On the Media S2 - Episode 1: The Harvard Plan
23 snips
Oct 29, 2025 
Ryan Enos, a Harvard political scientist focusing on campus politics, discusses how faculty and students organized to resist administrative pressures. Kamila Naxerova, a genetics professor, shares her experiences with research funding disruptions amid political tensions. Kit Parker, a conservative professor, raises concerns about academic freedom and the impact of external pressures on university independence. Together, they navigate the complex landscape of academia during unprecedented political scrutiny.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Pressure Campaign Preceded Inauguration
- The Trump administration's higher-ed campaign was prepared long before inauguration and targeted universities broadly.
- That pressure exploited existing conservative networks and longstanding right‑wing grievances about campuses.
A Political Scientist's Election Night Wakeup
- Ryan Enos described watching election returns and initially believing models would hold, then realizing a Trump win was likely.
- His shock echoed his 2016 experience and reframed his sense of urgency about defending universities.
A Scientist's Journey To Harvard Lab
- Kamila Naxerova described building her lab at Harvard after immigrating and deciding to stay in the U.S. for scientific culture.
- Her lab focuses on cancer metastasis with long time horizons and high stakes.
