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Roe v. Wade

Thursday

The Shadows of the Constitution (2020)

The preamble to the US Constitution. Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty hide caption

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Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty

Throughline

The Shadows of the Constitution (2020)

The Constitution is like America's secular bible, our sacred founding document. In her play, What the Constitution Means to Me, Heidi Schreck goes through a process of discovering what the document is really about – who wrote it, who it was for, who it protected and who it didn't. Through Heidi's personal story, we learn how the Constitution and how it has been interpreted have affected not just her family but generations of Americans.

The Shadows of the Constitution (2020)

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Monday

Thursday

The Supreme Court

Kaz Fantone NPR hide caption

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NPR

Throughline

The Supreme Court

When, why, and how did the Supreme Court get the final say in the law of the land? The question of the Court's role, and whether its decisions should reign above all the other branches of government, has been hotly debated for centuries. And that's resulted in a Supreme Court more powerful than anything the Founding Fathers could have imagined possible.

The Supreme Court

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Tuesday

Newly Blue, Maine Expands Access To Abortion

Alison Beyea of ACLU of Maine speaks during an abortion-rights rally at Congress Square Park in Portland, Maine, in May. Democrats elected last November have pushed through two laws that expand access to abortion in the state. Derek Davis/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images hide caption

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Derek Davis/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images

Shots - Health News

Newly Blue, Maine Expands Access To Abortion

Maine Public News

Maine elected a wave of Democratic women to state office in 2018. They've pushed Maine to join a handful of other states shoring up the right to an abortion ahead of expected Supreme Court challenges.

Newly Blue, Maine Expands Access To Abortion

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Friday

Amid Chaos, Alabama Senate Postpones Vote On Nation's Strictest Abortion Ban

The Alabama Senate postponed a vote on a highly restrictive abortion bill after controversy over an amendment that would provide an exception in cases of rape or incest. Drew Angerer/Getty Images hide caption

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Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Politics

Amid Chaos, Alabama Senate Postpones Vote On Nation's Strictest Abortion Ban

Shouting broke out on the floor when a rape and incest exemption was removed without a roll call vote. "I want the people of the state of Alabama to know how we vote," said a Democratic state senator.

Wednesday

Federal Judge Blocks North Carolina Ban On Abortions Later Than 20 Weeks

Anti-abortion activists protest outside of the U.S. Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has rejected laws that tie abortion rights to a specific week in a woman's pregnancy, but this is the first time a judge has struck down the 1973 law. Jose Luis Magana/AP hide caption

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Jose Luis Magana/AP

Law

Federal Judge Blocks North Carolina Ban On Abortions Later Than 20 Weeks

The law runs afoul of Supreme Court precedent banning abortion restrictions based on how many weeks pregnant the mother is, the judge wrote.

Tuesday

Collins Says Supreme Court Nominee Kavanaugh Called Roe v. Wade 'Settled Law'

"We covered a wide range of issues, and it was very helpful, very productive and very important," Sen. Susan Collins said of her meeting with Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh on Tuesday. Zach Gibson/Getty Images hide caption

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Zach Gibson/Getty Images

Politics

Collins Says Supreme Court Nominee Kavanaugh Called Roe v. Wade 'Settled Law'

Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh met Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, a swing vote in his confirmation, who said their more than two hour session covered abortion, executive power and other issues.

Collins Says Supreme Court Nominee Kavanaugh Called Roe v. Wade 'Settled Law'

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Wednesday

Law

Trump Says He's Not Asking Justice Candidates About Abortion. Why Bother?

The president says he won't ask about specific legal cases, including Roe v. Wade. But he doesn't have to, because everyone on his short list is a pre-vetted conservative.

Trump Says He's Not Asking Justice Candidates About Abortion. Why Bother?

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Friday

Before 'Roe v. Wade,' The Women of 'Jane' Provided Abortions For The Women Of Chicago

Formed in 1965, Jane was an underground network in Chicago that counseled and helped women who wanted to have abortions. (From left) Martha Scott, Jeanne Galatzer-Levy, Abby Parisers, Sheila Smith and Madeline Schwenk were among the seven members of Jane arrested in 1972. Courtesy of Martha Scott hide caption

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Courtesy of Martha Scott

Radio Diaries

Before 'Roe v. Wade,' The Women of 'Jane' Provided Abortions For The Women Of Chicago

In 1965, a group known as Jane began connecting pregnant women in Chicago with doctors willing to perform abortions. Jane members later learned to perform the procedure, making it more accessible.

Before 'Roe v. Wade,' The Women of 'Jane' Provided Abortions For The Women Of Chicago

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Saturday

Wednesday

Court Decision On Texas Abortion Law Could Hasten Clinic Closures

Abortion-rights supporters (foreground) try to disrupt an anti-abortion march to the Texas Capitol during a Texas Rally for Life on Jan. 24 in Austin, Texas. Eric Gay/AP hide caption

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Eric Gay/AP

Shots - Health News

Court Decision On Texas Abortion Law Could Hasten Clinic Closures

A federal appeals court has upheld sweeping abortion restrictions in Texas that supporters say protect women's health. Opponents say the decision could leave just seven or eight clinics open.

Court Decision On Texas Abortion Law Could Hasten Clinic Closures

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Wednesday

States Aim To Restrict Medically Induced Abortions

A view of the eastern entrance to the Ohio Statehouse. Bob Hall/Flickr hide caption

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Bob Hall/Flickr

Shots - Health News

States Aim To Restrict Medically Induced Abortions

One in four abortions is induced with medications rather than a surgical procedure. But the process faces a growing number of legal restrictions, including a law in Ohio.

States Aim To Restrict Medically Induced Abortions

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Friday