Dear John,

Did you tune into President Biden’s first address to Congress this past Wednesday evening? It was a historic night — and I know that I am not alone in saying that I was truly moved by the sight of the president, for the first time ever, being flanked by two women: Vice President Kamala Harris and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. As the president said in his address: “Madame Speaker, Madame Vice President. No president has ever said those words from this podium. No president has ever said those words, and it's about time." Our team here at Ms. could not agree more!

President Biden also spoke extensively on his groundbreaking $1.8 trillion American Families Plan, which he has called a “once-in-a-generation investment in our families and our children.” Since the start of the pandemic, American women—particularly low-income women and disproportionately women of color—have lost a net total of 5.4 million jobs and, by the end of February, nearly 3 million U.S. women had left the workforce entirely. 

In the president’s speech, the nation heard what Ms. has long reported: Our current caregiving crisis is both a moral and an economic imperative, and is the inevitable outcome of an outdated ideology that has resulted in insufficient investments by our government, policymakers and elected officials in our care infrastructure and in our people. Quite simply, we are facing a moment of truth in this country. I hope you’ll read more from the pages of our Spring issue below. 

Also on MsMagazine.com this week, we report on the critical importance of President Biden’s first slate of judicial nominees, who appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. As Nan Aron, president of Alliance for Justice, writes: “Biden has already modeled, with dramatic contrast, a commitment to adding demographic and professional diversity to our courts.” Conservatives have begun to attack many of these supremely qualified nominees. The need for a federal judiciary that reflects the rich diversity of this country is clear—women currently make up only 34 percent of the federal judiciary, and women of color make up just 7 percent. In fact, we have not seen a Black woman confirmed to the Circuit Courts in almost a decade. 

Yesterday marked the end of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. To close my letter this week, I urge you to read a powerful piece on the Ms. website, titled “To the Parents of My Daughter’s Rapist.” This anonymous open letter is a rallying cry for change and accountability, and I am simply blown away by the author’s powerful letter—and I know you will be, too.

For equality,

Kathy Spillar
Executive Editor

P.S. To celebrate Mother’s Day, a special edition of the Ms. podcast On the Issues with Michele Goodwin, “Messages to Mom: We Have Your Back,” will feature YOUR messages. If you want to be part of this special celebration, send us your 10-second voice memos. Record your name, who you’re trying to reach, and your message—then send the recording to [email protected]. (You can use an online voice recorder like this one!) We're collecting “messages to mom” submissions until Tuesday at 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET.