In one word, how would you
describe the Supreme Court?
In one word, how would you
describe the Supreme Court?
“Tyrannical”
Michael J.,
58, New York, Black, Democrat
“Inconsiderate”
Quinn,
33, Kansas, white, Republican
“One-sided”
Rildon,
46, Texas, Latino, Republican
It is perhaps no surprise that pro-choice Americans are distraught about last month’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, which has led more than a dozen states to all but ban abortions. “Shock,” “wrong” and “chaos” were some of the words that the participants in one of our latest focus groups used to describe the Supreme Court decision.
But this cohort, which spoke to us last week from around the country, also shared many nuanced insights that went beyond disappointment with the conservatives on the court. Participants said they blamed liberals, including President Barack Obama and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, for the state of American abortion rights, and some expressed a preference for policies that place limits on abortion access.
We wanted to understand the degree to which widespread misinformation about later abortions and abortion safety — and a seeming lack of awareness of abortion pills — had affected this group. Several participants overestimated the percentage of abortions that take place after the first trimester (fewer than 10 percent). Most vastly overestimated the major complication rate for abortion (less than a quarter of 1 percent) and believed incorrectly that abortion is more dangerous than childbirth. Few participants were familiar with abortion pills, which accounted for more than half of recent abortions performed in the United States and which many women, even in conservative states, are expected to use post-Roe.
The conversation ended by looking to the future. “Are we still going to be having this debate 50 years from now?” our moderator asked. Some participants expressed hope that the issue would be settled by then. But one man offered a sober prediction that reflected another theme from the evening: “The country is too divided to ever come together on something like this.”
In both focus groups, participants used the phrases “pro-life” and “pro-choice” to describe themselves as well as others, and to describe viewpoints; these edited versions retain that language to reflect how the participants spoke about these issues.
Participants
Adrienne
57, California, Black, Democrat, social worker
Elizabeth
46, Georgia, Asian, independent, project manager
Rildon
46, Texas, Latino, Republican, lottery claim coordinator
Michael P.
32, Massachusetts, white, independent, banking
Quinn
33, Kansas, white, Republican, real estate agent
Anne
64, Michigan, white, independent, graphic designer
Lindsey
23, North Carolina, white, Democrat, travel coordinator
Bridget
54, Missouri, white, Republican, babysitting
Haresh
43, New York, Asian, Democrat, customer service representative
Michael J.
58, New York, Black, Democrat, office manager
Transcript
Moderator, Margie Omero
If you had to describe your biggest concern about the United States or American society these days in a single word, what would it be?
Quinn,
33, Kansas, white, Republican, real estate agent
Inflation.
Haresh,
43, New York, Asian, Democrat, customer service representative
Divided.
Anne,
64, Michigan, white, independent, graphic designer
Unity.
Bridget,
54, Missouri, white, Republican, babysitting
Polarized.
Haresh,
43, New York, Asian, Democrat, customer service representative
Terrorism.
Anne,
64, Michigan, white, independent, graphic designer
Disunity.
Michael J.,
58, New York, Black, Democrat, office manager
Divided.
Rildon,
46, Texas, Latino, Republican, lottery claim coordinator
For me, it’s insecurity.
Lindsey,
23, North Carolina, white, Democrat, travel coordinator
Guns.
Adrienne,
57, California, Black, Democrat, social worker
I think of it as chaotic and mad.
Michael P.,
32, Massachusetts, white, independent, banking
Extremism.
Moderator, Margie Omero
What are we divided, polarized, disunified about?
Anne,
64, Michigan, white, independent, graphic designer
Everything. People are on this side of the fence or that side of the fence for Covid, for race relations, for abortion, women’s rights. There’s no talking between the different factions.
Moderator, Margie Omero
Do you think America’s best days are ahead of us, behind us or happening now?
Bridget,
54, Missouri, white, Republican, babysitting
I have to believe that our best days are ahead of us. I have to have hope for the future of my kids and their kids.
Moderator, Margie Omero
Already, a few people have mentioned abortion. Explain to me what the debate around abortion is about.
Lindsey,
23, North Carolina, white, Democrat, travel coordinator
I would say it kind of falls between people who side with the woman’s right to choose and people who side on that life begins at birth — I mean, life begins at conception.
Quinn,
33, Kansas, white, Republican, real estate agent
Taking away a women’s right to choose — it’s taking away a freedom.
