The Defenders
The 2024 election is just around the corner, and the stakes are high for reproductive justice. From abortion ballot measures in Arizona and Florida, to flipping state legislatures, we’ll explore the future of reproductive freedom and what it means for our democracy. In Season Two of The Defenders, host Gloria Riviera talks to activists, organizers, and experts to equip you with everything you need to defend abortion rights at the polls. This series is supported by Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and Levi Strauss Foundation. Coming 9/12.
Episodes
August 19, 2026 • 14 mins
To listen to the rest of this episode, search for Last Day wherever you listen to podcasts.
When Nadia Bowers's sister Sasha died of fentanyl overdose in 2015, Nadia was seven months pregnant with her first child and had gotten married just six weeks earlier. Suddenly she had to ask herself: how do I go on after the worst thing that's ever happened to me? In this episode, Nadia tells Stephanie how writing her new memoir, Dear Deal...
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November 14, 2024 • 1 min
We hope you have been enjoying the incredible guests and stories from this season of The Defenders. Now, we want to hear from you. We’re conducting a survey with three simple questions: Did you learn something, has your opinion changed, and do you feel empowered to put these new ideas into action? You can complete this simple, three question survey at bit.ly/defenderssurvey We appreciate you!
See omnystudio.com/listener...
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October 10, 2024 • 33 mins
Across the country, reproductive freedom is popular – 63 percent of Americans say abortion should be legal in all or most cases. So why don’t our laws reflect the will of the people? As the Executive Director of Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity (URGE), Kimberly Inez McGuire breaks down how opponents of abortion access have targeted voting rights and democracy to advance their agenda – and how we can all ...
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October 3, 2024 • 37 mins
State Supreme Courts are crucial to abortion rights, yet most people have no idea what these courts do. Or that in many states we actually vote for these judges. Thirty-three states will have supreme court seats on the ballot this November. Alicia Bannon of State Court Report tells us why these courts matter to abortion rights and how to be better informed going to the ballot box. We’ll also zoom in on Texas, where the Find O...
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September 26, 2024 • 31 mins
Since the Dobbs decision, activists, organizers, and leaders are turning to state legislatures to protect and expand reproductive rights. This November, 44 states will hold legislative elections, and these races are often won or lost by tiny margins. Two champions of state power, Gaby Goldstein from Sister District and Jennifer Driver from the State Innovation Exchange, share what’s in store for state races across the country...
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September 19, 2024 • 30 mins
In May 2024, a six-week abortion ban went into effect in Florida, dramatically limiting access for women across the South. While Floridians are living with this new reality, they’re also gearing up to change it. Gloria talks with Lauren Brenzel, campaign director for Floridians Protecting Freedom / Yes on 4, who is fighting for the November ballot measure that would protect abortion access in the state constitution and revers...
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September 12, 2024 • 36 mins
We start Season 2 of The Defenders in Arizona, where abortion rights have been in turmoil since the overturn of Roe. Now, a citizen-led effort is trying to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution through a ballot measure. November’s election may not only change the fate of abortion in this crucial swing state; it could also flip the state legislature and impact control of the U.S. Senate and the fate of the White H...
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July 25, 2024 • 3 mins
The Defenders is back. This season, all roads lead to Nov. 5, because abortion is on the ballot this Election Day and the stakes are higher than ever. Host Gloria Riviera interviews organizers, activists, and experts from Arizona to Florida to Texas – the people on the front lines of this fight. From building state power to voting for judges, we’ll arm you with everything you need to know to stand up for reproductive fr...
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January 31, 2024 • 27 mins
When it comes to abortion, finding answers in a world of misinformation and changing laws can be hard. Especially when the places to turn to for care are diminishing. On this bonus episode, Gloria talks to Ariella Messing, the founder of the Online Abortion Resource Squad, or OARS. They moderate the r/abortion subreddit, a group on Reddit that is dedicated to answering questions about abortion. Not only are they helping people find...
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January 10, 2024 • 32 mins
In the final episode of our series, we’re hitting the streets of Manhattan to join up with Nix Rao, a young activist dedicated to expanding reproductive health access in New York. Fueled by their motto, “legality does not equal access,” we’ll follow Nix as they lead the charge to bring abortion pills to college campuses.
