Update. Here's the announcement from the American Association of University Professors ( #AAUP), a co-plaintiff in the case.
https://www.aaup.org/news/win-aaup-v-trump-court-blocks-attacks-university-california-system

"Friday’s decision orders a stop to the Trump administration’s illegal weaponization of civil rights laws and federal funding to restrict free speech on UC campuses. During the hearing on the plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction, the court noted the overwhelming evidence plaintiffs provided, which included numerous declarations from UC faculty and staff describing how the administration’s actions have chilled their rights of speech and association."

#Academia #AcademicMastodon #Censorship #DefendResearch #FirstAmendment #Trump #TrumpVResearch #USLaw #USPol #USPolitics #UCalifornia #Universities

"Federal judge sides with #UCalifornia employees in free speech lawsuit against Trump administration."
https://www.dailycal.org/news/uc/federal-judge-sides-with-uc-employees-in-free-speech-lawsuit-against-trump-administration/article_e3b28762-0801-49c7-ae1e-4f50c56d76a6.html

"In her ruling, U.S. District Judge Rita F. Lin ordered the federal government to cease threats of withholding federal funding, as well as to 'address Plaintiffs’ irreparable harm and to restore the status quo.' "

#Academia #AcademicMastodon #AAUP #Censorship #DefendResearch #FirstAmendment #Trump #TrumpVResearch #USLaw #USPol #USPolitics #Universities

#Trump admin to fire worker for TV interview about #SNAP
The employee warned that the #shutdown could have negative impacts on the millions of Americans who rely on the #FederalGovernment to put #food on the table.

#censorship #authoritarianism #dictatorship #law #labor #Constitution #FirstAmendment #FreeSpeech
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/11/13/usda-worker-snap-benefits-interview/

…The threat of Mei’s dismissal has sparked concerns & outrage among other USDA workers & members of the Federal Unionists Network, who argue that the move is part of a concerted effort by the #Trump admin to chill #speech among federal employees.

At the time Mei spoke to MSNBC, the information she shared was publicly available through a variety of news articles & guidance from anti-hunger advocates, think tanks & organizations.

#law #labor #SNAP #Constitution #FirstAmendment #FreeSpeech

The next day, #USDA informed Mei that the process to remove her from her position had begun. In correspondence reviewed by WaPo, an official in the USDA human resources dept told Mei that she will be let go 30 days after the #shutdown ends. The agency accused Mei of discussing USDA programs & funding “without prior approval.”

#Trump #law #labor #SNAP #Constitution #FirstAmendment #FreeSpeech

The employee, Ellen Mei, a program specialist at the #Food & #Nutrition Service who is furloughed, was interviewed on MSNBC on Oct 2, during the early days of the #shutdown, to talk about how the impasse in Washington would impact her team, as well as the work they do. Mei is also president of the National Treasury Employees #Union’s Chapter 255, which represents employees at #USDA’s Food & Nutrition Service in the Northeast.
#Trump #law #labor #SNAP #Constitution #FirstAmendment #FreeSpeech

#Trump admin to fire worker for TV interview about #SNAP
The employee warned that the #shutdown could have negative impacts on the millions of Americans who rely on the #FederalGovernment to put #food on the table.

#censorship #authoritarianism #dictatorship #law #labor #Constitution #FirstAmendment #FreeSpeech
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/11/13/usda-worker-snap-benefits-interview/

https://montgomeryperspective.com/2025/11/11/mink-confronts-ice/

1. Some in plain clothes
2. In masks/sunglasses
3. No badges that I could see
4. Unmarked cars

Mink is correct about her rights— the #firstAmendment allows her to record what they're doing.

#ICE #maryland #MoCo #police

Judge says Education Dept partisan out-of-office emails violated First Amendment

https://www.npr.org/2025/11/08/nx-s1-5602859/education-department-out-of-office-emails-ruling

#HackerNews #EducationDept #FirstAmendment #OutOfOffice #Emails #Ruling #NewsPolitics

Very displeased with one of my Alma Maters!

#Cornell Reaches Deal with #Trump Admin to Restore #Research #Funding

The Ivy League #university had warned of #layoffs after the Trump admin stripped it of funds this year. The cuts were among the deepest in higher #education.

