Legal scholar Mary Ziegler talks about the legal battles shaping reproductive rights across the U.S. — including the scope of abortion access and the fate of IVF. And we look ahead at two very different outcomes with the election. "I don't think in the past 50 years we've had an election where the stakes could be as high, simply because Roe v. Wade isn't there as a floor anymore," Ziegler says. Also, John Powers controversial French writer Michel Houellebecq's new novel, Annihilation. Subscribe to Fresh Air's weekly newsletter and get highlights from the show, gems from the archive, and staff recommendations. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
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This is FRESH AIR.
I'm Tanya Moseley, and as we count down to the election, abortion remains a top concern among voters.
Abortion rights are on the ballot in nine states this this November.
At the same time since Roe v.
Wade was overturned, states like Georgia, Texas and North Dakota are battling this issue out in court, including the scope of abortion access and whether it should be on the ballot.
Joining me today to talk about the fate of in vitro fertilization and where the presidential candidates stand is Mary Ziegler, the Martin Luther King junior professor of law at UC Davis School of Law.
She is the author of seven books on reproduction, autonomy and the law, including dollars for the anti abortion movement and the fall of the republican establishment and the history of a national obsession.
Her new book, the New Civil War over Reproduction, will be published in April of 2025.
Mary Zeigler, welcome back to FReSh Air.
Thanks for having me.
Abortions have actually gone up since the overturning of Roe v.
Wade.
I'm just curious, as a historian, does criminalizing abortion stop people from having them?
I mean, generally not.
We're in an interesting moment that way, too, because, of course.