Recent events have led to fear and concern over dwindling abortion rights in the United States, especially when it comes to access to the abortion pill.

Washington

Abortion rights in the United States are facing heightened scrutiny and restriction at both state and federal levels. Recent actions include legal measures against providers of abortion pills, such as the arrest warrant for a California doctor in Louisiana and a federal lawsuit in Texas. These measures have raised concerns about further limiting access to medication abortion, which accounts for over half of all abortions in the country.

Experts and research from the non-partisan KFF indicate that delays and obstacles to abortion care can negatively impact patient safety. Nearly two-thirds of women and a similar proportion of obstetricians and gynecologists express concern about the effects of these restrictions. Despite the ongoing debate, the FDA has approved a generic, lower-cost version of the abortion pill mifepristone, which is available for use in the first ten weeks of pregnancy.

Concerns grow over continued abortion restriction in America

CONCERNS CONTINUE TO GROW FOR MANY WHEN IT COMES TO THE ISSUE OF ABORTION RIGHTS, WITH STATES AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CRACKING DOWN ON THE ABORTION PILL AND THOSE WHO PROVIDE IT. NOW, RECENT ACTIONS HAVE LED SOME TO FEAR THEIR ABORTION ACCESS MAY BE EVEN FURTHER RESTRICTED. RECENT EVENTS HAVE LED TO FEAR AND CONCERN OVER DWINDLING ABORTION RIGHTS IN THE UNITED STATES, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO ACCESS TO THE ABORTION PILL. IN LOUISIANA, AN ARREST WARRANT ISSUED FOR A CALIFORNIA DOCTOR FOR ALLEGEDLY MAILING ABORTION PILLS TO THE STATE, WHICH THIS WEEK SHOT DOWN ALL PLANNED PARENTHOOD OPERATIONS. THAT SAME DOCTOR ALSO FACING A FEDERAL LAWSUIT IN TEXAS FOR MAILING ABORTION PILLS TO A WOMAN THERE. THE SUIT CAME A COUPLE MONTHS BEFORE TEXAS LAWMAKERS APPROVED A BILL ALLOWING PRIVATE CITIZENS TO SUE ABORTION PILL PROVIDERS. AND AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, I AGREE WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP THAT EVERY ABORTION IS A TRAGEDY. FEDERAL SECRETARY ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR. HAS ORDERED THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION TO LOOK INTO THE SAFETY OF THE ABORTION DRUG MIFIPristone, WHICH MOST EXPERTS SAY HAS ALREADY BEEN STUDIED AND FOUND TO BE SAFE. Medication abortion has been available in the United States for 25 years and it's available in the U.S. through the first 10 weeks of pregnancies. USHA RANJI IS THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF THE WOMEN'S HEALTH POLICY PROGRAM AT KFF, A NON-PARTISAN HEALTH POLICY ORGANIZATION. When abortions are provided earlier in the pregnancy, that contributes to safety. So when there are obstacles that can delay getting access to abortion care, that can actually really be a detriment to safety. RESEARCH DONE BY KFF FOUND NEARLY TWO-THIRDS OF WOMEN ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPACT OF ABORTION RESTRICTIONS ON WOMEN'S SAFETY. AND ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OF OBGYNS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THESE RESTRICTIONS WILL IMPACT THE SAFETY OF THEIR PATIENTS. The threats of criminal liability and civil liability, those can have a really chilling effect on clinicians. NOW ACCORDING TO RESEARCH, MORE THAN HALF OF ABORTIONS ARE MEDICATION ABORTIONS. AND JUST TO SHOW HOW COMPLICATED THE MESSAGING IS AROUND THIS AND ACCESS TO ABORTION HAS BECOME IN THIS COUNTRY, TODAY, THE FDA APPROVED A GENERIC VERSION OF THE ABORTION PILL, MIFEPROSTONE DRUG MAKER AVIDA SOLUTIONS SAYS ITS LOW-COST VERSION IS APPROVED TO END PREGNANCY THROUGH TEN WEEKS.

Ukraine and Russia have carried out another exchange of prisoners of war. About two hundred Ukrainian prisoners released by Russia have arrived in the Chernihiv region near Ukraine’s border with Belarus.

Chernihiv

Ukraine Invasion

Russia, Ukraine exchange 185 prisoners of war in latest swap

Two Jewish men were killed and three other men were seriously injured in a terror attack outside a synagogue in the northern English city of Manchester, authorities said.

Manchester

Two killed in U.K. terror attack outside synagogue on Yom Kippur

President Trump has declared the U.S. is in an "armed conflict" with drug cartels as the White House calls drug runners "unlawful combatants."

Trump declares U.S. in 'armed conflict' with drug cartels

The head of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Presidential Library has resigned after sources say he resisted a request from the Trump administration to give a sword from the library's collection to King Charles.

Abilene

Eisenhower library head resigns

Two regional jets crashed into each other on the tarmac at New York's LaGuardia Airport when the wing of one aircraft hit the front end of another. One flight attendant was injured.

LaGuardia Airport

Two regional jets collide on tarmac at New York's LaGuardia Airport

Blame was thrown around by all sides on the first day of the shutdown after the White House and Congress failed to agree on a way to keep the U.S. government funded and open. The White House said layoffs to the federal workforce were ‘imminent.’

White House says federal worker layoffs ‘imminent’ after shutdown

Jane Goodall, the British conservationist and researcher renowned for her work with chimpanzees, has died at age 91. The Jane Goodall Institute confirmed her death on Instagram Wednesday, saying she died of natural causes.

