From Slate:
The Giant Threat Lurking Behind Florida’s November Abortion Vote
BY MARK JOSEPH STERN
APRIL 02, 20244:53 PM
The Florida Supreme Court seemed to offer a compromise Monday when it greenlit the state’s six-week abortion ban while simultaneously approving a ballot initiative that would, if enacted, create a constitutional right to reproductive freedom. And indeed, the court’s split decision offers hope that Floridians can reestablish their state as an abortion refuge in the South this November. But an ominous current lurked beneath the rulings: Six of the court’s seven justices appeared to endorse fetal personhood under the state constitution as it stands now, expressing support for—as one justice put it—“the unborn’s competing right to life” over the patient’s right to bodily autonomy. The majority’s rhetoric indicates that if the pro-choice amendment fails this fall, the Florida Supreme Court remains ready to grant fetuses and embryos a constitutional right to life that prohibits the Legislature from legalizing abortion in the future.
There’s no doubt that this court is supremely hostile to abortion. In its first decision on Monday, the conservative supermajority overturned decades of precedent protecting access to abortion under the Florida Constitution’s right to privacy. In 1980 voters enshrined this right, the cornerstone of Roe v. Wade, into the state’s founding charter, with an evident understanding that it would safeguard reproductive autonomy. Yet, by a 6–1 vote, the court gutted the amendment by ignoring historical evidence of its broad original meaning. At the same time, by a 4–3 vote, the court upheld a proposed amendment that would restore an expansive right to abortion access throughout the state. It will require 60 percent support to pass in November.
This second ruling might seem to temper the majority’s hostility toward reproductive freedom. Not quite: Piecing together the fractured opinions, it becomes clear that six justices stand ready to institute fetal personhood under existing state law. The disagreement among this far-right supermajority comes down to tactics, timing, and deference to democracy. Three are prepared to now wield fetal personhood as a sword against any expansion of abortion, even by constitutional amendment. Three are waiting to impose personhood if the upcoming amendment fails and will not weaponize the doctrine today to keep the initiative off the ballot. (All but one of these justices were appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.) Just a single justice, Jorge Labarga—who dissented from the court’s first decision gutting the right to privacy—declined to board the personhood train.
So, just to be clear. If this Amendment fails, they will hurry in to do Fetal Personhood, and prohibit, in the future, a legislative change.
So,if you know someone in Florida. If you know a Florida Voter, inform them that support for this Amendment is needed. Explain what’s at stake.
And, if they succeed in Florida, you know it won’t just stop with Florida. Other Red States will do the same.
Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) posted at 1:55 PM on Mon, Apr 15, 2024:
Now had this been Biden, it would have been the lead story on every newscast and Fox News would have talked about this for weeks.
I do believe the ages of both presidential candidates and what impact that has on the presidency is relevant. But only Biden’s age is repeatedly discussed as a talking point even though Trump is 77.
Meanwhile, Trump frequently gets names wrong, speaks incoherently (more than normal), and has bad memory lapses. But the media continues to normalize his behavior and constantly grades him on a curve … justifying it under the framing that it’s fine because he’s expected to be an idiot.
(https://x.com/jemelehill/status/1779946571414884396?t=rC1fHxacEJywaOP2W1Uigw&s=03)
Derek Thompson (@DKThomp) posted at 7:08 AM on Tue, Apr 16, 2024:
It’s “interesting” to watch the right-wing outrage sausage get made.
1. Judge: Trump can attend son’s graduation if trial is on track, but no official ruling yet.
2. Trump (lying): Judge told me I’m “prohibited” from attending my son’s graduation, what an outrage.
3. People… https://t.co/EzoSE9nYLO
(https://x.com/DKThomp/status/1780206728279113919?t=8Nl0weMlRwcQJT505wfeUA&s=03)
Derek Thompson (@DKThomp) posted at 7:18 AM on Tue, Apr 16, 2024:
Every once in a while, a reasonable conservative commentator will say it’s crazy major news orgs have no one on staff to earnestly represent MAGA conservatism.
It sounds like a reasonable critique. MAGA is ~25-40% of America! How can you cover a country without somebody to represent this cohort?
