What Republicans Lost When They Won on Roe

For decades, the mainstream Republican position on abortion rights was clear: Overturn Roe v. Wade and send the issue back to the states.

But since June 2022, when the Supreme Court’s conservative majority did exactly that, Republicans have faced a question that few seemed to consider beforehand: What comes next?

In Arizona, that question is especially important. In that battleground state, Democratic groups have already mobilized to put a citizen initiative on the November ballot that would enshrine abortion rights in the state’s Constitution and help increase President Biden’s chances at re-election.

So this week, after spending time with organizers who support the ballot () measure on the last episode, we are meeting its opponents and exploring the antiabortion movement in Arizona, which finds itself fractured along new fault lines.

On today’s episode:

Matt Gress () , a Republican state representative in Arizona

Jeff Durbin () , pastor of Apologia Church, in the greater Phoenix area

Elizabeth Dias () , national religion correspondent for The New York Times