SSN Commentary
TV Still Has a Lot to Learn About Abortion
Policy field
Originally published in Ms. magazine on June 25, 2026.
Four years ago this week, the Supreme Court issued a monumental decision when it revoked federal protections for abortion in the 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case. Since then, some TV shows have attempted to grapple with the changing political and legal landscape of abortion access. But often, they end up contributing to myths about abortion.
At a time when many people aren’t even sure if abortion is still legal in their state and misinformation comes not only from social media but directly from the White House, television may be the best hope for wide dissemination of accurate information about abortion.