Dear John,

It feels like just yesterday that the Supreme Court issued its most recent slate of whiplash-inducing rulings—but ready or not, this week marked the start of a new term for the Court. While the Court isn’t currently slated to deal with any cases on abortion, a number of significant cases are on the docket that we’re keeping our eyes on, including a case contesting the legality of Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors. And with a number of consequential abortion-related cases currently in the lower courts that could potentially return to the high court, we’re not letting our guard down. 

A six-week abortion ban in Georgia that was previously struck down by a trial court was reinstated this week by the state’s Supreme Court. “Gov. Kemp and Attorney General Carr told the state Supreme Court that reinstating an abortion ban that is literally killing Georgia women would not cause ‘much harm,’ and the state Supreme Court apparently believed that cruel lie,” said Julia Kaye, senior staff attorney with the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project. “Seeing state politicians show such little empathy or respect for Georgians’ health and lives only doubles our resolve to keep fighting.” 

Us too. 

November’s elections will play a crucial role in determining the shape of abortion access across the country going forward—that much is clear. And as get out the vote efforts kick into high drive over the next few weeks, it’s an issue that is front of mind for many organizers and potential voters. Campaigns seeking to engage young people are particularly attuned to issues like reproductive rights and justice, as Belle Taylor-McGhee reports. Unfortunately, young voters are also some of the most targeted for voter suppression—often because of their support of progressive issues like abortion, climate action and LGBTQ+ rights. 

When it comes to the role of gender in this fall’s elections, there’s so much to unpack—far more than I could ever fit in this letter. I’d encourage you to check out the piece we’ve included below on The Man Card: 50 Years of Gender, Power & the American Presidency—a documentary from Ms. contributor Jackson Katz exploring presidential masculinity that provides plenty of “content and context for voters to make sense of the gender politics playing out in the election.” 

And speaking of playing the man card, this week in Pennsylvania former president Trump continued to insult and demean his rival Vice President Kamala Harris—and said he has no intentions of stopping, even if it puts off women voters. “I don’t want to be nice,” he said, according to Politico. “You know, somebody said, ‘You should be nicer. Women won’t like it.’ I said, ‘I don’t care.’” 

Well, even if he doesn’t care, we do. Women are paying attention—and they’re voting like their lives depend on it. 

Onward,

Kathy Spillar
Executive Editor

P.S. — Have questions about the polls, as election day grows closer? Join myself and polling expert Anna Greenberg for an Instagram live event on October 17 at 12:30 pm ET/9:30 am PT. Submit your questions to [email protected] or send them to @ms_magazine on Instagram—then tune in for the answers!

Tune in for a new episode of Ms. magazine's podcast, On the Issues with Michele Goodwin on

Apple Podcasts + Spotify.

Every year on On the Issues, we bring you a Supreme Court term in review with a live studio audience. This year, for the first time we’re bringing you one from Washington, DC—we’re going to discuss the most important rulings of the 2023-2024 term, unpacking issues from abortion rights to presidential immunity—while we prepare for what’s coming next as the Supreme Court begins its new term.

We hope you'll listen, subscribe, rate and review today!

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. We are grateful for your loyalty and ferocity.

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