We Defend Life
When I want to know the truth about some abortion-related controversy in America, I read National Review.
I know what you’re thinking: “Rich, you’re the editor in chief, of course you read National Review.”
Well, true, but I still find no other source out there that is as acute and reliable on the topic as the one you’re reading right now.
In fact, I don’t think there’s any general-interest publication in America that publishes as much, as consistently, of such stellar quality on this foundational issue as we do.
Just this year we’ve published more than 150 pieces on this topic, and it’s only May.
If you want to know the real import of what Ralph Northam said in his infamous radio interview, if you want to know the consequences of extremist pro-abortion legislation in places such as New York, if you want to know the truth about the heartbeat bills, if you want to know the real state of the law, if, in short, you want to know about this issue in all its moral and legal permutations, you must read NR.
If this coverage means anything to you, I humbly ask that you considered supporting it at whatever level you can.
We publish the work of Ramesh Ponnuru and David French, who are one-man truth squads on this issue. We publish the work of John McCormack, the only national political reporter in America who consistently holds the feet of pro-abortion politicians to the fire.
But I mostly want to bring to your attention one of our journalists in particular.
If you asked me what we especially need in this moment when abortion policy has a new salience — when the Left is all-in on a no-restrictions absolutism and when Roe might be in play — I’d say a talented young woman who is passionate about the pro-life cause, extremely knowledgeable, prolific, combative when necessary, and utterly, completely fearless.
In other words, I’d say we need Alexandra DeSanctis.
And fortunately, we have her. If we didn’t, we would’ve had to invent her in a laboratory.
A goodly portion of those articles I mentioned above were written by Xan (as we call her). She follows this debate obsessively. She lets no BS pass, and is the greatest friend pro-life legislators and advocates have.
She is extremely versatile. She can write long-form reports on the story behind the Trump administration’s stalwart pro-life policy-making and quick-hit blog posts on the outrage of the hour. She does videos and podcasts, and takes no guff on Twitter.
We’d like to take credit for “discovering” Xan, but it was more like out of Notre Dame, she discovered us. What we’ve done is give her a platform and a lot of running room as she’s done the rest.
We’ve been lucky that for about 60 years now such talented young journalists have been finding us. Few things were more gratifying to WFB than growing young talent, and it’s remained a priority of ours to this day.
It’s just another reason you should consider supporting what we do — it’s not just for us, it’s for the budding young conservatives who are reading us in high school (as I did) who someday might work here and make a difference for the cause.
When you support National Review, you support life. When you support National Review, you support Alexandra DeSanctis. When you support National Review, you support opportunities for young journalists who will influence our public debate for years to come.
After Roe v. Wade, we pro-lifers were always supposed to go away. We were on the wrong side of history. The tide of public opinion was sweeping us away. Social issues were costing the Republicans and had to be jettisoned (as we were told in “the autopsy” and countless other campaign post-mortems).
We never accepted that and never will. We never stopped making the case, not in 1973, not now.
Below is the entire list of our abortion coverage so far this year as of a couple of days ago, and it’s already out of date. Please consider what these pieces are worth to you. Maybe it’s nothing. Fine. But I expect it’s very important to a lot of you, so I ask you to consider chipping in on the basis of this coverage. Maybe you want to count the pieces accordingly, and think of each piece as worth $.01, or $.10, or $10.
Whatever it is, we will be very grateful and it will go to supporting a publication that has kept the faith on this issue for a long time and is committed to continuing to do so for as long as necessary.
Thank you very much.