Haresh,
43, New York, Asian, Democrat, customer service representative
I think it’s a power struggle between Democrats and Republicans.
Moderator, Margie Omero
How would you describe your own position on abortion?
Adrienne,
57, California, Black, Democrat, social worker
I believe people should do what they want to do.
Bridget,
54, Missouri, white, Republican, babysitting
I’m conflicted. Even though I don’t think I could get one, I don’t know if I want to impose that on everyone else. I do think it’s murder. If you’re going to get an abortion, own it. You are murdering a baby. But I still don’t think it should be outlawed.
Anne,
64, Michigan, white, independent, graphic designer
I think it’s more complicated than just the right to life. I think that Roe protected women’s bodily autonomy. So I think it’s more about controlling and subjugating women than about abortion itself, and that’s just what I think. Personally, I would never have an abortion. I just couldn’t do it, but I don’t think it’s about abortion. I think it’s about a whole other thing and that the political sides are just using abortion as an excuse.
Michael J.,
58, New York, Black, Democrat, office manager
I’m firmly on the side of women’s right to choose. I look at the situation, and the people that are making these decisions are usually men. And if you’re not able to give birth and such, you shouldn’t be making these decisions, not like this.
Moderator, Margie Omero
How important is this debate to you?
Haresh,
43, New York, Asian, Democrat, customer service representative
It’s very important.
Adrienne,
57, California, Black, Democrat, social worker
What makes this issue important to me is I feel that it’s an infringement on rights. I feel like a person’s right to make whatever choices for themselves is being invalidated.
Moderator, Margie Omero
How would you characterize people who feel differently than you on the issue?
Michael P.,
32, Massachusetts, white, independent, banking
The pro-life argument, I think there’s two components to it. I think you have a lot of people that really maybe are pro-life, but then there are a lot of people who say they’re pro-life on the side of abortion, but then maybe they’re pro-death penalty or pro-guns, things that, at the end of the day, are not exactly pro-life.
Moderator, Margie Omero
OK, let me ask a couple other questions. How common are abortions after the first trimester?
Lindsey,
23, North Carolina, white, Democrat, travel coordinator
Gosh, I have no idea — 30 percent?
Quinn,
33, Kansas, white, Republican, real estate agent
I would hope maybe, like, 10 percent or less.
Michael J.,
58, New York, Black, Democrat, office manager
I would say probably about 40 percent.
Moderator, Margie Omero
What percentage of the time do you think women face serious complications after an abortion in the first trimester?
Michael P.,
32, Massachusetts, white, independent, banking
I would guess about 10 percent.
Bridget,
54, Missouri, white, Republican, babysitting
Five percent.
Anne,
64, Michigan, white, independent, graphic designer
One or 2 percent.
Haresh,
43, New York, Asian, Democrat, customer service representative
I was thinking, like, around 20 percent.
Which tends to be more physically
dangerous to the woman — an abortion or
childbirth? How many say abortion?
Which tends to be more
physically dangerous to the
woman — an abortion or childbirth? How many say abortion?
2 people raised their hands.
6 out of 12 people raised their hands
in the pro-life focus group.
Adrienne, 57, California, Black, Democrat
Elizabeth, 46, Georgia, Asian, independent
Rildon, 46, Texas, Latino, Republican
Michael P., 32, Massachusetts, white, independent
Quinn, 33, Kansas, white, Republican
Anne, 64, Michigan, white, independent
Lindsey, 23, North Carolina, white, Democrat
Bridget, 54, Missouri, white, Republican
Haresh, 43, New York, Asian, Democrat
Michael J., 58, New York, Black, Democrat
Moderator, Margie Omero
What have you heard about medication abortion?
Quinn,
33, Kansas, white, Republican, real estate agent
I didn’t even know that existed.
Elizabeth,
46, Georgia, Asian, independent, project manager
Never heard of it.
Michael J.,
58, New York, Black, Democrat, office manager
I’ve heard of it.
Rildon,
46, Texas, Latino, Republican, lottery claim coordinator
I’ve never heard of it.
Anne,
64, Michigan, white, independent, graphic designer
I’ve heard of it, but I don’t know anything about it.
Moderator, Margie Omero
Michael J., what’s your knowledge of it? As far as you know, how many abortions do you think are done that way?
Michael J.,
58, New York, Black, Democrat, office manager
I would probably say maybe about 30 percent because you get it in the mail.
