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Great reporting. I read this article about Poland. I’m concerned we’re heading in this direction.

https://jezebel.com/polish-police-search-sewage-for-fetus-to-prove-woman-is-1850683797

Frightening

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Wow that's terrifying. Disturbingly reminiscent of Romania's Ceausescu. They undoubtedly want to do that here.

"Last June, Poland created a national pregnancy registry—a wildly dangerous development, because when abortion is banned, all pregnancies become potential crime scenes."

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I'm going to say this, rather than to address many current comments below.

Republicans are Idiots who don't believe in science. It's not just abortion, but they don't even believe in things like human caused climate change. OMG. Did you know that people who were anti covid vaccines arre now targeting weathermen and other climatologists? Sh*it!

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Aug 2, 2023Liked by Jessica Valenti

Jessica. I’m interested in your thoughts on our repeated talking points. I am not skilled at marketing/communication but here’s mine: Republicans hate women. Republicans want to control women. Republicans want to punish women. Hate. Control. Punish.

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A place to start when thinking thru impactful and productive messaging: https://www.acog.org/advocacy/abortion-is-essential/come-prepared/core-messages

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founding

I think I would probably avoid those, my reasoning being that recipients won't be open to that kind of messaging unless they already agree with it. I would stick to fact or issue based statements for talking points, rather than value statements about the other side, even though the three things you said are all absolutely true.

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Agreed. The Prolife folks are very disciplined; I think they do large "classes" about how they present the issue. Love to see a blueprint that we can all stick to rather than our own "talking points", of which, of course, we have many.....

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This is a great question, and I've been thinking about putting out a column about what messages we should be repeating! I'm considering this my sign to finally do it. So more on that question soon... :)

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I'm not speaking for Jessica, but as she has said repeatedly, it's all about the hate. Those sob's.

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Aug 2, 2023Liked by Jessica Valenti

I live in Wisconsin and I voted for Janet Protasiewicz in April. I will be waiting with bated breath for the ruling on abortion access in this state.

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Fingers and toes crossed

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I hope those friggin Republicans don't screw her.

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“Millions of Americans women are being forced into pregnancy in places where they can’t even safely give birth.” It’s my humble opinion that this is a sentence that should be shouted from rooftops. It so simply explains the world we (the royal version, everyone here knows this is almost entirely on the gop’s shoulders) are creating for women.

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YES

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To reply in the royal tradition, hear, hear.

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Yes this sentence. These women probably don't even know they live in a maternity desert until they get pregnant. Terrible!

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The Alabama AG (Marshal), who is trying to basically imprison the pregnant women in his state, said this about the law he's using to prevent them from accessing care in states where abortion is legal:

“If someone was promoting themselves out as a funder of abortions out of state, that is potentially criminally actionable for us,” Marshal said during the radio interview. “If there are groups promoting this as part of their services, we will be taking a look at that.”

https://jezebel.com/alabama-looks-to-prosecute-anyone-who-helps-residents-g-1849540098

I'd like to see these cases get to the SC. If it is legal for a Utah travel agent to book a vacation for a customer to go to Vegas and gamble (gambling is illegal in Utah) then how on earth is it not legal for an abortion provider to aid someone in getting an abortion where it is legal? I don't understand how these AGs think they have any ability to prevent women in their states from traveling freely in the country and getting the care they need.

It is all about control. They can't stand that we (if lucky and with the means) can get around their draconian laws.

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The supreme's think they are big gods and the governors and a.g.'s et.al think they are little ones. Sh*it!

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I’m not sure SCOTUS is much help to us anymore.

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founding

I agree about the supreme court but as I always say it's the universe's idea of a sick joke that that ultimately means Brett Kavanaugh gets to make the decision in all of these cases.

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To miss a key vote on gun regulation -- Cotham was never a democrat. She defrauded her constituents and they should hold another election.

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Unfortunately, like that is going to happen. I love it how that the Republicans are antiabortion, but totally pro guns. Sh*it, they won't even pass legislation to stop ownership from spousal abusers. And it's a fact that they kill them all too often.

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Aug 2, 2023Liked by Jessica Valenti

What's up with USA Today just casually using "unborn children" to describe fetuses? Disappointing. At what week are they "unborn children" USA Today? Did they pass the embryonic, fetal, infant stages? We have tax credits for 3-year-olds in utero now? Just a casualty of the dismantling of Roe and any semblance of equal rights for women is that now we have this verbiage seeping into mainstream life as if it's normal. It's not !

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I missed that! Thanks for flagging

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Wow, "unborn children." Very dangerous verbiage. L&D nurse here. I have a patient whose water broke @ 17 weeks. I live in a state that can give her proper care right away. FOB and her have decided to go home and wait and see if she gets septic. I wanted to scream "this is not an unborn child it is a doomed pregnancy where mom is at risk for death." But I can't say those things to my patients. They have made an informed although naïve choice to try to save this "unborn child."

