August 20, 2024

“I can’t imagine not having choice. But today, that’s the reality for many women and girls across the country because of Donald Trump’s abortion bans. ... He calls it a beautiful thing. What is so beautiful about a child having to carry her parent’s child?”

That was Hadley Duvall speaking Monday from a stage in Chicago. After her stepfather sexually assaulted her, Duvall became pregnant at age 12. As she spoke, a palpable hush struck the more than 20,000 inside the convention hall and likely millions more in living rooms across America.

Abortion rights have been a lightning rod issue in American politics since before the 1973 landmark Roe v. Wade decision. In the past quarter-century, an argument could be made that the foot soldiers of the anti-abortion movement have been winning. Motivated white evangelicals, for example, have in large part sent Republican presidents to the White House who appointed today's hardline conservatives to the U.S. Supreme Court. 

The game has changed, though. 

Today, advocates for abortion rights are more vocal, numerous and increasing in numbers every election cycle. This week, we introduce you to three women who made history at the Democratic National Convention by speaking about their experiences with abortion and reproductive health. 

This week's episode of the Reckon True Stories is a nice complement to this discussion. Keep reading to see why.

Let's talk about it.

Abortion takes center stage

Three women — Amanda Zurawski, Kaitlyn Joshua and Hadley Duvall — spoke about their experiences with abortion, miscarriage and pregnancy on the opening night of Democratic National Convention.

It was the first time a woman would share stories about abortion from the convention stage. 

Zurawski, who rose to prominence after suing the state of Texas over its abortion ban, was a guest at President Joe Biden’s February 2023 State of the Union address; she also shared her experience in an April ad on behalf of what was then the campaign to re-elect Biden. 

Joshua, of Louisiana, has been a regular presence at Harris campaign events and appeared in a June ad for the Democratic presidential campaign. Duvall, a Kentucky resident, appeared in a campaign spot for Gov. Andy Beshear last year, and in a July ad backing Biden.

Abortion is a core component of the election pitch (as well as many down-ticket Dems). 

Abortion has not historically received this much attention at the party’s national gathering. But it reflects the fact that this year the party views abortion — an issue on which they generally poll better with voters than do Republicans — as one that could help them retain the White House, and potentially even win control of Congress.

Data points were made

Conventional wisdom (at least the kind that tends to be fodder for TV political punditry) has long held that Americans hold little-c conservative views on abortion.

If that was ever true, it ain't no more. Today, more Americans want abortion to be legal; fewer and fewer want it outlawed outright. Here are some facts about the ways people are voting differently on abortion.

—According to a 2023 Public Religion Research Institute survey,  55% of Americans say abortion should be legal in most or all cases; more interestingly, the percentage of Americans who say abortion should be illegal in most or all cases is down to 35% from 42% in 2010, when PRRI first started tracking the data. 

—Relative minor differences exist between genders with 62% of men and 65% of women saying that abortion should be legal in most or all cases. Fewer than one in ten men (8%) or women (9%) say that abortion should be illegal in all cases (PRRI)

— A record 54% of Americans identify as “pro-choice,” compared to 41% who identify as “pro-life” (Gallup)

—While 32% of voters say they will only vote for candidates who share their views on abortion, abortion-centric pro-choice voters have outnumbered abortion-centric pro-life voters for three consecutive years, marking a reversal of the pro-life advantage between 1996 and 2020 (Gallup)

—Having mifepristone available as a prescription drug is favored by 64% of women and 58% of men. While only about a third of Republicans, 32%, are in favor, it is backed by 61% of independents and 87% of Democrats (Gallup)

—When it comes to future nominees to the Supreme Court, 51% of Americans say it is “very important” that nominees share their views on abortion

–Republicans are singing a slightly different tune. For the first time in 40 years, a federal abortion ban is not part of the 2024 GOP platform (Kaiser Family Foundation)

—Among women, 60% of Republican and Republican-leaning independent women support leaving abortion legality up to the states; 57% support a nationwide ban on abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy (KFF)

—Half of Republican women think abortion should be legal in all or most cases, while the other 50% think it should be illegal (KFF)

Our men, our men, our men.....

Call it an antidote to podcast bros. 

In this week's episode of Reckon True Stories, Deesha and Kiese discuss the “manosphere,” — specifically how Black men show up in the space of it, and how Black women respond to it. 

You won't want to miss this conversation.

Please rate, review and share the episode on Apple podcasts, Spotify and more.

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