A new bill in California, SB 345, seeks to protect doctors who provide abortion medication by mail to women in states where the medication, or the procedure itself, is banned. It would also permit the distribution of controversial transgender medication, such as puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones, in states where local laws would prohibit it.
The new bill would allow people who are patients of a doctor in California to obtain abortion medication or trans medication, even if the state they are in prohibits it. Notably, the bill protects medical providers in California from punishment, but <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/california-bill-protects-doctors-mail-abortion-pills-patients">not</a> the out-of-state patients or California doctors who leave the state to provide the care in person.
&#8220;California health care practitioners will be able to provide essential reproductive and gender-affirming care that is legal in California, regardless of their patient’s geographic location, knowing that California is doing everything it can to protect them against the draconian laws of other states,&#8221; boasted Democratic State Sen. Nancy Skinner, author of SB 345.
Skinner <a href="https://sd09.senate.ca.gov/news/20230317-skinner-announces-bill-protect-ca-medical-providers-dispense-abortion-or-gender#:~:text=State%20Sen.%20Nancy%20Skinner%2C%20D,of%20their%20patient's%20geographic%20location." target="_blank" rel="noopener">says</a> SB 345 would permit doctors to &#8220;prescribe and dispense medications for abortion and contraception that are safe to patients regardless of where the patient is located,&#8221; &#8220;provide gender-affirming care and deliver that care regardless of where the patient is located,&#8221; and &#8220;bring suit in California against anyone who interferes with the health care provider’s right to provide care that is legal in California.&#8221;
Politicians in the blue state, including Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, have promoted California as an abortion destination since recent legal pro-life wins, which have coincided with a pandemic-charged population loss in the Golden State. Moreover, Newsom, in September, signed a bill making California a so-called <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/newsom-signs-bill-making-california-sanctuary-for-child-gender-surgery" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sanctuary state</a> for child gender surgery.
Critics say the law infringes on states&#8217; rights.
&#8220;The arrogance of such a proposal is astounding,&#8221; said Blaine Conzatti, president of the Idaho Family Policy Center, <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/california-bill-protects-doctors-mail-abortion-pills-patients" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to Fox News. &#8220;It flaunts the traditional relationship between states and would upend our federal system altogether.&#8221;
<a class="c-link" href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://onelink.to/dwapp" data-sk="tooltip_parent" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-1819">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP</a>
Abortion is banned in most cases in some <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/us/abortion-laws-roe-v-wade.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">13 states</a>, and numerous other states have requirements relating to how abortion medication mifepristone is dispensed. The Biden administration first <a href="https://www.nationalpartnership.org/our-impact/blog/general/rhw-news-fda-to-allow-pharmacies.html#:~:text=The%20US%20Food%20and%20Drug,misoprostol%2C%20to%20end%20a%20pregnancy." target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.nationalpartnership.org/our-impact/blog/general/rhw-news-fda-to-allow-pharmacies.html%23:~:text%3DThe%2520US%2520Food%2520and%2520Drug,misoprostol%252C%2520to%2520end%2520a%2520pregnancy.&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1679237444107000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2X4EZ65K_ahUgiVuLHQj-J">allowed</a> mifepristone to be sent by mail and stopped enforcing a rule requiring women to get the drug in person at a clinic or hospital during COVID. The removal of the in-person requirement was made permanent in January, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it would allow pharmacies to become “certified” so they can dispense the abortion medication to people who have a prescription. Mifepristone is widely used in the U.S. making up more than half of all abortions, an estimated 54%.
Numerous states, including <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tennessee-ban-gender-affirming-care-trans-youth-drag-shows/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tennessee</a> and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/i-find-it-grotesque-matt-walsh-bats-down-media-at-mississippi-bill-signing-to-ban-trans-care-for-minors" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mississippi</a>, have outlawed controversial transgender medication and surgeries on minors.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/newsom-signs-bill-making-california-sanctuary-for-child-gender-surgery" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Newsom Signs Bill Making California Sanctuary For Child Gender Surgery</a>

Gavin Newsom

California Bill Seeks To Provide Abortions, Trans Treatment In States Where It’s Banned With New Bill Protecting Doctors

California Bill Seeks To Provide Abortions In States Where It's Banned With New Bill Protecting Abortion Providers

Abortion

California

Social Issues

Transgender

U.S.

