Why the Left Is Losing on Abortion

<p>Most Americans say that abortion should be legal with some restrictions, but President Trump’s nominee for the Supreme Court, Amy Coney Barrett, signed a statement in a 2006 newspaper advertisement opposing “abortion on demand.” Her accession would bolster a conservative majority among the justices.</p><p>How did that happen? According to Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, abortion rights advocates have for too long taken Roe v. Wade for granted.</p><p>Ms. Hogue describes how Republican attacks on abortion were not countered forcefully enough. “I think most people in elected positions had been taught for a long time to sort of ‘check the box’ on being what we would call pro-choice and then move on,” she said.</p><p>Guest: Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America.</p><p><br /></p><p>For more information on today’s episode, visit <a href="http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily" target="_blank">nytimes.com/thedaily </a></p><p>Background reading: </p><ul><li>The 2006 statement signed by Amy Coney Barrett<strong> </strong>appears to be the most<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/01/us/amy-coney-barrett-abortion.html?searchResultPosition=3" target="_blank"> direct evidence of her personal views</a>, ones she has vowed to set aside on the bench.</li><li>The issue of abortion contains<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/20/us/abortion-supreme-court-trump-biden.html" target="_blank"> political risks for both Democrats and Republicans</a>, even as it energizes parts of their bases.</li></ul>