Anna Bower
@annabower.bsky.social
Just asking questions.
Senior Editor, Lawfaremedia.org.
Send story ideas and tips to anna.bower@lawfaremedia.org
Senior Editor, Lawfaremedia.org.
Send story ideas and tips to anna.bower@lawfaremedia.org
Pinned
Anna Bower
@annabower.bsky.social
· Oct 20
EXCLUSIVE: One Saturday afternoon in October, my phone lit up with a notification.
I glanced down at the message.
“Anna, Lindsey Halligan here,” it began.
So began my text exchange with the woman who is prosecuting the president's perceived political enemies.
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/anna...
I glanced down at the message.
“Anna, Lindsey Halligan here,” it began.
So began my text exchange with the woman who is prosecuting the president's perceived political enemies.
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/anna...
Reposted by Anna Bower
Before you read about the FBI raid and think about how bad it is for our democracy, read about Hannah’s life this year and think about how unbelievably brutal it is for her. archive.ph/2025.12.27-1...
January 14, 2026 at 2:58 PM
Before you read about the FBI raid and think about how bad it is for our democracy, read about Hannah’s life this year and think about how unbelievably brutal it is for her. archive.ph/2025.12.27-1...
Reposted by Anna Bower
DOJ has occasionally claimed that it needs to search reporters' records to find the source of a security leak.
But that's pretty obviously not what they were doing when they searched the Post reporter's house. They arrested a suspect days ago, after more or less catching him in the act.
But that's pretty obviously not what they were doing when they searched the Post reporter's house. They arrested a suspect days ago, after more or less catching him in the act.
Bondi statement on FBI search at Washington Post reporter’s home:
January 14, 2026 at 3:49 PM
DOJ has occasionally claimed that it needs to search reporters' records to find the source of a security leak.
But that's pretty obviously not what they were doing when they searched the Post reporter's house. They arrested a suspect days ago, after more or less catching him in the act.
But that's pretty obviously not what they were doing when they searched the Post reporter's house. They arrested a suspect days ago, after more or less catching him in the act.
Bondi statement on FBI search at Washington Post reporter’s home:
January 14, 2026 at 3:44 PM
Bondi statement on FBI search at Washington Post reporter’s home:
Reposted by Anna Bower
Hannah Natanson is an exceptional reporter and should never have been subjected to this type of extraordinary intimidation tactic. We have few details now, but it’s hard to interpret this as anything other than an attempt to squash the freedom of the press.
January 14, 2026 at 2:15 PM
Hannah Natanson is an exceptional reporter and should never have been subjected to this type of extraordinary intimidation tactic. We have few details now, but it’s hard to interpret this as anything other than an attempt to squash the freedom of the press.
Reposted by Anna Bower
In case you hit a paywall, this is gifted.
wapo.st/4pFh6lw
wapo.st/4pFh6lw
FBI executes search warrant at Washington Post reporter’s home
The reporter, Hannah Natanson, covers the federal workforce and has been part of The Post’s most sensitive coverage of the first year of the second Trump administration.
wapo.st
January 14, 2026 at 2:11 PM
In case you hit a paywall, this is gifted.
wapo.st/4pFh6lw
wapo.st/4pFh6lw
Reposted by Anna Bower
More details here: www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
FBI executes search warrant at Washington Post reporter’s home
The reporter, Hannah Natanson, covers the federal workforce and has been part of The Post’s most sensitive coverage of the first year of the second Trump administration.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 14, 2026 at 2:08 PM
More details here: www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Reposted by Anna Bower
The majority of the leadership team inside Minnesota’s U.S. Attorney’s Office resigned Tuesday in protest of directives from federal officials in the wake of the killing of Renee Good, according to sources familiar with the decision.
Joe Thompson, U.S. Attorney who uncovered massive fraud in Minnesota, resigns from office
Thompson has been at the center of the national debate around fraud in Minnesota and has claimed that billions have been stolen from tax payers.
bit.ly
January 13, 2026 at 8:20 PM
The majority of the leadership team inside Minnesota’s U.S. Attorney’s Office resigned Tuesday in protest of directives from federal officials in the wake of the killing of Renee Good, according to sources familiar with the decision.
