President Biden is preparing to endorse significant proposals to reform the Supreme Court, notifying some members of Congress about his intentions last weekend, three sources say. https://t.co/m3Ea9TtFmn
Reports say President Biden told lawmakers in the Congressional Progressive Caucus during a virtual meeting Saturday, July 13, that he had been consulting constitutional scholars on the matter for more than a month.
The proposals, which could be unveiled in the coming weeks, would need congressional approval. This is not likely given Republican control of the House and the slim Democratic majority in the Senate.
Supreme Court preserves access to abortion pill
The Supreme Court issued its first major ruling on abortion in two years. And former President Donald Trump returns to Capitol Hill, holding separate meetings with Senate and House Republicans. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Friday, June 14, 2024.
Supreme Court preserves access to abortion pill
In a unanimous decision, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a challenge to the Food and Drug Administration’s regulation of the abortion pill Mifepristone on Thursday, June 13. That means the commonly used drug will remain widely available.
Last year alone, Mifepristone was used in nearly two-thirds of all abortions in the U.S.
The nine justices ruled abortion opponents lacked the legal right to sue over the FDA’s approval of the medication because they are not directly impacted by Mifepristone being on the market for others.
The Supreme Court is also considering another abortion case centering on whether a federal law on emergency treatment at hospitals overrides state abortion bans in rare emergency cases when a pregnant woman’s health is at risk.
Senate Republicans block Democrats’ bill to protect IVF access nationwide
Senate Republicans blocked legislation Thursday that would codify in vitro fertilization nationwide after Democrats forced a vote on the matter. The bill failed to advance in a vote of 48 to 47. It needed 60 votes to move forward.
Just two Republicans voted in favor of the bill: Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine.
Others in the GOP said the Democrats’ legislation was unnecessary as there are no restrictions to IVF in any state. Democrats were pushing to guarantee IVF protections in case states were to ever try and prohibit it in the future.
Thursday’s vote came after a landmark ruling by Alabama’s Supreme Court earlier this year, saying frozen embryos are children and those who destroy them can be held liable for wrongful death. The ruling put a stop to treatments for a week while the state quickly worked to clarify its reproductive laws protecting IVF patients and doctors.
Republicans have signed on to a scaled-back version that would cut off Medicaid funding for states if they banned IVF, which Democrats say does not go far enough to protect access.
Trump makes first visit to Capitol Hill since Jan. 6 riot
Former President Donald Trump was back on Capitol Hill Thursday — for the first time since the Jan. 6, 2021 riot — as Republicans welcomed the presumptive 2024 GOP presidential nominee. It also marked the former president’s first visit to Washington since he was convicted of 34 felony counts by a New York jury at the end of May.
Trump spent about an hour each with House and Senate Republicans delivering remarks, fielding questions and discussing issues like Russia, immigration, tax cuts and other priorities for a potential second term.
“We have to get elected,” Trump said during a press conference. “We have to take this, this beautiful place, and we have to make it really something very special again. Right now — it’s not special right now. It’s being scorned and being used as an example of when they look at the crime on the streets, when they look at all of the problems that we have, they’re using us as a bad example of democracy.”
Hamas official says it is not known how many hostages are still alive
As negotiators continue to try to finalize a deal between Israel and Hamas for a cease-fire and hostage release, a senior leader for Hamas says they don’t know how many of the hostages are still alive. There are said to be 120 hostages who have not returned home since the initial attack on Oct. 7, 2023, by the terrorist group.
Israel believes more than 70 of the 120 hostages are still alive.
In an interview that aired Thursday, June 13, with CNN in Beirut, Hamas spokesman Osama Hamdan was asked about the fate of the hostages.
“I don’t have any idea about that,” Hamdan said. “No one has any idea about this.”
Hamdan said the latest cease-fire proposal, announced by President Joe Biden last week and backed by the United Nations Security Council, was a “positive step” but did not meet Hamas’ demands to end the war.
“We need a clear position from Israel to accept a cease-fire, a complete withdrawal from Gaza, and let the Palestinians determine their future by themselves,” Hamdan said.
The latest cease-fire plan called for the release of the hostages and the full withdrawal of Israeli troops in three phases.
