I watched an episode of "St. Elsewhere" where parents decided to have an abortion because the ultrasound showed some significant abnormalities in the fetus. Among their reasons for deciding to terminate the pregnancy was because their health insurance wouldn't cover a lot of care, and they could not afford the medical bills on their own. In the late 80s, they were able to get their abortion. I do think it's sad that financial reasons were part of the reason for this family not having their very wanted child; of course, those same financial reasons exist today. I don't remember seeing any proposals from anti-choice people to cover the medical costs of a child whose mother was forced to have it in spite of the anticipated costs.....
I'm confused 🙃 . Doesn't the last paragraph 'The ruling also left in place, for now, a part of Title X that prohibits clinics from requiring parental consent before providing services.' Flip things around?
Biden’s obvious discomfort about abortion is frustrating. But looked at another way, his use of terms like reproductive healthcare does help counter the narrative that abortion is not healthcare and also can be used to remind people that they are seeking to ban not just abortion but a whole wide swath of women’s healthcare including contraception, pre-natal testing & IVF. And he may be able to convince some people who are not exactly against but still uncomfortable with abortion to agree that the law should not be involved in healthcare decisions. It’s not ideal, but it’s what we have to work with right now.
I feel your frustration, but I actual think his obvious discomfort with the issue works for him (and us!). Lots of voters are also uncomfortable with the issue. I hate that, but I think it's true - mainly a result of folks not understanding how women's bodies work. Still, I'd prefer to leave the whole issue in Kamala's capable hands!
Jessica—you NEVER have to apologize for not writing a newsletter. If you never write another word, you will have done way more than your share. But I can only hope that as you and your substack become better known, you will be invited to more and more campuses or other locations to speak and your brilliant articulations concerning abortion politics will become more visible and make even more people see the light. Even if we have to miss a few newsletters.
My sister took the afternoon off from work today and went by the Overland Park Planned Parenthood office to discover a couple of orange-vest wearing protesters trying to flag down cars entering the parking lot, a clear violation of the FACE Act.
She was pleased to note that as soon as she parked and headed towards them, they quickly packed up their shit and left. She hung out long enough to be sure they weren’t coming back, then went about her business.
Sometimes that’s all it takes - someone to BE THERE and counter their message. I was hoping to be able to go out more now that it’s finally warming up, but that case of COVID they say we’ll all get eventually finally caught up to me despite near religious observance of vaccine and booster scheduling. I CAN tell you this stuff is awful, like the flu on steroids, and will definitely kick your ass. Keep getting those boosters, boys and girls, because it ain’t over yet.
You really get the sense, listening to the anti-abortion people, that they think anyone who isn't them needs constant monitoring against thoughtcrimes and innate babykilling instincts. They WANT a Big Brother type of situation in order to control women's lives. Otherwise what they want doesn't work. In reality, a doctor or woman being like 'I want to kill as many embryos and fetuses as possible for fun/profit!' is an ANOMALY, to say the least. It sounds like they think it's not which is... deeply weird. I'm all for them spending money showing the American people that!
Meanwhile, the Arkansas statue debacle is a perfect example of why government and religion don't work very well together.
"I have a VISION!"
"It isn't ADA compliant."
"Jesus can handle that, I have a VISION!"
"It's too expensive."
"If Dubai can do it, so can ARKANSAS! GOD will provide funding!"
Feel free to bitch about the AP coverage that I saw yesterday making the South Dakota Republicans seem like good people:
The Republican-controlled South Dakota Legislature wants to create a video in which medical experts — and the state’s attorneys — would explain to doctors and patients when abortions can be legally performed. The measure was passed last month and is now awaiting the signature of Republican Gov. Kristi Noem, who has indicated she will sign it.
The first-in-the-nation idea is wholeheartedly supported by SBA Pro-Life, one of the country’s largest anti-abortion groups, which says the video will help to combat “confusion caused by the abortion industry.”
I agree 100% with Jessica about Trump. We can only hope that what passes for his brain has deteriorated enough that he won't be clever enough, and able to stay on message enough, to make that case.
