Episode Details

Republicans introduced the Dismemberment Abortion Ban Act this week, banning dilation and evacuation, the standard medical procedure doctors use for virtually all second trimester women’s abortions. That includes women whose wanted pregnancies were diagnosed with fatal abnormalities, whose fetus has organs growing outside its body, or whose continuing the pregnancy will kill them. Doctors who perform the procedure face two years in prison.

Rep. Kat Cammack introduced the bill, the same Florida Republican who two weeks ago blocked the Endangered Species Act because she was worried about sea turtles, saying “protected means protected.” Sea turtles: protected. Women needing lifesaving care: protected?

Republicans know banning abortion outright is politically toxic so they ban the procedures doctors use instead. This is the first step: ban second trimester procedures, normalize it; then come back for 12 weeks, then 6.

The bill is HR 8603, referred to the House Judiciary Committee. It has not passed. Contact your representative and tell them to oppose it.

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