WRDI Watch

I couldn't send this week's newsletter without acknowledging Dolly Parton, who died this week at 80.

There are many ways to describe what made her remarkable: songwriter, performer, businesswoman, philanthropist. But perhaps what I loved most was that Dolly seemed completely comfortable being herself, and just as willing to let everyone else be themselves, too.

Her passing makes this late-August moment feel even more reflective. After all, it's a time of year that always seems like a bit of a pause.

Kids are going back to school. Congress is in recess. All but six state legislatures have adjourned for the year. And before everything picks up again, it seemed like a good moment to look back at a few of the developments that caught my attention this summer.

I've written about this before, but it bears repeating: as a woman, where you live increasingly shapes the rights and protections you have.

As federal policies change, states are making consequential choices of their own—some strengthening protections or expanding access, others moving in the opposite direction.

This isn't an attempt to capture everything that happened this summer. Just a check-in on a few changes that help show where things stand today.

— Julie

P.S. Wisconsin readers! On October 1, I'll be in Egg Harbor for an in-person conversation about what's at stake for women's rights in Wisconsin's 2026 midterm elections. Can't make it to Door County? Let me know if you'd be interested in a virtual presentation of the information. See What's New at WRDI below for more details.

Federal and state policies diverge on contraception