#law #FirstAmendment #AcademicFreedom #extortion
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/us/cornell-deal-trump-administration.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

In June, #Cornell University leaders warned that they anticipated #layoffs & had begun what they described as “a comprehensive review of programs & head count across the university,” where the work force had climbed by more than 15% in about 4 years.

The suspension of federal #funding turned that #growth into a #crisis.

#law #FirstAmendment #AcademicFreedom #BrainDrain #extortion #Trump #AbuseOfPower #Authoritarianism #Autocracy #Dictatorship #fascism #Tyranny #MafiaState

In April, the #Trump admin abruptly froze planned federal #research #funding for the #university. The govt had been scrutinizing #Cornell after accusing it of racial discrimination & antisemitism, & the university acknowledged receiving dozens of stop-work orders.

University leaders made clear that the #school was feeling extraordinary financial strain. The university has been considering issuing about $1 billion in bonds.

#law #FirstAmendment #AcademicFreedom #extortion #Autocracy #fascism

Under the terms of the agreement, #Cornell is expected to pay a $30 million #fine to the govt & to invest another $30 million on programs designed to enhance efficiency & lower costs in #agriculture & #farming [they already have a world renowned Ag School]. A land-grant institution, Cornell is known for its agricultural #research programs.

#law #FirstAmendment #AcademicFreedom #extortion #Trump #AbuseOfPower #Authoritarianism #Autocracy #Dictatorship #fascism #Tyranny #MafiaState

#Cornell University reached an agreement with the #Trump admin Friday that would restore hundreds of millions in federal #funding to the #university, acc/to university & govt ofcls.

The agreement would also end government *investigations* that have placed the #school under months of federal scrutiny over accusations of *antisemitism* [ #FreeSpeech] & *discrimination* [ #diversity initiatives] in admissions.

#law #FirstAmendment #AcademicFreedom #extortion

Very displeased with one of my Alma Maters!

#Cornell Reaches Deal with #Trump Admin to Restore #Research #Funding

The Ivy League #university had warned of #layoffs after the Trump admin stripped it of funds this year. The cuts were among the deepest in higher #education.

#law #FirstAmendment #AcademicFreedom #extortion
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/us/cornell-deal-trump-administration.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

… #PopeLeo, originally from the #Chicago area, …has been steadily increasing his criticisms of #Trump.

…Cardinal Michael Czerny, a close advisor to Leo, said the pope is "expressing the concerns that should be in the heart of every #Christian & of every citizen."

"The Golden Rule, in other words: Do unto others as you would wish them to do unto you," said Czerny.

#immigration #TheCrueltyIsThePoint #CivilRights #HumanRights #law #RightToProtest #FreeSpeech #FreedomOfReligion #FirstAmendment

Cupich, who leads an archdiocese including about 2 million #Catholics, said the #Church's teachings about helping #immigrants cannot be disregarded.

"This is not some abstract value that people who say they are #Christian can easily ignore," said the cardinal. "No, this is the kind of moral imperative that is tested in the here and now."

#Trump #immigration #Chicago #TheCrueltyIsThePoint #CivilRights #HumanRights #law #RightToProtest #FreeSpeech #FreedomOfReligion #FirstAmendment

The #Trump admin also treated anti- #ICE #protesters worse because of the content of their #speech & impermissibly prevented the free exercise of #religion by #shooting, without warning, those engaged in prayer with #PepperBalls & #TearGas, both violations of the #FirstAmendment, Ellis said.
🚨She also said #BorderPatrol chief Greg #Bovino admitted to #lying about whether a rock hit him before he used tear gas on Chicagoans in Little Village last month.

#law #Chicago #PoliceBrutality #immigration

SCMP: UK political commentator Sami Hamdi detained by ICE officers at California airport

"...Official said the detention was related to comments Hamdi, who is Muslim, made about the Middle East. Hamdi was on a speaking tour in the US..."

https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3330534/uk-political-commentator-sami-hamdi-detained-ice-officers-california-airport

#FirstAmendment #Fascism #ICE

SCMP: UK political commentator Sami Hamdi detained by ICE officers at California airport

"...Official said the detention was related to comments Hamdi, who is Muslim, made about the Middle East. Hamdi was on a speaking tour in the US..."

https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3330534/uk-political-commentator-sami-hamdi-detained-ice-officers-california-airport

#FirstAmendment #Fascism #ICE