Amy Kristin Sanders
@amykristinsanders.bsky.social
John and Ann Curley Chair in First Amendment @ Penn State. Loves: Cardinals baseball, shelter dogs, solo travel. Hates: Oxford commas, two spaces after a period. Former Middle East expat. Texas refugee. Recovering journalist. Not your attorney.
Pinned
Bellisario College, Talking Research: Amy Kristin Sanders
YouTube video by Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications
www.youtube.com
Beyond proud to represent the Bellisario College every day and thrilled that they let me talk about First Amendment rights. Everything we do as communicators is at the very core of our democratic society, and I get to share that message with my students and the people of the Commonwealth.
Cool new transparency resource from @propublica.org that shines a light on payments to U.S. Supreme Court justices.
Supreme Connections: Search Supreme Court Disclosures — ProPublica
Search Supreme Court financial disclosures for organizations and people that have paid justices, reimbursed them for travel, given them gifts and more.
projects.propublica.org
February 17, 2026 at 5:12 PM
Cool new transparency resource from @propublica.org that shines a light on payments to U.S. Supreme Court justices.
The chilling effect in action.
Because FCC Chair Brendan Carr threatened The View, CBS pulls Talarico interview off the air.
As a result, voters are getting less information now.
I doubt an interview with Ken Paxton would have been treated the same by the FCC or CBS.
Because FCC Chair Brendan Carr threatened The View, CBS pulls Talarico interview off the air.
As a result, voters are getting less information now.
I doubt an interview with Ken Paxton would have been treated the same by the FCC or CBS.
Stephen Colbert says CBS didn't air Rep. James Talarico interview out of fear of FCC
Colbert kicked off Monday's episode of "The Late Show" by saying that the network's lawyers told him he could not have Talarico on the broadcast.
www.nbcnews.com
February 17, 2026 at 4:13 PM
The chilling effect in action.
Because FCC Chair Brendan Carr threatened The View, CBS pulls Talarico interview off the air.
As a result, voters are getting less information now.
I doubt an interview with Ken Paxton would have been treated the same by the FCC or CBS.
Because FCC Chair Brendan Carr threatened The View, CBS pulls Talarico interview off the air.
As a result, voters are getting less information now.
I doubt an interview with Ken Paxton would have been treated the same by the FCC or CBS.
FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson couldn't let FCC Chair Brendan Carr have all the fun.
Regulatory pressure on media companies has been a top Trump Administration tactic to try to quell criticism and prop up speakers who endorse Trump.
It's anti-democratic and undermines free speech.
Regulatory pressure on media companies has been a top Trump Administration tactic to try to quell criticism and prop up speakers who endorse Trump.
It's anti-democratic and undermines free speech.
Trump's FTC chairman sends a threatening letter to Apple for not promoting enough conservative media
Chairman Andrew Ferguson continues the Federal Trade Commission’s crusade against free speech with an official letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook.
reason.com
February 16, 2026 at 12:41 PM
FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson couldn't let FCC Chair Brendan Carr have all the fun.
Regulatory pressure on media companies has been a top Trump Administration tactic to try to quell criticism and prop up speakers who endorse Trump.
It's anti-democratic and undermines free speech.
Regulatory pressure on media companies has been a top Trump Administration tactic to try to quell criticism and prop up speakers who endorse Trump.
It's anti-democratic and undermines free speech.
Threatening to remove state funding from public schools because students are protesting is...
THE MOST TEXAS THING YET.
The schools are clearly failing to coerce young Texans into believing his Abbott's white, Christian nationalist view of their state.
THE MOST TEXAS THING YET.
The schools are clearly failing to coerce young Texans into believing his Abbott's white, Christian nationalist view of their state.
Students Across the U.S. Are Protesting ICE. Texas Wants to Punish Their Schools.
www.nytimes.com
February 16, 2026 at 12:13 PM
Threatening to remove state funding from public schools because students are protesting is...
THE MOST TEXAS THING YET.
The schools are clearly failing to coerce young Texans into believing his Abbott's white, Christian nationalist view of their state.
THE MOST TEXAS THING YET.
