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
Career Goal Achieved: When your name is actually listed in the @merriam-webster.com dictionary entry for freedom of the press!
H/T: @josh.splc.org for making my month by sharing!
H/T: @josh.splc.org for making my month by sharing!
Journalism is not a crime.
Clearly court orders prohibiting police from targeting journalists aren't enough to deter their action. Journalists keep getting hurt.
It's likely to take 1983 suits and judges with the courage to say that this conduct violates clearly established constitutional rights.
Clearly court orders prohibiting police from targeting journalists aren't enough to deter their action. Journalists keep getting hurt.
It's likely to take 1983 suits and judges with the courage to say that this conduct violates clearly established constitutional rights.
"An MPR News journalist was among those hit by less-lethal munitions and taken from the scene by ambulance."
Another federal agent operation in St. Paul draws large crowds of protesters
Gov. Tim Walz said state officials were monitoring a “chaotic” situation “and working to understand what unfolded. We received no heads up from federal authorities on this operation.”
www.mprnews.org
November 25, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Journalism is not a crime.
Clearly court orders prohibiting police from targeting journalists aren't enough to deter their action. Journalists keep getting hurt.
It's likely to take 1983 suits and judges with the courage to say that this conduct violates clearly established constitutional rights.
Clearly court orders prohibiting police from targeting journalists aren't enough to deter their action. Journalists keep getting hurt.
It's likely to take 1983 suits and judges with the courage to say that this conduct violates clearly established constitutional rights.
Goods news out of the Florida state courts yesterday...
In March 2023, The Guardian reported on a federal criminal investigation related to [Truth Social's] receipt of two payments totaling $8 million."
Florida Anti-SLAPP to the rescue.
In March 2023, The Guardian reported on a federal criminal investigation related to [Truth Social's] receipt of two payments totaling $8 million."
Florida Anti-SLAPP to the rescue.
Judge Throws Out Truth Social’s Defamation Lawsuit Against The Guardian
A Florida judge granted motions to dismiss to The Guardian and other defendants in a defamation lawsuit filed by Truth Social's parent company, Truth Media & Technology Group Corp., the latest example...
www.yahoo.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Goods news out of the Florida state courts yesterday...
In March 2023, The Guardian reported on a federal criminal investigation related to [Truth Social's] receipt of two payments totaling $8 million."
Florida Anti-SLAPP to the rescue.
In March 2023, The Guardian reported on a federal criminal investigation related to [Truth Social's] receipt of two payments totaling $8 million."
Florida Anti-SLAPP to the rescue.
Oh, my sweet child. You have never lived. Mac & Cheese is a Thanksgiving staple in my house. I am horrified that you have been shortchanged your entire life.
I have yet to dine with any family that has mac and cheese as a Thanksgiving side dish.
November 25, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Oh, my sweet child. You have never lived. Mac & Cheese is a Thanksgiving staple in my house. I am horrified that you have been shortchanged your entire life.
"This new bylaw update really just seems to be an extension of that allergy to transparency that they’re known for.”
I don't always have kind words for my employer, especially when Penn State continues to intentionally keep residents of the Commonwealth in the dark about it operations.
I don't always have kind words for my employer, especially when Penn State continues to intentionally keep residents of the Commonwealth in the dark about it operations.
Do Penn State’s bylaws restrict trustees’ freedom of speech? What experts said
“Everyone in this country — including trustees — have a right to express their viewpoints to their family, neighbors, reporters, and the press. Muzzles are for dogs, not people,” one First Amendment e...
www.centredaily.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:51 PM
"This new bylaw update really just seems to be an extension of that allergy to transparency that they’re known for.”
I don't always have kind words for my employer, especially when Penn State continues to intentionally keep residents of the Commonwealth in the dark about it operations.
I don't always have kind words for my employer, especially when Penn State continues to intentionally keep residents of the Commonwealth in the dark about it operations.
Investigative journalism matters, and @spotlightpa.org is one of the best.
"The reviews found a series of problems with Hohl’s care of at least 10 patients. ... Several of Hohl’s patients received extra doses of chemotherapy by accident."
