From WHY in Philadelphia, this is Fresh Air Weekend.

I'm Sam Brigger in For Terry Gross.

Today we'll talk about the latest developments and strategies in the fight over abortion rights

with Mary Ziegler, who's written several books on the law, history, and politics of abortion.

Her new book, Roe, The History of a National Obsession, is about how abortion has remained

at the center of America's culture wars and political battles.

Also we'll hear from writer Jonathan Ascoffee. His semi-autobiographical collection of stories,

if I survive you, is on our book critic, Maureen Corrigan's list of the best books of 2022.

The main character, like Ascoffee, is an American born son of Jamaican immigrants, trying to figure

out how race and racism work in America and where he's supposed to fit.

And jazz critic Kevin Whitehead will review a new solo album from pianist and composer Kenny

Baren.

That's coming up on Fresh Air Weekend.

This is Fresh Air Weekend. I'm Sam Brigger in For Terry Gross.

Terry has today's first interview. I'll let her introduce it.

It's only been a few months since Roe was struck down, ending a woman's constitutional

right to an abortion, leaving it up to the states to decide on the legality of abortion

and restrictions surrounding it. But the battle over abortion rights continues in state

legislatures, state supreme courts, and Congress. Anti-abortion activists are pushing for further

restrictions with the goal of totally outlawing abortion. Abortion rights activists are trying

to find ways to maintain access to abortion. New developments in medical procedures, including

medication abortions through pills, have led to new arguments and strategies on each side.

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