Chilling effects of Trump’s war on free speech extend far beyond campus walls – and that’s the point

A persistent government strategy to sow fear through punitive measures has corroded freedom and democracy.

By: Bruce Schneier, Harvard Kennedy School and Jon Penney, Harvard University; York University, Canada, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: May 27, 2026

Words: 1,386

Last Updated: 1 month, 4 weeks ago

By Bruce Schneier, Harvard Kennedy School and Jon Penney, Harvard University; York University, Canada

Younger Americans have soured on the second Donald Trump presidency, but they are not protesting it.

Despite an unpopular Iran war and an even more unpopular Trump administration, college campus protests nationwide have gone silent. And at many schools, student activism is virtually nonexistent.

This silence comes in the wake of a relentless Trump administration

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.