With Today at Ms.—a daily newsletter from the team here at Ms. magazine—our top stories are delivered straight to your Inbox every afternoon, so you’ll be informed and ready to fight back.

BY THE TEAM | What does independence mean for the rest of us? Women have long asked this question—as have groups that have felt or experienced being shut out, excluded, colonized or enslaved. The question—what does it mean to be free, equal and a citizen?—remains a vital point of discussion not only in the United States, but around the world. We dive into freedom, the 4th of July, and what it means to be represented in this episode.

BY AMANDA HUNTER | When it comes to politics, deep blue New York and solid red Arkansas have one thing in common: They’re among the 20 states that have still never had a woman governor. Last week, the Barbara Lee Family Foundation released Staying Power, new research that examines the challenges and advantages women face when they run as incumbents. Overall, they found that women face similar challenges as incumbents running for re-election as they do as first-time candidates for office.

BY MARJORIE NEWMAN-WILLIAMS | Wherever they live, whatever the laws of their countries, women will terminate unintended pregnancies, so access to a safe abortion must be included in essential health care. With new restrictions on abortion headed to the Supreme Court, many are wondering what it will mean for women if Roe v. Wade is overturned. We looked to other countries for answers.