Matthew Kugler
@mbkugler.bsky.social
Law professor, Northwestern University. Doing privacy and intellectual property. Views are my own.
https://www.law.northwestern.edu/faculty/profiles/matthewkugler/
Free privacy casebook
https://www.privacycasebook.com/
https://www.law.northwestern.edu/faculty/profiles/matthewkugler/
Free privacy casebook
https://www.privacycasebook.com/
I’m constantly amazed by the number of government officials who work every day to make the world a worse place.
The NYT definitely made a choice not to add “without evidence” to this headline.
F.D.A. Attributes 10 Children’s Deaths to Covid Vaccines
www.nytimes.com
November 29, 2025 at 3:42 PM
I’m constantly amazed by the number of government officials who work every day to make the world a worse place.
Also, does this ban circumcision? Gynecomastia surgery?
But that is not all the university has agreed to. Instead, we have also agreed to halt all "hormonal interventions" and "any other procedure intended to alter an individual's sex characteristics." That is much broader.
November 29, 2025 at 3:07 AM
Also, does this ban circumcision? Gynecomastia surgery?
This makes me mind the anti foreign students bit more. I was telling my friend yesterday that I hoped her sister in law wasn’t arrested at her green card interview next month, because we are now a country that does that sometimes.
Friday night of Thanksgiving weekend ... that's for relaying news of which you're really, really proud.
November 29, 2025 at 1:47 AM
This makes me mind the anti foreign students bit more. I was telling my friend yesterday that I hoped her sister in law wasn’t arrested at her green card interview next month, because we are now a country that does that sometimes.
Reposted by Matthew Kugler
ahem ... bsky.app/profile/heid...
BTW, any story about a possible Northwestern capitulation should include this detail (screenshot is from the oped linked below)
November 29, 2025 at 12:37 AM
ahem ... bsky.app/profile/heid...
Reposted by Matthew Kugler
You've heard of the Friday night news dump. Here's the Friday night of Thanksgiving wknd dump. For special circumstances, like when the faculty assembly votes 595-4 against paying to end a shakedown and you do it anyway. Link to agreement here: bulkmail.northwestern.edu/trk/click?re...
BREAKING: Northwestern University has agreed to pay the U.S. Treasury $75 million, over the course of three years as part of an agreement with the federal government to restore funding and end investigations into the university
Full statement from NU below:
Full statement from NU below:
November 29, 2025 at 12:34 AM
You've heard of the Friday night news dump. Here's the Friday night of Thanksgiving wknd dump. For special circumstances, like when the faculty assembly votes 595-4 against paying to end a shakedown and you do it anyway. Link to agreement here: bulkmail.northwestern.edu/trk/click?re...
Reposted by Matthew Kugler
Depressing late Friday holiday news dump: Northwestern agrees to pay $75 million to the federal government.
The faculty vote against doing this, @heidikitrosser.bsky.social points out, was 595-4.
That's the kind of margin where going the other way reflects a major failure of university governance.
The faculty vote against doing this, @heidikitrosser.bsky.social points out, was 595-4.
That's the kind of margin where going the other way reflects a major failure of university governance.
Here’s the text of the Northwestern settlement with the DoJ, which includes a $75 million financial component / payoff (cc @profmarkovic.bsky.social):
November 29, 2025 at 12:51 AM
Depressing late Friday holiday news dump: Northwestern agrees to pay $75 million to the federal government.
The faculty vote against doing this, @heidikitrosser.bsky.social points out, was 595-4.
That's the kind of margin where going the other way reflects a major failure of university governance.
The faculty vote against doing this, @heidikitrosser.bsky.social points out, was 595-4.
That's the kind of margin where going the other way reflects a major failure of university governance.
Bienen has just announced the agreement with the Trump administration to restore Northwestern's funding. He is also already misrepresenting it. For example, the FAQ he provides tries to minimize what the university has conceded regarding transgender care.
www.northwestern.edu/president/ne...
www.northwestern.edu/president/ne...
November 29, 2025 at 1:22 AM
Bienen has just announced the agreement with the Trump administration to restore Northwestern's funding. He is also already misrepresenting it. For example, the FAQ he provides tries to minimize what the university has conceded regarding transgender care.
www.northwestern.edu/president/ne...
www.northwestern.edu/president/ne...
