As today is the opening day for the Supreme Court, let’s look at the ramifications of the Dobbs decision.
‘Feels horrible to say no’: abortion funds run out of money as US demand surges
A lifeline for many in states with abortion restrictions, abortion funds are being pushed to the brink due to rising costs and a drop in donations
Carter Sherman
Fri 22 Sep 2023 06.00 EDT
Laurie Bertram Roberts never expected Americans to keep forking over money to pay for other people’s abortions. But the abortion fund director didn’t think it would get this dire.
When the US supreme court overturned Roe v Wade last year, people donated tens of thousands of dollars to Roberts’ organization, the Mississippi Reproductive Freedom Fund, which is dedicated to helping people afford abortions and the many costs that come with it. But, in August, Mississippi Reproductive Freedom Fund had to stop funding abortions. It’s now closed until January 2024.
“We just don’t have the money,” said Roberts, who co-founded the fund a decade ago. “It’s a strategic decision, to focus on fundraising for the next couple months, so that when we reopen, we’ll have money.”
For now, the fund – which has historically also helped people with other costs of living and parenting – is only offering access to its pantry of food and household supplies. This will be the longest the Mississippi Reproductive Freedom Fund has ever been shut down.
“I didn’t think the emergency funding was gonna stay the same,” Roberts said in reference to the post-Roe donation spike. “But I didn’t expect for our funding to dip by 35 to 40% from last year.”
…………………….
The Mississippi Reproductive Freedom Fund isn’t the only abortion fund that’s had to turn its lights off recently. In mid-June, just three days before the anniversary of Roe’s overturning, Indigenous Women Rising announced that its abortion fund had hit its monthly budget and would cease operations until July. The Mountain Access Brigade, which serves people in Appalachia, closed its support hotline for 10 days in July to save money. By mid-July, the Utah Abortion Fund announced that it had already exceeded its monthly budget and would close until late August.
Read the rest at the link.
As you put Planned Parenthood on your list of donations, these funds need your help in order to help others.
Skeptical Brotha 💛🐝🌈 (@skepticalbrotha) posted at 9:09 AM on Mon, Oct 02, 2023:
There is zero possibility that North Carolina Republicans will create fair redistricting maps after repealing sunshine laws and privatizing their redistricting records. Gerrymandering lawsuits have skillfully used those records in the past.
(https://x.com/skepticalbrotha/status/1708846704999408037?t=CaxuiiXtt8pDLXdod_G3Qw&s=03)
😂😂😂😂
But, it’s true
😂😂😂😂😂😂🤣🤣
KD (@Fly_Sistah) posted at 0:16 PM on Mon, Oct 02, 2023:
Trump can’t afford experienced lawyers so hired counsel who was too incompetent to check a box on a form for a jury trial. Trump’s been attacking the judge Engoron & Tish James in the media not realizing he wasn’t playing to a jury. https://t.co/BEJMTYOkxu https://t.co/lYLlfN2xEn
(https://x.com/Fly_Sistah/status/1708893629232673186?t=18nMfr_rrgPdpSZaPMQ7vg&s=03)
BWA HA HA AH AH AH AH HA HA AH HA
Fugelsang@JohnFugelsang. 2h
When you realize that the attractive lawyer who flattered you on TV is horrified bc she passed on a jury trial… …and the lawyer who made you pay his full fee up front can’t stop smiling.
Cause she thought she was SPECIAL.
HMMPH.
Abby Libby (@abbythelibb_) posted at 3:46 PM on Sun, Oct 01, 2023:
Or, and read carefully here because you seem really slow: Conservative men should treat female allies with BASIC FUCKING DECENCY.
I LOVE THESE RESPONSES:
Hannah – HLK851 on Spoutible (@HLK851) posted at 7:35 AM on Mon, Oct 02, 2023:
Conservative men don’t treat anyone else with basic decency, why are you expecting them to treat conservative women with basic decency? I’m not being glib either, they’re in it for themselves and no one else. How is this surprising to you?
Bernie must retire in 2024 before he declines (@Needle_of_Arya) posted at 9:29 AM on Mon, Oct 02, 2023:
The leopard didn’t just eat her face, he ate her whole , and is presently chewing on the marrow of her metaphorical bones for the last of the flesh. I mean, those are the actual rules with white conservative people.
Ekta Shah (@EktaShahMD) posted at 9:34 AM on Mon, Oct 02, 2023:
Bc she thinks she will be the exception as long as she does what they want. They always do. And she enjoys it when they do it to Black and Brown and other marginalized groups
Palmer Report (@PalmerReport) posted at 1:37 PM on Sun, Oct 01, 2023:
Matt Gaetz now says he’ll seek to remove Kevin McCarthy next week.
Kevin McCarthy says he’ll seek to remove Matt Gaetz next week.
I’ll be over here making popcorn all week.
(https://x.com/PalmerReport/status/1708551750796583372?t=dnvA0DMXOSNACgQos74KyA&s=03)
His rant
Acyn (@Acyn) posted at 0:31 PM on Mon, Oct 02, 2023:
Trump: And he’s a disgrace to people that call themselves judges. And his clerk should not be allowed to be in his ear on every single question. You take a look at what’s happening with her. She hates trump more than he does https://t.co/mNNkkEflTI
(https://x.com/Acyn/status/1708897385152131386?t=AxONgpAZz9UxDMwmr1FpdA&s=03)
Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) posted at 8:15 AM on Mon, Oct 02, 2023:
1. Buried in North Carolina’s 600+ page budget is a little-noticed provision that creates a secret police force, controlled by Republicans, with extraordinary powers
2. The budget grants the Gov Ops Committee the right to seize “any document or system of record” from anyone who works in or w/state & local government
This includes contractors or any entity that directly or indirectly receives state funds, including charities and colleges
3. It gets worse. Gov Ops staff will be authorized to enter “any building or facility” owned or leased by a state or non-state entity without a judicial warrant.
This includes private homes, if it includes a home office of a contractor
4. Alarmingly, public employees under investigation will be required to keep all communication and requests “confidential.” They cannot alert their supervisor of the investigation nor consult with legal counsel.
Those who refuse to cooperate face jail time and fines of up to 1K
5. Gov Ops is dominated by Republicans and pursues partisan investigations. It is co-chaired by Senate Leader Phil Berger (R) and House Speaker Tim Moore (R).
Gov Ops launched an inquiry into diversity training programs at the University of North Carolina earlier this year.
6. Berger and Moore claim this is all about oversight and transparency. But a separate provision of the budget allows them to reject any public records requests concerning the operation of Gov Ops.
7. This is part of a broader effort to restrict public access to public records. The budget also repeals a law that required “communications regarding redistricting” be made publicly available when new legislative maps were adopted.
Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) posted at 8:30 AM on Mon, Oct 02, 2023:
8. North Carolina is one of the most gerrymandered states in the country. In 2022, a gerrymandering trial exposed a top Republican redistricting official for using “secret maps to help draft the state’s redistricting plan.”
https://t.co/rj35cvXfwv
(https://x.com/JuddLegum/status/1708836797659185358?t=CMm-e3p25VNxdJK43UYrtA&s=03)
Good Morning Everyone 😊😊😊