That NYT article was so good. I know it’s said here all the time by Jessica and by others. We shouldn’t have to share our private medical and life decisions with strangers before they see us fully human, but having spent decades never mentioning my abortion to anyone except a handful of family and close friends, not because I was ashamed but because I was afraid of being shamed, I found these stories powerful.
They can argue their nonsensical talking points all they want, but they cannot deny or silence our stories and experience. I want to give credit to all the women who came before me and fought when they didn’t have majority support. And those who spoke to normalize what for most of us is a normal experience. The more women that speak the harder it is to portray us as callous murderers.
There was a woman poster on one of the substacks, that said we share experiences, and our abortion stories with our fellow women. This one lady said no one would ever do that, and no one ever did that with her. Every woman on the thread chimed in with saying we supported and shared stories. she got all huffy and said we were all ganging up on her. Then someone observed perhaps her attitude was why no one told her their stories.
Have Harris/Walz gone soft on the dangers of trump's second term -- don't hear punchy lines anymore? IDK... in the VP debate, Walz was overly complementary to chubby cheeks but redeemed himself at the very end. Still rehabilitated chubby cheeks more than warranted, I thought. What do you all think?
I was recently in Cape Cod and it is 90+% Harris/Walz judging by the signs (no surprise). I was in Michigan in September first week, and drove from Ann Arbor to Traverse City to Mackinaw city to Mackinac Island and back and too many trump signs. Every time I saw a trump sign, my heart sank.
Lifelong Michigan resident. Even in the last election you only saw Trump signs, but if you're driving between those areas you'll encounter a lot of conservatives. I'm in Metro Detroit and there are plenty of people here who are not Trumpers, they just don't feel like expressing it with lawn signs and stickers.
Thanks for the info. And every time I gasped at a trump sign, my husband would remind me that MI is a swing state, :). Hope we can pull through. On the other hand, I had a lot of fun counting H/W signs on the Cape. There were like 40-4 on Rt 6A, 6 and other roads from Hyannis to PTown, same with going towards Woods Hole.
Your appearance at NYU yesterday was wonderful--as part of a wonderful program. I suggest that you have a text box on the substack highlighting future appearances--and a link to a recorded version for people who can't get to an in-person appearance.
We have got to expand the court, and retire a couple of corrupt motherfuckers. I keep hoping Coke-can Clarence's coffin nails will do the trick (he's an obese smoker).
I'm awash in outrage too — and I fervently hope Ron DeSantis reaps the whirlwind of combined rage of all the women, pregnant people and their loved ones, and the God knows how many in his state who will suffer needlessly because of his playing cruel and irresponsible politics with their lives as a Category 5 hurricane is barreling down on them.
Your book is great- Im telling everyone it’s as much about our freedom as it is about abortion! A very important work. I’ll do an Amazon review today!
The ACOG district 11 meeting in Texas last weekend was forceful and strategic. People in women’s health are not giving up. Your daily posts are being used by those of us trying to keep hope practicing women’s health here in Texas.
Thank you for the Call Her Daddy clip. I’m a 62 year old abortion access signature collector in AZ who was not familiar with this podcast. I shared on my social media to support Proposition 139 and VP Harris. It’s not enough to vote for propositions, we must elect representatives who can be defenders of our rights and freedoms.
I just did a training through Mobilize US for “Yes on 139” here in AZ, and signed up for their postcarding event next week.. The work of getting the signatures is only the beginning! So much education to get out to the voter.Thank you for doing this work!
I haven't finished it yet (only 3 chapters in) but it highlights the word games that are being played. I've always been troubled by way one application of a medical procedure has taken over the entire process. And yes, intent is significant. If your intent is first and foremost not to be pregnant then the term abortion is probably accurate. But if you are suffering from an ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage, the procedure may be the same but the intent is totally different.
As a retired surgical assistant I can assure you the medical term for a miscarriage is "Spontaneous Abortion". They don't use it in front of patients but I assure you that is what goes in the Medical charting. To abort means to end, in this case a process, it is the same whether nature does it, or a woman in the early stages decides to not continue the pregnancy,
if there is retained tissue a D & C is performed. There is no difference the intent is irrelevant.
