Three comments: One, every American needs to be inundated with these stories from now until November. Idk if it will help or not, but the truth needs to get out.
Two, the random assholes now feeling empowered are more than bad enough, but, three, what worries me more right now is health care providers, in all these kinds of situations that are other than what one would call 'elective abortions', being afraid to do their job, afraid to do what's best for their patients, because they're scared shitless of losing their license, going to jail, being sued, because no one knows what the fuck is going on, what the law is now and how it's going to be enforced. No one wants to be the first.
These laws haven't been tested yet, so we can't really know what will happen. But for laws to work, people have to understand them and fear them and obey them. We look to others for cues. If everyone else seems terrified, then that's what the reaction will be. But if instead we see providers acting confidently, continuing to do what's best for their patients, even if it's just arranging care in another location, if we see the myriad laws being interpreted in that way, then that becomes the norm, and then we're just daring them to try to arrest and sue and take all the licenses away from everyone.
It's easy for someone who's not a doctor or a nurse or a pharmacist to say, but, right now health care providers could really use our support, especially from the legal community and from those with deep pockets, to just continue to do their jobs. It's hard for me to believe that they'll abandon their patients if they can find any other way to continue to serve.
I keep asking my representatives about the 600,000 new babies we’ll have every year and perhaps they could have a “Save The Babies” trillion dollar bill that would actual help the living, breathing children. Food, shelter, clothes, love. Wait I keep forgetting, when we help children, and when we actually have real policies that actually have been proven to reduce abortions like factual, comprehensive sexual health education, access to family planning, access to womens health services and condoms, that’s socialism. Helping people is socialism. But it’s totally fine for the taxpayers and the government to bailout rich people, Wall Street and corporations. That’s fine! The billions in corporate welfare, that’s not socialism.
Feeding alive children is socialism.
Seriously?
Orange rapist was Stage 1. This Supreme Court takeover is Stage 2. I think Gilead is Stage 3 and it seems to be coming fast!! Under his eye!!
Thank you, Jessica. This is helping me to educate my husband and teenage son, neither of whom consume news as obsessively as I do. I second the request for a way to compensate you in addition to my subscription for this extra work.
Thank you, Jessica, for gathering and conveying these stories. Hearing them is helping me fathom on a visceral level how this 'decision' is being interpreted and deployed by ordinary people. It is truly dreadful, and so very real. Many of these experiences will remain under the radar of collective public consciousness for a while longer, thus the importance of your daily updates. You are brave, kind, and deeply loving.
And a related awareness that I keep dodging: The cascade of Supreme Court decisions demonstrate emphatically that when Republicans gain majorities (in House, Senate, or SCOTUS) they move *immediately* to seize power, regardless of 'norms' or precedent. We've known this (McConnell/Merrick Garland), but as Ruth Ben-Ghiat warns: Now this takeover is accelerating and will continue to accelerate. I say this to remind us all to expect it, not be surprised and immobilized by it. We can slow them down, and we must.
Okay, so "doing more work for the same money." Could you add a category for creator patronage on the subscription options? Or "Supporting Subscriber" at a higher rate?
You are too kind! :) I went to look if Substack does something like that, and it looks like I can add (and did) a 'founding member' subscription option where folks can enter higher amounts if they'd like. Appreciate you and the nudge!
Yes! I am in Nashville, and some of our conservative owned chains (Walmart, Kroger, etc.) has locked the condoms and pregnancy tests. When you ask someone to unlock it, they say that they are unable to and you have to come in with a formal request - whatever that means
YES - I went to buy condoms yesterday even though I’m on hormonal birth control because I want to be confident that I won’t get pregnant. With abortion being fully illegal in TN now, my partner and I are going back to condoms on top of the bc. I am so scared of what my state will become.
Oh wow! These stories are horrifying. The level of control people feel entitled to over women's / pregnant bodies is distressing.
This is excellent information. Thank you!
Following up: the $150 tier has been created & $50 subscribers can upgrade & pay the difference.
Just click My Account & Manage Subscription. That’s also the place to buy a gift subscription (or click the Give Gift box above)
Three comments: One, every American needs to be inundated with these stories from now until November. Idk if it will help or not, but the truth needs to get out.
