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Reproductive Rights
Rising Costs, Declining Access, and Delayed Care
What’s going on: Abortion patients are increasingly getting caught in a perfect storm, and abortion providers are seeing the effects. Diane Horvath, cofounder of Partners in Abortion Care in Maryland, told The Guardian that people are coming in “later and sicker” in their pregnancies. Today, increasing healthcare premiums, decreasing Medicaid coverage, and growing abortion restrictions and bans have put abortion care further out of reach for many patients. “They’re just not going in. There’s no place to go,” Horvath added. And delays can compound the problem: As pregnancy progresses, abortion costs and health risks can also climb. Meanwhile, the number of providers available decreases: Only four states and Washington, DC, have clinics offering all-trimester care. One 2024 study found that, including out-of-state travel costs, the median cost of an abortion at 33 weeks was $17,250.
Out of the spotlight: After the Dobbs decision revoked the constitutional right to an abortion in 2022, abortion funds around the country saw an increase in donations. But the “rage giving” soon declined. By early 2024, the National Network of Abortion Funds reported a “staggering drop off” in donations despite the need. “Public attention has shifted elsewhere,” one Richmond, Virginia-based provider told RVA Magazine. Many Democrats are no longer making reproductive rights a focal point of their campaigns. There are other factors, too: Inflation and rising cost of living have led many Americans to reduce their charitable giving out of concern for their own finances. It’s forced some abortion funds to make tough decisions. Earlier this year, Poonam Dreyfus-Pai, interim executive director of the National Network of Abortion Funds, told Stateline that about one-third of abortion funds had to pause hotlines in 2025, and 2026 “is even harder.”
Related: Why Indiana ER Doctors Are Less Likely To Treat Pregnant Women for Bleeding (WNDU)
In Case You Missed It
Ali, Senior Commerce Director, here. The month of August has been deceptively busy, to the point that I’ve tabbed countless articles to read and products to buy. If you’re in that same boat, with the sense that you’ve forgotten a few things you swore you wouldn’t, here’s what I’m returning to that’s worth it:
Salt & Stone’s delicious new scent and deodorant
The Labor Day sale I’m jumping on for my nephew
One of the few ways I can book a vacation with points
A final chance to save 40% on vitamins (so act fast)
The app with in-network dietitians that’s helping me restructure my eating habits
A reorder of the fertility supplement I’ve been using during my egg freezing journey
KNOW IT ALL
Starbucks is embracing the protein trend by adding this snack to its line-up:
Still catching up from the weekend? Jumpstart your brain with Flipart. Feel the rush.
Reproductive Rights
Rising Costs, Declining Access, and Delayed Care
What’s going on: Abortion patients are increasingly getting caught in a perfect storm, and abortion providers are seeing the effects. Diane Horvath, cofounder of Partners in Abortion Care in Maryland, told The Guardian that people are coming in “later and sicker” in their pregnancies. Today, increasing healthcare premiums, decreasing Medicaid coverage, and growing abortion restrictions and bans have put abortion care further out of reach for many patients. “They’re just not going in. There’s no place to go,” Horvath added. And delays can compound the problem: As pregnancy progresses, abortion costs and health risks can also climb. Meanwhile, the number of providers available decreases: Only four states and Washington, DC, have clinics offering all-trimester care. One 2024 study found that, including out-of-state travel costs, the median cost of an abortion at 33 weeks was $17,250.
Out of the spotlight: After the Dobbs decision revoked the constitutional right to an abortion in 2022, abortion funds around the country saw an increase in donations. But the “rage giving” soon declined. By early 2024, the National Network of Abortion Funds reported a “staggering drop off” in donations despite the need. “Public attention has shifted elsewhere,” one Richmond, Virginia-based provider told RVA Magazine. Many Democrats are no longer making reproductive rights a focal point of their campaigns. There are other factors, too: Inflation and rising cost of living have led many Americans to reduce their charitable giving out of concern for their own finances. It’s forced some abortion funds to make tough decisions. Earlier this year, Poonam Dreyfus-Pai, interim executive director of the National Network of Abortion Funds, told Stateline that about one-third of abortion funds had to pause hotlines in 2025, and 2026 “is even harder.”
Related: Why Indiana ER Doctors Are Less Likely To Treat Pregnant Women for Bleeding (WNDU)
KNOW IT ALL
Starbucks is embracing the protein trend by adding this snack to its line-up:
✨ Millennials, our long national nightmare is over. The “jeans and a going-out top” uniform has returned, with a Gen Z-approved update that’s, dare we say, even better than the OG.
🛍️ Fashion People are going all in on the shoe Chanel made famous in the ’90s — and, thankfully, you don’t need to drop anything close to $1K to pull off the undeniably French Girl look.
👀 If you shopped at Victoria’s Secret circa 2001 (so, everyone), bad news: “The contraption we’d damned to hell is back” — polka dots, rhinestones, and all. Our underwear drawer would like a word.
