Election administration continues to be one of the most compelling, challenging, and increasingly dangerous jobs at the federal, state, and local levels. A recent survey by the Brennan Center revealed that over a third of election officials have experienced threats, harassment, or abuse just for doing their jobs.

In the face of these fundamental challenges to our democracy and an environment that has increasingly been characterized by political polarization, how can we protect our elections and support our election officials?

To discuss these important issues, we’re joined by three special guests:

Natalie Adona: Natalia Adona is the county clerk, recorder-elect, and the former assistant clerk-recorder and registrar of voters for Nevada County, California. 

Tonya Wichman: Tonya Wichman is the Director of the Defiance County Board of Elections, in Defiance, Ohio, and a certified elections and registration administrator.

Gabriella Cázares-Kelly: Gabriella Cázares-Kelly is the county recorder in Pima County, Arizona, where she made history in 2020 as the first Native American to be elected to a countywide seat.

Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.

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This week, we’re continuing our coverage of the lead-up to November’s elections by looking at an institution that has become increasingly contentious over the past four years: the U.S. Supreme Court. The specter of the Court has loomed over these elections like never before—from former President Trump repeatedly taking credit for the overturning of Roe v. Wade and thanking the Justices he appointed for doing so, to the next president’s role in reshaping the Court. What role is the Court playing in this election cycle and how will this election cycle influence the next four years of Supreme Court rulings?

Helping us to sort through these questions and set the record straight is our very special guest,

Skye Perryman: Skye L. Perryman is President and CEO of Democracy Forward, a nonpartisan, national legal organization that promotes democracy and progress through litigation, regulatory engagement, policy education, and research. She previously served as Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.

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In this episode,  we're joined by the indomitable Lizz Winstead with a live studio in Washington,  D.C.  She bares all as we talk about the new documentary featuring her and Abortion Access Front (AAF), No One Asked You.  From her childhood to her own abortion story,  she tells it all, including what led her to found AAF. 

In a time when the news is increasingly dire—especially with regard to reproductive health care—do comedians have a role in sharing the news? Winstead, who forever changed the way people get their news when she co-created The Daily Show, knows better than anyone that the answer to this question is a resounding yes.

Joining me to discuss these vital topics is a very special guest:

Lizz Winstead is the co-creator and head writer of Comedy Central's The Daily Show, as well as the founder and chief creative officer of Abortion Access Front.

Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.

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On this episode of On the Issues with Michele Goodwin, we review the 2019-2020 Supreme Court term. Since 1790, of the 113 individuals who have served on the Supreme Court, only four have been women.  Similarly, in over 230 years, only three justices have been persons of color—two of whom presently serve on the Court.  Under Trump, the vast majority of judges confirmed to the nation’s federal courts are white men.  Thus, in over two hundred years, very little has changed in terms of the Court’s composition.  

Where do women fit in?  How can the Court evolve in recognizing the rights of women and marginalized groups when it doesn't reflect the actual makeup of the U.S.?

On this episode, we review the 2019-2020 Supreme Court term—which has been a roller coaster, leaving many to wonder about the Court’s commitment to equality, inclusion and nondiscrimination—despite decisions that appeared to be wins for vulnerable communities. For example, despite a win in June Medical on abortion rights, the Trump administration has gutted reproductive health policies put in place during the Nixon administration—such as Title X, which provides reproductive healthcare for the poorest Americans.   As well, many concerned about racial equality view the Court as slipping in its regard for equal opportunity and the protection of due process for people of color. 

Joining Dr. Michele Goodwin as we try to understand these issues are: 

• Brigitte Amiri, deputy director at the ACLU's Reproductive Freedom Project. 
• Erwin Chemerinsky, dean and Jesse H. Choper distinguished professor of law, University of California, Berkeley School of Law 
• Leah Litman, assistant professor of law at the University of Michigan Law School and co-host of the "Strict Scrutiny" podcast. 
• Franita Tolson, vice dean for faculty and academic affairs, and professor of law at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law. 

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On this special episode, we focus on toxic masculinity in the U.S., including online misogyny, and how it translates into real-world violence—highlighted most recently in the horrific murder of Daniel Anderl, the son of U.S. District Court Judge Esther Salas, and the shooting of her husband Mark Anderl.  The person assumed responsible for those tragedies is Roy Den Hollander, a self-proclaimed “men’s rights” activist—part of a growing movement of men who describe themselves as frustrated by women.  Some members of this movement are also known as “incels.” 
 
We also turn to the everyday harassment women experience—even in Congress, like in the case of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who was accosted by Rep. Ted Yoho (R-Fla.).  Representative Yoho called her “disgusting,” “a “f***ing bitch,” and at first denied it.  Rep. Yoho claimed his “passion” got the better of him and offered what many would describe as a rambling floor speech in which his daughters and wife were centered.  However, he did not apologize.  For some women, this looked like typical workplace misogyny they endure all the time. 
 
What lessons can be drawn from these incidents and others?  Has toxic masculinity gone too far? 
 
Joining me to talk about incels, the ways in which racism intersect with misogyny in the U.S. and on the internet and the antifeminist movement are three special guests.   

• Jill Filipovic is a columnist for CNN, a contributor to the New York Times, a lawyer and the author of the forthcoming "OK BOOMER, LET'S TALK: How My Generation Got Left Behind,” as well as "The H-Spot: The Feminist Pursuit of Happiness."

• Saida Grundy, PhD., is an assistant professor of sociology and African American studies at Boston University. Her research explores the intersection of race with masculinity, rape culture and campus sexual assault. Professor Grundy is author of the forthcoming book "Manhood Within the Margins: Promise, Peril and Paradox at the Historically Black College for Men." 

• Jackson Katz, Ph.D., is an internationally acclaimed educator, author and scholar-activist on issues of gender, race and violence. Through his books, documentaries, public speaking and articles, Katz has tackled issues of masculinity, racism and violence. 