The schools are clearly failing to coerce young Texans into believing his Abbott's white, Christian nationalist view of their state.
"If a government’s actions in a democracy require masks — if the people being governed in that democracy cannot know who is acting — that is a problem with what the government is doing, not with the governed."
Another great read from Law Dork.
Another great read from Law Dork.
Tom Homan’s statement on Face the Nation that “masks right now are for officer safety reasons” was an admission of the fundamental moral failing at the base of the Trump administration’s lawless actions.
If you knew what the administration is doing, it would not be sustainable.
If you knew what the administration is doing, it would not be sustainable.
The Trump admin argument that masks "are for officer safety reasons" is actually an admission
Tom Homan highlights how secrecy aims to block accountability, the immoral lawlessness at the core of the Trump administration. And, for paid subscribers: Closing my tabs.
www.lawdork.com
February 16, 2026 at 11:53 AM
"If a government’s actions in a democracy require masks — if the people being governed in that democracy cannot know who is acting — that is a problem with what the government is doing, not with the governed."
Another great read from Law Dork.
Another great read from Law Dork.
This.
And to be clear, the legislators in many states don't want us teaching any ideas they believe go against their party line. That's why they're attacking large swaths of the curriculum, from women's studies to Black history to Plato's musings on sexuality, as "woke."
And to be clear, the legislators in many states don't want us teaching any ideas they believe go against their party line. That's why they're attacking large swaths of the curriculum, from women's studies to Black history to Plato's musings on sexuality, as "woke."
What I need people to understand is when legislators argue that professors should teach more and research less, it's not because they think our research is actually worthless. It's because they don't want anyone to be able to develop or disseminate expertise that goes against their party line.
February 15, 2026 at 7:58 PM
This.
And to be clear, the legislators in many states don't want us teaching any ideas they believe go against their party line. That's why they're attacking large swaths of the curriculum, from women's studies to Black history to Plato's musings on sexuality, as "woke."
And to be clear, the legislators in many states don't want us teaching any ideas they believe go against their party line. That's why they're attacking large swaths of the curriculum, from women's studies to Black history to Plato's musings on sexuality, as "woke."
More Texas university shenanigans demonstrate the complete and total disregard for freedom of expression within the state's higher education system.
Texas University Closes Exhibition With Anti-ICE Artwork
www.nytimes.com
February 15, 2026 at 3:00 PM
More Texas university shenanigans demonstrate the complete and total disregard for freedom of expression within the state's higher education system.
This is pretty good @rpsb.bsky.social, but y'all forgot the Albatross.
February 15, 2026 at 2:54 PM
This is pretty good @rpsb.bsky.social, but y'all forgot the Albatross.
"Local journalism often begins before a camera is rolling, before a live shot is framed, before a headline is written. It begins with proximity. With awareness. With someone deciding that what’s happening matters enough to go see it firsthand."
Minnesota journalists are meeting the moment.
Minnesota journalists are meeting the moment.
hello minnesota and beyond! thank you for your kind messages. it is very weird to be the news when you cover the news. i love this beautiful state and journalism, and i am hopeful for better days. but we will be forever changed bc of the last two months.
Meet Minnesota Bathrobe Lady Sam Stroozas of MPR News | Minnesota Public Radio
Earlier this week, an unexpected and fast-moving incident unfolded in St. Paul, Minnesota involving both federal and local law enforcement. As crowds gathered and questions mounted, one of our MPR New...
www.mpr.org
February 14, 2026 at 6:45 PM
"Local journalism often begins before a camera is rolling, before a live shot is framed, before a headline is written. It begins with proximity. With awareness. With someone deciding that what’s happening matters enough to go see it firsthand."
Minnesota journalists are meeting the moment.
Minnesota journalists are meeting the moment.
Part of the Trump Administration's campaign against immigrants is the false assertion that they vote illegally in elections. @cato.org shows that audits in multiple states contradict the claim of massive election fraud by immigrants.
Facts matter.
Facts matter.
February 14, 2026 at 6:30 PM
Part of the Trump Administration's campaign against immigrants is the false assertion that they vote illegally in elections. @cato.org shows that audits in multiple states contradict the claim of massive election fraud by immigrants.
