RantCrush Top 5: January 17, 2017

Despite all the recent controversy over Planned Parenthood and reproductive health services, the abortion rate in the U.S. is at its lowest since 1974. The Guttmacher Institute released a report today that shows that the number of abortions in the U.S. in 2014 was below 1 million. That’s a drop of 12.5 percent from the group’s previous survey, which was in 2011. It’s not crazy to speculate that this drop is because Planned Parenthood and similar organizations have offered women free access to birth control and sex education for young people. Maybe this could make Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and Republicans rethink their promise to defund the organization?

straight up. #PlannedParenthood pic.twitter.com/5sOUpRriPh

— Fem For All 🏳️‍🌈 (@projectFem4All) January 15, 2017

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.