On The Issues With Michele Goodwin

Looking back on Women’s History Month, we’re wondering: What will it take to achieve a society that prioritizes—and achieves—true equality? Our answers to those questions are the Majority Rules: a series of rules, created by Supermajority, intended to guide us to our ultimate goal of gender equality. Today, we’re diving into Rule #4, “Our families are supported.” The COVID-19 pandemic has highligh...

This Women’s History Month, we’re wondering: What will it take to achieve a society that prioritizes—and achieves—true equality? Our answers to those questions are the Majority Rules: a series of rules, created by Supermajority, intended to guide us to our ultimate goal of gender equality. Today, we’re diving into Rule #2, “Our bodies are respected.” In the wake of the Dobbs decision overturning R...

This Women’s History Month, we’re wondering: What will it take to achieve a society that prioritizes—and achieves—true equality? Our answers to those questions are the Majority Rules: a series of rules, created by Supermajority, intended to guide us to our ultimate goal of gender equality. Today, we’re diving into Rule #3, “Our work is valued.” In a world that systemically erases and devalues the...

This Women's History Month, we’re wondering: What will it take to achieve a society that prioritizes—and achieves—true equality? Our answers to those questions are the Majority Rules: a series of rules, created by Supermajority, intended to guide us to our ultimate goal of gender equality.    Today, we’re diving into Rule #1, "Our lives are safe.” Our country continues to deny safety to...

In this episode, we're thinking about the many ways in which girls and women in the U.S. are denied, passed over, and even cheated of opportunities they have earned.  We note that it happens at school, college, graduate school, the work environment, and even in government.  Being denied can be humiliating, embarrassing, and stressful.  But, women can and do fight back—often by overachieving....

In the wake of a year that’s been plagued with book bans, book burnings, and right-wing censorship of all kinds, we’re wondering: why is our American history being banned? Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ recent attempts to ban an Advanced Placement course in African American studies have us thinking about American fragility, and the drastic consequences of this censorship. Not to mention, what does...

In this episode, we remember and celebrate the life of Anita Pointer, founder of The Pointer Sisters. Anita died of cancer on Saturday, Jan. 1, at home in Beverly Hills, Calif. She was 74. Her writing and singing talents helped propel the group to stardom. But Anita was also a writer, producer, business mogul and feminist activist—a proud supporter of women’s rights and committed to advancing raci...

On today’s show, we’re talking about the Janes. Before Roe v. Wade , if you were in need of an abortion in Chicago, there was a number you could call, run by young women who called themselves Jane. They’d provide abortions to women who had nowhere else to turn. It was started by Heather Booth when she was 19 years old.  We're joined by Booth, to discuss the history of the Jane Collective and...

Iran is currently experiencing its largest civil rights movement since the 1979 revolution. This uprising, sparked by the killing of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini—who died after being detained by the Iranian morality police for being improperly veiled—is proving to be a critical turning point for Iranian women. Since the protests began in September, at least 16,000 have been detained, and hundreds have...

On today’s show, we’re tackling issues women face in online spaces — from privacy to misogyny to censorship of women who use their voices to speak out, and more. We’re taking on the tech platforms and we’re talking about how women are fighting back.  To help us unpack these crucial topics, we’re joined by two special guests: Danielle Citron: Professor Citron is the Jefferson Scholars Foundation Sc...

In this episode of On The Issues, lawyer and writer Dahlia Lithwick returns to our show for an intimate conversation with Dr. Michele Goodwin about the Supreme Court, her career, and new book, Lady Justice: Women, the Law, and the Battle to Save America.   They dive deep about the women saving America and why Lithwick says she "quit the Court" after the confirmation of Justice Brett Kava...

On today’s show, we’re delving into the lives and work of the women coming together to save our democracy. Election administration has become one of the most challenging jobs in the U.S. government. One in three election officials reports feeling unsafe because of their job. Americans are doubting the legitimacy of our elections, despite the fact that experts described the 2020 election as the “mo...

In this episode, we consider the American landscape as children go back to school.  As mass shootings devastate communities across the country, parents are packing bulletproof protection in their children’s backpacks and sending them to school with lessons on how to survive a mass shooting. Jackson Katz joins Dr. Michele Goodwin to discuss the complicated issues at the heart of this crisis includi...

