Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Iowa, Florida Republican Governors Try To Brush Off Ohio Abortion Rights Vote
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis pledged to continue their efforts to restrict abortion, regardless of recent elections that revealed a groundswell of support for abortion rights even in Republican-led states. Over a Saturday night brisket dinner, attendees of the Pulse Life Advocates Christmas Gala heard speeches from activists who oppose abortion rights, Reynolds and Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, and DeSantis and Florida first lady Casey DeSantis. (Akin, 11/19)
California Gov. Gavin Newson is sending a warning shot at Florida鈥檚 Ron DeSantis over abortion ahead of their anticipated clash on Fox News later this month. On Sunday, Newsom is debuting a new TV ad that accuses the Republican governor and presidential candidate of pushing policies that criminalize women and doctors who pursue abortions after six weeks. The ad, narrated by Newsom, shows pictures of a woman and a doctor under a 鈥淲anted鈥 sign and states that their possible arrest is 鈥渂y order of Governor Ron DeSantis.鈥 (Cadelago, 11/19)
GOP presidential candidate Chris Christie took aim Sunday at Republican National Committee (RNC) Chair Ronna McDaniel for suggesting that abortion is more than a state鈥檚 issue. NBC鈥檚 Kristen Welker pressed Christie on 鈥淢eet the Press鈥 over McDaniel鈥檚 abortion comments on the show last week, where she said 鈥渢here鈥檚 a lot of discussion to be had, but we can鈥檛 just say it鈥檚 a state鈥檚 issue and be done.鈥 Christie pushed back on these remarks, saying 鈥渆very state and its people should make its own judgment on this issue.鈥澛(Sforza, 11/19)
Also 鈥
Increasing numbers of young women applying to colleges are avoiding schools in states that ban or severely restrict abortion, according to polls, scholarly research, and interviews with Philadelphia-area students, their families, and college consultants. 鈥淭his is one of the big issues for us,鈥 said Rosanna Kahn, 48, an MBA student at Drexel University, and the mother of a 20-year-old daughter who鈥檚 a sophomore studying public health at Gwynedd Mercy University in Montgomery County. 鈥淢y daughter was very concerned about abortion access when she applied to schools. (Lubrano, 11/20)