Big News Out Of Florida

This week we saw both good and bad news for abortion rights in the Sunshine State

On Monday, the Florida Supreme Court issued two rulings about reproductive freedom: one good and one very bad.

First, they upheld Governor Ron DeSantis’s 6-week abortion ban, which replaces the state’s previous 15-week ban. A 6-week ban basically amounts to a total ban, as many women don’t even realize they’re pregnant at 6 weeks.

We know this ruling will cause untold suffering for families — not just in Florida, but across the South. Last year, 1 of every 3 abortions in the South (and about 1 in every 12 nationwide) happened in Florida. More than 9,000 people traveled from other states to get an abortion in Florida in 2023.

But there was good news from the Florida Supreme Court too: they ruled that an amendment protecting abortion rights will be on the ballot in November. It’s an opportunity not just to stand up for reproductive rights (similar amendments have resoundingly passed every time they’ve been on the ballot in other states) but it could potentially change the political landscape in Florida this November.

Here are Suburban Women Problem co-host Rachel Vindman’s thoughts on these two rulings - as a Floridian, a suburban woman, and an advocate for democracy.

As Rachel says, this makes the work we do between now and November even more critical.