Alex Abdo
@alexabdo.bsky.social
📤 12189
📥 343
📝 142
Litigation Director, Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University (he/him)
reposted by
Alex Abdo
Jameel Jaffer
20 days ago
In advance of this morning’s oral argument, here’s a great piece from
@thecoalition.bsky.social
’s
@geurkink.bsky.social
on the ways in which this policy is making us all dumber.
add a skeleton here at some point
1
101
62
reposted by
Alex Abdo
Frankly Very Boring Popehat
about 1 month ago
I wrote up the Comey indictment.
www.popehat.com/p/the-comey-...
loading . . .
The Comey Threat Indictment Is A Grave Embarrassment To The United States Department of Justice And The Rule of Law
The Department of Justice Is Dead; Long Live The Department of Trump
https://www.popehat.com/p/the-comey-threat-indictment-is-a-grave-embarrassment-to-the-united-states-department-of-justice-and
181
2386
836
reposted by
Alex Abdo
Jameel Jaffer
about 1 month ago
Tell me again that the FBI should be able to search FISA databases for information about US persons without first obtaining a warrant based on probable cause.
www.nytimes.com/2026/04/22/u...
1
86
39
reposted by
Alex Abdo
Gregg Gonsalves
2 months ago
So this piece that
@rosehorowitch.bsky.social
(and I knew her when she wrote for
@yaledailynews.bsky.social
) is problematic. She suggests that student protests on Gaza got out of control bringing the clamp-down on university protests. 1/
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
loading . . .
Where Are All the Campus Protests?
Two years ago, students occupied buildings and colonized the quad. Now the same places are strangely silent.
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/03/campus-protests-trump-iran/686518/?link_source=ta_bluesky_link&taid=69c41f20b9c97d0001502459&utm_campaign=the-atlantic&utm_content=edit-promo&utm_medium=social&utm_source=bluesky
2
85
37
reposted by
Alex Abdo
The Coalition for Independent Technology Research
3 months ago
The Coalition for Independent Technology Research has filed a lawsuit with the
@knightcolumbia.org
and
@protectdemocracy.org
challenging a US State Department policy to revoke or deny visas of non-citizen researchers because of their work studying the societal impacts of technology. (1/4)
1
30
20
reposted by
Alex Abdo
Knight First Amendment Institute
3 months ago
🚨NEWS:
@knightcolumbia.org
&
@protectdemocracy.org
just filed a lawsuit on behalf of
@thecoalition.bsky.social
challenging the Trump administration's policy targeting social media researchers and trust & safety workers for visa revocation and deportation. More:
knightcolumbia.org/content/tech...
loading . . .
Technology Researchers Challenge Trump Policy Threatening Deportation for Work on Social Media Platforms and Online Harms
https://knightcolumbia.org/content/technology-researchers-challenge-trump-policy-threatening-deportation-for-work-on-social-media-platforms-and-online-harms
1
34
23
reposted by
Alex Abdo
Knight First Amendment Institute
4 months ago
We filed an emergency petition asking the Eleventh Circuit to request a stay to stop Judge Cannon from potentially granting motions by President Trump and his co-defendants seeking the permanent suppression & destruction of Special Counsel Jack Smith's report.
knightcolumbia.org/documents/z8...
loading . . .
Petition for Writ of Mandamus
https://knightcolumbia.org/documents/z8on3sr61f
1
14
9
reposted by
Alex Abdo
Jameel Jaffer
4 months ago
Very excited about this new
@knightcolumbia.org
project, both because it gives us the chance to look beyond the current democratic crisis and because so many super people have already agreed to participate.
knightcolumbia.org/content/new-...
loading . . .
New Knight Institute Initiative to Focus on “Reconstructing Free Expression” After Trump
https://knightcolumbia.org/content/new-knight-institute-initiative-to-focus-on-reconstructing-free-expression-after-trump
11
217
87
reposted by
Alex Abdo
Jameel Jaffer
4 months ago
Just filed:
@knightcolumbia.org
brief asking the Eleventh Circuit to reverse Judge Cannon and release Jack Smith’s Mar-Lago report.
knightcolumbia.org/documents/v4...