Moderator, Margie Omero
What do you think most elected Democratic elected officials believe on abortion? What do you think Democratic elected officials want abortion policy to look like?
Haresh,
43, New York, Asian, Democrat, customer service representative
Freedom to choose.
Elizabeth,
46, Georgia, Asian, independent, project manager
Same. Pro-choice.
Moderator, Margie Omero
Now what about Republican policy? What do you think Republican elected officials believe on abortion?
Haresh,
43, New York, Asian, Democrat, customer service representative
They want to have more control over the individual and over the individual’s future.
Adrienne,
57, California, Black, Democrat, social worker
I think they’re pro-life.
Bridget,
54, Missouri, white, Republican, babysitting
They think life begins at conception, and they just want to protect the lives of all the unborn.
Moderator, Margie Omero
Recently, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which established a constitutional right to have an abortion. Now it’s up to the states to decide their own laws. What is the first word that comes up for you when you think about this ruling?
Adrienne,
57, California, Black, Democrat, social worker
Freedom.
Lindsey,
23, North Carolina, white, Democrat, travel coordinator
Shock.
Michael J.,
58, New York, Black, Democrat, office manager
Betrayal.
Quinn,
33, Kansas, white, Republican, real estate agent
Dangerous.
Elizabeth,
46, Georgia, Asian, independent, project manager
I agree with Quinn — danger.
Michael P.,
32, Massachusetts, white, independent, banking
Wrong.
Bridget,
54, Missouri, white, Republican, babysitting
Chaos.
Haresh,
43, New York, Asian, Democrat, customer service representative
Anarchy.
Moderator, Margie Omero
So when people say “control,” what do you mean?
Rildon,
46, Texas, Latino, Republican, lottery claim coordinator
For me, it’s the fact that something that should be the choice of the individual is being taken away, and someone is saying, “You can’t do it because we say so.”
Moderator, Margie Omero
Who wants to control whom and why?
Anne,
64, Michigan, white, independent, graphic designer
The straight white men want to keep their majority position and their money and their power and not let anyone else have a say or opinion. They want to legislate things that should be left to God.
Moderator, Margie Omero
Folks who said “dangerous,” tell me about that.
Elizabeth,
46, Georgia, Asian, independent, project manager
Well, I think that it’s a danger to both the mom and the baby. If the mom really wants an abortion, she’s going to get one. And it’s better, I think, if it’s legal so that she can go get one safely. The danger for the baby is — I’ve had eight children grow inside of me. And feel love already on the inside. And if the mom hates that baby and she has to carry that baby, I think it messes up. I think it’s dangerous. I think it’s dangerous for the baby to be born like that.
Moderator, Lauren Kelley
So I’m curious who you all think is to blame for the decision that came down overturning Roe v. Wade.
Michael J.,
58, New York, Black, Democrat, office manager
As much as I hate to say anything bad about Barack Obama or the Democrats, they actually had a chance to codify this when he had a supermajority while he was president. But because they did not think it was something that needed to be done, it didn’t get done
Bridget,
54, Missouri, white, Republican, babysitting
I have to say I think it falls squarely on Ruth Ginsburg. I think she was power hungry. She didn’t retire under Obama, where he could have appointed a new justice. And so Trump got that opportunity because she waited till she died. So greed is really what caused it to tip to that way.
Haresh,
43, New York, Asian, Democrat, customer service representative
I agree that this should have been taken care of earlier. And Obama had the power to do what he needed to do. But he didn’t do it. And now I think Joe Biden comes across as very weak. He’s very old and fragile when I see him on TV. And he just doesn’t — he doesn’t bring that young spirit to the presidential stage. So I don’t know what he’s going to do. But things have really gotten bad.
Moderator, Lauren Kelley
Were you all surprised by the decision?
Lindsey,
23, North Carolina, white, Democrat, travel coordinator
Yeah. I remember waking up and seeing it on my phone, and I didn’t really think that it was real. I guess I had heard in the news that it was, like, something that people were talking about. But it just seemed like something that could never really happen in the U.S. — a place that defines itself on freedom that would be taking away people’s right to choose, seemingly so easily.
Michael P.,
32, Massachusetts, white, independent, banking
I was surprised by the decision because when the various justices were being appointed and were being questioned, it seemed as if they were going to uphold Roe v. Wade.
Michael J.,
58, New York, Black, Democrat, office manager
Nobody here should have been surprised because it was leaked that this was going to happen.
