Happy Friday! Welcome to our Media Round Up. Each week we’re collecting and sharing gender + politics stories. Here’s what caught our eye this week:

Meet 5 AAPI power players shaping politics and policy in America

Brakkton Booker, Politico

According to Politico, Asian American and Pacific Islanders are the fastest growing racial or ethnic group in the United States. In honor of AAPI Heritage Month, POLITICO is shining a light on AAPI Americans who are shaping the US political landscape. At the top of their list is Vice President Kamala Harris, for her work in the White House, and anticipated role in Biden’s reelection campaign.  

Read the full story here.

Colorado becomes the first state to ban controversial abortion pill reversals

Claire Cleveland, The 19th*

On April 14th, Colorado became the first state to ban abortion pill reversals after Governor Jared Polis signed a bill into law. The bill passed makes prescribing any drugs in a “deceptive” way medical misconduct, and reduces advertising by pregnancy resource centers, which do not offer abortions. Abortion pills are at the latest front in the debate over abortion since the overturn of Roe v. Wade in June 2022. 

Read the full story here. 

How Jill Biden helped Joe get to yes on running for reelection at 80

Eugene Daniels, Politico 

Four years ago, First Lady Jill Biden had reservations about her husband President Joe Biden making a bid for the White House. Now, First Lady Biden privately encouraged her husband to run again. She also gave him space to process the decision for himself, including, “… extensive deliberations, consideration of the burden it would place on his family, and a bit of classic Biden hemming and hawing.” Advisers to the Biden’s reelection campaign have envisioned a role for the First Lady, serving as a character witness for her family and a lifeline to suburban swing voters who can relate to her. 

Read the full story here. 

Trans and nonbinary students have long had a place at women’s colleges. Here’s what they want you to know

Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN

In 2013, Smith College denied admission to Asian American trans woman, Calliope Wong. That action led to a wave of on-campus activism that caused several women’s colleges to reconsider policies addressing trans and nonbinary prospective students. Since then, nearly all of the women’s colleges in the United States have opened their admissions to trans women, while less than a third have adopted policies open to trans men. Another change in the effort to be more inclusive is that official communications like “women’s colleges” have voluntarily adopted the term “historically women’s college.” 

Read the full story here. 

The surge in women CEOs is no coincidence

Stephanie Mehta, Fast Company

According to Fast Company, in Q1 of 2023, 32% of new CEOs were women – a record high. Mehta speculates on why we’ve seen this rise in women’s leadership. One reason she points to is women in existing high ranking positions are proving their chops, and ascending to CEO roles. (See our recent Lt. Governor research, Second in Command, to learn more about this trend in the political sphere!) Another reason she cites is that companies have seen women prove themselves extremely capable to handle the unexpected and navigate new challenges.

Read the full story here.