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/kamala-harris">Kamala Harris</a> is set to make her first trip to Iowa since becoming vice president.
The <a href="https://twitter.com/JenniferJJacobs/status/1635765310560038919" target="_blank" rel="noopener">White House says</a> Harris will meet with local leaders to discuss reproductive rights during her visit to Des Moines on Thursday — an extension of her nationwide tour following the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade last summer, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-passes-born-alive-abortion-bill" target="_blank" rel="noopener">leaving abortion restrictions to the states</a>.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Kamala Harris will travel to Iowa for 1st time as <a href="https://twitter.com/VP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VP</a>. Her office says she “will travel to Des Moines, Iowa to meet with local leaders to discuss the fight to protect reproductive rights” on Thursday.
&mdash; Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) <a href="https://twitter.com/JenniferJJacobs/status/1635765310560038919?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Abortion remains legal for up to the <a href="https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2023/03/14/vice-president-kamala-harris-to-discuss-reproductive-abortion-rights-in-des-moines-march-16/70009676007/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">first 20 weeks of pregnancy in Iowa</a>, but there have been efforts by Republicans seeking further restrictions.
Although the trip is being pegged as one pertaining to <a href="https://twitter.com/JeremyBWhite/status/1635774004383608832" target="_blank" rel="noopener">official business</a>, the 2024 presidential election cycle is beginning to get underway, and early-voting Iowa is already attracting current or prospective Republicans candidates, including <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2023/03/13/trump-iowa-plan-to-avoid-missteps-00086924" target="_blank" rel="noopener">former President Donald Trump</a>, <a href="https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/elections/presidential/caucus/2023/03/10/nikki-haley-returns-iowa-march-campaign-2024-republican-presidential-candidate/69949738007/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley</a>, <a href="https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/elections/presidential/caucus/2023/02/15/mike-pence-rails-against-radical-gender-ideology-in-cedar-rapids/69908705007/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">former Vice President Mike Pence</a>, and <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/10/politics/ron-desantis-iowa-president-republican-primary/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Florida Governor Ron DeSantis</a>.
Democrats voted in <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/democrats-vote-to-make-south-carolina-not-iowa-1st-primary-state">recent</a> <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dnc-ditches-iowa-chooses-south-carolina-as-first-presidential-primary-state-to-prioritize-black-voters" target="_blank" rel="noopener">months</a> to move South Carolina, a key state that helped lift Biden to the party&#8217;s nomination in 2020, to replace Iowa as its first presidential nominating state in 2024.
The decision led to a rebuke by Iowa Democratic Party Chairwoman Rita Hart, who warned the move will make Democrats vulnerable to claims that they have “turned their back on Iowa and rural America,&#8221; <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/democrats-make-south-carolina-first-presidential-primary-voting-state-rcna68918" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per NBC News</a>.
<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/14/politics/kamala-harris-iowa-visit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">According to CNN</a>, which first reported plans for Harris to visit Iowa, President Joe Biden has avoided the state ever since he proposed the revised schedule for presidential primaries.
Biden has said he intends to run for re-election in 2024, but has yet to formally declare a campaign.
As for his plans for a running mate, <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2022/01/19/biden-commits-to-harris-as-his-running-mate-2024-527418" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a little more than one year ago</a>, Biden said he was committed to Harris in 2024 if he sought a second term.
Harris, a former U.S. senator and attorney general from California, journeyed to Iowa as a presidential candidate in the 2020 cycle, including a visit to the <a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?463123-2/senator-kamala-harris-iowa-state-fair" target="_blank" rel="noopener">famous Iowa State Fair</a> a few months before she dropped out of the race ahead of the state&#8217;s <a href="https://www.npr.org/2016/01/29/464804185/why-does-iowa-vote-first-anyway" target="_blank" rel="noopener">first-in-the-nation</a> caucuses.

