Plus: Anti-abortion pregnancy centers have grifted to the tune of $489 million in public funds post-Roe.

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: Over the last two years, while Texas hospitals (including the one I was born in!) were denying care to women with ectopic pregnancies because of state abortion bans, anti-abortion state governments and politicians were funneling over $489 million in public funds to anti-abortion centers which exist to shame and dissuade people out of accessing abortion. I’m so fucking angry and so fucking tired. I don’t have anything clever or insightful to add. Just fucking angry. And so fucking tired.

(UPDATE/CORRECTION: The original headlined version of this post incorrectly stated that the Texas women who were turned away from accessing ectopic pregnancy care sued the hospitals where they were denied care. In fact, they have filed complaints with the feds alleging the hospitals violated the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act. Different thing!)

The Top Headlines

• “Two women say Texas hospitals wouldn’t treat their ectopic pregnancies. Each lost a fallopian tube as a result.” (The 19th) and “Dozens of pregnant women, some bleeding or in labor, are turned away from ERs despite federal law” (AP)
• “The billion dollar question: Why are taxpayer dollars funding anti-abortion centers?” (Reckon)
• “Child rape survivors face extraordinary barriers in states with abortion bans” (The Guardian)
• “Project 2025 architect compared abortion to slavery and the Holocaust” (The Guardian)
• “The TikTokers Making ‘Get Ready With Me’ Videos of Their Abortions” (Glamour)
• “How an anti-abortion doctor joined Texas’ maternal mortality committee” (Texas Tribune)
• “This CEO Helped Lead Antiabortion Clinics. Now She’s Exposing Them.” (Elle) — I mean, it’s an interesting report! But there are no cookies for Dawn Hughes coming out of my kitchen.

• 🇺🇸 What politicians and politicos on the national stage are doing and saying about abortion in advance of the ‘24 election:
  • “The New Faces of Abortion Rights” (New Yorker) — A look at some of the women who are telling their abortion stories as part of volunteering with Kamala Harris’ campaign.
  • “Vance says Trump wouldn’t ban abortion pill days after Trump indicated he would be open to it” (NBC News) — Where in The Ohio Sofa King does damage-control rounds over Trump’s weird, but mostly affirmative, response to a reporter’s question last week about whether he’d direct the FDA to rescind approval for mifepristone.
  • “Roe v. Wade Didn’t Go Far Enough For Abortion Rights, Hundreds Of Health Care Providers Tell Biden And Harris” (HuffPo)
  • “Harris rallies crowds on abortion message, while Trump treads lightly” (WaPo)
  • “Ted Cruz Joins Fellow Republicans in Dodging Any Questions About Abortion” (Jezebel)

• 👩🏽‍⚕️ What’s happening with clinical abortion care, providers, medication abortion, and such:
  • “Telehealth abortion still on the rise, especially in states with shield laws, report shows” (News from the States)
  • “Inside a medical practice sending abortion pills to states where they’re banned” (NPR)
  • “Missouri OB-GYN talks public health in a ban state and drawing on identity to inform patient care” (News from the States)
  • “‘Abortion does not go away’: Neighboring states see influx of Idaho abortion patients” (Idaho Press)
  • “Walmart, Costco Pressured by Faith Groups Over Abortion Pill” (Bloomberg) — I think “faith groups” is being extremely generous here.

• ⚖️ What’s going on with abortion bans, legal challenges, and bills at the state and local levels:
  • 🟢 “Freeda Womb on display in Missoula to support reproductive rights in Montana” (Daily Montanan) — Freeda is a 20-foot inflatable IUD!
  • 🟢 “New abortion and gender-affirming care shield law takes effect in Maine” (News Center Maine)
  • 🟡 “Oklahoma asks Supreme Court to restore funds blocked by abortion info requirements” (Courthouse News)
  • 🟡 “[South Dakota] abortion rights measure likely to appear on ballot, but lawsuit could affect election results” (South Dakota Searchlight)
  • 🔴 “[Arkansas] Secretary of state flips, flops and flips on rules as abortion amendment court battle continues” (Arkansas Times)
  • 🔴 “Abortion foes will ask AZ Supreme Court to keep an abortion rights measure off the ballot” (Arizona Mirror)
  • 🔴 “Qualifications for Iowa abortion medical exceptions remain unclear, providers and advocates say” (Iowa Capital Dispatch)
  • 🔴 “[Arizona Supreme Court Justice] Bill Montgomery says his ‘strong feelings’ on abortion don’t make him biased and he won’t recuse” (Arizona Mirror) — Sure jan dot gif

