Abortion funds face financial squeeze 3 years after Roe was overturned - Marketplace Morning Report

Summary5 min read

Marketplace Morning Report Summary Episode: "Abortion Funds Face Financial Squeeze 3 Years After Roe Was Overturned" Release Date: June 25, 2025

Introduction In this episode of the Marketplace Morning Report, host David Brancaccio delves into several pressing economic and social issues shaping the United States and the global landscape. The primary focus centers on the financial challenges faced by abortion funds three years after the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Additionally, the episode covers updates on the U.S. housing market, international trade dynamics at the World Economic Forum’s Summer Davos in China, and recent developments in autonomous vehicle regulations.

1. Abortion Funds Under Financial Strain

Timestamp: 12:30

Three years have passed since the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision overturned Roe v. Wade, leading to stricter abortion regulations across numerous states. This significant legal shift has placed immense pressure on grassroots organizations that provide financial assistance to individuals seeking abortions out of their home states.

Key Highlights:

Surge in Donations Post-Dobbs: On the day Roe v. Wade was overturned, the Wild West Access Fund in Nevada received an influx of over $100,000 in donations, sufficient to sustain operations for at least a year. Macy Haverda, Director of the fund, stated, “That surge allowed us to meet the immediate, skyrocketing demand from clients in neighboring states with newly imposed restrictions” (14:10).
Decline in Funding Sustainability: Over the past 18 months, donations have dwindled as donors redirected funds towards political campaigns advocating for abortion rights. Haverda observed, “Now, people are just tired of the constant onslaught of news. It just really gets exhausting” (15:45).
Increased Demand Amid Reduced Revenue: Gretchen Ely from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, notes, “The demand has gone up, but their revenue has kind of fallen off, and they're having to do more with less” (17:20). This imbalance forces funds to limit support, compelling recipients to seek assistance from multiple organizations, thereby delaying procedures and increasing costs.
Impact on Accessibility: UC Davis Law Professor Mary Ziegler emphasizes the growing disparity in access, stating, “It's creating a lot of haves and have-nots in the world of who can actually access abortion” (19:05). Higher costs and delayed procedures render later-term abortions more expensive or entirely inaccessible for many.
Future Projections: Megan Jifo, head of the Chicago Abortion Fund, warns of sustainability issues: “We are deeply concerned about our ability to survive” (20:30). With cutting Medicaid and SNAP benefits, the financial strain on potential recipients is exacerbating, potentially increasing the demand for abortion funds in the future.

Conclusion: The episode underscores the critical role of abortion funds in ensuring access to reproductive healthcare post-Dobbs. However, financial constraints threaten their ability to meet growing demands, highlighting a need for sustained and increased support to maintain essential services.

2. U.S. Housing Market Stability

Timestamp: 05:15

David Brancaccio introduces the current state of the U.S. housing market, revealing that the median price for a used home in May has neared $423,000, according to the National Association of Realtors. This marks a stabilization in price growth, albeit still surpassing inflation rates.

Key Points:

Persistent High Prices: The median price for new homes remains above $400,000, a significant increase from pre-pandemic levels in the low $300,000 range (06:00).
Rising Construction Costs: Joe Bruelas from RSM Consulting attributes soaring home prices to supply shortages, tariffs, and increased construction material costs. “Building costs have soared, especially construction materials,” he explains (07:30).
Labor Challenges: Difficulty in finding labor has further driven up construction costs, exacerbating the housing price crisis (08:15).
Supply vs. Demand: While the supply of homes is gradually increasing as homeowners take advantage of favorable mortgage rates to sell, demand outpaces supply. Bruelas notes, “Young people want to buy homes right now” (09:00).
Mortgage Rate Pressures: With mortgage rates around 6.8%, monthly payments have become prohibitive for many. Bruce Willis highlights, “Rates are not likely to fall given the Fed's policy of holding interest rates steady” (10:20).