Reposted by Matthew Kugler
Among other things, the (nebulous but clearly unconstitutional) attack on naturalized US citizens contained in this screed is a significant escalation.
Trump: “I will permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries … denaturalize migrants who undermine domestic tranquility, and deport any Foreign National who is a public charge, security risk, or non-compatible with Western Civilization.“
November 28, 2025 at 5:30 AM
Among other things, the (nebulous but clearly unconstitutional) attack on naturalized US citizens contained in this screed is a significant escalation.
Respectfully, AO3 already exists and needs neither encouragement nor machine-generated competition.
November 27, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Respectfully, AO3 already exists and needs neither encouragement nor machine-generated competition.
I have a vague memory of watching this on a date 20 years ago and thought it was excellent. I think there was also a movie about giant mechs fighting; it’s hazy.
should we do a group watch of shattered glass as therapy
November 27, 2025 at 3:30 AM
I have a vague memory of watching this on a date 20 years ago and thought it was excellent. I think there was also a movie about giant mechs fighting; it’s hazy.
Reposted by Matthew Kugler
should we do a group watch of shattered glass as therapy
November 27, 2025 at 2:16 AM
should we do a group watch of shattered glass as therapy
Thorough district court judges are treasures.
THREAD: Judge Ellis is the first federal judge to review extensive body cam video of DHS's actions in Chicago. She finds that DHS *repeatedly* misled the public and made claims that were disproven by agents' own videos.
I'll go through some of the most egregious ones here.
I'll go through some of the most egregious ones here.
November 20, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Thorough district court judges are treasures.
Reposted by Matthew Kugler
Just a reminder to law profs who teach from my Computer Crime Law casebook that the new 6th edition will be out next month, in time for use in the Spring 2026 semester.
November 18, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Just a reminder to law profs who teach from my Computer Crime Law casebook that the new 6th edition will be out next month, in time for use in the Spring 2026 semester.
Reposted by Matthew Kugler
My god. My god.
Oh fucking hell.
God.
Oh fucking hell.
God.
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 18, 2025 at 8:40 PM
My god. My god.
Oh fucking hell.
God.
Oh fucking hell.
God.
I’m this close to muting “bamboo” for the next month.
November 18, 2025 at 2:35 AM
I’m this close to muting “bamboo” for the next month.
Among the many things that strike me from this story is just how pathetic Summers appears. He has a multiyear obsession with an uninterested woman. He confides in Epstein about it like Epstein is his best friend. He is so insecure that he seeks reassurance from a convicted sex predator.
Folks, there are many female Harvard undergrads in Larry Summers’ courses RIGHT NOW. Imagine being in that situation and reading The Crimson.
“This semester, he is teaching two large undergraduate courses and one graduate class.”
www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
“This semester, he is teaching two large undergraduate courses and one graduate class.”
www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
As Summers Sought Clandestine Relationship With Woman He Called a Mentee, Epstein Was His ‘Wing Man’ | News | The Harvard Crimson
When former Harvard President Lawrence H. Summers was pursuing a romantic relationship with a woman he described as a mentee, he turned to a longtime associate for guidance: convicted sex offender Jef...
www.thecrimson.com
November 17, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Among the many things that strike me from this story is just how pathetic Summers appears. He has a multiyear obsession with an uninterested woman. He confides in Epstein about it like Epstein is his best friend. He is so insecure that he seeks reassurance from a convicted sex predator.
A cat would do it on purpose.
November 15, 2025 at 2:50 PM
A cat would do it on purpose.
Reposted by Matthew Kugler
They’re all just looting the treasury now
November 14, 2025 at 6:07 PM
They’re all just looting the treasury now
In terms of sheer harm to humanity, this is peanuts compared to USAID cuts. In terms of blatant and inexcusable corruption, this belongs in the history books.
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 4:57 AM
In terms of sheer harm to humanity, this is peanuts compared to USAID cuts. In terms of blatant and inexcusable corruption, this belongs in the history books.
