You can't have a discussion about equality for women without discussing the wage gap. According to the Census Bureau, on average, women earned just 80 cents to a man's dollar last year, but that figure only tells part of the story.
MomsRising CEO Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner shares her take on where women stand on the path to equality, and what else needs to be done. She notes that there is still a lot of work to do, but lays out a few recent wins that women have had in the fight for wage equity.
Rowe-Finkbeiner also discusses the importance of Frances McDormand's acceptance speech at the Oscar's - specifically her mention of the inclusion rider. She says that the inclusion rider could have a significant impact on the entertainment industry and beyond.
California Governor Gavin Newsom is projected to keep his job. Around two-thirds of the votes have been reported, and roughly 64% of those votes are in favor of keeping Newsom as their governor.
Daniel Strauss, senior political correspondent at The New Republic, joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss more about what Newsom's win means to both political parties moving into Midterm elections season.
The Department of Justice is suing Texas over the state's new abortion law that prohibits abortions after six weeks, well before many women even know they're pregnant. The lawsuit argues the law is unconstitutional under long-standing Supreme Court precedent. It was filed last week in federal court in Texas, but could go all the way to the high court within weeks. Josh Blackman, a constitutional law professor at South Texas College of Law Houston, discusses the DOJ lawsuit and what it could mean for other abortion laws across the country.
26 states have now fully vaccinated more than half of their population with Vermont, Connecticut, and Massachusetts fully vaccinating at least two-thirds of their residents. These three states are among the ones with the lowest new Covid-19 cases per capita, but in states with low vaccination rates, hospitals are filling up again.
Dr. Rob Davidson, ER doctor and executive director of Committee to Protect Health Care, joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss more.