What two years without Roe looks like

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses the impact of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization Supreme Court decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade and ended the federal constitutional right to abortion in the United States. It examines the aftermath of the decision, including the efforts by the Biden administration and blue states to compensate for the loss of abortion rights, the actions taken by red states to ban or severely restrict abortion, and the resulting challenges faced by pregnant individuals in accessing reproductive care. The article also explores the political implications of the Dobbs decision, including its potential impact on the upcoming presidential election.

🙋 Q&A

[01] The Aftermath of the Dobbs Decision

1. Questions related to the content of the section?

• What were the immediate effects of the Dobbs decision on abortion access across the country?
• How have some states and the Biden administration responded to the Dobbs decision?
• What are the challenges faced by pregnant individuals in accessing reproductive care in the post-Dobbs landscape?
• How has the use of medication abortion changed since the Dobbs decision?
• What are the legal and practical barriers to accessing medication abortion in certain states?

Answers:

• The Dobbs decision led to the immediate implementation of "trigger" bans on abortion in 13 states, while other states sought to enforce pre-existing abortion restrictions or pass new bans. This created a patchwork of abortion laws across the country, with 14 states enacting near-total bans on abortion.
• The Biden administration and some blue states have aggressively sought to compensate for the loss of abortion rights, while many red states have enacted near-total bans on abortion. This has led to the emergence of large reproductive care deserts with no abortion providers for hundreds of miles.
• Pregnant individuals are being denied necessary medical care as doctors fear the legal repercussions of providing it. This has exacerbated long-standing inequities, with poor women and women of color being disproportionately affected.
• The use of medication abortion has increased, as it is now cheaper and easier to obtain, especially via telemedicine. However, 19 states have banned telemedicine abortion, forcing some patients to turn to community networks or websites that sell abortion pills without interacting with a clinician or pharmacy.
• Many states require counseling or an ultrasound prior to administering an abortion, which can rule out obtaining medication abortion via telemedicine. Some states have also explicitly banned telemedicine abortion or require a prescribing clinician to be physically present with the patient.

[02] The Political Implications of the Dobbs Decision

1. Questions related to the content of the section?

• How have voters responded to the Dobbs decision in recent elections?
• What is the potential impact of the Dobbs decision on the upcoming presidential election?
• What challenges does the Biden administration face in messaging the Dobbs decision to voters?

Answers:

• In the 2022 elections, Democrats running on abortion rights nearly swept the table, with every ballot initiative aimed at restricting abortion losing and initiatives strengthening abortion rights prevailing in several states.
• The potential impact of the Dobbs decision on the upcoming presidential election is less clear, as other issues like the economy and immigration are currently dominating the national conversation. However, abortion could still be a key motivating issue in certain states, especially where ballot measures aimed at expanding abortion rights are on the ballot.
• The Biden administration faces a messaging challenge, as 17% of voters overall and 12% of Democrats blame President Biden for the end of Roe, even though the Dobbs decision was issued by the conservative-controlled Supreme Court. The Biden campaign will need to communicate the reality of the situation to less-engaged voters to ensure they understand the role of Republicans in overturning Roe v. Wade.