Jameel Jaffer
@jameeljaffer.bsky.social
Director, Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University; Exec Editor, Just Security; former ACLU. knightcolumbia.org.
What a terrifying time that must have been. At least we learned our lesson from it.
November 25, 2025 at 7:48 PM
What a terrifying time that must have been. At least we learned our lesson from it.
This DC Circuit argument in the AP case isn't promising. Judge Wilkins is sympathetic to AP but for the wrong reasons. Meanwhile, Judge Rao wants to expand the "rule" barring injunctions against the president into a rule barring injunctions against anyone whom the president might ask to do things.
Tomorrow morning, the DC Circuit will consider whether Trump violated the First Amendment by ejecting @apnews.com from the White House press pool after it refused to call the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America. Very glad that the AP is fighting this. knightcolumbia.org/blog/the-fig...
November 24, 2025 at 3:26 PM
This DC Circuit argument in the AP case isn't promising. Judge Wilkins is sympathetic to AP but for the wrong reasons. Meanwhile, Judge Rao wants to expand the "rule" barring injunctions against the president into a rule barring injunctions against anyone whom the president might ask to do things.
DC Circuit argument starting now: www.youtube.com/watch?v=svW7...
Tomorrow morning, the DC Circuit will consider whether Trump violated the First Amendment by ejecting @apnews.com from the White House press pool after it refused to call the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America. Very glad that the AP is fighting this. knightcolumbia.org/blog/the-fig...
November 24, 2025 at 3:00 PM
DC Circuit argument starting now: www.youtube.com/watch?v=svW7...
Reposted by Jameel Jaffer
Tomorrow morning, the DC Circuit will consider whether Trump violated the First Amendment by ejecting @apnews.com from the White House press pool after it refused to call the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America. Very glad that the AP is fighting this. knightcolumbia.org/blog/the-fig...
November 23, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Tomorrow morning, the DC Circuit will consider whether Trump violated the First Amendment by ejecting @apnews.com from the White House press pool after it refused to call the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America. Very glad that the AP is fighting this. knightcolumbia.org/blog/the-fig...
Tomorrow morning, the DC Circuit will consider whether Trump violated the First Amendment by ejecting @apnews.com from the White House press pool after it refused to call the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America. Very glad that the AP is fighting this. knightcolumbia.org/blog/the-fig...
November 23, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Tomorrow morning, the DC Circuit will consider whether Trump violated the First Amendment by ejecting @apnews.com from the White House press pool after it refused to call the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America. Very glad that the AP is fighting this. knightcolumbia.org/blog/the-fig...
This is a very good essay from the @ACLU’s Brett Kaufman making the case that Trump’s boat strikes should be viewed as the logical end point of legal arguments normalized by OLC lawyers during the war on terror. Highly recommend. www.justsecurity.org/124776/secre...
November 21, 2025 at 5:00 PM
This is a very good essay from the @ACLU’s Brett Kaufman making the case that Trump’s boat strikes should be viewed as the logical end point of legal arguments normalized by OLC lawyers during the war on terror. Highly recommend. www.justsecurity.org/124776/secre...
The Fourth Circuit has denied the government’s petition for rehearing en banc in @knightcolumbia.org’s lawsuit challenging overbroad restrictions on immigration judges’ speech rights. /1 knightcolumbia.org/documents/sn...
November 21, 2025 at 4:15 PM
The Fourth Circuit has denied the government’s petition for rehearing en banc in @knightcolumbia.org’s lawsuit challenging overbroad restrictions on immigration judges’ speech rights. /1 knightcolumbia.org/documents/sn...
Reposted by Jameel Jaffer
“Lawyering Without Law” — @knightcolumbia.org call for proposals. knightcolumbia.org/blog/call-fo...
November 12, 2025 at 1:19 PM
“Lawyering Without Law” — @knightcolumbia.org call for proposals. knightcolumbia.org/blog/call-fo...
Perhaps there's a version of the news distortion doctrine that's consistent with the First Amendment, but the version of it that Carr is wielding here is not going to survive constitutional scrutiny.
Trump's censor in chief at the FCC, Brendan Carr, just sent a letter to the heads of BBC, NPR and PBS informing them he's launching a "news distortion" probe into the BBC's editing of a documentary on Trump's Jan. 6 activities.
