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Katherine Franke

@katherinefranke.bsky.social

4K followers 524 following 118 posts

Avid flyfisher & lover of penguins. James L. Dohr Professor of Law, Columbia Law School (retired); Founding Director, Center for Gender & Sexuality Law. Author of Repair: Redeeming the Promise of Abolition, and Wedlocked: The Perils of Marriage Equality.

Posts Replies Media

Katherine Franke @katherinefranke.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

Katherine Franke @katherinefranke.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

Katherine Franke @katherinefranke.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

The gov't doesn't have the exclusive power to (mis)interpret the law, the people can give it meaning too under the principle of popular sovereignty. The law doesn't treat protests ag immigration raids as a "rebellion" & I explain why (and provide signs!). youtu.be/bIEhD2hw2oM

Protest is Not Rebellion

YouTube video by Katherine Franke

Katherine Franke @katherinefranke.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

Calling in the National Guard in LA to suppress protests against ICE arrests: yes we shd protest, but with awareness that this is part of the gov't's plan - provoking protests as a manufactured "crisis" that then necessitates a suspension of "normal law". youtu.be/MsuGWFgNg14

Is this the tipping point?

YouTube video by Katherine Franke

Katherine Franke @katherinefranke.bsky.social · 02/06/2025

Cuomo is running for Mayor while aggressively using the law to retaliate against women who accused him of sexual harassment. @columbiauniversity.bsky.social has done the same - uses the law to retaliate against whistleblowers. They're using the same lawyer, Theresa Trzaskoma. youtu.be/nnI506Fv58I

Andrew Cuomo and Columbia University Are Using the Same Lawyer to Retaliate Against Whistleblowers

YouTube video by Katherine Franke

Katherine Franke @katherinefranke.bsky.social · 30/05/2025

New SCOTUS decision allowing a school to ban a student from wearing a trans-phobic t-shirt. Justices Alito and Thomas dissented, arguing that banning this t-shirt violated the student’s free speech rights. I explain, and connect the case to Brown v. Board of Ed. youtu.be/3CwaHjc7yiw

No First Amendment Right to Wear an Anti-Trans T Shirt

YouTube video by Katherine Franke

Katherine Franke @katherinefranke.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

The "One Big Beautiful Bill" - the Repub Budget Bill - has a provision tucked into it on p. 562 that renders current fed'l court orders against the Trump Admin unenforceable. This renders the administration immune from legal accountability. I explain. youtu.be/aFntw5ZuLhQ

Limit of Federal Courts Tucked into Repub Buget Bill

YouTube video by Katherine Franke

Katherine Franke @katherinefranke.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

@hassan.senate.gov - thank you for asking the question, you may want to share my short tutorial on the writ of habeas corpus with @secnoem.govpeeps.us‬:

Katherine Franke @katherinefranke.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

Reposting yesterday's 'splainer on what "the writ of habeas corpus" is, for the benefit of Sec. Kristi Noem, who testified in the Senate today that it was "a constitutional right that the president has to be able to remove people from this country" youtu.be/5flVKgk_J-0

Can Trump Suspend the Writ of Habeas Corpus?

YouTube video by Katherine Franke

Katherine Franke @katherinefranke.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

As I was saying … he can’t do that.

Katherine Franke @katherinefranke.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

Law School is in session: Can Trump suspend the writ of habeas corpus and eliminate the legal tool that has been successfully used to release students from ICE detention? I explain. youtu.be/5flVKgk_J-0

Can Trump Suspend the Writ of Habeas Corpus?

YouTube video by Katherine Franke

Reposted by Katherine Franke

Prem Thakker ツ @premthakker.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

Columbia University Acting President Claire Shipman welcomed to Columbia College's graduation ceremony with sustained jeers and boos. Minutes later, students break out in loud chants of "Free Mahmoud":

Katherine Franke @katherinefranke.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

Student speakers at graduations across the country are compelled to bear witness to the genocide in Gaza. I join them in naming it as a genocide, and situate the annihilation of Palestinian life in Gaza in an historical context. youtu.be/UM7zLCf5GVw

Student speakers at graduations are compelled to bear witness to the genocide in Gaza. I join them.

