topics

politics-policy

epstein-files

donald-trump

2026-midterm-elections

immigration

behind-the-curtain

race-and-equity

technology

privacy-tech-regulation

automation-and-ai

tiktok-news

big-tech

social-media

cybersecurity

economy

social-security

inflation

tariffs

federal-reserve

jobs

transportation

business

stock-market-news

retail-news

crypto

media

elon-musk

dealmaking

health

rfk-jr

drug-prices

axios-explains-abortion

public-health

world

israel

axios-explains-ukraine

iran

russia

china

energy-climate

nuclear-energy

climate-energy-policy

climate-change

extreme-weather

alternative-energy

electric-vehicles

science

emerging-tech

biomedicine

newsletters

pittsburgh

atlanta

san-diego

charlotte

boulder

washington-dc

kansas-city

dallas

denver

detroit

des-moines

austin

boston

chicago

cleveland

columbus

houston

indianapolis

miami

nashville

new-orleans

nw-arkansas

philadelphia

phoenix

portland

richmond

salt-lake-city

san-antonio

san-francisco

seattle

tampa-bay

twin-cities

raleigh

huntsville

axios-local

axios-pro

axios-live

the-axios-show

National

The Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade has left anti-abortion rights activists, grassroots organizations and the Republican Party divided over how to move forward, after decades of rallying behind a universally shared goal.

Why it matters: Many anti-abortion rights leaders privately recognize the political appetite for a federal abortion ban is not there right now, and that pushing too hard, too fast could cost them in crucial elections.

Between the lines: For years, Republicans in Congress and at the state level have been able to support and pass highly restrictive abortion laws without having to deal with the political ramifications, since those laws would usually get tied up in the courts before taking effect. 

GOP lawmakers could brandish their pro-life bonafides and satisfy a significant portion of their base without facing the blowback of how those strict laws would be felt in their communities.

But the Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Casey has unilaterally altered that dynamic, raising new questions about how the Republican Party should message on abortion. 

What to watch: GOP lawmakers are in an especially precarious position — their base sees the end of Roe as a starting point, but the broader American electorate overwhelmingly believes abortion should be legal in most cases.

Just 12% of Americans believe Congress should pass a national law banning abortion, according to polling by the Public Religion Research Institute.

“This is not a conversation we want to have,” John Thomas, a Republican strategist who works on House campaigns, recently told Politico. "We want to have a conversation about the economy. We want to have a conversation about Joe Biden, about pretty much anything else besides Roe."

What they're saying: “Pro-lifers and abortion advocates will rhetorically call for federal legislation, but that requires 60 votes in the Senate," Ralph Reed, the founder of the Faith & Freedom Coalition and a close friend of former President Trump, tells Axios.

"For that reason, it is likely that resources will shift [away from a federal fight] and progress made primarily in state legislatures in the near term," Reed predicted.

"A lot of the conservative legal folks that I've listened to and go to say the way the opinion was written, a federal ban is no more constitutional than federal legalization. This was very much an issue that was returned to the states," says Alex Conant, a Republican strategist and a partner at Firehouse Strategies.

Penny Nance, CEO of Concerned Women for America, told Axios her goal is still to push for a federal ban, but that she and other anti-abortion rights leaders "believe in the democratic process."

"The people that are truly anti-abortion are ... very eager to vote. I mean, let's be honest, the consultant class in Washington never wants to talk about abortion. But they better understand that this is what has brought their candidates to victory, year after year after year."

The intrigue: The Atlantic's Elizabeth Bruenig, a Catholic progressive who opposes abortion, notes that some anti-abortion rights groups have called for a new commitment to building a "safety net" for mothers — which she describes as "precisely the kind of legislation that the anti-abortion rights movement has adamantly ignored for the past 50 years."

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), for example, has introduced a bill to expand the child tax credit, provide for parental leave and create a national clearinghouse for maternal resources.