Biden Flips on Hyde Amendment John McCormack, May 20
Love in the First Degree: After the Alabama Abortion Law Kathryn Jean Lopez, May 20
NPR’s Abortion Rules Ramesh Ponnuru, May 20
The Return of ‘Abortion Cuts Crime’ Robert VerBruggen, May 20
Heartbeat Bills: The Tactical Question Robert VerBruggen, May 17
The Equality Act Could Mandate Abortion Funding Alexandra DeSanctis, May 17
In Missouri, Another Supermajority Passes Another Heartbeat Bill David French, May 17
Pro-Life Incrementalism, Continued Ramesh Ponnuru, May 17
Some Thoughts on Overruling Roe Ed Whelan, May 17
What Challenging Roe vs. Wade Might Look Like Today Jim Geraghty, May 17
The 50-Way Abortion Fight Kevin Williamson, May 17
Democratic Politicians Ignore Pro-Life Women Mona Charen, May 17
Personhood Confusion in the New York Times Ramesh Ponnuru, May 16
How Best to Protect Life The Editors, May 16
Heartbeat-Bill Opponents Reveal Their Own Incoherence Alexandra DeSanctis, May 16
Slate on Abortion and Democracy Ramesh Ponnuru, May 15
Alabama and Georgia Are Throwing Down the Gauntlet against Roe. Good. David French, May 15
The Abortion Bill in Alabama Would Be the Strictest Pro-Life Law in the Country Alexandra DeSanctis, May 15
The Case for Being Born Kevin Williamson, May 12
No, Georgia’s Heartbeat Bill Won’t Imprison Women Who Have Abortions David French, May 11
A Thousand Pro-life Protestors Pray outside Planned Parenthood in Philadelphia Alexandra DeSanctis, May 10
Video: Four Arguments Republicans Should Make to Defund Planned Parenthood Alexandra DeSanctis, May 9
Does Brian Sims Hear Himself? Kevin Williamson, May 9
Was Brian Sims Courageous for Heckling an Elderly Pro-Life Protester? John Hirschauer, May 8
CNN Contributor: ‘When a Woman Is Pregnant, That Is Not a Human Being inside of Her’ Alexandra DeSanctis, May 7
Alabama Democrat Says Doug Jones Privately Agreed with Pro-Abortion Comments Alexandra DeSanctis, May 6
Pennsylvania State Representative Harasses a Peaceful Pro-Life Activist Alexandra DeSanctis, May 6
What if We Acknowledged What Abortion Is? Alexandra DeSanctis, May 6
‘Heartbeat Bills’ Are Wholesome Provocations in the Abortion Debate George Will, May 5
Students Shout Their Abortions to Disrupt a Pro-Life Display Alexandra DeSanctis, May 3
Democratic State Rep. Makes Horrifying Pro-Abortion Comment Alexandra DeSanctis, May 2
Playing Politics with Pregnancy in South Bend Alexandra DeSanctis, May 1
What Did Ralph Northam Really Say about Abortion? Alexandra DeSanctis, April 30
Video: Alexandra DeSanctis Breaks Down Ralph Northam’s Abortion Extremism April 30
Video: Democrats Are Extremists on Abortion and Infanticide Alexandra DeSanctis, April 30
Bloody Kansas Ed Whelan, April 29
A Federal Judge Has Defied the Law to Protect Abortion David French, April 26
Beto O’Rourke Claims Planned Parenthood Saves Lives Alexandra DeSanctis, April 26
Washington Post Editorial Misrepresents Abortion Polling Alexandra DeSanctis, April 26
Will Abortion Politics Sink Biden in the Democratic Primary? John McCormack, April 25
NARAL President Says Asking about Abortion Is ‘Disinformation’ Alexandra DeSanctis, April 17
Abortion Restrictions Are Lowering Abortion Rates Michael New, April 16
What Does Rareness Have to Do with It? Jonah Goldberg, April 16
Pete Buttigieg’s Abortion Extremism Hurts His Religious Appeal David French, April 16
Four Arguments for GOP Politicians Serious About Defunding Planned Parenthood Alexandra DeSanctis, April 16
Yes, Abortion Restrictions Can Reduce Abortion Rates Robert VerBruggen, April 15
‘Abortion Restrictions Don’t Work’: A Dubious Claim Kyle Blanchette, April 15
Unplanned Advances Abortion Debate John Fund, April 7
Unplanned Will Change Minds Julie Gunlock, April 4
‘Nobody Ever Said Abortion Was Pretty’ Alexandra DeSanctis, April 2
Unplanned Helps Pro-Lifers Tell the Truth about Abortion Abby Johnson and Lila Rose, April 1
The Power of Unplanned Kathryn Jean Lopez, April 1