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On today’s show, we focus on June Medical v. Russo and the future of abortion rights—a case where the Supreme Court struck down a challenge to abortion rights in Louisiana, a state in which reproductive health care access is already fraught. The law would have required all doctors performing abortions to obtain hospital admitting privileges. Even though this case has put such challenges to rest, lawmakers in Louisiana have effectively undercut women’s access to reproductive healthcare, causing clinic closures and more.  As our guests make clear, Roe is not enough.   

However, it’s not just abortion rights or pregnancy at stake, with regard to women’s health.  Reproductive justice matters, and bringing that lens into these conversations is urgent. The rise in criminalization of pregnant women for failing to comport to the state’s standards for behavior during pregnancy is alarming.  Women have been threatened with arrest for refusing C-sections, falling down steps and attempting suicide during pregnancy.  Where does this end?  What should we be concerned about?  What’s the future of Americans being able to exercise control their own reproductive futures, given the aggressive attacks at the state and federal levels?  We close considering how organizations, doctors, lawyers and activists are fighting back.

Joining us for this episode are:

-Yamani Hernandez, executive director of the National Network of Abortion Funds.

-Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights.

-Kathaleen Pittman, administrator of Hope Medical Group for Women in Shreveport, La., the main plaintiff in June Medical v. Russo.

-Mary Ziegler, a Stearns Weaver Miller professor at Florida State University College of Law specializing in the legal history of reproduction, the family, sexuality and the Constitution

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On today’s show, we focus on rebuilding America from the ground up.   What will it take?  What issues should we be concerned about, which are not making the news?  For example, despite what appear to be recent triumphs at the Supreme Court with regard to LGBTQ equality, reproductive rights and DACA, many argue those victories are thin and fragile. Beyond that, as we know, underlying challenges persist, including pay inequality between men and women; Americans living beneath the poverty line without a living wage; lack of access to affordable health care; and a warming planet.  Most painfully, our democracy is at stake—clearly evidenced by voter suppression.
  
Helping us sort out how we rebuild America and should think about these issues (and more) are two very special guests: Congresswoman Katie Porter and Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun. 

Congresswoman Porter represents California’s 45th Congressional district, which includes Orange County.  An expert in business and consumer law, she is also a law professor (on leave) at the University of California, Irvine. 

Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun was the first African American woman to be elected to the U.S. Senate, where she served from 1993-1999.  During the 20th century, she was one of only two African Americans to serve in the Senate. Subsequently, she was appointed and confirmed as ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa. 

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On Today’s inaugural show, we focus on policing in America, examining race, sex, and violence.  We specifically take up women and policing, elevating the stories and experiences of women.  It is a perspective often absent from mainstream conversation.  Even in recent weeks as the nation has erupted in protests related to the tragic murder of George Floyd, some might argue that the killing of 26-year-old Breonna Taylor, an emergency medical technician in Louisville, Kentucky was an afterthought, even though her death too was no less inhumane, violent, and preventable.

Deirdre Fishel, Independent Film Maker, Women In Blue (2020)

Laura Goodman Retired Deputy Chief of Police (Minnesota) and former Ombudsman for Crime Victims for the State of Minnesota 

Anne Li Kringen, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Assistant Dean Department of Criminal Justice, University of New Haven, Member, International Association of Chiefs of Police Research Advisory Committee 

L. Song Richardson, Criminal law expert and Dean, University California, Irvine School of Law

It will be an episode you will not want to miss!

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TEASER: Why are women being left out of the conversations regarding policing in America?  Why are they sidelined as the victims of police violence, including Breonna Taylor?  In law enforcement, why are women not recruited and retained?  How has this influenced policing and violence in America?  Let's fill in the story.  Tune in and join us for our first episode, airing Tuesday, June 30, 2020.  We will be joined by:

Deirdre Fishel, Independent Film Maker, Women In Blue (2020)

Laura Goodman Retired Deputy Chief of Police (Minnesota) and former Ombudsman for Crime Victims for the State of Minnesota 

Anne Li Kringen, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Assistant Dean Department of Criminal Justice, University of New Haven, Member, International Association of Chiefs of Police Research Advisory Committee 

L. Song Richardson, Criminal law expert and Dean, University California, Irvine School of Law

It will be an episode you will not want to miss!

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On The Issues With Michele Goodwin at Ms. magazine is a show where we report, rebel, and tell it like it is.  On this show, we center your concerns about rebuilding our nation and advancing the promise of equality.  Join Michele Goodwin as she and guests tackle the most compelling issues of our times.

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The fight to enshrine gender equality in the U.S. Constitution is more urgent than ever. The Equal Rights Amendment could prove pivotal in securing not just the promise of equal protections in the eyes of the law, but by providing crucial protections when it comes to reproductive rights in the wake of Roe’s overturn. 

Nobody knows this better than Susan Frietsche—who recently secured an incredible victory for women in the state of Pennsylvania in terms of then power of the Equal Rights Amendment as it relates to reproductive freedom. In this episode, we delve into how Susan’s work sets an important precedent for protecting women’s rights—and how it relates to the fight to secure the federal ERA in the Constitution. 

This episode is a part of the latest installment of Ms. Magazine’s Women and Democracy platform, "The ERA Is Essential to Democracy."

Joining us to discuss these crucial topics is a very special guest:

Susan Frietsche is the co-executive director of the Women’s Law Project, for which she founded the Western Pennsylvania office in 2002. She provides direct representation for the 17 freestanding abortion facilities in Pennsylvania. Prior to joining the Women’s Law Project she was the Deputy Director of the Pennsylvania ACLU.

Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.

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This week, we’re continuing our series, “The Trump Indictments,” which unpacks the litigation and criminal charges levied at former president Donald Trump. In this episode, Dr. Goodwin brings us up to speed on the Supreme Court’s decision to reinstate the former President on the Colorado ballot. Professor Anthony Michael Kreis also returns to discuss what’s been happening in Washington, D.C. and what comes next in at least one of Trump’s trials.

