rePROs Fight Back

Jennie Wetter

rePROs Fight Back, a multi-award winning podcast, does-dives into reproductive health, rights, and justice issues like abortion, birth control, sex education, women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, gender equity, and more. New episodes debut every Tuesday, giving you an insider’s perspective on what is happening and what you can do to fight back.

  1. Oct 20

    Everything You Need To Know About the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program

    The Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program (TPPP) is a federal public health initiative that invests in organizations empowering young people with the education and resources they need to make informed decisions about their bodies and lives. It’s evidence-based approach has proven to be extremely successful: since Congress’s bipartisan authorization of the program in 2009, teen pregnancy rates have reached historic lows. Ruth Richardson, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood North Central States, talks to us about the administration’s overhaul of TPPP, the legal fights to challenge it, and the wide-ranging benefits of comprehensive sexuality education.  The resounding efficacy of this public health investment has made it an ongoing target for the Trump administration. In June 2026, the Department of Health and Human Services abruptly terminated 53 of the 67 nationwide TPPP grants. These funding cuts are depriving young people of science-based sexuality education that is proven to keep them safer and healthier, forcing programs to close, stripping educators of their jobs, and eroding years of communities’ trust. A coalition of organizations and local governments is fighting back in court. In August, a federal judge preliminarily blocked the administration from implementing its proposed changes to impose an unscientific and ideological abstinence-only approach onto grantees.   For more information, check out Lady to Lady: https://ladytoladycomedy.com/ Support the show Follow Us on Social: Twitter: @rePROsFightBack Instagram: @reprosfb Facebook: rePROs Fight Back Bluesky: @reprosfightback.bsky.social Buy rePROs Merch: Bonfire store Email us: jennie@reprosfightback.com Rate and Review on Apple Podcast Thanks for listening & keep fighting back!

    Everything You Need To Know About the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program
  2. Oct 13

    Reproductive Rights Are Always on the Ballot

    Reproductive rights aren’t only attacked on the federal level; in fact, the case that overturned Roe v. Wade was an abortion ban out of Mississippi. Individual states set the precedent for their own abortion laws, sex education, shield laws, and more. Jillian Riley, North Carolina Director of Public Affairs for Planned Parenthood Votes! South Atlantic sits down to talk with us about how reproductive health, rights, and justice can show up on the election ballot in a variety of ways. While individual states are determining state-level access to reproductive health and rights, State Attorneys General defend state laws, choose not to defend state laws, or sue the federal government over laws. Governors, meanwhile, sign off on state legislation that attacks or protects health and rights. In addition, the judges we elect have a say in judicial bypass for young people, enforcing state constitutions, redistricting decisions, and more. School board elections inform curriculum, which informs sex education, LGBTQI+ inclusive-education, and available library books. City council and county commissioners also play a large role in funding for doulas, lactation specialists, and maternal health programs.  For more information, check out Lady to Lady: https://ladytoladycomedy.com/ Support the show Follow Us on Social: Twitter: @rePROsFightBack Instagram: @reprosfb Facebook: rePROs Fight Back Bluesky: @reprosfightback.bsky.social Buy rePROs Merch: Bonfire store Email us: jennie@reprosfightback.com Rate and Review on Apple Podcast Thanks for listening & keep fighting back!

    Reproductive Rights Are Always on the Ballot
  3. Oct 6

    50 Years of Hyde, 50 Years of Harm

    September 30th, 2026, marked the 50th anniversary of the Hyde Amendment—a provision enacted in 1976 in response to the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision that legalized nationwide abortion. It restricts federally funded abortions through federal healthcare programs like Medicaid and Medicare. Lupe Rodriguez, Executive Director of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice (NLIRJ) sits down to talk with us about Hyde’s tragic, dangerous legacy, and how it is past time for repeal.  Not only does the Hyde Amendment restrict funding under Medicare and Medicaid, but it does also so for certain disabled individuals under 65, and for certain community health centers providing primary care in underserved areas, as well. Seven states fund abortions under Medicaid and instances of life endangerment, rape and incest, and 21 states fund abortions beyond federal requirements and using their own resources. Yet, exceptions are not consistently applied. The Hyde Amendment has prevented millions of people in the U.S. from accessing abortion. In 1977, unable to receive a needed and financially covered abortion shortly after the amendment’s passing, Rosie Jimenez sought an unsafe abortion and died from complications shortly thereafter. Today, the existing provisions of the Hyde Amendment, coupled with harm caused by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) and ICE harassment, will continue to have a devastating impact on Latine communities and immigrants in the U.S.  For more information, check out Lady to Lady: https://ladytoladycomedy.com/ Support the show Follow Us on Social: Twitter: @rePROsFightBack Instagram: @reprosfb Facebook: rePROs Fight Back Bluesky: @reprosfightback.bsky.social Buy rePROs Merch: Bonfire store Email us: jennie@reprosfightback.com Rate and Review on Apple Podcast Thanks for listening & keep fighting back!

