The post The Most-Read Ms. Stories of 2025 appeared first on Ms. Magazine.

Together, the early data from this week's elections paints a clear picture: Women voters were the decisive force in the 2025 elections, driving sweeping Democratic victories across key states. Women turned out at higher rates than men and made up a majority of voters. Support for women’s rights, reproductive freedom, gender equality and fair immigration policies powered a Democratic sweep this election season.

Historic gender gaps reshaped the political landscape:
—In Virginia, 65 percent of women voted for Democrat Abigail Spanberger for governor, compared to just 48 percent of men, a 17-point gender gap. 
—In New Jersey, women backed Democrat Mikie Sherrill by 62 percent, compared with 49 percent of men, a 13-point gap that proved decisive in her win. 

The post Election Results: Historic Gender Gaps Shape 2025 Outcomes in Virginia, New Jersey and Beyond appeared first on Ms. Magazine.

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP): “Today’s White House event on autism was filled with dangerous claims and misleading information that sends a confusing message to parents and expecting parents and does a disservice to autistic individuals."

American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP): “Emergency physicians must align around clear, evidence-based guidance for patients. The data from numerous studies have shown that acetaminophen is safe and effective."

The post Leading Health Groups Slam Trump and RFK’s Claims Linking Tylenol to Autism: ‘Irresponsible and Misleading’ appeared first on Ms. Magazine.

The incident at Texas A&M is emblematic of a broader assault on educators’ ability to address gender, sexuality and identity in the classroom. Laws like Senate Bill 37 and executive orders restricting discussion of “gender ideology” weaponize state power against both students and professors, undermining constitutional protections and silencing marginalized voices.

As Zeph Capo of the Texas American Federation of Teachers notes, these public calls for removal based on viral clips constitute an abuse of power—and yet, they are becoming normalized. This moment underscores the urgent need to protect feminist and LGBTQ+ perspectives in education, to ensure that classrooms remain spaces for inquiry, critical thinking and the affirmation of all students’ lived experiences.

The post Texas A&M Professor Dismissed, President Steps Down: The Price of Teaching Gender appeared first on Ms. Magazine.

“I fled the state today alongside my Democratic colleagues,” wrote Texas state Rep. Linda Garcia in a now-viral Instagram post. “I did it for democracy and I did it with my son.”

Texas lawmakers earn just $7,200 a year in base salary, and most must maintain day jobs to stay afloat—whether as attorneys, nurses, educators or small business owners. For many, walking out meant leaving aging parents, missing birthdays and putting finances further on the line.

In fact, the risks of leaving the state are not just political—they’re personal and, at times, terrifying. On Wednesday morning, a bomb threat was called into a hotel in Illinois where several Democratic lawmakers were believed to be staying, prompting evacuations and police searches. No explosives were found, but the incident underscored the danger facing those who dare to stand up and walk out. “We are safe, we are secure, and we are undeterred,” said Democratic Caucus chair Gene Wu, Mexican American Legislative Caucus chair Ramon Romero and Legislative Black Caucus chair Barbara Gervin-Hawkins in a statement.

The post ‘I Did It for Democracy—And I Did It With My Son’: The Human Cost Behind Texas Democrats’ Walkout appeared first on Ms. Magazine.

“Let’s not allow the White House to put its arms into Texas and divide our community,” said Texas state Rep. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins at a heated and packed public hearing last Thursday.

The post A Power Grab in Plain Sight: Inside Texas Republicans’ Mid-Decade Redistricting Push appeared first on Ms. Magazine.

In the interest of democracy, transparency and election security, I reached out to a group of leading experts—many of whom work at the intersection of voting rights, cybersecurity and public trust—to share two examples of the kinds of articles I’ve seen on this topic, and ask for their take.

What follows are responses from some of the country’s most experienced voices on election integrity. Their insights are a valuable reminder that while election systems are not perfect, there is currently no credible evidence supporting claims of widespread vote manipulation in 2024. Instead, these experts highlight what’s real, what’s theoretical and where our attention should actually be focused as we work to protect democracy.

The post I Asked Top Election Experts About 2024 Tampering Claims. Here’s What They Said. appeared first on Ms. Magazine.

Over the weekend, the feminist movement lost a lion. Melissa Hortman, former speaker of the Minnesota House and longtime champion of reproductive justice, climate action and racial equity, was senselessly gunned down in a targeted attack at her home. Her husband, Mark, was also killed. 

Kelly Dittmar, a political science professor at Rutgers University-Camden and the director of research at the Center for American Women and Politics, shared on social media a powerful speech Hortman gave eight years ago, when she was the minority leader, on the House floor about the power of women’s voices. In it, she interrupted and called out white male legislators during a key debate—and when asked to apologize for her candor, she didn’t flinch.

The post Rest in Power, Melissa Hortman—The Kind of Leader Patriarchy Fears appeared first on Ms. Magazine.

"In what universe does a hospital in Georgia ... believe that they can take ownership of Adriana Smith’s body?” asked Michele Goodwin on a recent emergency episode of On the Issues: Fifteen Minutes of Feminism. “According to the hospital, she is now an incubator. ... This is not science fiction, though I wish that it were.”

“I think every woman should have the right to make their own decision,” Smith’s mother, April Newkirk, said. “And if not, then their partner or their parents.”

The post Adriana Smith and the Legal Horror of Reproductive Servitude in the U.S. appeared first on Ms. Magazine.

A new documentary, Arrest the Midwife, follows a criminalized midwife, the Mennonite women who rallied behind her, and the political battle to legalize life-saving care. Director Elaine Epstein hopes viewers take away something powerful: that meaningful change is often slow, imperfect and comes from unexpected places. “We’re in a time where things are pretty bad and it’s easy to want to bury our heads,” she said. “But we have so much to learn from the Mennonites.”

The post Midwifery Is as Old as Birth Itself. Why Are We Still Fighting for It? appeared first on Ms. Magazine.