---

The Takes

• Listen to repro legal expert Greer Donley on the Correct With Ryan Hamilton podcast. She tweets: “I was thrilled to join @TheRyanHamilton’s podcast to talk about how tragically vague & confusing abortion definitions & exceptions are. His wife’s story highlights how abortion bans are causing a chilling effect that harms all reproductive healthcare. Hope you tune in!“
• Read Kaitlin Byrd in DAME mag on the urgency of the Equal Rights Amendment on abortion and so much more.

---

---

The Tweets/Toks/Skeets/Grams

• Essential thread alert: wherein @clozillo brings the receipts on the many, many ways in which repro justice advocates have made consistent demands for Palestinian liberation, because Palestinian liberation is a reproductive justice issue.

• Yup:

---

The Fuck Are We Supposed to Do About It?

• 👕 SWAG OF THE WEEK! 👕
  • The Amarillo Reproductive Freedom Alliance is leading the charge against abortion-support travel bans in the Texas Panhandle, and now they’ve got merch!
• 💬 Anywhere, for Black folks: The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Reproductive Equity Action Lab is “inviting Black people capable of pregnancy to participate in a confidential interview” to “learn more about your decision-making related to abortion care.” Here’s more info.
• 🎧 Anywhere: Advocates for Youth is hosting a listen and learn event, “Bodies and Borders: Reproductive Health Conversations in Immigrant Families,” on Tuesday, August 13.
• 🛍️ Anywhere, but Texas-focused: The Lilith Fund is bringing PACKs (post-abortion care kits) back! Volunteer in San Antonio to build kits, or donate or buy something from their Amazon wishlist by Wednesday, August 14.
• 🇵🇸 Anywhere: The TEA Fund and HEART Women & Girls are hosting a webinar, “Understanding the Palestine Occupation from a Reproductive Justice Perspective,” on Friday, August 16th.
• 🎭 Chicago: The “L’abortion Variety Hour: A Cavalcade of Cooch” on Monday, August 19th is (you guessed it) brought to you by the Abortion Access Front.
• 🎸 McAllen, TX: The Frontera Fund‘s “Justicia: A Hardcore Show for Abortion” is Saturday, September 7th.
• 🕺🏽Washington, D.C.: The DC Abortion Fund‘s election season dance party is Friday, September 13 at Songbyrd Music House.
• 🍹 Chicago: The Midwest Access Project‘s fall fundraiser is Wednesday, September 25 at Guild Row. Apps and an open bar!
• 👻 Denton/DFW: The TEA Fund‘s “Haunted Hotties Showcase” is Saturday, October 26 at Dan’s Silverleaf in Denton.
• 🦺 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 $1 Million for Black RJ campaign is live through August 31! Donate here.
  • Donate to keep the West Alabama Women’s Center’s doors open so they can provide gender-affirming care, repro care, pre- and post-natal care, miscarriage management, and much more, or donate to help pay their insurance bill.
  • Buy a wishlist item for the Yellowhammer Fund‘s Repro Raven bus.
  • 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.
  • Donate to rebuild Affirmative Care Solutions, the Illinois clinic attacked by an anti-abortion extremist who drove his car through the front of the building.
  • Here’s the verified crowdfunding page for “Ashley,” the 13-year-old mother who was denied abortion care in Mississippi and profiled in TIME magazine.
  • Donate to support the Austin Women’s Health Center and their essential repro health services, including miscarriage management and abortion referrals.
  • Donate $$ and pads to Just the Pill’s mobile clinic.
  • Here’s the verified crowdfunding page for the family of Samara, a 17-year-old in San Antonio and Buckle Bunnies Fund patient who died from repro health complications.
  • The Valley Abortion Group is a new all-trimester abortion facility fundraising to open in New Mexico — donate to the GoFundMe.
  • Donate to the Online Abortion Resource Squad, which supports the R/Abortion subreddit 24/7/365.
  • Donate to Elevated Access, which transports folks for abortion and gender-affirming care.
  • Donate to ensure Desert Star Family Planning in Phoenix can keep providing essential abortion care to folks in the Southwest.
  • Find your local abortion fund and donate.
  • 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.