I forget which comedian said it, but the problem with explaining the difference between ephebophilia and pedophilia is that it makes you sound like a pedophile.
in case you're wondering how the cope is going www.mediamatters.org/megyn-kelly/...
November 13, 2025 at 2:47 AM
I forget which comedian said it, but the problem with explaining the difference between ephebophilia and pedophilia is that it makes you sound like a pedophile.
Under Bivens, there is limited ability to sue ICE agents for unlawful uses of force and illegal searches. This makes the deal @durbin.senate.gov just cut that allows Senators to sue over far less all the more disgraceful.
Here’s video of federal agents doing a drive by pepper spraying that hit a father and his one-year old on Saturday when the Feds were hitting Little Village and Cicero
November 11, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Under Bivens, there is limited ability to sue ICE agents for unlawful uses of force and illegal searches. This makes the deal @durbin.senate.gov just cut that allows Senators to sue over far less all the more disgraceful.
Reposted by Matthew Kugler
Law Profs teaching First Amendment: I have put together a FREE, recently updated, and easy to use casebook for use in free speech classes. If you are interested in using such a casebook, send me an email or DM and I would be happy to share!
November 7, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Law Profs teaching First Amendment: I have put together a FREE, recently updated, and easy to use casebook for use in free speech classes. If you are interested in using such a casebook, send me an email or DM and I would be happy to share!
Reposted by Matthew Kugler
But I am really struck by the rapidity and scale of the government's retreat from its much more extensive and destructive list of demands that it tried to impose on schools at the start of this mess.
It would be far better if Cornell and other schools simply said "no."
But still, a notable shift.
It would be far better if Cornell and other schools simply said "no."
But still, a notable shift.
November 7, 2025 at 5:39 PM
But I am really struck by the rapidity and scale of the government's retreat from its much more extensive and destructive list of demands that it tried to impose on schools at the start of this mess.
It would be far better if Cornell and other schools simply said "no."
But still, a notable shift.
It would be far better if Cornell and other schools simply said "no."
But still, a notable shift.
The Cornell deal is very different than the prior ones. No mention of sex, gender, or trans issues. Very little few new requirements for the university other than 1.) the bribe, which is smaller than expected, and 2.) the reporting of admissions data.
statements.cornell.edu/2025/documen...
statements.cornell.edu/2025/documen...
statements.cornell.edu
November 7, 2025 at 6:39 PM
The Cornell deal is very different than the prior ones. No mention of sex, gender, or trans issues. Very little few new requirements for the university other than 1.) the bribe, which is smaller than expected, and 2.) the reporting of admissions data.
statements.cornell.edu/2025/documen...
statements.cornell.edu/2025/documen...
In addition to the arrest, ICE also apparently conducted a non consensual search of private property without the benefit of a search warrant.
We need a federal statutory Bivens remedy. As it stands, I’m not sure what can even be done if ICE simply ignores the Fourth Amendment.
We need a federal statutory Bivens remedy. As it stands, I’m not sure what can even be done if ICE simply ignores the Fourth Amendment.
Several teachers fled with a student and hid in the back of a pick-up.
They were 'terrified of being found. They weren’t sure what was going on. ICE, an attack on the school, they didn’t know.'”
-- Nathaniel Meadow, parent at the Rayito de Sol daycare center
blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/05/d...
They were 'terrified of being found. They weren’t sure what was going on. ICE, an attack on the school, they didn’t know.'”
-- Nathaniel Meadow, parent at the Rayito de Sol daycare center
blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/05/d...
Daycare Teacher Pulled Out Of Preschool By Armed Federal Agents, 'Traumatizing' Families
The incident happened in front of parents and children at Rayito de Sol in North Center, a parent said. They believe the employee, who cares for infants, is legally allowed to work in the United State...
blockclubchicago.org
November 6, 2025 at 1:38 AM
In addition to the arrest, ICE also apparently conducted a non consensual search of private property without the benefit of a search warrant.
We need a federal statutory Bivens remedy. As it stands, I’m not sure what can even be done if ICE simply ignores the Fourth Amendment.
We need a federal statutory Bivens remedy. As it stands, I’m not sure what can even be done if ICE simply ignores the Fourth Amendment.