To learn more about all the organizations featured in The Defenders, visit: https://lem...
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January 3, 2024 • 22 mins
Today, we’re bringing you part one of our series finale. Dr. Warren Hern is one of the few remaining physicians performing abortions later in pregnancy. After decades in this fight - and serious threats to his safety - nothing is stopping him from this important work.
Learn more about the Boulder Abortion Clinic: https://www.drhern.com/
To learn more about all the organizations featured in The Defenders, visit: https:...
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December 20, 2023 • 45 mins
While the majority of the country supports abortion, much of the mainstream media has a long way to go to represent abortion accurately and ethically. This week, Sam talks to journalist Jessica Valenti and abortion activist Renee Bracey Sherman about how we can “arm the choir” with in-depth and more impactful storytelling. Plus, tips on how you can talk about abortion with your own family over the holidays.
...
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December 13, 2023 • 52 mins
We travel to the Rio Grande Valley in Texas, where abortion bans intersect with immigration policy. And our team crosses the border into Mexico to buy something you can’t get in Texas: abortion pills.
Learn more about Frontera Fund at https://fronterafundrgv.org/.
To learn more about all the organizations featured in The Defenders, visit: https://lemonadamedia.com/the-defenders-resource-page/
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December 6, 2023 • 41 mins
How do you make a complicated reproductive choice when you’re racing against the clock? We follow two women in Georgia as they figure out how to end their pregnancies in a state with a 6-week ban. And then we talk to Sister Song’s Monica Simpson about how the Reproductive Justice movement is expansive enough to hold space for people with conflicted feelings about their abortions.
Learn more about SisterSong at ht...
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November 29, 2023 • 50 mins
Reproductive rights and religion may not feel like they go hand in hand. But in Atlanta, Black faith leaders are challenging that by talking about abortion…in church.
Learn more about Faith in Public Life at https://www.faithinpubliclife.org/
Learn more about Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice at https://rcrc.org/
Follow Tiffanie Mackey at https://www.tiffanielanelle.com/
To learn more about all the organization...
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November 22, 2023 • 40 mins
There’s a trend happening across America. In blue AND red states, people are voting to protect abortion rights, with Ohio just the latest example. It turns out abortion is winning elections. This week, Sam sits down with author and writer Rebecca Traister to dissect why a record number of voters are showing up in droves to protect reproductive freedom.
Follow Rebecca Traister: https://rebeccatraister.com/
Learn more a...
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November 15, 2023 • 54 mins
What does gender affirming care have to do with abortion? It’s all about bodily autonomy. And the forces that brought down Roe are going after Trans rights next. We stay in Tennessee this week as we break down the anti-trans, anti-abortion playbook and meet a group of young people who are navigating their state’s attacks on LGBTQ rights.
Learn more about OUTMemphis at https://www.outmemphis.org/.
Gloria Riviera ...
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November 8, 2023 • 56 mins
What does it mean to be an abortion activist in a state where abortion is completely banned? We travel to Tennessee alongside two activists who are risking everything to expand access to care.
Learn more about Abortion Care Tennessee at https://www.abortioncaretn.org/about-us.
Follow Tia Freeman on Instagram @slipp3rywhenwet and their work with Beyond Roe Collective @beyondroecollective.
Gloria Riviera and Samantha Bee ar...
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November 8, 2023 • 46 mins
Episode 1: Back in 2022, shortly after the fall of Roe, Brittany felt trapped. She was pregnant and stuck in an abusive relationship, totally cut off from her support system. She didn’t see a way out - until she happened to hear a radio story about the Midwest Access Coalition, an abortion fund helping people travel across state lines. We follow Brittany’s harrowing journey as she travels hundreds of miles, with the hel...
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October 20, 2023 • 3 mins
Since the fall of Roe, people are asking, what do we do now? "The Defenders," from Lemonada Media, will take a closer look at the fight for reproductive rights and gender equity happening across the country. Co-hosts Samantha Bee and Gloria Riviera share the stories of a growing network of helpers who are fighting back and doubling down on reproductive freedom. Coming November 8.
This series is supported by Charles and Lynn ...
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