Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Hurst. A federal judge has put the breaks on a criminal

investigation of the Federal Reserve. MPR Scott Horsley reports the judge quashed the Justice

Department subpoenas of the central bank calling it an improper campaign of harassment.

The Justice Department subpoenaed the Federal Reserve back in January,

ostensibly to learn more about cost overruns on the central bank's headquarters renovation.

But federal judge James Bosberg says that's a mere pretext. In a newly unsealed opinion,

Boseberg says the Justice Department offered no evidence that Fed Chairman Jerome Powell had committed

a crime other than displeasing the president by not moving more aggressively to lower interest rates. At the same time, the judge

says there's abundant evidence that the purpose of the criminal probe was to harass and

pressure the Fed chairman. The case has become a test of the Fed's ability to set interest rates

without political interference from the White House, Republican Senator Tom Tillis,

who's defended the Fed says the ruling confirms how weak and frivolous the government's investigation was.

Scott Horsley, MPR News, Washington.

Israel's military says it struck a large square in Iran's capital as thousands gathered

for an annual rally in support of Palestinians.

According to Iran's state media, the strike happened near a huge crowd.

And Pierce Kerry Khan has more.

Israel's military says it sent out a warning to Iranians to avoid the area, where it said it was destroying military infrastructure.

The warning went out on the Israeli military's farcey social media accounts.

It's unlikely many saw the notice as the internet is difficult to access in Iran and often

blocked by the government. Captured live on Iranian state TV, the blast occurred close to the

huge pro-government rally as a reporter was interviewing a top Iranian official.

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