“Left up to the states” … to immediately throw it back to the right wing judges! 🙃
.. for Matty K to try and ban mife nationally
.. for states to ban interstate travel and free speech and force doctors to read scripts
.. for states to override EMTALA and emergency care so lawyers and judges get to decide each pregnancy cause our medical system and insurance coverage wasn’t enough of a hellscape
.. for the enforcing 1800s laws like the Comstock Act
.. for states to redefine who is a citizen
It’s all such a farce. States rights is only what the losers say. This was never about taking it back to the states.
I think we should all be concerned when the entire Republican party has been taken over by Trump. A purge is going on. He's basically a mob boss running one of our 2 political parties. All those times watching the Sopranos from my living room has come to life. These are scary times.
I guess to me the difference is the end goal. Mitch is very conservative but even he has been on the side of reason in some of these government fights. Trump ultimately is only motivated by vanity and narcissism; he doesn't really care about policy. The problem, and I think what you are saying, is that it's not their goals that matter; it's the outcome. And the Christian Nationalists are using both Donald Trump and the Republican party to force their minority agenda on an unwilling American people. If Christian Nationalists didn't exist, Trump would be doing some other stupid shit. But if Trump didn't exist, Christian Nationalists would find another vessel for their plot. I hope that makes sense. If it matters at all, it's because, judging by the polling Jessica shared today, a lot of voters can stomach Trump or the Republican party a lot more than they can the Christian Nationalist agenda. So that's where I would go with my messaging as the Democratic party.
Yup. It's an embarrassing end to his career, but when those are the kind of voters you depend on for political support, you end up kissing the ass of a clown like Trump. It's because 'principled' 🙄 conservatives are all really just entitled, and don't understand how their beliefs crush other people, those who are not entitled. The kinds of voters who liked Trump in the first place have no problem crushing other people. (And I'm not meaning to defend Mitch; I'm just saying he's pathetic, and in a long line of formerly somewhat respectable Republicans who are pathetic. But yeah the judiciary's really on him so fuck that guy.)
Thanks. That is reassuring. + they're both to meet their maker in not so many years. But there is so much on the line in the next almost 9 months that it's very nerve-racking.
Very much so. I think we're all terrified. I just don't want the Democrats to focus so narrowly on Trump that they forget to talk about what voters are most scared of. I would take what voters already don't like about Trump, and then add to that by pointing at these people and saying, 'He never tells them no.' And demonstrate that over and over. Because Trump is a good disguise for them. No one thinks Trump is a 'Christian' or that he has a big social conservative agenda. But as you say, he is the one enabling it, and a vote for Trump is a vote for them.
Why is no one pushing back on Biden and his practicing catholic saying? Journalists please push him on if he supports the separation of church and state then follow up how his stance on abortion fails the people because of how he is placing his religion over our freedom. He is failing already on his campaign promises to protect freedom if he uses his religion as an excuse to avoid using medical terminology.
I wasn’t thrilled to see him appoint his wife (also Catholic and not a medical doctor) to spearhead a women’s health initiative. What makes her qualified for this position? Will she be looking at the high maternal mortality rates at Catholic hospitals? He doesn’t take women seriously, but he’s all we’ve got. I have to believe we can and will do better.
Jessica, I don’t think I am alone in making this request: If your travels and locations for discussions or talks aren’t private affairs, it would be great if you provided, in advance, those locations, dates, and times. You’re traveling in Florida this week, where I live. I know several people who would like to attend an event that you are part of.
Did I miss a link to the piece with the Sullender quote? What was it, if someone knows?
I watched an episode of "St. Elsewhere" where parents decided to have an abortion because the ultrasound showed some significant abnormalities in the fetus. Among their reasons for deciding to terminate the pregnancy was because their health insurance wouldn't cover a lot of care, and they could not afford the medical bills on their own. In the late 80s, they were able to get their abortion. I do think it's sad that financial reasons were part of the reason for this family not having their very wanted child; of course, those same financial reasons exist today. I don't remember seeing any proposals from anti-choice people to cover the medical costs of a child whose mother was forced to have it in spite of the anticipated costs.....
Thank you from Iowa.
Um, Jessica & Grace, some bad news here.