Nance told Axios she's also working on a new website, called Life.gov, that would help educate and provide family resources to women. "We want every state to put together all alternatives," she said. "Whether it's public or private housing, legal and educational training ... or adoption, fostering."

But even on this issue, the GOP is divided: As two former Republican congressional staffers write in the National Review, anti-abortion rights leaders may "feel restrained from supporting a 'safety net' for women, out of ideological concerns" and "perceived mission creep."

Anti-abortion rights movement struggles to find post-Roe North Star

Leaders of the movement and top Republican leaders are split on what their future aspirations should be.

Illustration of a protest sign that says "End Roe" lying on the ground amidst confetti.

Abortion

Politics & Policy

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Inflation, guns and abortion are shaping midterms races everywhere. But in Ohio, a more niche concern — Congress' stalled China competition bill and its $52 billion for the domestic semiconductor industry — has grabbed candidates' attention even as voters are still figuring out why they should care.

Why it matters: Senate rivals Rep. Tim Ryan (D) and J.D. Vance (R), as well as GOP Gov. Mike DeWine and Democratic challenger Nan Whaley, all know that the fate of the CHIPS Act could impact thousands of jobs and carry long-term economic implications for the state.

The big picture: Intel has pledged to spur a "Silicon Heartland" starting with a $20 billion project creating semiconductor fabricating plants in Licking County on the outskirts of Columbus.

That could create 3,000 full-time jobs there, plus ripple effects for hundreds of suppliers across the state and investment and partnerships with universities.

Passing the CHIPS Act could speed and maximize the project's scope. But if the bill doesn't pass, there are concerns it could slow or diminish Intel's commitment and shift money and jobs overseas. 

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has threatened to sink the CHIPS Act if Democrats push ahead on a climate, energy and tax deal without GOP support.

Rather than back down, Democrats hope to pull together votes to bypass McConnell and get the semiconductor funds without sacrificing other priorities.  

With the bill stalled, Intel has delayed a groundbreaking ceremony set for this month. Spokesperson Nancy Sanchez told Axios that "while the ceremony is delayed, our construction plans have not changed" — but the scope and pace will depend on the legislation.

Zoom in: In Licking County, where Donald Trump received 63% of the vote in the 2020 presidential race, stretches of cornfields, small farms and rural homes dot the area where Intel will begin to build. Local governments have started hiring planning and development directors to prepare. 

Jamie Karl, communications director for the Ohio Manufacturing Association, said the impact goes beyond central Ohio. "We have 1,500 members all across the state ... from mom and pop shops to Whirlpool and Honda — and nearly all of them are being affected by the chip shortage." 

"There's a hundred suppliers in the state of Ohio that are going to supply Intel," Ryan told Axios. "If you land a monster like Intel, that is the beginning of a cluster of economic development."

What we're hearing: In conversations around the state last week,  only some voters told Axios they were familiar with the CHIPS Act controversy — and none called it key to deciding their vote.

Those familiar with Intel's plans know they are massive. But there was a common refrain of "where's our Intel plant?" — revealing a sentiment that resources regularly flow to the Columbus area while other parts of the state are left behind.

At a tavern in East Dayton, Tommy Boyd, 66, an electrician who supports Donald Trump, and Rob Jones, 56, a funeral director and lifelong Democrat, debated the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines and whether Gov. DeWine had handled the issue well. Semiconductors were not on their minds.

One Republican retiree who attended a Ryan event in Cincinnati told Axios he may split his votes — DeWine for governor but Ryan for Senate — because it bothered him that Vance went from Trump critic to courting Trump when it was expedient. Semiconductors aren't part of that voter's calculus.

"I don't know what all is going to happen" with the Intel plant, Edward Coil, 56, a machinist at Flex Machine Tools in Wapakoneta, told Axios. "But I think Trump is going to be back." 

