This episode of Protecting Academia at Risk marks the beginning of a new series that examines how the global landscape of higher education and academic freedom has shifted since our previous recordings. The discussion engages with the implications of Trump’s Project 2025, the growing politicization of knowledge production, and the emergence of new geographies of risk — including within the United States itself. Panelists reflect on how institutions and individuals navigate these pressures, the challenges of safeguarding academic freedom, and the broader question of what it means for academia to thrive under conditions of uncertainty.