What's Happening

Politics

Some Republican Women Are Organizing Against Anti-Abortion Measures

What's going on: As Election Day approaches (it’s just 61 days away), women across the political spectrum are organizing support for ballot measures that would expand access to abortion. Among them: Republican women in Florida, where voters could potentially overturn the state’s six-week abortion ban. Known as Conservative Women for Freedom, the group of GOP women is reaching out to other Republican voters who disagree with the state’s six-week abortion ban. The Wall Street Journal reports the coalition has raised more than $1.6 million to support the ballot measure. But Florida’s not the only red state that’s seeing this kind of mobilization. Some Republicans in Arizona — among the ten states where voters will weigh in on abortion rights in November — are also backing a plan to expand access to the procedure.

What it means: GOP women’s efforts to rally support for abortion rights are highlighting the divisions within the Republican Party. Post-Roe, the GOP has grappled with its messaging on abortion — struggling to appease its conservative base without alienating more moderate voters. Even former President Donald Trump has changed his stance in some instances. Many Republican women, typically a reliable base for the party, have now found themselves at odds with party leaders over this issue. One poll found that 40% of Republican women believe their party’s stance on abortion is too extreme. Still, there are others in the GOP who have supported a national ban on abortion.

Related: More Men In Red States Are Speaking Out About Abortion Restrictions (WaPo Gift Link)

International

Russia Launched One of Its Deadliest Strikes on Ukraine

What's going on: A Russian missile strike yesterday hit a military educational institute and nearby hospital — killing at least 50 people and injuring more than 200, according to Ukrainian officials. The attack happened in the city Poltava, about 190 miles southeast of Kyiv. The Ukrainian government said the ballistic missiles hit the targets within minutes of each other — giving people little time to find shelter after the sirens sounded. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on social media that “Russian scum will definitely be held accountable for this strike.” He said a full investigation into the attacks is underway. Rescue efforts are ongoing as people are believed to be trapped under the rubble. Moscow has not commented.

What it means: This latest attack highlights Ukraine’s ongoing struggle to match Russia’s military power in a war that’s stretched two and a half years. Kyiv faces a shortage of air-defense systems that can be used to prevent such large-scale attacks. Zelenskyy has asked the US and other allies to provide more support and lift restrictions on Ukraine’s use of long-range missiles. The Kremlin's attack also comes amid a recent resurgence in fighting. The New York Times reports that Russia has launched more than 200 strikes in 15 Ukrainian regions over the past week — targeting the country's electricity infrastructure. Moscow's fresh set of attacks follow Ukraine’s surprise incursion last month, in which it seized Russian territory. Zelenskyy told NBC that Ukraine plans to hold on to that land indefinitely.

Related: Mongolia Put Its Phone On DND and Ignored the ICC’s Arrest Warrant for Putin (Politico)

Education  

Pencils Down: Could Homework Become a Relic of the Past? 

What's going on: Today’s kids may never get to find out what happens when two trains leave the station at the same time, as more schools are cutting down on homework. Yes, every child’s dream is starting to become a reality, as debates over the value of take-home assignments continue. A survey last year found that 37% of 13-year-old students said they had “no homework assigned” the day before being polled, up from 21% in 2012. The link between homework and academic success is hard to quantify. Still, some research suggests that quality matters more than quantity, which could explain why teachers are handing out less homework — especially in elementary schools. This comes on the tail of a “student mental health crisis,” and a 2020 survey showing that 67% of high schoolers viewed homework as a “major” source of stress. Parents, too, are feeling the strain, as many end up trauma-bonding with their kids over cosines and tangents. 

What it means: In a twist even the best English teachers couldn’t have predicted, lawmakers and school officials actually seem to be listening to what many kids and parents want. Over the weekend, California’s legislature passed a bill recommending schools reevaluate the physical and mental impacts of their assignments. Some elementary schools have gone so far as to institute “no-homework policies,” which increased social and emotional health among little ones, one principal said. Meanwhile, the use of AI as a homework help tool (and potential cheating hack) is also factoring into this conversation. So, with visions of chatbots and stressed-out students dancing in their heads, many teachers are being more thoughtful about how, when, and what work they give kids to take home.

Related: Students Who Were Arrested in Campus Protests Last Fall Are Facing Academic and Legal Troubles (The Guardian)