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Ep. 255: Authoritarians in the Academy by FIRE

Ep. 255: Authoritarians in the Academy

from So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast

by FIRE

Published: Wed Oct 15 2025

Show Notes

FIRE Senior Scholar Sarah McLaughlin discusses her new book, "Authoritarians in the Academy: How the Internationalization of Higher Education and Borderless Censorship Threaten Free Speech."

Timestamps:

Intro

Book origins

How China censored speech on American campuses

COVID's impact for international students' speech

What is sensitivity exploitation?

Free speech at international satellite campuses

Attempted deportations of Mahmoud Khalil and Rümeysa Öztürk

Sarah's free speech inspirations: literature and people

About the Guest:
Learn more about Sarah McLaughlin and her work.

Get the Book:
Purchase Authoritariansin the Academy here.

Read the transcript here: https://www.thefire.org/research-learn/so-speak-transcript-authoritarians-academy

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Ep. 255: Authoritarians in the Academy | Podcst