Two, the random assholes now feeling empowered are more than bad enough, but, three, what worries me more right now is health care providers, in all these kinds of situations that are other than what one would call 'elective abortions', being afraid to do their job, afraid to do what's best for their patients, because they're scared shitless of losing their license, going to jail, being sued, because no one knows what the fuck is going on, what the law is now and how it's going to be enforced. No one wants to be the first.
These laws haven't been tested yet, so we can't really know what will happen. But for laws to work, people have to understand them and fear them and obey them. We look to others for cues. If everyone else seems terrified, then that's what the reaction will be. But if instead we see providers acting confidently, continuing to do what's best for their patients, even if it's just arranging care in another location, if we see the myriad laws being interpreted in that way, then that becomes the norm, and then we're just daring them to try to arrest and sue and take all the licenses away from everyone.
It's easy for someone who's not a doctor or a nurse or a pharmacist to say, but, right now health care providers could really use our support, especially from the legal community and from those with deep pockets, to just continue to do their jobs. It's hard for me to believe that they'll abandon their patients if they can find any other way to continue to serve.
I keep asking my representatives about the 600,000 new babies we’ll have every year and perhaps they could have a “Save The Babies” trillion dollar bill that would actual help the living, breathing children. Food, shelter, clothes, love. Wait I keep forgetting, when we help children, and when we actually have real policies that actually have been proven to reduce abortions like factual, comprehensive sexual health education, access to family planning, access to womens health services and condoms, that’s socialism. Helping people is socialism. But it’s totally fine for the taxpayers and the government to bailout rich people, Wall Street and corporations. That’s fine! The billions in corporate welfare, that’s not socialism.
Feeding alive children is socialism.
Seriously?
Orange rapist was Stage 1. This Supreme Court takeover is Stage 2. I think Gilead is Stage 3 and it seems to be coming fast!! Under his eye!!
Thank you, Jessica. This is helping me to educate my husband and teenage son, neither of whom consume news as obsessively as I do. I second the request for a way to compensate you in addition to my subscription for this extra work.
Thank you, Jessica, for gathering and conveying these stories. Hearing them is helping me fathom on a visceral level how this 'decision' is being interpreted and deployed by ordinary people. It is truly dreadful, and so very real. Many of these experiences will remain under the radar of collective public consciousness for a while longer, thus the importance of your daily updates. You are brave, kind, and deeply loving.
And a related awareness that I keep dodging: The cascade of Supreme Court decisions demonstrate emphatically that when Republicans gain majorities (in House, Senate, or SCOTUS) they move *immediately* to seize power, regardless of 'norms' or precedent. We've known this (McConnell/Merrick Garland), but as Ruth Ben-Ghiat warns: Now this takeover is accelerating and will continue to accelerate. I say this to remind us all to expect it, not be surprised and immobilized by it. We can slow them down, and we must.
Midterms, midterms, midterms....
Is "Abortion" a different subscription from "All In Her Head"? I am trying to subscribe to Abortion but I keep getting told I'm already a subscriber.
It's the same! Sorry for not being clearer - a paid subscription to AiHH is the same thing as a subscription for the audio bit :)
Agree with Ruth!
Okay, so "doing more work for the same money." Could you add a category for creator patronage on the subscription options? Or "Supporting Subscriber" at a higher rate?
You are too kind! :) I went to look if Substack does something like that, and it looks like I can add (and did) a 'founding member' subscription option where folks can enter higher amounts if they'd like. Appreciate you and the nudge!
Yes! I am in Nashville, and some of our conservative owned chains (Walmart, Kroger, etc.) has locked the condoms and pregnancy tests. When you ask someone to unlock it, they say that they are unable to and you have to come in with a formal request - whatever that means
jesus fucking christ. a FORMAL REQUEST??
YES - I went to buy condoms yesterday even though I’m on hormonal birth control because I want to be confident that I won’t get pregnant. With abortion being fully illegal in TN now, my partner and I are going back to condoms on top of the bc. I am so scared of what my state will become.
I'm so sorry, that's truly terrifying