4
435
123
reposted by
Alex Abdo
Knight First Amendment Institute
4 months ago
"The ability of everyday citizens to hold government agents to account, by observing them and advocating for change, is what has distinguished the American experiment with democracy from authoritarian regimes around the world," says litigation director
@alexabdo.bsky.social
in
@nbcnews.com
.
add a skeleton here at some point
3
39
16
reposted by
Alex Abdo
Katy Glenn Bass
5 months ago
As someone who edits a lot of essays (including the one by Yoel that this book incorrectly quotes) - a good cite check process should have caught this. If I’d published a piece where an error of this magnitude somehow slipped past the checker, I would feel obligated to issue a correction.
add a skeleton here at some point
0
20
4
Excellent op-ed on the Supreme Court's terrible decision in the TikTok case.
add a skeleton here at some point
6 months ago
0
8
2
JUST FILED: Our opposition—on behalf of the National Association of Immigration Judges—to the government's motion asking the Supreme Court to put on hold our challenge to a sweeping prior restraint on the speech of the nation's immigration judges.
www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/25...
6 months ago
0
11
5
Well worth the time to read this piece by the ACLU's Brett Max Kaufman on the Trump administration's boat strikes. Here's the kicker:
6 months ago
0
11
5
reposted by
Alex Abdo
Knight First Amendment Institute
6 months ago
NEW: Fourth Circuit denies the government’s request for a rehearing in our challenge to a DOJ policy silencing immigration judges. We look forward to continuing the fight for the right of immigration judges to speak on matters of urgent public interest.Â
knightcolumbia.org/documents/sn...
1
14
7
Great to finally see some collective action in rejecting a (likely unconstitutional) demand made by the Trump administration.
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
loading . . .
Media including Fox News overwhelmingly reject Pentagon press policy
Fox News, along with ABC, CBS, NBC and CNN, said that the Pentagon policy violates their “core journalistic protections.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/10/14/fox-news-among-broadcasters-refusing-sign-pentagon-press-pledge/
8 months ago
0
6
0
reposted by
Alex Abdo
Jameel Jaffer
8 months ago
This is a perilous moment for democracy in the United States, but I couldn’t be prouder of the Knight Institute’s work right now, and I don’t take for granted that we have the freedom and resources to do it.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
loading . . .
This free speech group at Columbia is taking on Trump when the university won’t – and winning
The Knight Institute is defending free speech at a school now synonymous with compromising on it
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/10/knight-institute-columbia-university
4
398
114
reposted by
Alex Abdo
Jameel Jaffer
8 months ago
Very proud of my colleagues right now--especially
@ramyakrishnan.bsky.social
and
@alexabdo.bsky.social
. But we could not have got this far without the superb trial lawyers at Sher Tremonte. Grateful to them for all of the time and energy they put into this case.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/30/u...
loading . . .
Judge Rules Trump Unlawfully Targeted Noncitizens Over Pro-Palestinian Speech
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/30/us/politics/student-speech-palestinians-ruling.html?unlocked_article_code=1.p08.F691.Ug46samUti5M&smid=bs-share
2
463
94
reposted by
Alex Abdo
Mike Masnick
8 months ago
Tomorrow night, for folks not planning to watch the Yankees/Red Sox game, the 92nd St Y has four different talks. Thomas Friedman, Malcolm Gladwell, Kate McKinnon/Penn Badgley... or *me* with Lee Rowland &
@alexabdo.bsky.social
! (Ours is streaming only, not in person).
4
44
6
reposted by
Alex Abdo
Bobby Allyn
9 months ago
Took a look at Kimmel's ouster in light of the longstanding Republican attacks on social media over jawboning, which, the Supreme Court has found, requires a direct causal line. The Kimmel case "is as direct a line as you could dream up,"
@alexabdo.bsky.social
told me
www.npr.org/2025/09/18/n...
loading . . .
Legal experts say pulling Jimmy Kimmel from air may amount to illegal 'jawboning'
Free speech scholars say ABC's decision to suspend Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show indefinitely represents "jawboning," when government officials pressure private companies to suppress speech.
https://www.npr.org/2025/09/18/nx-s1-5545720/kimmel-abc-carr-fcc-jawboning
3
55
19
reposted by
Alex Abdo
Rep. Jamie Raskin
9 months ago
Condemning another absolutely disgraceful act of gun violence. My thoughts & prayers are w/ Charlie Kirk & his family in this terrible moment & we are all grateful for first responders who immediately jumped into action. We must categorically reject all violence in our society.
244
2763
440
Chief Justice Roberts (2007): “The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.” Justice Kavanaugh (2025): ethnicity “can be a 'relevant factor' when considered along with other salient factors” in immigration stops.
9 months ago
21
821
348
reposted by
Alex Abdo
Jameel Jaffer
10 months ago
The Columbia settlement is an “astonishing transfer of autonomy and authority to . . . an administration whose disdain for the values of the academy is demonstrated anew every day.” New
@knightcolumbia.org
analysis of the Columbia settlement, just published.
knightcolumbia.org/blog/what-th...
loading . . .
