Dear John,

The very same Texas judge that has been attempting to make the abortion medication mifepristone illegal now potentially holds the power to shut down Planned Parenthood—single handedly. Any day now, Trump-appointed judge Matthew Kacsmaryk will rule in Doe v. Planned Parenthood—in which the state of Texas and an anonymous plaintiff allege that the reproductive health provider engaged in fraud in filing Medicaid reimbursement claims for thousands of patients in Texas and Louisiana. The lawsuit could potentially bankrupt Planned Parenthood. 

The fact that the staunchly anti-abortion Kacsmaryk is the judge for this lawsuit is no coincidence. Anti-abortion plaintiffs have intentionally filed suits like this one and the Mifepristone case in the Amarillo Division of the Northern District of Texas, where Kacsmaryk is the only judge—despite the court having no ties to the case. Make no mistake: this is a clear case of our justice system being manipulated to suit the interests of an anti-abortion minority whose views don’t even reflect those of the public in Texas—or anywhere else in the country. 

Meanwhile, in the face of anti-abortion forces, states like Illinois are rallying to secure safe and trustworthy access to abortion care. Late last month, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) signed “The Deceptive Practices of Limited Services Pregnancy Centers Act,” which prohibits anti-abortion “crisis pregnancy centers” (CPCs) from deceptively interfering with people seeking access to abortion or other reproductive health services. Illinois is the fourth state to enact such legislation—after Connecticut, Colorado and Vermont. 

“Misinformation is a form of injustice, particularly when it is used in an attempt to control women’s healthcare decisions,” said Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton. “In Illinois, we refuse to accept anything less than bodily autonomy for all, and that includes the right to accessible and accurate medical information. We are committed to protecting Illinoisans from these manipulative tactics and ensuring all have the power to choose what is best for their futures.”

Meanwhile in Ohio, an abortion rights initiative has qualified for the November ballot. If approved by voters, the initiative would codify abortion rights in the state constitution—but first, abortion rights advocates must defeat a referendum in a special election August 8 placed on the ballot by the Republican-dominated state legislature. The referendum would require future constitutional amendments—including the November abortion rights ballot measure—to meet a threshold of 60 percent support, rather than a simple majority of 50 percent. 

Anti-abortion activists will try every trick in the book—whether it’s legal or not—to stop people from getting abortions. But just as the overturning of Roe didn’t stop women from getting abortions, CPCs and Trump-appointed judges won’t stop them either. 

Onward,

Kathy Spillar
Executive Editor

Tune in for a new episode of Ms. magazine's podcast, On the Issues with Michele Goodwin on

Apple Podcasts + Spotify.

In early June 2023, for the second time in two months, Trump was indicted—this time on 37 felony counts for allegedly mishandling sensitive, classified government materials and obstruction of justice. What does this most recent indictment mean for Trump, the 2024 elections, and the future of American democracy as a whole?
 

We hope you'll listen, subscribe, rate and review today!

U.S. democracy is at a dangerous inflection point—from the demise of abortion rights, to a lack of pay equity and parental leave, to skyrocketing maternal mortality, and attacks on trans health. Left unchecked, these crises will lead to wider gaps in political participation and representation. For 50 years, Ms. has been forging feminist journalism—reporting, rebelling and truth-telling from the front-lines, championing the Equal Rights Amendment, and centering the stories of those most impacted. With all that’s at stake for equality, we are redoubling our commitment for the next 50 years. In turn, we need your help, Support Ms. today with a donation—any amount that is meaningful to you. We are grateful for your loyalty and ferocity.

READ THE REST | GET THE MAGAZINE | SUPPORT MS.

Enjoy this newsletter? Forward to a friend!
Was this email forwarded to you by a friend? Subscribe.

Ms. Magazine
1600 Wilson Boulevard
Suite 801
Arlington, VA 22209
United States

Manage your email subscriptions here

If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please 

unsubscribe.