POD00020

The podcast discusses the seismic shifts in abortion rights in America since the overturn of Roe v. Wade. The abortion laws in the US vary by state, with some states implementing total bans and others having gestational age bans or pre-Roe bans. Nine states and the District of Columbia have laws protecting abortion rights. The Supreme Court decision has had social and economic consequences, with some states enacting laws that severely restrict access to abortion. Women's health and lives are at risk due to legal uncertainty and limited access to necessary treatment. Abortion restrictions have led to women traveling to other states for services, exacerbating social inequality. The stories of individuals affected by these restrictions highlight the real-life consequences of abortion laws. Clinics have faced challenges and some have had to move or change services. The controversy surrounding abortion rights stems from religious views and the political landscape. Different religious tradit Hello, everyone, and welcome to our podcast on a topic that is both timely and crucial, the seismic shifts of abortion rights in America. I'm Liz. Joining me are Mandy, Millie, and Austin. Together, we will unpack the recent aftermath of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade among individuals, communities, and broader society in the United States. Now let's start with the big picture here. It has been two years since the overturn of Roe v. Wade, and it has definitely reshaped the legal and social landscape of abortion rights in America. Overall, the abortion laws in America is different by states. Based on my research, we can divide the landscape into five categories. The first and the most restrictive category is the total bans. Fourteen states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, and Texas, have implemented total abortion bans with few exceptions. Up next is gestational age bans. Twenty-seven states have bans based on gestational age, typically around 18 to 20 weeks. For example, Georgia bans abortion after six weeks, while others like Utah and South Carolina have bans at 20 weeks. And then we have pre-Roe bans and trigger laws. Some states, like North Dakota and South Dakota, have revived pre-Roe abortion bans or enacted trigger laws designed to ban abortion immediately if Roe v. Wade was overturned. The good news is that nine states, including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Oregon, and Vermont, along with the District of Columbia, do not restrict abortion based on gestational duration. These states actually have laws protecting the right to abortion and ensuring access. At last, various states have additional restrictions or protections in place. Some require parental involvement of minors seeking abortions. Some prohibit specific abortion methods, like dilation and extraction procedures. In conclusion, I would say that the landscape of abortion access in the U.S. remains complex and continues to evolve as states enact new laws. Moving forward, what are the social and economic impacts of abortion restrictions on individuals and communities? Thanks, Liz. The Supreme Court decision did have widespread social and economic consequences. When Roe v. Wade was overturned, many states quickly enacted laws that almost completely banned abortion, such as Texas and Mississippi. These laws not only restricted the availability of abortions, but also imposed harsh penalties. I think the most serious impact was that for many women, especially those living in these states, abortion became almost impossible. Published by the Gettemacher Institute, since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade ruling in June 2022, policymakers at the state level have played a more critical role in protecting and expanding abortion rights and access. Abortion access has changed dramatically across the U.S. in the past six months. While many states in South Plains and Midwest have banned or restricted abortion, more states on the West Coast and the Northeast have passed a record 77 abortion protections to support abortion rights. Against the backdrop of abortion bans, women's health and lives are facing several threats. When faced with complex pregnancy complications, doctors are often unable to provide necessary treatment in a timely manner due to legal uncertainty, which can lead to serious health consequences. Thank you, Mandy. That is a very thorough explanation. Can you also elaborate on this topic with examples? Yes. According to the latest reports from Sketchum News, 2023 is the first year that abortion is no longer protected, setting a record for interstate abortions. According to the Gettemacher Institute, more than 171,000 patients travel to other states for abortion services. This trend is particularly advanced in states where abortion services are banned, such as Kentucky. Women in these states have to travel to places such as Ohio for abortions. They cannot even access basic medical services, and such policies clearly exacerbate social inequality. One example is the Texas SB-8 bill. The bill allows private citizens to sue anyone who helps others with abortions, including doctors, nurses, and even drivers, such as a legal decision made abortion almost impossible to abort. As anyone involved in an abortion may face legal action, this not only restricts women's rights to access safe abortion services, but also increases their financial burden and psychological pressure. Indeed, the policies vary greatly from state to state, causing such confusion for many women. Next, let's listen to an actual personal story about what this woman went through under the abortion ban. Thanks, Liz. So, I've got a real heartbreaking story to share with you all. This isn't just about one family. It represents the struggles of countless women across the United States affected by loss. Meet Blair Nelson. She should have been joyfully anticipating a new baby, but instead she found herself in a nightmare. At 12 weeks pregnant, after a series of tests, she learned the baby in her belly had a rare and fatal condition called limb-body wall complex. This meant even if born, the baby had no chance to survival. Doctors explained the baby's survival inside the womb would also be really brief. After Roe v. Wade, unclear and imperfect laws have put many pregnant women in life-threatening situations. Despite their diagnosis of devastating disease, even potentially fatal ones, these women are forced to continue their pregnancies, risking their own health. But in Texas, they have almost no choice. Despite clear diagnosis that the baby cannot survive, state laws vertically ban abortion. Doctors and