Shobita Parthasarathy, a researcher in science and policy, and Mayana Zatz, a geneticist from São Paulo, delve into the intricate dance between politics and scientific research. They discuss how political decisions directly impact funding for research, revealing alarming threats to science in Brazil. The conversation also covers the chilling effects of policies like the Dickey Amendment on gun violence studies. Together, they highlight systemic inequities within the scientific community, stressing the importance of diverse perspectives in fostering objective inquiry.