Thank you for sharing the link on donating to the Missouri groups ballot initiative, I donated.
The majority of Republicans are & have been removing their anti-abortion verbiage from websites and speeches ever since the November 2022 election losses for the Republicans.... the GOP brought in strategist after their election losses, the strategist told them all to stop talking about abortion bans until 2024. Because apparently they think they're going to take back the white house, the senate and the house, then hit us with a national abortion ban. They think if they don't talk about it we will forget how they really feel. Picture of the African desert with packs and packs of lions crouched down waiting quietly in the long grass for the wildebeest migration.... We are the wildebeest, the lions are the Republicans.... ready to pounce on us.
Just read this - about Amarillo, TX - these people have lost their minds. What are they going to do? Stop cars with women on some bogus charge to "see what's up" and "where they are headed" and further, stop mail carrier vehicles and sic dogs sniffing for abortion pills on them? The fact that this article lays out the arguments these men are having about women's lives who might not even live in TX, but might travel through to see family in another state would be laughable if we weren't living in this nightmare. Members of the council "don't trust each other" - LOL! I didn't realize there are already 7 counties with these ordinances. And the petition is going around... churches.
Regarding the NC lieutenant governor calling women “witches,” I am showing up yet again to call out far-right religious fascism. It is a mistake to shake one’s head and say, “Wow. What cray-cray.” This is how Christian nationalists talk amongst themselves. It is how they will talk to all of us if they seize control of government. Occasionally, they cannot help but blurt this stuff to a larger group, and we should portray it as what it is - religious fascism; forcing everyone, everywhere in the US to live by one group’s religious dogma. They sincerely believe in witches and demons and more. I have no problem with what people want to sincerely believe and practice themselves. But fascism is forcing everyone to live by religious dogma whether they believe it or not. That is literally what abortion bans are.
Jessica, I keep thinking about the issue of Chevron that is before the SCOTUS and how overturning it might affect the FDA and abortion pills. Can you enlighten all of us who are worried about all the underhanded ploys of republican politicians ?
The demise of Chevron has the potential to blow everything up and you're absolutely right. I guess the question is how whatever doctrine replaces it works in practice, and we can certainly guess. The public really needs to get angrier about what's going on, and I'm afraid it might take a Republican election win for that to happen.
Voters who support choice need to understand that a vote for literally any Republican is a vote for bans and against choice. No matter what else people may be concerned about, and I realize there are many pressing issues, if choice is important to them, then that needs to be the priority. It’s what I tell everyone I know, because if there’s a national ban on abortion, it may take decades and the deaths of many women before choice is restored. It’s why I became a paid subscriber, even though I’m old. I remember the days before Roe, when the wealthy could get needed care, while other, desperate, women died because they couldn’t. One of my father’s close friends was a doctor who specialized in diseases of the wealthy in NYC. He told my father about one of his patients, the daughter of a well-known fire and brimstone preacher, brought to him by her mother in the 50s because the teen had “gotten into trouble.” He “solved” her problem in his pristine Park Avenue office. But that was before all of the surveillance technology that now exists. One has to wonder whether any doctor today would take the same risk. Thank you for fighting. We can’t go backwards.
I am absolutely and profoundly sickened by the horrendous violation of HIPAA laws when it comes to pregnant women.
Today, I called my eye doctor to get my prescription emailed to me. Get this! HIPAA laws prevent them from emailing it to me.
AN EYEGLASS PRESCRIPTION!!! But women, at their most vulnerable are out in the open unprotected. Where are all the good lawyers at? Come on? This injustice must end.
Thank you Jessica for your heartfelt, factual, defense of women's reproductive health care. I hope there was enough time for you and your kiddo to enjoy some of our nation's capital's offerings.
One of the things I find most galling about the forced birthers is the way they say they are "protecting women," and name their groups "standing with women" while they actively work to strip rights and freedoms away from women. It's so loathsome.
