(Photo by Heather Diehl/Getty Images) By Shelby Stewart · Updated May 27, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… In a decisive primary runoff victory Tuesday night, Christian Menefee secured the Democratic nomination for Texas’ 18th Congressional District, defeating longtime incumbent …

EssenceMay 27politics

Criminal law update: some defense-friendly rulings and a big case that wasn’t

The U.S. Supreme Court (unlike some ) does not divide its docket between civil and criminal cases. So I do . With about five weeks left in the current Supreme Court term, it’s time for a quick update on how the court is handling its criminal cases this term, and a brief description of “big” criminal…

SCOTUSblogMay 27politics

What's at stake in Louisiana v. FDA

What's at stake in Louisiana v. FDA gsinger <time datetime="2026-05-27T07:58:30-06:00" title="Wednesday, May 27, 2026 - 7:58am">May 27, 2026</time> <div class="field field--name-field-exclude-from-search field--type-search-api-exclude-entity field…

Guttmacher InstituteMay 27breakthroughs

The women who power America’s offices are making themselves AI-proof

At the administrative assistants’ conference, everyone wants to talk about AI. Among the workers who are most likely to have a hard time finding a new job if AI takes theirs, 86 percent are women , according to findings from a recent Brookings Institution study.

The 19thMay 27breakthroughs

Hey Missouri. It’s Me Again, AngryBlackLady. We Need to Talk About Your ‘Born Alive’ Bill.

So hey, Missouri. It’s me. AngryBlackLady. You probably knew I was coming. I’ve been writing open letters to you since 2015. I’ve written five of these now, if you’re counting, which I am, because I have a spreadsheet, not to mention a deep and abiding sense of exhaustion.

Rewire News GroupMay 27choice

Jazmine Sullivan Popped Out In A Latex Catsuit And The Internet Is Obsessed With Her Stunning Transformation

By Elizabeth Ayoola · The post Jazmine Sullivan Popped Out In A Latex Catsuit And The Internet Is Obsessed With Her Stunning Transformation appeared first on Essence .

EssenceMay 26empowerment

What is cortisol? Your questions, answered.

Want more stories like this? Subscribe to our menopause newsletter . When we asked you all during Deinfluencing Month what other topics you wanted us to dig into, we heard one thing over and over again: cortisol.

The 19thMay 26breakthroughs

How a formerly incarcerated artist helped launch a record company for prison-impacted musicians

This story is part of a five-part investigative podcast series, “ Dying on The Inside: Women Lifers at Muncy Prison ,” produced by Create Genius Media and Temple University Klein College’s Logan Center for Urban Investigative Reporting.

The 19thMay 26resilience

The Trump Administration Isn’t Just Ignoring Violence Against Abortion Clinics—It Wants to Fund It.

The numbers are staggering: Between 2024 and 2025, death threats against abortion providers more than doubled. Stalking incidents more than doubled. Clinic blockades surged by 500 percent. There were four arsons. A planned assassination attempt against a Montana provider.

Ms. MagazineMay 26choice

14 Times Lenny Kravitz Inspired Us With His Rockstar Style

Updated May 26, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… Few artists embody rockstar >Lenny Kravitz . For decades, Kravitz has built a fashion legacy rooted in individuality, sensuality, and an unapologetic embrace of self-expression.

EssenceMay 26activism

‘Transition Blush’ And The Painted By Esther-Patrick Ta Controversy, Explained

By India Espy-Jones · Updated May 26, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… “I’m honestly very nervous to make this video,” said makeup artist Ngozi “Esther” Edeme, professionally known as Painted by Esther , in a TikTok video.

EssenceMay 26resilience

Pam Grier Talks ‘Jackie Brown,’ Soul Flix, And The Legacy Of Black Cinema

By Okla Jones · Updated May 26, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… “It’s always nice to share what you’ve learned on your journey with everyone because it’s so vast,” Pam Grier says. “I’ve learned so much and there’s so much abundance that we all have.

EssenceMay 26resilience

Anti-Trans Amendment Puts Women’s History Museum on Pause

This story was originally reported by Orion Rummler of The 19th , and republished through Rewire News Group ‘s partnership with the 19th News Network. The Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum has been years in the making—and now, transphobia is threatening to derail the whole thing.

Rewire News GroupMay 26politics

‘Hello ladies and sons of ladies’: women are using ‘microfeminisms’ to flip the gender script

The practice is not entirely serious – but it raises awareness of the many sexist tropes built into everyday lifeWhen Tori Dunlap writes a letter or email to a heterosexual couple, she puts the woman’s name first in the greeting.