Previously, Secretary of State Antony Blinken called some of Hamas’ proposed changes to the ceasefire plan “unacceptable.”
Day 2 of G7 summit to focus on immigration
Friday is the second day of the G7 summit in Italy and world leaders are turning their attention to immigration. President Biden and the other G7 leaders will be joined by leaders from other nations including Brazil, India and Turkey.
The gathering will also focus on global conflicts and the spread of artificial intelligence with Pope Francis set to deliver a speech on AI to the group. Ongoing issues like climate change and China also will be discussed.
On the first day of the summit Thursday, attendees promised tens of billions of dollars in aid for Ukraine as its war with Russia continues. President Biden also signed a 10-year security agreement with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Reports: Big 12 exploring selling name rights to title sponsor
We are all familiar with college football bowl games having sponsors — like the Allstate Sugar Bowl or the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl. Now, reports indicate a naming rights partnership might be on the way not for another game, but a conference.
According to multiple outlets, the Big 12 conference is exploring selling its naming rights to a title sponsor. This would be the first deal of its kind, reportedly worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
Reports say the conference would drop “Big” from its name and keep the “12”, and with the Allstate insurance company being the current frontrunner as a potential sponsor, the conference could end up being called “the Allstate 12” conference.
Talks are ongoing, as this upcoming season, the Big 12 will see more teams joining the conference — creating a 16-member league.
Supreme Court says abortion pill can stay on the market; IVF debate continues
Reproductive rights are once again center stage in public discourse. While questions persist regarding access to the abortion pill mifepristone and in vitro fertilization (IVF), recent developments indicate that little has changed.
Here’s a comprehensive look at the current landscape:
Mifepristone access upheld
In a unanimous decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that mifepristone — the pill used in 60% of U.S. abortions — can remain accessible.
In the court’s opinion, Justice Brett Kavanaugh emphasized that doctors and advocacy groups lacked standing to sue because they were not directly impacted by mifepristone’s availability for others.
The opinion acknowledged the plaintiff’s concerns but maintained that citizens and doctors cannot sue merely due to others’ engagement in certain activities.
IVF challenges and responses
While access to abortion pills remains intact, IVF is facing ongoing debate. Earlier this year, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos are legally considered children. The ruling temporarily halted IVF treatments while the state clarified reproductive laws to protect patients and doctors.
Democrats at both state and federal levels are advocating for laws to guarantee protections for IVF patients. However, these measures have encountered obstacles, sparking intense political messaging ahead of the upcoming election.
Differing perspectives
Senate Democrats argue that, given the overturning of Roe v. Wade two years ago, more must be done to enshrine IVF rights preemptively.
On the other hand, Republicans contend there are no restrictions on IVF, rendering new legislation unnecessary.
Notably, Southern Baptists, the country’s largest Protestant denomination, recently voted that women undergoing IVF should produce embryos only in line with their intended family size, contrary to common IVF practice.
Public opinion
According to the latest Gallup poll, 61% of Americans support access to mifepristone.
In the same poll, 82% of respondents believe there is nothing morally wrong with IVF. Across party lines, acceptance rates remain high with 89% of Democrats, 84% of independents and 72% of Republicans favoring IVF.
Both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump advocate for continued accessibility to IVF procedures.
About 1 in every 8 Americans said abortion is the most important issue for them ahead of the presidential election.
Biden hosts White House state dinner before trilateral summit
Prominent figures come together at the White House as President Joe Biden hosts a state dinner for the Japanese Prime Minister, and outrage from Democrats over the Arizona Supreme Court’s abortion ruling leads to shouting in the state house. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Thursday, April 11, 2024.
Biden hosts state dinner at White House before trilateral summit
The White House is set for the inaugural trilateral summit with leaders from the U.S., Japan and the Philippines on April 11, following Wednesday, April 10, night’s glamorous state dinner hosted by Biden for Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
Earlier, Biden and Kishida strengthened military and economic ties, agreeing on collaborative defense strategies and Japan’s participation in NASA’s Artemis moon mission.
