Abby Phillip is the host of her personal CNN present, and he or she’s made no secret of the truth that she loves being a mother and spouse as nicely. Even so, the CNN star has additionally weathered some more durable instances through the years — and he or she actually hasn’t shied away from speaking about them (particularly when she’s felt that talking out may result in change). 

We’ll begin with Phillip’s experiences throughout being pregnant. As some will know, she turned a first-time mother in 2021. Just a little over two years later, she opened up concerning the expertise in her documentary, “Homebirth Journey: Saving Black Mothers,” in addition to in a CNN op-ed. In each platforms, Phillip defined that she’d had loads of considerations as an expectant mom — not least as a result of she’d fallen pregnant within the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. “It was a scary time to be pregnant, or anyplace close to a hospital. Layered on prime of all that was my worry that I’d not make it out of childbirth alive. I had one way or the other come to view childbirth, one thing as previous as humankind, as a life-threatening occasion,” she wrote. Phillip added that simply pondering of herself being within the hospital and never being listened to by medical professionals was sufficient to make her anxiousness skyrocket on the time. 

Although Phillip added in her CNN op-ed that she wasn’t positive what the ultimate straw had been, she famous {that a} huge a part of it got here from “statistics that I used to be all too aware of as a journalist: Black girls are 2 to three instances extra more likely to die in childbirth than White girls in America, no matter socioeconomic standing.” Likewise, in “Homebirth Journey: Saving Black Mothers,” Phillip famous of her considerations whereas pregnant, “I knew the Black maternal mortality statistics.”

If Abby Phillip’s pregnancy-related fears weren’t troublesome sufficient, she wrote for CNN that along with the statistics she was already nicely conscious of, she had first-hand expertise with a physician who she believed downplayed her considerations. “I used to be ignored and dismissed by my physician’s workplace — a lot in order that I left that follow and went looking for higher care,” Phillip wrote. Sadly, nonetheless, she defined that she nonetheless hadn’t felt totally relaxed after assembly a brand new physician. “I hesitated to convey up my experiences and discomfort, uncertain whether or not they had been price mentioning or indicative of extra severe issues,” she wrote, noting that her appointments typically felt extremely quick at simply half-hour. 

Finally, Phillip determined to work with a midwife, and he or she wrote in her op-ed that the choice did wonders for her anxiousness. “My midwife, Aza Nedhari, got here to my dwelling for examinations that lasted an hour or extra. … I spotted rapidly that she wasn’t simply checking that my child’s heartbeat was nonetheless current. Her job was to make sure that I stayed on a path to a wholesome being pregnant. I felt seen, heard, and extra empowered. Ultimately, my worry started to subside,” Phillip shared. The CNN anchor additionally revealed that for the primary time, she was in a position to really feel really completely satisfied about turning into a brand new mother. 

Since giving start at dwelling together with her midwife and doula, Phillip has turn out to be a serious advocate for pregnant girls, and along with speaking about racial disparities and her personal expertise in “Homebirth Journey: Saving Black Mothers,” she’s additionally been concerned with BirthFUND, the midwifery-led fund co-founded by Serena Williams, who as many know had a near-death birthing expertise herself. Approach to make use of these harrowing experiences for good!

On to a different heartbreaking element about Abby Phillip, those that comply with the CNN star on social media have possible seen her open up about two of her shut colleagues passing away practically a yr aside from each other.

As many know, CNN political commentator Alice Stewart died on the age of simply 58 in Might 2024. On the time, Phillip took to X to share how devastated she was by the information. “I nonetheless cannot imagine that is actual. I am so heartbroken. Alice was a good friend and a colleague at CNN and on the Harvard IOP senior advisory committee. She liked mentoring younger individuals. She was the definition of a patriot. Somebody who actually believed in disagreeing respectfully,” she wrote. Phillip completed off her submit with a extra private contact, writing, “We are going to miss her a lot.”

Sadly, somewhat over a yr later, Phillip opened up on X about one other heartbreaking loss. “I am so sorry to listen to of the passing of my good friend and colleague David Gergen,” she wrote of Donald Trump’s former advisor, including that she’d truly interviewed him whereas she was in faculty. “I could not imagine when years later, I used to be a working journalist and we might sit on units collectively at CNN,” Phillip continued. Much like what she’d stated of Stewart the yr prior, Phillip additionally lauded her late good friend’s dedication to respectful disagreement, writing, “He was a consummate skilled, an amazing American patriot who understood that the American concept is a lot larger than an R or a D subsequent to your title.” Phillip additionally gave him kudos for investing in younger People, hearkening again as soon as extra to that first interview. “We’ll miss him,” she stated. 

On to a considerably much less devastating element about Abby Phillip, as with many different journalists, the CNN anchor has discovered herself on the receiving finish of Donald Trump’s ire. Now could be the time to hop onto your favourite streaming service and begin enjoying Carl Orff’s “O Fortuna.”

As a short refresher, after Phillip mused that Trump’s determination to tone down his requires tariffs might have performed a job within the inventory market’s efficiency, Trump jumped on Reality Social to disagree. “The place does CNN get its ‘expertise?’ Simply watched somebody named Abby Phillip lecture her viewers on tariffs and the economic system (which is doing document enterprise!). She has completely no concept what she is speaking about, strictly third price,” he started, earlier than making the remark that prompted a spectacular response from Phillip. “Luckily, the viewers has way back left CNN, and it’ll solely get WORSE. LOSERS ALL!!!” he wrote. Phillip’s response? “Thanks for watching Mr. President,” she wrote on X.  

It is price noting that regardless of his shady barbs (good day, “somebody named Abby Phillip”), some social media customers had been fast to level out that Trump was truly very nicely conscious of the CNN star. “Thoughts you he is aware of precisely who you might be,” wrote one X consumer, who included a clip of an uncomfortable confrontation between Trump and the reporter on the White Home. Stated interplay noticed Trump rant at Phillip, “What a silly query. However I watch you numerous — you ask loads of silly questions.” Oop. Was he fangirling? No. That stated, one thing tells us the jab did not maintain Phillip up at night time. Given all of the robust issues she has been by means of, maybe the elementary jab is a sadder indictment on Trump.