This episode takes place after the events of the film "My Little Pony: The Movie (2017)"
Chancellor Neighsay's name comes from the term "naysayer", which is a person who criticizes, opposes, or objects to something, referring to his hatred of non-pony creatures enrolling at Twilight's school because he thinks they will endanger ponykind.
This is the third and final season premiere where Celestia appears without Luna after the first and second season premieres.