DeepSummary
The NPR Politics podcast discusses the Supreme Court's unanimous decision to reject a challenge to the FDA's approval of the abortion medication mifepristone. The court ruled that the plaintiffs lacked standing to bring the case as they had not suffered any direct injury. The decision leaves in place the existing regulatory framework for mifepristone, which has been used for over 20 years and accounts for nearly two-thirds of all abortions in the United States.
The guests explain that while the ruling sidesteps the substantive issue of abortion access, it does not end the legal and political battles over the medication. Multiple states have tried to intervene in the case, and other legal challenges are likely to emerge. The Biden administration and abortion rights advocates warn that efforts to restrict access to medication abortion will continue, potentially through legislation or future court cases.
The implications of the decision are discussed, with the guests noting that it provides a temporary pause in the legal battles over abortion access but does not resolve the underlying political and ideological divisions. The fight over reproductive rights is expected to remain a major issue in the 2024 elections and beyond.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- The Supreme Court unanimously rejected a challenge to the FDA's approval of the abortion medication mifepristone, ruling that the plaintiffs lacked legal standing.
- The decision preserves the existing regulatory framework for mifepristone, which is used in nearly two-thirds of all abortions in the United States.
- The ruling sidesteps the substantive issue of abortion access and is not expected to end the legal and political battles over medication abortion.
- Multiple states have tried to intervene in the case, and further legal challenges are anticipated, including efforts to restrict mail-order access to abortion pills.
- The Biden administration and abortion rights advocates warn that efforts to restrict access to medication abortion will continue, potentially through legislation or future court cases.
- The decision provides a temporary pause in the legal battles over abortion access but does not resolve the underlying political and ideological divisions over reproductive rights.
- The fight over abortion access is expected to remain a major issue in the 2024 elections and beyond.
- The pharmaceutical industry supported the FDA's regulatory process for mifepristone, fearing broader implications for drug approvals if the court ruled against the agency.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “It's not that complicated. What the unanimous court found in a decision written by Justice Brett Kavanaugh is that these plaintiffs who were seeking to challenge the FDA regime for this medication, mifepristone, had no standing, that they had suffered no injury.“ by Carrie Johnson
- “It's huge. It's used for almost two thirds of all abortions in the country.“ by Selena Simmons-Duffin
- “Nobody's celebrating. Exactly.“ by Asma Khalid
- “People who want to restrict access to medication abortion very much view this as round two. They are not going to stop.“ by Carrie Johnson
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Episode Information
The NPR Politics Podcast
NPR
6/13/24
This episode: White House correspondent Asma Khalid, health policy correspondent Selena Simmons-Duffin, and national justice correspondent Carrie Johnson.
The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han, Casey Morell and Kelli Wessinger. Our intern is Bria Suggs. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.
Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.
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