Here it is:
Here it is:
November 19, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Perhaps there's a version of the news distortion doctrine that's consistent with the First Amendment, but the version of it that Carr is wielding here is not going to survive constitutional scrutiny.
Reposted by Jameel Jaffer
God this is so utterly despicable. Trump is “he was no angel”- ing a journalist who was murdered and dismembered with a bone saw by agents of an authoritarian regime.
Trump suggests Khashoggi had it coming: "You're mentioning someone that was extremely controversial. A lot of people didn't like that gentleman that you're talking about. Whether you like him or didn't like him, things happen. But he knew nothing about it. You don't have to embarrass our guest."
November 19, 2025 at 1:24 AM
God this is so utterly despicable. Trump is “he was no angel”- ing a journalist who was murdered and dismembered with a bone saw by agents of an authoritarian regime.
Thank you to this ABC journalist for doing her job. Trump's response is absolutely grotesque.
Reporter: Is it appropriate for your family to do business with Saudi Arabia while you’re president? The us intelligence concluded you orchestrated the murder of a journalist…
Trump: Who are you with?
Reporter: ABC News
Trump: Who are you with?
Reporter: ABC News
November 18, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Thank you to this ABC journalist for doing her job. Trump's response is absolutely grotesque.
Prediction: CAIR will sue; they will be supported by free speech groups across the political spectrum; they will win; Texans will pay their legal fees; Abbott will be remembered as a free-speech charlatan and a bigot. gov.texas.gov/news/post/go...
Governor Abbott Designates Muslim Brotherhood, CAIR As Foreign Terrorist Organizations
gov.texas.gov
November 18, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Prediction: CAIR will sue; they will be supported by free speech groups across the political spectrum; they will win; Texans will pay their legal fees; Abbott will be remembered as a free-speech charlatan and a bigot. gov.texas.gov/news/post/go...
Eleventh Circuit throws out Trump's suit against CNN in a per curiam unpublished ruling. Meaning Trump's arguments were totally meritless, not even worthy of a published opinion. s3.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
November 18, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Eleventh Circuit throws out Trump's suit against CNN in a per curiam unpublished ruling. Meaning Trump's arguments were totally meritless, not even worthy of a published opinion. s3.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
"The United States is giving up its position as a magnet for the best and brightest" -- letter from 58 former ambassadors and high-ranking State Department officials decrying the Trump admin's targeting of foreign students and scholars. drive.google.com/file/d/1GIq2...
November 17, 2025 at 4:56 PM
"The United States is giving up its position as a magnet for the best and brightest" -- letter from 58 former ambassadors and high-ranking State Department officials decrying the Trump admin's targeting of foreign students and scholars. drive.google.com/file/d/1GIq2...
Reposted by Jameel Jaffer
professionalization is a load bearing component of liberal democracy ... many people are saying knightcolumbia.org/content/the-...
It is a strange time indeed, where I feel I have to stand up for the professions. I’m quite sympathetic to critiques of them, and that’s where most of my previous energy on the topic was spent. But their role is absolutely crucial www.liberalcurrents.com/the-war-on-p...
November 17, 2025 at 4:02 PM
professionalization is a load bearing component of liberal democracy ... many people are saying knightcolumbia.org/content/the-...
The intro to Judge Rita Lin's 76-page opinion holding that the Trump admin's pressure campaign against the University of California system is coercive and retaliatory in violation of the First Amendment. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
November 15, 2025 at 1:12 AM
The intro to Judge Rita Lin's 76-page opinion holding that the Trump admin's pressure campaign against the University of California system is coercive and retaliatory in violation of the First Amendment. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Congrats and thanks to @aaup.org —this is a big victory that will help protect universities across the country.
BREAKING: In AAUP et al v. Trump (wall-to-wall union lawsuit challenging the administration’s unlawful use of TItle VI to reshape the University of California system), the faculty and staff of the UC system WON!!!
We were granted our preliminary injunction! @aaup.org
We were granted our preliminary injunction! @aaup.org
November 15, 2025 at 12:42 AM
Congrats and thanks to @aaup.org —this is a big victory that will help protect universities across the country.
MAGA’s ongoing war on academic freedom, reflected in headlines from the last 24 hours.
November 14, 2025 at 1:17 PM
MAGA’s ongoing war on academic freedom, reflected in headlines from the last 24 hours.
