The Network: Pivoting as mifepristone access shifts

The Network: Pivoting as mifepristone access shifts

From Embedded by NPR

May 7, 2026 · 4 min · Season 24 · Episode 4

About this episode

This episode discusses the implications of changing access to the abortion pill Mifepristone and the historical context of mail-order abortion pills.

After next Monday, doctors may not be able to mail people the abortion pill Mifepristone. That would increase barriers, but experts say it won't stop people's ability to get the pills in the mail. Getting abortion pills without a doctor’s oversight isn’t new—in fact its history begins nearly 50 years ago, in Brazil. Listen to "The Network," Season 24 of NPR's Embedded , about how a loosely connected movement has been helping people access the pills this way for decades: Episode 1: lnk.to/phh5a9 Episode 2: lnk.to/Bw6QHD Episode 3: lnk.to/MHSBG1 See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

People in this episode

Host: NPR

Topics covered

  • abortion access
  • Mifepristone
  • healthcare barriers
  • historical movements
  • mail-order pills

Keywords

  • abortion
  • Mifepristone
  • healthcare
  • Brazil
  • access
  • pills
  • movement

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: NPR

Products: Mifepristone

Places: Brazil

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