In recent years, Florida lawmakers have launched a wave of legislation aimed at stripping researchers of the academic freedom and security needed to study oppression and inequality. This movement began in 2022 with HB7, a bill purportedly designed to end “woke indoctrination” in schools. Known as the “Don’t Say Gay” Bill, it barred discussions of sexual identity and orientation in classrooms. The government soon expanded its crackdown to state universities, enacting policies to: dismantle Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives; ban course content focused on critical race theory and gender studies; strip faculty of autonomy over hiring decisions; and empower politically appointed boards to review tenured faculty. Framing whiteness, heterosexuality, and masculinity as under threat, legislators have weaponized the language of victimhood to justify sweeping attacks on academic inquiry. With the Republican victory in the 2024 U.S. election, these policies have gained national traction, shaping global academic debates. In this talk, I will examine these legislative shifts, their implementation and impact, and the lessons they offer for Canadian geographers.