41 Comments

Misoprostol, the generic name for Cytotek, was developed to treat for those with ulcers, and patients taking medications that could irritate and potentially cause ulcers. The two-drug combo came later. I’ve been taking it for years to buffer the effects of a medication I take for RA. Banning it would not only hurt pregnant people, but also those many who take it for its original purpose.

Expand full comment

Regarding the Comstock Act: Do its mailing bans restrict only the US postal service? What about private parcel carriers such as UPS or FedEx? Wouldn't they be beyond its reach? I prefer to see it repealed, but just considering other alternatives.

Expand full comment

Every single IVF patient/couple ought to be claiming every single frozen embryo as a dependent on their taxes next year in Alabama.

Expand full comment
founding

If they are going to dismiss based on standing, it shouldn't have even gotten to the Supreme Court. And it seems like once the studies backing up the AHM's claims were debunked that the case should not have advanced. I worry that the Supreme Court is looking at this as a way they can pretend they aren't going to try to take away abortion altogether along with contraception, so nobody thinks that could happen when they vote in November.

Expand full comment

Love their sign!!!!

Expand full comment

I firmly believe we need to be seizing the personhood issue ourselves and turning it on its head. The IVF controversy shows there is a basic, almost unanimous understanding that it’s absurd to consider personhood at fertilization.

Expand full comment

Does the Comstock Act also disallow selling viagra over the internet? Although it is not as safe as Mifepristone, so I guess it should be banned all together.

Expand full comment
Mar 27·edited Mar 27

The fact that Alito put the Comstock message out there -- he uses the law for oppressive aims, and he's abusing his position of power. He's there to subjugate women any way he can, making a mockery of the judiciary and rule of law, giving cover to those whose aims are the same. He comes off as a fool !

This is clearly a war on us.

And same day news is TFG hawking his "bibles!" What an overt merger of church/state/hypocrisy. I don't know how people vote for this. I know people who do. Some dismiss it. Some don't see it. Some are happy for it because they're about hatred. It's like where did our country go?

Expand full comment

Sadly, the horrible, stupid, cruel, and racist, have always been among us, they just knew to keep it to themselves, until a certain orange baboon freed them to be themselves.

Expand full comment

Alito seems to get worse every year. Because he's Samuel Alito Jr., I have taken to preferring to refer to him as 'Son of Sam', terrorizing the public just like that namesake.

Expand full comment

I’m hoping Alito and/or Thomas puts a spotlight on Comstock in his inevitable opinion. That could kickstart a move to repeal it, or at least make it earlier to talk about Trump’s potential use of it.

Expand full comment

Terrific summary. Thank you so much. About Comstock: why would it not also ban shipping of E.D. pills/Viagra? I was struck by all the Hims ads during the SuperBowl. "Skip the awkward doctor's visits"... "discreet packaging" etc. Could making that case get more Members of Congress (pun intended) to consider repeal?

Expand full comment

Yeah! That's my question as well. Why do they get to cherry-pick parts of the Act. I was reading up on this and got only so far as to learn that as the years went by, Comstock came to apply to only mailing articles that were illegal. I am confused by it. If it's the mailing of "lewd, obscene, and lascivious" items, then certainly Viagra fits, no?

Expand full comment

Comnstock was a chronic masturbator who pushed that law because he couldn't control his own behavior. It's always projection...

Expand full comment

The work you are both doing is essential: thank you.

Other precedent options exist that skirt Comstock. Read Kimberly Wehle's analysis in Politico:

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/03/27/1923-supreme-court-decision-ivf-abortion-00149194

Expand full comment

Thank you Jessica and Grace for your excellent reporting. Appreciate everything you do ❤️❤️❤️

Expand full comment

A message to goddamn Alito and Thomas: I bet your mothers would be totally disgusted by your disrespect towards women and girls. They must be turning in their graves at how inhumane their sons are. Now, I want to know why our Democrats have not used EVERY way to overturn Comstock, which was passed before women even had the right to VOTE!! goddamn!! Do something!!!!!

Expand full comment

Jessica that sign in the photo has me laughing and sending it to every woman I know. “Fallopians 3.26”…🤣

Expand full comment

ABORT SCOTUS is still my fave, but that sign is now a contender.

Expand full comment

On repealing Comstock, I agree. It is such an outrageous provision and I can't really see a downside. For reference, the repeal version that is preferable is the Comstock clean up act which was introduced by Barney Frank some years ago. It repeals the abortion related provisions of this law. When I lobbied my member of congress on this months ago, the response I got was that we don't want to interfere with pending litigation. Perhaps in terms of timing, the message should be: line up co-sponsors now and be ready to go once the Supreme Court issues the opinion (which may not be until June).

Expand full comment

Man... if a couple pills poison the environment then they'd have to declare my bedroom a Superfund site.

Expand full comment

I know, right? They are so stupid!

Expand full comment

Nice one 🙂.

Expand full comment