The alliance between Japan and the United States is a cornerstone of peace, security, prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and around the world. – @POTUSpic.twitter.com/KZ0TJfZOXs
On April 11, Biden meets with Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos before the summit, emphasizing Indo-Pacific unity.
3 Injured in shooting at Ramadan celebration in Philadelphia
Three people were injured during a shooting at a Ramadan celebration in Philadelphia on April 10, resulting in five arrests. Police said the incident occurred as about 1,000 attendees gathered in a park and was sparked by gunfire between two feuding groups, with around 30 shots fired.
A 22-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Four individuals, aged 15 to 21, were arrested while leaving the park, each carrying weapons. Additionally, a 15-year-old boy, who was armed, was shot in the leg by police and is in stable condition; the involved officer has been placed on administrative duty.
A 15-year-old girl also suffered a fractured leg after being struck by a police vehicle responding to the scene. The incident is still under investigation.
Hamas says it does not have 40 hostages for cease-fire trade
Israel believes that of the 130 hostages remaining, at least 30 are dead and the rest are likely held by various factions within Hamas. During a proposed six-week cease-fire, negotiators have recommended that Hamas release 40 hostages, prioritizing women, and sick and elderly men, in exchange for Israel freeing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
As Hamas faces difficulties in meeting the criteria for releasing 40 women and elderly men, Israel is pressing for the inclusion of younger male hostages and soldiers to complete the initial release group.
Republicans in Arizona House block debate on repealing abortion ban
Republican lawmakers in the Arizona State House halted efforts to repeal a 1864 law, recently upheld by the state Supreme Court, banning abortions except to save a woman’s life.
GOP leaders stopped discussion on the repeal, proposed by Democrats and some Republicans, and adjourned for the week, sparking Democratic outrage. A Democratic representative criticized the court’s “extreme” decision, while a Republican called the Democrats’ actions “extremist and insurrectionist.”
GOP leaders stated the ruling has not yet taken effect and will review the decision for future actions.
Speaker Johnson to meet with former President Trump at Mar-A-Lago
Johnson’s trip to Florida is seen as an effort to demonstrate solidarity with Trump, as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and others challenge his leadership. After threatening to oust Johnson, Greene met with him for an hour on Wednesday.
Additionally, Johnson contends with conservative opposition, spurred by Trump, to extending a key surveillance program. The proposed legislation allows the U.S. to collect, without a warrant, communications of non-Americans abroad for intelligence.
Brothers hit home runs in same inning on Siblings Day
On National Siblings Day, brothers Josh and Bo Naylor, both of the Cleveland Guardians, celebrated memorably by hitting home runs in the same inning during a game against the Chicago White Sox. Josh’s solo home run came first in the fourth inning, followed by Bo’s two-run homer.
Additionally, in the 10th inning, both brothers contributed crucial hits leading to the Guardians’ 7-6 victory — Josh with a game-tying double and Bo with the game-winning single.
Arizona Supreme Court rules 1864 near-total abortion ban can be enforced
The Arizona Supreme Court ruled a Civil War-era law banning nearly all abortions can be enforced. Toyota announced a major change to its 4Runner SUV. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Wednesday, April 10, 2024.
Arizona Supreme Court rules near-total abortion ban is enforceable
The ruling subjects doctors or anyone assisting in an abortion to two to five years in prison, with additional sanctions possible for abortions performed after 15 weeks. Notably, the law lacks exceptions for rape or incest.
The Arizona Supreme Court has delayed the decision’s implementation for 14 days to allow a lower court to address “additional constitutional challenges.”
The decision has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats, including Arizona’s Attorney General Kris Mayes, who vowed not to enforce the law, and President Joe Biden, who labeled the ban “cruel.” Vice President Kamala Harris plans to visit Arizona on Friday, April 12. Following the ruling, a spokesperson for former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for the 2024 election, reiterated Trump’s stance that abortion decisions should be left to the states.
Brian Dorsey, dubbed a “model inmate” by prison staff, was Missouri’s first execution this year, despite the Supreme Court rejecting his appeals. Concerns about Dorsey’s health potentially complicating the execution led to a settlement to mitigate severe pain, though specifics weren’t disclosed.
