September 15, 2021


With so much at stake for women and for equality, Ms. will be reporting on policy initiatives and progress within Congress and the Biden-Harris administration—as well as tracking the backlash to equality. Every Wednesday, we will keep you updated, informed and ready to push forward!


Justice Department Sues Texas to Stop Texas Abortion Ban; Democratic Attorneys General Consider Action [[link removed]]

BY CARRIE BAKER | On Thursday, September 9, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland filed a lawsuit against Texas, seeking to block S.B. 8—the state’s newly-enacted abortion ban. S.B. 8 bans virtually all abortions, with no exceptions for rape or incest, and empowers private citizens to sue anyone who helps a woman obtain an abortion, rewarding them a $10,000 bounty plus attorney fees if they win a case.
On a 5–4 vote, the Supreme Court allowed S.B. 8 to take effect on September 1, ruling on procedural grounds while explicitly denying their decision was based on any conclusion about the constitutionality of the Texas law. As a result of S.B. 8, reproductive healthcare providers in Texas have ceased offering abortion services after six weeks of pregnancy. Texans now have to go out of state to obtain most abortion healthcare, requiring them to travel over 200 miles farther each way, according to the Guttmacher Institute.
“The act is clearly unconstitutional under long-standing Supreme Court precedent,” said U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland at a press conference announcing the lawsuit. “The obvious and expressly acknowledged intention of this statutory scheme is to prevent women from exercising their constitutional rights by thwarting judicial review for as long as possible,” said Garland.
( To read the article, click here. [[link removed]] )


Read More



Why I Refuse to Feel Hopeless About the Texas Abortion Case [[link removed]]

Sixth Circuit Blocks Tennessee Abortion Bans: “Access to Abortion Is a Constitutionally Protected Right” [[link removed]]


Most Women Oppose California’s Recall, Favor Newsom [[link removed]]

What Happens Now that Everyone Has Left Afghanistan? Increase Feminist Funding Now [[link removed]]


When “Six Weeks” Is Actually Two: Understanding Periods Is Essential to Fighting Abortion Bans [[link removed]]

Afghanistan: What Happens Next? (with Karen J. Greenberg, Gayle Tzemach Lemmon, Renee Montagne and Gaisu Yari) [[link removed]]


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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]] .
Feminists and Afghanistan experts warned of the brutal impact that would likely be felt by women and minorities with the return of the Taliban and in the vacuum of leadership. They were right. What does this mean for national security? The safety of women and girls? What are the geo-political dynamics yet to be sorted?
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