• 🎙️ Podcasts!
  • Rewire’s Boom! Lawyered
  • Access, a podcast about abortion
  • Repro Legal Defense Fund’s No Body Criminalized
  • The Population Institute‘s rePROS Fight Back
  • Abortion Access Front‘s Feminist Buzzkills Podcast
  • The Meteor’s The A Files: The Secret History of Abortion
  • Ibis Reproductive Health and All-Options‘ Support Unseen

• ✍🏿 Sign and share:
  • Anywhere: Sign this multi-org-backed petition demanding Google stop “collecting and retaining location data and aiding abortion prosecutors.”
  • Anywhere: sign the Fight for the Future petition to demand better digital safety and security on Slack!
  • Anywhere: Sign the RJ Response to Stop Cop City.
  • Anywhere: UltraViolet’s petition calling on pharmacies to provide medication abortion access where it’s legal to do so.

• 🔎 Abortion Resources
  • ⚕️ Abortion providers, rights, and support:
    • Looking for a clinical abortion provider? AbortionFinder and INeedAnA are trustworthy and updated regularly.
    • Here’s INeedAnA‘s fabulous, comprehensive online resource for people under the age of 18 who need information about how to access abortion care, especially in states that require parental involvement.
    • Here’s the National Immigration Law Center’s know-your-rights-guide to abortion access for immigrants.
    • 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 Rights has an interactive online resource looking at “the current status of abortion rights through state court constitutional decisions.”
    • Check out the This Is Normal infogame about self-managed abortion.
  • 📚 Research:
    • Here’s If/When/How‘s latest report on the criminalization of self-managed abortion between 2000-2020, plus a new report that looks at how callers to their Repro Legal Helpline have been affected post-Dobbs
    • 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’s report, “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.
    • 🗣️ Communicating about abortion:
      • Check out the ANSIRH On Screen program’s latest resource sheet and recommendations on abortion portrayals in film and television.
      • Who Not When’s guide to reporting on later abortion is just great.
      • Check out the “Pro Choice, But” campaign to better understand how to talk with folks who are, well, pro-choice … but.
      • Read this guide on using trans-inclusive language from ARC-Southeast and the Transgender Law Center.
      • REPRO Rising Virginia has a thorough guide-via-Twitter-thread to keeping your protest signs fresh.
      • Physicians for Reproductive Health’s wide-ranging messaging guide covers all kinds of topics in repro and abortion care.
    • 🚓 Abortion and pregnancy criminalization:
      • Read this solidarity + organizing brief from Interrupting Criminalization and a coalition of repro and anti-criminalization orgs.
      • The Repro Legal Defense Fund and the Community Justice Exchange have an extensive, attractive, and fact-filled guide to abortion criminalization in both English and Spanish.
    • 🏠 Self-managed abortion:
      • If/When/How’s Repro Legal Helpline guide to internet safety.
      • Plan C Pills has published a self-managed abortion field guide in super fun, accessible zine form.
      • The Digital Defense Fund has a useful guide to keeping your abortion private and secure.
      • This gorgeous slideshow from South Texans for Reproductive Justice!
      • Check out the SMAZine from Urge and LiberalJane.

---

Goodnight and good dunk — This isn’t strictly abortion related but if y’all haven’t already appreciated Celine Dion on Instagram repudiating the Trump/Vance campaign’s use of the Titanic song …

---

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.

---

If you’d like to get these abortion news roundups directly in your inbox every week, subscribe:

Or support my art + design work by picking up something fun from my store!