my $data = $response->decoded_content;
# doing what should be a "no-op", below, makes the problem
# dissappear.
$data=substr($data,0);

##</code><code>##

# doesn't work
$data=~/^(.*)$/;
$data=$1;

##</code><code>##

# pass $newvar on instead of $data...doesn't work
my $newvar=$data