I live in Ohio and that phrasing sent me over the edge. I live in a conservative neighborhood and would see signs proclaiming “Protect Women” and “Protect Children” every morning while walking my dog for months before the November election. I had my sign but out of ire I wanted more signs in my yard upon returning home. I mean, what are these jerks protecting us from? Ourselves??? Good grief.
How do we reach those women who truly believe that it is their role in life to suffer and even die, if necessary, for a non viable pregnancy? I have known one of these women and she was very proud of her choice to experience near death during a non viable pregnancy. It was horrifying to hear her story.
This woman seemed willfully unaware of the ways in which feminism has given her other rights that she freely exercised. She spaced out her children and when she was ready, had herself sterilized. The cognitive dissonance is truly shocking.
I don't know that we can. The religious indoctrination is very strong. It reminds me of a patient that we had who delivered her baby and then started hemorrhaging. She was pouring out blood, fast. She needed a blood transfusion to replace what she was losing. Because she was a Jehovah's witness, she refused blood products. When she became unconscious the father of the baby continued to refuse blood products for her. We did everything we could for her without being able to give her a blood transfusion which is the one thing that could have saved her life. She died. She left a newborn, a 2-year-old and the father of the baby because her religion told her she could not accept blood products. I often wonder if her husband would make that decision again.
Truly horrific. Those kids are going to be deeply angry if/when they figure out what happened. I guess that's her bodily autonomy and we have to support it. But what a waste of human life.
Thanks Jessica and Grace. Running behind on reading all your great reporting. But I'll catch up !!!🧡
Thank you for sharing the link on donating to the Missouri groups ballot initiative, I donated.
The majority of Republicans are & have been removing their anti-abortion verbiage from websites and speeches ever since the November 2022 election losses for the Republicans.... the GOP brought in strategist after their election losses, the strategist told them all to stop talking about abortion bans until 2024. Because apparently they think they're going to take back the white house, the senate and the house, then hit us with a national abortion ban. They think if they don't talk about it we will forget how they really feel. Picture of the African desert with packs and packs of lions crouched down waiting quietly in the long grass for the wildebeest migration.... We are the wildebeest, the lions are the Republicans.... ready to pounce on us.
Just read this - about Amarillo, TX - these people have lost their minds. What are they going to do? Stop cars with women on some bogus charge to "see what's up" and "where they are headed" and further, stop mail carrier vehicles and sic dogs sniffing for abortion pills on them? The fact that this article lays out the arguments these men are having about women's lives who might not even live in TX, but might travel through to see family in another state would be laughable if we weren't living in this nightmare. Members of the council "don't trust each other" - LOL! I didn't realize there are already 7 counties with these ordinances. And the petition is going around... churches.
https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/18/amarillo-abortion-travel-ban/
For those who want to watch the whole briefing, it is also on YouTube here at Senator Patty Murray's site:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGnc8JkaUII
Regarding the NC lieutenant governor calling women “witches,” I am showing up yet again to call out far-right religious fascism. It is a mistake to shake one’s head and say, “Wow. What cray-cray.” This is how Christian nationalists talk amongst themselves. It is how they will talk to all of us if they seize control of government. Occasionally, they cannot help but blurt this stuff to a larger group, and we should portray it as what it is - religious fascism; forcing everyone, everywhere in the US to live by one group’s religious dogma. They sincerely believe in witches and demons and more. I have no problem with what people want to sincerely believe and practice themselves. But fascism is forcing everyone to live by religious dogma whether they believe it or not. That is literally what abortion bans are.
Thank you so much for doing this. You did an awesome, amazing job. I cried.
Thank you, Rachel!
Sue GOOGLE for privacy violation.
Check out this EXPLAINER which shows how Women seeking abortions that use Google can end up in jail. https://thedemlabs.org/2024/01/19/google-data-collection-policies-endanger-women/
Is the Biden Harris Rally for Abortion Rights in VA on Jan 23rd? If anyone knows the location in No. VA, let us know. I can't find it anywhere.
Jessica, I keep thinking about the issue of Chevron that is before the SCOTUS and how overturning it might affect the FDA and abortion pills. Can you enlighten all of us who are worried about all the underhanded ploys of republican politicians ?