Reposted by Anna Bower
Today at 34 & Park in Minneapolis, a woman tried to drive down the street where a protest had broken out in front of a home ICE was raiding, saying she had a doctor apt to get to. ICE agents busted out her windows, cut off her seatbelt, and pulled her out before arresting her.
January 13, 2026 at 6:56 PM
Today at 34 & Park in Minneapolis, a woman tried to drive down the street where a protest had broken out in front of a home ICE was raiding, saying she had a doctor apt to get to. ICE agents busted out her windows, cut off her seatbelt, and pulled her out before arresting her.
Reposted by Anna Bower
Even by the standards of Trump's DOJ, this one is worth a read. Always finding new and creative ways to make me say WTF.
Halligan’s response accuses the judge of “gross abuse of power,” among other things.
Read the filing: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Read the filing: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
January 13, 2026 at 7:07 PM
Even by the standards of Trump's DOJ, this one is worth a read. Always finding new and creative ways to make me say WTF.
Halligan’s response accuses the judge of “gross abuse of power,” among other things.
Read the filing: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Read the filing: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
January 13, 2026 at 7:02 PM
Halligan’s response accuses the judge of “gross abuse of power,” among other things.
Read the filing: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Read the filing: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by Anna Bower
Gift link to my piece with @oonahathaway.bsky.social on our slide to a nihilistic future. www.foreignaffairs.com/guest-pass/r...
A World Without Rules
The consequences of Trump’s assault on international law.
www.foreignaffairs.com
January 13, 2026 at 3:39 PM
Gift link to my piece with @oonahathaway.bsky.social on our slide to a nihilistic future. www.foreignaffairs.com/guest-pass/r...
Typo alert: Describing stalled negotiations with opposing counsel in the Dan Richman case, Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward says he does not “err this grievance lightly.”
![United States provided further edits to the joint motion the next morning, on January 9. Since that
time - and at the time of this filing - the United States has not received feedback on that draft
despite representations that such feedback would be forthcoming on January 10.
Despite the undersigned representing to Petitioner-Movant's counsel multiple times a
desire to resolve this matter promptly, no agreement has been reached. The undersigned does not or this grievance lightly, but does so only out of respect for the Court's deadline and out of regret
for not seeking an extension earlier. The undersigned further represents that the effort to resolve
the Parties remaining disagreements constitutes good cause to further extend the deadline within
which the United States must certify its compliance with the Court's Orders nune pro tunc.
Rule 6(b)(1)(A) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides that, "[w]hen an act may
or must be done within a specified time, the court may, for good cause, extend the time ... with or without motion or notice if the court acts, or if a request is made, before the original time or its extension expires." Good cause exists to extend the deadline by which the United States must comply with the Court's Order insofar as discussions between the Parties continue that may alleviate the necessity of the Court spending judicial resources resolving any dispute as between the parties. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 6(b)(I)(A); Nasreen v. Capitol Petroleum Group, LLC, 2021 WL 5310565, at *4 (D.D.C. Nov. 15, 2021).
So that these discussions may continue, the United States respectfully requests the
deadline to comply with the Court's Order by providing a certification of compliance with the same be extended to January 19, 2026. The United States is not requesting any other modification or alteration to the Court's Order (or the clarifications or modifications thereto) at this time.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:t4x2ruk2qmob2b2cx55h4v7r/bafkreigxenno5krsshr5csgvrzpy6s6pj3tmor2kp5r5n5zt7b4imtavmy@jpeg)
January 13, 2026 at 3:31 PM
Typo alert: Describing stalled negotiations with opposing counsel in the Dan Richman case, Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward says he does not “err this grievance lightly.”
Reposted by Anna Bower
Responding to Judge Boasberg’s order to propose relief to 137 Venezuelans unlawfully sent to CECOT & then Venezuela, Secy Rubio says that addressing the issue now would cause “material damage to US foreign policy interests.” So apparently the govt's not going to.
January 13, 2026 at 1:05 PM
Responding to Judge Boasberg’s order to propose relief to 137 Venezuelans unlawfully sent to CECOT & then Venezuela, Secy Rubio says that addressing the issue now would cause “material damage to US foreign policy interests.” So apparently the govt's not going to.
Reposted by Anna Bower
Within a day or so of the shooting, myself, @ericcolumbus.bsky.social, and @annabower.bsky.social predicted on the Lawfare Podcast that this would be the focus of any investigation; there’s no joy in having been correct — just a growing sense of dismay.
