Advisor is asking me to drop a component of my research - but I have a grant!

I'm a first year first semester graduate student in one of the Japanese universities. I want to disclaim that my prof is not Japanese. I have been having issues with her constantly picking on my inside knowledge of government policy (I was a former civil servant), and I have been preparing presentations and policy backgrounders that are not relevant to my thesis.

When questioned if she is writing a paper or a book about this, she had the nerve to say "Oh, I'm just interested." Well, I'm not and I have other coursework to do.

She also wants me to drop a major component of my research, but the grant I have been awarded is tied to this!

Is this a major red flag? I'm an adult and used to dealing with nonsense like this at my previous workplaces. Should I just stand firm and also inform her I'm happy to switch advisors if this continues?

I'm happy to play politics if it boils down to this. I also need to say that I am her oldest student and someone with the longest working history. The rest of her students are mostly fresh out of undergrad.