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We Can Do Hard Things · July 21, 2026 · 1h 31m

The Wild, Untold Story of How They Made Abortion Political: Witches, Healers & Liars | Amanda with Jessica Valenti

Amanda Doyle traces the shocking history of abortion in America, from witch hunts to medical monopolies to the political strategy that turned it into a partisan weapon. Journalist and activist Jessica Valenti then joins to expose what extremists are doing now, why these attacks were never really about abortion, and how the vast majority of Americans actually support reproductive rights. The conversation offers a clear-eyed look at the current threats—including to contraception and IVF—and argues that hope itself is a strategic response when backed by action. Valenti also shares practical ways to support local abortion funds and protect your community.

This summary was generated from show notes and public descriptions, not from a full transcript review. Details may contain inaccuracies.

Highlights

Abortion's Political Weaponization: From Witch Hunts to Partisan Strategy
Amanda traces the history of abortion in America, showing how witch hunts, medical monopolies, and deliberate political maneuvering transformed a healthcare issue into a partisan weapon.
Banning Abortion Doesn't Reduce Abortion Rates
Jessica Valenti explains that abortion rates remain essentially stable regardless of legal status; bans only make the procedure far more dangerous.
Extremist Strategies Now Threaten All Reproductive Healthcare
Valenti exposes the current wave of legal and political tactics designed to eliminate all abortion access, including targeting medication abortion and pushing fetal personhood laws.

Editorial

Why Hope Is a Strategic Necessity
Despite dire circumstances, Valenti argues that hope is a calculated strategy because the majority of Americans consistently support reproductive rights.

References

AbortionJessica Valenti (2025)Valenti's New York Times bestseller that lays out the political and personal dimensions of abortion
Yes Means Yes: Visions of Female Sexual Power and a World Without RapeJessica Valenti (2008)Anthology that set the standard for sexual consent and inspired legislation
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