rePROs Fight Back

The incoming Trump administration won’t just devastate sexual and reproductive health in the United States—the harm will absolutely ripple abroad. Rachel Clement, Senior Director of Government Strategy at PAI, sits down to talk with us about the prospect of global human rights under the incoming administration and potential harmful policy to come.

Already, less than 1% of the U.S. budget goes to foreign assistance. And, under the Trump administration, it’s incredibly likely that UNFPA will be defunded, in tandem with cutting funding in other UN spaces like the WHO, UNESCO, and UN Women. During the last Trump administration, the Geneva Consensus Declaration was created to undermine the United Nations and multilateralism in general, while the Commission on Unalienable Rights, out of the State Department, sought to re-define human rights; these tools and others like them might reemerge. In all, attacks to gender and sexual and reproductive health and rights around the world will be enormous, especially with the probable reintroduction of the expanded Global Gag Rule. 

For more information, check out Relationscapes: https://www.relationscapes.org/

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A new Supreme Court case, United States v. Skrmetti, will challenge Tennessee’s Senate Bill 1, which prohibits gender-affirming care for transgender minors. Katelyn Burns, columnist for MSNBC, first ever openly trans Capitol Hill Reporter, co-host of the podcast Cancel Me Daddy, and co-founder of the publication the Flytrap, sits down to talk with us about this case and what realities the trans community will face under the new administration.  

Tennessee’s law would ban best practice medical care for trans youth up to 18, require youth being treated to cease care within nine months of the law’s effect, and allow for private right of action against medical providers providing gender-affirming care. This specific case is aimed toward transgender minors but will be used as an entry point to target adult care, too. This is on top of extremely likely increases to attacks to transgender folks’ health and rights under the incoming Trump administration, bolstered already by harmful cabinet nominees. 

For more information, check out Relationscapes: https://www.relationscapes.org/

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The November election will undoubtedly send sexual and reproductive health, rights, and justice (SRHRJ) spiraling. Erin Matson, Co-Founder, President, and CEO of Reproaction, sits down to talk with us about the devastating consequences of a second Trump administration and what actions can be taken now before inauguration day.

Top of mind is the implementation of Project 2025 and the Life at Conception Act, which would institute federal fetal personhood and override state law to act as a federal abortion ban. It would also ban contraception, invitro fertilization (IVF), and fertility treatment. There is also a likelihood that pregnancy criminalization will increase and attacks to the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) and the abortion pill, mifepristone, will increase. Mass application of the Comstock Act, a 150-year-old-law that could ban mailing of the abortion pill and the gutting of regulatory agencies are also on the table. There are some protective actions the Biden administration can take before January. You can also find additional ways to take personal action in our Take Action section.

For more information, check out Relationscapes: https://www.relationscapes.org/

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After the Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, and for many years before, Florida served as an abortion access point for many people in the South. But with changing judicial interpretation of “privacy” in the state, access to abortion in Florida has shifted. Laura Goodhue, Executive Director of Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates, sits down to talk with us about the status of abortion access in Florida and the outcome of the state ballot initiative in the November 2024 election. 

After the passage of S.B. 8 in Texas and the overturning of Roe, clinics in the northern area of Florida saw a quadrupled number of patients coming in from out of state seeking care. In May 2024, Florida passed a 6-week abortion ban, which has drastically impacted access for both Floridians and those traveling for abortion care. This year’s ballot initiative was aimed at passing a citizen-led Constitutional amendment clarifying that abortion is a decision to be left to a doctor and patient. It passed by 57%; but the current rule in Florida requires a 60% majority vote for the initiative to pass, so it did not go into effect. Find more information on Florida’s Amendment 4 here.

For more information, check out Relationscapes: https://www.relationscapes.org/

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Power to Decide, a national nonprofit dedicated to advancing sexual and reproductive wellbeing for all, has launched a new survey initiative called the Youth Reproductive Health Access Survey. It aims to collect annual data on young people’s access to sexual and reproductive health services, with emphasis on contraception and abortion. Riley Steiner, Senior Director, Research and Evaluation at Power to Decide, sits down to talk to us about the survey’s findings—including information gaps, preferences, and service provision related to young people’s access to basic contraceptive care.

The survey’s data is collected online from approximately 1,000 young people ages 15-29, assigned female at birth. Power to Decide collected striking knowledge gaps and notable findings, including that a quarter of respondents indicated that they didn't have enough information to decide whether using birth control was the right thing for them and that a third of respondents indicated that they didn't have enough information to decide which birth control methods are right for them. Because there’s a noted lack of information and access, Power to Decide’s findings show that providers and advocates must think creatively to get young people the care they need. 

