DeepSummary
The episode features an interview with Elizabeth Dias and Lisa Lerer, authors of the book 'The Fall of Roe: The Rise of a New America.' They discuss the long-term efforts by conservative Christian legal groups and activists to overturn Roe v. Wade, and how they strategically chipped away at abortion rights while the pro-choice movement failed to recognize the threat. Dias and Lerer detail the role of organizations like the Alliance Defending Freedom and the Federalist Society in supporting legal challenges to Roe, as well as the internal conflicts within groups like Planned Parenthood.
The authors explain how the anti-abortion movement exploited the lack of imagination among abortion rights advocates, who assumed Roe was a settled issue. They highlight the impact of events like Trump's Supreme Court appointments and Ruth Bader Ginsburg's refusal to retire under Obama. The interview explores the changing political dynamics around abortion post-Dobbs, with the Republican Party fracturing over the issue and Democrats struggling to deliver on promises to codify Roe.
Dias and Lerer provide an insightful account of the decades-long battle over abortion rights, shedding light on the strategic maneuvering, legal tactics, and power dynamics that ultimately led to the fall of Roe v. Wade. Their book offers a comprehensive look at this pivotal moment in American history and its far-reaching implications for women's rights and the future of the Supreme Court.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Conservative Christian legal groups like the Alliance Defending Freedom and the Federalist Society played a pivotal role in strategically undermining and ultimately overturning Roe v. Wade through coordinated legal challenges and advocacy efforts.
- The pro-choice movement failed to recognize the threat to Roe v. Wade, assuming it was a settled issue, and was outmaneuvered by the strategic efforts of the anti-abortion movement.
- Trump's Supreme Court appointments, particularly Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett, were instrumental in tipping the balance of the Court and paving the way for the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
- Ruth Bader Ginsburg's refusal to retire during the Obama administration, despite concerns about her advancing age and health, ultimately impacted the balance of the Supreme Court and the fate of Roe v. Wade.
- The overturning of Roe v. Wade has led to a fracturing of the Republican Party, with some candidates and politicians moderating their positions on abortion rights in response to changing political dynamics.
- Democrats and the abortion rights movement are struggling to deliver on promises to codify Roe v. Wade at the federal level, facing challenges due to the Senate filibuster and lack of consensus on legislation.
- The fall of Roe v. Wade represents a pivotal moment in American history, with far-reaching implications for women's rights, the Supreme Court, and the ongoing battle over abortion rights.
- The authors' book, 'The Fall of Roe,' provides a comprehensive and insightful account of the decades-long efforts to overturn Roe v. Wade, shedding light on the legal strategies, power dynamics, and internal conflicts within the pro-choice and anti-abortion movements.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “You know, Trump wins. He gets really lucky and gets those three appointments to the Supreme Court. And then at that point, there's not all that much. If the court's going to go that direction, there's not all that much that the abortion rights movement can do to stop this from happening.“ by Lisa Lerer
- “And so what you see is this very fragmented, splintered anti abortion movement that's losing some of their supporters in the Republican Party. Like, I thought Larry Hogan's comments that he would support the codification of Roe were really interesting. I've looked at the campaigns of seven Republicans and like the seven, you know, the most swing Senate races, they've all softened their position or reversed their position on abortion rights completely, which really reflects how the politics of this issue have changed.“ by Lisa Lerer
- “I think there was this just profound lack of imagination, as you put it, that rogue could fall, that this was something that had been so in the firmament of american life for two generations. It was just part of the air, and it was something that people just assumed they would have as they planned their families, that it was hard to think that that could suddenly go away, that didn't feel realistic.“ by Lisa Lerer
Entities
Person
Organization
Product
Book
Episode Information
The Bulwark Podcast
The Bulwark Podcast
6/12/24
show notes:
Elizabeth's and Lisa's book, "The Fall of Roe: The Rise of a New America"