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This is exactly how they mainstream their ideas. Along with the Susan B Anthony woman using “consensus” in every sentence so it is impossible to quote her without using it. I wish a reporter would say, “I know what you’re up to with that, and I’m not helping you normalize your extremist position.”

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I’d also love to see them ask “Where are you getting the information that any such consensus has formed?”

Because none of the data I have seen shows that. In fact, the polling done by the NYT/Siena College recently shows only a four point difference between those who don’t want a six week ban, and don’t want a 15 week ban.

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Rather than answer, they’d accuse the outlet of “liberal bias” and “persecution” and “censoring” them. I’d prefer it if legacy media refused to give these groups a platform.

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Can you link the story you saw for me? I know the new editor-in-chief — we worked together at two different news outlets — and I’ll be more than happy to bring it to his attention. I cannot imagine this is something he countenances.

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founding

We have to call it out every single time and pull out the pictures. They've repeated their message a million times and we haven't yet.

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Green is the color chosen by the women of Argentina fighting for their reproductive rights about 20 years ago so it’s the “official” color. And it represents HOPE!

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Lots of us in Indiana wearing green today. We’re fighting for women’s rights…as long as it takes!

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Hi Kay. Does green signify earth?

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"U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, who has been holding up military promotions and nominations in ‘protest’ of the Pentagon’s abortion policy, says that the decision to keep Space Command in Colorado “looks like blatant patronage politics.”"

Oh that's rich.

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Very rich, Laura. Especially since Trump’s decision to move Space Command to Alabama was a political decision in the first place - and he made zero attempt to hide that - at least from Coloradans.

It was our punishment for voting for Biden in 2020.

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I had to include that quote just for the eye roll alone

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This author makes a reasonable case for the theory that Tuberville is holding up top military promotions so that they all can be filled by Trump, or possibly a Trump surrogate in 2025.

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The Thom Hartman article? Yes I heard about that. Makes sense.

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He's a peach, isn't he. The party for law and order. Sure.

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I am so proud to be a resident of the city of Chicago and the State of Illinois! Both are leading the way in the provision of abortion care for those who live in states where they cannot access care.

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Me too re NJ ! With two daughters, I'll never move!

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founding

The thing that worries me about blue states is the legacy costs of pensions and health care for retired public employees who often no longer even live in the state. Red states tend to have less of a problem because they tended to have more meager public services and stiffed their workers. There really needs to be a federal solution but the freeloading right-wingers will squeal.

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Of course I'm proud of California. If you look at the map, that little orange dot is (I think) Alpine County, the geographically smallest and least populous county in the state. Doesn't mean women there deserve to live in a double desert. It also doesn't mean that reproductive health care is completely accessible. Calif is a bigger state than most people realize. Driving in rural areas can be long and exhausting--like going several states away, if you are trapped in one of those conservative counties. And public transportation can be non-existent. The good part is that the state's Medicaid (Medi-Cal) has paid for abortions for decades and will likely continue to do so, whether or not the Supremes or the Congress get their knickers in a twist and try to ban it.

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I feel the same as a Michiganian

Now, if they can just stop trying to kill or kidnap our governor and her cabinet. On the plus side, it's good that Pete Buttigieg, his husband and their 2 adorable kids live here now.

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We really need planned parenthood to stop pre-emptively complying with shit.

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True. However, I do have compassion for the actual people--patients and providers--involved. They don't want to go to prison. That said, the national organization (which has MONEY let's not forget, as well as a national platform) must be a whole bunch better at protecting people. Rolling over and complying preemptively, as noted, doesn't protect anybody.

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This is what happened to pain care. A narrative was spun, numbers manipulated to hang illicit drug deaths on medical practice so that DEA can be funded by civil asset forfeiture of any doc prescribing more than their peers. It isn’t returned when they find someone innocent. It took a recent Supreme Court case to establish that an intention needs to be established for a physician to go to prison. Terminal and incurable patients were abandoned en masse. At least one study has shown a majority of physicians will not see a patient with a chronic pain diagnosis even if they aren’t seeking management of that problem. This has had devastating consequences for the disability community among others.

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I keep pointing out connections because we need help fighting and combining forces makes us all stronger. Many disabled are isolated and too ill. No privacy of records. Have experienced and seen unbelievable outcomes such as terminal with uncontrolled pain.

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Thanks and sorry for diverting. I am so horrified forced birthed are happening.

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Quite aware of that. Even docs who specialize in pain management are--from my own experience--prone to denying of care, gaslighting patients ("It can't *possibly* by *that* bad!" is what I heard 4 days ago, and two weeks before that, and...). The ones who actually take reported pain seriously are few and far between, and goddess help you if you are older, female, or a person of color (because the docs certainly won't.) If I sound bitter, it's because I lost one of those rare gems about two years ago, and it's been nothing but abuse, neglect, denial, etc ever since. No wonder I, and likely many others, simply lose hope. This is what the stupid war on drugs has driven us to.