YouTube video by Katherine Franke

Katherine Franke @katherinefranke.bsky.social · 16/05/2025

Last Monday night I got to hang with these incredible legal advocates at the @IMEU dinner. This group is leading the charge in freeing students who've been kidnapped by ICE, in fighting the evils of fascism in the US, and in defending the rights and dignity of Palestinians.

Katherine Franke @katherinefranke.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

Students are devoting graduation speeches to the genocide in Palestine. Logan Rozos, the graduation speaker at NYU bravely did so yesterday. We need to stand behind these students who bear witness to the defining human rights atrocity of a generation. youtu.be/p3zHes8IeS8

In Defense of Students at Graduation

YouTube video by Katherine Franke

Katherine Franke @katherinefranke.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

Another student released from ICE detention by a federal judge: Badar Khan Suri!! With this winning streak in gaining freedom for detained students, why isn't Mahmoud Khalil being released? youtu.be/IQVUfdpV804

Another Student Released From ICE Detention!

YouTube video by Katherine Franke

Katherine Franke @katherinefranke.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

Why is Mahmoud Khalil still in ICE detention when other students have been released by federal court judges? I offer some thoughts. youtu.be/gO6Gz8ivU30

Why Is Mahmoud Khalil Still In ICE Detention?

YouTube video by Katherine Franke

Katherine Franke @katherinefranke.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

Frankly, universities have received very bad advice from their General Counsels about how to handled student protests and ICE surveillance of students - I break down why, and call out some of the worst lawyers who have advised Columbia. youtu.be/swHM_C-p7lI

YouTube video by Katherine Franke

Katherine Franke @katherinefranke.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

What if the @columbia students' occupation of Butler Library yesterday was leaked to the Columbia administration? We need to be thinking 2, 3, 4 steps ahead with our organizing in these times. youtu.be/Yk5U-PCKAlg

Three dimensional chess

YouTube video by Katherine Franke

Katherine Franke @katherinefranke.bsky.social · 06/05/2025

Today's installment of: "Can he do that?" Can Trump pull Harvard's non-profit status? Spoiler alert: no. I explain. youtu.be/KVWf7fdOJd4

Can Trump Pull Harvard's Tax Exempt Status?

YouTube video by Katherine Franke

Katherine Franke @katherinefranke.bsky.social · 03/05/2025

Today's: "How on Fire 🔥🔥 are things right now?" The Repubs in the House did NOT vote this week to give the gov't the power to deport US citizens, contrary to @ericswalwell.bsky.social's alarm bell. I explain why. youtu.be/Fmkheq3Eo2Y

Congress Did Not Give Trump Power to Deport US Citizens

YouTube video by Katherine Franke

Katherine Franke @katherinefranke.bsky.social · 02/05/2025

At @columbiauniversity.bsky.social, the call has been coming from inside the house & the callers are working closely w the Trump Admin: they're the authors of a new "report" today, whose WhatsApp texts show their disdain for Columbia's Senate, faculty, and students. youtu.be/xzZzkaVdM4g

What to make of the Columbia Sunshine Report

YouTube video by Katherine Franke

Katherine Franke @katherinefranke.bsky.social · 01/05/2025

The federal judge released Mohsen Mahdawi today. I explain the ruling, what it means, how it relates to the immigration case, and the other students' cases. The 29 page decision is available here: drive.proton.me/urls/S14H3MQ... youtu.be/57YHLBZH7fE

Splainer on Mahdawi Release Decision

YouTube video by Katherine Franke

Katherine Franke @katherinefranke.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

I break down Monday's EO that signals the Trump admin's plans to deploy federal and Nat'l Guard troops to quell public protests - violating the 1878 Posse Comitatus Act, and what we might do to head this off. youtu.be/x7jInSCJrwM

Posse Comitatus Act Concerns

YouTube video by Katherine Franke

Katherine Franke @katherinefranke.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

I break down yesterday's EO that signals the Trump admin's plans to deploy federal and Nat'l Guard troops to quell public protests - violating the 1878 Posse Comitatus Act, and what we might do to head this off. youtu.be/x7jInSCJrwM

Posse Comitatus Act Concerns

YouTube video by Katherine Franke

Reposted by Katherine Franke

Under the Tree w/Bill Ayers - A Seminar on Freedom @underthetreepod.bsky.social · 27/04/2025