Vice President Kamala Harris

Kamala Harris To Make First Visit To Iowa As Vice President

Executive

Iowa

Kamala Harris

Paris Hilton said she hid her secret baby from her own mother and then attempted to try to &#8220;soften the blow&#8221; with a pricey gift when she found out about her and husband Carter Reum having a baby through surrogacy.
The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/paris-hilton" target="_blank" rel="noopener">42-year-old</a> socialite revealed that she and Reum kept details of their son-Phoenix Barron Hilton-Reum-secret from her mother Kathy Hilton. Hilton explained that she invited her mom over to her house and gave her a blue Chanel bag right before she met her grandson so she wouldn&#8217;t be &#8220;so upset&#8221; with her.
&#8220;I was like, if I give her Chanel first, maybe she won&#8217;t be so upset that I didn&#8217;t tell her about this,&#8221; the DJ and reality TV star told <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/paris-hilton-baby-memoir-abuse-paris-in-love-interview-1234695643/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rolling Stone</a> magazine.
&#8220;I was holding the baby on my shoulder with a blanket over him, and then I just sat down,&#8221; she added. &#8220;She&#8217;s [Kathy&#8217;s] like, &#8216;What is that?&#8217; And I was like, &#8216;A baby … meet your grandson.&#8217; She&#8217;s like, &#8216;Is this yours?'&#8221;
&#8220;And she starts crying,&#8221; Hilton continued. &#8220;She&#8217;s like, &#8216;Let me hold him. He&#8217;s the most beautiful baby I&#8217;ve ever seen in my life. Oh, he&#8217;s so beautiful.&#8217; She was just in tears.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Paris Hilton tells Rolling Stone she was so intent on keeping her baby a secret, she dispensed with staff when she took him home — except for a baby nurse.
Story: <a href="https://t.co/S9a1urmTCd">https://t.co/S9a1urmTCd</a> <a href="https://t.co/uttlroVbHo">pic.twitter.com/uttlroVbHo</a>
&mdash; Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) <a href="https://twitter.com/RollingStone/status/1635657036619993088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The DJ and reality star said no one knew that she and Reum were having a baby except for the medical team and the surrogate.
&#8220;My life has just been so public, my whole life has been, just, invaded; I felt like, for my baby, I just wanted him to come into the world and just be here and not have all this weird …&#8221; Hilton said as she trailed off. &#8220;This.&#8221;
In January 2023, Paris posted a photo on her <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn0oCHOOI4T/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a> showing her hand holding a smaller hand. The socialite captioned her post, &#8220;You are already loved beyond words.&#8221;
&#8220;It&#8217;s always been my dream to be a mother and I&#8217;m so happy that Carter and I found each other,&#8221; Hilton told <a href="https://people.com/parents/paris-hilton-husband-carter-reum-welcomed-baby-boy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">People</a> magazine. &#8220;We are so excited to start our family together and our hearts are exploding with love for our baby boy.&#8221;
In an interview last fall, Paris&#8217;s mom told E! News that her daughter was &#8220;trying and trying” to get pregnant but hadn&#8217;t been successful so far and how it &#8220;breaks&#8221; her heart seeing what she was going through, as previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/paris-hilton-welcomes-first-baby-with-carter-reum-already-loved-beyond-words" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.

Paris Hilton-2

Paris Hilton Hid Secret Baby From Her Own Mother — Then Tried To ‘Soften The Blow’ With Pricey Gift

Paris Hilton Hid Secret Baby From Her Own Mother — Then Tried To 'Soften The Blow' With Pricey Gift