Facts matter.
Facts matter.
We wouldn't want people exercising their First Amendment rights in a democratic society. Bad things could happen.
RON JOHNSON: Did you ever encourage people to go out there and exercise their First Amendment rights?
KEITH ELLISON: I freely admit being in favor of the First Amendment
KEITH ELLISON: I freely admit being in favor of the First Amendment
February 13, 2026 at 4:59 PM
We wouldn't want people exercising their First Amendment rights in a democratic society. Bad things could happen.
Wildly important win for international students in the U.S.
"The unwarranted arrest and threatened deportation of Rümeysa Öztürk, a Fulbright scholar in the U.S. on a student visa, was the government’s warning to students across the country — especially student journalists."
"The unwarranted arrest and threatened deportation of Rümeysa Öztürk, a Fulbright scholar in the U.S. on a student visa, was the government’s warning to students across the country — especially student journalists."
Opinion | Rümeysa Öztürk beating Trump's efforts to deport her is a win for journalism
Eli Thompson: Let Rümeysa Öztürk's victory inspire student journalists everywhere
www.ms.now
February 13, 2026 at 4:52 PM
Wildly important win for international students in the U.S.
"The unwarranted arrest and threatened deportation of Rümeysa Öztürk, a Fulbright scholar in the U.S. on a student visa, was the government’s warning to students across the country — especially student journalists."
"The unwarranted arrest and threatened deportation of Rümeysa Öztürk, a Fulbright scholar in the U.S. on a student visa, was the government’s warning to students across the country — especially student journalists."
"Immigrants in the US have reduced the deficit every year since 1994."
More great info from @cato.org on the value of immigrants, particularly as Texas and Florida attempt to crack down on H1B visas in higher education — a move that will *destroy* their public university systems.
More great info from @cato.org on the value of immigrants, particularly as Texas and Florida attempt to crack down on H1B visas in higher education — a move that will *destroy* their public university systems.
February 13, 2026 at 3:57 PM
"Immigrants in the US have reduced the deficit every year since 1994."
More great info from @cato.org on the value of immigrants, particularly as Texas and Florida attempt to crack down on H1B visas in higher education — a move that will *destroy* their public university systems.
More great info from @cato.org on the value of immigrants, particularly as Texas and Florida attempt to crack down on H1B visas in higher education — a move that will *destroy* their public university systems.
When using GenAI this poorly results in a default judgment against your client, is that automatically legal malpractice? Should the attorney have to cover the fee assignment?
There's a strong argument that it amounts to an ethics violation. ABA Model Rule 1.1 requires competence.
There's a strong argument that it amounts to an ethics violation. ABA Model Rule 1.1 requires competence.
Frustrated judge tosses case with fake AI citations, references to Ray Bradbury's 'Fahrenheit 451'
References to author Ray Bradbury’s 1953 dystopian book Fahrenheit 451, fake citations and “out-of-left-field” references to ancient libraries has prompted a New York federal judge to terminate a case because of a lawyer’s repeated misuse of artificial intelligence.
www.abajournal.com
February 13, 2026 at 11:58 AM
When using GenAI this poorly results in a default judgment against your client, is that automatically legal malpractice? Should the attorney have to cover the fee assignment?
There's a strong argument that it amounts to an ethics violation. ABA Model Rule 1.1 requires competence.
There's a strong argument that it amounts to an ethics violation. ABA Model Rule 1.1 requires competence.
Spent some time with the folks @radio.wpsu.org.web.brid.gy trying to explain the threats the Trump Administration poses to freedom of expression and why it should matter to everyone.
News Over Noise
If you find yourself avoiding the news, you’re not alone. But what’s turning you off is likely not the news itself—it’s the noise surrounding it. News Over Noise explores the challenge of separating s...
www.npr.org
February 12, 2026 at 12:50 PM
Spent some time with the folks @radio.wpsu.org.web.brid.gy trying to explain the threats the Trump Administration poses to freedom of expression and why it should matter to everyone.
Over on FB, @penamerica.bsky.social has a great post that captures just some of the concerns I had when I made the decision to leave the University of Texas at Austin just over a year ago.
