Some have asked in recent days what it means to be an independent newsroom. Here's one example -- a revealing story about The Post's owner -- reported, written and edited by the newsroom with zero interference. Just like every other story.

Extremely proud of the Washington Post's "American Icon" team, recognized by the @whca for showing "courage, sensitivity and originality in breaking with journalism industry norms" to show the impact of AR-15-related violence.

So excited that the phenomenally talented @emmersbrown is taking on a crucial new role as deputy editor of The Washington Post's stellar rapid-response investigations team.

@washingtonpost @pkcapitol @tcfrankel @ShawnBoburg @jdawsey1 @AshleyRParker @AlexHortonTX @n_kirkpatrick @atthar_mirza @canalesgraphics @SilviaElenaFF @arelisrhdz @EmGusk @sfcpoll @aadittambe @JonGerberg @hollybdc @markberman @HannahAllam @jimurquhartpixs @jabinbotsford @RobertKlemko @joshua_lott @SallyBuzbee @WendyGalietta @AnnGerhart @PostRoz @kainazamaria @nataliathinks @madisonlynwalls @timelfrink_dc @DebbiWilgoren @PhilipRucker @mateagold @AngelaMHill @chiquiesteban @rmillerpiced @kdombsadof And a huge shout-out to the visual journalists who created the arresting design of the series and each story: @madisonlynwalls,, @mg_callahan, @briandgross, @aadittambe, @AnnaLefkowitz, @shikha_sub, Tucker Harris & @rekhatenjarla.

@washingtonpost @pkcapitol @tcfrankel @ShawnBoburg @jdawsey1 @AshleyRParker @AlexHortonTX @n_kirkpatrick @atthar_mirza @canalesgraphics @SilviaElenaFF @arelisrhdz @EmGusk @sfcpoll @aadittambe @JonGerberg @hollybdc @markberman @HannahAllam @jimurquhartpixs @jabinbotsford @RobertKlemko @joshua_lott @SallyBuzbee Thank you to the editors who helped make it all happen: @WendyGalietta, @AnnGerhart, @PostRoz, @kainazamaria, @nataliathinks, @madisonlynwalls, @timelfrink_dc, @DebbiWilgoren, Amanda Erickson, @PhilipRucker, @mateagold, @AngelaMHill, @chiquiesteban, @rmillerpiced, & @kdombsadof.

@washingtonpost @pkcapitol @tcfrankel @ShawnBoburg @jdawsey1 @AshleyRParker @AlexHortonTX @n_kirkpatrick @atthar_mirza @canalesgraphics @SilviaElenaFF @arelisrhdz @EmGusk @sfcpoll @aadittambe @JonGerberg @hollybdc @markberman @HannahAllam @jimurquhartpixs @jabinbotsford @RobertKlemko @joshua_lott Executive Editor @SallyBuzbee, who supported this project from the start, wrote two letters to readers to provide transparency into some of our most sensitive work.

@washingtonpost @pkcapitol @tcfrankel @ShawnBoburg @jdawsey1 @AshleyRParker @AlexHortonTX @n_kirkpatrick @atthar_mirza @canalesgraphics @SilviaElenaFF @arelisrhdz @EmGusk @sfcpoll @aadittambe @JonGerberg @hollybdc @markberman @HannahAllam @jimurquhartpixs @jabinbotsford @RobertKlemko @joshua_lott @AlexHortonTX, Monique Woo and Tucker Harris unearthed decades of AR-15 ads to show how the industry tapped themes of hunting, protection, militarism and masculinity to market the weapon.

@washingtonpost @pkcapitol @tcfrankel @ShawnBoburg @jdawsey1 @AshleyRParker @AlexHortonTX @n_kirkpatrick @atthar_mirza @canalesgraphics @SilviaElenaFF @arelisrhdz @EmGusk @sfcpoll @aadittambe @JonGerberg @hollybdc @markberman @HannahAllam @jimurquhartpixs @jabinbotsford @RobertKlemko @joshua_lott @RobertKlemko & @joshua_lott also traveled to Louisville, where they revealed that the mentally troubled gunman who killed his bank coworkers faced no hurdles in buying an AR-15.

@washingtonpost @pkcapitol @tcfrankel @ShawnBoburg @jdawsey1 @AshleyRParker @AlexHortonTX @n_kirkpatrick @atthar_mirza @canalesgraphics @SilviaElenaFF @arelisrhdz @EmGusk @sfcpoll @aadittambe @JonGerberg @hollybdc @markberman @HannahAllam @jimurquhartpixs @jabinbotsford @RobertKlemko & @joshua_lott reported from Colorado Springs on how police officers, wary of being outgunned by suspects armed with AR-15s, are increasingly arming themselves with the weapon for their own protection.

