Dear John,

Trump signed an executive order this week purporting to be about “Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections,” all the while echoing his frequent (and need I say baseless) claims about wide-scale election fraud. But rather than protecting our elections, the order has the potential to disqualify millions of eligible voters—especially women: it seeks to alter the federal voter registration form to require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote. However, nearly 80 percent of married American women adopt their partner’s surname—meaning that under the new rules, they would be unable to register to vote if the name on their ID does not match their proof of citizenship, usually a birth certificate. The order also threatens to withhold federal funds from states that do not comply. 

“This order is not about protecting elections; it is about making it harder for voters — particularly women voters — to participate in them,” said Celina Stewart, Chief Executive Officer of the League of Women Voters of the United States. “The President continues to overstep his authority and brazenly disregard settled law in this country.”

The order is blatantly unconstitutional—the Constitution gives the states authority over the elections—and as such it is likely to face legal challenges, and the likelihood of its implementation is in question. However, its provisions exactly mirror a dangerous piece of legislation we’ve been keeping our eye on in Congress: the deceptively-named SAVE Act. While the bill has previously been successfully stalled in the Senate, members of Congress are trying to fast-track it this time around. And that, if passed, could prove a lot more dangerous. 

Unsurprisingly, given his continued attacks on democracy and our fundamental rights, not to mention the mass firings of essential federal workers, threats to close whole departments including the Department of Education, and cuts to Medicaid and family planning, Trump’s approval ratings have been declining. Over half of voters surveyed nationwide disapprove of Trump (52 percent disapprove, 47 percent approve). And a number of his fellow prominent Republicans’ approval ratings are also underwater: Vice President JD Vance, Speaker Mike Johnson, and Elon Musk all have net negative approval ratings, according to polling from Navigator. A majority specifically disapprove of Trump's handling of the economy—and when it comes to battleground congressional districts, voters are specifically concerned about Musk and other billionaires consolidating power in government. 

On Tuesday, a high-profile race for the Wisconsin supreme court will conclude. The race will be crucial in determining the fate of issues like abortion rights, campaign finance, criminal justice and voting rights in the state—Ms. will be keeping a close watch. 

Finally, as Women’s History Month winds down, I’m thinking of all the feminist changemakers whose histories the current administration is trying to erase by purging websites and libraries. Ms. is committed to telling women’s histories every month, regardless of the agenda of those in power. Check out some of our Women’s History Month stories below. 

Onward,

Kathy Spillar

Executive Editor

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

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As we reckon with an administration hostile to equal rights, feminists will continue to fight. To help keep hope, we must remember and celebrate recent wins.

One of those wins is the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which took effect on June 27, 2023. This is a landmark piece of legislation that prohibits discrimination and ensures workplace accommodations related to pregnancy for workers. But is the PWFA safe, or will it be threatened by the Trump administration’s crusade against reproductive rights and justice?

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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 over 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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