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I’ve been lucky, but even at that, a few years ago, a new PA at the practice cut my break through meds in half, because “it looks better on paper.” This was after telling me that “unlike most pain patients, you actually have several very painful diseases, and being “shocked” to hear that I take meds exactly as prescribed.

A year or two before this, actual doctor who runs the practice had no problem with what I was taking - he had patients on higher doses that he knew would probably unalienable themselves if the government forced more cuts. He told me the whole situation was so depressing he was thinking about exiting medicine altogether. He only does procedures now, and leaves all the prescribing to his PAs.

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Four days ago, while gaslighting me about how "[chronic pain] can't *possibly* be *that* bad", the advanced practice nurse who took away my pain med entirely admitted that I have several painful conditions too, but also gave me the line about "it looks better on paper." (Where do they get those nonsense excuses?) I used the word "torture" to refer to what she and others had been doing to me. She was shocked, *shocked* that I would say such a thing! I quoted to her from the UN Convention on Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment (which I have at least partially by memory). Me and my nerdy mouth: she called me "uncooperative" in her notes. I guess she expected me not to protest being tortured. Or something.

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I’m so sorry. I fail to understand why looking better on paper outweighs the lived experiences of human beings.

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I understand people choosing not to break the law, and I understand patients choosing a sure thing over an appointment that might be canceled at the last minute.

I don't understand PP choosing to stop helping people before it's actually illegal to do so - some of those are people who need care who won't get it. They have the resources to take the losses involved in canceled appointments. You give care until the wire comes down. I don't understand how the people making the decision not to sleep at night.

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100 % agree! Fight!

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Add violence into it now too. Rachel Maddow on MSNBC tonight had a chilling summary of the indictment and how it laid out how Trump and his accomplices used violence as a means to try to achieve their aims. I feel that they don't care about harm to women, either. The subjugation of women foments violence against them. We are mere vessels, with our uteruses state-owned in varying degrees across this country. We are property...

The devaluation of life on the GOP side is stunning.

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founding

Violence, or at least force or compulsion, is the one thing that really unifies the Republican agenda. It's the political embodiment of toxic masculinity and the abuser mindset.

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Did you hear all the Republicans whining. Trump's committee released a statement..."This is nothing more than the latest corrupt chapter in the continued pathetic attempt by the Biden Crime Family and their weaponized Department of Justice to interfere with the 2024 Presidential Election, in which President Trump is the undisputed frontrunner, and leading by substantial margins," the campaign said in a statement.

"These un-American witch hunts will fail and President Trump will be re-elected to the White House so he can save our Country from the abuse, incompetence, and corruption that is running through the veins of our Country at levels never seen before," the statement said. Just about all the jackasses spoke up, short of Marjorie, who's probably looking for more dick picks of Hunter to send out on the taxpayers dime.

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Trump has spent the time since he got the letter from the DOJ laying out his game plan. He’s been circulating a like of talking points to the House Republicans and the rest of his allies.

As for Marjorie, I wish I could just add a photo, but this was her take on Twitter/X/whatever Elon calls his site today, obviously not written by her: “Today, America finds itself in a troubling situation, resembling authoritarian regimes rather than the beacon of freedom and democracy our founders valiantly fought to establish. Innocent individuals, including former President Donald J. Trump, are being unjustly targeted by a Department of Injustice and an FBI transformed into political hitmen, acting at the behest of the sitting president. Special Counsel Jack Smith has abused his power, using his office to persecute President Trump, his aides, and ultimately, the American people. These actions are undoubtedly politically motivated, with clear intentions of interfering with the upcoming 2024 election. This isn't just an indictment against President Trump, but against all his supporters and the fundamental rights of Americans. If an innocent former president can be targeted, then no American is truly safe. President Trump is just standing in the way. This is the line in the sand. This is nothing but a political assassination and I will not vote to fund a communist regime. I will not vote to fund a weaponized government while it politically persecutes not only President Trump but all conservative Americans. The Biden Department of Justice has gone rogue, and the FBI are their henchmen. Until we restore the FBI and the Department of Justice to the esteemed institutions they once were, I will not vote to fund these communist organizations that are doing the bidding of Joe Biden. My support for President Trump is unwavering. We know that this is a phony and politically motivated witch hunt aimed at undermining the core values of our nation. The American people see through these actions, and together, we must stand with President Trump and against this abuse of power.“

On her other account she said, and I believe she wrote this one: “I will still vote for Trump even if he’s in jail. This is a communist attack on America’s first amendment to vote for who THE PEOPLE want for President by an attempt to take Trump off the ballots through a politically weaponized DOJ. People know exactly what this is.”

But apparently, neither Rep. Greene, nor her minions and followers know what the First Amendment is, nor which amendment gives THE PEOPLE the right to vote.

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Also, I'm curious. What kind of scientist are you?

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Wave Joke. A photon walks into a bar and says. You know, I'd really like a beer, but I don't have any money. I'm traveling light.

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Cool. I'll think of you when I ask my Doctor if he knows about alpha-gal syndrome.

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Hi! By chance, were you named after Mr. Waverly from "the man from UNCLE?

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