Hello, welcome to the editor's desk. This is the podcast where we take a closer look at the

essays and articles in the latest print issue of First Things magazine. I'm Rusty Reno on the editor

of First Things magazine, and I'm here with you today at the editor's desk.

I'm delighted to have Ryan Anderson with me today.

Welcome to the podcast, Ryan.

Thanks for having me.

We're going to talk about your piece in the October 2024 issue, the way forward after Dobbs, you know, what,

what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what's,

let's get, just dive into that.

I mean, but let's just, well, let's just start with the, start with the question. Where does the pro-life movement

stand today in your estimation? It's a mixed bag. Obviously, Dobbs was a great legal victory in

overturning row. There are children who are now, you know, I think one of the

opening sentences in the essays, you know, talking about there are children who are celebrating

birthdays, who are walking, talking, giggling, all because of Dobbs, allowing some of the red

states that had spring laws or trigger laws that sprung into effect other states that passed pro-life

laws. And so, you know, we shouldn't poo-poo the real accomplishment that that brought. But then the

flip side of this, there have been seven votes so far that were directly placed before the people.

And each and every time the people have rejected

the pro-life side of those votes. And they've been framed in different ways. Sometimes the ballot

question is specifically about protecting abortion. Sometimes it's about protecting unborn

baby. Sometimes it's just about making the Constitution neutral on the question as the Kansas

ballot initiative was. But each and every time, regardless

...