On Friday, I hosted a Reddit AMA, prompting the Internet to ask me anything about my coverage of anti-abortion activist Kristan Hawkins and the movement she represents.

I spent months following and getting to know Kristan. I watched her debate students who were victims of sexual assault, order medication abortion pills online in a state where abortion is banned to show that it was still accessible, and discuss how to weaponize environmental laws against abortion. I also watched her fend off attacks from all sides—from abortion rights supporters to misogynists within her own movement.

Redditors were particularly interested in the effectiveness of Kristan’s message, and curious about what the anti-abortion movement is planning next.

Here’s an excerpt of the Reddit discussion. Don’t forget to read my full story on Kristan Hawkins and watch our documentary.

Do you think Hawkins is successfully influencing college students at all? How is she perceived on campus?

AL: My colleagues and I watched Kristan in action on two very politically different college campuses—one in Texas and one in California.

What was striking to me in both these venues is that most students seemed to come to the “change my mind” debates that Kristan organized with their views pretty fully formed already. There were some conservative Christian students who strongly agreed with her and saw her as a hero…others who thought she was out of her damn mind.

We have a pretty epic clip in the documentary that shows one student shutting down her arguments, for example…and then some who were in between.

But the polling data shows that overall, young people on college campuses—and especially young women, which is the demographic Kristan cares about most—overwhelmingly support abortion rights. So while I think she’s been able to whip up a relatively small, loyal following, by and large, her message is failing to win over the majority of students.

“We spent enough time together that I did get to see her with her guard down.”

Assuming that you don’t share Hawkins’ views, what is the relationship like between you and your subject? Is the experience one that feels very........

© Mother Jones