Tim Ryan, who is running for U.S. Senate, visits a machine tool manufacturer in Wapakoneta, Ohio, that has struggled to obtain U.S.-made components and find software talent. Photo: Sophia Cai/Axios

Donald Trump isn't on the November ballot. But as Vance and Ryan vie for the claim of champion for Ohio's working class, Ryan is making McConnell's gamble with the CHIPS Act — and the future of Ohio's semiconductor economy — a top campaign issue.

What they're saying: "This is a full-frontal attack on the state of Ohio, from a senator of a bordering state who's in a position of power," Ryan told Axios in an interview between campaign stops last week.

"Every Republican in central Ohio and every voter in Ohio will know that Mitch McConnell blew this off, and I'm going to hang it around J.D. Vance's neck."

The other side: Vance declined an interview request but in a statement to Axios cast the stalled legislation as a bipartisan failure. “The death of the CHIPS Act is a terrible indictment of our do-nothing leadership," he said. 

"It has all the parts of the usual Washington story: a terrible problem, a group of local governments and companies coming together to solve it, and Democrats tanking it with their leftist wish list."

"Ohio may have just lost thousands of good jobs, and we may not have the computer chips necessary to power the modern economy."

Be smart: Ryan and Democratic gubernatorial challenger Whaley both face uphill contests. Sabato's Crystal Ball last month ranked the governor's race as "safe Republican" and the Senate race as "likely Republican."

Both Dems see championing Ohio's future role in the semiconductor industry as a way to show their commitment to creating skilled, high-paying jobs in the state.

"We need to pass that and then hit the gas pedal," Ryan said. "That needs to be a down payment on new industrial policy in the United States."

 "There's no one in Ohio that doesn't want this plan to happen," Whaley said.

Tim Ryan and Nan Whaley. Photos: Drew Angerer; Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images

Between the lines: Beyond semiconductors, Ryan and Whaley are making different appeals to voters.

"Independent," Ryan says when asked to use one word to describe himself politically. 

He believes "we did a great disservice to the country when we started touting the idea that everybody had to go to college."

"I'm a Democrat, but I don't think the government has all the answers," he told a group of Black entrepreneurs.

Whaley, a former mayor of Dayton, is the first woman to be nominated for governor in Ohio by a major party.

She's offering a rare all-female ticket, with Cuyahoga County Council vice president Cheryl Stephens. "These doors have been closed for women in Ohio for a long time," Whaley said. Their platform includes investing in child care and other issues that disproportionately impact women.

Whaley told Axios that the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade triggering state bans — such as Ohio's at six weeks — may motivate turnout more than the fate of federal semiconductor funding. 

But both issues impact Ohio's ability to recruit and retain women in the workforce, she said. "This is not a place that says, 'Yes, I am welcoming.' And I want women that are talented to come to Ohio right now."

Columbus

blue

A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Columbus. Written by Alissa Widman Neese and Andrew King.

Axios Columbus Thought Bubble

Thought Bubble

Axios Columbus Partners

Columbus Alerts

Alert

Get smarter, faster on what matters in Columbus with Alissa Widman Neese and Andrew King.

Axios Columbus

Standard

Columbus Members

Membership

Postcard from Ohio: Semiconductor blues

The uncertain fate of the China competition bill is a worry for Ohio workers and candidates.

Illustration of a semiconductor chip with the shape of Ohio cut out of the center.

Ohio

President Biden on Sunday encouraged abortion rights activists to "keep protesting," ABC News reported.

The big picture: Over 1,000 protesters marched to the White House on Saturday, calling on Biden to do more to protect access to abortion, according to the New York Times.

The protest came just a day after Biden signed an executive order aimed at protecting abortion access, which some activists say felt fell short.

What he's saying: "Keep protesting," Biden told reporters while on a bike ride in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, ABC reported. "Keep making your point. It’s critically important."

"We can do a lot of things to accommodate the rights of women," he added, per ABC. "In the meantime, fundamentally, the only way to change this is to have a national law that reinstates Roe v Wade."