Around 85 protesters rallied outside the prison in support of Dorsey. A Missouri Department of Corrections spokesperson confirmed the execution proceeded smoothly without the need for a cutdown procedure.
Biden calls Netanyahu’s approach to war in Gaza a ‘mistake’
Biden described the attack on humanitarian vehicles as “outrageous” and advocated for a ceasefire to allow unhindered access to food and medicine for Gaza residents. Biden has previously described Israel’s actions as “over the top” and hinted at a potential shift in U.S. policy toward Israel if Israel does not minimize civilian harm in Gaza.
Following an internal review of the strike that killed aid workers, Israel acknowledged serious military errors, leading to the dismissal of two senior officers. World Central Kitchen has demanded an independent investigation into the incident.
Biden, Kishida hold summit to boost cross country alliance
Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida are expected to announce an expanded defense and intelligence partnership this week, marking a significant step in military cooperation between the two nations.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Japanese counterpart will detail the enhanced alliance in the upcoming months, with Japan anticipated to play a larger role in military and defense manufacturing.
The plan includes modernizing military bases in Japan for improved collaborative operations. Currently, Japan hosts about 50,000 U.S. troops, with the Japanese Self Defense Force moving toward a unified command for its services by March 2025.
Toyota selling 4Runner SUV with hybrid engine for first time
Toyota is revamping its 4Runner SUV for the first time in nearly 15 years and introducing a hybrid engine option for the first time ever. The 2025 model’s hybrid option reflects the growing popularity of hybrids, with their market share nearly doubling to almost 10% at the end of 2023, according to Edmunds.com.
Toyota’s U.S. auto sales surged 20% in the first quarter, with sales of electrified vehicles, including hybrids and EVs, jumping about 74%. The automaker has sold over 3 million 4Runners over the SUV’s 40-year history. Pricing for the 2025 4Runner will be revealed closer to its market launch later this year.
“This all-new 4Runner has incredible versatility and capability that nicely rounds out our truck family,” Dave Christ, Toyota group vice president and general manager, said in a release.
Starting prices for the 2024 model range from about $41,000 to more than $55,000.
As the college basketball season concludes, so does the career of a sports legend. Stanford’s head coach Tara VanDerveer is retiring after 45 years, including 38 at the helm of Stanford. VanDerveer, the NCAA’s all-time winningest basketball coach, boasts 1,216 victories.
Her illustrious tenure at Stanford includes three national championships and 14 Final Four appearances. VanDerveer’s retirement follows a historic women’s tournament, with the championship game attracting more viewers than the men’s title game for the first time, averaging 18.9 million viewers.
SCOTUS casts doubt on plaintiff’s ability to sue FDA over mifepristone approval
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case that could not only impact access to an abortion pill used by millions of women, but also change the way the Federal Drug Administration approves medicine. However, the justices raised serious questions about challenging the FDA’s approval process and about the plaintiffs standing to sue in the first place.
The Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, an organization that says it believes in the sanctity of life from fertilization to natural death, sued over the FDA’s approval of mifepristone, an abortion pill women can take at home to terminate early-stage pregnancies.
“Rolling back FDA changes would unnecessarily restrict access to mifepristone with no safety justification,” Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar told the justices. “Some women could be forced to undergo more invasive surgical abortions, others might not be able to access the drug at all.”
The FDA approved the drug in 2000. In 2016, the FDA expanded access by only requiring one in-person visit to get a prescription and allowing it to be used through the 10th week of pregnancy. In 2021, during the coronavirus pandemic, the FDA allowed the drug to be prescribed via telemedicine and sent through the mail.
The original approval and access changes in 2016 and 2021 are at the heart of the case. The justices were presented with multiple questions, including whether a lower court erred when it placed an injunction last year on the 2016 and 2021 FDA actions.
“In 2021, it eliminated the initial in-person visit based on data it says elsewhere is unreliable. And in 2016, it failed to consider or explain the cumulative effects of its wholesale removal of safeguards,” said Erin Morrow Hawley, an attorney for Alliance Defending Freedom who represented Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine.
The justices are also deciding whether the plaintiffs have standing to sue in the first place and they cast serious doubt on that, including conservative Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch.
