In every issue of Ms., we track research on our progress in the fight for equality, catalogue can’t-miss quotes from feminist voices and keep tabs on the feminist movement’s many milestones. We’re Keeping Score online, too—in this biweekly roundup.
Lest We Forget
“Christians, get out and vote! Just this time–you won’t have to do it any more. You know what? It’ll be fixed! It’ll be fine. You won’t have to vote any more, my beautiful Christians. I love you. Get out–you gotta get out and vote. In four years, you don’t have to vote again. We’ll have it fixed so good, you’re not gonna have to vote.”
–Donald Trump at a rally in Florida
“She was always of Indian heritage and she was only promoting Indian heritage. I didn’t know she was Black until a number of years ago when she happened to turn Black. So is she Indian or is she Black?”
–Donald Trump dismissing Kamala Harris’ biracial identity at the National Association of Black Journalists conference.
“As it turns out, JD Vance doesn’t care about Americans with children or without. After viciously attacking women and families and disparaging Americans who don’t have children, Vance can’t even be bothered to show up to work today to vote on critical legislation to expand the child tax credit to help Americans with children make ends meet…He doesn’t actually care about supporting working families, he only cares about political stunts to push his extreme Project 2025 agenda with Donald Trump.”
–DNC Spokesperson Aida Ross, after JD Vance skipped a vote to expand the child tax credit, despite saying Republicans are “the party of families.”
“I love my black job.”
–Olympian Simone Biles, referencing Trump’s recent assertion that “Black jobs” are being taken by undocumented immigrants.
“My vision as the next Miss Kansas is to eliminate unhealthy and abusive relationships. Matter of fact, some of you out in this audience saw me very emotional because my abuser is here today, but that’s not going to stop me from being on this Miss Kansas stage and from representing as the next Miss Kansas because I and my community deserve healthy relationships.”
–Alexis Smith, boldly speaking out against abuse before she became the third Black woman crowned Miss Kansas.
“I call a late term abortion any abortion that is done after the baby is conceived, myself, in part because the term ‘late term abortion’ and some of the distinction of trimesters and all that was Roe v. Wade construct—it was made-up.”
–Ed Martin, member of the RNC platform committee, bragging that the platform opposes “late term abortion, however you define that.” This deceptive wording enables Republicans to push for a national abortion ban while pretending they believe it’s a “states rights” issue.
“It is abortion supporters like Harris who deny the humanity of developing babies, just as slave owners denied the humanity of the men, women and children they owned.”
–Heritage Foundation official and Project 2025 contributor Hans von Spakovsky in 2022.
“We can’t take anything for granted. We know Nevada has always been overwhelmingly pro-choice, and there’s no reason it should not be in the Constitution.”
–Lindsey Harmon, president of Nevadans for Reproductive Freedom. In November, Nevadans will vote on a ballot initiative to amend the state constitution with an explicit right to abortion.
Milestones
+ Female Olympians from around the world have made headlines in Paris. In particular,
- American swimmer Katie Ledecky became the most decorated U.S. female Olympian of all time, earning her 9th gold and 14th total medal in the 800-meter freestyle.
- Simone Biles led the U.S. gymnastics team to gold, and by picking up golds in the all-around and vault and a silver on floor, became the the most decorated American female gymnast.
- Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade took home four medals, including an incredible gold in floor finals, and was joined by Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles on the first all-Black gymnastics podium in Olympics history.
- Julien Alfred won gold in the women’s 100m sprint, the first ever medal for Saint Lucia.
- Afghan sprinter Kimi Yousofi held up a note reading “Education. Sport. Our Rights” after her race, in a strong message for women’s rights.
- Despite misinformation falsely labeling her a trans woman, and the intense transphobic online abuse that followed, Algerian boxer Imane Khelif advanced to the finals, guaranteeing herself a silver or gold medal.
- TikTok sensation and rugby player Ilona Maher helped the U.S. team earn their first ever Olympic medal, leading to a $4 million donation to help the team prepare for the 2028 Games.
- For the first time, there’s an equal number of women athletes at the Olympics, up from 48 percent in Tokyo and just 2.2 percent in 1900 when women competed for the first time. There are 152 women’s events, 157 men’s events, and 20 mixed events, on a balanced schedule that allows journalists to cover both men and women’s sports.
