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Abortion is no longer a fundamental right in Iowa. What's next?

River to River, hosted by Ben Kieffer

Last week, the Iowa Supreme Court reversed a 2018 ruling that affirmed the right to an abortion in the state constitution, as the nation anticipates a reversal of Roe v. Wade after a U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion overturning the right was leaked last May .

Last week, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled that the state's constitution does not include a "fundamental right" to abortion. The court's decision came in a challenge to a 2020 law requiring a 24-hour waiting period before an abortion. Though it's unclear if Friday's decision means the law signed by Governor Kim Reynolds will take effect.

River to River host Ben Kieffer is joined by professor Sally Frank, IPR reporter Natalie Krebs, abortion rights opponent Kristi Judkins, and abortion rights advocate Rita Bettis Austen to discuss how this decision, coupled with the possible reversal of Roe v. Wade, will impact Iowans seeking an abortion. Later, listeners share reactions to the decision.

Guests

  • Sally Frank, professor of law at Drake University College of Law
  • Natalie Krebs, health reporter for Iowa Public Radio
  • Kristi Judkins, executive director of Iowa Right to Life
  • Rita Bettis Austen, legal director of the ACLU of Iowa
Ben Kieffer is the host of IPR's River to River
Caitlin Troutman is a talk show producer at Iowa Public Radio
Zachary Oren Smith is a reporter covering Eastern Iowa
Dani Gehr is a producer for River to River and Talk of Iowa. Dani came to Iowa from her hometown in the northwest suburbs of Chicago to attend Iowa State University, where she received a bachelor’s degree in journalism, international studies and French. Before coming to IPR, Dani covered local government in Story County for the Ames Tribune and Des Moines Register.
Natalie Dunlap is a rising junior at the University of Iowa majoring in journalism and minoring in gender, women's & sexuality studies. She is from Iowa City and in her free time enjoys getting coffee and reading downtown with friends.