[[link removed]] Weekly Digest
Weekly Digest
Letter from an Editor | August 2, 2025
Dear John,
This week a dozen Democrats in Congress sued the Trump administration for limiting their access to ICE detention centers. The lawmakers argue that the DHS, which oversees ICE, has inhibited lawmakers’ oversight responsibilities and violated federal law in denying members of Congress access to the facilities.
“ICE and DHS have repeatedly and illegally arrested and detained American citizens and lawful permanent residents without due process,” said Speaker Hakeem Jeffries in a statement. “These extreme tactics, like raiding churches and schools and unleashing masked ICE agents on law-abiding communities, are extreme and unacceptable.”
The cruelty we’ve seen over the past several months extends far beyond this country’s borders. The U.S. is still on track to destroy nearly $10 million worth of contraceptives, paid for with U.S. taxpayer dollars, and intended for women in poor nations—a move that itself will cost an additional $167,000. CNN reported this week that the contraceptives are predominantly long-lasting forms of birth control, including IUDs and injectables.
“They have to double incinerate the products because they contain high levels of hormones and they don’t want to risk leaking the byproducts out in the environment, which likely adds to the cost,” a congressional aide told CNN. “The Trump administration is quite literally burning taxpayer money.” In our Summer issue, we unpack just how much the destruction of USAID and its vital programs for HIV/AIDS, malaria, reproductive health and more is impacting women and girls around the world. Read more below (or catch a preview on our Instagram.)
In our Summer issue, we have a formidable roster of experts unpacking our current cultural conversation around masculinity, in our special Report on Men. Ms. guest editor Jackson Katz charts how the rise of conservative podcasts shaped young men’s political identities, fueled Trump’s reelection, and what it means for the future of gender, media and democracy. And Garret Bucks explains the self-defeating message to young men behind JD Vance’s awkward posture (he asks the question we’ve all been wondering: why is the vice president sitting like that?).
And in the third episode of Looking Back, Moving Forward, the latest podcast from Ms . Studios, economists and advocates break down how our economy is leaving women behind and lay out strategies for advancing a feminist economic future. You can listen now wherever you get your podcasts.
When you read Ms., you can count on not just being informed—but armed with the knowledge and tools you need to fight back.
For equality,
[[link removed]]
Kathy Spillar
Executive Editor
P.S. — I'll also urge you to listen to the latest episode of On the Issues [[link removed]] , featuring E. Jean Carroll and her lawyer Roberta “Robbie” Kaplan, which offers a fascinating behind the scenes look at how these two women took on Trump and beat him.
This Week's Must-Reads from Ms.
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War on Women Report: State Department Mass-Burns Contraceptives, Food Aid; ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Decimates Medicaid; Texas Crisis Pregnancy Center Funds Paid for CEO’s Smoke Shop [[link removed]] Poverty is a Policy Choice—and Women Deserve More [[link removed]]
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Why Is the Vice President Sitting Like That? [[link removed]] From Limbaugh to Rogan: The Rise of the Conservative ‘Brocast’ [[link removed]]
Ms. on social
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[link removed] [[link removed]] Tune in for a new episode of Ms. magazine's podcast, On the Issues with Michele Goodwin on
Apple Podcasts [[link removed]] + Spotify [[link removed]] .
E. Jean Carroll and her lawyer Roberta “Robbie” Kaplan made headlines in 2023 and 2024 for winning a significant legal battle against Trump, with a jury finding him guilty of sexual abuse and defamation, and awarding Carroll $5 and then later an $83.3 million verdict. What can we learn from E. Jean Carroll’s case to fuel our fight forward?
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 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 [[link removed]] . We are grateful for your loyalty and ferocity .
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