The Journalism and Women Symposium (JAWS) celebrated the legacy of women journalists at a reception on October 2 hosted at the Ms. office. The gathering brought together journalists, longtime JAWS members, and feminist advocates to recognize the women who helped shape media and discuss the importance of preserving their work for future generations. The reception […]
Mail-In Ballots are Safe, For Now
As early voting gets underway in many states, voters can continue to rely on existing mail-in voting procedures for the 2026 midterm elections. On September 14, the US Supreme Court declined to allow the Trump administration to implement new restrictions that would have given the USPS a greater role in determining which voters could receive […]
ICC Arrest Warrants Challenge the Normalization of Taliban Rule and Gender Persecution
On October 5, the International Criminal Court (ICC) unsealed arrest warrants for four senior Taliban officials. They include Taliban Supreme Leader Haibatullah Akhundzada, Chief Justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani, Education Minister Habibullah Agha, and Higher Education Minister Neda Mohammad Nadim. The warrants were issued in July 2025 but had remained sealed. The ICC says there are […]
Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month Has Ended, But the Need for Research Remains
September marked Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, but the need for greater research, better treatment, and improved early detection does not end when the month does. Ovarian cancer is expected to cause nearly 14,000 deaths in the US this year. Despite the burden of the disease, detecting ovarian cancer early remains a significant challenge. Ovarian cancer […]
The Cornell 57: How Educational Institutions Fail Women
Note: This article contains discussions of rape and sexual assault. If you or someone you have experienced sexual violence, help is available 24/7. Contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline or call 1-800-656-4673. On the night of October 19, 2024, a 20-year old Cornell University undergraduate student, identified as Jane Doe in court filings and media […]
New Poll Finds Voters Concerned about Rights and Democracy Ahead of 2026 Midterms
A new national poll from The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights finds that voters are increasingly concerned about threats to their rights, democracy, and the 2026 elections. The 2026 Civil Rights Monitor found that 82% of voters are concerned that rights and freedoms are being taken away or rolled back, the highest level […]
Addressing the Economic Costs of Sexual Violence: The Survivors’ Rights Restitution Act
On September 15, 2026, Rep. Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez (NM-03), and Rep. Deborah Ross (NC-02) introduced the Survivors Rights Restitution Act. This legislation would establish a federal restitution program for survivors of sexual violence whose rights were violated by the federal government. The bill would include survivors of abuse by Jeffrey Epstein […]
Afghan Women Are Restricted, But They Cannot Be Silenced. They Continue to Be Agents of Change in Afghanistan.
Afghan women have been living under one of the most repressive systems in the world, as the Taliban continue to impose restrictive edicts – over 160 in total to date. These orders restrict their ability to work, attend school, move freely and even leave their homes without a male guardian. Yet despite the barriers the […]
2026 Midterm Elections: A Guide to Voting and Making an Informed Choice
With Election Day less than 40 days away, voters across the country are preparing to cast ballots in the 2026 midterm elections. On November 3, voters will decide congressional, state, and local races, and ballot measures in states across the country. With so many races and issues on the same ballot, it is crucial that […]
Get the Flock Out
On September 23rd, the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism held a hearing titled “Always Watching: Flock’s Nationwide AI Surveillance Network,” examining the privacy risks, data sharing, and misuse of private automated license plate reader (ALPR) networks. The hearing was chaired by Sen. Hawley (R-MO) and featured five witnesses, including Lindsey Isaacs, a wrongfully […]
Virginia Voters Will Decide the Future of Reproductive Freedom, Marriage Equality, and Voting Rights This November
On November 3rd, Virginia voters will decide on three proposed amendments to the state constitution concerning reproductive freedom, marriage, and voting rights. The amendments would add a constitutional right to reproductive freedom, remove Virginia’s constitutional prohibition on same-sex marriage and require equal treatment of marriages, and automatically restore voting rights to people convicted of felonies […]
Five Years Later, Girls in Afghanistan Are Still Waiting For School Doors To Open
For five years, girls above sixth grade have been barred from classrooms, making Afghanistan the only country in the world where girls are banned from secondary and higher education. The ban was initially said to be a temporary measure but has now defined half a decade of life for millions of Afghan girls. For them, […]
A Restraining Order Is Not Enough When an Abuser Has a Gun
October 1st marks the beginning of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a month dedicated to bringing attention to domestic violence and supporting efforts to prevent it. Domestic violence can include physical violence, sexual violence, stalking and psychological aggression. These forms of violence affect millions of Americans each year, with perpetrators often being current or former intimate […]
Ectopic Pregnancy Deaths Have Nearly Doubled: Are Abortion Bans the Cause?
The number of ectopic pregnancy deaths has doubled over the past five years, according to a recent ProPublica analysis of federal data. Almost 200 women have died from ectopic pregnancy between 2020 and 2025. While ectopic pregnancy deaths increased nationwide, the increase was greater in states with strict abortion bans. An ectopic pregnancy occurs when […]
Nepal’s Floods Are Putting Women and Girls at Greater Risk
As devastating floods continue to affect communities across Nepal, women and girls are facing increased risks of hunger, violence, exploitation, and displacement. On August 26, a devastating flash flood struck Nepal, destroying homes, roads, bridges and critical infrastructure across several regions near the Nepal-Tibet border. More than 500 people have been killed, nearly 1,000 remain […]
One Louisiana Case Could End Telehealth Abortions for the Whole Country
On September 9, the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans heard oral arguments in Louisiana v. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, a case that could restrict access to mifepristone nationwide. Louisiana is challenging changes the FDA made to the drug’s Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) in 2023, which removed […]
Record ICE Arrests Reveal the Expanding Reach of Immigration Enforcement
In June of 2026, US immigration officers, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), arrested a record of 43,138 people. The figure represents the highest number of arrests since President Donald Trump took office in January 2025 and an increase of 5,450 people from early April, an almost 15% difference. The increase comes as immigration enforcement […]
No Girls and women in Classrooms. No Women in Health Clinics. Afghanistan’s Healthcare Crisis Deepens by the Day.
It has been five years since women and girls in Afghanistan have been among the primary targets of the Taliban regime. Their rights to go to school, go to work, and even leave their homes have been taken away. A direct consequence of these restrictions is a crumbling health system, under pressure from a lack […]
The Absence of Affordable Child Care is Keeping Women Out of the Workforce
On September 1, the House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education held a hearing titled “Supporting Working Families: State-Led Child Care Solutions.” The hearing examined how states are addressing the labor and child care crisis and highlighted the growing need for affordable, quality child care and its relation to women […]
The Trump-Epstein Reading Room Hits The Road
A traveling exhibit is forcing the public to confront the Epstein files and the institutions that failed survivors. The exhibit features 3,437 books lining the walls of the rooms, together containing approximately 3.5 million pages of Department of Justice files related to Jeffrey Epstein. The Donald J. Trump and Jeffrey Epstein Memorial Reading Room, created […]