Texas public universities are no longer serious about education.
www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1...
Texas public universities are no longer serious about education.
www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1...
February 12, 2026 at 12:44 PM
Over on FB, @penamerica.bsky.social has a great post that captures just some of the concerns I had when I made the decision to leave the University of Texas at Austin just over a year ago.
Texas public universities are no longer serious about education.
www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1...
Texas public universities are no longer serious about education.
www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1...
New First Amendment/academic freedom lawsuit against Texas A&M under § 1983 filed in the Southern District.
McCoul was terminated over faculty objection for curriculum decisions she made in a literature class.
McCoul was terminated over faculty objection for curriculum decisions she made in a literature class.
JUST IN: Texas A&M professor Melissa McCoul sues over firing linked to gender-related content in youth literature class. TX Gov. Abbott called for her firing. Among the defendants: former POLITICO owner & NOTUS founder, Robert Allbritton. Doc: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
#1 in McCoul v. Texas A&M University System (S.D. Tex., 4:26-cv-00865) – CourtListener.com
COMPLAINT against All Defendants (Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ATXSDC-35013427) filed by Melissa McCoul. (Reichek, Amanda) (Entered: 02/04/2026)
storage.courtlistener.com
February 5, 2026 at 1:50 PM
New First Amendment/academic freedom lawsuit against Texas A&M under § 1983 filed in the Southern District.
McCoul was terminated over faculty objection for curriculum decisions she made in a literature class.
McCoul was terminated over faculty objection for curriculum decisions she made in a literature class.
Even the individual liberty crowd understands public health. It's a shame our HHS Secretary and other high-level officials do not.
February 5, 2026 at 1:40 PM
Even the individual liberty crowd understands public health. It's a shame our HHS Secretary and other high-level officials do not.
Got a nice mention in this article in The Insider talking about how the press pool stood up for FOX when Obama tried to yank their credentials — unlike when Trump targeted AP.
Solidarity matters.
Solidarity matters.
“Quiet, piggy!”: How Trump is bringing the American press to heel
On Jan. 14, the FBI conducted a search at the home of Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson, who had been covering the most sensitive initiatives of Donald Trump’s second administration. The formal...
theins.ru
February 5, 2026 at 12:14 AM
Got a nice mention in this article in The Insider talking about how the press pool stood up for FOX when Obama tried to yank their credentials — unlike when Trump targeted AP.
Solidarity matters.
Solidarity matters.
Imagine sending an email complaint to the government and then finding out the government has searched your Gmail account and sent law enforcement to your home.
Apparently DC forgot the First Amendment includes the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Apparently DC forgot the First Amendment includes the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Homeland Security is targeting Americans with this secretive legal weapon
Under Trump, the Department of Homeland Security has weaponized administrative subpoenas to attack free speech, according to privacy and civil rights groups.
www.washingtonpost.com
February 4, 2026 at 12:45 PM
Imagine sending an email complaint to the government and then finding out the government has searched your Gmail account and sent law enforcement to your home.
Apparently DC forgot the First Amendment includes the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Apparently DC forgot the First Amendment includes the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
The chilling effect is real.
The message is clear: If we can arrest Don Lemon, we can arrest all the other independent, local journalists and citizen advocates who are trying to check government power.
Journalism is not a crime.
The message is clear: If we can arrest Don Lemon, we can arrest all the other independent, local journalists and citizen advocates who are trying to check government power.
Journalism is not a crime.
Lemon arrested last week and charged with federal civil rights crimes in a move that triggered criticism from free speech advocates, legal experts and Democratic leaders.
Don Lemon Addresses DOJ Arrest On Kimmel: ‘They Want To Intimidate…Instill Fear’
Lemon arrested last week and charged with federal civil rights crimes in a move that triggered criticism from free speech advocates, legal experts and Democratic leaders.
www.forbes.com
February 4, 2026 at 12:33 PM
The chilling effect is real.
The message is clear: If we can arrest Don Lemon, we can arrest all the other independent, local journalists and citizen advocates who are trying to check government power.
Journalism is not a crime.
