Ellen Nakashima

Washington, D.C.

National security reporter

Education: City University, London, MA in international journalism; University of California at Berkeley, BA in humanities

Ellen Nakashima is a national security reporter for The Washington Post. She covers intelligence and national security issues. She has written about the security aspects of the U.S.-China relationship, the west's response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and classified intelligence leaks. She has been a member of three Pulitzer-prize winning teams at The Post, including in 2022 for an investigation of the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol, in 2018 for digging into Moscow’s efforts to influence the 2016 election, and in 2014 for exploring the hidden scope National Security Agency surveillance.
Latest from Ellen Nakashima

America’s most secret spy agency now has a podcast

The National Security Agency opens up for the first time about its role in the hunt for Osama bin Laden.

September 11, 2024
The National Security Agency campus in Fort Meade, Md., in 2020.

China’s ‘disappeared’ foreign minister demoted to low-level publishing job, say former U.S. officials

Qin Gang, an aggressive “wolf warrior” diplomat, had a meteoric rise and an even faster fall from grace. He’s now said to be taking a salary at a Beijing state-run bookseller.

September 8, 2024
Qin Gang takes his oath as Chinese foreign minister in Beijing in 2023.

Russia’s election influence efforts show sophistication, officials say

Moscow is using “authentic U.S. voices” on major social media platforms to “launder” propaganda and divisive narratives aimed at swaying American audiences.

September 7, 2024
Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a meeting via video link Friday outside Moscow with members of the Security Council.

    How China extended its repression into an American city

    Events in San Francisco illustrate how the Chinese Communist Party is willing to target people exercising their First Amendment rights in an American city.

    September 3, 2024

    U.S. military’s Tinder ad in Middle East raises eyebrows

    An advertisement warning that U.S. fighter jets were ready to respond to provocations showed up on a dating app in Lebanon.

    August 27, 2024
    Séamus Malekafzali, a freelance journalist based in Lebanon, on Thursday encountered a Tinder advertisement purportedly from U.S. Central Command warning against joining Iranian-backed militants. This ad linked to a Central Command post on X, Malekafzali said. (Screenshot by Séamus Malekafzali)

    U.S., Philippines reach deal to assist Afghan allies

    Hundreds of Afghan refugees will be temporarily relocated to the Philippines as part of a new pathway to U.S. resettlement.

    August 19, 2024
    A woman holds an Afghan passport in Islamabad, Pakistan, in 2023.

    India pressed U.S. to go easy on Bangladeshi leader before her ouster, officials say

    After Indian lobbying, Washington toned down its criticism of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Now both countries must confront whether they mishandled Bangladesh.

    August 15, 2024
    Students chant slogans near a vandalized mural of Bangladesh’s ousted prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, during a protest on Monday in Dhaka.

    Suspected Iranian hacks are latest round of U.S. election interference

    National security officials and researchers noted a rise in “troublesome” Iranian influence operations designed to meddle in the U.S. presidential race.

    August 13, 2024
    Iran's leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, delivers a speech in July 28.

    Trump campaign says it is victim of foreign hack after leak of Vance report

    Microsoft discovered evidence that Iranian hackers compromised the email account of a former Trump campaign adviser, a person familiar with the matter says.

    August 10, 2024
    Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump speaks at a rally in Bozeman, Mont., on Friday.

    Accused 9/11 plotters reach plea deals with U.S. to avoid death penalty

    Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Walid bin Attash and Mustafa al-Hawsawi will plead guilty in exchange for avoiding the death penalty, according to a Defense Department letter sent to victims’ families.

    July 31, 2024
    New York City firefighters work amid debris in this Sept. 11, 2001, photo, with the skeleton of the World Trade Center twin towers in the background.