Los Angeles

Jane Goodall, chimpanzee researcher and conservationist, dies at 91

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order, promising military action if necessary, to defend Qatar in the face of any future attack. It follows an Israeli strike on Doha last month, targeting a Hamas negotiating team. Qatar called the attack a violation of its sovereignty, prompting Trump to issue the new security assurances to the Gulf nation.

Doha

Trump signs executive order protecting Qatar after Israeli strike

The Israeli military is pressing on with its offensive in Gaza, launching strikes across the territory, as Hamas weighs up its response to the U.S. peace proposal. Debora Patta reports.

Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

Israel continues Gaza offensive as Hamas weighs U.S. peace deal

The Supreme Court has added another blockbuster case to its new term of cases. The court announced it would hear whether President Trump can legally fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. Jessica Levinson has more.

Supreme Court to weigh Trump firing of Fed's Lisa Cook

Flash floods in Ukraine's Odesa killed at least nine people, including a family of five trapped in their home as it was engulfed by water, emergency services said on Wednesday (October 1), as torrential rain left hundreds in need of rescue and thousands without power.

Odesa Oblast

Deadly flash floods hit Odesa after downpours in Ukraine's south

Parts of the U.S. government remain closed after Senate votes failed to pass funding. A GOP-backed House bill fell short of the 60-vote threshold, leaving 750,000 federal workers facing furloughs and possible military pay delays.

Government shutdown continues after Senate votes down resolutions

In Afghanistan, concerns are growing after days of virtually no internet connectivity. The blackout has disrupted banking, commerce and aviation. The Taliban denies banning internet services.

Kabul

Afghanistan imposes internet blackout

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Hamas militants have about three or four days to respond to his Gaza peace plan proposal or face the consequences. But Gazans saw little hope in the plan, which was presented to Hamas after Israel had endorsed it as satisfying its war aims.

Hamas under pressure as Trump issues deadline on Gaza peace plan

U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to use 'dangerous' U.S. cities as training grounds for the military at a rare meeting of top military officials where he and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth took aim at what they called 'woke' military standards.

Trump threatens to train military in U.S. cities

At least 69 people were killed after a 6.9-magnitude earthquake shook the coastal city of Bogo and outlying rural towns in Cebu province in the Philippines, officials said. CBS News foreign correspondent Anna Coren has the latest details.

Cebu

Dozens killed after 6.9-magnitude earthquake shakes Philippines

U.S. President Donald Trump and lawmakers failed to reach a funding deal, causing the government to shut down Wednesday. Tens of thousands of federal workers will be told to stay home – furloughed without pay.

U.S. government shuts down after lawmakers fail to reach funding deal

U.S. President Donald Trump is amping up pressure on Hamas to respond to his 20-point peace plan to end the war in Gaza. He says he wants a response in a matter of days or there will be a ‘very sad end’ to the conflict.

Trump puts pressure on Hamas with deadline on Gaza peace plan

U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said there would be no more ‘overbearing rules of engagement’ for the U.S. military while President Donald Trump threatened war on ‘the enemy from within’ at a gathering of top U.S. military commanders.

Hegseth calls for end to ‘politically correct’ U.S. military leadership

European leaders, from Ursula von der Leyen to Emmanuel Macron, have reacted positively to U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to end the war in Gaza.

EU leaders urge Hamas to accept Trump's Gaza plan 'without delay'

Military leaders have been summoned to Quantico Marine Corps base from all around the world by Defense Secretary Hegseth for a rare, in-person meeting. Democratic lawmakers have raised safety concerns about the military leaders leaving their posts for the well-publicized meeting.

Quantico

Hegseth gathers U.S. military leaders for rare, in-person meeting

Imelda is now a Category 1 hurricane, threatening dangerous weather conditions on the East Coast alongside Hurricane Humberto. CBS News' Rob Marciano has more details.

Folly Beach

Imelda becomes hurricane, threatens dangerous conditions on East Coast

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said Monday he is ready to declare a state of emergency over the threat of U.S. "aggression," following a spate of deadly U.S. strikes on suspected Venezuelan drug boats.

Caracas

Maduro ready to declare state of emergency over U.S. 'aggression'

Some have expressed excitement after Bad Bunny was announced as the Super Bowl halftime performer, while others have criticized the pick. CBS News' Lilia Luciano reports.

Bad Bunny to headline Super Bowl 2026 halftime show

President Donald Trump said he would impose a 100% tariff on all films produced overseas that are then sent into the U.S., repeating a threat made in May that would upend Hollywood's global business model.

Hollywood

Global Tariffs

Trump says U.S. to impose 100% tariff on movies produced overseas

Moldova's pro-Europe governing party has won a majority in key parliamentary elections. The result brings Moldova closer to EU membership — but not everyone is celebrating.

Chișinău

Pro-EU party wins majority in Moldova election

U.S. President Donald Trump outlined a 20-point plan for peace in Gaza as he stood with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House. Hamas has yet to comment on the plan.

Trump, Netanyahu announce plan to end Gaza conflict

Amid growing impatience over the Kremlin’s reluctance to participate in direct talks with Ukraine, Washington is now considering providing Kyiv with Tomahawk missiles, according to U.S. Vice President JD Vance.

Washington might send Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, Vance says

The FBI says it is investigating 'an act of targeted violence' after a man crashed his vehicle through the front doors of a Michigan church, opened fire with an assault rifle and set the church ablaze, killing at least four people and wounding at least eight others.

Grand Blanc

Investigators look for motive in deadly Michigan church shooting

Washington is preparing for the arrival of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, who is set to meet with President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday. President Trump is advancing a plan aimed at securing the release of hostages, ending the war in Gaza, and outlining a post-war strategy.

Breakdown