"The reviews found a series of problems with Hohl’s care of at least 10 patients. ... Several of Hohl’s patients received extra doses of chemotherapy by accident."
Penn State cancer chief resigns 1 day after Spotlight PA investigation
Penn State’s internal reviews found alarming lapses in Cancer Institute Director Raymond Hohl’s care of patients.
www.spotlightpa.org
November 24, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Investigative journalism matters, and @spotlightpa.org is one of the best.
"The reviews found a series of problems with Hohl’s care of at least 10 patients. ... Several of Hohl’s patients received extra doses of chemotherapy by accident."
"The reviews found a series of problems with Hohl’s care of at least 10 patients. ... Several of Hohl’s patients received extra doses of chemotherapy by accident."
Reposted by Amy Kristin Sanders
JUST IN: Judge rejects cross-motions for summary judgment in Stanford Daily suit over 1st Amendment impact of Trump policies on deporting students/academics. Noel Wise (Biden/CAND) sees standing issues & facts in dispute. Doc: www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
StanfordDailyOrd112025
www.documentcloud.org
November 20, 2025 at 5:26 AM
JUST IN: Judge rejects cross-motions for summary judgment in Stanford Daily suit over 1st Amendment impact of Trump policies on deporting students/academics. Noel Wise (Biden/CAND) sees standing issues & facts in dispute. Doc: www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
Copy editors shouldn't be considered optional in journalism.
I got my start editing copy as a Dow Jones Newspaper Fund editing intern at the Rochester (Minn.) Post-Bulletin. My first full-time role was on the copy desk at the then-New York Times' owned Gainesville (Fla.) Sun.
I got my start editing copy as a Dow Jones Newspaper Fund editing intern at the Rochester (Minn.) Post-Bulletin. My first full-time role was on the copy desk at the then-New York Times' owned Gainesville (Fla.) Sun.
Stop laying off copy editors and then complaining about errors and lack of reader trust challenge
November 20, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Copy editors shouldn't be considered optional in journalism.
I got my start editing copy as a Dow Jones Newspaper Fund editing intern at the Rochester (Minn.) Post-Bulletin. My first full-time role was on the copy desk at the then-New York Times' owned Gainesville (Fla.) Sun.
I got my start editing copy as a Dow Jones Newspaper Fund editing intern at the Rochester (Minn.) Post-Bulletin. My first full-time role was on the copy desk at the then-New York Times' owned Gainesville (Fla.) Sun.
Oh, Brendan Carr... Please find something better to do with your time.
Might I propose helping rural Americans get access to affordable broadband...
Or realizing that funding public media is essential to acting in the public interest?
Might I propose helping rural Americans get access to affordable broadband...
Or realizing that funding public media is essential to acting in the public interest?
FCC probes BBC edit of Trump’s January 6 speech on.ft.com/4o4cG72
FCC probes BBC edit of Trump’s January 6 speech
Regulator asks UK broadcaster if misleading ‘Panorama’ clip was aired in US
on.ft.com
November 20, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Oh, Brendan Carr... Please find something better to do with your time.
Might I propose helping rural Americans get access to affordable broadband...
Or realizing that funding public media is essential to acting in the public interest?
Might I propose helping rural Americans get access to affordable broadband...
Or realizing that funding public media is essential to acting in the public interest?
It seems the Eighth Circuit (my birth circuit) is taking lessons from the Fifth Circuit (my former stomping grounds) in absurdity when it comes to Qualified Immunity...
If you've been anywhere near these pepper balls, you know they stop you in your tracks.
If you've been anywhere near these pepper balls, you know they stop you in your tracks.
It's not clearly established that shooting pepper balls at protester,—hitting him in the eye and making him fall to the ground—was a 4A "seizure," 8th Cir holds, where the officer seems to have had an intent to have the person disperse, not submit.
ecf.ca8.uscourts.gov/opndir/25/11...
ecf.ca8.uscourts.gov/opndir/25/11...
