More Than A Magazine, A Movement
The Harvard Youth Poll, the longest running survey of youth attitudes (18-29) related to politics and public service, was released on Thursday. By and large, the results show an engaged young electorate concerned about the state of affairs in the U.S. and aligned on issues of economic and gender equality.
Here are some of our top takeaways.
Donald Trump on Monday said he believes abortion should be left to the states. Sidestepping formally endorsing a nationwide ban, the former president’s announcement is already being perceived by some as an attempt to strike a compromise position on a top issue for women voters.
Here’s what Trump’s leave-it-to-the-states abortion position would look like in practice—according to anti-abortion leaders, reproductive rights experts, and Trump himself. In short, it leaves people in abortion states suffering consequences of extreme bans imposed in the wake of the Dobbs decision, and would leave his presidency multiple avenues to highly restrict abortion access nationwide.
The Supreme Court may decide the anti-abortion doctors do not have sufficient legal grounds to bring a lawsuit against the FDA—but feminists know: “The Court does not always side with what is best for our communities.”
Biden’s State of the Union forcefully outlined the need for reproductive healthcare access and sounded a three-fold warning to the American people about: the dangers of abortion bans passed by Republican lawmakers at the state level; Republican obstruction in Congress to restore abortion rights at national level; and the federal abortion ban Republicans seek to enact.
“There are state laws banning the right to choose, criminalizing doctors, and forcing survivors of rape and incest to leave their states as well to get the care they need,” Biden said in his Thursday night address. “Many of you in this chamber and my predecessor are promising to pass a national ban on reproductive freedom. My God, what freedoms will you take away next?”
Abortion is currently banned in 14 states and highly restricted in an additional 10, and the average American lives 86 miles from an abortion provider. This leaves many pregnant people with the complex task of traveling across state lines—spending substantial amounts of money and time—to receive essential medical care.
Ahead of the Roe anniversary, a panel of Senate Democrats and activists discussed a range of issues related to abortion rights—including state abortion bans and their desire to pass the Women’s Protection Act to restore abortion rights nationwide.
Ms. readers are fed up. You know how I know? Your reading patterns. I know we are tired. I’m tired too. But I’m so glad you brought those big feelings to Ms. And just know: Your rage, your activism and your voice are making a difference.
Explore the most popular articles published this year on MsMagazine.com.
The Supreme Court granted a request by the Department of Justice and the abortion pill maker Danco Laboratories to review a Fifth Circuit Court decision drastically limiting access to the abortion pill mifepristone. At the same time, the Supreme Court denied a request by the anti-abortion group Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine to reinstate a Texas district court decision staying the 2000 approval of mifepristone.
The case will be heard this term, with a decision likely by summer—just months before the next election, where voters will decide on the next U.S. president and who will represent them in Congress. While the Supreme Court considers the case, the medication will remain available as it has been.
The Texas Supreme Court heard arguments on Tuesday in a case which seeks to clarify the scope of Texas’ “medical emergency” exception under its state abortion bans. The plaintiffs—20 Texas women denied abortions, joined by two doctors—were denied abortion care in Texas for their medically complex pregnancies, including cases where the fetus was not expected to survive after birth.
A ruling from the state Supreme Court is expected in the coming weeks or months. All the while, the case is working its way through the lower courts, which goes to full trial on March 25, 2024. In the meantime, the Center for Reproductive Rights “stands ready to help anyone in a situation where their life is on the line and they’re not getting the care they need.”
When analyzing Tuesday’s election results, one point becomes glaringly apparent: Abortion. Wins.
Abortion won (big) in Ohio. Abortion won in Virginia, where Democratic lawmakers pledged to voters to keep Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s anti-abortion and anti-education policies at bay—and voters delivered. Abortion helped keep Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) in office, who has made his pro-abortion-rights position clear.
Ms. breaks down the results from the elections we were watching—plus a few other notable ones.
Tuesday, Nov. 7, is the last day for voters in several states to head to the polls to vote in a number of off-year elections. While they may be lower-profile, some of these races are still deeply consequential.
We’ll be watching: Ohio’s pro-abortion ballot measure; Virginia’s state legislature; the Pennsylvania supreme court race; and the Kentucky and Mississippi governors’ races.