Is It Uncivil to Argue that Abortion Kills a Baby? David French, April 1
Restatement—No, Misstatement—of the Law on Access of Minors to Abortion (Part-1) Ed Whelan, March 29
Restatement—No, Misstatement—of the Law on Access of Minors to Abortion (Part-20 Ed Whelan, March 29
No, the Mexico City Policy Is Not Increasing Abortion Rates Overseas Michael New, March 28
Illinois Bill Would Allow Unlimited Abortion Alexandra DeSanctis, March 27
A Vote for Democrats Is a Vote for the Culture of Death Wesley J. Smith, March 26
Medicare for All Would Mandate Coverage for All Abortions Alexandra DeSanctis, March 22
GOP Legislatures, Throw Down the Gauntlet—Pass Heartbeat Bills David French, March 21
FDA Warns Abortion Advocates to Stop Pushing Illegal Abortion Drugs Stephen Aden, March 20
Will Any 2020 Democrats Reject Abortion Extremism? Alexandra DeSanctis, March 19
What Isn’t Missing from the Abortion Debate Ramesh Ponnuru, March 13
A Vote for Democrats Is a Vote for the Culture of Death Wesley J. Smith, March 26
Planned Parenthood Sues Trump over Title X Funding Alexandra DeSanctis, March 8
Originalism, the Right to Life, and Judicial Nominees Clarke Forsythe, March 7
The Born-Alive Bill: Both Sides Aren’t to Blame Ramesh Ponnuru, March 6
A Word on Abortion and Conservatism Alexandra DeSanctis, March 5
Stay-Puft Socialism, Luxurious Infanticide Jonah Goldberg, March 1
Democratic Presidential Candidates Double Down on Abortion Extremism Alexandra DeSanctis, March 1
The Democratic Party’s Decline on Abortion Michael New, March 1
Debunking Media Falsehoods on the Born-Alive Bill Alexandra DeSanctis, February 27
Why Did Senate Democrats Refuse to Protect Infants? Alexandra DeSanctis, February 27
A Welcome Dent in Planned Parenthood The Editors, February 26
Real Hope after Born-Alive Vote: ‘Americans Are Fundamentally Pro-Life—They Don’t Want Abortion’ Kathryn Jean Lopez, February 26
New Poll Finds Huge Shift in Pro-Life Direction Alexandra DeSanctis, February 25
Senate Fails to Pall Born-Alive Bill Alexandra DeSanctis, February 25
Schumer Lies about Infanticide Ban in Remarks on Senate Floor Alexandra DeSanctis, February 25
Democrats Have No Good Reason to Oppose a Ban on Infanticide Alexandra DeSanctis, February 25
Unplanned Graces Kathryn Jean Lopez, February 25
Our Infanticidal Moment The Editors, February 22
What Is a Born-Alive ‘Fetus’? Alexandra DeSanctis, February 22
Tim Kaine Suggests He’ll Oppose Ban on Infanticide Alexandra DeSanctis, February 21
Vermont House Passes Bill Legalizing All Abortion Alexandra DeSanctis, February 21
Defund It Already Alexandra DeSanctis, February 21
Taxpayer-Funded Abortions on the Rise in Illinois Michael New, February 21
Leading Public-Health Groups Oppose Ban on Infanticide Alexandra DeSanctis, February 20
New Polls Show Americans Reject Democratic Extremism on Life Michael New, February 18
One ‘Mama’ Can Change the World Kathryn Jean Lopez, February 18
Abortion: The Later, the Worse? Ramesh Ponnuru, February 15
Abortion Extremism Comes to Rhode Island The Editors, February 14
A Travesty in New York Rich Lowry, February 12
The Groningen Protocol Comes to the United States Alexandra DeSanctis, February 12
New Survey Shows Americans Reject Democratic Radicalism on Abortion Alexandra DeSanctis, February 12
Gosnell: When Art Collides with Reality and Exposes the Truth John Fund, February 10
‘Late-Term Abortion’ and Rhetorical Shell Games Alexandra DeSanctis, February 8
Public Opinion on Abortion Is Ambiguous Ramesh Ponnuru, February 8
Culture, Politics, and Life Ramesh Ponnuru, February 8
An Ominous Moment for the Pro-Life Movement David French, February 8
Observations on the Supreme Court’s Order Blocking Louisiana’s Abortion Law (Part 1) Ed Whelan, February 8
Observations on the Supreme Court’s Order Blocking Louisiana’s Abortion Law (Part 2) Ed Whelan, February 8
Infanticide and the Left Ramesh Ponnuru, February 7
Abortion: A Note on Terminology Ramesh Ponnuru, February 7
On the Wrong Side of Life John O’Sullivan, February 7
