FBI raid as an attempt to intimidate both journalists and their sources. Press freedom is under serious strain. We rely on journalists to keep the public informed about government actions and to hold officials accountable.