The Trump administration is criminally investigating the chair of the Federal Reserve.

That's where we're starting the seven from the Washington Post.

I'm Hannah Jewell. It's Monday, January 12th.

Let's get you caught up with today's seven stories.

Yesterday, the U.S. Central Bank revealed that the Justice Department had opened a criminal

investigation of Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome Powell.

The investigation is tied to the central bank's renovation of its headquarters along the

National Mall. But in an

unusually direct and forceful video address posted to the Fed's website yesterday, Powell accused

the Trump administration of trying to pressure the central bank to lower interest rates.

The threat of criminal charges is a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates

based on our best assessment of what will serve the public, rather than following the preferences

of the President.

This is about whether the Fed will be able to continue to set interest rates based on evidence

and economic conditions or whether instead monetary policy will be directed by political pressure or intimidation.

President Donald Trump nominated Powell to serve as Fed chair during his first term in 2017.

But Trump has spent much of his second term attacking and threatening to fire the Fed chief for not slashing

interest rates to juice the economy. Powell said the threat of prosecution would not interfere

with his service as Fed Chair.

Number two.

Hundreds of protesters are feared to have been killed in Iran.

Anti-government demonstrations broke out across Iran late last month.

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