Plus: An academic press has retracted anti-abortion studies being used to target FDA approval for medication abortion
Here’s another edition of Hard to Believe It’s Only Tuesday, a weekly roundup of the top headlines, tweets, toks, takes, and more in abortion news. You can always email me (andrea.grimes@gmail.com, or grimesandrea@proton.me for more sensitive inquiries) or DM me on instagram with action items, takes, and news clips. This post is probably too long for email, so click the headline above or head to the HTBIOT page to get the full read in your browser, because you don’t want to miss this week’s Goodnight and Good Dunk!
The big takeaway:I know the mainstream political press will continue to pretend like Trump’s position on abortion is a big fucking mystery, but the architect of Texas’ “bounty hunter” abortion ban represented Donald Trump in front of SCOTUS last week. In case there was any question about who Trump is aligned with when it comes to abortion.
The Top Headlines
“Study cited by Texas judge in abortion pill case retracted” (States Newsroom) — I filmed a short TikTok about this news last week. The tl;dr is that anti-abortion junk “science” is anti-abortion junk “science”! Unfortunately, the retractions are unlikely to have a meaningful effect on the challenge to medication abortion’s FDA status currently before the Supreme Court.
“Texas conservatives test how far they can extend abortion and gender-transition restrictions beyond state lines” (Texas Tribune) — Not only did SCOTUS not “leave abortion up to the states,” but they created a landscape in which anti-abortion politicians in states with enough resources and clout can make pretty genuine and terrifying attempts to force their own laws on people residing and seeking health care elsewhere. It’s only a matter of time before these efforts succeed and/or gain steam.
🟡 “In Missouri, one abortion rights initiative petition is ending as another kicks into gear” (The 19th) — Yellow light because this whole deal has been pretty messy! The petition that’s moving forward is backed by a number of mainstream reproductive rights groups. It would repeal Missouri’s total abortion ban but allow lawmakers to “regulate the provision of abortion after fetal viability provided that under no circumstance shall the government deny, interfere with, delay or otherwise restrict an abortion that in the good faith judgment of a treating health care professional is needed to protect the life or physical or mental health of the pregnant person.”
🔴 “Florida appeals court drags feet on abortion consent ruling” (Orlando Weekly) — I covered this when it first came to light a few weeks ago, but I’ll reiterate: legal experts have told me that while this specific case concerns young people’s access to abortion in Florida, it could serve as stepping stool to a statewide abortion ban for people of any and every age.
The Takes
The Los Angeles Abortion Support Collectiveis in Prism with an op-ed about California’s failure to live up to the abortion-friendly reputation it seeks: “As long as a well-respected abortion clinic like DuPont Clinic is not allowed to open in places like Beverly Hills, then access to abortion in Los Angeles and our state is not protected. We’ve seen this trend across California: cities and police colluding to stifle efforts to expand abortion access in our communities. From Fontana to Beverly Hills, this issue is the same: anti-abortion extremist groups are finding allyship in local officials, corporate landlords, and the police to limit access to abortion.“
Repro reporter Susan Rinkunas is in Slate unpacking why Biden’s “abortion on demand” hedging is not helping: ” … it’s yet another example of Biden assuming a defensive crouch on the Democrats’ most salient 2024 issue. It’s not the first time he’s said it either: Biden also noted his disapproval of “abortion on demand” during a White House meeting on the anniversary of the Roe ruling. Whether this comment is a favored ad-lib or something his speechwriters cooked up, it needs to go, immediately.”
Melissa Gira Grant is in The New Republicwith a look at Project 2025, the “remarkably detailed guide to turning the United States into a fascist’s paradise.” To wit: “On January 20, 2025, conservatives plan to resurrect a 150-year-old defunct law to ban abortion across the nation. This is not a secret plan—far from it. It’s part of the 180-Day Playbook produced by Project 2025, detailing priorities for an incoming conservative president on day one. These 900 pages lay out a Christian nationalist vision of the United States, one in which married heterosexuality is the only valid form of sexual expression and identity; all pregnancies would be carried to term, even if that requires coercion or death; and transgender and gender-nonconforming people do not exist.”
The Tweets/Toks/Grams
Abortion on demand is the demand, and has been the demand! From We Testify‘s Renee Bracey Sherman:
Not to add to the confusion but I’d like to add to some historical context to this. “Abortion on demand” was and is an abortion rights movement slogan, but use and connotation has changed over 50 years as the repro orgs abandoned it and right-wing politicians mangled the meaning. https://t.co/HQgu9zgS14pic.twitter.com/L1xX0Zrq7I
If those creepy “He Gets Us” Super Bowl ads had your spidey senses tingling, it’s because your anti-abortion bullshit-o-meter works pretty good! Here’s a thread from The Meteor:
Those "he gets us" #SuperBowl ads promoting a progressive-ish Christianity?
