Women's News: What the Trump verdict means for women voters

Good morning! It’s a big women’s news day, so let’s dive right in…

Spotlight

Yesterday, former president Donald Trump was convicted of 34 felony counts for falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment and influence the 2016 election. It’s the culmination of a criminal trial that put a magnifying glass on Trump’s treatment of and relationships with women, but how will women voters react? Here’s what we know:

• It’s widely believed that women who are staunchly for or against Trump’s candidacy are unlikely to change their minds, but those who are still undecided could be swayed by the verdict, and their votes could make a difference in battleground states.

  • Among these voters, Trump seems to stand the greatest risk of losing college-educated, suburban White women who would have otherwise supported him. 

  • According to Reuters: “Only 50% of women Trump supporters said they would vote for him if convicted, compared to 62% of men. Women were more likely than men to say they were unsure if they would still vote for Trump if he were convicted, and similar shares said they wouldn't support him.”

• On the other hand, some experts speculate that a sense of cultural numbness could minimize the verdict’s impact. While Stormy Daniels’ revelations on the stand could have been damaging in the 2016 election, the shock factor has been dulled by the prevalence of #MeToo accusations and widespread knowledge of Trump’s behavior toward women. 

  • This potential numbness could be exacerbated by the fact that the trial wasn’t televised, so voters won’t see the kind of viral imagery that dominated social media feeds after the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard case.

• But, those same experts say, with abortion at the forefront of the presidential election, women’s perceptions about Trump’s respect for their rights (ahem, lack thereof) could still hold weight at the polls.

Here’s what else is on the rise today…

U.S.

• More Harvey Weinstein survivors are prepared to come forward with accusations of sexual harassment and assault by the former Hollywood producer. New York prosecutors announced Wednesday that Weinstein could face new charges from these victims, on top of the retrial for his recently overturned conviction.

Business and Tech

• Selena Gomez’s makeup and skincare company, Rare Beauty, is one of TIME’s 100 most influential companies. The singer and former child star built the $2 billion beauty brand on principles of mental health and inclusivity, including easy-to-open packaging inspired by her own experience with lupus.

• Helen Toner, a former OpenAI board member and AI policy expert, shed new light on last year’s decision to oust CEO Sam Altman. She described patterns of repeated dishonesty that led the board to conclude they “couldn’t believe the things that Sam was telling us.”

  • In a particularly ironic moment, Toner revealed that she and the rest of the board learned about the release of ChatGPT on Twitter.  

• The combined wealth of America’s richest self-made women increased by 25% in 2024. The list includes familiar names like Taylor Swift and newcomers like Shuo Wang, who went from selling scooters in flea markets to founding a $7 billion tech company.

Education

• Yale University announced historian and alum Maurie McInnis as its next president. Her appointment comes at a fraught time for colleges, as anti-war protests take over campuses and leaders face additional scrutiny.

Healthcare

• A new study found that girls are starting their periods younger and experiencing greater cycle irregularity, a trend that’s especially prevalent in non-White communities. Researchers believe it could be due to the presence of “forever chemicals” in food and water, poor nutrition, and increased stress in younger generations.

Sports

• Tennis player Naomi Osaka said she’s “just trying not to be too hard on myself” after losing to Iga Swiatek in the second round of the French Open. Despite the defeat, many are applauding Osaka for an exceptional performance, especially following extended time off the court for maternity leave and mental health reasons.

• Three members of the Argentine women’s national soccer team resigned over lack of adequate pay and other poor conditions, such as not having sufficient food during training sessions.

• Gymnast Gabby Douglas withdrew from the national championship competition this week, ending her bid for a comeback appearance at this summer’s Paris Olympics.

Culture

• Movies and television have long portrayed mothers as de-sexualized, often frumpy characters, but this summer’s debuts could be reversing the trend: from Bridgerton to Babes to The Idea of You, more movies are showing “moms getting it on, on-screen.” 

• All 10 tracks from Billie Eilish’s new album, Hit Me Hard and Soft, made it into the top 40 songs of Billboard’s Hot 100 chart.

• As Taylor Swift’s European tour continues, some fans are calling on the pop star to speak out over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Swift has previously used her massive social platform to advocate for abortion and LGBTQ+ rights.