    50 Years of Hyde, 50 Years of Harm
  4. Sep 29

    For Abortion Access in the South, Virginia Plays a Critical Role

    Viriginia plays a critical role for abortion access in the South. In fact, Virginia is the only southern state that did not enact a post-Dobbs abortion ban, leaving it the only southern state without a full abortion ban or extremely restrictive ban on the books. April Greene, Executive Director at the Blue Ridge Abortion Fund, talks to us about Virginia’s important role in continuing to provide care for the southern region and help ensure reproductive freedom nationwide.  In 2024, more than any other state, Virginia saw the largest increase in out-of-state abortion seekers. Patients are coming from all over, but the largest number of abortion seekers come from Georgia, North Carolina, and Florida. As patients are traveling to access care, they encounter practical barriers, including transportation, lodging, childcare, food, and time away from work. These barriers can impact if and when someone accesses an abortion. The post-Dobbs landscape makes access more complicated for patients and abortion funds who support them. Before Dobbs, Blue Ridge Abortion Fund’s funding budget ranged from $9,000 - $14,000 a week. After Dobbs, the budget increased to $20,000 a week to account for new needs. Virginia voters have the opportunity in November to vote on a ballot initiative that would enshrine reproductive freedom in the state’s constitution, protecting abortion and other reproductive healthcare into the Virginia constitution.  Links: Blue Ridge Abortion Fund Support the Blue Ridge Abortion Fund Blue Ridge Abortion Fund on Instagram Blue Ridge Abortion Fund on Facebook The Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment  For more information, check out Lady to Lady: https://ladytoladycomedy.com/ Support the show Follow Us on Social: Twitter: @rePROsFightBack Instagram: @reprosfb Facebook: rePROs Fight Back Bluesky: @reprosfightback.bsky.social Buy rePROs Merch: Bonfire store Email us: jennie@reprosfightback.com Rate and Review on Apple Podcast Thanks for listening & keep fighting back!

    For Abortion Access in the South, Virginia Plays a Critical Role
  5. Sep 22

    Independent Abortion Providers Are Human Rights Defenders

    Independent abortion clinics collectively provide 58% of abortions in the United States. After 26 weeks of gestation, abortion clinics provide 100% of abortion care in the country. Yet, independent clinics have faced unrelenting attacks to their funding, resources, and physical wellbeing, especially over the past decade. Nikki Madsen and Erin Grant, Co-Executive Directors at the Abortion Care Network (ACN), sit down to talk with us about the critical, community-based work of independent clinics and the importance of International Safe Abortion Day around the world.  The Abortion Care Network is the national organization for independent, community-based abortion clinics, whose programming supports sustainability and professional development for clinics and their staff. Providers are navigating providing care to patients plus those that are arriving from out of state, with low pay, little time, and low support for their mental health and wellbeing. Independent providers, showing up every day to under resourced and threatened clinics, believe in provide the human right of sexual and reproductive health care. For more information, check out Lady to Lady: https://ladytoladycomedy.com/ Support the show Follow Us on Social: Twitter: @rePROsFightBack Instagram: @reprosfb Facebook: rePROs Fight Back Bluesky: @reprosfightback.bsky.social Buy rePROs Merch: Bonfire store Email us: jennie@reprosfightback.com Rate and Review on Apple Podcast Thanks for listening & keep fighting back!

    Independent Abortion Providers Are Human Rights Defenders
  6. Sep 8

    Texas is the Blueprint for a Life Without Reproductive Freedom

    Planned Parenthood has been under attack in Texas for years. This has resulted in a lack of access to affordable healthcare, lack of access to birth control, and worsening maternal health outcomes. Shellie Hayes-McMahon, Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Texas, which is the 501(c)(3) arm of Planned Parenthood Texas Votes, sits down to talk with us about the perfect storm of attacks to reproductive health and rights in Texas, which provides a perfect blueprint for other states who wish to follow suit.  The current push at the national level centers on defunding Planned Parenthood via Medicaid. Patients who lose their Planned Parenthood provider in Texas cannot just find a new provider. In fact, the state is currently seeing a decrease in providers generally, as well as medical students. Cancer screenings, birth control provision, critical counseling, and more, are services that are becoming increasingly more expensive for Planned Parenthood to provide, while crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) are receiving millions of state dollars. In Texas, public school-provided sex education is abstinence-only, while misinformation around birth control is currently skyrocketing. The nationwide attacks on mifepristone, one of the safe and effective drugs used in a medication abortion, began in Texas.  For more information, check out Lady to Lady: https://ladytoladycomedy.com/ Support the show Follow Us on Social: Twitter: @rePROsFightBack Instagram: @reprosfb Facebook: rePROs Fight Back Bluesky: @reprosfightback.bsky.social Buy rePROs Merch: Bonfire store Email us: jennie@reprosfightback.com Rate and Review on Apple Podcast Thanks for listening & keep fighting back!

    Texas is the Blueprint for a Life Without Reproductive Freedom
4.9
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69 Ratings

About

rePROs Fight Back, a multi-award winning podcast, does-dives into reproductive health, rights, and justice issues like abortion, birth control, sex education, women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, gender equity, and more. New episodes debut every Tuesday, giving you an insider’s perspective on what is happening and what you can do to fight back.

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