Anti-Abortion Fake Clinics are Literally Filthy

Here’s another edition of Hard to Believe It’s Only Tuesday, a weekly roundup of the top headlines, tweets (for now!), toks, takes, and more in abortion news. You can always email me ([email protected]) or DM me on instagram with action items, takes, and news clips.

The big takeaway: Reveal just published another excellent/horrifying investigation from Laura C. Morel on the nightmarish lack of oversight and regulation of crisis pregnancy centers. Tread carefully if you’re squeamish about germs.

The Top Headlines

• “This nurse wanted to help women avoid abortions. Then she saw infection control problems at a crisis pregnancy center.” (Reveal)

• “Muslim-American opinions on abortion are complex. What does Islam actually say?” (NPR)

• “Jane’s Revenge: Biden’s justice department uses abortion access law to indict pro-choice vandals” (Rolling Stone) — More on this primo Biden Administration dipshittery in the Tweets section below.

• “RNC calls on candidates to ‘go on offense’ on anti-abortion laws in 2024” (The Hill)

• “What it takes to give abortion seekers (actually good) advice online” (New York)

• What’s happening around medication abortion access:

  • “Iowa Republicans file legislation making it a felony to manufacture, prescribe abortion drug” (The Hill)

  • “Senators ask mifepristone manufacturer to list miscarriage as a use for abortion pill” (The 19th)

  • “GOP attorneys general warn CVS, Walgreens against mailing abortion pill in their states” (CNBC) 

  • “A Trump-appointed Texas judge could force a major abortion pill off the market” (NPR)

  • “Survey finds widespread confusion around medication abortion in post-Roe U.S.” (CNN)

• What’s happening with abortion laws, bans, and restrictions at the state and local levels:

  • “Republicans aim to decimate abortion access in post-Roe haven states” (WaPo)

  • “The fate of Utah’s abortion law could rest on lawmakers changing the rules on injunctions” (KUER)

  • “Virginia House Republicans won’t consider Youngkin’s abortion ban proposal” (WRIC)

  • “Tennessee bill would imprison people for three years if they ‘lie’ about rape to get an abortion” (Jezebel)

  • “Gov. Tim Walz signs law strengthening abortion rights in Minnesota” (StarTribune)

  • “Attorney general asks [South Carolina] court to reconsider abortion ruling” (AP) — The state Supreme Court struck down South Carolina’s six-week abortion ban in January, and the AG is asking for a rehearing.

  • “Nebraska lawmakers put off vote on ‘heartbeat’ abortion ban” (AP)

  • “In mostly abortion-free Mississippi, court battle continues” (AP) — The court battle in question is the anti-abortion American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologist’s lawsuit over Mississippi’s anti-abortion trigger law, passed in 2007, and a 1998 ruling that protects abortion as a right under the state’s Constitution.

The Takes

• Repro legal scholar Mary Ziegler is in CNN warning of anti-abortion efforts to exploit the 1873 Comstock Act in an attempt to defeat abortion-friendly (or friendlier) state protections: “If the Supreme Court interprets the Comstock Act to ban the mailing of abortion pills, the Biden administration’s Department of Justice would likely not make enforcement of the act a priority. That would sharpen the already-high stakes of the 2024 election, especially for blue states. A Republican president could take a very different position on enforcing of the Comstock Act, with dire consequences. For those in blue states, this growing focus on the Comstock Act should be a wakeup call. Now is the time to begin working toward the repeal of the law.”

The Tweets/Toks/Grams

• IDGAF, I am going to link to my own thread about not posting about legally risky abortion shit online!! Don’t do this!!

• Emory University’s Hayley McMahon tweets a short thread on the Biden DOJ’s decision to use the FACE Act (intended to protect clinics from anti-abortion harassment and violence) to prosecute pro-choice graffiti-ists.

• @RHAVote connects some important dots on later abortion here:

The Fuck Are We Supposed to Do About It?

• Online: Learn about self-managed abortion support and care during the Midwest Access Coalition’s virtual training with Larada Lee-Wallace on Wednesday, February 15th.

• Texas: The Afiya Center’s #RJVoter advocacy week starts Tuesday, February 28th. Check out their Instagram for more, including a community forum, advocacy training, and an advocacy day.

• Anywhere: The Frontera Fund invites folks to write a “love letter” to support Texans traveling out of state to access abortion care. Everyone loves someone who’s had an abortion!

• Anywhere: Listen to folks from Frontera Fund and the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice talk about “abortion access on a militarized border” on the new Lilith Fund podcast, Gaslit. The latest episode is in Spanish — links here. English is forthcoming.

• Georgia: Sign the Amplify Georgia Collaborative’s petition to support the Georgia Reproductive Freedom Act.

• Anywhere: Use All Above All*’s online form to express your support for the EACH act in Congress.

• Anywhere: Via @RHAVote, the Valley Abortion Group is new all-trimester abortion facility fundraising to open in New Mexico — donate to the GoFundMe here.

• Anywhere, for health care providers: UCSF’s Dobbs Impact Study is looking at instances of “poor-quality medical care since the Dobbs decision,” and they’re encouraging providers to submit de-identified stories.

• Texas:

  • Join the Texas Abortion Hype Squad.

  • Jane’s Due Process is looking for volunteers in Bryan, College Station, San Angelo, and Lubbock to distribute repro kits containing emergency contraception and other essentials. Sign up here — and they’re looking for local businesses to volunteer as pick-up sites, too.

• Anywhere, best practices edition:

  • Physicians for Reproductive Health has updated guidance on discussing and reporting on later abortion care.

  • 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.

  • Check out the “Pro Choice, But” campaign to better understand how to talk with folks who are, well, pro-choice … but.

  • Read the National Immigration Law Center’s know-your-rights-guide to abortion access for immigrants and share widely.

  • Familiarize yourself with this Digital Defense Fund guide to keeping your abortion private and secure, or check out the If/When/How Repro Legal Helpline guide to internet safety.

  • Read this guide on using trans-inclusive language from ARC-Southeast and the Transgender Law Center.

  • REPRO Rising Virginia has a thorough guide to updating your protest signs to make sure you’re using the most forward-thinking, respectful, and impactful language around abortion.

  • Here’s a big list of action items and info created by @RHAVote, and another big list of action items and info created by Alison Turkos.

• California, Texas, or Georgia: SisterLove, Inc. is looking for English- or Spanish-speakers between the ages of 15 and 49 who “recently found out [they] were pregnant’” as part of a paid study through the University of Pittsburgh. Here’s the intake survey to find out if you qualify.

• Sign and share:

  • Texas: Avow Texas’ petition demands county district attorneys pledge not to prosecute people for providing abortions, or because of a pregnancy outcome.

  • Anywhere: All Above All*’s petition asks President Biden take immediate steps to ensure abortion justice for immigrants.

• Anywhere: Declare an Abortion Provider Appreciation Day in your community using this toolkit from the National Institute for Reproductive Health.

• From your wallet: 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!

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 — [email protected], or DM me on Instagram, and I’ll try to add follow-ups as I’m able.