That FL ad……my god. The state’s position is that she should DIE rather than receive care for a brain tumor? The ramifications of that position are indefensible. Where is the AMA in all of this? They should be as outraged as all of us women are.
PS: I can’t decide which makes me angrier—the fact that women are being sentenced to death for being pregnant, or that these “judicial” decisions are handed down by condescending, sanctimonious (predominantly white) men in black robes. If you saw them in street clothes in the grocery store they’d probably look unremarkable to you. But their words in the courtroom reveal how dangerously misogynistic they are.
sorry—I haven’t been following the comments to my comment :))
But you’re right—what if Viagra was suddenly outlawed. Would the AMA be silent, or would they (mumble, mumble) talk about how it’s (ahem) important for men’s health and self-esteem, how it’s such a simple thing really, can’t imagine a world without it…..(aargh)
GOP MAGA Republicans have destroyed their once proud party icon, "Honest Abe." Their new disgraceful icon is "Lying, Bullying, Convicted Felon, Conman Donny Johnny Trump.” What a catastrophic, damaging hard fall.
The right knows that their position on abortion is unpopular so the only way they can get what they want is for all of us to throw up our hands and just accept their restrictions. No way! Can't let that happen. Keep fighting!
All of this is horrible, and all of it is also child's play compared to what happens if Trump wins this election. We are right now living in 1932 Germany.
That NYT article was so good. I know it’s said here all the time by Jessica and by others. We shouldn’t have to share our private medical and life decisions with strangers before they see us fully human, but having spent decades never mentioning my abortion to anyone except a handful of family and close friends, not because I was ashamed but because I was afraid of being shamed, I found these stories powerful.
They can argue their nonsensical talking points all they want, but they cannot deny or silence our stories and experience. I want to give credit to all the women who came before me and fought when they didn’t have majority support. And those who spoke to normalize what for most of us is a normal experience. The more women that speak the harder it is to portray us as callous murderers.
There was a woman poster on one of the substacks, that said we share experiences, and our abortion stories with our fellow women. This one lady said no one would ever do that, and no one ever did that with her. Every woman on the thread chimed in with saying we supported and shared stories. she got all huffy and said we were all ganging up on her. Then someone observed perhaps her attitude was why no one told her their stories.
The Lincoln Project people make effective cut to the chase ads. A daughter 'talks' to her trumpy father. Take a look:
The Lincoln Project
@ProjectLincoln
Fathers, think before you vote.
https://x.com/ProjectLincoln/status/1843773404152819788
Have Harris/Walz gone soft on the dangers of trump's second term -- don't hear punchy lines anymore? IDK... in the VP debate, Walz was overly complementary to chubby cheeks but redeemed himself at the very end. Still rehabilitated chubby cheeks more than warranted, I thought. What do you all think?
I was recently in Cape Cod and it is 90+% Harris/Walz judging by the signs (no surprise). I was in Michigan in September first week, and drove from Ann Arbor to Traverse City to Mackinaw city to Mackinac Island and back and too many trump signs. Every time I saw a trump sign, my heart sank.
Lifelong Michigan resident. Even in the last election you only saw Trump signs, but if you're driving between those areas you'll encounter a lot of conservatives. I'm in Metro Detroit and there are plenty of people here who are not Trumpers, they just don't feel like expressing it with lawn signs and stickers.
Thanks for the info. And every time I gasped at a trump sign, my husband would remind me that MI is a swing state, :). Hope we can pull through. On the other hand, I had a lot of fun counting H/W signs on the Cape. There were like 40-4 on Rt 6A, 6 and other roads from Hyannis to PTown, same with going towards Woods Hole.
Your appearance at NYU yesterday was wonderful--as part of a wonderful program. I suggest that you have a text box on the substack highlighting future appearances--and a link to a recorded version for people who can't get to an in-person appearance.
Supreme Court declines to take up Biden Admin appeal in Texas EMTALA case.
We have got to expand the court, and retire a couple of corrupt motherfuckers. I keep hoping Coke-can Clarence's coffin nails will do the trick (he's an obese smoker).
I'm awash in outrage too — and I fervently hope Ron DeSantis reaps the whirlwind of combined rage of all the women, pregnant people and their loved ones, and the God knows how many in his state who will suffer needlessly because of his playing cruel and irresponsible politics with their lives as a Category 5 hurricane is barreling down on them.