“Counsel, you assert the, an injury on the part of the Alliance of diverted time and resources,” Justice Thomas asked. “Isn’t it just the cost of litigating, of pursuing this litigation?”
“If you look at how our organizations have been harmed, they’ve been forced to divert resources from speaking and advocating for their pro-life mission generally to explaining the dangers of the harm from abortion drugs,” Hawley responded.
“But that would be anyone who is aggressive or vigilant about bringing lawsuits,” Thomas said. “Just simply by using resources to advocate their position in court, you say now, causes an injury. That seems easily — easy to manufacture.”
Gorsuch raised concern about a universal injunction, something that was echoed by Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.
“I went back and looked, and there are exactly zero universal injunctions that were issued during Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s 12 years in office, pretty consequential ones,” Gorsuch said. “And over the last four years or so, the number is something like 60 and — maybe more than that, and they’re a relatively new thing. And you’re asking us to extend and pursue this relatively new remedial course.”
A decision in the case should be released by June.
Major bridge collapses in Baltimore after ship collision; search and rescue underway
A major bridge collapses in Baltimore after being struck by a ship — sending multiple people into the water. And, Homeland Security raids the homes of hip-hop mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs as part of an ongoing investigation. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Tuesday, March 26, 2024.
Major bridge collapses in Baltimore, Maryland after ship collision
Officials reported that a Singapore-flagged cargo ship struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge just before 1:30 a.m., resulting in part of the bridge falling into the Patapsco River.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JDeBPuFQS0
The Baltimore City Fire Department has confirmed that multiple people fell into the water, with rescue efforts underway for at least seven and potentially as many as twenty individuals. In a morning press conference, authorities confirmed two people had been rescued, with one in very serious condition.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has declared a state of emergency, and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott announced on social media that emergency personnel were responding to the incident.
The Maryland Transportation Authority has issued a “major traffic alert,” advising drivers to avoid the area.
The 1.6-mile-long bridge, named after the author of the national anthem, first opened in 1977.
Supreme Court to hear arguments in mifepristone case
The abortion debate will return to the Supreme Court today as justices hear arguments in a case involving the abortion pill mifepristone. This marks the high court’s first abortion-related case since it overturned Roe v. Wade nearly two years ago.
The Supreme Court will review whether the Food and Drug Administration overlooked safety issues when it initially approved the medication and later made it more accessible, including permitting the pill to be sent by mail.
The group suing the FDA alleges the drug has led to “tens of thousands” of “emergency complications.” However, the FDA counters those claims, arguing the pill has a lower complication rate than Tylenol.
Medication abortions, primarily using mifepristone, represent nearly two-thirds of all abortions in the U.S., with over 5 million women having used the drug since its approval in 2000.
A decision in the case is expected by the end of June.
Truth Social starts publicly trading under ‘DJT’ ticker
Former President Donald Trump’s venture into social media is set to go public. The platform, Truth Social, will begin trading under the ticker DJT Tuesday, March 26.
Truth Social is entering the stock market by merging with Digital World Acquisition Corp. The merger, approved last week, allows Truth Social to become a publicly traded company without the traditional initial public offering process. The former president will own at least 58% of the combined company.
Following the announcement, Digital World Acquisition’s stock price surged 23%. Investors are optimistic, valuing Trump Media & Technology Group at more than $5 billion.
On Monday, Trump commended Truth Social’s performance, stating, “Truth Social is doing very well. It’s hot as a pistol and doing great.”
Homeland Security raids homes of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs
Homeland Security agents raided multiple homes owned by hip-hop mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs on Monday, March 25. Several news outlets have reported that the searches are part of a sex-trafficking investigation.
Three separate lawsuits filed in recent months have accused the rapper of sex trafficking, allegations he has previously denied. Back in December, Combs released a statement on social media saying he did not do any of the “awful things being alleged.”
Armed Homeland Security agents conducted raids at homes in Los Angeles and Miami.
Several outlets also reported seeing individuals in handcuffs outside his California property, but there was no sign of Combs himself. He has yet to comment on the raids.
