[[link removed]] Weekly Digest
Weekly Digest
Letter from an Editor | February 26, 2022
Dear John,
It’s been a sobering week, with the escalating and unprovoked attacks by Russia on the people of Ukraine and their democracy. As I’ve watched Putin’s bravado, his angry and virulent speeches, and his staged consultations with his government advisors and the oligarchs who control Russia’s economic sectors, I’m struck by the absence of women. This is not unusual, as Erica Chenoweth and Zoe Marks note in their recent report “Revenge of the Patriarchs” for Foreign Affairs : “Established autocrats … are united in their use of hierarchical gender relations to shore up nationalist, top-down male dominated rule.”
The silver lining to this week is Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s historic nomination to the Supreme Court, which president Biden announced yesterday morning. Judge Jackson currently serves on the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, the second most powerful court in the country, next only to the Supreme Court. Before that, she served as a District Court judge — giving her a total of over eight years of judicial experience, not to mention her prior experience as a public defender and as a former clerk for Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, who Judge Jackson will replace.
For too long, the Supreme Court has not reflected the American public. Judge Jackson’s confirmation will bring us one step closer to this ideal. Yet, Jackson’s qualifications have already been challenged by the American patriarchs who serve in the U.S. Senate. But as courts expert Steve Vladeck noted on the latest episode of our “On the Issues” podcast, “The notion that [hers] are somehow not sufficient qualifications gives up the game that the folks who are making this charge one, don’t know what they’re talking about, and two, are using it as code for something else.” Namely, their own racism.
Meanwhile, in Texas, the unconstitutional SB8 ban on abortions after six weeks is still in effect. On Thursday, the Texas supreme court heard oral arguments challenging the ban, but reproductive rights advocates have little hope that any change will result. On Monday, the U.S. Senate will debate the Women’s Health Protection Act, which would guarantee abortion access nationwide — even if the Supreme Court eradicates Roe v. Wade .
But there’s really no need to watch Monday’s Senate debate — let me tell you exactly what’s going to happen: to paraphrase the late Rep. Louise Slaughter, a stalwart leader for abortion and reproductive rights when she was in the House, we’re going to hear a lot of moralizing and grand-standing by men in gray suits trying to tell women what to do.
Our thoughts are also with trans youth and their families in Texas, whose medical autonomy and mental health are under attack. Earlier this week, both Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Governor Gregg Abbot cynically issued letters declaring that gender-affirming care — which studies have shown can be lifesaving for trans youth — is a form of “child abuse.” While the letters are not legally binding, the letters will subject trans kids and their families to heightened scrutiny — something they definitely don’t need in the current legislative climate, where their rights are already under attack.
And finally, there was a significant victory this week with the U.S. Soccer Federation’s settlement in the pay discrimination lawsuit brought by the U.S. women’s national team: the women will receive millions in back pay and a guarantee that women’s and men’s players will be paid equally from now on. “This is going to be one of those incredible moments that we look back on and say the game changed forever,” said Megan Rapinoe, one of the players leading the lawsuit.
And to that I will add — a critical chink in the patriarchy’s armor!
[[link removed]]
Kathy Spillar
Executive Editor
P.S. — Be sure to check out our six-week, multi-platform project honoring Harriet Tubman’s extraordinary legacy, 200 years after her birth. Explore the Harriet Tubman Bicentennial Project [[link removed]] here. [[link removed]]
This Week's Must-Reads from Ms.
[link removed] [[link removed]] [link removed] [[link removed]]
Feminists React: Biden Nominates Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to Supreme Court—the First Black Woman Nominee [[link removed]] After Six Months of Living Under Abortion Ban, Texans and Abortion Providers Desperate for Relief [[link removed]]
[link removed] [[link removed]] [link removed] [[link removed]]
Texas Governor Calls Gender-Affirming Care for Trans Youth ‘Child Abuse’ [[link removed]] A Social Movement That Happens To Play Soccer (Fall 2019) [[link removed]]
[link removed] [[link removed]] [link removed] [[link removed]]
Our Democracy Has Problems. Women Have Solutions. [[link removed]] Front and Center: Before a Guaranteed Income and the Child Tax Credit, “I Used To Have to Work Four or Five Jobs To Make Ends Meet” [[link removed]]
[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]] .
We're kicking off our Road to Confirmation series with a deep dive into President Biden’s promise to nominate a Black woman to the Supreme Court. Who are the most likely candidates? What credentials and experience would they bring to the role? What distinguishes the speculated short-list candidates from each other? And if confirmed, how would a Biden nominee influence the Court?
We hope you'll listen, subscribe, rate and review today!
[link removed] [[link removed]]
READ THE REST [[link removed]] | GET THE MAGAZINE [[link removed]] | SUPPORT MS. [[link removed]]
[[link removed]]
[link removed] [[link removed]] [link removed] [[link removed]] [link removed] [[link removed]]
Enjoy this newsletter? Forward to a friend!
Was this email forwarded to you by a friend? Subscribe [[link removed]] .

Ms. Magazine
1600 Wilson Boulevard
Suite 801
Arlington, VA 22209
United States
If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please
unsubscribe: [link removed] .