Moderator, Lauren Kelley
And what about the reaction to the decision?
Michael P.,
32, Massachusetts, white, independent, banking
No surprise there. Protests, and a lot of people are upset and everything, so no surprise there.
Michael J.,
58, New York, Black, Democrat, office manager
The reaction, it was typical, and the only thing that can happen now is the people that are out there protesting and everything like that — they just basically have to get out there and vote. If Republicans take over both houses of Congress, things will get worse.
Moderator, Lauren Kelley
What will the impact of this decision be on your families?
Anne,
64, Michigan, white, independent, graphic designer
My niece has had two pregnancies that have been a severe health risk to her. She had pre-eclampsia, and she ended up having to have C-section quite early, so the baby — it was a threat to the baby’s life as well. She can’t get pregnant again. And fortunately, she lives in a state that, as of yet, is not going to outlaw abortion. But if the Supreme Court went this far, are they going to take it even further and mandate that abortion is illegal? I don’t know. It’s very scary.
Moderator, Lauren Kelley
Is there anybody else who just wanted to say how this might affect their families?
Bridget,
54, Missouri, white, Republican, babysitting
Depending on how far this goes, our kids could be the generation of unwanted kids, and that’s going to bring along a lot of consequences with it — probably a lot more crime, probably a lot more mental health issues.
Moderator, Margie Omero
In one word, how would you describe the Supreme Court?
Elizabeth,
46, Georgia, Asian, independent, project manager
Chaos.
Rildon,
46, Texas, Latino, Republican, lottery claim coordinator
One-sided.
Quinn,
33, Kansas, white, Republican, real estate agent
Inconsiderate.
Anne,
64, Michigan, white, independent, graphic designer
Disgusted.
Lindsey,
23, North Carolina, white, Democrat, travel coordinator
Unsafe.
Adrienne,
57, California, Black, Democrat, social worker
I’d say inconsiderate.
Haresh,
43, New York, Asian, Democrat, customer service representative
Dilemma.
Michael J.,
58, New York, Black, Democrat, office manager
Tyrannical.
Michael P.,
32, Massachusetts, white, independent, banking
Biased.
Bridget,
54, Missouri, white, Republican, babysitting
I feel cautious.
Moderator, Margie Omero
Do you feel like public opinion is different from where the court is?
Michael J.,
58, New York, Black, Democrat, office manager
It’s obvious it is. You have polls every day that said that the majority of people in this country think that abortion should be legal. Not just that but the other decision that they made, about the guns — totally the opposite of where the country is going. They’re totally out of step.
Moderator, Margie Omero
How important is it that the court be where public opinion is? Should that be a goal of the Supreme Court?
Adrienne,
57, California, Black, Democrat, social worker
I think that they should align somewhat with the people.
Michael P.,
32, Massachusetts, white, independent, banking
I don’t think that they need to. That’s not their job. I think the concern I have about it is, at the end of the day, there should be checks and balances. And it seems as if, with this, some of those checks and balances are going out the window.
Do you think the Supreme Court may
now re-examine other decisions, like the
ones allowing gay marriage, birth control,
sexual intimacy or interracial marriage?
Do you think the Supreme
Court may now re-examine other
decisions, like the ones allowing
gay marriage, birth control, sexual
intimacy or interracial marriage?
9 people raised their hands.
7 out of 12 people raised their hands
in the pro-life focus group.
Adrienne, 57, California, Black, Democrat
Elizabeth, 46, Georgia, Asian, independent
Rildon, 46, Texas, Latino, Republican
Michael P., 32, Massachusetts, white, independent
Quinn, 33, Kansas, white, Republican
Anne, 64, Michigan, white, independent
Lindsey, 23, North Carolina, white, Democrat
Bridget, 54, Missouri, white, Republican
Haresh, 43, New York, Asian, Democrat
Michael J., 58, New York, Black, Democrat
Lindsey,
23, North Carolina, white, Democrat, travel coordinator
I think it’s really scary, just as a young person who’s grown up in the age of everyone being able to marry whoever they wanted to.
Michael J.,
58, New York, Black, Democrat, office manager
Justice Thomas hinted at a bunch of rulings that could be affected by this, even though Judge Alito said that this had nothing to do with those.
Rildon,
46, Texas, Latino, Republican, lottery claim coordinator
One thing leads to another. If they can do this on this issue, what else are they going to try to change and try to alter and make us follow what they want us to do? They start infringing on our freedom to express ourselves and our freedom to decide to assemble and try to march. And all those things can easily start being taken away from us.