Florida Governor signs bill restricting social media for kids
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill on Monday that sets age limits for social media use in the state. Under the new law, children under 14 are prohibited from creating social media accounts, and those aged 14 and 15 will need parental consent to join platforms.
The law requires social media companies to delete accounts belonging to users under 14. If they fail to comply, they can be sued, and children may receive up to $10,000 in damages.
Companies could also face fines of $50,000 for each violation.
The bill, expected to face legal challenges, is set to take effect in 2025.
Auction of iconic movie props collects more than $15.6 million
Film enthusiasts had the opportunity to own a piece of Hollywood history during a recent auction of movie props. Heritage Auctions announced that its “Treasures from Planet Hollywood” auction garnered over $15 million.
Highlights of the auction included the whip from “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom,” which sold for $500,000, and the axe used by Jack Nicholson in “The Shining,” fetching $125,000.
The top-selling item was a wood panel from the movie “Titanic,” often referred to as the “floating door,” which sold for more than $700,000. Additionally, a prototype of the “floating door” sold for $125,000.
Birth control to be sold over the counter, no prescription or age requirement
The first over-the-counter birth control pill will be sold in stores in all 50 states starting in March. One month’s supply of Opill will cost $20. The hormone-based contraceptive received FDA approval for over-the-counter sales last year but the pill itself has been prescribed to patients for more than 50 years.
However, patients will no longer need a prescription or an ID since there’s no age restriction to purchase Opill.
The expanded access to birth control is being considered a victory by reproductive rights group like Youth Reproductive Equity.
“This is historic and transformative for reproductive rights without having to go to a physician, which presents a barrier to many people,” Julie Maslowsky, founder of Youth Reproductive Equity, told The Washington Post.
Mifepristone, the abortion pill at the center of a high-profile contraceptive controversy, is also hitting pharmacies.
This month, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments and make a ruling in June determining how accessible mifepristone can be. Until that ruling, CVS and Walgreens will start filling prescriptions for the abortion pill inline with current FDA guidelines, which could change depending on how the Supreme Court rules.
Both CVS and Walgreens said Mifepristone will only be sold at select pharmacies in states where abortion laws allow it, which currently amount to half of the U.S.
Coming up on two years since Roe v. Wade was overturned, there have been many court battles over abortion pills and procedures.
Since the power to regulate abortion was returned to the states, the current landscape is 21 states have some sort of abortion restrictions through at least 18 weeks and 26 states have legally protected abortions through at least 22 weeks. The other three states have abortion bans that have been blocked in courts.
Since the power to regulate abortion was returned to the states, the current landscape is as follows: 21 states have some form of abortion restrictions in place through at least 18 weeks, while 26 states legally protect abortions up to at least 22 weeks. The remaining three states have abortion bans that have been blocked by courts.
Wyoming is one of those states with a trigger ban that has been blocked by a judge, but the state Legislature is passing legislation to still regulate the procedure at Wyoming’s one remaining legal abortion clinic.
A bill that recently passed the state House and Senate is likely to be signed into law this month. The Regulation of Surgical Abortions Bill requires abortion clinics to be licensed as surgical centers.
The bill also requires that doctors performing the abortion must be licensed and have admitting privileges at a hospital within a 10 mile radius of the surgical center. It also requires the woman to have an ultrasound 48 hours before the abortion. An ultrasound would give the woman her safest options to proceed with the abortion, whether by pill or procedure, according to proponents of the bill.
Wyoming is the latest example of how abortion laws are still being worked through in a post-Roe presidential election year where stances on the issue widely vary.
“The only effect of all this legislation, as I see, is really trying to terrorize women that are interested in having abortions and make it very challenging for any doctors to provide those abortions at the risk of potentially violating laws and ending up in prison,” Wyoming Sen. Chris Rothfuss, D, said regarding the new bill.
State House Rep. Martha Lawley, R, the bill’s sponsor, said her motivations for the legislation came from a place of “regulatory concern.”
“I was focusing on the fact that we really weren’t regulating surgical abortions in particular, or even chemical abortions,” Lawley said. “While [abortion] is legal in Wyoming, we need to look at the safety of women that are choosing abortions.”