🍂 J.Crew just released the Tiny Rollneck, a new version of the sweater “It” girls couldn’t get enough of last year. And it isn’t nearly as miniature as it sounds.
👜 Suede? For fall? Not groundbreaking. Virtually every celeb has moved on to this other rich-looking bag trend — one that seems even cooler the more casually you’re dressed.
Friends, let us have a moment of silence for all the gorgeous locks we lost this past week. Not one, but two of the internet’s most beloved men have entered their buzz cut era. On Sunday, Taxidermy Raccoon Enthusiast Erling Haaland posted a YouTube video — obviously titled “New Season, New Hair!!” — in which he lopped off his flowing Vikingesque locks so he could return to Manchester City as a changed man. The chop quickly sent his girlfriend (Isabel, we applaud your speedy rebound), Jude Bellingham, and the entire internet into a tizzy, with one commenter putting it best: “An angel lost his wings.” (Someone check on his hair-tie company, ASAP.) But we barely had time to process before pictures surfaced of Ilya Rozanov (correction: Connor Storrie) without his glorious curls. While everyone’s favorite faux Russian hockey player had practically begged for someone to shave his head, it’s safe to say the Loons weren’t ready. Some clung to his Saint Laurent video campaign for memories of what once was, others posted tributes fit for a funeral, and many refused to accept it wasn’t AI (spoiler: it’s not).
Of course, this is hardly the first time celebrity men have blown up group chats — or AIM — with a genuinely shocking buzz cut. Storrie and Haaland join an elite club that includes: Lenny Kravitz circa 2010 (somehow his second-most-surprising look); Chris Evans (in the words of Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager, “either way”); Harry Styles ditching his iconic mop in 2023 (this X post still hits); Nick Jonas, who has been curl-free for so long, we’ve almost forgotten what he looked like in the Before Times (consider this your excuse to rewatch the “SOS” music video); Justin Bieber (never forget the swoop that defined an era); and Justin Timberlake, who kicked off his solo career by saying “bye bye bye” to his boy-band curls (sorry, had to). Now, with two heartthrobs reaching for the clippers in one week, a third is inevitable. Jacob Elordi, do not get any ideas.
Honey Deuce Season — sorry, the 2026 US Open — has arrived. But we’d be lying if we said the matches were the only thing we’d be watching closely. We’ll also have our eyes on some sideline speculation — namely that Olivia Jade Giannulli may have found love-love with Taylor Fritz. On Monday, the pair was spotted in NYC. Perhaps Aunt Becky’s real-life daughter was just showing Fritz around her newish city? Or maybe the tennis star and the “highly talented coxswain” were simply bonding over their passion for sports? Probably not. Particularly since romance rumors have been swirling since May. Fresh off his breakup with the Queen of Tennis WAGs, Fritz and Giannulli (who, lest you forget, had a very on-again-off-again relationship with Jacob Elordi) were seen looking “v cozy” at an LA members-only club, according to DeuxMoi. Then, last month, the two reportedly attended the wedding of tennis player Tommy Paul and Paige Lorenze. All of which begs the question: Will Giannulli make her official entry into tennis WAGdom at the tournament? Or is this just the start of one long rally? Who knows, but game, set, match.
Taylor Swift, you had a good run. But there’s a new contender for the Celeb Cat Lady Crown (complimentary): Kylie Jenner, who recently introduced the world to her mostly white fluff balls — Daisy, Princess Ophelia, and “Delilah slash Seraphina” (she’s still deciding). Fingers crossed this won’t be another Wolf-turned-Aire situation.
Another week, another fictional love triangle everyone will soon be talking about. In The Sun Never Sets, Dakota Fanning stars as Wendy, a 30-something construction worker in Alaska who’s ready to get married and have kids with her older boyfriend, Jack (Jake Johnson). The one problem? Jack, a divorced dad of two children, doesn’t see any more weddings or babies in his future. Not wanting to be the reason Wendy gives up her dreams, Jack insists they take a break. But what he doesn’t expect is the reemergence of Wendy’s messy ex Chuck (Cory Michael Smith) — and how jealous he’ll become when the two reconnect. As Jack, Wendy, and Chuck navigate their complicated will-they-won’t-they, expect gorgeous Alaska scenery, heavily improvised dialogue, and what’s already being called Fanning’s best performance. Which is ridiculous, because nothing could top Ray in Uptown Girls. But also, we’re sold.
Madewell the Low-Rise Loose Jean
Caroline, senior commerce editor, here. I’m firmly on Team Low-Rise Jeans, but at 5-foot-1 (OK, 5-foot-0), I risk looking like a kid in oversized clothes. These jeans are the perfect in-between — they’re loose but not baggy, giving off an effortless-yet-polished vibe. But the real game-changer? The hem is exactly right (I got the Short inseam) and they look equally great with flats, booties, and kitten heels. Plus, the structured denim maintains its shape but doesn’t feel constricting. I have them in the Solstice wash (think: slightly dirty, but in a chic way), and they’re so perfect, I plan to get the deep-indigo shade for fall.