Celebrities

Entertainment

Paris Hilton

Reality TV

A Texas man filed a wrongful death <a href="https://portal.galvestoncountytx.gov/portal/DocumentViewer/Index/dJe__njLY3_VHqVuBy3uhPPNh7nqsV_1TS_D4jqVicrHfVCB21QlwN57B4tmftAMmbkq_wsfZfq7UyAmtmF7kbusRbOp0q1LSd8jqecdu0U1?caseNum=23-CV-0375&amp;docType=Public%20Case%20Images&amp;docName=Original%20Petition&amp;docTypeId=916&amp;isVersionId=False&amp;p=0">lawsuit</a> against three women who allegedly helped his ex-wife access abortion pills, marking the first legal filing of its kind under the state&#8217;s trigger law that makes performing an abortion a felony.
Plaintiff Marcus Silva filed the lawsuit in the Galveston County District Court last week, alleging two of his former wife&#8217;s friends — defendants Jackie Noyola and Amy Carpenter — assisted Silva&#8217;s former wife, Brittni, &#8220;in murdering Ms. Silva&#8217;s unborn child with illegally obtained abortion pills,&#8221; the lawsuit reads. Noyola and Carpenter allegedly texted Ms. Silva with information about an international group that provides abortion pills through postal services named Aid Access.
The lawsuit further alleges a third woman, Aracely Garcia, transported the drugs to &#8220;murder baby Silva&#8221; in July 2022, a month after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
&#8220;Marcus Silva recently learned of the defendant&#8217;s involvement in the murder of his child, and he brings suit against them for wrongful death and conspiracy.&#8221; the lawsuit reads.
Briscoe Cain, an attorney for Mr. Silva and member of the Texas House of Representatives, told <a href="https://foxsanantonio.com/news/local/split-opinions-over-the-three-women-sued-for-wrongful-death-following-abortion">Fox 29</a> that the Texas law authorizes such lawsuits for anyone who distributes or manufactures abortion pills used by Texas residents.
&#8220;Anyone involved in distributing or manufacturing abortion pills will be sued into oblivion,&#8221; Cain said. &#8220;That includes CVS and Walgreens if their abortion pills find their way into our state.&#8221;
Cain said the legal team for Silva plans to sue the manufacturer of the abortion pill when their identity becomes known.
According to the court filings, under the law of Texas, a person who assists a pregnant woman in obtaining a self-managed abortion has committed the crime of murder and can be sued for wrongful death.
Silva did not name his wife in the suit, <a href="https://www.axios.com/2023/03/11/abortion-texas-lawsuit-wrongful-death">Axios</a> reported, citing Texas&#8217; laws that exempt the pregnant woman from prosecution.
Court records reported by The Texas Tribune show that Silva&#8217;s wife filed for divorce in May 2022, with the finalization happening in February 2023.
Text messages attached to the lawsuit, Silva&#8217;s wife worried that her former husband would &#8220;use it against me.&#8221;
&#8220;I know either way he will use it against me,&#8221; the pregnant woman said, according to text messages attached to the complaint. &#8220;If I told him before, which I&#8217;m not, he would use it as a way to try to stay with me. And after the fact, I know he will try to act like he has some right to the decision.&#8221;
A text message from one of Ms. Silva&#8217;s friends agreed, saying, &#8220;I just worry about your emotional state and he&#8217;ll be able to snake his way into your head.&#8221;
Silva was also encouraged to delete the text conversations, Axios reported.
Texas passed a trigger law making performing an abortion a crime punishable by up to life in prison, <a href="https://abc13.com/abortion-marcus-silva-three-women-sued-pills/12940001/">ABC</a> reported. The law, however, did not go into effect until August 2022, which makes the legality of the case controversial.
Joe Pojman with Texas Alliance for Life told Fox 29 that the legal action could set a precedent for future cases.
&#8220;I hope the unborn children&#8217;s lives are not taken but if they are, this could be a really important example for someone,&#8221; Pojman said. &#8220;I&#8217;m hopeful this could mean justice for the unborn child, I&#8217;m hopeful that for father of the child could get some kind of compensation for it such that this would never ever happen again.&#8221;
Charles &#8220;Rocky&#8221; Rhodes, a South Texas College of Law law professor, told ABC he believes the lawsuit could gain traction.
&#8220;It&#8217;s scary to think that you can be sued for significant damages for helping a friend undertake acts that help her have even a self-medicated abortion,&#8221; Rhodes said. &#8220;Obviously, the allegations would have to be proven, but there is potentially merit to this suit under Texas&#8217; abortion laws as they exist now.&#8221;
Sunsara Taylor with RiseUp4AbortionRights.org told the outlet she believes the action violates women&#8217;s fundamental rights and blamed it on &#8220;Christian fascist movements.&#8221;
&#8220;It&#8217;s always just been a matter of time,&#8221; Taylor said. &#8220;Christian fascist movements and I say that deliberately because not all Christians, and it is a fascist movement that has been spearheading the movement over decades to ban abortion, has always been clear that their intention is to take this right away from women in all circumstances.&#8221;
&#8220;I think that there&#8217;s a lot of women who will be targeted,&#8221; adding she believes more prosecutions will follow.
Silva is seeking more than $1 million in damages, according to the lawsuit.

National Rallies For Abortion Rights Held Across The U.S.

Texas Man Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Ex-wife’s Friends Who Allegedly Helped Her Access Abortion Pills

Man Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Ex-wife's Friends Who Allegedly Helped Her Access Abortion Pills

