In a move that has sparked sharp criticism from public interest advocates, the U.S. Senate this week approved a White House request to cancel approximately $8 billion in foreign aid and $1 billion in funding for public broadcasting, including public media staples like PBS and NPR. The vote of 216-to-213 included all but two Republicans […]
Oklahoma Funnels Millions to Anti-Abortion Nonprofits
An Oklahoma anti-abortion nonprofit received a lucrative payout from the State Department of Health in 2024 and is now reporting its impact. The Oklahoma Life Foundation (OKLF) advocates for anti-abortion policies and services. Supporting crisis pregnancy centers, also known to abortion rights activists as “fake clinics,” OKLF perpetuates misinformation about pregnancy and contraception. Oklahoma’s Choosing […]
Wisconsin Supreme Court Strikes Down 1849 Abortion Ban
Wisconsin’s Supreme Court has struck down one of the country’s oldest abortion bans, a major win for reproductive rights in a state where access has been under legal threat for years. In a 4–3 decision released July 2, the court’s liberal majority ruled that the 1849 statute banning nearly all abortions is no longer enforceable. […]
The End of Nationwide Injunctions: How Trump v. CASA Could Undermine Democracy
In a decision that will profoundly reshape the federal judiciary, the Supreme Court ruled in Trump v. CASA de Maryland (2025) that district court judges can no longer issue nationwide injunctions, orders that stop a federal policy from being enforced across the entire country. The 6–3 ruling, authored by Justice Amy Coney Barrett, dramatically curtails […]
UVA President Jim Ryan’s Resignation and the Cost to Academic Freedom
On June 27, University of Virginia President Jim Ryan resigned under direct political pressure. One president’s resignation might sound like local drama, but it reveals a dangerous shift that should have all of us paying closer attention. Jim Ryan announced his resignation on June 27 after sustained pressure from members of the Virginia Board of […]
What’s at Stake for Families as Education Funds Remain Frozen
Across the United States, families are braced for a loss they never expected. For years, after-school and summer programs had given kids a safe place to go when the final bell rang or when school let out for the summer, a lifeline for hard working Americans juggling multiple jobs just to keep food on the […]
Supreme Court Sides with Parents in LGBTQ+ Curriculum Opt-Out Case
The Supreme Court’s conservative majority handed a victory to parents’ religious rights in Mahmoud v. Taylor on Friday, June 27, ruling that Montgomery County Public Schools violated their rights by barring parents from opting their children out of LGBTQ+ curriculum. In late 2022, the Montgomery County Board of Education adopted a new curriculum that included […]
Alligator Alcatraz Raises Legal and Environmental Concerns
In a new development in the current administration’s federal immigration enforcement, a new detention facility has been constructed in Florida’s swampy Everglades. Nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz” by Florida attorney general James Uthmeier, the facility has been established at a decommissioned airport spanning 39 square miles of the Florida Everglades. Detainees will be surveilled by more than […]
War’s Hidden Burden on Women
As tensions escalate in the Middle East, civilians across the region face devastating consequences. In early 2024, missile strikes, drone attacks, and proxy clashes reignited fears of a broader regional war, spilling across Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and even Iranian cities. Families in northern Israel once again crowd into bomb shelters, re-traumatized by memories of past […]
New Supreme Court Ruling Could Restrict Access to Reproductive Health Providers
On Thursday, June 26, the Supreme Court issued a 6-3 decision in Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, ruling that individuals do not have the right to sue under the “free choice of provider” clause of the Medicaid Act. This decision reversed lower court rulings and remanded the case back to district courts. Medina v […]
Supreme Court Reopens Challenge to New York Abortion Coverage Rule
The Supreme Court has revived a legal challenge to a New York state regulation that requires employers to cover abortion services in employee health insurance plans. In a brief, unsigned order issued on June 17, the justices instructed a lower court to reconsider the case brought by a group of Catholic organizations, including the Roman […]
Historic UK Parliament Vote Ends Criminalization of Abortion for Women
In a recent victory for abortion rights activists, the United Kingdom has decriminalized abortion for women in England and Wales. The vote on June 17 amended the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act, which introduced abortion-related offenses and threatened women with prison time for attempting to obtain an abortion. Although enforcement from the Offences Against […]
Policy Shift at the VA Raises Concerns About Discrimination and Access to Healthcare
The Department of Veterans Affairs has made a quiet but significant change to its hospital bylaws, removing language that explicitly protected patients from being denied care on the basis of political affiliation, marital status, and other personal traits. The change came in response to a January 2025 executive order issued by President Trump, titled “Defending […]
Rep. Kat Cammack’s Ectopic Pregnancy Highlights the Dangers of Florida’s Abortion Laws
Kat Cammack, a Republican congresswoman representing Florida’s 3rd district, recently found herself at the center of a national conversation surrounding abortion access after experiencing a life-threatening ectopic pregnancy. Cammack’s experience has brought renewed attention to the consequences of restrictive abortion legislation in Florida, highlighting the complexities surrounding reproductive healthcare in the state. In April, Cammack […]
Three Years of Dobbs: Mapping the Post-Roe Reality
Three years after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the effects on abortion access and reproductive healthcare are significant and ongoing. The decision allowed states to set their own abortion laws, leading to bans and restrictions in more than a dozen states. At the same time, states […]
Supreme Court Ruling Weakens Legal Safeguards for Trans Youth
The Supreme Court upheld a Tennessee law restricting gender affirming care for minors on Wednesday, June 18. This 6-3 ruling delivered a major blow to not only Tennessee transgender youths, but also trans youth across the nation. 24 other states have already enacted similar laws that restrict access to gender transition surgery, puberty blockers, and […]
The Cost of Fine Dining: Claims of Sexual Harassment and Union-Busting at D.C.’s Elite Restaurants
While the elite of Washington, D.C., enjoy expensive meals at famed restaurants such as Pastis, Le Diplomate and Rasika, the workers behind the scenes have reportedly contended with sexual harassment, union-busting or both. STARR Restaurants, the high-end hospitality group led by CEO Stephen Starr, owns several hotspots, including Le Diplomate, St. Anselm and Pastis, as […]
Melissa Hortman: Honoring the Life and Legacy of a Fearless Minnesota Leader
On June 14, 2025, Minnesota lost one of its most dedicated public servants. Melissa Hortman, Speaker Emerita of the Minnesota House of Representatives, was assassinated alongside her husband, Mark, in their Brooklyn Park home. The shooting, described by authorities as a “politically motivated act of domestic terrorism,” shocked the state and the nation. The attacker, […]
Public Health Experts Alarmed by CDC Advisory Committee Overhaul
On June 9, 2025, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dismissed all 17 members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the independent panel responsible for making evidence-based vaccine recommendations in the United States. Kennedy cited concerns over “conflicts of interest” and a need to restore public confidence in vaccine […]
Southern Baptist Convention Calls to Ban Same-Sex Marriage
The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), the nation’s largest protestant denomination, gathered for their annual two-day meeting in early June. Discussing a wide variety of topics, ranging from transgender youth to gambling, the convention ultimately endorsed resolutions to ban same-sex marriages, calling for a reversal of the ten-year-old Supreme Court precedent. This decision signals the SBC’s […]