Moderator, Margie Omero
Adrienne, tell me why you think that might not happen.
Adrienne,
57, California, Black, Democrat, social worker
I think it’s more about hot topics. And I don’t think those are topics that they’re going to revisit right now.
Moderator, Margie Omero
Abortion laws are now up to the states. What is happening in your state? Are you following it? What are the rules where you are?
Quinn,
33, Kansas, white, Republican, real estate agent
I honestly don’t know.
Elizabeth,
46, Georgia, Asian, independent, project manager
So my state is still pro-choice. I live in Georgia. And for as much as I know, it’s still pro-choice. I’m not really following it, but that’s what I heard.
Michael J.,
58, New York, Black, Democrat, office manager
Well, I live in New York, so it’s definitely pro-choice. That’s not going to change.
Bridget,
54, Missouri, white, Republican, babysitting
In Missouri, I think it’s banned except if the mother’s life is in severe danger.
Moderator, Margie Omero
And how does that make you feel that that’s the rule in Missouri?
Bridget,
54, Missouri, white, Republican, babysitting
I’m honestly OK with it. The states get to decide. And Missouri is considerably a red state. So if that’s what the majority of people in Missouri want, then I think that should be the law of the land.
Moderator, Margie Omero
How would you feel about your state passing a law that would protect the right to an abortion in your state?
Anne,
64, Michigan, white, independent, graphic designer
I would be relieved.
Quinn,
33, Kansas, white, Republican, real estate agent
I think they should, within limits, yeah.
Moderator, Margie Omero
Bridget, if Missouri passed a law protecting the right to an abortion in Missouri, how would you feel about that?
Bridget,
54, Missouri, white, Republican, babysitting
I would not be opposed to that.
Moderator, Margie Omero
You would not be opposed to it. So you’re OK with either banning most abortions or protecting the right to abortion. You’re OK with either type of law.
Bridget,
54, Missouri, white, Republican, babysitting
Yeah.
Moderator, Lauren Kelley
How would you feel about a law that has exceptions for people who are victims of rape or incest?
Michael P.,
32, Massachusetts, white, independent, banking
I would support it.
Elizabeth,
46, Georgia, Asian, independent, project manager
Yeah, support.
Moderator, Lauren Kelley
What about the same sort of exception for the health of the pregnant woman? For example, in the case of an ectopic pregnancy, which is when a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus. It’s never viable, and it can be very dangerous for the woman. Would you want to see an exception for that?
Elizabeth,
46, Georgia, Asian, independent, project manager
Absolutely.
Michael P.,
32, Massachusetts, white, independent, banking
Yes.
Moderator, Lauren Kelley
What about a woman who is in need of cancer treatment? She needs to have an abortion so that she can have the lifesaving cancer treatment. And then, likewise, if a woman is suicidal, should there be an exception? Should you be able to get an abortion? [Participants generally nod in agreement.] What about allowing abortions in the case of fetal abnormalities?
Michael J.,
58, New York, Black, Democrat, office manager
I think it’s a good idea. It’s going to cause more stress on the mother if the baby is born prenatal or with abnormalities. It’s not going to create the ideal life for a mother and her baby.
Quinn,
33, Kansas, white, Republican, real estate agent
My particular thought is that those tests are not accurate. One of my aunts is actually — she is a doctor herself. She was told that her son was going to have Down syndrome, 100 percent. He’s 17 years old now. He’s never had anything wrong with him. So I don’t know.
Anne,
64, Michigan, white, independent, graphic designer
My adult foster son has a severely impaired baby toddler. She was born without a cerebrum. And I’m not saying you want to make that choice. But if the child is going to be born so severely impaired, you should be able to make that choice to not bring such pain.
Moderator, Lauren Kelley
How would you feel about a law being passed in your state that would allow people to take a person to court for helping someone, like maybe that person’s friend or their family member, get an abortion?
Anne,
64, Michigan, white, independent, graphic designer
It sounds like a witch hunt to me. I would not like that at all. I’d be very against anything like that. It’s just not right.
Moderator, Lauren Kelley
What about a law that would prevent someone from crossing state lines to get an abortion in a different state?
Michael J.,
58, New York, Black, Democrat, office manager
If you honestly believe that the majority of your people in your state are good with not having abortion be legal, that’s one thing. But to prevent somebody from going to another state where it is legal is ridiculous.