The message is clear: If we can arrest Don Lemon, we can arrest all the other independent, local journalists and citizen advocates who are trying to check government power.
Journalism is not a crime.
Reposted by Amy Kristin Sanders
John Roberts is out here making Supreme Court clerks and employees sign nondisclosure agreements
Roberts surely knows this raises the question 'WTF is behind the NDA?'
To do so anyway suggests he decided even public speculation is preferable to public knowledge
ballsandstrikes.org/ethics-accou...
Roberts surely knows this raises the question 'WTF is behind the NDA?'
To do so anyway suggests he decided even public speculation is preferable to public knowledge
ballsandstrikes.org/ethics-accou...
John Roberts Does Not Want You Finding Out How the Supreme Court Actually Works
The six-justice conservative supermajority is taking aggressive steps to ensure that the public remains in the dark about how the Supreme Court functions.
ballsandstrikes.org
February 3, 2026 at 10:55 PM
John Roberts is out here making Supreme Court clerks and employees sign nondisclosure agreements
Roberts surely knows this raises the question 'WTF is behind the NDA?'
To do so anyway suggests he decided even public speculation is preferable to public knowledge
ballsandstrikes.org/ethics-accou...
Roberts surely knows this raises the question 'WTF is behind the NDA?'
To do so anyway suggests he decided even public speculation is preferable to public knowledge
ballsandstrikes.org/ethics-accou...
Important info from @cato.org about how immigrants contribute to our country:
"The US immigrant population generated more in taxes than they received in benefits from all levels of government every year from 1994 to 2023."
Facts matter.
"The US immigrant population generated more in taxes than they received in benefits from all levels of government every year from 1994 to 2023."
Facts matter.
February 3, 2026 at 10:53 PM
Important info from @cato.org about how immigrants contribute to our country:
"The US immigrant population generated more in taxes than they received in benefits from all levels of government every year from 1994 to 2023."
Facts matter.
"The US immigrant population generated more in taxes than they received in benefits from all levels of government every year from 1994 to 2023."
Facts matter.
Facts matter.
New @cato.org report rebuts conservative claims that immigrants are a drain on government programs:
"Immigrants are less likely to enter the welfare system, less likely to remain on welfare for long periods, and less likely to age into the most expensive entitlement programs."
New @cato.org report rebuts conservative claims that immigrants are a drain on government programs:
"Immigrants are less likely to enter the welfare system, less likely to remain on welfare for long periods, and less likely to age into the most expensive entitlement programs."
Immigrant and Native Consumption of Means-Tested Welfare and Entitlement Benefits in 2023
Immigrants are less likely to enter the welfare system, less likely to remain on welfare for long periods, and less likely to age into the most expensive entitlement programs.
www.cato.org
February 1, 2026 at 3:25 PM
Facts matter.
New @cato.org report rebuts conservative claims that immigrants are a drain on government programs:
"Immigrants are less likely to enter the welfare system, less likely to remain on welfare for long periods, and less likely to age into the most expensive entitlement programs."
New @cato.org report rebuts conservative claims that immigrants are a drain on government programs:
"Immigrants are less likely to enter the welfare system, less likely to remain on welfare for long periods, and less likely to age into the most expensive entitlement programs."
Amid all the chaos that is the world today, I somehow missed this...
If this isn't enough to finally unite Jews, Muslims and everyone else who isn't a radical Christian against the Trump Administration, nothing will.
If this isn't enough to finally unite Jews, Muslims and everyone else who isn't a radical Christian against the Trump Administration, nothing will.
Why the Trump administration’s demand for a list of Jews at Penn is so dangerous | Sigal Ben-Porath, Serena Mayeri and Amanda Shanor
If history teaches us anything, it is that making lists of Jews, no matter the ostensible purpose, is often a prelude to their and others’ persecution
www.theguardian.com
January 31, 2026 at 9:40 PM
Amid all the chaos that is the world today, I somehow missed this...
If this isn't enough to finally unite Jews, Muslims and everyone else who isn't a radical Christian against the Trump Administration, nothing will.
If this isn't enough to finally unite Jews, Muslims and everyone else who isn't a radical Christian against the Trump Administration, nothing will.