This is just my favorite kind of episode. So you know you're doing the Lord's work my friend. Uh-huh that's what they tell you right before they string you up

From New York Times opinion. I'm Michelle Cottle.

I'm Ross Dauthett.

I'm Carlos Lozada.

And I'm Lydia Polgren.

And this is matter of opinion. So this week abortion landed in the spotlight again reminding us just how much the issue of reproductive rights continues to rock American politics.

So I've gathered you all here today for us to noodle over whether the latest developments in the fight over abortion access suggests religion is gaining or losing steam in the political arena.

But first, someone's going to have to walk us through the latest.

Lydia, you want to tackle this for us?

I'm happy to.

Well, it was an action-packed week. I mean, we always knew since the Supreme Court

overturned row in 2022 that abortion was going to play a huge role in the 2024

presidential election. Obviously, the Senate is up for grabs the House.

There's, you know, it's going to be a big big issue.

It's a lot.

It's a lot.

And so this week, you know, Trump, the, you know,

wily politician that he is, took a big swing at diffusing what has become I think a very

difficult and toxic issue for his party and he announced on a video that while he's

proud to have helped dismantle Roe v. Wade he believes that abortion should be left up to the states.

He thought IVF needs to be protected.

And he didn't explicitly say that he was against a national ban,

...