Medical exceptions to abortion bans often exclude mental health conditions

Even before the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization last year overturning the federal right to abortion, people with mental health problems faced disproportionate barriers to getting an abortion, said Sarah Roberts, a researcher with the University of California, San Francisco’s Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health program. As mental health care … Read more

Abortion bans and anti-LGBTQ laws are complicating business travel

“We think critically about who we are sending where and ask employees if they’re comfortable going to a state that has demonstrated they are not inclusive towards petrople with certain identities,” said Cierra Gross, CEO of Caged Bird HR, a consultancy firm. “We could be putting someone’s physical and psychological safety on the line in … Read more

US abortion rates rise post-Roe amid deep divide in state-by-state access

“From a national picture, it could look like a kind of calm increase over time,” said Dr Alison Norris, a co-chair of WeCount and an associate professor at the Ohio State University’s College of Public Health. “And what actually is happening is a complete disruption in the healthcare system and in people’s lives.” Read more … Read more

Speaker of the House – Mike Johnson – what to know

New House Speaker Blamed School Shootings on Teaching Evolution and Abortion Newly elected House Speaker Mike Johnson is a hardcore Christian nationalist who has a history of spouting extreme right-wing views — including on mass shootings. The Louisiana Republican’s record on guns has come under scrutiny in the wake of a shooter killing at least … Read more

Domestic violence calls about ‘reproductive coercion’ doubled after the overturn of Roe

Reports of abuse involving reproductive coercion — actions that prevent someone from making crucial decisions about their body and reproductive health — nearly doubled in the yearlong period after Roe v. Wade was overturned, according to new data from the National Domestic Violence Hotline (NDVH). Read more at 19th News  

An Arizona Supreme Court justice openly opposes abortion. He’ll hear a case deciding its legality anyway.

A justice on the Arizona Supreme Court — which this winter could decide whether the state can enforce a near total ban on abortion — has repeatedly expressed his opposition to the procedure and received campaign support from a prominent state anti-abortion activist, according to materials reviewed by The 19th. Read more at 19th News

Tactic: Virginia GOP rallies around 15 week ban now, looks to a national ban later?

Glenn Youngkin thinks he has a Republican response to Democrats’ abortion attacks The Virginia GOP is trying to flip the script on an issue that has dogged Republicans for a year and a half. So far, Republicans have been doing their best to not talk about it. But now Youngkin is going after Democrats as … Read more