In the 2000s, Johnson was an attorney and spokesman for the Alliance Defense Fund, known today as Alliance Defending Freedom. It describes itself as “one of the leading Christian law firms committed to protecting religious freedom, free speech, marriage and family, parental rights, and the sanctity of life.” Johnson has written in favor of criminalizing … Read more
As an attorney for the Alliance Defense Fund, now known as the Alliance Defending Freedom, he worked on efforts to shut down abortion clinics in the state. In Congress, he cosponsored legislation that would have banned abortions at about six weeks of pregnancy, i.e., a time when many people do not even know they’re pregnant. … Read more
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
Army chief retires as Tuberville hold snarls the Pentagon’s top ranks “The failure to confirm our superbly qualified senior uniformed leaders undermines our military readiness,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said at the changeover ceremony at an Army installation just outside Washington on an uncharacteristically cool and rainy morning. “It undermines our retention of some of … Read more
President George W. Bush started PEPFAR in Africa in 2003. The program retains bipartisan support. But anti-abortion groups and some House Republicans, including Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey, are pushing to attach abortion-related limits on U.S. health support overseas to the reauthorizing legislation. They are also seeking yearly votes on PEPFAR’s continuance. Read more at … Read more
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said on Monday that he supported a blockade by Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) on hundreds of military promotions, asserting that the Pentagon was “violating the law” with its abortion travel policy. Read more at Politico
The House’s right flank is loading up once-anodyne appropriations bills with riders focused on the culture war and fabricated controversies. Read more at Talking Points Memo
A Republican-backed spending bill threatens to end national access to mail-order abortion pills and cut billions from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap) that provides low-income families with food benefits. Read more at The Guardian
At issue is the Defense Department’s policy that reimburses troops who travel to seek abortions. Tuberville says he won’t allow the promotions — normally a pro forma affair — to go through easily unless the Pentagon rescinds the policy, followed by a vote to codify the policy into law. Democrats and the administration say that’s … Read more
“If you didn’t know already, if Republicans win control of the House and Senate in 2024, they are going to pass a national abortion ban,” Murphy tweeted. “It’s 100% certain. Just so we’re clear about the stakes.” Read more at The Hill