In this episode, we are live with the National Women’s History Museum for an incredibly important episode addressing reproductive health rights and justice from a historical point of view.  In the wake of the overturn of Roe , we've seen horrific cases: a 10-year-old girl fleeing the state of Ohio to get to Indiana in order to terminate a pregnancy after rape; a Wisconsin woman bleeding for m...

After a Supreme Court term unlike any other in nearly a century, confidence in what was once a revered body has sunk to a historic low. Only 25 percent of Americans report having confidence in the United States Supreme Court.   In this episode we are joined by a sold-out, live studio audience at the Irvine Barclay Theatre to capture the 2022 Supreme Court Term in Review.  Our host, Dr. Michele Goo...

The unspeakable has finally come to pass: The Supreme Court has ruled, in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson , to overturn Roe v. Wade and roll back abortion rights across the U.S. For the first time, the Court has taken away a fundamental right that so many depend on.  This unprecedented assault on bodily autonomy will unleash significant harms across the country — particularly for those most marginali...

In this episode, we’re recognizing the 50th anniversary of Title IX — the historic federal legislation that transformed the landscape of gender equality in public education. We’re also honoring the legacy of its chief proponent: Patsy Takemoto Mink, who defied all odds in many ways as the first woman of color in Congress.   Joining Dr. Goodwin for this episode is a very special guest: Professor Gw...

In May, we learned in a leaked draft opinion obtained by Politico that the Supreme Court is expected to reverse itself on Roe v. Wade, Planned Parenthood v. Casey, and a legacy of abortion jurisprudence upholding reproductive freedom — profoundly dismantling abortion rights in the U.S.  If Roe and Casey are overturned in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization , grave consequences are in...

The future of abortion care is here: A safe, legal abortion in the comfort of your own home—accessed via mail and telehealth, delivered right to your door.   So, what do you need to know about abortion pills? How do they work? How long has medication abortion been available? Is it safe? (The answer’s yes!) Is it legal? (Yes!) Is it effective? (Extremely.)   Joining Michele Goodwin for this episode...

In this episode, we’re turning back to Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's confirmation hearings, and the messaging we saw play out. Ahead of the 2022 midterm elections, what were Republican senators signaling? What's ahead for the First Amendment?  Criminal Justice?  LGBTQ equality?  Are senators signaling the desire to do away with fundamental constitutional protections and why?  What issues...

In this episode, "On the Issues" continues its Road to Confirmation series, unpacking Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's historic Supreme Court confirmation hearings, including her seeming walk through fire. We examine the hearings, including Judge Jackson's judicial temperament, judicial and legal experience, as well as conduct of the Senate Judiciary Committee. How did a process m...

President Biden has announced Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as the nominee to succeed Justice Stephen Breyer on the United States Supreme Court.  Who is she?  What’s her background? And why is she one of the most qualified and prepared nominees that this process has seen in nearly a century? In this episode, we unpack Judge Jackson’s qualifications and examine what’s next in the process.    This epi...

In this episode, we kick off our Road to Confirmation series. “On the Issues” will be following the nomination and confirmation process of President Biden’s nominee to replace Justice Stephen Breyer on the U.S. Supreme Court. The Road to Confirmation series will take you through each step of the confirmation process as it happens in real time, with commentary and analysis from experts.     We laun...

 In this episode, we’re delving into the fight for a $15 minimum wage. Even before COVID, Americans in all 50 states were facing severe economic struggles, making it difficult to afford rent, mortgage, childcare and basic needs. The pandemic has made economic disparity exponentially worse. Admittedly, then, it may be hard to understand why discussion of minimum wage is controversial at all.  So wh...

Saturday, Jan. 22, 2021, marks the 49th anniversary of Roe v. Wade . But it may very well be its last. In a few short months we face the likelihood the Supreme Court will overturn Roe . Already, 2021 was the worst year for abortion rights in almost half a century. And in Texas, abortion has already been virtually outlawed. In 1972, Ms . ran a bold petition in which well-known U.S. women declared t...