NEW EPISODE! Academic freedom is the right to interrogate the world, to teach, and the right to learn. We’re joined by Katherine Franke, renowned law professor, who has endured a relentless campaign of harassment for her support of Palestinian rights. bit.ly/44vfwvV @katherinefranke.bsky.social

Katherine Franke @katherinefranke.bsky.social · 27/04/2025

I want to urge that we resist emphasizing how some of the people being deported are "innocent" or "haven't even been convicted of a crime" - all people deserve to have their free speech and due process rights respected, regardless of their assumed "guilt" or "innocence". youtu.be/RfLOrbILk_E

All people deserve to have their free speech and due process rights respected in immigration cases.

YouTube video by Katherine Franke

Katherine Franke @katherinefranke.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

Barnard College faculty and staff are getting emails from the EEOC asking them to answer the question: "Are you Jewish?" I explain what this is all about and what you might do in response. youtu.be/YUHiZfDTPbQ

How to understand emails from the EEOC

YouTube video by Katherine Franke

Katherine Franke @katherinefranke.bsky.social · 23/04/2025

The FBI raided students' homes in Michigan this morning. Why, and what does this signal? My thoughts. If you think you might also be targeted by the FBI, contact the @nlgnews.bsky.social for their attorney referral directory: www.nlg.org/referral-dir... youtu.be/_UMEZjV3ufI

Michigan Students Homes Raided

YouTube video by Katherine Franke

Katherine Franke @katherinefranke.bsky.social · 21/04/2025

What kinds of smart tactical organizing should we consider in these challenging times? ACT UP's organizing offers some inspiration for today. I explain why. To learn more, check out United in Anger, a study guide on the history of ACT UP: www.unitedinanger.com/unit-3-act-u... youtu.be/0KGtI7OGvMY

Interrupting the gears of authoritarianism

YouTube video by Katherine Franke

Katherine Franke @katherinefranke.bsky.social · 19/04/2025

Breaking: a judge in GA ordered that the fed'l gov't CANNOT pull the visas of foreign students. The order applies ONLY to students who are part of the lawsuit. If you want to join the lawsuit, reach out to: ckuck@immigration.net and dclaffey@immigration.net youtu.be/FS6B8CM8uf4

Katherine Franke @katherinefranke.bsky.social · 18/04/2025

A couple thoughts on where we are right now in the development of expanding authoritarian government. youtu.be/V0CGRfjHhmU

KF Assessment of Where We Are

YouTube video by Katherine Franke

Katherine Franke @katherinefranke.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

If one were sitting down to write a final exam question that involved the "arbitrary or capricious" exercise of governmental power, you really couldn't do better than this: www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

Read the Letter From Kristi Noem to Harvard

In a letter sent to the university on Wednesday, Kristi Noem, the homeland security secretary, demanded “relevant information” regarding each student visa holder at Harvard who has been involved with ...

Katherine Franke @katherinefranke.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

An update in Mohsen Mahdawi's capture & detention by ICE + analysis of what's going on in this case. To justify Mahdawi's deportation, Sect'y Rubio is repeating false characterizations abt student protests originally made by Columbia administrators. youtu.be/lT6CPqFW_M0

Update on Mohsen Mahdawi's seizure by DHS and analysis of the legal strategy in his case.

YouTube video by Katherine Franke

Katherine Franke @katherinefranke.bsky.social · 15/04/2025

Last night, Columbia's president responded to the rumors that she'd agreed to hand over the university to the Trump administration. While other universities are fighting back, Columbia continues to be willing to give up more and more independence. youtu.be/Hh6b86WKu4M

Columbia has become a cowardly outlier.

YouTube video by Katherine Franke

Katherine Franke @katherinefranke.bsky.social · 14/04/2025

It appears that 2 things, Harvard’s strong stance resisting Trump’s demands & negative publicity toward Columbia’s potential agreement to similar demands, have resulted in the postponement of any announcement from Columbia re its capitulation to Trump. Let’s see how this goes.