The Guardian WomenMay 26equality

She Faced a Life-Threatening Miscarriage. Under Arkansas’ Abortion Ban, Even Calls to the Governor’s Office Didn’t Help.

Emily Waldorf Kathleen Flynn for ProPublica On the morning of Sept. 16, 2024, Emily Waldorf’s preschooler found her curled on the bathroom floor. Waldorf had felt a strange pressure during a shower, like a balloon bulging into her vagina, and was now bleeding.

ProPublicaMay 26politics

‘Intersectionality’ scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw thinks it’s time for everyone to talk back

A teacher who wouldn’t cast her as a princess in a kindergarten skit shaped Kimberlé Crenshaw’s views. So did her efforts to diversify the hiring process and courses at Harvard Law School while she was a student.

The 19thMay 26activism

Chad: 10 Years On, Habré Conviction Inspires Global Justice

Click to expand Image Hissene Habre during his trial in 2015. © Courtesy of Radiodiffusion Télévision Sénégalaise (RTS) (Nairobi) – The 2016 conviction in Senegal of former Chadian dictator Hissène Habré was a pivotal moment in the pursuit of justice for atrocity crimes, Human Rights Watch and th...

Human Rights WatchMay 25global

Remembering War’s Impacts on Women and Girls on Memorial Day

As we pause to mark Memorial Day on Monday, I’m thinking about the women affected by war—whether they’re fighting on the front lines, working in the service as nurses, or civilians saddled with the consequences of wars started by men living in far-off lands who barely know they exist.

Ms. MagazineMay 24choice

Prevent And Protect: Now Is The Time To Get Get Ready For Menopause

Every time I learn something new about women’s health, I feel a profound sense of grief. At the center is always rage. Why did I not know this before? I […] The post Prevent And Protect: Now Is The Time To Get Get Ready For Menopause appeared first on Essence .

EssenceMay 24resilience

Documentary ‘Ask E. Jean’ Is a Funny, Moving Portrait of a Fearless Woman

Director Ivy Meeropol on the challenges of making a film about E. Jean Carroll, Trump’s most formidable legal adversary. This film review and interview was originally published by The Contrarian. Ask E. Jean, the poignant yet entertaining documentary about E.

Ms. MagazineMay 24safety

Celebrate Black Joy: This Week’s Best Uplifting Moments

By Bridgette Bartlett Royall · Updated May 25, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… These days, it is easy to feel like the world is on fire: all of our bills are too high , we’re at war with Iran , the government is…well, you know how stressful politics is right now.

EssenceMay 23politics

Black Women, Beauty Politics and the Power of Rage in ‘Is God Is’

In one of the film’s most surreal scenes, the twins at the center of *Is God Is*—Racine, “the Rough One,” and Anaia, “the Quiet One”—pretend to be strippers for a room full of men. But while Racine is welcomed, Anaia is rejected because her scarred face disrupts the men’s fantasies.

Ms. MagazineMay 23global

‘Menorexia’ Is The Midlife Crisis We Don’t Talk About Enough

Midlife adults are prone to this disorder, especially women.

HuffPost WomenMay 23equality

K. Michelle Says Her Husband Cheating Isn’t A Dealbreaker—But Giving Women Money Is

Singer K. Michelle is a notorious conversation starter these days, but this time it’s about what fidelity looks like inside of her marriage. During a recent appearance on Club Shay […] The post K. Michelle Says Her Husband Cheating Isn’t A Dealbreaker—But Giving Women Money Is appeared first on Esse...

EssenceMay 22empowerment

Shamon Brown Jr. And Mike V. Epps Reflect On The Final Season Of ‘The Chi’

After eight seasons, The Chi is preparing to say goodbye. Since premiering in 2018, Lena Waithe’s Chicago-based drama has become one of the defining Black television series of its era. […] The post Shamon Brown Jr. And Mike V. Epps Reflect On The Final Season Of ‘The Chi’ appeared first on Essence .

EssenceMay 22resilience

After Historic SNAP Cuts, America’s Hunger Emergency Is Already Here—and Trump’s Proposed Budget Would Make It Worse

Even as communities across the country grapple with the fallout from last year’s devastating SNAP cuts, the White House’s proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget threatens to deepen an already escalating hunger emergency.

Ms. MagazineMay 22global

National Abortion Federation Joins Lawsuit to Block Trump-Vance Administration’s $1.776 Billion Slush Fund

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:May 22, 2026Contact: naf@berlinrosen.com Lawsuit Challenges Taxpayer-Funded Payout Scheme Alexandria, Va. — In the most comprehensive case of its kind, the National Abortion Federation (NAF) is joining a broad coalition of organizations and individuals harmed by the Trump-Vanc...