lawyers said even in cases where the fetus is fatally deformed, abortion is not permitted. For couples like Blair Nelson and her husband, this isn't just a physical torture. It's emotional anguish and a mortal dilemma. They went through five rounds of IVF, seven embryo transfers, and one early miscarriage. Each pregnancy was a rollercoaster of hope and despair. Nelson said when they finally decided to seek treatment in another state, it meant living behind their similar support network of family work and community, heading to a strange place to fight for their basic rights. It's everything Nelson and her husband had to endure. And even after the procedure, they couldn't escape the pain and lost their hearts. This experience has had a long-term impact on their lives, not just physically, but mentally, too. This story isn't just one isolated case. It represents the experiences of thousands upon thousands of women across America affected by similar legal restrictions. Their stories aren't isolated, and their pain isn't accidental. As we continue discussing these issues, let's remember that behind every law are real-life consequences. Thank you, Millie, for your reflection on these individual examples. Do you also want to comment on the challenges of those clinics? Yes. After abortion rights were banned, not only do women in need of abortion rights have to pay out-of-pocket to travel to other areas like New Mexico, but some clinics have been forced to move to states where abortion medical services are still available due to legal pressures. Some clinics continue to operate, but have changed their medical service offering. For example, the Hudson Women's Reproductive Service Center has reduced its place and staff size, no longer providing abortion services, but still able to offer post-abortion care to manage recovery. What's admirable is that these health care providers haven't given up but are doing their greatest to help these patients. The relocated clinics have taken patients' inconvenience into account, often locating near the borders of areas without abortion bans. Melanie Crowe-Manniker, director of the Red River Women's Clinic, which moves just a few miles from its original location, said, We have been the only abortion clinic in North Dakota for over 20 years, and we owe something to those who travel long distances to come here. However, even so, the long distance to physical hospitals remains a significant barrier for one-fifth of abortion patients. Now let's move on to the second part. Liz, why has the topic of abortion rights remained controversial? First, religious views play a significant role. Based on the research by Gallup, 68% of Americans identify with a Christian religion, and within Christianity, the belief in the sanctity of life from conception is highly valued, which makes abortion a sin. And this perspective heavily influences the political actions and advocacy of many believers. But we should also notice that some religious traditions and denominations support abortion rights based on different theological interpretations. They argue that such decisions should be left to the individual. Also, the political landscape exhibits the controversy. Legally and politically, abortion has been a contentious issue since the 1973 Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion nationwide. This ruling is a focal point for debate. Such political parties often use their stance on abortion to mobilize voters and distinguish themselves from opponents. Haji is a Christian poster who supports the idea of abortion rights. A concept of reproductive justice was cornered by a black woman in the 1990s. At the same time, he also said, invited a number of civic-inclined religious backgrounds and political perspectives. For example, Christians believe that life begins at conception, and abortion is equivalent to murder. So it firmly opposes any form of abortion and conception. At the same time, the issue of abortion is also closely related to political parties. The Republican Party usually responds as a conservative person in traditional views on religious freedom and opposition to abortion. The Democratic Party tends to be liberal and vertical equality and progress and supports women's rights to abortion. We also need to see that in real life, many women face difficult choices. If they cannot access safe abortion services, they may choose illegal abortions, which will pose a serious threat to their health. This is why we need to consider from an ethical perspective how to balance the right to life of the fetus and the reproductive rights of women. Supporters of anti-abortion legalism often base their arguments on religious beliefs, which hold that life begins at fertilization and that abortion is murder, a view that is prevalent in many Christian groups. Moving on to the political side of the story, the Democratic Party and their efforts in supporting abortion rights have made new progress recently. According to CBS News, this month, the Democratic National Committee, a.k.a. DNC, is launching a new campaign to prioritize abortion rights for women nationwide, marking two years since the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. The DNC plans to invest at least $8.3 million across all state parties this year, a 25% increase from 2020. Additionally, they are also providing substantial grants to battleground state parties to focus their messaging on abortion for the upcoming presidential election. This memo reviews that the DNC is creating infrastructure in traditionally Republican states to combat abortion bans through the Red State Fund, which has received $4.5 million for the 2023 to 2024 cycle. However, some people do argue that despite these strategies are crucial for many reasons, they do not provide immediate solutions for those actually facing unwanted pregnancies. There has been a notable shift in the discussion of abortion, as Democrats now more openly addressing the issue, while previously they would only mention it in partisan settings and with very cautious language. As Democrats refine their abortion messaging for 2024, coverage is expected to focus more on political strategies than on the actual impact on patients, families, and healthcare providers. Meanwhile, political coverage on both sides tends to amplify the controversy and division over abortion more than it is reflected in reality. The media also plays a critical role in shaping public opinion on abortion rights. This is a big difference between Republican and Democratic coverage and stance on abortion. Austin, what do you think of Republican coverage on news organizations like Fox News and Wall Street Journal? Okay. In