Or do we? May kicked off a season of dystopia that we will be unpacking for months to come. We saw RFK Jr. launch his baseless crusade against medication abortion, a brain-dead woman being kept alive on mechanical support to gestate a fetus, and a deadly bombing at a fertility clinic in Palm Springs. Not to mention that it’s about time [checks calendar] for the Supreme Court to begin its assault on democracy and our civil and human rights. Brace yourselves!

But before you start refreshing the court’s opinion page for whatever fresh hell is coming next, read on for a behind-the-scenes look from The Nation’s abortion access correspondent, Amy Littlefield, about her cover story for the June issue, “Defending All Abortions.” (Hell, yeah! Though I should disclose that I had the pleasure of editing her beautiful piece for the issue.) And, hey, if Chile can introduce a bill to legalize abortion, maybe all hope is not lost for the United States?

Stay cool, and don’t forget to touch some dirt.

In solidarity,

Regina Mahone

Senior Editor

When I flew to Maryland to report the story, I was nine weeks pregnant myself. I felt nervous about it on two levels: Pregnancy had turned me into a sleepy, nauseated house cat; I feared I might vomit or faint and become a patient myself. But I also worried that my wanted pregnancy might make me feel distant from the patients whose experiences I hoped to understand.

Instead, my pregnancy only made me feel closer to the patients I met. Ayana and Scarlet, two mothers who feature prominently in my cover story for the June issue, both chose abortion because they felt it was best for the kids they already had. As the mom of a 5-year-old, I related to the deep love for their children that motivated Ayana and Scarlet, even as my own body reminded me of the profound toll that pregnancy demands. At Partners, I found a deep reverence for the seriousness of parenthood among the patients and the staff. I came to understand—as I hope you will when reading the piece—that the “viability” of a pregnancy relies not on how advanced it may be, but on whether the person carrying that pregnancy has decided that it’s viable.

Amy Littlefield

Abortion Access Correspondent, The Nation

How to Use Abortion Pills

How Abortion Pills Work

The Miscarriage and Abortion Hotline

If/When/How Repro Legal Helpline

Support for Families of Trans Youth

Charley, the Abortion Chatbot

Digital Security and Abortion Guide

Find Help Paying for an Abortion

Abortion Access for a Young Person

Abortion Access for Immigrants

Pregnancy Criminalization, Explained

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