Checking in on the post-Dobbs Republican pivot to child care

In what will surprise a narrow group of daydream believers and not anyone who has paid any attention to American politics in the 21st century. in the wake of Roe v. Wade Republican policy toward healthcare and childcare have gone in an even more “fuck you, you’re on your own” direction:

WIC used to have bipartisan support because even Republicans said "Well of course we want to make sure pregnant women and babies have enough to eat, we're not monsters," but now they say "Screw those freeloading babies, we've got a gold-plated ballroom to build"

[image or embed]— Paul Waldman (@paulwaldman.bsky.social) 7:31 PM · May 13, 2026

The thing about the “pro-life” and “pro-business” wings of the Republican Party is that they’re all the same wing, and they’re united in not caring at all about the fate of children once they’ve been born (preferably under state coercion.)