my opinion, both Fox News and Wall Street Journal are more incited to Republican Party, and the connect of report is not comprehensive and objective. In the report, they believe that the reason for such an uproar is that people have a serious misunderstanding of the role of judiciary. In the Democratic system, at the same time, they talk about the fact that it is an election year and the Democrats have cited the abortion issues as one of the three issues that are available to them nationwide. Since all number of Supreme Court are opposed by Republican government, the Democrats believe that this incited is an opportunity to change the Supreme Court. At the same time, they also say that Berkley ruling in abortion case reflects judicial philosophy. In contrast, the Democratic Party and its supported media such as CNN and MSNBC focus more on the importance of abortion rights to women's health and autonomy. Their coverage often focuses on the harms that abortion bends due to women's health, especially for those who cannot access safe abortion services. CNN News Agency said that in order to restore the issue of reproductive health rights, organizers across the country have been working hard to include reproductive health rights in state constitutions on the November ballot. It can be seen that agency also emphasized the unfair impact of these bans on marginalized groups in society and calls for the protection of women's reproductive rights. The media keep citing posts and show most Americans oppose overturning Roe v. Wade, but Zachary Hughes from the Conservative Media Research Center argues that the news industry lacks differences when engaging people's real views on abortion, making this data misleading. Media outlines cherry-picked data they found useful to support their stories, shaping news with their own biases. Right-leaning media are becoming more vocal opposed to Roe v. Wade, while mainstream media often favor comments that abortion supporters like. MSNBC's Nicole Wallace worries the conservative majority on the Supreme Court has fundamentally changed the lives of all American women, and not for the better. People conservatively choose news sources that align with their beliefs, and attitudes toward abortion are complex and varied. Some support certain forms of abortion restrictions while opposing overturning Roe v. Wade itself. This diversity of views and contradictions reflects deep social-to-conference overlaps ethics and legal balances, lightening the role of media in shaping public opinion. Indeed, the media has played an important role in this debate. Next, let's look at the international situation. France has a relatively open policy on abortion rights. In 1975, France passed a bill legalizing abortion within 10 weeks of pregnancy. In 2001, this period was extended to 12 weeks, and in 2022, it was further extended to 14 weeks. In the same year, after Roe v. Wade was overturned, France attempted to formally grant the right to abortion through a constitutional amendment. In 2024, France became the first country to write the right to abortion into its constitution. Such a policy not only protects women's reproductive rights, but also provides an important reference for other countries. In addition, Australian citizens have strongly supported abortion rights for decades. With Western Australia becoming the last state to legalize abortion, all jurisdictions in Australia now have complete legality. However, surprisingly, it's extremely difficult to find hospitals outside major cities that offer abortion procedures, and very few public hospitals provide this service. The end of Roe v. Wade could embolden anti-abortion activities and politicians in Australia. The overturning of a five-year third law in the United States may give Australian anti-abortion politicians a new hope to push for similar changes. This has also raised concerns among pro-choice activities who cannot fully trust existing laws. The significant regression in the United States this time around has deeply impacted the global abortion movement, letting that decades of struggle have only brought temporary peace. The fight for safe and legal abortion will never truly cease. We've talked about the impact of media coverage in informing and inflaming public debate. Now, how can journalists uphold journalistic standards and provide balanced coverage? To answer this, Sarah McCallum mentioned during an interview with Journalism Center that to accurately set standards for reporting on abortion news, journalists must define what objectivity means in the context of this highly controversial and emotional subject of abortion. This requires careful language use. Also, the critical ethics of reporting on an issue that touches both public policy and medical care. For example, as a journalist, she avoids using terms like baby killers and forced births because of the strong emotions these terms represent, as they can be seen as inflammatory. Secondly, it is extremely important to fact-check all the claims and statistics from all sides to ensure accuracy. During this process, journalists should cite data and quotes from reliable sources like medical experts and organizations. At last, based on the sensitive nature of abortion, news coverage on personal stories should prioritize the respect for privacy. Always stay mindful of the potential impact of revealing someone's opinions or experiences. And remember to protect the identities of these individuals, especially if they request anonymity. Journalists who want to uphold journalistic standards and provide balanced reporting must conduct in-depth and research and collect information all said and avoid one-sided reporting. At the same time, they should interview relevant parties with different proportions as much as possible, present multiple perspectives of inclined, clearly distinguish between facts and opinions in reporting, avoid mixing personal obsessions with factual reports, and provide readers with views from all sides when it comes to controversial topics so that readers can make their own judgment. Yeah, it's really important to maintain objectivity and impartiality in journalism. The media's role is to provide comprehensive information, not to guide the public opinion. This is essential for the public to understand complex issues and form independent opinions. Well, that's a wrap for our episode on abortion rights in America. We hope that you enjoyed our discussions as much as we did. We do believe that the conversation doesn't end here. Your thoughts, experiences, and actions contribute to the push for greater equality and justice. Thank you, and stay tuned for more. Thank you. Thank you.