Biden Expands Abortion, Contraception Protections on Roe Anniversary

The Washington Post’s Dan Diamond reports that on the 51st anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Biden administration announced new steps to protect access to contraception, abortion medication, and emergency abortions at hospitals. The efforts include issuing guidance making no-cost contraceptives more available and creating a new health department team dedicated to enforcing the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act. PRRI finds a majority of Americans (53%) say Congress should pass a national law preserving a right to abortion, compared with 12% who say Congress should pass a national law banning abortion.

The Field Has Narrowed, But Nikki Haley’s Path to the Presidency Is No Easier

Forbes’ Kelly Dittmar writes that Nikki Haley, former president Donald Trump’s remaining challenger, is up against Trump’s popularity and GOP voters’ perceptions of her race and gender. At a time when Republicans value toughness in their leaders over empathy, Haley must counter expectations of feminine weakness. PRRI’s 2023 American Values Survey finds that 72% of Republicans say society has become too soft and feminine, up from 53% in 2011 – a fear that heightens Republican skepticism that a woman is fit for presidency.

Transgender Candidate Facing Disqualification in Ohio Now Cleared To Run

Samantha Hendrickson at the Associated Press reports that Arienne Childrey, a transgender candidate running for the Ohio House of Representatives, was cleared to run after her certification was questioned due to omitting her former name on qualifying petitions. The Mercer County Board of Elections chose not to disqualify Childrey, noting that the law is not well-known. There are four transgender candidates in Ohio and all have faced issues with this law. The winner of Childrey’s Democratic primary will run against state Rep. Angie King (R), who has voted in favor of bans on gender-affirming care for minors. PRRI finds that fewer than half of Americans (41%) support laws that would prevent parents from allowing their children to receive gender-affirming care.

Climate Change Education May Soon Be Incorporated Into More Lesson Plans

For The New York Times, Hilary Howard writes that New York is considering joining New Jersey, Connecticut, and California in incorporating climate change into school lesson plans. While some states have resisted including climate change in school curriculum, initiatives to introduce climate change lessons in public schools have the support of over 115 educators and nonprofits. PRRI’s survey data finds the majority of all Americans (61%) believe climate change is caused mostly by human activity, such as burning fossil fuels.