5/3/2022 -
A first draft majority opinion written by Justice Samuel Alito indicated the court would overturn Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. The final opinion, which could be different than the leak, is not due to be published by the Supreme Court until late June 2022.
12/17/2021 -
On Dec. 16, 2021, the FDA permanently lifted the in-person requirements for mifepristone, which will be available via telemedicine appointments and the mail. However, telemedicine appointments for abortions were banned in 19 states and six states had bans on mailing the pills in place at the time of the decision.
9/22/2021 -
A Sep. 22, 2021 Marquette Law School survey found 20% were in favor of overturning Roe v. Wade, 50% were opposed, and 29% said they didn’t have enough information. Two other surveys support the findings.
9/8/2021 -
On Sep. 1, 2021, the most restrictive “fetal heartbeat” law to date went into effect in Texas after the US Supreme Court refused in a 5-4 vote to block the law. The law bars abortions after six weeks, has no exceptions for rape or incest, and has only a narrow exception for the health of the mother. Further, the law bars state officials from enforcing the law, instead deputizing private citizens who may bring a $10,000 lawsuit (plus legal fees) against anyone they suspect of performing or “aiding and abetting” an abortion, making the law more difficult to challenge in court.
6/9/2021 -
A June 2021 Gallup poll found 47% of Americans believed abortion to be morally acceptable, while 46% believed it not to be. 48% thought abortion should be legal “only under certain circumstances,” 32% “under any circumstances,” and 19% “illegal in all circumstances.”
1/28/2021 -
The policy restricted all non-governmental organizations funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) from performing or promoting abortion services and has been reinstated by all Republican presidents and revoked by all Democratic presidents since Reagan implemented it in 1984.
7/15/2020 -
The ruling allows healthcare providers nationwide to mail mifepristone for the duration of the pandemic.
6/29/2020 -
The law required admitting privileges similar to a Texas law the Supreme Court struck down in 2016.
4/9/2020 -
At least seven states have enacted de facto abortion bans by listing abortion as a non-essential medical procedure. The bans in most states were struck down by federal judges, while the ban in Texas was upheld.
1/23/2020 -
This week marks the 47th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision, as well as the 47th annual March for Life. Read pro and con quotes arguing for and against legal abortion.
11/18/2019 -
Find the views of 18 churches from Buddhism to Judaism to the Southern Baptist Convention the on whether abortion should be a legal option.
10/18/2019 -
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 24 on Oct. 11, 2019. Under the new law, the University of California (UC) and California State University systems, which encompass 737,328 students, will be required to provide access to medical abortion pills on all campuses beginning in Jan. 2023.
9/20/2019 -
According to a Sep. 2019 Guttmacher Institute study, abortion rates have dropped about 7% since 2014 and are at the lowest rate since 1973 when abortion was legalized.
8/29/2019 -
Learn about the presidential candidates’ views on important issues, compare them with a side-by-side chart, find your best match with a fun quiz, track their finances, and so much more on our 2020 Presidential Election website. The New York Times called our previous presidential election site “The most comprehensive tool for researching the candidate’s stance on issues.” Check back monthly for expanded issue coverage.
2/21/2019 -
Our new topic explores the pros and cons in the debate over making birth control pills available over-the-counter (OTC). 9.1 million women (12.6% of contraceptive users) use birth control pills, which are the second-most commonly used method of contraception in the United States. Proponents say making the birth control pill available over-the-counter would lower teen pregnancy rates, provide contraceptive access to medically underserved women, and ease access to a health-improving drug with decades of safe use. Opponents say making the Pill over-the-counter would raise the cost of contraception for women, pose a danger to teens’ and women’s health by removing the doctor’s visit requirement, and limit what options are made available.
Our new website presents the top pro & con arguments and quotes, a history of the debate, a video gallery, the prescription status of birth control pills around the world, and a list of drugs switched from prescription to OTC status.