Skip to main content
  • Online media
  • Iran
  • Epstein
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • RSS
  • Take Action
  • Search
  • Donate

Media Matters for America

  • News & Analysis
  • Research & Studies
  • Audio & Video
  • Archives

Media Matters for America

  • Nav
  • Search
  • News & Analysis
  • Research & Studies
  • Audio & Video
  • Archives
  • Online media
  • Iran
  • Epstein
  • Take Action
  • Search
  • Donate
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • RSS
ABC dem debate

Nine things that got mentioned more than abortion during ABC's Democratic debate

Special Programs Abortion Rights & Reproductive Health

Written by Rachel Tardiff

Research contributions from Sharon Kann, Julie Tulbert, Madelyn Webb & Chenay Arberry

Published 09/13/19 12:31 AM EDT

During the September 12 Democratic presidential debate, ABC News moderators failed to ask a single question about abortion. “Abortion” was not said by anyone on the debate stage. Here are nine things that were mentioned:

1. John McCain

2. Veganism

3. The Day After Tomorrow

4. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s hair

5. Record players

6. 19th century philosopher Søren Kierkegaard

7. The Wizard of Oz

8. Bill page numbers

9. Penguins

During the 2016 presidential primary debates, activist Renee Bracey Sherman started #AskAboutAbortion to push moderators to include questions about this important issue. Many others, as well as abortion access advocates, have echoed her since. But so far, in the Democratic primary debates for the 2020 election cycle, abortion has barely been discussed. In August, CNN moderators failed to ask 20 candidates a single question about abortion.

Given the already precarious state of abortion access, debate moderators need to ask candidates specific and nuanced questions on abortion -- otherwise right-wing media and anti-choice outlets will continue to dominate the conversation with harmful misinformation.

Correction (9/13/19): This post originally described Søren Kierkegaard as a “17th century philosopher.” In fact, Kierkegaard was a 19th century philosopher.

The Latest

  1. Sean Hannity says “the NATO alliance is headed for, you know, a collapse”

    Video & Audio 04/29/26 4:46 PM EDT

  2. Alex Jones: “The FCC trying to take ABC's license is going to boost their ratings, and in the end Trump will fail because what he's doing is unconstitutional”

    Video & Audio 04/29/26 4:22 PM EDT

  3. Daily Wire host calls for banning immigrants from serving in Congress, denaturalizing and deporting people “who can't speak English or who cost taxpayers money,” and “drastically” curtailing the right to vote

    Video & Audio 04/29/26 3:53 PM EDT

  4. Fox News figures push for Trump to start bombing Iran again

    Article 04/29/26 3:35 PM EDT

  5. Ben Shapiro on James Comey indictment: “I would hope that there is more to this case than he put out a dumb Instagram post”

    Video & Audio 04/29/26 2:01 PM EDT

Pagination

  • Current page 1
  • …
  • Next page ››

In This Article

  • ABC

    abc

Related

  1. Reported FCC retaliation against ABC opens new front in Trump’s assault on free speech

    Article 04/28/26 2:01 PM EDT

  2. Right-wing streamer Asmongold on Jimmy Kimmel: “I hope Trump puts more pressure on him and it makes things worse for him”

    Video & Audio 04/28/26 1:28 PM EDT

  3. Benny Johnson discusses Jimmy Kimmel: “This would be my big request to the Trump administration. There are ways that you can hurt ABC.”

    Video & Audio 04/28/26 11:35 AM EDT

Media Matters for America

Sign Up for Email Updates
  • About
  • Contact
  • Corrections
  • Submissions
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • RSS

© 2026 Media Matters for America

RSS