What the Columbia Settlement Really Means
https://knightcolumbia.org/blog/what-the-columbia-settlement-really-means
13
489
247
Recent law grads — we're now hiring for legal fellows to begin in Fall 2025. Our First Amendment rights are under daily assault. I hope you'll consider applying to work with us at
@knightcolumbia.org
to push back.
knightcolumbia.org/page/legal-f...
loading . . .
| Knight First Amendment Institute
https://knightcolumbia.org/page/legal-fellow
10 months ago
5
61
46
reposted by
Alex Abdo
Jameel Jaffer
11 months ago
JUST IN: the Ninth Circuit has revived the
@elfaroenglish.bsky.social
case against NSO Group. Congrats to my
@knightcolumbia.org
colleague
@carriedecell.bsky.social
, who argued the appeal, and to our co-counsel at Selendy Gay. Statement coming shortly.
knightcolumbia.org/documents/1x...
1
11
6
Enjoyed this conversation with
@cristianfarias.com
about our upcoming trial — starting July 7 — in our suit challenging the Trump administration's policy of deporting students and scholars based on their pro-Palestinian expression.
add a skeleton here at some point
11 months ago
0
3
1
This amicus brief by
@ccrjustice.org
and Palestine Legal rightly points out that Title VI does not—and could not constitutionally—require universities to suppress criticism of Israel's policies.
static1.squarespace.com/static/54874...
about 1 year ago
0
68
10
In response to a lawsuit filed by
@knightcolumbia.org
and
@earthjustice.org
, the USDA is restoring climate-related webpages that it had purged. Great news for the farmers and advocates we represent.
apnews.com/article/usda...
loading . . .
Facing lawsuit, USDA says it will restore climate change-related webpages
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has agreed to restore webpages related to climate change after it was sued earlier this year over the deletions.
https://apnews.com/article/usda-webpages-deleted-lawsuit-climate-change-3f86c33616b09cf8f3e02aa1c0ed5f3d
about 1 year ago
3
71
17
reposted by
Alex Abdo
Patrick Toomey
about 1 year ago
We're hiring! If you're eager to work at the ACLU on issues where civil liberties and national security meet, we're hiring for an attorney position. And help us spread the word!
www.aclu.org/careers/appl...
loading . . .
Careers at ACLU
Join our team! We’re looking for committed, passionate people for open roles at the ACLU.
https://www.aclu.org/careers/apply/?job=7979810002&type=national
0
15
6
NEW JOB: The Knight Institute (
@knightcolumbia.org
) is looking for a staff attorney to join us for a two-year position. It's an extremely busy time for the First Amendment, and we could use some more hands on deck!
knightcolumbia.org/page/staff_a...
loading . . .
| Knight First Amendment Institute
https://knightcolumbia.org/page/staff_attorney
about 1 year ago
2
33
34
reposted by
Alex Abdo
Genevieve Lakier
about 1 year ago
In a really important passage, the judge rejects the relevance of the Second Red Scare precedents that the govt is relying upon, and affirms the significance of the 1A interests at stake here. The opinion makes clear how egregious the govt's actions have been.
add a skeleton here at some point
1
373
121
reposted by
Alex Abdo
Jameel Jaffer
about 1 year ago
Federal court says First Amendment bars government from arresting, deporting foreign students on basis of pro-Palestine advocacy. Important ruling from Judge Young just now in case brought by
@aaup.bsky.social
@mesa1966.bsky.social
@knightcolumbia.org
.
knightcolumbia.org/content/fede...
25
2412
763
Free speech is under grave assault, and it’s not obvious how to push back in a way that will be effective. Looking forward to discussing that question at tomorrow’s panel.
add a skeleton here at some point
about 1 year ago
1
11
1
reposted by
Alex Abdo
Julian Sanchez
about 1 year ago
I feel like we need to keep saying this because it’s so insane: This is a legal U.S. resident who has been detained for over a month now for his political opinions.
add a skeleton here at some point
237
23424
8414
Excellent piece by
@mashagessen.bsky.social
on how universities should fight Trump’s attack on higher education.
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/14/o...
loading . . .