Pro-Life Movement

Roe v. Wade's Long And Brutal Legacy

Texas

A <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/virginia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Virginia</a> judge ruled last month that frozen embryos can be considered property, a decision based in-part on a 19th century <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/slavery" target="_blank" rel="noopener">slavery</a> law, according to a new report. 
The ruling was part of a dispute between a divorced couple who both hope to gain control over two frozen embryos, which were created by Honeyhline Heidemann and Jason Heidemann during their marriage, the Associated Press <a href="https://apnews.com/article/embryos-slavery-chattel-custody-virginia-82e1f36ecbcf35ec4659e8e2c3443c4f">reported</a> this week. 
“Upon independent research, this court was unable to find any Virginia law prohibiting the purchase or sale of human embryo, nor has either party cited a federal law prohibiting the activity,” Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge Richard Gardiner <a href="https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/circuit/sites/circuit/files/assets/documents/pdf/opinions/cl-2021-15372-honeyhline-heidemann-v-jason-heidemann.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a> in a ruling related to the battle over the embryos. “As there is no prohibition on the sale of human embryos, they may [be] valued and sold, and thus may be considered ‘goods or chattels’ within the meaning of Code § 8.01-93.”
Since the couple split, Honeyhline has hoped to move forward with using the embryos, but Jason has sought to block her saying that implanting the embryos “would force Mr. Heidemann to procreate against his wishes and therefore violate his constitutional right to procreational autonomy.”
According to a 2015 contract that the couple had drawn up, they “own any stored embryos jointly.”
While Gardiner has not made a decision on Jason’s procreational autonomy claim, he did rule that the embryos could be viewed as property. His ruling in part relied on a Virginia law from the 1800s that regulated “goods and chattel,” which included slaves at the time the law was written. 
“I would like to think that the bench and the bar would be seeking more modern precedent,” said Solomon Ashby, president of the Old Dominion Bar Association. 
A human embryo is typically frozen very soon after fertilization before the unborn child has been able to develop much. 
In recent months, some conservatives <a href="https://www.axios.com/2022/11/29/republicans-abortion-fertility-ivf-pence">have considered</a> or voiced support for increasing protection for embryos and prohibiting the disposal of embryos as pro-life organizations have often raised concerns about what happens to embryos that do not end up being implanted. 
Gardiner’s ruling to treat embryos as property could draw the attention of pro-lifers, who have often <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-star-parker-gives-powerful-testimony-frank-camp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">compared</a> slavery and abortion over their callous treatment of human life.

Embryo selection for IVF light micrograph

Virginia Judge Rules Embryos Are Property, ‘Chattel’ Using Slavery Law

Fairfax County

Judge

Slavery

Virginia

Jane Fonda went on &#8220;The View&#8221; Friday and appeared to suggest that “murder” was an appropriate response to the overturning of Roe v. Wade — and when one of the co-hosts said the actress was &#8220;just kidding,&#8221; Fonda didn&#8217;t give them an answer.
During an awkward segment on the ABC talk show, the co-hosts spoke with the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/jane-fonda" target="_blank" rel="noopener">85-year-old</a> actress about a recent decision by the U. S. Supreme Court that overturned <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/roe-v-wade" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Roe v. Wade</a> as a result of Dobbs v. Jackson Women&#8217;s Health Organization. The ruling recognizes that there is no constitutional right to an abortion and returns the issue to the states, as previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/victory-pro-life-leaders-react-to-overturn-of-roe-v-wade" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
&#8220;We have experienced many decades now of having agency over our body, of being able to determine when and how many children to have,&#8221; Fonda shared.
&#8220;We know what that feels like, we know what that&#8217;s done for our lives,&#8221; she added. &#8220;We&#8217;re not going back; I don&#8217;t care what the laws are. We&#8217;re not going back.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
When asked for a solution to new pro-life laws around the country, Jane Fonda declares that they need to &quot;murder&quot; Republican politicians. Joy Behar immediately jumps in to claim &quot;she&#39;s just kidding,&quot; warning &quot;they&#39;ll pick up on that and run with it.&quot; Fonda gives a negative look. <a href="https://t.co/17QJ4tP1pW">pic.twitter.com/17QJ4tP1pW</a>
&mdash; Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) <a href="https://twitter.com/NickFondacaro/status/1634238511426486295?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 10, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Sonny Hostin then smiled and pointed at Fonda, stating, &#8220;That’s the activist. She probably will get a Nobel Prize.&#8221;
&#8220;It&#8217;s the truth, it is the truth,&#8221; Fonda exclaimed. &#8220;We&#8217;re gonna fight.&#8221;
When pressed further by co-host Joy Behar about what pro-abortion advocates could do besides &#8220;marching&#8221; and &#8220;protesting,&#8221; the &#8220;80 For Brady&#8221; star said &#8220;murder.&#8221;
&#8220;Well, I&#8217;ve thought of murder,&#8221; Fonda explained, before her &#8220;Grace and Frankie&#8221; co-star Lily Tomlin asked her to repeat that.
&#8220;Murder,&#8221; the &#8220;9 to 5&#8221; star explained once more, as the audience and co-hosts broke into laughter.
Behar replied that Fonda was &#8220;just kidding. Wait a second. … They&#8217;ll pick up on that and just run with it. She&#8217;s just kidding.&#8221;
The camera did a close-up on Tomlin, who genuinely looked surprised as she waited for Fonda to admit she was joking. However, when the camera panned over to the actress, she just gave a long stare, leaving audience members and viewers wondering if she was kidding or not.
Hostin then directed the conversation toward the Hollywood star&#8217;s well-known activism and the panel just moved on.
RELATED: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/jane-fonda-says-she-regrets-not-being-the-kind-of-mother-she-wished-shed-been-to-her-three-kids" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jane Fonda Says She Regrets Not Being ‘The Kind Of Mother’ She Wished She’d Been To Her Three Kids</a>