F.B.I. Inquiry Into ICE Shooting Is Examining Victim’s Possible Ties to Activist Groups
www.nytimes.com
January 13, 2026 at 2:36 AM
Within a day or so of the shooting, myself, @ericcolumbus.bsky.social, and @annabower.bsky.social predicted on the Lawfare Podcast that this would be the focus of any investigation; there’s no joy in having been correct — just a growing sense of dismay.
INBOX: Former Special Counsel Jack Smith launches his own law firm alongside former Jan. 6 Committee counsel Tim Heaphy and DOJ alum David Harbach and Thomas Windom.
January 12, 2026 at 12:17 PM
INBOX: Former Special Counsel Jack Smith launches his own law firm alongside former Jan. 6 Committee counsel Tim Heaphy and DOJ alum David Harbach and Thomas Windom.
Will be interesting to see who suddenly cares about the president’s weaponization of the Justice Department now that it might threaten their bottom line $$$
January 12, 2026 at 2:46 AM
Will be interesting to see who suddenly cares about the president’s weaponization of the Justice Department now that it might threaten their bottom line $$$
Reposted by Anna Bower
Hard to overstate what a remarkable statement this is from a Republican senator — even a retiring one — accusing thte Trump White House of weaponizing DOJ to control the Fed:
"It is now the independence and credibility of the Department of Justice that are in question."
"It is now the independence and credibility of the Department of Justice that are in question."
January 12, 2026 at 2:13 AM
Hard to overstate what a remarkable statement this is from a Republican senator — even a retiring one — accusing thte Trump White House of weaponizing DOJ to control the Fed:
"It is now the independence and credibility of the Department of Justice that are in question."
"It is now the independence and credibility of the Department of Justice that are in question."
Reposted by Anna Bower
This short statement by Jerome Powell deserves attention. He’s accusing the Trump administration of attempting to use a bogus criminal prosecution to extort compliance with White House demands to lower interest rates. Via @annabower.bsky.social
Here is the video message of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell regarding the Justice Department’s criminal investigation related to the Fed’s building renovations.
Watch it.
youtu.be/KckGHaBLSn4
Watch it.
youtu.be/KckGHaBLSn4
Statement by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell
YouTube video by Federal Reserve
youtu.be
January 12, 2026 at 1:21 AM
This short statement by Jerome Powell deserves attention. He’s accusing the Trump administration of attempting to use a bogus criminal prosecution to extort compliance with White House demands to lower interest rates. Via @annabower.bsky.social
Here is the video message of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell regarding the Justice Department’s criminal investigation related to the Fed’s building renovations.
Watch it.
youtu.be/KckGHaBLSn4
Watch it.
youtu.be/KckGHaBLSn4
Statement by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell
YouTube video by Federal Reserve
youtu.be
January 12, 2026 at 12:52 AM
Here is the video message of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell regarding the Justice Department’s criminal investigation related to the Fed’s building renovations.
Watch it.
youtu.be/KckGHaBLSn4
Watch it.
youtu.be/KckGHaBLSn4
Reposted by Anna Bower
Video message from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KckG...
www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/s...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KckG...
www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/s...
Statement by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell
YouTube video by Federal Reserve
www.youtube.com
January 12, 2026 at 12:35 AM
Video message from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KckG...
www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/s...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KckG...
www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/s...
“Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the US central bank had been served grand jury subpoenas from the Justice Department threatening a criminal indictment related to his June congressional testimony on ongoing renovations of the Fed’s headquarters”
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
January 12, 2026 at 12:44 AM
“Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the US central bank had been served grand jury subpoenas from the Justice Department threatening a criminal indictment related to his June congressional testimony on ongoing renovations of the Fed’s headquarters”
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Federal Prosecutors Are Said to Have Opened Inquiry Into Fed Chair Powell
www.nytimes.com
January 12, 2026 at 12:27 AM
Reposted by Anna Bower
WP Editorial Board: "I don't understand why deliberately lying to knowingly perpetrate fraud is considered illegal."
January 11, 2026 at 1:02 AM
WP Editorial Board: "I don't understand why deliberately lying to knowingly perpetrate fraud is considered illegal."