Joining us to discuss these crucial issues is our very special returning guest:

Prof. Anthony Michael Kreis. Anthony Michael Kreis is a professor of law and political science with Georgia State University. His research examines the relationship between social change and the law, focusing on the relationship between American political history and the development of law over time.

Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.

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This week, we’re continuing our series unpacking the litigation and criminal charges levied at former president Donald Trump: The Trump Indictments. In this episode, Dr. Goodwin is joined by Professor Anthony Michael Kreis as they discuss the status of the Georgia criminal prosecution against Trump and the allegations facing Fulton County DA Fani Willis.   

Joining us to discuss these crucial issues is our very special returning guest:

Prof. Anthony Michael Kreis. Anthony Michael Kreis is a professor of law and political science with Georgia State University. His research examines the relationship between social change and the law, focusing on the relationship between American political history and the development of law over time.

Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.

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In this special episode, Dr. Goodwin is on the road, broadcasting from Amsterdam, the Netherlands.  She's joined by Dutch physician and reproductive rights activist and pioneer, Dr. Rebecca Gomperts, founder of Women on Waves—an organization that took to the seas to provide women abortions and reproductive healthcare.  They unpack victories and the horrors—including Dr. Gomperts' boat being seized, chained, and crew being held by gunpoint.  They also unpack what comes next for abortion, including self-managed abortion and telehealth.

Joining us for this episode is very special guest:

Dr. Rebecca Gomperts. Dr. Gomperts is a Dutch physician and an activist for reproductive health, rights, and justice. She is the founder of Women on Waves, a Dutch organization that brings reproductive health services, and particularly non-surgical abortion services and education, to women in countries with restrictive abortion laws.

Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.

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Report after report has shown that sexual harassment and assault are pervasive throughout the U.S. armed forces: at least 15.7 percent of military personnel and veterans reported military sexual trauma, a number that is likely smaller than the actual total due to shame and fear around reporting. What’s more, perpetrators are rarely if ever held accountable: according to a recent ProPublica investigation, more than half of the 900 soldiers who were allowed to leave the Army in the past decade rather than go to trial were accused of violent crimes.

But in the face of a culture that silences and disenfranchises women and survivors, some women are speaking out—and demanding change. One of them is our very special guest,

Melissa McCafferty: Melissa McCafferty is a former Lieutenant with the United States Coast Guard, where she served for 12 years. After being sexually assaulted while in the Coast Guard Academy, she has since become an advocate for military sexual assault victims, including testifying in front of Congress earlier this year. She recently received her JD from Georgetown University Law Center, and serves as a Young Lawyer Representative at the American Bar Association Section of Antitrust Law.

Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.

Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com. 

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In this episode, we continue our Collateral Damage series—where we’re thinking about women during wartime, and the unique price they pay. As various wars and conflicts continue to mount around the world, from Ukraine to Gaza, to Sudan and beyond, we’re wondering: where are the women at the negotiating table? The number of women and girls living in conflict-affected countries continues to mount, reaching 614 million people in 2022—a 50-percent increase from 2017. What do governments and NGOs need to do to make sure that women’s needs do not fall through the cracks?

Joining us for this episode is a very special guest:

Dr. Yael Braudo-Bahat: Dr. Yael Braudo-Bahat is the co-director of Women Wage Peace, an Israel-based organization with the goal of empowering women from diverse communities to build trust across divides, leading in turn to a unified demand for diplomatic negotiation, with full representation of women, to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 

Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.

Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com. 

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This episode marks the first in a new On the Issues series: “Collateral Damage.” In these episodes, we probe where news typically falls off, and its neglect of the impact of war on women. The crises of sexual violence they face, which is a deliberate tactic in war. We examine maternal and reproductive health, the role of women in peacekeeping, and so much more. 

In this episode, we start with health and why it's sacred and must be protected even in war, delving into issues of bioethics and health care during conflict. In times of war, who protects the patients, the mothers, the babies?  Are there bridges too far that shouldn't be crossed, even in war? 

Joining us to discuss these crucial matters is a very special guest:

Larry Gostin: Professor Larry Gostin co-directs the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law and is a  university professor and the Founding O’Neill Chair in Global Health Law at Georgetown University. He is also the Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center on National and Global Health Law. 

Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.

Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com. 

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Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.

Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com. 

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On this week’s episode, we’re continuing our series unpacking the litigation and criminal charges that have been levied at former president Donald Trump: The Trump Indictments. But these indictments don’t just include former president Donald Trump—they also include co-conspirators. Who are they—and what do their cases mean for the case against Trump as a whole?

Joining us to discuss these issues is our very special returning guest—who’s had a front-row seat to the entire controversy:

Prof. Anthony Michael Kreis: Anthony Michael Kreis is a professor of law and political science with Georgia State University. His research examines the relationship between social change and the law, focusing on the relationship between American political history and the development of law over time.

Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.

Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com. 

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In the wake of Vice President Kamala Harris replacing President Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee, the role that women are playing in this election is clearer than ever. Now under two weeks out from election day, we’re aware that so much is at stake for the entire nation, and for women in particular.

This week, as we continue our coverage of the lead-up to the November elections, we’re exploring the role of women and gender in this election. What are we seeing in terms of the gender gap? How will abortion policies impact the outcome of the presidential election? And how are media narratives addressing all of these issues, and influencing voters?
 
Joining us to discuss these pressing issues is our very special guest:

Fatima Goss Graves. Fatima Goss Graves is president and CEO of the National Women’s Law Center, president of the National Women’s Law Center Action Fund, and a co-founder of the TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund.

Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.