Los Angeles Special FYC Event For Netflix’s “Grace And Frankie” – Arrivals

Jane Fonda Suggests ‘Murder’ In Response To Overturning Of Roe V. Wade

Jane Fonda

Fundamental freedoms have been dealt an extreme blow by the Parliament of the United Kingdom with the passage of a new <a href="https://adf.uk/parliament-introduces-thought-crime/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bill</a> on Tuesday rolling out so-called “buffer zones” around every abortion facility in England and Wales. The Public Order Bill puts into force 150-meter censorship zones banning any form of “influence,” including silent prayer and consensual conversations, wherever abortions are performed. The U.K., the birthplace of the Magna Carta and many of the foundational freedoms we enjoy in the West, is now leading the charge on a new era of thought-crime prosecution.
One need only look to recent arrests to understand the immense human rights ramifications of the new law. Where censorship zones are already in force, they have engendered severe violations of the right to free expression. Take for example the <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/twitter-erupts-clip-uk-woman-arrested-silently-praying-across-abortion-clinic-terrifying" target="_blank" rel="noopener">viral</a> arrest of <a href="https://adf.uk/support-isabel/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Isabel Vaughan-Spruce</a>, whose case reveals the state of legal chaos that censorship zones generate. Isabel was first arrested in December for the “crime” of standing in peaceful silence, praying, on a public sidewalk classified as a censorship zone near a Birmingham, England abortion facility. In February, she was <a href="https://adf.uk/not-guilty/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">acquitted</a> fully in court, only to be <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11830349/Moment-Catholic-woman-arrested-second-time-silently-praying-outside-abortion-clinic.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">arrested</a> once again for the imperceptible act of silent prayer on Monday of this week.
At the time of the second incident, the arresting officer <a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/ADF_UK/status/1632820479131099136" target="_blank" rel="noopener">commented</a>: &#8220;You&#8217;ve said you&#8217;re engaging in prayer, which is the offense.” To which Isabel counters: &#8220;Silent prayer.&#8221; His response says it all —&#8221;You were still engaging in prayer, which is the offense.” Censorship zones empower authorities to arrest peaceful individuals on the basis of their thoughts alone. This is a catastrophic failure for a democratic society where every person should have the right to peaceful expression, not to mention, their own thoughts, in the place of their choosing.
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Woman Arrested for Silently Praying" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/k6E105a58p8?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
And Isabel was not alone in what befell her. Catholic priest <a href="https://adf.uk/priest-legal-battle/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Father Sean Gough</a> was criminally charged, and likewise found “not guilty,” for standing in silent prayer in the same zone as Isabel. Absurdly, he was also charged for having an “unborn lives matter” bumper sticker affixed to his car, which was parked in the zone. Army veteran <a href="https://adf.uk/army-vet-fined-for-praying/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Adam Smith-Connor</a> was fined for silent prayer in Bournemouth, England. Bournemouth offers a particularly outrageous example of censorship zone lunacy. The city has in place an eerily specific <a href="https://www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/Communities/PSPOs/documents/Signed-PSPO-Ophir-Road-and-Surrounding-Area.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ordinance</a>, ominously posted on signposts listing prohibited activities. These include sprinkling holy water, kneeling, reading scripture, and prayer considered to be an “act of approval/disapproval” toward abortion.
Most egregiously, the debate over the new nationwide law revealed that pro-censorship Members of Parliament deem the specific targeting of <a href="https://twitter.com/LoisMcLatch/status/1633145686295302144/photo/1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">silent prayer</a> acceptable. It is no accident that prayer, in all of its forms, is captured by the new prohibitions. This triggered a Parliamentary vote on an amendment to exclude both prayer and consensual conversation from the bill, which <a href="https://adf.uk/parliament-introduces-thought-crime/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">failed</a> with 116 votes in favor and 299 against. 299 British Members of Parliament think prayer should be an offense under the law in certain public places. Let that sink in.
No doubt the new law will give rise to countless more abuses similar to that of Isabel, Father Sean, and Adam. Peaceful citizens throughout the country are now under real risk of legal sanction for exercising their most basic right to pray, think, and act in accordance with their convictions. At the same time, parts of the U.K. are experiencing rapidly escalating <a href="https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/three-people-dead-12-rapes-26233686" target="_blank" rel="noopener">violent crimes</a> without adequate response from law enforcement. What happens when already stretched police resources are redirected to patrol for prayer?
Censorship zone aficionados are quick to cite harassment as justification for these draconian measures. But this is a severe distortion of their real, and intended, impact. Censorship zones don’t “buffer” women from harassment. Harassment is always wrong, which is why it is already fully criminalized under U.K. law. It is clear that these zones are not about the protection of women. What they do is give the state the power to stifle views that are deemed disagreeable—in this case the view that both women and their unborn children are worthy of protection.
Today, the silencing power of the state in the U.K. is being leveraged full-throttle against the pro-life view. Tomorrow, censorship zones could be deployed to target another issue altogether. Parliament has opened the door to ever-proliferating state censorship in the U.K. Who’s to say that the next push won’t be for censorship zones around schools, government buildings, or any other public spaces deemed to require a protective bubble of this sort?
Let this be a clear warning to all concerned with the protection of fundamental freedoms. In the U.S., we must robustly defend our First Amendment protections. The thought police are real and standing by across the pond. Prayer can never be a crime, and nobody should be punished for peacefully living, and thinking, according to what they believe.
Elyssa Koren is an international human rights lawyer and director of legal communications for <a href="https://www.adfinternational.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ADF International</a>. Follow her on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/Elyssa_Koren" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@Elyssa_Koren</a> 
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Abortion clinic protest court case