For more information, check out Relationscapes: https://www.relationscapes.org/

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Today is already stressful as is—that’s why we thought it a perfect time for round 6 of our series, SRHR Hero Origin Stories! If you haven’t already, check out our previous episodes, SRHR Hero Origin Stories, SRHR Hero Origin Stories: Round 2, SRHR Hero Origin Stories: Round 3, SRHR Hero Origin Stories: Round 4, and SRHR Origin Stories: Round 5, where we talked to a number of amazing heroes in the field of reproductive health, rights, and justice about how they began working in this space. We hope you enjoy the reprisal of our most popular podcast episode, talking to leaders about their work, passions, and journeys into the field of reproductive health for a fifth time!

Guests include: 

Jennie Wetter – rePROs Fight Back

Shireen Rose Shakouri – Reproaction

Kate Kelly – Center for American Progress

Maniza Habib – Population Institute

Dázon Dixon Diallo – SisterLove, Inc

Sarah Craven – UNFPA 

For more information, check out Relationscapes: https://www.relationscapes.org/

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On election day, Arizonans can vote to amend the state Constitution to establish the fundamental right to abortion. This amendment, which would undoubtedly increase access to abortion care, is especially salient given that Arizona has become an abortion access battleground state since the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision that overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. Alex Gomez, Executive Director of LUCHA – Living United for Change in Arizona, sits down to talk to us about Proposition 139 and what its possible passage may mean for the future of abortion in the state. 

 Proposition 139, the Right to Abortion Initiative, would enshrine abortion access into the state constitution and conclude that Arizona may not interfere with an individual’s pregnancy before the point of fetal viability (the measure also protects access past fetal viability in cases of protecting the life, physical, or mental health of the pregnant person). In addition, the ballot initiative would prevent punitive laws aimed at people accessing abortion, or those assisting them. 

For more information, check out Relationscapes: https://www.relationscapes.org/

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Disinformation around reproductive health and rights is highly strategic, leading to pervasive narratives that intentionally divide and control. Anneshia Hardy, scholar-activist, social impact entrepreneur, and narrative strategist, and Executive Director of both Alabama Values and Alabama Values Progress, sits down to talk to us about pervasive narratives and mis- and disinformation surrounding sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), particularly in the Black community, and how busting these narratives is crucial in the fight for bodily autonomy and liberation. 

This conversation is rooted in years of historical context. In the U.S., Black women have faced generations of exploitation and control over their bodies, and much of this exploitation and control exists to this day. Other birthing people, including Indigenous, Latinx, and Asian people, as well as people with disabilities, have also faced reproductive violence in the U.S. Some of the most marginalized communities are also unduly impacted by false narratives around SRHR, including: SRHR is separate from racial justice or only a “woman’s issue”; abortion bans are about “protecting babies,”; or abortion is a moral and religious imperative. Control over our bodies is fundamental to liberation, and these narratives not only impede—but disproportionately so—people’s ability to live freely. 

For more information, check out Relationscapes: https://www.relationscapes.org/

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From self-care advice to an imaginary performance on the Great British Bake Off, Rachel Fey, Vice President, Policy, and Strategic Partnerships at Power to Decide, asks our host Jennie Wetter a collection of ask me anything (AMA) questions!

For more information, check out Relationscapes: https://www.relationscapes.org/

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Abortion is a human right—it’s outlined in international treaties and standards that apply to the United States. But even before Roe v. Wade was overturned, the United States was not meeting its human rights obligations. Tarah Demant, National Director of Programs at Amnesty International USA, sits down to talk with us about a new Amnesty report highlighting the status of U.S. abortion access since the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization Supreme Court case that overturned Roe. 

Because of Dobbs, and in partnership with subsequent state-based abortion bans, millions of people are facing increased barriers to abortion care. These barriers are, and always have been, disproportionately faced by different populations and communities in the U.S. Some elements that are impacting access to care post-Roe include the logistical and financial costs of travel, in-person requirements, the rise in pregnancy criminalization, and the criminalization of medical professionals and advocates. With exceptions (which do not provide as much flexibility as made to seem) stacked on top of these cases, access is incredibly difficult to achieve. Learn more in the Amnesty International USA report, accessible in the links section below.

For more information, check out Relationscapes: https://www.relationscapes.org/

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