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Fifty years ago, hip-hop emerged from a party in the rec room of a Bronx building—and a new sound was born--one with roots in African music, but with its own vibe and messaging.  Since its first iterations, women have played significant roles in the creation and evolution of hip-hop: as rappers, DJs, producers, breakdancers, graffiti artists, scholars, journalists and more.   Women have been key innovators and rebels in hip-hop, creating new sounds, pushing back against marginalization, and speaking up when others try to push them down.

Michele Goodwin and her two guests break down the past, present and future of hip-hop, and the crucial role of women in this timeline. Michele is joined by: 

• Drew Dixon: a producer, writer, activist, entrepreneur and former A&R executive, who spearheaded the recording of iconic songs like “American Boy” (Estelle f. Kanye West), “My Love Is Your Love” (Whitney Houston), “Maria Maria” (Carlos Santana), “I’ll Be There For You” (Method Man f. Mary J. Blige) and many more. In January of 2020, Dixon appeared as the main subject of On the Record, a documentary released in May of 2020 on HBO Max that documents Dixon’s decision to come forward in the #MeToo movement as a survivor of sexual harassment and assault in the music industry. Dixon is also featured in the 2023 Netflix documentary, Ladies First, and is set to appear on a special plenary on women and hip-hop at this year’s annual National Women’s Studies Association Conference, co-sponsored by Ms. A graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Business School, Dixon lives in Brooklyn, N.Y., with her two teenagers. 
• Janell Hobson: a contributing editor at Ms., Hobson spearheaded iconic the Ms. series "Turning 50: Looking Back at the Women in Hip-Hop" and "Tubman 200” in honor of what would have been Harriet Tubman’s 200th birthday. Hobson is a professor of women's, gender and sexuality studies at the University at Albany and the author of When God Lost Her Tongue: Historical Consciousness and the Black Feminist Imagination. 

(This episode is part of “Turning 50,” which recognizes the women who shaped hip-hop through articles in print and online, a public syllabus highlighting women and hip-hop, Spotify playlists, and digital conversations with “hip-hop feminists” in music, journalism and academics.)

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On this week’s episode, we’re continuing our series unpacking the litigation and criminal charges that have been levied at former president Donald Trump: The Trump Indictments. Earlier this month, Trump was indicted once again—this time, on 13 charges related to his role in interfering with the 2020 election results in Georgia. The case marks the former president’s fourth indictment, and over 90 charges of criminal activity. He turned himself in to authorities in Fulton County, Georgia on Thursday, August 24. 

Prior to the release of the Georgia indictments, we spoke with professor Anthony Michael Kreis about why the case matters—and what it means for the rest of the cases currently being leveled against the former president. 

Joining us to discuss this important issue is a very special guest: 

Prof. Anthony Michael Kreis: Anthony Michael Kreis is a professor of law and political science with Georgia State University. His research examines the relationship between social change and the law, focusing on the relationship between American political history and the development of law over time.

Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.

Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com. 

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In this episode, we continue our series: The Trump Indictments, unpacking the civil and criminal charges alleging that the former president Donald Trump engaged in illegal activities. In early June 2023, for the second time in two months, Trump was indicted—this time on 37 felony counts for allegedly mishandling sensitive, classified government materials and obstruction of justice. What does this most recent indictment mean for Trump, the 2024 elections, and the future of American democracy as a whole?

Joining us to discuss this important issue is our very special, returning guest: 

Leah Litman. Leah Litman is a professor of law at the University of Michigan Law School, where she teaches and writes on constitutional law, federal post-conviction review, and federal sentencing. She is the co-founder of Women Also Know Law—a searchable database of women and non-binary people who have academic appointments in law—and is one of the co-hosts and creators of the popular “Strict Scrutiny” podcast, which focuses on the Supreme Court.

Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.

Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com. 

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In this episode, we’re celebrating and recognizing Juneteenth.  However, in 2023, Juneteenth marks the continued struggle toward racial justice and constitutional equality.  From voter suppression to book bans that target Black, Indigenous, and LGBTQ+ authors—this Juneteenth offers much to think about. 

In the face of these bans, and as we celebrate Juneteenth, it's more important than ever to remember our American history—because these bans aren’t just attacks on critical race theory or women’s studies. They’re attacks on democracy and the First Amendment itself.

Joining us for this episode is a very special guest: 

Ann Beard Grundy. She is a civil rights activist and the daughter of Reverend Beard, born while her father was the pastor of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama which was bombed on Sunday, September 15 1963 in a white supremacist attack that took the lives of four girls: Edie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley, Carol Robertson and Denise McNair. 

Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.

Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com. 

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On today’s episode, we’re unpacking something that’s become increasingly—and distressingly—mainstream in the wake of the Trump presidency: political violence. This kind of violence overwhelmingly impacts women, particularly women of color. There was an unprecedented spike of threats of political violence in 2020–according to the Brennan Center, one third of poll workers surveyed said that they felt unsafe and 79 percent wanted government-provided security. This troubling trend has  continued, from the January 6 attack, to the plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and so much more. Ideas that were once fringe have made their way into the mainstream. 

In the face of these very real and dangerous threats, how can we support women and minority candidates—not just through their candidacies, but throughout their tenures in office and beyond? 

Helping us to sort out these questions and set the record straight is a very special guest:

Rep. Leslie Herod. Colorado state Representative Leslie Herod was elected in 2016 and received the highest number of votes of any candidate running in a contested election. She is the first LGBTQ African American in the General Assembly. She serves on the House Appropriations Committee and chairs the Colorado Black Democratic Legislative Caucus. 

Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.

Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com. 

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Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.

Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com. 

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Society's systematic patterns of inequality targeting women demonstrate something far more harmful than just discrimination or the patriarchy at work. Instead, the myriad ways in which women's personhood, civil liberties, bodily autonomy, and political participation are suppressed suggests misogyny at work. In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Julie Suk, featuring a discussion of her urgent, new book, After Misogyny: How the Law Fails Women and What To Do About It. Dr. Suk shares why turning a lens on misogyny helps us to better understand the social, political, and legal challenges of these times.

