Matthew Barakat

Stay informed with Matthew Barakat’s coverage and analysis.

FILE – This courtroom sketch depicts a former detainee at Abu Ghraib prison, Salah Al-Ejaili, foreground with glasses, at the trial of CACI, a Virginia-based military contractor who is accused of contributing to the abuse and torture of detainees at Abu Ghraib, in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Va., April 16, 2024. (Dana Verkouteren via AP, File)

U.S. jury awards $42 million to 3 former Abu Ghraib detainees, holding Virginia military contractor responsible

By Matthew Barakat and The Associated Press

A mature man in his 40s putting an I VOTED sticker on his shirt.

Swing states are quietly purging thousands from voter rolls, and legitimate citizens keep getting removed

By Matthew Barakat and The Associated Press

FILE – The Google building is seen in New York, Feb. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

Google expert witness tells antitrust trial that company gets just 10% of the U.S. digital ad market share

By Matthew Barakat and The Associated Press

FILE – A sign at Google headquarters in Mountain View, Calif. is shown on Oct. 8, 2010. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, File)

Google keeps up to 36% of every ad sale it brokers, government says in antitrust lawsuit

By Matthew Barakat and The Associated Press

IMAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR THE HSUS – FILE – An HSUS Animal Rescue Team member carries a beagle into the organization’s care and rehabilitation center in Maryland on July 21, 2022, after the organization removed the first 201 beagles as part of a transfer plan from Envigo RMS LLC facility in Cumberland, Va. (Kevin Wolf/AP Images for the HSUS)

Company that bred beagles for medical research agrees to pay record $35m fine for neglecting thousands of dogs at Virginia facility

By Matthew Barakat and The Associated Press

Sundar Pichai, chief executive officer of Alphabet

Google wants a judge to decide whether it violated U.S. antitrust laws because jurors wouldn’t get it

By Matthew Barakat and The Associated Press

Young adult unhappy couple sitting distanced on sofa after arguing. Upset caucasian man looking annoyed away after having relationship problems with her girlfriend or wife.

Cancer survivor says embryos with an ex-husband are her last chance to have a baby. Ex-husband wants to avoid procreating against his will

By Matthew Barakat and The Associated Press

Sundar Pichai

Google locks its search on your iPhone for $20 billion a year, government argues in epic monopoly case

By Matthew Barakat and The Associated Press

Washington Wizards and Capitals owner Ted Leonsis

Collapse of NBA, NHL arena deal prompts recriminations, finger-pointing among Virginia politicians

By Sarah Rankin, Matthew Barakat, and others

Muriel Bowser, Ted Leonsis

Bake-off over Capitals, Wizards ends with $515 million publicly funded deal for teams to stay in Washington DC for decades longer

By Stephen Whyno, Sarah Rankin, and others

Gov. Glenn Youngkin

Unions oppose $2 billion plan to move Wizards and Capitals from Washington D.C. to northern Virginia

By Matthew Barakat, Sarah Rankin, and others

Ted Leonsis, Glenn Youngkin

Virginia’s multibillion-dollar plan to lure the Wizards and Capitals away from DC clears first hurdle in legislature

By Sarah Rankin, Matthew Barakat, and others

Washington sports

Virginia’s $2 billion plan to lure the Capitals and Wizards away from DC heads to legislature amid taxpayer handout accusations

By Sarah Rankin, Matthew Barakat, and others

Will suburban D.C. get lucky?

‘We have to be practical’: Amid office-space crunch, Virginia’s richest region eyes a new source of funds—gambling

By Matthew Barakat and The Associated Press

Washington Wizards owner Ted Leonsis

Wizards, Capitals billionaire owner strikes deal with Virginia governor to ditch DC—except for his WNBA franchise

By Sarah Rankin, Matthew Barakat, and others