Funded by an Evangelical Hobby Lobby billionaire who has poured tens of millions into the Alliance Defending Freedom—the hate group writing anti-trans laws and filing suit against the abortion pill.
🍑 Georgia: Join SisterLove for Georgia Reproductive Justice Advocacy Day at the state capitol on Thursday, February 15. Details and RSVP here.
💻 Online: The Feminist Front‘s next volunteer meeting is Tuesday, February 20th, online.
💸 Anywhere: Donate to rebuildAffirmative Care Solutions, the Illinois clinic attacked by an anti-abortion extremist who drove his car through the front of the building.
🥂 Dallas: Join Jane’s Due Process for a celebration in Dallas on Tuesday, February 20 featuring Dr. Ghazaleh Moayedi and drag performances by Cynthia Lee Fontaine and Barbie Davenport Dupree!
🌎 Online: SisterSong is hosting an online continuing education seminar, Environmental Justice as Reproductive Justice, on Wednesday, February 21st. Register here.
💻 Online: The Midwest Access Project‘s “Self-Managed Abortion Support & Advocacy” workshop is Thursday, February 22. Register here.
🙋🏽 Folks in Alabama, Mississippi, the Florida panhandle, Louisiana, Tennessee, Georgia, Texas: Applications for the Yellowhammer Fund‘s 2024 Catalysts for Reproductive Justice Fellowship are due Friday, February 23rd.
🥂 Dallas: The Texas Equal Access Fund‘s First Bloom event is set for Thursday, May 16th.
💌 Anywhere: It’s abortion valentine time! (Valen-time?) Join the Frontera Fund in writing a note of “tenderness and support” to people having abortions.
🔬 Anywhere, for abortion fundleaders: Participate in a UCSF study!
🦺 St. Louis area: Illinois’ Hope Clinic is looking for clinic escorts. Here’s how to learn more.
🐝 Anywhere: The “Pollination Station,” Apiary Practical Support‘s volunteer training series, is now taking applications.
🚗 Kentucky: The Kentucky Health Justice Network is looking for volunteer drivers and case managers. Here’s where to sign up.
📱 North Texas: The Texas Equal Access Fund is looking for bilingual Spanish-speaking volunteers for their text line. Here’s where to sign up.
🤠 Texas: Local teen-friendly businesses in in Bryan, College Station, Lubbock, or San Angelo can become pickup spots for repro kits assembled by Jane’s Due Process. Here’s the application form.
⛰️ Southwestern Virginia and Appalachia: The New River Abortion Access Fund is looking for volunteers.
🗳️ Anywhere, U.S.: Hey Jane x Vote America helps prep voters to support pro-abortion policies and candidates
💸 From your wallet:
The IPPF and the Palestinian Family Planning Association are attempting to provide care for tens of thousands of pregnant people in Gaza; learn more here and donate/spread the word.
Buy something off the wishlist of an independent clinic, abortion fund, or clinic defense group, or donate to support abortion funds. This link distributes your donation to 90+ funds around the country. Or donate to support independent abortion providers.
Abortions Welcome is a “pro-choice spiritual companion for use before, during, and after abortion.”
Want to become a practical support volunteer helping folks access abortion? Read this essential FAQ from Apiary first.
The Center for Reproductive Rightshas an interactive online resource looking at “the current status of abortion rights through state court constitutional decisions.”
📚 Research:
Here’s If/When/How‘s new report on the criminalization of self-managed abortion between 2000-2020.
New research from Pregnancy Justice looks at the data behind rising criminalization of pregnancy.
Here’s new research from Gynuity on the safety and effectiveness of misoprostol-only medication abortion.
Read Dr. Autumn Asher BlackDeer’sreport, “Towards an Indigenous Reproductive Justice: Examining Attitudes on Abortion among American Indian and Alaska Native Communities.”
Here’s new research on abortion access for incarcerated folks.
Goodnight and good dunk — Sir! I’m trying to exercise my right to bodily autonomy here!
That Super Jesus ad made me temporarily blind but I’m being revived with absinthe. Can you imagine trying to get an abortion and bitch is trying to wash your feet…
That’s all for this week. I’m sure I’ve missed something you’d like to see featured in this roundup, for I am but one woman with a computer and an abortion-news-induced drinking problem. Holler at me — andrea.grimes@gmail.com or grimesandrea@proton.me for more sensitive inquiries, or DM me on Instagram, and I’ll try to add follow-ups as I’m able.
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