Project 2025 outlines doing away with Chevron if the Supreme Court fails them.
Republicans are KILLING democracy. No dirty deal is beneath them.
The demise of Chevron has the potential to blow everything up and you're absolutely right. I guess the question is how whatever doctrine replaces it works in practice, and we can certainly guess. The public really needs to get angrier about what's going on, and I'm afraid it might take a Republican election win for that to happen.
Voters who support choice need to understand that a vote for literally any Republican is a vote for bans and against choice. No matter what else people may be concerned about, and I realize there are many pressing issues, if choice is important to them, then that needs to be the priority. It’s what I tell everyone I know, because if there’s a national ban on abortion, it may take decades and the deaths of many women before choice is restored. It’s why I became a paid subscriber, even though I’m old. I remember the days before Roe, when the wealthy could get needed care, while other, desperate, women died because they couldn’t. One of my father’s close friends was a doctor who specialized in diseases of the wealthy in NYC. He told my father about one of his patients, the daughter of a well-known fire and brimstone preacher, brought to him by her mother in the 50s because the teen had “gotten into trouble.” He “solved” her problem in his pristine Park Avenue office. But that was before all of the surveillance technology that now exists. One has to wonder whether any doctor today would take the same risk. Thank you for fighting. We can’t go backwards.
simply amazing. so grateful for you - keep it up!
yes and also give yourself rest. that had to be a lot. you need to recover!
I am absolutely and profoundly sickened by the horrendous violation of HIPAA laws when it comes to pregnant women.
Today, I called my eye doctor to get my prescription emailed to me. Get this! HIPAA laws prevent them from emailing it to me.
AN EYEGLASS PRESCRIPTION!!! But women, at their most vulnerable are out in the open unprotected. Where are all the good lawyers at? Come on? This injustice must end.
Thank you Jessica for your heartfelt, factual, defense of women's reproductive health care. I hope there was enough time for you and your kiddo to enjoy some of our nation's capital's offerings.
One of the things I find most galling about the forced birthers is the way they say they are "protecting women," and name their groups "standing with women" while they actively work to strip rights and freedoms away from women. It's so loathsome.
YES it makes be absolutely bananas
I live in Ohio and that phrasing sent me over the edge. I live in a conservative neighborhood and would see signs proclaiming “Protect Women” and “Protect Children” every morning while walking my dog for months before the November election. I had my sign but out of ire I wanted more signs in my yard upon returning home. I mean, what are these jerks protecting us from? Ourselves??? Good grief.
They've been using this tactic forever but every time they do it I get newly enraged
How do we reach those women who truly believe that it is their role in life to suffer and even die, if necessary, for a non viable pregnancy? I have known one of these women and she was very proud of her choice to experience near death during a non viable pregnancy. It was horrifying to hear her story.
This woman seemed willfully unaware of the ways in which feminism has given her other rights that she freely exercised. She spaced out her children and when she was ready, had herself sterilized. The cognitive dissonance is truly shocking.
You know, I don't know that we can reach everyone I'm sorry to say
Why waste time and effort trying? They are a small minority.
We can't, we can only point out their hypocrisy, that what they did they would deny to others. They are a lost cause.
I don't know that we can. The religious indoctrination is very strong. It reminds me of a patient that we had who delivered her baby and then started hemorrhaging. She was pouring out blood, fast. She needed a blood transfusion to replace what she was losing. Because she was a Jehovah's witness, she refused blood products. When she became unconscious the father of the baby continued to refuse blood products for her. We did everything we could for her without being able to give her a blood transfusion which is the one thing that could have saved her life. She died. She left a newborn, a 2-year-old and the father of the baby because her religion told her she could not accept blood products. I often wonder if her husband would make that decision again.
That kind of BS is so heartbreaking. How is leaving your newborn and your other children POSSIBLY the better choice?! It's nonsensical.
Truly horrific. Those kids are going to be deeply angry if/when they figure out what happened. I guess that's her bodily autonomy and we have to support it. But what a waste of human life.