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/birth-control-fifth-circuit-18931647.php
I'm confused 🙃 . Doesn't the last paragraph 'The ruling also left in place, for now, a part of Title X that prohibits clinics from requiring parental consent before providing services.' Flip things around?
Biden’s obvious discomfort about abortion is frustrating. But looked at another way, his use of terms like reproductive healthcare does help counter the narrative that abortion is not healthcare and also can be used to remind people that they are seeking to ban not just abortion but a whole wide swath of women’s healthcare including contraception, pre-natal testing & IVF. And he may be able to convince some people who are not exactly against but still uncomfortable with abortion to agree that the law should not be involved in healthcare decisions. It’s not ideal, but it’s what we have to work with right now.
I feel your frustration, but I actual think his obvious discomfort with the issue works for him (and us!). Lots of voters are also uncomfortable with the issue. I hate that, but I think it's true - mainly a result of folks not understanding how women's bodies work. Still, I'd prefer to leave the whole issue in Kamala's capable hands!
Jessica—you NEVER have to apologize for not writing a newsletter. If you never write another word, you will have done way more than your share. But I can only hope that as you and your substack become better known, you will be invited to more and more campuses or other locations to speak and your brilliant articulations concerning abortion politics will become more visible and make even more people see the light. Even if we have to miss a few newsletters.
My sister took the afternoon off from work today and went by the Overland Park Planned Parenthood office to discover a couple of orange-vest wearing protesters trying to flag down cars entering the parking lot, a clear violation of the FACE Act.
She was pleased to note that as soon as she parked and headed towards them, they quickly packed up their shit and left. She hung out long enough to be sure they weren’t coming back, then went about her business.
Sometimes that’s all it takes - someone to BE THERE and counter their message. I was hoping to be able to go out more now that it’s finally warming up, but that case of COVID they say we’ll all get eventually finally caught up to me despite near religious observance of vaccine and booster scheduling. I CAN tell you this stuff is awful, like the flu on steroids, and will definitely kick your ass. Keep getting those boosters, boys and girls, because it ain’t over yet.
Get well soon, many healing thoughts headed your way.
Get better 💌. Those cool vids don't make themselves 😉.
You really get the sense, listening to the anti-abortion people, that they think anyone who isn't them needs constant monitoring against thoughtcrimes and innate babykilling instincts. They WANT a Big Brother type of situation in order to control women's lives. Otherwise what they want doesn't work. In reality, a doctor or woman being like 'I want to kill as many embryos and fetuses as possible for fun/profit!' is an ANOMALY, to say the least. It sounds like they think it's not which is... deeply weird. I'm all for them spending money showing the American people that!
Meanwhile, the Arkansas statue debacle is a perfect example of why government and religion don't work very well together.
"I have a VISION!"
"It isn't ADA compliant."
"Jesus can handle that, I have a VISION!"
"It's too expensive."
"If Dubai can do it, so can ARKANSAS! GOD will provide funding!"
Feel free to bitch about the AP coverage that I saw yesterday making the South Dakota Republicans seem like good people:
The Republican-controlled South Dakota Legislature wants to create a video in which medical experts — and the state’s attorneys — would explain to doctors and patients when abortions can be legally performed. The measure was passed last month and is now awaiting the signature of Republican Gov. Kristi Noem, who has indicated she will sign it.
The first-in-the-nation idea is wholeheartedly supported by SBA Pro-Life, one of the country’s largest anti-abortion groups, which says the video will help to combat “confusion caused by the abortion industry.”
😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱
They all want their white babies. Handmaid's Tale.
Scary.
🤦
I agree 100% with Jessica about Trump. We can only hope that what passes for his brain has deteriorated enough that he won't be clever enough, and able to stay on message enough, to make that case.
“Left up to the states” … to immediately throw it back to the right wing judges! 🙃
.. for Matty K to try and ban mife nationally
.. for states to ban interstate travel and free speech and force doctors to read scripts
.. for states to override EMTALA and emergency care so lawyers and judges get to decide each pregnancy cause our medical system and insurance coverage wasn’t enough of a hellscape
.. for the enforcing 1800s laws like the Comstock Act
.. for states to redefine who is a citizen
It’s all such a farce. States rights is only what the losers say. This was never about taking it back to the states.