Joining us to discuss these crucial issues is a very special guest:

Doctor Julie Suk. Dr. Suk is a Professor of Law at Fordham University School of Law, whose work focuses on researching equality at the intersections of law, history, sociology, and politics in the United States and globally. She is also the author of the recently published book After Misogyny: How the Law Fails Women and What to Do About It, which delves into the systemic misogyny that’s embedded in the law and what we need to do in order to transcend it; as well as her previous book, We the Women: The Unstoppable Mothers of the Equal Rights Amendment. 

Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.

Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com. 

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This Women’s History Month, we’re wondering: What will it take to achieve a society that prioritizes—and achieves—true equality? Our answers to those questions are the Majority Rules: a series of rules, created by Supermajority, intended to guide us to our ultimate goal of gender equality.

Today, we’re diving into Rule #5, “Our government represents us.” During the 2022 midterm elections, women voters across the U.S. made their voices heard, demanding access to safe reproductive healthcare. And yet, state legislatures—which purport to represent the people—continue to attack reproductive rights, proposing increasingly restrictive bans on abortion, with collateral consequences for reproductive healthcare more generally. In the face of these challenges, how can we work towards a government that truly represents us—and protects us?

Joining us to discuss these crucial issues is a very special guest:

Rep. Katie Porter. Rep. Porter is a politician, lawyer, and law professor who currently represents the 47th Congressional District in Orange County, California, serving in the United States House of Representatives since 2019. Rep. Porter is widely known for steadfast dedication to keeping our economy strong, stable and globally competitive by mitigating corporate greed, boosting competition and investing in family friendly policies while inviting and encouraging individuals to join congressional conversations.

Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.

Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com. 

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Looking back on Women’s History Month, we’re wondering: What will it take to achieve a society that prioritizes—and achieves—true equality? Our answers to those questions are the Majority Rules: a series of rules, created by Supermajority, intended to guide us to our ultimate goal of gender equality.

Today, we’re diving into Rule #4, “Our families are supported.” The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted many of the existing gaps in our care infrastructure, uncovering the millions of Americans who tragically fall through the cracks. In this moment, we’re faced with a number of questions—how can we ensure that our systems that are set up to help and support people? Specifically, how can we make sure they address the pressing needs of families, women who engage in caregiving, and individuals that come from communities where they are struggling to survive, let alone thrive?

Joining us to unpack these issues is a very special guest:

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This Women’s History Month, we’re wondering: What will it take to achieve a society that prioritizes—and achieves—true equality? Our answers to those questions are the Majority Rules: a series of rules, created by Supermajority, intended to guide us to our ultimate goal of gender equality.

Today, we’re diving into Rule #3, “Our work is valued.” In a world that systemically erases and devalues the work of women, and that of women of color in particular, how can we ensure that our work is valued—especially care work, domestic work and other forms of work that often go unrecognized and are rendered invisible? 

Joining us to answer these questions is a very special guest:

Ai-jen Poo. Ai-jen Poo is an American labor leader, president of the National Domestic Workers Alliance and a co-founder of Supermajority. She's also the author of The Age of Dignity: Preparing for the Elder Boom in a Changing America. 

Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.

Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com. 

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This week, we’re bringing back a very good friend of ‘On the Issues’ to talk about a topic that will profoundly influence the outcome of this fall’s elections: voter suppression. As voters head to the polls, officials and activists on the ground in states like Georgia are sounding the alarm about rules and voting restrictions that could significantly impact peoples’ ability to vote. What are the biggest threats to voting rights today? How will voter suppression impact the outcome of the 2024 November elections, from down-ballot races to the presidential contest—and how can we fight back against it, before election day gets here?

Helping us to sort out these questions and set the record straight is our very special guest,

Prof. Anthony Michael Kreis is a professor of law and political science with Georgia State University. His research examines the relationship between social change and the law, focusing on the relationship between American political history and the development of law over time.

Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.

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This Women’s History Month, we’re wondering: What will it take to achieve a society that prioritizes—and achieves—true equality? Our answers to those questions are the Majority Rules: a series of rules, created by Supermajority, intended to guide us to our ultimate goal of gender equality.

Today, we’re diving into Rule #2, “Our bodies are respected.” In the wake of the Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, it seems like our rights to our very own bodies are increasingly under attack. In South Carolina, lawmakers are calling for the execution of women who would have abortions. In Texas, five women are suing the state, individuals who wanted to carry pregnancies to term but their lives became at risk and their doctors were unable to help them fearing criminal punishments and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines. In one of their cases, the woman was not helped in managing her miscarriage until she was septic and near death.

Given these various challenges and attacks on reproductive freedom, are our bodies respected? And how can we fight to obtain that respect, in this uniquely dangerous moment?

Joining us for this episode is a very special guest:

Loretta Ross. Loretta Ross is an activist, educator, author and co-founder of SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective, as well as the co-creator of the theory of reproductive justice. Ross has traveled the world at the invitation of leaders and activists to speak about reproductive justice, and in 2022 she was the recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship “genius grant." She is currently an Associate Professor for the Study of Women and Gender at Smith College.

Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.

Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com. 

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This Women's History Month, we’re wondering: What will it take to achieve a society that prioritizes—and achieves—true equality? Our answers to those questions are the Majority Rules: a series of rules, created by Supermajority, intended to guide us to our ultimate goal of gender equality. 

Today, we’re diving into Rule #1, "Our lives are safe.” Our country continues to deny safety to women, and especially women of color. From physical to mental and emotional harm, women are consistently the target of violence, causing many to fear for their safety. So, we're asking: how can we create a better world, a world where all are safe?

Joining us to answer this vital question is a very special guest:

Shannon Watts. Shannon Watts is the founder of Moms Demand Action, the largest gun violence prevention organization in the nation. In the aftermath of the Sandy Hook mass shooting, Shannon, a former stay-at-home mom as she describes herself, started a Facebook group fighting for the establishment of public safety measures that protect people from gun violence. From there Shannon founded Moms Demand Action, an organization that now has a chapter in every U.S. state, and 10 million supporters.

 Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.

Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com. 

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In this episode, we're thinking about the many ways in which girls and women in the U.S. are denied, passed over, and even cheated of opportunities they have earned.  We note that it happens at school, college, graduate school, the work environment, and even in government.  Being denied can be humiliating, embarrassing, and stressful.  But, women can and do fight back—often by overachieving. How do we move ahead in light of social, political and other forces that hold women, girls, and those of other marginalized backgrounds back?

Joining us to discuss these issues is a very special guest who tells her own story about being denied.

Professor Tracey Meares is the Walton Hale Hamilton professor and a founding director of the Justice collaboratory at Yale Law School, and a former professor at the University of Chicago Law School. She is a nationally recognized expert on policing in urban communities.

Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.

Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com. 

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In the wake of a year that’s been plagued with book bans, book burnings, and right-wing censorship of all kinds, we’re wondering: why is our American history being banned? Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ recent attempts to ban an Advanced Placement course in African American studies have us thinking about American fragility, and the drastic consequences of this censorship. Not to mention, what does this mean for our constitutional rights—matters like free speech, and the First Amendment? When the government infringes on our fundamental constitutional rights, how can we fight back?

Joining me to discuss these important issues, is a very special guest (one who himself has been blacklisted!):

Professor Roderick Ferguson is the William Robertson Coe Professor of Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies at Yale University, where he is also a professor of American Studies. He is the award-winning author of One-Dimensional Queer; We Demand: The University and Student Protests; The Reorder of Things: The University and Its Pedagogies of Minority Difference; and Aberrations in Black: Toward a Queer of Color Critique.

Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.

Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com. 

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In this episode, we remember and celebrate the life of Anita Pointer, founder of The Pointer Sisters. Anita died of cancer on Saturday, Jan. 1, at home in Beverly Hills, Calif. She was 74.

Her writing and singing talents helped propel the group to stardom. But Anita was also a writer, producer, business mogul and feminist activist—a proud supporter of women’s rights and committed to advancing racial justice and civil rights. Throughout her career, she blazed a trail for women artists, particularly Black women artists, on stage and behind the scenes. Anita Pointer changed the game both on and off the stage through her involvement in the civil rights and Black Power movements in the Bay Area in the ’60s.

In honor of her passing and support of her family, we’re re-releasing this special episode with Anita and her brother Fritz Pointer, acclaimed professor and historian and former music manager, which we taped last summer. The two joined us to celebrate Juneteenth and unpack their award-winning memoir, Fairytale: The Pointer Sisters’ Family Story. In it, the Pointer siblings discuss coming of age during the civil rights movement; emphasize the importance of tenacity and learning the hard way; and break down what it was like for their family to finally break through and land award after award—all by doing it their own way. As an added bonus, expect to be serenaded by Anita Pointer!

Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.

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On today’s show, we’re talking about the Janes. Before Roe v. Wade, if you were in need of an abortion in Chicago, there was a number you could call, run by young women who called themselves Jane. They’d provide abortions to women who had nowhere else to turn. It was started by Heather Booth when she was 19 years old.  We're joined by Booth, to discuss the history of the Jane Collective and the connections between our pre-Roe past and post-Roe future. Where do we go from here? 

Joining us to discuss these vital issues is our special guest:

Heather Booth: Heather Booth is a feminist organizer and political strategist. She started the JANE collective in Chicago in the 1960s when she was just 19, to help provide abortions prior to Roe v. Wade. Since then she has gone on to become a political strategist for progressive issue and electoral campaigns, working with the DNC, NAACP, and more. 

Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.

Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com. 

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Iran is currently experiencing its largest civil rights movement since the 1979 revolution. This uprising, sparked by the killing of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini—who died after being detained by the Iranian morality police for being improperly veiled—is proving to be a critical turning point for Iranian women. Since the protests began in September, at least 16,000 have been detained, and hundreds have been killed—including at least 380 protestors and at least 58 children, some as young as eight. 

Helping us to unpack these important issues are two very special guests: 

Dr. Yalda Hamidi is Assistant Professor of Gender and Women's Studies at Minnesota State University, Mankato. She identifies as a feminist pedagogue, mentor, and storyteller. Yalda's research provides a more comprehensive picture of transnational feminism for diasporic communities and explores intersectional identities and feminisms in Iranian women's writing in the diaspora and inside Iran. 

Dr. Parmis Khatibi is a leading expert on mental health and wellness services.  She is a clinical specialist at the University of California, Irvine Medical Center as well as a Clinical Adjunct Professor for the University of California, San Francisco School of Pharmacy and USC School of Pharmacy. She provides mental health and clinical care to the most vulnerable community members suffering from addiction. She is  engaged in solving some of the most pressing issues of our global economy and has served as Chairwoman for the World Affairs Council of Orange County, California.

Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.

Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com. 

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On today’s show, we’re tackling issues women face in online spaces — from privacy to misogyny to censorship of women who use their voices to speak out, and more. We’re taking on the tech platforms and we’re talking about how women are fighting back. 

To help us unpack these crucial topics, we’re joined by two special guests:

Danielle Citron: Professor Citron is the Jefferson Scholars Foundation Schenk distinguished professor in law at the University of Virginia law school, where she writes and teaches about privacy, free expression, and civil rights. She is also the author of the recently released book The Fight for Privacy: Protecting Dignity, Identity, and Love in the Digital Age.

Jackie Rotman: Jackie Rotman is the founder and CEO of the Center for Intimacy Justice (CIJ), a nonprofit organization focused on creating equity in people’s intimate lives. The CIJ is currently working to change policies, attack platforms to allow health ads to be more gender equitable, and allow more ads directed at women and people with vulvas.

Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.

Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com. 

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In this episode of On The Issues, lawyer and writer Dahlia Lithwick returns to our show for an intimate conversation with Dr. Michele Goodwin about the Supreme Court, her career, and new book, Lady Justice: Women, the Law, and the Battle to Save America.  They dive deep about the women saving America and why Lithwick says she "quit the Court" after the confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. 

Helping us to sort out questions about women saving democracy and to set the record straight is our very special guest, 

Dahlia Lithwick: Dahlia Lithwick is a lawyer, writer and journalist. She writes about the courts and law for Slate, and hosts the popular podcast “Amicus.” Her new book Lady Justice: Women, the Law, and the Battle to Save America, out September 2022, tackles the story of the women lawyers at the heart of our nation’s ongoing battle to save democracy. 

Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.

Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com. 

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On today’s show, we’re delving into the lives and work of the women coming together to save our democracy. Election administration has become one of the most challenging jobs in the U.S. government. One in three election officials reports feeling unsafe because of their job. Americans are doubting the legitimacy of our elections, despite the fact that experts described the 2020 election as the “most secure” in American history.

In the face of these fundamental challenges to our democracy—and in an environment increasingly characterized by political polarization—how can we protect our elections, and support our elections officials?

Helping us to sort out these questions and set the record straight are our very special guests: 

Natalie Adona: Natalie Adona is the county clerk-recorder elect and former assistant clerk-recorder/registrar of voters for Nevada County, Calif. She previously worked as the senior research and learning associate for the elections program at Democracy Fund, where she co-authored the reports "Understanding the Voter Experience” and “Stewards of Democracy.”

Tonya Wichman: Tonya Wichman is the director of the Defiance County Board of Elections in Defiance, Ohio, and a certified elections and registration administrator. 

Kathy Holland: Kathy Holland was the director of the Alamance County Board of Elections for over 31 years until she retired in 2021. She served in eight presidential elections, and was the president of the North Carolina Association of Directors of Elections.

This special episode of On the Issues with Michele Goodwin is presented in conjunction with Ms. Magazine’s “Women Saving Democracy” platform, produced in collaboration with the Brennan Center for Justice and RepresentWomen. Explore the whole project—featuring reported pieces, firsthand accounts from election officials, video events with women political leaders, and more—here. 

Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.

Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com. 

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In this episode, we dive into a topic that’s more relevant than ever this election season: masculinity. White men are mobilizing to support Kamala Harris and we unpack why.  Polls are showing a growing gender gap, this election season—with women favoring Harris, while men favor Trump—but is the polling accurate? If so, what can we learn from this? How have the election’s gender politics changed, in the wake of Vice President Kamala Harris running for president? How does Trump continue to influence American masculinities years after leaving political office—and how will masculinity influence the outcome of the 2024 presidential election?

Helping us to sort out these questions and set the record straight is our very special guest,

Jackson Katz: Jackson Katz, Ph.D., is a regular Ms. contributor and creator of the 2020 documentary The Man Card: White Male Identity Politics from Nixon to Trump, which was just rereleased in a newly revised and updated version. He is also a member of the Young Men Research Initiative working group and founder of Men for Democracy.

Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.

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In this episode, we consider the American landscape as children go back to school.  As mass shootings devastate communities across the country, parents are packing bulletproof protection in their children’s backpacks and sending them to school with lessons on how to survive a mass shooting. Jackson Katz joins Dr. Michele Goodwin to discuss the complicated issues at the heart of this crisis including questions related to masculinity, why mass shootings are overwhelmingly committed by men, and the implications in light of the rise in white supremacy in the United States.

Joining us to discuss these vital issues is our special guest: 

Jackson Katz is a scholar and activist working on issues of gender, race and violence. He is co-founder of Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP), as well as the author of two acclaimed books and creator of the award-winning Tough Guise educational documentary series. 

Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.

Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com. 

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In this episode, we are live with the National Women’s History Museum for an incredibly important episode addressing reproductive health rights and justice from a historical point of view.  In the wake of the overturn of Roe, we've seen horrific cases: a 10-year-old girl fleeing the state of Ohio to get to Indiana in order to terminate a pregnancy after rape; a Wisconsin woman bleeding for more than 10 days with an incomplete miscarriage before doctors could provide her the standard medical treatment; and so much more. The political situation that’s led to these cases becoming commonplace has deep roots in America’s history of slavery, reproductive restrictions, and controlling women’s bodies. So, how did we get here?

We're unpacking the historical events that led us to the Dobbs v. Jackson decision, and examining how the Supreme Court failed in its analysis and recounting of America’s history around reproductive health, rights, and justice.

Joining us for this special event are:

Professor Mary Ziegler is a professor of law at the UC Davis School of Law, as well as one of the world’s leading historians of the U.S. abortion debate. Ziegler is also the author of Abortion and the Law in America: A Legal History, as well as the recently released Dollars for Life: The Antiabortion Movement and the Fall of the Republican Establishment. 
 
Professor Sarah Dubow is a professor of history at Williams College and author of the award-winning book, Ourselves Unborn: A History of the Fetus in Modern America. 
 
Professor Deborah White is the board of governors professor of History and professor of Women and Gender Studies at Rutgers University. She’s also the author of Ar'n't I a Woman? Female Slaves in the Plantation South. 

Rate and review “On the Issues with Michele Goodwin" to let us know what you think of the show! Let’s show the power of independent feminist media.
 
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.

Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com. 

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After a Supreme Court term unlike any other in nearly a century, confidence in what was once a revered body has sunk to a historic low. Only 25 percent of Americans report having confidence in the United States Supreme Court.  

In this episode we are joined by a sold-out, live studio audience at the Irvine Barclay Theatre to capture the 2022 Supreme Court Term in Review.  Our host, Dr. Michele Goodwin, along with leading national experts, explore critical rulings from this term, including: Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturned 49-year-old federal abortion protections established in Roe v. Wade; New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, which struck down a 111-year-old state protection requiring gun owners to show “proper cause” for concealed carry licenses; West Virginia v. EPA, which ruled the agency has no executive jurisdiction to regulate certain greenhouse gas emissions; and more.