Lindsey,
23, North Carolina, white, Democrat, travel coordinator
Having a state next to you where abortion is legal and in your state it’s not — that disproportionately affects people who are underserved, people in poverty, people who are not as advantaged as those who have the resources to have the money for gas, rent a hotel, all of those things.
Moderator, Margie Omero
Is there something that a pro-choice candidate could do or say that you would think, “That’s too far”?
Michael P.,
32, Massachusetts, white, independent, banking
Not so much. Personally, there’s some things that I would not necessarily agree with. But in terms of a politician saying this or that, it should be more so up to the actual person going through the procedure.
Quinn,
33, Kansas, white, Republican, real estate agent
I know two girls I went to high school with who have had three or four abortions just because they just don’t care. And to me, that’s one reason why I think it should be regulated. People take advantage.
Moderator, Margie Omero
What would the regulation be that would prevent that from happening?
Quinn,
33, Kansas, white, Republican, real estate agent
Either a medical reason or, as stupid as it sounds, one every five years, one every 10. If people are doing it this often, there’s obviously something wrong there.
Moderator, Margie Omero
We’ve been talking about the rules in your state. What about a federal law that would protect the right to an abortion?
Haresh,
43, New York, Asian, Democrat, customer service representative
That sounds like a good idea to me.
Quinn,
33, Kansas, white, Republican, real estate agent
I really think, honestly, with a lot of things, it would help if it was uniform across the United States. Abortion, gun laws, marriage, marijuana — why are all these states different?
Bridget,
54, Missouri, white, Republican, babysitting
I think because we’re so different. That’s why I think it would be cool if everyone went to a state that aligned with their beliefs. We’re never all going to agree on any of those things.
Moderator, Lauren Kelley
Let’s talk about abortion and voting a little bit. How important is that issue going to be to you personally at the polls?
Bridget,
54, Missouri, white, Republican, babysitting
It’s really not important to me.
Michael P.,
32, Massachusetts, white, independent, banking
It will definitely play a role. But in Massachusetts, it’s predominantly a blue state, so I don’t think it’s going to have much of an impact with how things play out.
Moderator, Lauren Kelley
What will be on your mind as you’re going to cast your votes? Rildon?
Rildon,
46, Texas, Latino, Republican, lottery claim coordinator
So for me, it’s definitely going to be — having a daughter, that’s something that’s going to be weighing on my mind when it comes time to voting. Again, my belief, I wouldn’t have an abortion. But by the same token, I’m not one to be telling somebody what to do with their body. If they have an issue or they have a medical condition or they were a victim of rape or incest, I definitely would not be against that individual choosing to terminate a pregnancy.
Moderator, Margie Omero
What is it that you want to hear Democrats say about abortion?
Haresh,
43, New York, Asian, Democrat, customer service representative
That we will help people who want to get an abortion. That there will be certain limitations.
If you agreed with a candidate on
most things but disagreed with that
candidate on abortion, raise your hand
if you could still vote for that person.
If you agreed with a candidate
on most things but disagreed
with that candidate on abortion,
raise your hand if you could
still vote for that person.
2 people raised their hands.
8 out of 12 people raised their hands
in the pro-life focus group.
Adrienne, 57, California, Black, Democrat
Elizabeth, 46, Georgia, Asian, independent
Rildon, 46, Texas, Latino, Republican
Michael P., 32, Massachusetts, white, independent
Quinn, 33, Kansas, white, Republican
Anne, 64, Michigan, white, independent
Lindsey, 23, North Carolina, white, Democrat
Bridget, 54, Missouri, white, Republican
Haresh, 43, New York, Asian, Democrat
Michael J., 58, New York, Black, Democrat
Moderator, Lauren Kelley
Roe v. Wade was the law of the land for nearly 50 years. Thinking about the future, are we still going to be having this debate 50 years from now?
Quinn,
33, Kansas, white, Republican, real estate agent
Hopefully not. I just hope it’s settled.
Michael J.,
58, New York, Black, Democrat, office manager
It will still be a question. The country is too divided to ever come together on something like this. You have people that are always going to feel one way or the other. Obviously, the country is changing. It’s becoming more minority based. So if that trend continues, then eventually, it might get to the point where enough people are in office that they can actually codify Roe. As long as you have the Supreme Court with a supermajority leaning conservative, this is going to be a problem.