Katherine Franke @katherinefranke.bsky.social · 14/04/2025

Breaking: today ICE kidnapped another Columbia student, a student with a green card. Mohsen Mahdawi is a peaceful, moral leader on our campus, and was picked up by ICE simply because he spoke to the suffering of Palestinians. youtu.be/_87OBxLDC_Q

ICE has detained another Columbia student

YouTube video by Katherine Franke

Katherine Franke @katherinefranke.bsky.social · 14/04/2025

@mashagessen.bsky.social is spot on this morning in their analysis of what universities can do in this moment - lean into, rather than away from, their core competency: "So this is my radical proposal for universities: Act like universities, not like businesses." www.nytimes.com/2025/04/14/o...

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.

Katherine Franke @katherinefranke.bsky.social · 14/04/2025

Please join me tonite for a screening and talk-back with the directors of "The Palestine Exception", a necessary film for this time. Zoom registration here: nyu.zoom.us/j/92012470986

Katherine Franke @katherinefranke.bsky.social · 13/04/2025

Columbia may have signed its own death notice. Word has it that tomorrow Columbia will announce an agreement to formal oversight by Trump. This, if true, will signal the death of Columbia as we knew it - a premier teaching and research institution. I explain it here: youtube.com/shorts/W7Rr7...

Columbia University may have signed its own death notice.

YouTube video by Katherine Franke

Katherine Franke @katherinefranke.bsky.social · 11/04/2025

An immigration judge in Louisiana ruled today that Mahmoud Khalil can be deported - but what happens next? I break it down. youtube.com/shorts/W_Txf...

What does it mean that an immigration judge ruled that Mahmoud Khalil can be deported?

YouTube video by Katherine Franke

Katherine Franke @katherinefranke.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

If you are in Chicago next Thursday night, please join me and some bad-ass folks for a National Day of Action teach in on the Assault on Science, Humanities, and Human Rights:

Katherine Franke @katherinefranke.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

Everyone's calling me about the Wall Street Journal article today, saying @columbiauniversity.bsky.social is going to be put under a "consent decree"? I explain what this means. We've never seen anything like this before, it means putting the university under receivership. youtu.be/dyu2W2HfVpw

Columbia is going under receivership?

YouTube video by Katherine Franke

Katherine Franke @katherinefranke.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

In which I make the point that it's "time's up" for the legal profession: when a US citizen lawyer gets stopped at the airport because he represented a student protester, something very important has shifted. youtu.be/u2PPmxjpU3o

What is the legal profession waiting for - it's time to step up.

YouTube video by Katherine Franke

Reposted by Katherine Franke

Leah Litman @leahlitman.bsky.social · 08/04/2025

You would think that, if the President intentionally and knowingly expelled a US citizen to a foreign torture prison, they would face criminal liability for doing so. SCOTUS: you would probably be wrong!

Katherine Franke @katherinefranke.bsky.social · 06/04/2025

Finding creases of beauty in a time that asks so much of us. These daffodils and hellebores from our garden we’ll bring to a friend for her birthday tonite.

Katherine Franke @katherinefranke.bsky.social · 06/04/2025

Where I explain how the revocation of student visas and illegal detention of our non-US students amounts to a kind of racial and ethnic cleansing of our universities. youtu.be/qAJ7YQkIU0k

Immigration Enforcement as Ethnic Cleansing at Columbia

YouTube video by Katherine Franke

Katherine Franke @katherinefranke.bsky.social · 05/04/2025

An unappreciated cost of universities' acquiescence to the demands of the fed'l gov't: as @columbia university trades in a false narrative that the campus is saturated w/ anti-semitism, it won't take serious the complaints of Black students of horrible racism in the classroom. youtu.be/eywKKuXOVQk

While Columbia says its protecting students from discrimination, it really isn't

YouTube video by Katherine Franke

Katherine Franke @katherinefranke.bsky.social · 03/04/2025

Where I observe how @columbiauniversity.bsky.social has become the Tesla of the academic community. See the whole interview with Amy Goodman on @democracynow.org now here: youtu.be/-Il8-LB2wt0

Katherine Franke @katherinefranke.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

I discuss the @columbiauniversity.bsky.social trustees going rogue & staging a coup; the fate of Mahmoud Khalil; and defense of our academic mission w/ Amy Goodman on @democracynow.org this morning. youtu.be/-Il8-LB2wt0

A Coup at Columbia April 2 2025

YouTube video by Katherine Franke