Opinion | This Is How Universities Can Escape Trump’s Trap, If They Dare
It’s been tried in other countries facing authoritarian crackdowns. It works.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/14/opinion/trump-higher-education.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
about 1 year ago
0
3
1
reposted by
Alex Abdo
Jameel Jaffer
about 1 year ago
100 years of First Amendment law is worth very little if it doesn’t foreclose the government from arresting, imprisoning, and expelling legal permanent residents on the basis of their lawful political speech.
add a skeleton here at some point
13
415
155
At 9:30 ET, I’ll be arguing in the D.C. Circuit on behalf of
@accountableorg.bsky.social
in its challenge to the secrecy of OLC opinions. OLC opinions set the law of the executive branch, but they’re usually kept secret. Hoping we can change that today.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dzft...
loading . . .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dzft7WXhDbY
about 1 year ago
0
4
0
reposted by
Alex Abdo
Knight First Amendment Institute
about 1 year ago
📍TODAY at 9:30am ET:
@alexabdo.bsky.social
will appear before the D.C. Circuit in a lawsuit alleging the DOJ’s Office of Legal Counsel is violating
#FOIA
by failing to disclose certain categories of legal opinions that are binding on the executive branch. Livestream:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dzft...
loading . . .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dzft7WXhDbY
1
37
10
reposted by
Alex Abdo
Evelyn Douek
about 1 year ago
As the First Amendment cases proudly proclaim, "the best test of truth is the power of the thought to get itself accepted by customs and border protection"
add a skeleton here at some point
2
21
8
ICE appears to have deleted its X post making clear (if we needed more proof) that it believes its mission is to stop certain "IDEAS" from crossing the border. Here's a
perma.cc
link to the post:
perma.cc/2FLY-4S6J
about 1 year ago
2
30
13
reposted by
Alex Abdo
Evelyn Douek
about 1 year ago
Can't be emphasized enough that the image of the US deporting people for things they said is so much more damaging to its foreign policy interests than anything a student might have said on the quad
add a skeleton here at some point
14
1254
364
This amicus brief — from the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration — is a tour de force in explaining just how damaging the administration’s targeting of international students will be for U.S. innovation and education.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
loading . . .
https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mad.282460/gov.uscourts.mad.282460.50.0.pdf
about 1 year ago
1
22
8
Knight Institute (
@knightcolumbia.org
) lawyers will be in court arguing two cases this week. If you're interested in tuning in, here are the details. 1/4
about 1 year ago
1
13
5
reposted by
Alex Abdo
Jameel Jaffer
about 1 year ago
It's a careful, well-reasoned opinion that rightly describes the exclusion of AP as retaliatory, viewpoint-based, and unconstitutional. And it reaffirms that viewpoint discrimination is off-limits even in nonpublic forums. An important opinion, especially right now.
add a skeleton here at some point
16
1452
350
reposted by
Alex Abdo
Jameel Jaffer
about 1 year ago
We asked the Office of Legal Counsel whether it reviewed Trump's executive orders for form and legality. This is the letter we received in response. cc:
@charliesavage.bsky.social
@martylederman.bsky.social
@jacklgoldsmith.bsky.social
.
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/04/u...
6
161
56
The Knight Institute (
@knightcolumbia.org
) joined a cross-ideological amicus brief led by the
@aclu.org
, in arguing that President Trump's executive order targeting Perkins Coie LLP is unconstitutional.
knightcolumbia.org/cases/perkin...
about 1 year ago
2
36
14
reposted by
Alex Abdo
Xiangnong (George) Wang
about 1 year ago
Powerful op-ed from Profs. Maya Jasanoff and
@kirstenweld.bsky.social
. They are members of AAUP-Harvard, one of the groups challenging the Trump admin's policy of targeting noncitizen students and faculty for deportation based on their pro-Palestinian advocacy.
www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
loading . . .
We’re Harvard Professors Suing the Trump Administration. Here’s Why. | Opinion | The Harvard Crimson
Universities are currently on the front lines of a battle for basic civil liberties. We must fight for the values — and the people — that define us. This lawsuit is a start.
https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2025/3/28/jasanoff-weld-harvard-aaup-lawsuit-trump/
1
41
21
The strategy is to divide and conquer. Refusing to stand together—staying divided—just makes each successive attack more likely and more successful than the last.
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/02/b...
loading . . .
In Trump’s Fight With Perkins Coie, the Richest Law Firms Are Staying Quiet
None of the nation’s top-10 firms by revenue have signed a legal brief demonstrating support for the law firm that is resisting an executive order.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/02/business/trump-perkins-coie-amicus-brief.html
about 1 year ago
0
6
2
reposted by
Alex Abdo
Evelyn Douek
about 1 year ago
Re-reading Abrams v. United States for the gazillionth time to prep for class tomorrow and I had overlooked this before, or forgotten it: perhaps the most famous free speech opinion ever, the birth of the "marketplace of ideas" metaphor was... written about non-citizens.
6
664
123
We've asked a federal court to enter a preliminary injunction against the Trump administration's policy of rounding up and attempting to deport students and faculty for expressing pro-Palestinian views. Brief here:
knightcolumbia.org/documents/dc...
And here's the main First Amendment argument:
about 1 year ago
0
10
2
Load more
feeds!
log in