In every issue of Ms., we track research on our progress in the fight for equality, catalogue can’t-miss quotes from feminist voices and keep tabs on the feminist movement’s many milestones. We’re Keeping Score online, too—in this biweekly roundup.
Lest We Forget
“Trumpcare is threatening Americans’ health care in every community across the country,” Wyden said. “Thanks to Trump and Republicans in Congress, hospitals will be forced to close their doors, medical providers will lose their jobs, and patients will face skyrocketing health care costs. Instead of improving our health care system, Republicans would rather force a shutdown and burn it to the ground. I’m working around the clock to undo these devastating cuts to Medicaid and save middle-class tax credits for health care so that all families can get the care they need.”
—Senate Finance Committee ranking member, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) is working to document the harms of cuts to Medicaid, as Democrats fight to extend enhanced ACA health insurance subsidies.
“Women have sacrificed their safety and, at times, their lives, for our country and we are deeply alarmed by this Administration’s attempts to attack their merits. Any suggestion that women are unqualified, either in body or spirit, is a profound insult to the service women who have contributed so much to our country. Our military must be a place that enables our service members, of every gender, race, and faith, to serve with dignity and bring their full talents to bear.”
—Representatives Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.) and Maggie Goodlander (D-N.H.), both veterans, led almost 100 House Democrats in a letter rebuking Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. He recently terminated the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Service (DACOWITS), and railed against “woke garbage” and DEI initiatives in the military.
“We call it the ‘Hate America’ Rally that’ll happen Saturday. Let’s see who shows up for that. I bet you you see pro-Hamas supporters, I bet you you’ll see antifa types, I bet you you’ll see Marxists in full display, the people who don’t want to stand and defend the foundational truths of this republic. And we do.”
—Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) ahead of the peaceful, pro-democracy “No Kings” rallies in all 50 states.
“Pregnant women are vulnerable to a lot of harm in detention. I visited a pregnant woman in [ICE] detention recently who told me that she’d lost 25 pounds in just a month. I’m also working with another asylum seeker who hasn’t had a visit with an actual obstetric provider yet. Right before she got detained, she was told that she might be carrying twins. But there hasn’t been proper follow-up to determine whether that’s the case. If she is, that’s a high-risk pregnancy, which means that getting timely prenatal care with a specialist is extra-important. She is scared about her health and the health of the pregnancy. She doesn’t know what’s going to happen with her case. She’s an asylum seeker, so by definition, she’s afraid to return to Venezuela.
“People are not getting the standard schedule of prenatal care. Prenatal care is associated with better pregnancy outcomes. We know that it takes a really long time for medical staff at these detention centers to take people seriously when they say things like “I’m bleeding” or “I’m cramping.” You have delayed care, which leads to miscarriages in detention or in the hospital. And, of course, it’s terribly stressful to be detained while you’re pregnant. We have some pretty good evidence that chronic stress negatively impacts pregnancy. That increases risk for preterm birth and preeclampsia. Going through such a profoundly stressful experience would also increase the risk for a perinatal mood disorder.”
—Amanda Heffernan, a nurse-midwife in Seattle who works with pregnant migrants and has seen an uptick in detained pregnant people under the Trump administration. Many report inhumane conditions and no access to medical care or nutritious food.
Milestones
+ The government shutdown continues, with Republicans refusing to extend enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies. Federal workers continue to go without pay, and critical programs will begin running out of funding in November.
At a press conference on Tuesday, Oct. 28, hosted by anti-hunger advocates including MAZON and Share Our Strength, speakers warned that the ongoing government shutdown could soon disrupt SNAP benefits—an unprecedented crisis in U.S. history. Claire Babineaux-Fontenot of Share Our Strength said her organization is “very concerned that the shutdown is happening as holidays are approaching and under the context of rising food prices,” noting that many children rely on SNAP for meals when school is out. Abby Leibman, president and CEO of MAZON, called the situation “so unprecedented and so cruel … unlawful” and said, “We have never seen our government turn on its people this way.”
+ After the Trump administration moved to fire over 4,000 federal employees during the shutdown, a federal judge temporarily blocked them from enforcing RIF notices. Judge Susan Illston said the workers’ unions are likely to prove that issuing RIF notices during the shutdown is illegal.