Conclusion: The housing market exhibits signs of stabilization, yet affordability remains a significant barrier. Continued high demand coupled with elevated construction costs suggests that housing prices may remain elevated in the near future.

3. International Trade and Summer Davos in China

Timestamp: 20:50

The World Economic Forum’s annual conference, Summer Davos, is currently underway in China, serving as a platform for global leaders to discuss and promote international trade amidst rising geopolitical tensions.

Key Insights:

China’s Push for Globalization: Premier Li Qiang asserts, “Globalization will not be reversed,” signaling China's commitment to fostering international trade relationships despite ongoing U.S.-China trade disputes (21:30).
Impact of U.S. Tariffs: Suranjana Tiwari of the BBC reports that China's stance at the conference may indicate an emerging alternative economic order, influenced by U.S. tariffs and the unpredictability they introduce for global businesses (22:15).
Business Uncertainty: The unpredictability of tariffs on goods destined for the U.S., Mexico, and Canada complicates long-term planning for businesses, prompting China to extend an invitation for deeper collaboration (23:00).
China’s Economic Strategy: By emphasizing its substantial economy and resources, China aims to position itself as a dependable trade partner in contrast to the volatility introduced by U.S. policy shifts (24:10).

Conclusion: China leverages the Summer Davos conference to advocate for sustained globalization and deeper international trade ties, positioning itself as a stable alternative amidst the uncertainties caused by U.S. trade policies.

4. Autonomous Vehicles Under Scrutiny

Timestamp: 25:40

Recent developments in autonomous vehicle technology have come under federal investigation following concerning incidents involving Tesla's driverless taxis.

Key Developments:

Regulatory Investigation: Federal highway safety regulators are examining incidents where Tesla's autonomous vehicles reportedly ran straight through intersections from turning lanes and drove on the wrong side of the road (26:05).
NHTSA Response: A spokesperson from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stated, “NHTSA is aware of the referenced incidents and is in contact with the manufacturer to gather additional information” (26:45).
Public Concerns: These incidents raise questions about the safety and reliability of driverless technology, potentially influencing future regulations and public trust in autonomous vehicles (27:20).

Conclusion: As autonomous vehicle technology advances, ensuring safety remains paramount. Ongoing regulatory scrutiny aims to address and mitigate risks associated with driverless transportation systems.

Closing Remarks David Brancaccio wraps up the episode by reiterating the significant challenges and developments discussed, emphasizing the interconnectedness of economic policies, social issues, and technological advancements shaping the current landscape.

Notable Quotes:

Macy Haverda, Wild West Access Fund Director: “Now, people are just tired. The constant onslaught of news just really gets exhausting.” (15:45)
Mary Ziegler, UC Davis Law Professor: “It's creating a lot of haves and have-nots in the world of who can actually access abortion.” (19:05)
Joe Bruelas, RSM Consulting: “Building costs have soared, especially construction materials.” (07:30)

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the Marketplace Morning Report episode, providing a clear and engaging overview for listeners and non-listeners alike.

