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. Benny Johnson: “No one in MAGA has ever been violent ever”

    Video & Audio 11/26/25 11:10 AM EST

  2. Media Matters weekly newsletter, November 26

    Narrative/Timeline 11/26/25 10:47 AM EST

  3. Corporate broadcast news covered this year’s COP30 global climate summit for 2 minutes — cable networks covered it for just over 3 hours

    Research/Study 11/26/25 10:41 AM EST

  4. Newsmax host says Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) “does have a great record, but so did Benedict Arnold”

    Video & Audio 11/26/25 10:10 AM EST

  5. Mucho Que Decir host suggests that Mamdani was using a “strategy” from the Quran during his meeting with Trump

    Video & Audio 11/26/25 9:28 AM EST

Pagination

  • Previous page ‹‹
  • …
  • Current page 127
  • …
  • Next page ››

In This Article

  • ABC

    abc

Related

  1. The year the media oligarchs bowed to Trump

    Narrative/Timeline 12/03/25 10:00 AM EST

  2. CBS Evening News fails to cover Trump's pardon of cryptocurrency executive with ties to Trump business venture

    Article 10/24/25 12:45 PM EDT

  3. Joe Rogan on Jimmy Kimmel's suspension: “I definitely don't think that the government should be involved, ever, in dictating what a comedian can or cannot say in a monologue. That's fucking crazy.”

    Video & Audio 09/23/25 2:23 PM 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