Cornhole Champions #13: The abortion pill and its discontents

By Amie Rivers

February 26, 2025

Iowa’s near-total abortion ban is in effect. Nonetheless, Iowans are still getting abortions. It’s just harder and more expensive, often requiring travel outside the state.

On this episode of Cornhole Champions, hosts Zachary Oren Smith speaks with Iowa Abortion Access Fund’s Lyz Lenz about the crisis unfolding six months after Iowa’s six-week abortion ban took effect. Since July 2024, the number of Iowans needing abortion funding has tripled, with hundreds forced to travel to Illinois, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Kansas for care. Lenz argues that while the ban hasn’t stopped abortions, it has made them more expensive, delayed, and dangerous.

Then get some facts on the abortion pill mifepristone, the newest target of Iowa Republicans’ crusade against reproductive rights.

Guests:
– Mica Chase is a resident of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

– Dr. Sarah Traxler is the chief medical officer for Planned Parenthood North Central States.

– Lyz Lenz is the chair of the board of directors at the Iowa Abortion Access Fund.

Amie Rivers

Amie Rivers is Iowa Starting Line's newsletter editor. She writes the weekly Worker’s Almanac edition of Iowa Starting Line, featuring a roundup of the worker news you need to know. Previously, she was an award-winning journalist at the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier; now, she very much enjoys making TikToks and memes and getting pet photos in her inbox.

Have a story tip? Reach Amie at [email protected]. For local reporting in Iowa that connects the dots, from policy to people, sign up for Amie's newsletter.

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CATEGORIES: LOCAL VIDEO

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