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Interesting Times with Ross Douthat

The Abortion Debate

Interesting Times with Ross Douthat

New York Times Opinion

New York Times, Journalism, News, Society & Culture, Ross Douthat

4.07.2K Ratings

🗓️ 7 February 2019

⏱️ 45 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

This is not your typical argument about abortion. Ross Douthat and Michelle Goldberg debate women's reproductive health this week and while it's no surprise that they disagree, they manage to hear each other out. Then Medicare Rights Center founder Diane Archer joins David Leonhardt and Ross to argue whether the Democrats' new favorite slogan — “Medicare for All” — could actually work in the U.S. And Ross has de Gaulle to recommend a doorstop of a biography. For background reading on this episode, visit nytimes.com/theargument.

Transcript

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0:00.0

I'm Michelle Goldberg.

0:01.2

I'm Ross Douthett.

0:02.2

I'm David Lee and Hart.

0:03.4

And this is the argument.

0:05.6

This week, we're taking a look at abortion laws around the country.

0:09.3

There is this sort of zone of abortions

0:11.2

that the pro-choice side is defending

0:13.2

that most Americans in the middle don't support.

0:16.3

Then, Medicare for all could it ever actually work?

0:19.7

For the wealthiest country in the world,

0:21.6

there is a way.

0:23.2

And finally, a recommendation.

0:24.9

I just need to say that Ross is younger than me.

0:30.8

Last week, a video from the Virginia State House

0:34.9

created a political firestorm.

0:36.6

It showed a Democratic legislator, Kathy Tran,

0:39.5

making the case for a bill that would remove

0:41.8

some abortion restrictions.

0:43.6

Among other things, third trimester abortions would be available

0:47.1

even if a woman's health were not at risk.

0:50.2

The response from pro-life advocates was swift.

0:52.8

The move sparking out cry all across the country

...

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