Trump's Abortion Dilemma

By the time his first term was over, Donald J. Trump had cemented his place as the most anti-abortion president in U.S. history. Now, facing political blowback, he’s trying to change that reputation.
Lisa Lerer, a national political correspondent for The Times, discusses whether Mr. Trump’s election-year pivot can work.
Guest: Lisa Lerer (www.nytimes.com/by/lisa-lerer...) , a national political correspondent for The New York Times.
Background reading:
• After months of mixed signals, former President Donald J. Trump said abortion restrictions should be left to the states (www.nytimes.com/2024/04/08/us...) .
• On abortion, Mr. Trump chose politics over principles. Will it matter? (www.nytimes.com/2024/04/08/us...)
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily (nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-t...) . Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

[@stayclean777]

To a once prestigious newspaper now hedging its bets it's an "about face". To the rest of us? One more weasel wiggle.

[@georgecuster527]

That was the sound of Arizona going for Biden .

[@MPR2]

STOP treating him like he's normal!!! 🙄

[@Solar.Geoengineering.Advocate]

thats exactly what i got from this. the nyt is so damn corrupt

[@Pafemanti]

"By the end of his -first- term..."

[@barrym3651]

How many pro choice women will vote for Trump ?

[@Pafemanti]

(context: this statement assumes Trump is going to have another term. Probably an oversight, but it does tell you something about what the podcaster thinks about Trump's chances for a second term)

[@needmorecowbell6895]

The idea that Trump has any coherent belief on abortion is laughable. He's transactional. He will read whatever he needs to read on a teleprompter to get elected even if it is tortured, contradictory, incoherent, and a complete waste of time for the listener.

[@pmtoner9852]

When it comes to Trump and abortion, the biggest mistake made was that his mom didnt have one

[@ericarn]

LMAO 👏👏 I shouldn’t laugh but I feel the same…lol

[@andersestes]

Who chooses the leader of a country, based soly on his stands on abortion?

[@damianm-nordhorn116]

Enough to tip the scale.
..also this goes beyond reproductive rights and women's healthcare.
It's about not letting Christian nationalists force their will on the (mostly) silent, moderate majority.
Maybe people would be fine with a 15 week ban with exceptions for medical emergencies and cases where a woman/girl couldn't seek support within 15 weeks (such as the emotional turmoil after rape, abusive relationships or incest),
but Trump failed to make his party and evangelical supporters seek a reasonable compromise.

[@whitneyw.7919]

This is a dumb question and would only be asked by a man who would never personally have to face the consequences of a national abortion ban.

[@andersestes]

@@whitneyw.7919 I'm sorry for the state your country is in, and the sorry excuse for leaders you have to choose from

[@dwaynepeters4520]

​@@whitneyw.7919 More American women than men believe that abortion should be illegal under all circumstances. Look up Gallup's polls by Googling "Abortion Trends by Gender".

[@henrytep8884]

@@andersesteswe made our bed now most lie in it.

[@lomotil3370]

🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation:
00:14 *🔄 Trump, known for his anti-abortion stance, is now attempting a political pivot on the issue.*
02:00 *🏥 Trump expresses support for IVF treatments, aligning with public opinion on the issue.*
03:24 *💔 Trump suggests leaving abortion laws to states, advocating for exceptions in cases of rape, incest, and life endangerment.*
04:59 *🚫 Trump refrains from endorsing a 15-week federal abortion ban, causing disapproval from anti-abortion activists.*
06:21 *🔀 Trump's abortion stance reflects a long history of shifting positions for political gain.*
11:20 *💬 Trump's focus on winning elections underscores his prioritization of political strategy over moral stances.*
13:48 *🎯 Trump aims to appeal to moderate voters while maintaining support from his conservative base.*
15:07 *🎭 Republican colleagues express mixed reactions to Trump's abortion stance, highlighting internal party divisions.*
18:38 *📉 Despite Trump's attempt to neutralize the abortion issue, it remains a significant and contentious topic in American politics.*
19:59 *⚠️ Recent developments in abortion law, such as Arizona's near-total ban, underscore the ongoing relevance and complexity of the issue.*
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