Bedsider Providers+ Launches September 9
We’re excited to announce Bedsider Providers+, a new membership-based resource created to support health care providers in navigating the often overwhelming flow of sexual and reproductive health research, shifting policies, and patient questions and concerns shaped by social media trends. Launching September 9, Bedsider Providers+ helps cut through the noise by offering clear, timely updates and highly relevant clinical content. Subscriptions also help sustain free public resources like Bedsider.org, helping ensure young people get the care and information they need. It’s one more way we’re supporting reproductive well-being for all.
Our voices have power. The signs are everywhere.
Photo by Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via STAT News
Literally and figuratively! Power to Decide is helping to inform the national conversation about reproductive well-being by responding to breaking news, equipping individuals with ways to raise their voices, and helping pop culture leaders craft evidence-based storylines.
The reproductive health news this summer has been disheartening, as people who already face the greatest barriers to access are bracing for deep cuts to life-saving services. Power to Decide experts are providing insights and context to breaking news, and helping journalists cut through the mis- and disinformation about birth control, fertility, abortion, and more. A recent sampling of press coverage that includes our voices and resources:
- Veterans Are “Guinea Pigs” In Trump’s First National Abortion Ban Experiment (The Intercept, August 13, 2025)
- This Crunchy, MAHA-Inspired Birth Control Method Is Trending At The Worst Possible Time (HuffPost, August 22, 2025)
- VA proposes ban on abortion services for veterans, including in cases of rape and incest (Michigan Independent, August 12, 2025)
- Opinion: Contraception Gives Young Women Control of Their Bodies—So Why Are So Many Girls Afraid to Use it? (Rewire, July 28, 2025)
As part of our effort to help people speak up and spread the word about Medicaid’s vital role in reproductive health care, we created signs that speak louder than words. We will keep coming up with creative ways to make sure everyone’s voice is heard.
Papás por Conveniencia: End of Summer Binge-Watch (and Conversation-Starter)
The hit series Papás Por Conveniencia mixes gripping storylines with timely health issues, resulting in a telenovela full of plot twists, secrets, and romance – and candid portrayals of birth control, STIs, relationships and intimate partner violence. Produced by TelevisaUnivision and Population Media Center in Mexico, Univision brought this Spanish-language series to US audiences in 2025 after its initial run in Mexico in 2024. We are proud that Bedsider is the show’s lead sexual and reproductive health resource for US audiences, with a custom landing page to connect viewers with relevant information in real time. Catch up on the series here, and stay tuned for the second season this fall.
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Congress Returns, Current Federal Funding Expires September 30th
Members of Congress return to D.C. this month after going back to their districts for August recess. With just a few weeks before the end of the month, Congress has limited time to pass legislation to fund the federal government into Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 and avert a government shutdown. At the end of July, the Senate Appropriations Committee was able to draft, mark up, and approve their bipartisan version of the FY26 Labor HHS (LHHS) appropriations bill out of committee, which included continued funding for important programs such as the Teen Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) Program and the Title X Family Planning Program. You can read Power to Decide’s statement on the bill here. The House has yet to take any action on its version of the LHHS Appropriations bill.
As we approach the September 30 deadline, it is imperative that policymakers not only avert a government shutdown but also support reproductive well-being in their final FY26 appropriations bills. Now is the time to contact your representatives and tell them to support reproductive well-being in their final FY26 appropriations.
Department of Veteran Affairs Proposes Ban on Abortion for Veterans and their Loved Ones
In early August, the Trump-Vance administration issued a proposed rule that targets veterans and their beneficiaries’ ability to access abortion care. The proposed rule would rescind a 2022 rule that allows veterans and their eligible loved ones and caretakers to access abortion in cases of rape, incest, and life and health endangerment. In addition to denying access to abortion care, the proposed rule would also ban abortion counseling in all circumstances. If implemented, this would have dangerous consequences for veterans and their loved ones.
The proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on August 4, 2025, and was open for public comment until September 3, 2025. While we wait for the administration to finalize their policy, stay tuned for updates and ways to take action. You can read Power to Decide’s statement on the proposed rule here.
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September 26 is World Contraception Day, a global event to recognize the power of birth control in helping people decide if, when, and under what circumstances to have a child. With your support, we can continue providing the tools and resources that make these decisions possible for millions.
Through our new #AskBedsider series, we’re answering real questions about contraception, while our policy team works to protect and expand access nationwide.
Celebrate World Contraception Day with a gift to Power to Decide. Your support fuels this work and helps ensure everyone has the power to decide their futures.
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