+ On Saturday, crowds gathered in 2,700 cities across the U.S. for a second “No Kings” peaceful protest against the Trump administration and in support of democracy. Organizers say almost 7 million people attended an event, 2 million more than the first round in June.
+ In response, President Trump posted a disturbing AI-generated video of him dumping sewage on protestors from a jet. JD Vance shared an AI meme depicting Democratic leaders bowing to Trump in a crown.
+ Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) is refusing to swear in Rep-elect Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.), who would be the last signature needed to force a vote on releasing the Epstein files. Rep. Grijalva won a special election on September 23, but her constituents remain without representation. Two Florida Republicans who won special elections this spring were sworn in within 24 hours, in pro forma sessions like the House is using during the shutdown.
+ Pregnant and postpartum Amazon workers in New York rallied last week to demand compliance with the Pregnant Workers’ Fairness Act. Over the summer, over 450 pregnant warehouse workers from 35 states shared stories of systemic discrimination and refusal to grant reasonable accommodations.
+ Trans activist, author and organizer Miss Major Griffin-Gracy died at age 78. Miss Major joined the Stonewall Riots in 1969, founded multiple organizations to support trans women and was the first executive director of the TGI Justice Project, focused on incarcerated trans women. In 2016, she founded House of gg, a safe haven and educational center for the trans community, and in recent years spoke with young LGBTQ people across the country about anti-trans legislation.
+ The Supreme Court heard arguments in Louisiana v. Callais, and appear tempted to weaken the Voting Rights Act. By eliminating Section 2, they could legalize racially discriminatory district maps and vote dilution tactics that prevent majority Black and Latino districts in the South.
+ After Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) published a report detailing 14 cases of pregnant women being mistreated in ICE detention facilities, 29 Democratic senators sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem requesting clarity on conditions and the number of pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding people have been detained or deported.
+ Oct. 23 was Disabled Women’s Equal Pay Day. On average, disabled women are paid nearly half of what disabled men are paid, and earn just 56 cents for every dollar earned by non-disabled men. Disabled women of color face even greater wage gaps.
Key steps to reduce the wage gap include passing the Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act (TCIEA), ending the Trump administration’s attacks on disabled workers and ensuring access to healthcare and paid leave.
How We’re Doing
+ At odds with congressional Republicans’ fight against ACA subsidies, over 75 percent of ACA Marketplace enrollees live in states won by Trump. Since the enhanced premium tax credits were introduced, the number of people receiving health coverage has more than doubled, spurred by growth in Texas, Florida, Georgia and North Carolina.
+ Return-to-office (RTO) policies are pushing women out of the workforce, with moms of young children hit hardest. Under RTO policies, turnover for women is three times higher than for men. And for the first time since the 1960s, the gender pay gap is widening. But flexible workplace policies like hybrid and remote work, flexible schedules and childcare stipends increase retention rates.
+ More than 70 percent of American women are worried about being able to pay medical bills. Women are also more worried than men about paying for child care, groceries, housing and retirement. Latina and Black women are the most concerned, with 47 percent saying they’re very worried about their ability to pay medical bills.
+ Gen Z women are the most liberal group in the U.S., with just 26 percent approving of President Trump. 76 percent want abortion to be legal and 70 percent want gender-affirming care to be accessible for trans adults, both significantly higher than Gen Z men and the national average. Just 17 percent of Gen Z women identify as Republicans, compared to 30 percent of Gen Z men.
+ Estimates suggest the Republican cuts to health care in July will terminate insurance for 15 million Americans. There have been immediate consequences: at least 36 hospitals have already announced closures, many in rural areas. Maternal care, labor, delivery, and NICU wards are especially at risk. Health care professionals are facing mass layoffs, and patients will have higher costs.
+ Since the 2024 election, the majority of LGBTQ people, and 84 percent of trans and nonbinary people, have made life decisions like moving states, switching jobs or crossing state lines for medical care, in response to anti-LGBTQ laws. With political attacks on the rise, 55 percent of transgender adults and 24 percent of all LGBTQ people have taken steps to be less visibly queer in their community.
Despite those precautions, 60 percent of LGBTQ people and 82 percent of trans people report that they or an immediate family member has had a negative experience related to their identity since the election. To combat the rising hate, 20 percent of LGBTQ people and 42 percent of trans people have started participating in advocacy.
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