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The Daily

A Historic Opening for Anti-Abortion Activists

The Daily

The New York Times

Daily News, News

4.4102.8K Ratings

🗓️ 23 September 2020

⏱️ 35 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

President Trump appears to be on course to give conservatives a sixth vote on the Supreme Court, after several Republican senators who were previously on the fence said they would support quickly installing a replacement for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. In our interview today with Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the anti-abortion Susan B. Anthony List, she says she senses a turning point. “No matter who you are, you feel the ground shaking underneath,” she said. “I’m feeling very optimistic for the mission that our organization launched 25 years ago.” In pursuit of that mission, the Susan B. Anthony List struck a partnership with Mr. Trump during the 2016 election. The group supported his campaign and provided organizational backup in battleground states in exchange for commitments that he would work to end abortion rights. Ms. Dannenfelser described the partnership as “prudential.” “Religious people use that term quite a lot because it acknowledges a hierarchy of goods and evils involved in any decision,” she said. “and your job is to figure out where the highest good is found.” Guest: Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List. For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily Background reading: The transformation of groups like the Susan B. Anthony List from opponents of Mr. Trump early in the 2016 campaign into proud and unwavering backers of his presidency illustrates how intertwined the conservative movement has become with the president — and how much they need each other to survive politically.For months, abortion has been relegated to a back burner in the presidential campaign. The death of Justice Ginsburg and the battle to replace her has put the issue firmly back on the agenda.

Transcript

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0:00.0

From the New York Times, I'm Michael Babaro. This is the Daily.

0:10.0

Today, President Trump has now secured the support he needs from Senate Republicans

0:17.0

to swiftly confirm a replacement for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court,

0:23.0

all but assuring that he will cement its conservative majority.

0:28.0

A conversation with the anti-abortion activist, who's unlikely partnership with the president,

0:35.0

helped bring the court to this moment.

0:43.0

It's Wednesday, September 23rd.

0:51.0

Hey, how are you? It's Michael Babaro.

0:53.0

Hello, Michael. It's great to meet you.

0:55.0

Very nice to meet you, and thank you for making time for us.

0:59.0

Well, I'm very grateful. I've been looking forward to it.

1:01.0

Really?

1:02.0

I have. You think I haven't?

1:05.0

Not everybody looks forward to conversations with journalists.

1:08.0

I do. It's actually one of the things I like the best. I'm not kidding. I really do.

1:14.0

Well, we're grateful for your time. And I want to start with the difficult but necessary question

1:18.0

of asking you how to pronounce your last name.

1:20.0

It's Dan and Felser.

1:22.0

Dan and Felser. Is it okay if I call you Marjorie?

1:26.0

Of course, yes.

1:27.0

Okay. So, Marjorie, the reason we wanted to talk to you and talk to you right now is because you

1:33.0

lead an organization, the Susan B. Anthony List, that seeks to end abortion in the United States,

...

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