@washingtonpost @pkcapitol @tcfrankel @ShawnBoburg @jdawsey1 @AshleyRParker @AlexHortonTX @n_kirkpatrick @atthar_mirza @canalesgraphics @SilviaElenaFF @arelisrhdz @EmGusk @sfcpoll @aadittambe @JonGerberg @hollybdc @markberman @HannahAllam @jimurquhartpixs @AshleyRParker, @jdawsey1 & @jabinbotsford traveled to Mayodan, NC, to show why red-state communities have been eager to reap the economic rewards of AR-15 factories shunned by blue states.

@washingtonpost @pkcapitol @tcfrankel @ShawnBoburg @jdawsey1 @AshleyRParker @AlexHortonTX @n_kirkpatrick @atthar_mirza @canalesgraphics @SilviaElenaFF @arelisrhdz @EmGusk @sfcpoll @aadittambe @JonGerberg @hollybdc @markberman @HannahAllam & @jimurquhartpixs observed armed groups on the far right and far left train with AR-15s, documenting their embrace of the weapon as tool and symbol.

@washingtonpost @pkcapitol @tcfrankel @ShawnBoburg @jdawsey1 @AshleyRParker @AlexHortonTX @n_kirkpatrick @atthar_mirza @canalesgraphics @SilviaElenaFF @arelisrhdz @EmGusk @sfcpoll @aadittambe @JonGerberg @hollybdc @markberman & @tcfrankel revealed why there's an emerging consensus among experts that limiting magazine sizes would save lives.

@washingtonpost @pkcapitol @tcfrankel @ShawnBoburg @jdawsey1 @AshleyRParker @AlexHortonTX @n_kirkpatrick @atthar_mirza @canalesgraphics @SilviaElenaFF @arelisrhdz @EmGusk @sfcpoll @aadittambe @JonGerberg @SilviaElenaFF & @hollybdc revisited the 2017 Sutherland Springs church massacre to show the unending toll on survivors of the physical and emotional wounds left by an AR-15 shooting.

@washingtonpost @pkcapitol @tcfrankel @ShawnBoburg @jdawsey1 @AshleyRParker @AlexHortonTX @n_kirkpatrick @atthar_mirza @canalesgraphics @SilviaElenaFF @arelisrhdz We also explored why the AR-15 is beloved by millions of Americans, with @EmGusk, @sfcpoll, @aadittambe & @JonGerberg reporting on our exclusive poll of AR-15 owners, some of whom provided must-watch video testimonials.

@washingtonpost @pkcapitol @tcfrankel @ShawnBoburg @jdawsey1 @AshleyRParker @AlexHortonTX @n_kirkpatrick @atthar_mirza @canalesgraphics @SilviaElenaFF, @arelisrhdz  & @n_kirkpatrick provided a rare look at the devastation caused by AR-15 shootings, with never-before-published photos and videos that show the repeating commonalities across multiple mass shootings regardless of time and place.

@washingtonpost @pkcapitol @tcfrankel @ShawnBoburg @jdawsey1 @AshleyRParker @AlexHortonTX @n_kirkpatrick, @atthar_mirza & @canalesgraphics showed with precision, through innovative 3D animations, how bullets fired from AR-15s decimate human tissue and organs, a phenomenon called the "blast effect.”.

@washingtonpost @pkcapitol @tcfrankel, @ShawnBoburg, @jdawsey1, @AshleyRParker & @AlexHortonTX revealed how the gun industry abandoned its opposition to selling made-for-combat weapons and turned the AR-15 into a marketing sensation, as well as a political and cultural symbol.

@washingtonpost @pkcapitol This series represents The Post newsroom at its best, a true collaboration of more than 75 journalists spanning departments and disciplines, united by their passion to tell stories of critical national importance. Here are some highlights:.

@washingtonpost @pkcapitol We chose to focus on the AR-15, a singular force in the nation’s gun debate, revered and reviled. It is the most commonly used weapon in the deadliest mass shootings. It's also America’s best-selling rifle, beloved as a tool of self-defense & recreation and a symbol of 2A rights.

@washingtonpost @pkcapitol We launched American Icon after the 2022 shooting in Uvalde, hoping to disrupt the polarized gun debate with fresh reporting and storytelling that might compel readers of all ideologies to consider the causes and consequences of gun violence more directly than they had before.