Biden also said he is looking at the possibility of declaring a public health emergency over abortion access and "whether I have the authority to do that and what impact that would have."

Biden encourages abortion rights activists to "keep protesting"

Over a thousand protesters marched to the White House on Saturday, calling on Biden to do more to protect access to abortion.

President Biden stops to talk to reporters during a bike ride in Rehobeth Beach, Del., on July 10. Photo: Nicholas Kamm/AFP via Getty Images

Joe Biden

Abbott Nutrition has resumed production of baby formula at its Michigan plant, NBC News reports.

The big picture: The initial closure of the Michigan plant over contamination concerns in February significantly exacerbated the baby formula shortage in the U.S.

Abbott reached an agreement with the Food and Drug Administration in May to reopen the plant. However, just two weeks after reopening, the plant was forced to halt production again in June after a severe storm flooded parts of the plant.

Driving the news: The Michigan plant has since resumed its production of the specialty formula EleCare for infants with severe food allergies and digestive problems, according to NBC.

The plant also plans to restart the production of the formula Similac.

Abbott resumes production of baby formula at Michigan plant

The initial closure of the Michigan plant over contamination concerns in February significantly exacerbated the baby formula shortage in the United States.

The Abbott Nutrition factory in Sturgis, Mich., on May 19. Photo: Matthew Hatcher/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Abbott Laboratories

The U.S. health system faces critical questions about cost, access and equity. Technological advances and new discoveries about diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s are transforming patient care and reshaping public health.

Health

President Biden will announce $100 million in aid to Palestinian hospitals in East Jerusalem during his visit to the Middle East this week, five Israeli officials tell Axios.

Why it matters: The Biden administration sees the funding pledge as its main deliverable to the Palestinians during the visit. Biden is expected to visit one of the hospitals, Augusta Victoria Hospital, during his trip.

The Biden administration asked Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar to match the U.S. aid to the hospitals, two sources with direct knowledge say.

The UAE announced a $25 million donation to the Makassed Hospital in East Jerusalem on Saturday. Saudi Arabia and Qatar have yet to give the Biden administration any specific commitments.

The Biden administration also asked Israel to provide funding for the hospitals, two Israeli officials say, but Israel has yet to give an answer.

Between the lines: The U.S. request to the three Gulf countries was part of an attempt to get them more involved in the Israeli-Palestinian issue.

Both the Saudis and Emiratis have poor relations with the Palestinian Authority.

The Biden administration hopes that will start to change and that the normalization process among Israel and Arab states will also benefit the Palestinians, two U.S. officials say. 

Flashback: In September 2018, the Trump administration cut $25 million for the hospitals in East Jerusalem.

That was part of a wider move to slash aid after the Palestinian Authority cut off talks with the Trump administration over its decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Behind the scenes: U.S. Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides played a key role in the U.S. announcement. He had several meetings about it with officials from the Israeli Ministry of Health and Prime Minister's Office, according to two of the Israeli officials.

Nides told Israeli officials there was bipartisan support for the East Jerusalem hospitals because several of them are connected to Christian organizations and foundations.

Scoop: Biden to announce $100 million for Palestinian hospitals on Middle East trip

Biden will visit one of the hospitals in East Jerusalem.

Axios

Sunday's top stories

Anti-abortion rights movement struggles to find post-Roe North Star

Postcard from Ohio: Semiconductor blues

Biden encourages abortion rights activists to "keep protesting"

Abbott resumes production of baby formula at Michigan plant

Scoop: Biden to announce $100 million for Palestinian hospitals on Middle East trip

At least 14 killed in mass shooting in South Africa

Trump slams Elon Musk as "another b------t artist" at Alaska rally

Biden: Human rights on agenda during Middle East trip

Group offers up to $250 for SCOTUS justices sightings after Kavanaugh protest

What makes "red flag" gun laws work