+ Vice President Harris chose progressive Minnesota governor Tim Walz as her running mate. Her campaign raised $310 million in July, more than double what Trump raised.
+ President Biden announced–and Vice President Harris endorsed–new plans to reform the Supreme Court, calling for 18-year term limits. He also proposed a binding code of conduct and better transparency when a justice receives gifts or has connections to anyone involved in the case.
+ Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed the Birth Equity Act into law, mandating health insurances cover abortion, pregnancy and postpartum care without copays or deductibles. It also includes coverage for doulas and midwives and newborn care.
+ Iowa’s six-week abortion ban went into effect last week, combining with existing restrictions like forced ultrasounds and 24-hour waiting periods to almost completely ban access to abortion care.
+ Three Republican senators, Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) and Rick Scott (R-Fla.), joined Democrats in voting for the expanded child tax credit (CTC), but it failed to get the 60 votes it needed. Earlier this year, the bill received bipartisan support in the House, and would have helped an estimated 16 million children.
+ Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers took voting rights away from over 50,000 people, two days before a law expanding rights would have gone into effect. It would have eliminated a two-year waiting period after completing felony sentences. Now, the state Pardons Board has sole authority to restore voting rights, even for those who already completed their waiting period.
+ Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is expecting her third child in January, as she prepares for a reelection campaign next year. “I’ve run two citywide campaigns within a year of giving birth, and both turned out great,” she said. “It’s a juggling act, but again, one that many families across the city will recognize and know.”
+ Michigan banned the “gay panic” defense that has been used to excuse the murder or assault of queer and trans people. Only 19 states and D.C. prohibit using this defense to blame victims of hate crimes.
+ The United Automobile Workers union endorsed Kamala Harris, explaining, “We can put a billionaire back in office who stands against everything our union stands for, or we can elect Kamala Harris who will stand shoulder to shoulder with us in our war on corporate greed.”
+ The Arkansas Supreme Court ruled that the tens of thousands of signatures collected in support of an abortion amendment must be counted. The Secretary of State had attempted to disqualify the amendment for flimsy paperwork-related excuses.
+ After a successful #NakedWithoutUs campaign, Hollywood costume designers won a wage increase of over 40 percent. Now, their pay scale rates are closer to peers in other—male-dominate—creative departments.
+ A state court temporarily blocked Hawai‘i’s Midwifery Restriction law, which criminalized traditional Native Hawaiian birth practices. Student midwife Makalani Franco-Francis celebrated, saying “In a nation scarred by colonization, I can now resume my path toward becoming a midwife, preserving the wisdom gifted to us by our kūpuna [elders]. This ruling means that… we are now free to use our own community wisdom to care for one another without fear of prosecution.”
+ Massachusetts governor Maura Healey signed a gun reform bill into law that includes a ban on guns at or near polling locations during elections.
+ Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suggested creating “wellness farms” where people recovering from addictions to drugs, opioids and even antidepressants and ADHD medications can be “reparented” by growing organic food and avoiding cell phones. RFK Jr. has previously blamed 5G technology for health problems and antidepressants for school shootings.
+ Biden’s new Title IX rule has gone into effect, but is still facing legal challenges. The rule adds protections for LGBTQ students, victims of sexual harassment and pregnant and parenting students. But it’s been blocked in 26 states by conservative judges, and the Supreme Court has so far failed to intervene.
+ JD Vance doubled down on support for Project 2025, saying “The Heritage Foundation has some good ideas, and also has some ideas that… I think are bad ideas.” He also refused to commit to accepting the election results if he doesn’t consider them “free and fair.”
+ Vance also tripled down on his insults towards people within children, suggesting that parents should get extra votes. Kamala Harris’s stepdaughter Ella Emhoff took to instagram to defend her “Momala”:
+ Senators Durbin (D-Ill.), Schatz (D-Hiwaii) and Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) introduced the Child Marriage Prevention Act. The Act would incentivize states to ban child marriage, require reporting on efforts to eliminate it and close immigration loopholes allowing children to petition for spousal visas.
+ Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) and Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) reintroduced the Bringing an End to Harassment by Enhancing Accountability and Rejecting Discrimination (BE HEARD) in the Workplace Act. The bill would address workplace sexual harassment by ending mandatory arbitration and certain NDAs, extending the time limit to report harassment and ending the tipped minimum wage.
