Opposing Sides

Abortion rights take center stage. [For the best experience, read in browser.]( September 25, 2024 Good morning! Today we're looking at: - Kamala Harris and Donald Trump's headline-grabbing comments on abortion - [Why Pennsylvania could decide the presidential race]( - [My eye-opening conversations]( with Jane Goodall, José Andres, and other changemakers - [What you need to know about dense breasts]( And more. Let's begin...   In the News [President Trump and Kamala Harris speaking]( KCM/Getty Images Abortion could be a decisive issue come November, and the presidential candidates are tackling it very differently. On Tuesday, Kamala Harris told WPR’s "Wisconsin Today" that she wants to end the Senate filibuster requiring 60 votes to advance most legislation and reinstate the federal abortion protections that existed under Roe v. Wade. She said that every woman should be able “to make decisions about their own body and not have their government tell them what to do." The day before, Donald Trump, who’s been struggling to win over female voters, claimed at a rally in Pennsylvania that women would be safer and “no longer be thinking about abortion” if he won another term, because the matter would be decided on the state level. “I want to be your protector,” he said. But which of the two do voters actually think would be better equipped to address abortion policies? According to a poll by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, 55% favor Harris, while 27% lean towards Trump.   Going further: This election is likely to be decided by voters in just a few swing states: Georgia, Nevada, Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. My pal, the brilliant columnist Jonathan Alter, believes it'll all come down to the Keystone State. Here's why he thinks Pennsylvania will be so crucial and [what Kamala Harris needs to do to clinch that win](.   More Stories [Taylor Swift's head and shoulders, wearing a denim corset top]( Getty Images President Biden urged the United Nations to keep defending Ukraine in an impassioned valedictory speech, saying: "I truly believe we’re at another inflection point in world history." Meryl Streep highlighted the plight of Afghanistan’s women, who must cover their faces and bodies in public, and can’t attend schools or parks. "A bird may sing in Kabul, but a girl may not in public. This is extraordinary. This is a suppression of the natural law,” she said. A Hezbollah missile was intercepted near Tel Aviv this morning — the closest the militant group has come to hitting the Israeli city. In Lebanon, thousands of civilians have fled their homes as Israel continues its strikes in the south, and Israel has promised to persevere with its “offensive operations” without pause. [Ryan Routh, the man who was seen holding a gun]( on Donald Trump's West Palm Beach golf course, has been charged with the attempted assassination of a presidential candidate. Meanwhile, a bipartisan report on the first attempt to assassinate Trump in July has found that the Secret Service made "preventable" errors. Missouri executed Marcellus Williams at 6 pm Tuesday, though prosecutors and the victim’s family [asked that he be spared](. One of Williams' attorneys gave a statement after his death, reiterating that "he never wavered in asserting his innocence." Caroline Ellison, former top adviser to FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, whose testimony was crucial in his conviction, has been sentenced to two years in prison for her role in the $8 billion fraud that led to the cryptocurrency exchange's downfall.   In Conversation [Katie Couric, Jane Goodall, and José Andres at the CGI Summit]( Getty Images There's no shortage of urgent issues that need our attention — so it makes perfect sense that the session I joined at this year's Clinton Global Initiative meeting was called "Everything, Everywhere, All At Once." Speaking to these thought leaders — including Jane Goodall, José Andres, and more — reminded me of the best of humanity. See the [highlights from my conversations right here](.   World Dense Breast Day [A person wearing a blue PPE cap and white latex gloves holds up a mammogram of dense breasts]( Getty Images Today we're raising awareness about dense breasts — which nearly half of women over 40 have, myself included. [Here's how to find out if you have this type of tissue]( and how it impacts cancer screening. For women who are part of this club, screening for cancer with a mammogram can be like looking for a snowball in a snowfield. That's why I teamed up with Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro on the Find It Early Act, which would ensure all health insurance plans cover screening and diagnostic mammograms and breast ultrasounds and MRIs. [Learn more about why this is so important](.   Photo of the Day [Jane Fonda and Andie MacDowell walking at Paris Fashion Week]( Getty Images We loved to see not one, but two silver-haired stunners on the runway during Paris Fashion Week! Jane Fonda and Andie MacDowell strutted their stuff at L’Oréal's Walk Your Worth event, with their tresses complimenting their shimmering silver outfits. It made me think of the time [Andie opened up to me about embracing age](, gray hair and all. (And if you want to learn more about Jane Fonda, check out [these answers to the internet's biggest questions about her](.)   What We're Loving Lately Last week, the KCM team was treated to an all-staff session with Jim VandeHei, co-founder and CEO of Axios. We picked his brain about journalism, the election, and his new book, [Just the Good Stuff]( — which our very own John Molner has been sending to family and friends. "I consider it one of the best business books I've read in the last 10 years," John says. This approachable guidebook covers everything from finding your calling to keeping your team in tip-top shape, and it's a must for anyone who values personal and professional fulfillment. [Check out Jim's book here]( — it promises "no-BS secrets to success," and boy does it deliver!   Body and Soul [Dr. Mary Claire Haver in a ''menopausal'' sweatshirt]( Photo by Callie Walker All you Wake-Up Callers sent us tons of questions about navigating menopause, so we took a few to a very impressive expert: Dr. Mary Claire Haver, board-certified OB/GYN, author of The New Menopause, and one of our newest KCM contributors. She's dishing out answers to your pressing concerns, and if you [sign up here for Body and Soul](, you'll get her advice sent straight to your inbox later this afternoon. [SUBSCRIBE NOW](   Deal Alert 🚨 [Models wearing a tan and a black puffer vest on a teal background]( The perfect layering piece for fall has arrived! At just $20,[this warm quilted vest]( looks way more expensive than it actually is. If you really love it, there's a jacket version, too, for $5 more. [SHOP HERE]( Before you go: Proper recovery is just as important as exercise. Take care of your muscles with [Theragun's portable personal massager](, and get $20 off with the code FALLSALE   Thanks for reading! Want to stay connected? Subscribe right here: 💪 Wake up well: [Body and Soul]( 🍴 See what's cooking: [Good Taste]( 🌎 Explore the planet: [Ripple Effect]( 🛒 Bargain-hunt: [The Shop Edit]( 👔 Clock in: [Wake-Up Call at Work](   Have questions or comments? Drop us a line at info@katiecouric.com. Update your preferences or [unsubscribe]( If you buy something through this email, KCM may earn a commission. Katie Couric Media, 75 Varick St, Ste 12, New York, NY - 10013-1917 Copyright © 2024 Katie Couric Media, All rights reserved.