‘Buffer Zones’: U.K. Parliament Affirms Ban On Silent Prayer Around All Abortion Facilities

Censorship

England

Prayer

Readers Pass

U.K.

World

New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James sent a letter pressuring pharmacies to keep selling abortion pills.
In the <a href="https://ag.ny.gov/sites/default/files/03.09.23_mife_letter.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letter</a>, addressed to the CEOs of Walgreens, Rite Aid, and CVS, Hochul and James told the companies not to give in to pressure from Republican states to stop selling the abortifacient drug mifepristone. But in doing so, the two officials put pressure on the three companies to keep selling the drug in their state.
&#8220;Recent national events have spotlighted the critical role that pharmacies play in providing access to essential health care, including reproductive health care,&#8221; Hochul and James wrote. &#8220;That is why we write to you today to ask that you commit to making medication abortion available in your retail and mail-order pharmacies across New York State.&#8221;
The two officials then blasted a campaign by multiple states&#8217; Attorneys General to stop pharmacies from selling abortion pills. The campaign began in January, when <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/22-attorneys-general-urge-fda-to-reverse-abortion-pill-decision" target="_blank" rel="noopener">22 Republican Attorneys General</a> sent a letter to FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf asking the agency to reverse a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/16/health/abortion-pills-fda.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">December 2022</a> decision that would permanently allow pharmacies to dispense mifepristone by mail. The move clashes with laws in at least 18 states which require that abortifacient drugs can only be dispensed in the presence of a licensed physician, which effectively bans telemedicine for prescribing a medication abortion.
Then in February, 20 Attorneys General sent a letter to Walgreens and other pharmacy chains including CVS, Walmart, and Costco, warning them that they could be in violation of their respective state laws if they dispense abortion drugs. In response, Walgreens said it <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/walgreens-wont-distribute-abortion-pill-in-21-states-spokesperson-says" target="_blank" rel="noopener">would not dispense abortion pills</a> either by mail or at locations in 21 states, including Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, and Montana, where abortion drugs are still legal.
Hochul and James derided the pressure campaign, claiming it was &#8220;based on a restrictive interpretation of the law and misrepresentation of the facts. We urge you not to allow these tactics to intimidate you, and to commit to making this critical medication available as widely as possible, based on a fair and unbiased interpretation of state and federal law,&#8221; they wrote.
Pointing out that abortion is legal in New York, including medication abortions using mifepristone, Hochul and James then asked the companies two questions:
<ul>
<li>&#8220;Will you commit to dispense mifepristone to patients with a doctor’s prescription at all FDA certified pharmacy locations in the State of New York? If not, what is the legal basis for this decision?&#8221;</li>
<li>&#8220;Will you commit to dispense mifepristone via mail with a doctor’s prescription to patients in the State of New York? If not, what is the legal basis for this decision?&#8221;</li>
</ul>
&#8220;New Yorkers urgently need clarity on these questions, as reproductive rights are curtailed and undermined across the nation,&#8221; the two officials concluded.
<a class="c-link" href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://onelink.to/dwapp" data-sk="tooltip_parent">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP</a>
The pressure from Hochul and James in New York comes after California Governor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/newsom-says-california-done-with-walgreens-over-abortion-pills" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gavin Newsom</a> said his state would stop doing business with Walgreens in response to its decision to stop selling abortion pills. “California won’t be doing business with [Walgreens] — or any company that cowers to the extremists and puts women’s lives at risk,” Newsom <a href="https://twitter.com/GavinNewsom/status/1632811406344192000" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tweeted</a> on Tuesday. “We’re done.”
A spokesperson for Newsom further noted that “all relationships” between Walgreens and California are under review, according to Reuters.

