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Kelly McEvers
Hey embedded listeners, this is Kelly McEvers. Last year we published a series about a global network of folks who are helping people get safe abortions without a doctor, and that series feels pretty relevant right now after next Monday, May 11th. Depending on what the US Supreme Court decides, providers in the US might not be able to prescribe the abortion pill mifepristone via telehealth, but doctors and experts say it won't stop people from being able to get abortion pills through the mail. Listen here to Abby Wendle, who helped report and produce our series the Network as she explains what's going on. Then head back to embedded season 24 to hear the full story. Start with episode one.
Narrator/Reporter
Saintotech medication abortion in the US typically involves two pills, mifepristone and misoprostol. But as doctors face the possibility of no longer being able to prescribe mifepristone via telehealth, many are preparing to pivot.
Dr. Angel Foster
If we have to, we will switch to a misoprostol only regiment.
Narrator/Reporter
Dr. Angel Foster is the co founder of the Massachusetts Medication Abortion Access Project. The organization is a shield law provider, meaning they mail abortion medication to patients around the country regardless of state laws restricting abortion. Decades of research shows taking misoprostol alone is a safe and effective option to end early pregnancy, though the experience may be more uncomfortable. Foster says it's not her preferred regimen, but it's a crucial alternative.
Dr. Angel Foster
You know, I feel like I can hold two things at the same time. The first is that this decision is terrible and we should be able to provide mifepristone and misoprostol via telemedicine. All of the evidence supports that, and I'm incredibly grateful that we have a high quality alternative in misoprostol alone that we can pivot to to continue to provide patient care.
Narrator/Reporter
Other doctors we spoke with are also prepared to pivot to misoprostol. Only Planned Parenthood Direct posted a similar sentiment on Instagram Friday. If mifepristone becomes unavailable via telehealth, people will still be able to get it by going to a doctor in person, or they can order abortion pills online without a prescription. In many cases, both mifepristone and misoprostol
Dr. Angel Foster
there's an enormous network of people who are making access possible even now, despite these political restrictions that are happening.
Narrator/Reporter
Elisa Wells is a public health researcher and co founder of Plan C Pills. The Their website links people to a variety of places people can order abortion pills online, including pharmacies abroad that sell the pills and US Based groups that mail free pills to people living in states with abortion restrictions. Plan C periodically tests the pills from all these sources to make sure they're real. The website's traffic doubled this past Saturday following the appeals court's decision about mifepristone. That may indicate more people are looking for options on how to get pills outside of the formal medical system.
Dr. Angel Foster
In some ways, it's the best advertisement for this alternative way of accessing pills.
Narrator/Reporter
Getting abortion pills without a doctor's oversight isn't new. For decades, a global network has developed to help people access the pills this way, and since the latest upheaval over mifepristone, the network in the US has been abuzz.
Destiny Spaeth
The feelings within the network were definitely like a little bit of panic, but also we have been and will continue to prepare for these moments.
Narrator/Reporter
Destiny Spaeth is an abortion access advocate in North Dakota. Over the past few days, she says she's been in about a dozen group chats that at first were filled with people depressed and angry. Then they switched into a different strategizing.
Destiny Spaeth
When a decision like this comes down, we just rely on that network of rapid response, quick communication, and then dispersing that communication within our communities so that folks don't feel as lost and confused and as alone as some of these decisions are intended to make us feel.
Narrator/Reporter
Spaeth is currently focused on sharing resources about something called advanced provision, a way for people to access these pills to have them just in case they need them in an uncertain future.
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Release Date: May 7, 2026
Host: Kelly McEvers
Featured Reporters & Guests: Abby Wendle, Dr. Angel Foster, Elisa Wells, Destiny Spaeth
This episode of "Embedded" explores how medical providers, advocacy groups, and a robust underground network are responding to potential new restrictions around mifepristone access in the U.S., specifically following a pending Supreme Court decision that could block telehealth prescriptions of the drug. The episode highlights the strategies and resilient pivots of those working to ensure continued access to abortion medication, with a focus on switching to misoprostol-only regimens and relying on established grassroots distribution networks.
"If we have to, we will switch to a misoprostol only regiment."
"The first is that this decision is terrible and we should be able to provide mifepristone and misoprostol via telemedicine. All of the evidence supports that, and I’m incredibly grateful that we have a high quality alternative in misoprostol alone that we can pivot to to continue to provide patient care."
"There's an enormous network of people who are making access possible even now, despite these political restrictions that are happening."
"In some ways, it's the best advertisement for this alternative way of accessing pills."
"When a decision like this comes down, we just rely on that network of rapid response, quick communication, and then dispersing that communication within our communities so that folks don't feel as lost and confused and as alone as some of these decisions are intended to make us feel."
Dr. Angel Foster [01:51]:
"I feel like I can hold two things at the same time. The first is that this decision is terrible... and I’m incredibly grateful that we have a high quality alternative in misoprostol alone..."
Elisa Wells [02:44]:
"The website's traffic doubled this past Saturday following the appeals court's decision about mifepristone. That may indicate more people are looking for options on how to get pills outside of the formal medical system."
Destiny Spaeth [03:37, 04:01]:
"The feelings within the network were definitely like a little bit of panic, but also we have been and will continue to prepare for these moments."
"We just rely on that network of rapid response, quick communication, and then dispersing that communication within our communities..."
Despite looming restrictions on telehealth prescriptions of mifepristone, a determined and innovative coalition of medical professionals and advocates is ensuring that access to medication abortion continues. They are prepared to offer misoprostol-only regimens and rely on networks that transcend state boundaries and U.S. laws. The episode powerfully illustrates community resilience, rapid adaptation, and the enduring impact of underground support systems in the face of political and legal adversity.