How to Fight Back Against the Republicans’ Anti-Abortion Authoritarianism

Aug 28, 2025

Jessica Valenti, a New York Times best-selling author and expert on the anti-abortion landscape, and Monica Simpson, Executive Director of Sister Song, delve into the fallout from Roe v. Wade’s reversal. They discuss personal stories and the urgent need for gender equality, highlighting how anti-abortion laws disproportionately affect marginalized women, particularly in the South. The conversation emphasizes the critical role of activism in defending reproductive rights as a fundamental aspect of social justice and bodily autonomy.

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INSIGHT

Abortion As An Authoritarian Tool

Stacey Abrams links abortion bans to authoritarianism and the stripping of women's political power.
Controlling reproductive rights is described as a means to control women's futures and civic participation.

ANECDOTE

Human Costs In Georgia

Stacey Abrams recounts Georgia cases where restrictive abortion laws led to deaths and forced life support.
She names Amber Thurman, Candy Miller, and Adriana Smith as examples of fatal outcomes.

INSIGHT

Beyond Abortion: Restoring Traditional Roles

Jessica Valenti says the anti-abortion movement seeks to enforce traditional gender roles, not just ban abortion.
She frames attacks on contraception and gender norms as part of a broader project to reduce women's power.

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Authoritarianism takes many forms - including stripping women of their rights. This summer marked three years since Roe v. Wade was overturned, eradicating the federal constitutional right to abortion and handing states the power to impose extreme restrictions or outright bans. The fallout has been devastating. Women have been hospitalized, dragged into court, and some have died as a direct result of Roe’s reversal. On this week’s Assembly Required, Stacey Abrams is joined by New York Times best-selling author Jessica Valenti to break down the current state of the fight for abortion access, and by Monica Simpson—executive director of the pioneering women of color reproductive justice collective SisterSong—to dig into what’s happening on the frontlines in the South and how reproductive rights are the cornerstone of all other rights.

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

Learn & Do More:

BE CURIOUS: Want to dig deeper into the state of abortion access and funding after the fall of Roe v. Wade? Check out Jessica Valenti’s daily Substack, Abortion, Every Day. And mark your calendars for September 30th, when Rebecca Kelliher’s new book Just Pills: The Extraordinary Story of a Revolution in Abortion Care hits shelves. It explores the history of abortion pills and what it can teach us about navigating this moment.
SOLVE PROBLEMS: Too often we organize only in reaction to attacks—but we’re creative enough to decide what we want to go after next. This week, I want you to imagine what good policy actually looks like. Not just what might pass, or how to fix what’s broken, but what we truly want and deserve. Drop your ideas in the comments or email me. We have to start building better ideas today.
DO GOOD: Support SisterSong at sistersong.net , and look for local organizations fighting for abortion access and reproductive justice in your own community. Donate to abortion funds if you can or reach out and ask if they need volunteers.