November 20, 2025 at 12:01 PM
It seems the Eighth Circuit (my birth circuit) is taking lessons from the Fifth Circuit (my former stomping grounds) in absurdity when it comes to Qualified Immunity...
If you've been anywhere near these pepper balls, you know they stop you in your tracks.
If you've been anywhere near these pepper balls, you know they stop you in your tracks.
Quoted in this D Magazine article about the curriculum policing taking place at state universities in Texas.
The UT System Audit of Gender Study Courses Is About Control, Not Compliance
“If you're just keeping quiet, you're kind of on their side."
www.dmagazine.com
November 18, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Quoted in this D Magazine article about the curriculum policing taking place at state universities in Texas.
College administrators really need to find their spines these days...
"They had spotted pamphlets on a table which an attendee had apparently brought to HOPE that espoused that view. Instead of bringing this to our attention, they went to the president's office."
"They had spotted pamphlets on a table which an attendee had apparently brought to HOPE that espoused that view. Instead of bringing this to our attention, they went to the president's office."
The long running HOPE hacking conference just got banned from its current venue because someone told the university the conference had an “anti-police agenda.” Based it seems on a single pamphlet?
www.404media.co/hope-hacking...
www.404media.co/hope-hacking...
HOPE Hacking Conference Banned From University Venue Over Apparent ‘Anti-Police Agenda’
"The lack of due process on its own is extremely disturbing," the conference said.
www.404media.co
November 18, 2025 at 7:41 PM
College administrators really need to find their spines these days...
"They had spotted pamphlets on a table which an attendee had apparently brought to HOPE that espoused that view. Instead of bringing this to our attention, they went to the president's office."
"They had spotted pamphlets on a table which an attendee had apparently brought to HOPE that espoused that view. Instead of bringing this to our attention, they went to the president's office."
College journalists FTW, y'all.
"The Beacon obtained 3,027 pages of documents Nov. 18 in response to a public records request."
Great reporting by journalists at the (other) UT holding their administration accountable. This is how you do it.
"The Beacon obtained 3,027 pages of documents Nov. 18 in response to a public records request."
Great reporting by journalists at the (other) UT holding their administration accountable. This is how you do it.
Public records reveal behind-the-scenes details of Shirinian termination
UT System President Randy Boyd referred to the days after Tamar Shirinian’s controversial termination as “a firestorm” in records recently acquired by The Daily Beacon.
www.utdailybeacon.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:16 PM
College journalists FTW, y'all.
"The Beacon obtained 3,027 pages of documents Nov. 18 in response to a public records request."
Great reporting by journalists at the (other) UT holding their administration accountable. This is how you do it.
"The Beacon obtained 3,027 pages of documents Nov. 18 in response to a public records request."
Great reporting by journalists at the (other) UT holding their administration accountable. This is how you do it.
All together now: This is why we stand up and litigate frivolous and vexatious lawsuits rather than settling.
Let's hope @cbsnews.com and ABC are taking notes.
Let's hope @cbsnews.com and ABC are taking notes.
JUST IN: A federal appeals court panel (with 2/3 Trump appointees) calls his lawsuit against CNN — over use of the term Big Lie — "meritless" and affirms the decision by a lower court to throw it out. s3.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
November 18, 2025 at 3:42 PM
All together now: This is why we stand up and litigate frivolous and vexatious lawsuits rather than settling.
Let's hope @cbsnews.com and ABC are taking notes.
Let's hope @cbsnews.com and ABC are taking notes.
The amount of damages increased to $5B as a means of creating new headlines about an old story so he can pull eyes away from the Epstein headlines...
President Trump is a master manipulator of the media.
President Trump is a master manipulator of the media.
President Donald Trump said Friday that he plans to sue the BBC next week for as much as $5 billion over its edits of a speech he gave even after the broadcaster issued an apology
Trump Says He Plans to Sue BBC Next Week for Billions in Damages
President Donald Trump said Friday that he plans to sue the British Broadcasting Corp. next week for as much as $5 billion over its edits of a speech he gave even after the broadcaster issued an apology.
bloom.bg
November 15, 2025 at 12:51 PM
The amount of damages increased to $5B as a means of creating new headlines about an old story so he can pull eyes away from the Epstein headlines...