But this is the problem.
Yes, MSM journalists get stuff wrong all the time and let their biases pull them in bad directions. But MAGA conservatism is a movement *entirely* dedicated to faithfully defending somebody who is biologically incapable of getting through a paragraph without lying. You can’t build a reasonably objective news organization like “… this is our econ team, this is our science desk, and these folks we pay to scream about how the sky is green if Trump decides for whatever reason to lie about sky color on a Tuesday.”
(https://x.com/DKThomp/status/1780209036828234200?t=5clt4IWSe4hv8BgzRUkAbQ&s=03)
Catherine Rampell (@crampell) posted at 6:50 AM on Tue, Apr 16, 2024:
Trump is reportedly plotting to deliberately devalue the U.S. dollar.
If successful, this would raise costs for American consumers, and potentially tank the global economy.
Remind me again why voters think Trump would be better on inflation & the economy?
https://t.co/DoLzEbrHyj
(https://x.com/crampell/status/1780202069011333524?t=YtVewI_qqWf41zODSwtGhQ&s=03)
😡😡😡😡😡😡
Don Salmon (@dijoni) posted at 8:48 PM on Mon, Apr 15, 2024:
She’s a Uber driver a black woman doing her work. She was racial profile and gun down like a dog by a racist old white man. and do not be surprised. The community will say fear for his life. The sister pleaded her life,. https://t.co/iw2VZQWmFx
(https://x.com/dijoni/status/1780050500907594218?t=c05j0L3sRaxOHc2hGIrfRg&s=03)
Andrew Bates (@AndrewJBates46) posted at 4:43 PM on Mon, Apr 15, 2024:
“Biden has consistently released his tax returns during his presidency, highlighting a stark contrast to former President Trump’s refusal to do so during his term.”
“Biden has long called for…raising taxes for the ultra-wealthy.” https://t.co/dxd7bGqIi9
(https://x.com/AndrewJBates46/status/1779988851588468942?t=xvoD5m-y0Hzy3cuNFCKLvQ&s=03)
CONGRATULATIONS TO THIS TEAM!!
👱🏾♀️✨ Blonde Ambixion (@_adrian_sean) posted at 0:35 AM on Sun, Apr 14, 2024:
No cuz….Y’all need to understand. Black squads NEVER get this far. We are the coaches, dance captains, or choreographers. Usually on a team you see 1 or 2 non-white girls TOPS. 25 yrs after Bring It On it finally happened in real life #cheer #xula #hbcu @itsgabrielleu #ncacheer
(https://x.com/_adrian_sean/status/1779382881200070963?t=6l31AUn06Oe96YgAKcZttw&s=03)
Qasim Rashid, Esq. (@QasimRashid) posted at 9:11 PM on Mon, Apr 15, 2024:
Sad decision from @USC
A Muslim woman who minored in resistance to genocide is the USC Class of 2024 valedictorian — and USC is BANNING her from speaking at Commencement.😐
You can contact USC Provost Andrew Guzman to share your concerns at uscprovost@usc.edu
and 213-740-2101. https://t.co/j06llehjDH
(https://x.com/QasimRashid/status/1780056407816970505?t=JUjGnOrpsBI79KrFRA4nng&s=03)
Miranda (@DoomScroling) posted at 3:02 PM on Mon, Apr 15, 2024:
A new study out is highlighting that since roe was overturned demand for permanent sterilization for women under age 30 has increased significantly.
Many women are choosing sterilization as the best option to protect themselves in a political climate where misogynistic lawmakers seek to control women’s reproductive healthcare access.
https://t.co/mKQsoi4c4n
(https://x.com/DoomScroling/status/1779963449914581413?t=WhOClPyuHcFNiIEDsNzB1A&s=03)
Ragnarok Lobster 🐺 (@eclecticbrotha) posted at 7:44 AM on Tue, Apr 16, 2024:
Graduationgate is just Trump’s latest campaign to undermine his trial. Don’t fall for it like a fucking rube.
