The post Ms. Magazine’s Top Feminists of 2025 appeared first on Ms. Magazine.

We recognized The Contrarian’s Jennifer Rubin and Norm Eisen for building an independent media platform willing to call out authoritarianism plainly; Democracy Forward president and CEO Skye Perryman for her organization’s record-breaking wave of legal challenges against the Trump administration; and the creative team behind the Broadway hit Liberation—playwright Bess Wohl, director Whitney White, and former Ms. writer and editor Lisa Cronin Wohl—for reminding audiences that storytelling is itself a democratic act.

"The number one tool that autocratic actors use to try to consolidate power and take away power from the people, is to convince people that they have no power," said Perryman. "Their toolbox is one of isolation. They want you to feel alone."

"I grew up miles from here, family hamburger stand," said Eisen, "and now to be here, to have this opportunity with my colleagues to fight for this democracy that took my country, and my parents. ... When my mother was living, she loved to say the Nazis took us out of Czechoslovakia on cattle cars, and my son flew back on Air Force One. So, how can I not be hopeful?"

The post The Ms. Q&A With Democracy Defenders Norm Eisen, Skye Perryman and Jennifer Rubin appeared first on Ms. Magazine.

This week:
—Democratic candidates won elections across the country.
—At Crooked Con last week, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) laid out her priorities for when Democrats regain power in Congress: "We’ve got to fix the Voting Rights Act, we have to deal with the money in politics, we have to deal with the Supreme Court and we need immigration reform."
—ICE targeted childcare workers and is accused of inhumane detention conditions.
—Nancy Pelosi announced her retirement in 2027.
—Trump's approval ratings continue to fall, a year out from the 2026 midterms.
—Many popular lubricants aren't safe for vaginal health.

… and more.

The post Keeping Score: Democrats Dominate Key Elections; Federal Government Reopens After 43 Days; ICE Targets Childcare Centers appeared first on Ms. Magazine.

This week:
—Elections in Virginia and New Jersey make history for women's representation in the U.S.
—Speaker Nancy Pelosi announces she will not seek reelection, marking the close to one of the most consequential careers in modern American politics.
—New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani announces his transition team will be led entirely by women.

... and more.

The post 2025’s Pink Wave: Election Night Marks Historic Wins for Women’s Representation appeared first on Ms. Magazine.

She will be remembered for many things: shepherding the Affordable Care Act into law, standing firm against Trumpism, pushing for ERA ratification, and proving—time and again—that women can wield power with both strength and grace. But what stands out most to me is her unwavering belief in women themselves. “Be not afraid,” she told women and girls everywhere. “Be ready for whatever opportunities come along, and know how important your contribution is, because when women succeed, everyone succeeds.” Quite simply, Nancy Pelosi showed us what leadership looks like.

The post Nancy Pelosi, Feminist Icon and Political Powerhouse, to Retire in 2027 appeared first on Ms. Magazine.

"People think that feminism is a dirty word. In fact, it's a very strong word. Particularly for progressives and Democrats—feminism is highly correlated with voting for Democrats. Half of Independents consider themselves feminists; when you describe it, a third of Republicans and 83 percent of Democrats do. Our voters consider themselves feminists. It is a very quiet movement out there that is really underestimated. ...

"Feminist issues, however we define them, are doing quite well. What we don't have is we don't have enough of them out front. We don't have enough leaders taking them on."

The post ‘The Feminist Agenda Is Wildly Popular’: Celinda Lake on the Political Power of Feminist Voters appeared first on Ms. Magazine.

"It’s no coincidence that the 50 top countries for women’s representation all have either a form of gender quotas, legislative or party-based, or constitutional, or they have a proportional voting system."

The post ‘We Need to Shift Who Has Power in This Country’: Cynthia Richie Terrell Knows How We Can Cultivate Gender Balance in Politics appeared first on Ms. Magazine.

This week: Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris did not lose to Donald Trump because they were women; Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows announces run for governor; it’s looking increasingly likely that a woman may be elected in 2026 in Alaska; women will disproportionately feel the effect of Trump's tariffs; and more.

The post This Week in Women’s Representation: From AOC to Alaska’s Next Governor, Women Candidates to Watch in 2024, 2028 and Beyond appeared first on Ms. Magazine.

"One of the next steps in reaching pay equity is the Paycheck Fairness Act—a bill that would amend the Equal Pay Act of 1963 to give workers stronger enforcement tools and remedies to help close the pay gap between men and women once and for all," wrote Ledbetter in an op-ed for Ms. in January. "But things have been frustratingly stagnant in Congress."

The post Rest in Power: Lilly Ledbetter, Trailblazing Icon for Women’s Equal Pay appeared first on Ms. Magazine.

Here's what each candidate said on some of the issues feminists care about—including access to abortion and other reproductive healthcare, the Affordable Care Act, childcare, immigration, racial unity and the economy.

The post She Said, He Said: Your Fast Feminist Guide to the Harris-Trump Debate appeared first on Ms. Magazine.