14 Comments

Jessica, I so appreciate your care for community and self around the assault on our souls that comes with a constant stream of D.T's image, voice, words and deeds. For eight years I've been wrestling with how to stay informed while protecting my health, as well as how to not feed the beast. Knowing that this is top of mind in your coverage and mission is a massive relief and helps me to feel safe with continued engagement. Thank you for all you do (genuine gratitude and hope coming at you from the PacNW) and for your mindfulness -- your HEARTfulness -- in doing it. xx

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I can’t get into the live conversation. I’m subscribed but every time I click on the event link it boots my back to my profile that has my subscription details even when I’m signed in on the Substack app. Very sad

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founding

Jessica has promised to post the video later, if that helps.

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I am new to this and I am reaching out to you and your readers. How can I begin this dialogue by earning your trust? I realize that most of you may not want to talk to me or believe me. We do not have to be enemies. I do not understand why the "battle" over abortion has to be an either/or "discussion."

Why can we not agree together to secure every woman's right to protect her own body from harm, and to control her own life, and make her own informed decisions, and at the same time give each fetus the greatest possible opportunity to have those same rights? If you do not believe it is possible for both to "coexist," then you are choosing one over the other.

Like you, I also have an obsession with language and I hate lies. What are liars trying to hide? First of all, we must speak the same language and use the same dictionary. If we use the same words, without the same meaning, we are not communicating.

Why are we so far apart? Why does it seem to be so hard to come to a scientific consensus on reality? I don't really care about your or my, or even the "experts" opinions, especially since the stakes are so high. So far I can't seem to get anyone on your side to even admit that the fetus is "alive, " and that an abortion "kills" it. That is, the "choice" is between a "living baby" and a "dead baby."

I have a hard time calling an abortifacient a "medication." Is cyanide also a medication? And pregnancy is not an illness. You might say that it can cause "dis-ease," but THAT is what medication is for -- saving lives, not destroying them!

Let's turn this around: In China, millions of women have been forced to have an abortion. Would you fight as hard for them NOT to have one? Worldwide, there have been over one Billion abortions! How many of those saved their mother's life or could be justified for any other legitimate reason? I could very easily give up. But saving even one child would be worth it. Every woman that chooses to have a child decides that the risk and investment of her time and resources -- her very life -- is worth it. Why do so many innocent babies have to die? Because they are not worth it?

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i have Substack but am unsure how to watch this. Where do i log in? Can I do it from my computer? Thanks.

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author

It'll be live on the Substack App which you can download on iOS and Android. Substack will also generate a link to watch that should hit your inbox when we go live, and pop-up a notification in the app. I'll also post the full video to the site later, in case folks didn't get a chance to join live.

I'm still exploring if this is the best way to do these interviews, so if it's a significant hurdle we might try something else for the next one!

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Another good resource, one that does not collect personal identifying info: https://www.youalwayshaveoptions.com/

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Re the list of what Rs might do, I think one of the most likely things, assuming that Rs get control of the House, is to cut off federal funding in a number of ways. This is because if they get House control they can pass reconciliation budget legislation, which allows them to pass budget measures without the threat of a filibuster. They could do things like cut off all funds to Planned Parenthood, and do even more aggressive things like cut off funds to hospitals performing abortions. Because federal funding is so pervasive, there is not much of a limit to what they could do. This would not be an abortion ban, but it could have the same effect. On the other hand, these things could not happen if Dems retain control of the House, even by a narrow majority.

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Nov 12Liked by Jessica Valenti

Jessica, Thank you for staying on top of all this, especially at a time when being informed is critical. You're right about the toll of an involuntary daily dose of what's his name. I'm sure it's not easy for you. Take good care of you. May we all appreciate and avail ourselves to the tools you are providing (I've already given away my first copy of 'Abortion...' and I have a replacement I will also gladly give away.

Together is how we get through this.

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"chipping away at our right to travel"

"sales of abortion medication spike"

Check this guide and podcast on how to protect your privacy while traveling (out of state), making purchases anonymously and other free ways to Protect Your Privacy.

"16 Tips to Shield Yourself From Online Tracking & Abortion Bounty Hunters"

https://thedemlabs.org/2024/11/11/protect-your-privacy-16-tips-to-shield-yourself-from-online-tracking-abortion-bounty-hunters/

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OMG, even just the title of the guide is frightening. What a world we are living in now. I'm walking around in a fog.

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Hi Jessica, thanks, as always, for your amazing work.

I've started trying to make a difference using some information that you sent last week.

I'm in California but I want to be able to help people who need it now. It seems like a tricky question, but how do we find each other? I'm more than willing to do all that I can to help those in need but I don't want to get anyone in hot water. Thanks for any advice you or other members can offer.

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Excellent thank you for all of this.

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Nov 12Liked by Jessica Valenti

Thank you Jessica. Very good news out of Austin Texas. We need it. Looking forward to your coverage. And looking forward to Your “one good thing” to return. Despite the climate of the country we can always find something to be grateful for ❤️

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