Rethinking Women's Rights: The Unconventional Pro-Life Libertarian Case: Kerry Baldwin's Debate at FreedomFest 2026

Most abortion debates fail to advance the conversation because the two sides aren't arguing on the same grounds — one side makes a moral or religious case, the other a case from women's rights; so they talk past each other. Kerry Baldwin argues that there's a better approach. In this FreedomFest debate with Michael Shermer, Baldwin makes her case. Shermer approaches abortion from a secular humanist perspective, making a moral-pragmatic case for pro-choice that centers the lived reality and full moral status of women. Baldwin, though a professing Christian, does not argue from religious or moral grounds. Instead, she argues from a natural law, libertarian legal-rights, and free-market perspective. Both are critical of the conventional pro-life argument, and both believe that reducing unwanted pregnancies through free-market solutions is the practical path forward. What they disagree on is whether a consistent defense of women's rights can stop short of recognizing fetal self-ownership. Rather than relitigating the familiar culture-war framing, this debate advances the liberty conversation by asking what libertarian principles actually require and what the net benefit is for women's rights more broadly.Be sure to bring your questions and participate in Kerry's post-debate live Q&A here: https://mereliberty.com/freedomfest-attendee-email-list/Kerry's main site: https://mereliberty.com/The Reformed Libertarians Podcast: https://libertarianchristians.com/shows/reformed-libertarians-podcast/Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com Come meet fellow Christian libertarians, sharpen your thinking, and be part of a growing movement rooted in faith and freedom at the Christians for Liberty Conference.Lunch is included in the price of the ticket. We will send out a form ahead of the conference requesting dietary preferences and restrictions.Learn more here.Use code LCI50 for 50% off your first order at Podsworth.com to clean up your voice recordings and also support LCI!Full Podsworth Ad Read BEFORE & AFTER processing:https://youtu.be/vbsOEODpQGs ★ Support this podcast ★