Publisher retracts key study cited by federal judge in FDA abortion pill ruling
Last year, a Texas federal judge’s decision to revoke the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of the abortion pill mifepristone ignited a nationwide controversy over abortion rights. The legal skirmish over the pill has escalated further following the retraction of a key scientific paper that played a pivotal role in the case.
In 2021, Sage Journals published a study suggesting that mifepristone significantly increases the risk of women requiring emergency room care after an abortion. This study was cited by Texas District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk in his April ruling against the FDA’s approval of the pill. Recently, Sage announced the retraction of this study and two others by lead author James Studnicki, criticizing the research for its lack of scientific rigor and accusing the author of undeclared conflicts of interest.
Sage commissioned two independent experts for a post-publication review of the papers. The experts identified “fundamental problems,” undermining the authors’ conclusions. Studnicki, in a rebuttal shared with Wired, denounced the retractions as “unjustified” and described Sage’s action as a “baseless ideological attack.”
Sage highlighted that Studnicki and his co-authors had declared no conflicts of interest upon submitting their research. However, Studnicki serves as vice president of the Charlotte Lozier Institute, the research arm of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, a prominent anti-abortion organization.
Studnicki maintains that his affiliation with anti-abortion groups was “fully known and identified to Sage” at the time of submission.
The future of the Texas ruling now rests with the Supreme Court, following a federal appeals court’s decision that mifepristone should stay accessible to patients while the lawsuit against the FDA proceeds.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments on the matter in March, marking the first abortion case since the landmark 2021 Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade and ended federal protection for abortion rights.
Supreme Court to hear oral arguments in abortion pill case
The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear its first abortion case since the controversial Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade. The high court announced it will hear oral arguments in the case on access to abortion drug, mifepristone, in March.
Mifepristone is one of two abortion drugs used to end a pregnancy.
“It works by stopping the supply of hormones that maintains the interior of the uterus,” a Mayo Clinic drug information sheet stated. “Without these hormones, the uterus cannot support the pregnancy and the contents of the uterus are expelled.”
Medication abortions account for half of abortions in the United States, according to the CDC. Mifepristone has been used in 5 million abortion cases, and the FDA said adverse events associated with its use are low. The FDA approved mifepristone for use back in 2000.
In June 2022, the Supreme Court overturned Roe, ruling the Constitution does not confer a right to abortion. Later that year in November, a group of physicians with the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, which opposes abortion, brought a challenge against the FDA’s mifepristone approval.
The group argued the FDA did not adequately consider the safety of mifepristone before approving the drug.
The plaintiffs argued to reverse FDA measures implemented since 2016 that made mifepristone easier to obtain and more unsafe for patient use. Those measures included:
Allowing the pill to be taken later in pregnancy at 10 weeks, as opposed to 7 weeks.
Creating a generic version of the drug.
Allowing doctors to prescribe it and distribute it by mail.
In April 2023, a U.S. District Court judge in Texas put a hold on the FDA’s 2000 approval of mifepristone. The Biden administration then appealed to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.
If a judge decides to substitute his preferences, his personal opinion, for that of scientists and medical professionals, what drug isn’t subject to some kind of legal challenge?
Xavier Becerra, HHS secretary
“First and foremost, when you turn upside down the entire FDA approval process, you’re not talking about just mifepristone, you’re talking about every kind of drug,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. “You’re talking about our vaccines, you’re talking about insulin, you’re talking about the new Alzheimer’s drugs that may come on. If a judge decides to substitute his preferences, his personal opinion, for that of scientists and medical professionals, what drug isn’t subject to some kind of legal challenge?”
The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the FDA’s original approval of mifepristone. However, the three-judge panel nullified the changes put in place by the FDA that made mifepristone easier to access in 2016.
The FDA argued if those restrictions are allowed to take place, it would cause widespread chaos. So, the Supreme Court then intervened and blocked that ruling, allowing mifepristone to stay on the market with no changes to how it’s prescribed while the case plays out in the lower courts.
Mifepristone’s manufacturer, Danco Laboratories, and the Department of Justice asked the Supreme Court to review the 5th Circuit Court’s ruling, which the high court agreed to in December.
Oral arguments are set for March 26 and a decision is expected to come down in June.