4 surprising things to know about abortion in America since Dobbs

Abortion opponents demonstrate outside the Supreme Court in Washington on June 24, 2022 the day the court decided Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization . Jacquelyn Martin/AP hide caption toggle caption Jacquelyn Martin/AP Stay up to date with our Politics newsletter, sent weekly. It's been four years since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, ending the constitutional right to abortion. " Roe was egregiously wrong from the start," Justice Samuel Alito wrote in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health majority opinion on June 24, 2022. "And far from bringing about a national settlement of the abortion issue, Roe and [Planned Parenthood v.] Casey have enflamed debate and deepened division." Reversing Roe didn't calm debate or heal division. A confusing patchwork of state laws began to take shape hours after the Supreme Court ruled — which was, perhaps, predictable. States had passed "trigger laws," ready to restrict abortion as soon as the high court allowed. But other developments have been surprising, including the role of the internet and the mail in increasing access to abortion, even in those very same states. This year, voters will again consider ballot measures to protect or restrict abortion access across the country. Dramatic stories of medical care denied to pregnant patients continue to unfold across the country. Here are four things to know about the state of abortion access in America today. 1. …