Dana Taylor

Investigative journalist Gardner Harris' new book is called No More Tears, The Dark Secrets of Johnson & Johnson, and it's on bookshelves now. Gardner, thanks for being on the excerpt.

Investigative journalist Gardner Harris' new book is called No More Tears, The Dark Secrets of Johnson & Johnson, and it's on bookshelves now. Gardner, thanks for being on the excerpt.

Thanks to our senior producers, Shannon Marie Green and Kaylee Monahan, for their production assistance. Our executive producer is Laura Beatty. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending a note to podcasts at usatoday.com. Thanks for listening. I'm Dana Taylor. Taylor Wilson will be back tomorrow morning with another episode of The Excerpt.

Thanks to our senior producers, Shannon Marie Green and Kaylee Monahan, for their production assistance. Our executive producer is Laura Beatty. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending a note to podcasts at usatoday.com. Thanks for listening. I'm Dana Taylor. Taylor Wilson will be back tomorrow morning with another episode of The Excerpt.

Hello and welcome to The Excerpt. I'm Dana Taylor. Today is Sunday, May 18th, 2025. It's well known that child care has become extraordinarily expensive, costing many families nearly a quarter of their income. A recent study out from LendingTree estimated that it costs $300,000 to raise a child over the course of 18 years.

Hello and welcome to The Excerpt. I'm Dana Taylor. Today is Sunday, May 18th, 2025. It's well known that child care has become extraordinarily expensive, costing many families nearly a quarter of their income. A recent study out from LendingTree estimated that it costs $300,000 to raise a child over the course of 18 years.

The fertility rate, as we've covered on the excerpt, remains at a historic low. The Trump administration is also floating ideas to encourage people to have more children, such as a baby bonus. Have these trends paved the way for the pro-natalism movement, which is having a moment?

The fertility rate, as we've covered on the excerpt, remains at a historic low. The Trump administration is also floating ideas to encourage people to have more children, such as a baby bonus. Have these trends paved the way for the pro-natalism movement, which is having a moment?

Karen Guzzo, a professor of sociology at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, is here to parse this out with us. Thanks for joining me, Karen. Yes, happy to be here. First, can you describe what the pro-natalism movement is and the views that the people who support it espouse?

Karen Guzzo, a professor of sociology at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, is here to parse this out with us. Thanks for joining me, Karen. Yes, happy to be here. First, can you describe what the pro-natalism movement is and the views that the people who support it espouse?

It's costly to choose to have a child, let alone several. Is that just one of the reasons why people are having fewer kids today? What has your research shown on family trends?

It's costly to choose to have a child, let alone several. Is that just one of the reasons why people are having fewer kids today? What has your research shown on family trends?

On a societal level, what kinds of challenges do a low birth rate present?

On a societal level, what kinds of challenges do a low birth rate present?

And what might those be?

And what might those be?

What about the trend of trad wives? For listeners who aren't familiar, can you explain what being a trad wife means? And does it dovetail with pronatalism?

What about the trend of trad wives? For listeners who aren't familiar, can you explain what being a trad wife means? And does it dovetail with pronatalism?

You've shared that there are three segments of the pronatalism movement. Can you detail those and how does that break down with the way people reproduce, including the use of in vitro fertilization?

You've shared that there are three segments of the pronatalism movement. Can you detail those and how does that break down with the way people reproduce, including the use of in vitro fertilization?