Joining Dr. Goodwin were special guests:

• Aziza Ahmed, professor of law, Boston University School of Law

• Erwin Chemerinsky, dean, Berkeley Law

• Mary Anne Franks, professor of law and Michael R. Klein distinguished scholar chair, University of Miami School of Law; author, The Cult of the Constitution

• Regina Mahone, The Nation

• Mark Joseph Stern, Slate Magazine

• Mary Ziegler, professor of law, UC Davis School of Law

and a special guest appearance by H. Adam Harris.

Rate and review “On the Issues with Michele Goodwin" to let us know what you think of the show! Let’s show the power of independent feminist media.
 
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.

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The unspeakable has finally come to pass: The Supreme Court has ruled, in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson, to overturn Roe v. Wade and roll back abortion rights across the U.S. For the first time, the Court has taken away a fundamental right that so many depend on. 

This unprecedented assault on bodily autonomy will unleash significant harms across the country — particularly for those most marginalized, including poor women and girls, women of color, LGBTQ people and disabled people. It also raises fundamental questions when it comes to the dismantling of privacy protections — the opinion calls into question other fundamental rights decided by the court including the right to birth control, same sex marriage, and more. 

How can this decision be justified in light of glaring rates of maternal mortality and mortality? How can we move forward and secure the rights of those most impacted by this devastating ruling? And how can we center those most vulnerable among us, and ensure they’re included in the promise of our constitution? 

In this episode, "On The Issues" host Dr. Michele Goodwin speaks directly to our audience, unpacking the Dobbs decision and what comes next. 

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In this episode, we’re recognizing the 50th anniversary of Title IX — the historic federal legislation that transformed the landscape of gender equality in public education. We’re also honoring the legacy of its chief proponent: Patsy Takemoto Mink, who defied all odds in many ways as the first woman of color in Congress.  

Joining Dr. Goodwin for this episode is a very special guest:

Professor Gwendolyn Mink. Wendy Mink is the daughter of Patsy Takemoto Mink, and the co-author of Fierce and Fearless: Patsy Takemoto Mink, First Woman of Color in Congress.

Rate and review “On the Issues with Michele Goodwin" to let us know what you think of the show! Let’s show the power of independent feminist media.
 
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.

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In May, we learned in a leaked draft opinion obtained by Politico that the Supreme Court is expected to reverse itself on Roe v. Wade, Planned Parenthood v. Casey, and a legacy of abortion jurisprudence upholding reproductive freedom — profoundly dismantling abortion rights in the U.S.  If Roe and Casey are overturned in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, grave consequences are in store for our democracy and the rule of law. 

On today’s show, released in conjunction with our Beyond Roe: The Fight for Our Future project, we’re proud to share a special discussion: an in-depth exploration on why abortion is essential to the health of our democracy and society — and why democracy is essential to abortion, particularly given the alarming rates of maternal mortality and morbidity in the U.S.  Recorded before a live studio audience at NPR’s WNYC Studios in New York City, our slate of experts came together in person on April 20 at an event co-hosted with the Brennan Center for Justice and NYU Law’s Birnbaum Women’s Leadership Network.

Experts dug deep on questions such as: How should we consid­er parallel affronts to participation and representation—the wave of state voting restrictions and gerrymandering? Can we look to state courts to provide new avenues in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s ruling? What are the legal and soci­etal impacts of crim­in­al­iz­ing preg­nancy and abor­tion on vulnerable communities, including among individuals with disabilities, LGBTQ people seeking reproductive healthcare, indigent Americans, and communit­ies of color?

Joining Dr. Goodwin in front of a live studio audience at WNYC :

• Melissa Murray, Frederick I. and Grace Stokes professor of law at NYU Law; faculty director at the Birnbaum Women’s Law Network; and member of the Brennan Center Board of Directors
• Lourdes Rivera, senior vice president of U.S. programs at the Center for Reproductive Rights
• Monica Raye Simpson, executive director of SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective.

Rate and review “On the Issues with Michele Goodwin" to let us know what you think of the show! Let’s show the power of independent feminist media.
 
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.

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The future of abortion care is here: A safe, legal abortion in the comfort of your own home—accessed via mail and telehealth, delivered right to your door.  

So, what do you need to know about abortion pills? How do they work? How long has medication abortion been available? Is it safe? (The answer’s yes!) Is it legal? (Yes!) Is it effective? (Extremely.)
 
Joining Michele Goodwin for this episode is an expert on the subject:
 
Dr. Julie Amaon, a family medicine doctor working for Just the Pill, a nonprofit telemedicine abortion provider based in the Twin Cities and serving people in Minnesota, Montana and Wyoming, as well as people coming from surrounding states.

Rate and review “On the Issues with Michele Goodwin" to let us know what you think of the show! Let’s show the power of independent feminist media.
 
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.

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In this episode, we’re turning back to Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's confirmation hearings, and the messaging we saw play out. Ahead of the 2022 midterm elections, what were Republican senators signaling? What's ahead for the First Amendment?  Criminal Justice?  LGBTQ equality?  Are senators signaling the desire to do away with fundamental constitutional protections and why?  What issues should we be concerned about?  Joining us for this timely discussion is a very special guest:

Jill Wine-Banks: Jill Wine-Banks is an MSNBC legal analyst. She began her career as the first woman to serve as an organized crime prosecutor at the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington D.C. After just over four years, her trial capabilities and win record led her to be selected as one of the three assistant Watergate special prosecutors, where she, again, was the only woman.

Rate and review “On the Issues with Michele Goodwin" to let us know what you think of the show! Let’s show the power of independent feminist media.
 
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.

Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com. 

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