National Abortion FederationMay 22choice

Tulsi Gabbard is the latest woman to leave Trump’s Cabinet

Tulsi Gabbard, the nation’s chief intelligence official, is the latest woman to leave President Donald Trump’s Cabinet. Gabbard is resigning to care for her husband, Abraham, who has been diagnosed with “an extremely rare form of bone cancer” and “faces major challenges in the coming weeks and mont...

The 19thMay 22resilience

Naomi Campbell’s Beauty Evolution

For the past 56 years, Naomi Campbell’s face card has never declined. The London-born supermodel, known for her witty grin, killer eyes, and gorgeous pout, has a look (and prowess) […] The post Naomi Campbell’s Beauty Evolution appeared first on Essence .

EssenceMay 22activism

‘Ms. Book Club’ Miniseries: Four Must-Listen Conversations on Black Women, U.S. History and the Law

Our podcast platform Ms. Studios has launched a newly updated miniseries: Ms. Book Club , examining the last 250 years of U.S. history through a feminist lens and asking what the nation’s founding ideals have meant in practice for women, Black Americans and other historically marginalized communitie...

Ms. MagazineMay 22empowerment

Iowa Restricts Access to Abortion Pills, HPV Vaccines

Plus, a woman gives birth in a Brooklyn courtroom and veterans sue Trump administration over VA abortion ban. The post Iowa Restricts Access to Abortion Pills, HPV Vaccines appeared first on Rewire News Group .

Rewire News GroupMay 22choice

An ESSENCE Editor’s Guide To Vintage Shopping In New Orleans

The Essence Festival of Culture 2026 is happening July 3 – July 5. Don’t miss out—tickets here: Get Tickets If you’re a vintage lover like me, you know that visiting a […] The post An ESSENCE Editor’s Guide To Vintage Shopping In New Orleans appeared first on Essence .

EssenceMay 22global

A history of Supreme Court leaks

Last month, The New York Times published a major scoop : the inside story of the Supreme Court’s 2016 order blocking then-President Barack Obama’s Clean Power Plan, an environmental initiative intended to address climate change, on its interim docket.

SCOTUSblogMay 22politics

Balloon Pants Are The Elegant Trend Taking Over This Summer

If you’re looking for a way to elevate your summer wardrobe, the ultimate way to make your outfits pop is with the pants of the season. No, denim shorts are […] The post Balloon Pants Are The Elegant Trend Taking Over This Summer appeared first on Essence .

EssenceMay 22activism

What ‘Special Needs Mommy’ Influencers Get Wrong About Parenting Disabled Kids: Opinion

Oversharing about your child’s disability has become a lucrative trend on social media. For disability justice advocate Rebecca Cokley, these videos look an awful lot like a modern-day version of the old circus “freak show.

Rewire News GroupMay 22resilience

The Funniest Posts From Women This Week (May 16-22)

"Someone said millennials used to be at the club dressed for a leadership summit"

HuffPost WomenMay 22empowerment

Americans overwhelmingly oppose data centers. Women most of all.

As data centers rapidly emerge at unprecedented rates across the country, they are being met with increasing opposition — particularly from women, according to a recent Gallup poll. More than two-thirds of adults oppose the construction of the massive and costly complexes used to power artificial in...

The 19thMay 22politics

Beyond American Exceptionalism: What the Success of the Green Wave Can Teach U.S. Abortion Activists

While the idea of the U.S. as a bastion of moral superiority has always been a myth—evident, for example, in efforts to shield Jim Crow laws from scrutiny in the founding of the United Nations—the overturning of Roe v.

Ms. MagazineMay 21choice

Ms. Global: From Ukraine to Lebanon to Sudan, Women Are Bearing the Brunt of Escalating Global Conflict

Around the world, escalating armed conflict, political repression and humanitarian collapse are reshaping daily life for women and girls—often with devastating consequences. From drone warfare in Sudan, to internet blackouts in Iran, to attacks on healthcare infrastructure in Lebanon and Gaza, women...

Ms. MagazineMay 21global

Women’s Health Is a Democracy Issue—and a Midterm One

It is critically important to keep reproductive health and the chaos at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) front and center in the headlines. Why? Two words: midterm elections. Last week, within 48 hours of each other the Supreme Court issued an emergency stay pausing the Fifth Circuit’s attempt...