+ After saying abortion is about “killing the child because you weren’t responsible enough to keep your skirt down” in 2019, North Carolina gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson is now running a commercial describing his wife’s abortion. Earlier this year, his campaign said he supported a six-week ban, but now Robinson is attempting to appear more moderate.
+ In New York, the board of elections voted to exclude the term “abortion” in the ballot language for an Equal Rights Amendment.
+ Missouri woman Mylissa Farmer sued the University of Kansas Health System after they violated the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) by denying her a needed abortion during a miscarriage. The suit alleges that Farmer was turned away without any treatment, and had to drive several hours while in labor to Illinois. The delay caused a preventable infection that made her unable to work for months.
+ Texas attorney general Ken Paxton sued the Biden Administration over a Title X policy that allows minors to access contraception without parental approval. Texas mothern Carmen Robles Frost joined the suit, arguing that Title X will “facilitate sexual promiscuity and premarital sex,” in a likely preview of how Republican policymakers will continue attack contraception.
How We’re Doing
+ Nearly two-thirds of companies that mandate in-person work have had a disproportionate number of women quit. Now, they’re struggling to fill those roles, and more than half of the C-suite leaders surveyed agree that losing women has tanked company productivity. In contrast, high-performing companies tend to have flexible options like hybrid work.
+ A recent study found toxic metals, including lead, in a wide variety of tampons. In response, Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) urged the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to examine the findings and take action to ensure the safety of menstrual products. Murray also recently passed legislation giving the FDA the authority to regulate cosmetic products.
+ Men aged 18-29 support Harris over Trump by just two percentage points, with over 25 percent unsure or undecided. In a threeway race, young men support Trump over Harris by one point.
When young men were asked to consider political messaging, they preferred a focus on support for high-paying jobs and affordable housing, instead of the importance of electing the first female president. Just 46 percent supported abortion as a “women’s rights” issue, but 52 percent supported abortion when it was framed as a “personal liberty” issue. And 51 percent of young men believe feminism is about favoring women over men.
+ Many corporations, including Target, Bud Light and Tractor Supply, have backed away from supporting Pride and LGBTQ rights, fearing backlash from conservative customers. This year, 45 percent of Fortune 100 companies had at least one social media post related to Pride, compared to 51 percent last year. However, GLAAD CEO Sarah Kate Ellis notes that more companies are beginning to commit to year-round activism and philanthropy.
+ Over four in five Americans see corporate greed as a driver of inflation, a 15 point increase since 2022.
+ More than half of women engage with political news less than they did five years ago, and two-thirds are less likely to run for office because of the toxic political environment.
However, 94 percent of women have engaged in four or more civic activities in the last two years. When they think about running for office, over 60 percent of women say bringing change to their community and pursuing issues they care about are their top motivations.
+ Three months after a six-week abortion ban went into effect, data suggests Floridians are being forced to stay pregnant. The number of telehealth patients has almost tripled, and others are traveling out of state, but so far the numbers don’t add up to the expected demand. Support for abortion rights ballot measure Amendment 4 has increased to 69 percent of Florida voters, above the 60 percent needed to pass the amendment.
+ Since the Dobbs decision, 3.4 percent of women of reproductive age have tried self-managed abortion, up from 2.4 percent. However, 75 percent of those women used ineffective methods instead of misoprostol and mifepristone.
Up Next:
U.S. democracy is at a dangerous inflection point—from the demise of abortion rights, to a lack of pay equity and parental leave, to skyrocketing maternal mortality, and attacks on trans health. Left unchecked, these crises will lead to wider gaps in political participation and representation. For 50 years, Ms. has been forging feminist journalism—reporting, rebelling and truth-telling from the front-lines, championing the Equal Rights Amendment, and centering the stories of those most impacted. With all that’s at stake for equality, we are redoubling our commitment for the next 50 years. In turn, we need your help, Support Ms. today with a donation—any amount that is meaningful to you. For as little as $5 each month, you’ll receive the print magazine along with our e-newsletters, action alerts, and invitations to Ms. Studios events and podcasts. We are grateful for your loyalty and ferocity.