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Today we'll get data on new home sales and prices. Marketplaces. Mitchell Hartman has more. The median price of a new home in America has held well above $400,000 since late 2024, before the pandemic prices were in the low $300,000 range. Joe Bruelas at consulting firm RSM says with supply shortages, tariffs and worker deportations. Building costs have soared, especially construction materials. Challenges finding labor to build homes result in higher prices. The supply of homes on the market is gradually rising as more homeowners give up their low mortgage rates and decide to sell. But demand is even higher, says Brucellis. Young people want to buy homes right now. The combination of rising prices and higher interest rates serving as an effective barrier to inhibit that. Mortgage rates are hovering around 6.8%, making the monthly payment prohibitive for many households, and Bruce Willis says rates are not likely to fall given the Fed's policy of holding interest rates steady while global investors shy away from US Debt in the face of tariffs and rising deficits. The mortgage rate, absent all of these policy induced disruptions, should be sitting between five and a half and six percent. But he says rates that low aren't in the cards for the foreseeable future. I'm Mitchell Hartman for Marketplace. This week, the World Economic Forum's annual conference in China is going on what's been dubbed Summer Davos, and China is taking the opportunity to encourage other countries to engage more deeply in international trade. As President Trump's tariffs pull in the other direction. China's Premier Li Qiang said globalization will not be reversed, although he didn't comment specifically on the U. S China trade war. The BBC's Suranjana Tiwari is at the conference. People I've been speaking to seem to say that is perhaps a nod to an alternative economic order that's emerging because of the chaos that's been created by tariffs from US President Donald Trump and the need for businesses and economies to be able to plan going forward. It's just not been possible when they don't know how much tariffs their goods might be subject to if they are to ship them to the US or even to Mexico and Canada for assembly and then into the US China certainly taking advantage of that opportunity and saying, hey, we're here, we could work together. We have a big economy and we have a lot to offer. This week marks three years since the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision, which reversed Roe vs. Wade and opened the door to tighter abortion restrictions in many parts of the country. A report now on donations from grassroots funders that help people travel to states where abortion is legal. Marketplace's Savannah Peters has that on the day the U.S. supreme Court struck down Roe vs. Wade, the wild West Access Fund, based in Nevada, received over $100,000 in donations. The influx was big. It was enough for at least a year by itself. That's Director Macy Haverda. She says the fund used that surge to meet growing demand from clients in nearby states with new restrictions and to cover the rising cost of gas or airfare to get them to a clinic. Abortion itself has also gotten more expensive by about 20% in the last year at the clinics the Wild West Access Fund works with. But in the last 18 months, Haverda says, donations have slowed. In 2024, she says, donors may have redirected their money toward political campaigns supporting abortion rights. Now, she thinks, people are just tired. The just constant onslaught of news just really gets exhausting. Abortion funds across the country are feeling this squeeze, says Gretchen Ely, who studies them at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. The demand has gone up, but their revenue has kind of fallen off and they're having to do more with less. Ely says some funds are reducing the amount of support they can offer, meaning patients have to cobble together financial help. When people are having to reach out to multiple organizations, it's delaying the procedure, which can drive up the price of an abortion. They're more expensive later in pregnancy or put one entirely out of reach. It's creating a lot of haves and have nots in the world of who can actually access abortion, says UC Davis law professor Mary Ziegler, three years out from Dobbs. She says grassroots anti abortion groups are in much better financial shape than these funds, despite generally raising less money. Most of the time, the anti abortion movement is just lobbying and litigating, right? It's not really trying to provide a lot of medical care to a lot of people. And demand for help from abortion funds could keep rising in the coming years, according to Megan Jifo, who heads up the Chicago Abortion Fund. Medicaid being cut, snap benefits being cut. These are all things people think about when deciding whether to start or grow a family, Jifo says. Illinois is already the number one destination for abortion patients traveling out of their home states every day. We are deeply concerned about our ability to survive. Jaye Fo says the Chicago Abortion Fund hasn't had to turn away a client asking for help in six years. But the landscape has changed, and she's not sure how long her fund can keep up. I'm Savannah Peters for Marketplace and after Tesla started Real World tests of its driverless taxis in Austin this weekend, video has emerged of some of those four wheeled robots doing crazy, dangerous things. Federal highway safety regulators are looking into apparent cases of autonomous muskmobiles going straight through intersections from a turning lane or driving down the wrong side of the road. The quote from the feds NHTSA is aware of the referenced incidents and is in contact with the manufacturer to gather additional information. In Los Angeles, I'm David Brancaccio. Marketplace morning report from apm, American Public Media. This Old house has been America's most trusted source for all things DIY and home improvement for decades. And now we're on the radio and on demand. I think you're breaking into this wall. Regardless. I was hoping you wouldn't say that. I need to go and get some whiskey. I think I would get the whiskey for sure. Subscribe to this Old House Radio hour from LAS Studios. Wherever you get your podcasts.