(https://x.com/eclecticbrotha/status/1780215687354417567?t=2d8A939muE8iUl6Ni1zLxg&s=03)
it’s an ELECTION INTERFERENCE CASE.
Armando (@ArmandoNDK) posted at 7:43 AM on Tue, Apr 16, 2024:
Lol wut? This case isn’t about a campaign “misfiling.” It’s about a falsification of a business record to conceal a crime. If you want to refer to it as a “campaign finance crime” instead of election interference, fine, who cares?
This is trying entirely too hard.
(https://x.com/ArmandoNDK/status/1780215546216165579?t=OTXGEQhGm7Lm-Yumicoq0A&s=03)
scary lawyerguy (@scarylawyerguy) posted at 5:47 AM on Tue, Apr 16, 2024:
The media gets mad b/c Biden doesn’t engage with them enough without stopping to ask themselves why. Perhaps he finds their questions insipid and prioritizes being President as opposed to sitting around watching TV all day like their boyfriend Trump did when he was in office.
(https://x.com/scarylawyerguy/status/1780186252936978514?t=mvQddw7mwfXDXN2caXvOJQ&s=03)
Baltimore folks..what’s going on here?
Politicsrfun (@Politicsrfun) posted at 7:43 AM on Tue, Apr 16, 2024:
Nothing says “I’m really really worried about crime” like endorsing a convicted criminal to replace the guy who has overseen a huge drop in violent crime and addressed the squeegee kids problem.
(https://x.com/Politicsrfun/status/1780215383351312606?t=q_gQtzyIRlGfeH3kkBrROA&s=03)
Julia Hamelburg (@juliahamelburg) posted at 9:05 AM on Sun, Apr 14, 2024:
Biden campaign co chair Gov. @gretchenwhitmer:
Our choice could not be more stark. Joe Biden is standing between a national abortion ban and expanding access to care for women & Trump appointed the justices who overturned Roe. Let’s be very clear: Donald Trump did this https://t.co/ZGMf4an35t
(https://x.com/juliahamelburg/status/1779511368766341579?t=Wf3nUB4iEGJ9k_hrV8FhWQ&s=03)
Heidi Bachram 🎗️ (@HeidiBachram) posted at 2:36 PM on Mon, Apr 15, 2024:
New York now has Hamas cosplayers. The police arrest the floppy terrorist fanboy whilst his pro-Palestinian comrades whine and pout. More of these arrests please. https://t.co/8MVXNSLabB
(https://x.com/HeidiBachram/status/1779956871987712460?t=l8wlYmcGIZczLEfd2YrnlA&s=03)
Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) posted at 2:26 PM on Mon, Apr 15, 2024:
Meanwhile, in Washington, D.C.—
Rudy Giuliani FAILS in his effort to reverse the massive defamation judgment he has to pay Georgia election workers Shaye Moss and Ruby Freeman. https://t.co/JyyFcZ2rwk
(https://x.com/KlasfeldReports/status/1779954542462812182?t=R0Zxmg2VE9OicOx1M_Na1w&s=03)
Scott MacFarlane (@MacFarlaneNews) posted at 3:49 PM on Mon, Apr 15, 2024:
ALERT: NY judge Juan Merchan rejects Trump’s request to skip attending trial next Thursday to attend Supreme Court hearing on his “presidential immunity” argument
Judge: “Your client is a criminal defendant in New York. He is required to be here. He is not required to be in…
(https://x.com/MacFarlaneNews/status/1779975321833410746?t=DP83fGQ8TqXueDCf2ZAbJQ&s=03)
The Elders are trying to warn them (and Qondi isn’t even an Elder!)
Qondi (@QondiNtini) posted at 4:21 PM on Sun, Apr 14, 2024:
To all the Black kids out here celebrating and riding hard for multiple terrorist regimes,
STOP.
Get off social media. Read a book. Don’t ruin your life. The influencer you idolize won’t care when you can’t get a job, are on a no-fly list or are in prison.
Love,
Auntie Qondi
(https://x.com/QondiNtini/status/1779621116857741778?t=LTpGhO2y51Sc3dG_CbLH0A&s=03)
Good Morning, Everyone😊😊😊