A new threat to abortion rights is emerging nationwide: the ability of private citizens to sue over out-of-state abortion care. Jerry Rodriguez, a Texas citizen, has sued Remy Coeytaux, a doctor who practices in California, for prescribing abortion pills to Rodriguez’s girlfriend on two separate occasions. While this lawsuit may be the first of its […]
Walking for Peace: How Buddhist Monks Reminded America of Compassion
Peace, compassion, and unity are simply ideals. Yet in a society shaped by polarization, noise, and division, they often feel distant. In a moment when nearly everything is politicized, a group of Buddhist monks set out to remind us that peace does not have to be complicated, we make it so. Starting on October 26th, […]
Illinois Faces Federal Defunding Over The State Law Requiring Abortion Referrals
On January 21, 2026, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Office of Civil Rights (OCR), issued a Notice of Violation to the State of Illinois. This notice alleged that the 2016 Amendment of the Illinois Health Care Right of Conscience Act (HCRCA) violates the Weldon and Coats-Snowe Amendments as they relate […]
Removal of “Option 3” on the 988 Suicide Hotline Poses Extreme Mental Health Risk for LGBTQ+ Youth
The foundation of LGBTQ+ mental health support is crumbling. This past summer, the current administration decided to remove “Option 3” from the 988 Suicide Hotline, which was specifically for LGBTQ+ people in crisis. The elimination of this option puts already vulnerable LGBTQ+ youth and adults at serious risk. Launched in 2022 with bipartisan support, the […]
Investors’ Undervaluation of Women’s Health Mirrors America’s Devaluation of Women’s Bodies
For decades, women’s healthcare has been narrowly framed around reproduction and fertility, despite the reality that women’s health extends far beyond these boundaries. At the same time, women are expected to drive the economy, working, caregiving, and managing the health of their families, while the healthcare system continues to undervalue their needs. Until 1985, women’s […]
Supreme Court Weighs Landmark Cases on Transgender Students and School Sports
On January 13, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in two landmark cases that could dramatically reshape the future of transgender rights in education and athletics: Little v. Hecox and West Virginia v. B.P.J. The cases challenge state laws that categorically bar transgender girls and women from participating in school sports, raising fundamental […]
Mamdani and Hochul Announce Plan to Make N.Y. Child Care Universal
It has only been a few weeks since the new Mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani, took office, and he is already putting new initiatives into action. Both the New York Governor, Kathy Hochul, and Mayor Mamdani announced on January 8 a new investment in affordable health and child care in the state. New […]
Bogota Implements Care Blocks: A Monumental Shift Away from Unpaid Labor
Bogota, Columbia has been making historic strides towards gender equity by investing in government-provided care labor through programs known as “care blocks.” These “care blocks” provide an opportunity for women to drop off their children to create more free time. With this free time, mothers have an opportunity to run errands, meet with different consultants, […]
The Women Intertwined in Venezuela’s Fate
On January 3, 2026, a military operation carried out by U.S. armed forces in the capital of Venezuela resulted in the capture of Cilia Flores and her husband, President Nicolás Maduro. This has led to an ongoing state of emergency and authoritarian measures, which have impacted political dissent and civil society. Yet much of the […]
What is the Pregnant Students’ Rights Act Missing?
In December 2025, H.R.6359, the Pregnant Students’ Rights Act, was introduced by Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA-2) and then referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce. On the surface, the bill is intended to require higher education institutions to provide information to pregnant students to support them through pregnancy and the postpartum period. However, […]
Elon Musk’s Grok AI and the Rise of Nonconsensual Sexual Abuse
Elon Musk’s Grok AI is being used to create nonconsensual explicit photos and videos of women and children. These range from photos of people in revealing garments to extremely graphic and violent pornographic material. Grok AI is “an AI assistant with a twist of humor and a dash of rebellion.” It can be used on […]
Wyoming Court Delivers Major Victory for Abortion Access
As of January 6, abortion remains legal in Wyoming after the Wyoming Supreme Court struck down two state laws aimed at banning abortion in State v. Johnson. One of the overturned laws sought to ban abortion except to save a pregnant woman’s life or in cases involving rape or incest. The other would have been […]
China Increases Tax on Contraceptives in an Attempt to Boost Birth Rate
On January 1st, 2026, China implemented a 13% VAT (value-added tax) on birth control and other forms of contraception to boost birth rates. China, the world’s second-largest economy, has been experiencing a decline in its birth rate, especially over the last three years. This tax move is intended to help boost ‘fertility-friendly’ measures and “love […]
South Carolina Senate Rejects Push for Abortion Criminalization Bill
A South Carolina bill that would have become one of the nation’s most extreme abortion bans has failed to advance in the state Senate. The bill’s collapse highlights deep divisions among Republicans over how far they are willing to go in restricting reproductive rights. The bill, S.323, also known as the “Unborn Child Protection Act,” […]
FDA Removes Black Box Warning from Menopause Hormone Therapies
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has removed its boxed warning from more than twenty hormone-based therapies used to treat menopause symptoms, marking a major change in how the agency regulates these medications. The FDA’s update applies to products that deliver estrogen or estrogen-progestin combinations through pills, patches, gels, or sprays. The boxed warning, also […]
A Big Win for Education in Michigan
On October 7, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed her seventh education budget, MI SB0166, into law. This bipartisan budget puts parents and kids first, offering significant relief to parents, local school districts, and students. It provides more flexibility to focus on active learning while addressing the daunting realities of food insecurity and large classroom sizes that […]
The Gendered Toll of U.S. Immigration Policy
Since 2025, the United States has witnessed an explosive surge in the number of people detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In just 4 months of Trump’s second term, there has been a 17% increase compared to his first term. Since Biden’s presidency, the detention rates have skyrocketed by 46%. This extreme level of mass deportation is […]
Leaked Young Republicans Chat Exposes Deep-Rooted Racism and Hate Within the Party’s Ranks
On Tuesday, October 14, Politico released exclusive messages from private group chats among members of the Young Leaders Republican organizations. The leaked messages revealed horrifying racial slurs, antisemitic comments, and even references to genocidal violence, all exchanged by individuals pledging loyalty to Donald Trump. While shocking, this behavior is not unprecedented in today’s political climate. […]
Supreme Court Case Could Threaten Colorado’s Ban on Harmful Conversion Therapy
On Tuesday, October 7, the United States Supreme Court heard opening arguments in a case brought by a religious counselor who claims that Colorado’s 2019 ban on conversion therapy violates her First Amendment right to free speech. While a decision isn’t expected until later this year, the case could have major implications for LGBTQIA+ rights […]
New South Carolina Bill Sparks Concern Over Criminalization of Abortion and Contraception
In South Carolina, the state legislature is currently considering a bill that poses an immediate threat to the reproductive rights of millions. The Unborn Child Protection Act is aimed at creating and regulating stricter access to abortions and contraceptives at large. The bill aims to define stricter limits on reproductive rights language, as well as […]