Michigan Governor Gretchen “Big Gretch” Whitmer has helped transform reproductive freedom in Michigan and shown what’s possible when reproductive freedom champions have the power to govern. In this episode of My Body. My Pod., Mini Timmaraju sits down with Gov. Whitmer to talk about Michigan’s transformation from a state at risk of reverting to a 1931 abortion ban after Roe v. Wade was overturned, to one that has expanded protections for abortion, contraception, IVF, and reproductive freedom by enacting the Reproductive Health Act. Gov. Whitmer also shares how her own experience shaped her fight for reproductive freedom and why abortion access cannot be separated from the economic issues affecting families every day. Mini and Gov. Whitmer look at what Michigan can teach us about winning long-term fights, why reproductive freedom remains at stake even after voters have protected it at the ballot box, and what it will takes to win.
Content note: This episode includes a brief discussion of sexual assault (~4:30-8:30).
Michigan Governor Gretchen “Big Gretch” Whitmer has helped transform reproductive freedom in Michigan and shown what’s possible when reproductive freedom champions have the power to govern.
In this episode of My Body. My Pod., Mini Timmaraju sits down with Gov. Whitmer to talk about Michigan’s transformation from a state at risk of reverting to a 1931 abortion ban after Roe v. Wade was overturned, to one that has expanded protections for abortion, contraception, IVF, and reproductive freedom by enacting the Reproductive Health Act.
Gov. Whitmer also shares how her own experience shaped her fight for reproductive freedom and why abortion access cannot be separated from the economic issues affecting families every day.
“You can't divest that most important decision from the person that is going to bear the consequences of it,” Whitmer says.
Mini and Gov. Whitmer look at what Michigan can teach us about winning long-term fights, why reproductive freedom remains at stake even after voters have protected it at the ballot box, and what it will take to keep moving forward. This includes electing reproductive freedom champions up and down the ballot in the midterm elections—in Michigan and beyond.
As Whitmer puts it: “These fights are longer than they should be. They're harder than they should be, but they're winnable.”
Explore more episode resources: reproforall.org/podEP26
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