President Trump is a master manipulator of the media.
President Trump is a master manipulator of the media.
Because Chairman Carr wants to use the "news distortion" policy to become the Censorship Czar...
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr says he won't end the FCC's news distortion policy despite a petition from a bipartisan group of former FCC chairs and commissioners (Jon Brodkin/Ars Technica)
Main Link | Mediagazer Permalink
Main Link | Mediagazer Permalink
November 14, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Because Chairman Carr wants to use the "news distortion" policy to become the Censorship Czar...
Pennsylvania man giving Florida man a run for his money...
A man in Pennsylvania had been cleaning a shotgun and placed it on the bed. Officers were informed that “a dog had jumped up onto the bed, causing the shotgun to go off, which openly struck the male.”
Dog Accidentally Shoots and Injures a Pennsylvania Man, Police Say
The man had been cleaning a shotgun and placed it on the bed shortly before it was fired. He received treatment at an area hospital.
nyti.ms
November 14, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Pennsylvania man giving Florida man a run for his money...
Reposted by Amy Kristin Sanders
Notably, Trump publicly announced these nominees before the Senate Judiciary Committee received filled out questionnaires from the three judicial picks, a change from a recent White House practice that had come under criticism.
New: President Trump has named three new district court judge nominees, including a former law clerk to conservative U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and a lawyer pursuing litigation over the participation of transgender athletes in women's college sports. www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
www.reuters.com
November 14, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Notably, Trump publicly announced these nominees before the Senate Judiciary Committee received filled out questionnaires from the three judicial picks, a change from a recent White House practice that had come under criticism.
It's quite something to see someone bragging about how they're actively undermining the reputation of the very institution of higher education from which they earned their degree...
Pretty amazing to see someone take credit for the stifling of the university as an educator.
abovethelaw.com/2025/10/teac...
abovethelaw.com/2025/10/teac...
November 14, 2025 at 6:55 PM
It's quite something to see someone bragging about how they're actively undermining the reputation of the very institution of higher education from which they earned their degree...
Professors in the South better buckle up...
This won't stop at Texas A&M unless the courts make them stop, and sadly I'm pretty sure the Fifth Circuit will love this policy.
RIP, academic freedom.
This won't stop at Texas A&M unless the courts make them stop, and sadly I'm pretty sure the Fifth Circuit will love this policy.
RIP, academic freedom.
New Texas A&M policy requires professors to get approval for some race and gender topics
Texas A&M University System regents on Thursday required professors to receive approval from the school president to discuss some race and gender topics, tightening rules months after a viral video of...
www.pbs.org
November 14, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Professors in the South better buckle up...
This won't stop at Texas A&M unless the courts make them stop, and sadly I'm pretty sure the Fifth Circuit will love this policy.
RIP, academic freedom.
This won't stop at Texas A&M unless the courts make them stop, and sadly I'm pretty sure the Fifth Circuit will love this policy.
RIP, academic freedom.
Have I mentioned I have the best job?
Starting off my day talking to high school journalists here in Nashville at the JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention.
First of four sessions on law, ethics and technology that I'm leading over the next few days!
Starting off my day talking to high school journalists here in Nashville at the JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention.
First of four sessions on law, ethics and technology that I'm leading over the next few days!
November 14, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Have I mentioned I have the best job?
Starting off my day talking to high school journalists here in Nashville at the JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention.
First of four sessions on law, ethics and technology that I'm leading over the next few days!
Starting off my day talking to high school journalists here in Nashville at the JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention.
First of four sessions on law, ethics and technology that I'm leading over the next few days!
Up Next in the Land of Censorship: Texas A&M Regents will vote today on whether to further stifle free expression on campus.
Kindly note the photo of the SOLE woman on the Board of Regents. Nine seats. One woman. Do better, Greg Abbott.
Kindly note the photo of the SOLE woman on the Board of Regents. Nine seats. One woman. Do better, Greg Abbott.