Reposted by Jameel Jaffer
📍NEXT THURSDAY 11/20 at 6pm ET: Join a film screening and conversation with @ramyakrishnan.bsky.social, @azmatzahra.bsky.social & Nadia Abu El-Haj. Co-sponsored by @knightcolumbia.org & @columbiajournalism.bsky.social. Open to CUID holders only. Register here: knightcolumbia.org/events/the-e...
November 13, 2025 at 8:42 PM
📍NEXT THURSDAY 11/20 at 6pm ET: Join a film screening and conversation with @ramyakrishnan.bsky.social, @azmatzahra.bsky.social & Nadia Abu El-Haj. Co-sponsored by @knightcolumbia.org & @columbiajournalism.bsky.social. Open to CUID holders only. Register here: knightcolumbia.org/events/the-e...
Reposted by Jameel Jaffer
Monday 12:30 ET: The chilling effects of the Trump administration's policies (and jawboning) are widespread - how are they being challenged in court, and what is the state of 1A doctrine on chilling effects? An expert panel will discuss, including current cases AAUP v. Rubio and UAW v. State Dept:
Want to learn more about chilling effects and why they matter to the First Amendment? Join our webinar with litigators and experts on Monday, Nov. 17, including @carriedecell.bsky.social @evelyndouek.bsky.social @penney.bsky.social @stacylivingston.bsky.social:
knightcolumbia.org/events/litig...
knightcolumbia.org/events/litig...
Litigating Chilling Effects
knightcolumbia.org
November 13, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Monday 12:30 ET: The chilling effects of the Trump administration's policies (and jawboning) are widespread - how are they being challenged in court, and what is the state of 1A doctrine on chilling effects? An expert panel will discuss, including current cases AAUP v. Rubio and UAW v. State Dept:
Reposted by Jameel Jaffer
WATCH: @raskin.house.gov explains the deal that would allow eight GOP senators lucrative lawsuits over phone record subpoenas:
"It's certainly the most corrupt provision authorizing financial self-dealing and plunder of the public passed by Congress in this century."
"It's certainly the most corrupt provision authorizing financial self-dealing and plunder of the public passed by Congress in this century."
November 13, 2025 at 4:32 AM
WATCH: @raskin.house.gov explains the deal that would allow eight GOP senators lucrative lawsuits over phone record subpoenas:
"It's certainly the most corrupt provision authorizing financial self-dealing and plunder of the public passed by Congress in this century."
"It's certainly the most corrupt provision authorizing financial self-dealing and plunder of the public passed by Congress in this century."
The whole world can see that these boat strikes are murder. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
US strikes against boats in Caribbean ‘disregard international law’, French minister says
G7 foreign ministers questioned Marco Rubio about the attacks on what the Trump administration claims are drug smugglers
www.theguardian.com
November 12, 2025 at 7:32 PM
The whole world can see that these boat strikes are murder. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
“Lawyering Without Law” — @knightcolumbia.org call for proposals. knightcolumbia.org/blog/call-fo...
November 12, 2025 at 1:19 PM
“Lawyering Without Law” — @knightcolumbia.org call for proposals. knightcolumbia.org/blog/call-fo...
Not satisfied with having humiliated and weakened ABC and CBS, Trump turns his attention to the BBC. It goes without saying that Secretary of State Marco Rubio, self-styled champion of democracy, will raise no objection at all to this assault on press freedom. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/11/w...
A Trump Lawsuit Against the BBC Would Face Serious Hurdles
www.nytimes.com
November 12, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Not satisfied with having humiliated and weakened ABC and CBS, Trump turns his attention to the BBC. It goes without saying that Secretary of State Marco Rubio, self-styled champion of democracy, will raise no objection at all to this assault on press freedom. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/11/w...
Reposted by Jameel Jaffer
For more on how Kirk’s murder led to Trump’s team claiming to see Antifa everywhere — and what might come next — check out my new @lawfaremedia.org piece:
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/what...
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/what...
Labor Secretary Lori Chavez DeRemer: "It has been less than 2 months since Charlie Kirk was murdered, and the radical left is at it again. Antifa groups are terrorizing some of our cities ... I am so grateful that he has deployed the National Guard. The American people deserve law and order."
November 11, 2025 at 7:18 PM
For more on how Kirk’s murder led to Trump’s team claiming to see Antifa everywhere — and what might come next — check out my new @lawfaremedia.org piece:
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/what...
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/what...