That was SCOTUS plan. They knew this would happen.
Think about ALL the time and money wasted in every Republican state legislature on anti abortion bills since June 2022.....endless.
🎯money that could have helped the poor people fucked over by those laws.
This is how Hitler came to power. He didn't win a majority at first. Scary sh#t.
I think we should all be concerned when the entire Republican party has been taken over by Trump. A purge is going on. He's basically a mob boss running one of our 2 political parties. All those times watching the Sopranos from my living room has come to life. These are scary times.
All that is true, and yet he still scares me less than the Christian Nationalists who are his biggest supporters.
He and Mitch ushered them into power. What's the difference?
I guess to me the difference is the end goal. Mitch is very conservative but even he has been on the side of reason in some of these government fights. Trump ultimately is only motivated by vanity and narcissism; he doesn't really care about policy. The problem, and I think what you are saying, is that it's not their goals that matter; it's the outcome. And the Christian Nationalists are using both Donald Trump and the Republican party to force their minority agenda on an unwilling American people. If Christian Nationalists didn't exist, Trump would be doing some other stupid shit. But if Trump didn't exist, Christian Nationalists would find another vessel for their plot. I hope that makes sense. If it matters at all, it's because, judging by the polling Jessica shared today, a lot of voters can stomach Trump or the Republican party a lot more than they can the Christian Nationalist agenda. So that's where I would go with my messaging as the Democratic party.
Let's not overlook that McConnell has endorsed Trump. There's a whole crowd of cowards in the GOP leadership.
Yup. It's an embarrassing end to his career, but when those are the kind of voters you depend on for political support, you end up kissing the ass of a clown like Trump. It's because 'principled' 🙄 conservatives are all really just entitled, and don't understand how their beliefs crush other people, those who are not entitled. The kinds of voters who liked Trump in the first place have no problem crushing other people. (And I'm not meaning to defend Mitch; I'm just saying he's pathetic, and in a long line of formerly somewhat respectable Republicans who are pathetic. But yeah the judiciary's really on him so fuck that guy.)
Thanks. That is reassuring. + they're both to meet their maker in not so many years. But there is so much on the line in the next almost 9 months that it's very nerve-racking.
Very much so. I think we're all terrified. I just don't want the Democrats to focus so narrowly on Trump that they forget to talk about what voters are most scared of. I would take what voters already don't like about Trump, and then add to that by pointing at these people and saying, 'He never tells them no.' And demonstrate that over and over. Because Trump is a good disguise for them. No one thinks Trump is a 'Christian' or that he has a big social conservative agenda. But as you say, he is the one enabling it, and a vote for Trump is a vote for them.
I like that: “He never tells them No” - it’s a great way to get through point across.
I wish we had a fighter on our side who isn't afraid to say abortion and is not over 80.
Why is no one pushing back on Biden and his practicing catholic saying? Journalists please push him on if he supports the separation of church and state then follow up how his stance on abortion fails the people because of how he is placing his religion over our freedom. He is failing already on his campaign promises to protect freedom if he uses his religion as an excuse to avoid using medical terminology.
What an utter disgusting story 😤 do better biden.
I wasn’t thrilled to see him appoint his wife (also Catholic and not a medical doctor) to spearhead a women’s health initiative. What makes her qualified for this position? Will she be looking at the high maternal mortality rates at Catholic hospitals? He doesn’t take women seriously, but he’s all we’ve got. I have to believe we can and will do better.
I'll keep asking that he do better as well. We need allies not impediment.
Republican politicians have a deep disrespect for women and girls. The only LEGAL solution is to vote the bastards OUT of office.
Jessica, I don’t think I am alone in making this request: If your travels and locations for discussions or talks aren’t private affairs, it would be great if you provided, in advance, those locations, dates, and times. You’re traveling in Florida this week, where I live. I know several people who would like to attend an event that you are part of.
Good question. If there's not a security risk, yes I'm sure this community would love to know.
I think Jessica speaks a lot on college campuses.