I'm on the Bradenton/Sarasota line and it is barreling towards us, and I am livid he's playing games. I thought (p)Rick Scott was the worst!
Jessica, since you mentioned the Adam Serwer article in The Atlantic, this article should also be on your radar: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/10/democrats-third-trimester-abortions/680163/. A very sloppy defense of "reasonable" restrictions on later abortion care. Ugh.
Your book is great- Im telling everyone it’s as much about our freedom as it is about abortion! A very important work. I’ll do an Amazon review today!
The ACOG district 11 meeting in Texas last weekend was forceful and strategic. People in women’s health are not giving up. Your daily posts are being used by those of us trying to keep hope practicing women’s health here in Texas.
Stand and fight.
As a woman in Texas, love to hear that ACOG is fighting for women's health care.
This Houston resident is happy to hear that as well.
Thank you for the Call Her Daddy clip. I’m a 62 year old abortion access signature collector in AZ who was not familiar with this podcast. I shared on my social media to support Proposition 139 and VP Harris. It’s not enough to vote for propositions, we must elect representatives who can be defenders of our rights and freedoms.
I just did a training through Mobilize US for “Yes on 139” here in AZ, and signed up for their postcarding event next week.. The work of getting the signatures is only the beginning! So much education to get out to the voter.Thank you for doing this work!
I’m loving the book so far, Jessica. Thank you for all you do!!
Maddow played the Sally fields video last night. Are we going back to all this? I just can't believe where we are in this country anymore.
https://www.tiktok.com/@tmz/video/7423126059442261291
I haven't finished it yet (only 3 chapters in) but it highlights the word games that are being played. I've always been troubled by way one application of a medical procedure has taken over the entire process. And yes, intent is significant. If your intent is first and foremost not to be pregnant then the term abortion is probably accurate. But if you are suffering from an ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage, the procedure may be the same but the intent is totally different.
As a retired surgical assistant I can assure you the medical term for a miscarriage is "Spontaneous Abortion". They don't use it in front of patients but I assure you that is what goes in the Medical charting. To abort means to end, in this case a process, it is the same whether nature does it, or a woman in the early stages decides to not continue the pregnancy,
if there is retained tissue a D & C is performed. There is no difference the intent is irrelevant.
That FL ad……my god. The state’s position is that she should DIE rather than receive care for a brain tumor? The ramifications of that position are indefensible. Where is the AMA in all of this? They should be as outraged as all of us women are.
PS: I can’t decide which makes me angrier—the fact that women are being sentenced to death for being pregnant, or that these “judicial” decisions are handed down by condescending, sanctimonious (predominantly white) men in black robes. If you saw them in street clothes in the grocery store they’d probably look unremarkable to you. But their words in the courtroom reveal how dangerously misogynistic they are.
I keep wondering where the AMA is, as well! Do you think they would be silent if men’s healthcare was restricted?
sorry—I haven’t been following the comments to my comment :))
But you’re right—what if Viagra was suddenly outlawed. Would the AMA be silent, or would they (mumble, mumble) talk about how it’s (ahem) important for men’s health and self-esteem, how it’s such a simple thing really, can’t imagine a world without it…..(aargh)
Agree! Their silence is damning.
Pro life! Let’s let women die of treatable brain cancer while pregnant!
I haven’t kept up with replies…I can’t “like” this cuz it’s grim, but yeah, “let them die” hardly seems pro-life.
That's why I call them "forced birthers", I refuse to use their phony, made up, propaganda marketing term. it is way more accurate.
GOP MAGA Republicans have destroyed their once proud party icon, "Honest Abe." Their new disgraceful icon is "Lying, Bullying, Convicted Felon, Conman Donny Johnny Trump.” What a catastrophic, damaging hard fall.
The right knows that their position on abortion is unpopular so the only way they can get what they want is for all of us to throw up our hands and just accept their restrictions. No way! Can't let that happen. Keep fighting!
Fighting forever and a day!!! 👍🥰⛓️💥
All of this is horrible, and all of it is also child's play compared to what happens if Trump wins this election. We are right now living in 1932 Germany.