Texas A&M regents to vote on new campus expression policy Thursday
The Texas A&M Board of Regents will vote Thursday on a new policy governing expressive activity on campus, responding to Senate Bill 2972 that revised protections of expression on Texas campuses.
www.kbtx.com
November 13, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Up Next in the Land of Censorship: Texas A&M Regents will vote today on whether to further stifle free expression on campus.
Kindly note the photo of the SOLE woman on the Board of Regents. Nine seats. One woman. Do better, Greg Abbott.
Kindly note the photo of the SOLE woman on the Board of Regents. Nine seats. One woman. Do better, Greg Abbott.
Reposted by Amy Kristin Sanders
The correspondence between a NYT reporter & Epstein is extraordinary. But the NYT also has questions to answer: it fired him for soliciting a donation from Epstein. Did it not conduct any sort of investigation? Or did it just decide to not make public?
November 13, 2025 at 10:02 AM
The correspondence between a NYT reporter & Epstein is extraordinary. But the NYT also has questions to answer: it fired him for soliciting a donation from Epstein. Did it not conduct any sort of investigation? Or did it just decide to not make public?
Reposted by Amy Kristin Sanders
Sensitive, confidential & interesting docs are sitting out in the open on the internet. Do you know how to find them?
My new @indicator.media Guide dives into Google dorks & tools that can uncover publicly available docs on websites and in unsecured buckets:
indicator.media/p/guide-to-h... #osint
My new @indicator.media Guide dives into Google dorks & tools that can uncover publicly available docs on websites and in unsecured buckets:
indicator.media/p/guide-to-h... #osint
The Indicator Guide to hunting for documents and files in open buckets, servers, and directories
How to find interesting and potentially confidential documents sitting on a publicly-accessible server or website
indicator.media
November 12, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Sensitive, confidential & interesting docs are sitting out in the open on the internet. Do you know how to find them?
My new @indicator.media Guide dives into Google dorks & tools that can uncover publicly available docs on websites and in unsecured buckets:
indicator.media/p/guide-to-h... #osint
My new @indicator.media Guide dives into Google dorks & tools that can uncover publicly available docs on websites and in unsecured buckets:
indicator.media/p/guide-to-h... #osint
This "defrauded" language is an intentional rhetorical choice that is extremely dangerous to free speech.
It's designed to bolster legal arguments that employ consumer fraud laws to try to regulate speech — this is the theory in his lawsuit against the Des Moines Register and Ann Selzer.
It's designed to bolster legal arguments that employ consumer fraud laws to try to regulate speech — this is the theory in his lawsuit against the Des Moines Register and Ann Selzer.
Trump says he has an ‘obligation’ to sue BBC over edited speech on.ft.com/4qP2FNz
Trump says he has an ‘obligation’ to sue BBC over edited speech
US president says he intends to pursue legal action because UK broadcaster ‘defrauded the public’
on.ft.com
November 12, 2025 at 11:46 AM
This "defrauded" language is an intentional rhetorical choice that is extremely dangerous to free speech.
It's designed to bolster legal arguments that employ consumer fraud laws to try to regulate speech — this is the theory in his lawsuit against the Des Moines Register and Ann Selzer.
It's designed to bolster legal arguments that employ consumer fraud laws to try to regulate speech — this is the theory in his lawsuit against the Des Moines Register and Ann Selzer.
Reposted by Amy Kristin Sanders
The Department of Justice announced it is investigating protests that broke out at the University of California, Berkeley, this week during an event held by Turning Point USA.
https://cnn.it/4oBCgl3
https://cnn.it/4oBCgl3
Justice Department investigating UC Berkeley protests during Turning Point USA event | CNN
The Department of Justice announced Tuesday it is investigating protests that broke out at the University of California, Berkeley, this week during an event held by Turning Point USA, the group founde...
cnn.it
November 12, 2025 at 10:15 AM
The Department of Justice announced it is investigating protests that broke out at the University of California, Berkeley, this week during an event held by Turning Point USA.
https://cnn.it/4oBCgl3
https://cnn.it/4oBCgl3