Trump Was Right about New York’s Abortion Law Ramesh Ponnuru, February 6
Why a Ban on Infanticide Is Necessary Alexandra DeSanctis, February 6
Is Ben Sasse’s Born-Alive Bill ‘Anti-Abortion’? Alexandra DeSanctis, February 6
President Trump Calls for Congress to Pass 20-Week Abortion Ban Alexandra DeSanctis, February 5
An Irrational Political Culture, about to Get More So Rich Lowry, February 5
The New Supreme Court May Be on the Verge of Its First Important Abortion Ruling David French, February 5
Senate Democrats Block Bill Prohibiting Infanticide Alexandra DeSanctis, February 4
Abortion, Infanticide, and the Doctrine of Double-Effect Madeleine Kearns, February 4
Ben Sasse Wants to Ban Infanticide after Botched Abortions Alexandra DeSanctis, February 4
On Abortion, Democrats Are Overplaying Their Hand Alexandra DeSanctis, February 4
Trump and the Abortion Debate Rich Lowry, February 1
Abortion and Infanticide: The Spin that Never Dies Ramesh Ponnuru, February 1
Abortion Maximalists Claim the Moral Low Ground Jonah Goldberg, February 1
It’s Time for Truth about Late-Term Abortions David French, February 1
Life Is Under Attack Mike Pence, January 31
Manifest Injustice The Editors, January 31
Abortion Extremism Is Already the Law Ramesh Ponnuru, January 31
‘Safe and Rare’ Also Means ‘Post-Birth Abortion’ Jim Geraghty, January 31
What Northam’s Walk Back Really Means Alexandra DeSanctis, January 31
Virginia Governor Defends Letting Infants Die Alexandra DeSanctis, January 30
The Infanticide Craze Ramesh Ponnuru, January 30
Yes, the Virginia Abortion Bill Is Just as Barbaric as You’ve Heard David French, January 30
Virginia Bill Would Legalize Abortion up to Birth Alexandra DeSanctis, January 29
Lowering Care Standards for Abortion and Suicide MDs Wesley Smith, January 28
The Indefensible Morality of Andrew Cuomo Alexandra DeSanctis, January 26
The Lifesaving Power of Little Miracles Kathryn Jean Lopez, January 25
One World Trade Center Should Not Promote a Culture of Death Marlo Safi, January 24
Backing Away from Science Alexandra DeSanctis, January 24
Do You Know Pro-Life Heroes? Are You One in the Making? Kathryn Jean Lopez, January 22
Roe v. Wade and Our ‘Handmaid’s Tale’ Politics Alexandra DeSanctis, January 22
New York Doubles Down on Darkness and the 46-Year Shadow of a Culture of Death Kathryn Jean Lopez, January 22
Pro-Life Democrats Chastise Party Brass for Driving Away Their Constituents Mairead McArdle, January 21
Planned Parenthood’s New Annual Report Disproves Its Own Narrative Alexandra DeSanctis, January 21
A Real Look at the (Notoriously Under-Reported) March forLife Kathryn Jean Lopez, January 21
Doctors Induce 25 Percent of Dutch Deaths Wesley J. Smith, January 21
The Washington Post vs. the March for Life Ramesh Ponnuru, January 18
Overturn Roe Ed Whelan, January 18
The Best Metrics of Pro-Life Progress Michael New, January 18
Can Democratic Politicians Still Be Pro-Life? Alexandra DeSanctis, January 17
The Pro-Life Resistance Kathryn Jean Lopez, January 16
Whom Are We Marching For? Alexandra DeSanctis, January 15
Republican Senators Skip Vote on Key Pro-Life Legislation Alexandra DeSanctis, January 15
New Poll Shows Three-Quarters of Americans Favor Abortion Restrictions Alexandra DeSanctis, January 15
The March for Life Stands Up for Science John Block, January 14
Kamala Harris’s Outrageous Assault on the Knights of Columbus Matthew Continetti, January 12
Female Republicans Promote State-Level Pro-Life Laws Michael New, January 11
New York’s Abortion Problem Katie Yoder, January 10
Leave the Children Out of It Alexandra DeSanctis, January 10
Planned Parenthood’s President Admits Abortion Is Group’s Core Mission Alexandra DeSanctis, January 8
House Democrats’ Shutdown Plan Adds Pro-Abortion Provision Alexandra DeSanctis, January 4
Do Your Job, Justices Ramesh Ponnuru, January 4
Pro-Choice Myths Are Perpetuated by a New York Times Fetal-Personhood Story Alexandra DeSanctis, January 3