Kathy Hochul

NY Gov Hochul, AG James Demand That Pharmacy Chains Keep Selling Abortion Drugs

Drugs

Letitia James

New York

Whoopi Goldberg made it clear that she was not impressed with Walgreens, laying into the retail pharmacy giant for saying they would not <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/walgreens-wont-distribute-abortion-pill-in-21-states-spokesperson-says/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mail abortion pills</a> in certain states.
Goldberg made the comments during Thursday&#8217;s broadcast of &#8220;The View,&#8221; ABC&#8217;s midday talk show — and she claimed that the company had been bullied into the move because those in leadership were &#8220;scared of all these old white men.&#8221;
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Painting America as some kind of Islamic republic, Whoopi huffs that the law is from 1898 when women could &quot;barely could go down the street&quot; without a man. <a href="https://t.co/uedxLSTDRX">pic.twitter.com/uedxLSTDRX</a>
&mdash; Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) <a href="https://twitter.com/NickFondacaro/status/1633863630147006465?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;Twenty-one Republican attorneys general have threatened legal action against Walgreens if they mail abortion pills in their states, citing a federal law that they claim prohibits it,&#8221; she began. &#8220;But the U.S. Justice Department disagreed, saying, &#8216;It&#8217;s okay to mail these pills as long as the drug is taken lawfully.'&#8221;
&#8220;So Walgreens, are you just scared of all these old white men who are coming after you? &#8216;Cause you never — you can — don&#8217;t be scared of them, be scared of the women,&#8221; Goldberg said, suggesting that women were likely to have strong opinions on the issue because the company had &#8220;stepped on their rights.&#8221;
Goldberg went on to accuse the &#8220;old white men&#8221; of going back to &#8220;1898 or something crazy &#8230; &#8217;73,&#8221; she corrected after cohost Sunny Hostin interrupted with &#8220;1873.&#8221;
&#8220;Women had no rights,&#8221; Goldberg continued. &#8220;Barely could go down the street, but hey. That&#8217;s what they scared them with and they caved to that.&#8221;
<a class="c-link" href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://onelink.to/dwapp" data-sk="tooltip_parent">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP</a>
Walgreens <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2023/03/02/walgreens-abortion-pills-00085325" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told Politico</a> last Thursday that the company had issued a <a href="https://ag.ks.gov/docs/default-source/documents/dg-mifepristone-letter-to-ks-ag.pdf?sfvrsn=bc6bd1a_2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">response</a> to each individual attorney general with regard to the threat of legal action, saying in part, &#8220;While Walgreens has publicly expressed its intent to become a certified pharmacy under the Food and Drug Administration’s (&#8216;FDA&#8217;) program, the company has made clear that it would do so consistent with all applicable laws and as a result would not be able to dispense Mifepristone in all locations. Additionally, Walgreens has not made any representations about using our mail-order pharmacy business to dispense this drug.&#8221;
however, the company made it clear that once they were FDA cleared to do so, they intended to dispense the abortion drug in any state where it was legal to do so: &#8220;We want to be very clear about what our position has always been: Walgreens plans to dispense Mifepristone in any jurisdiction where it is legally permissible to do so. Once we are certified by the FDA, we will dispense this medication consistent with federal and state laws. Providing legally approved medications to patients is what pharmacies do, and is rooted in our commitment to the communities in which we operate.&#8221;

60th New York Film Festival – “Till” Red Carpet

‘Be Scared Of The Women’: Whoopi Scolds Walgreens For Not Mailing Abortion Pills

Whoopi Goldberg Scolds Walgreens For Not Mailing Abortion Pills

Media

The View

Whoopi Goldberg

California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom said on Monday his state would cut ties with Walgreens following the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/walgreens-wont-distribute-abortion-pill-in-21-states-spokesperson-says" target="_blank" rel="noopener">drugstore chain&#8217;s decision</a> not to sell abortion pills in nearly two dozen states.
&#8220;California won&#8217;t be doing business with [Walgreens] — or any company that cowers to the extremists and puts women&#8217;s lives at risk,&#8221; <a href="https://twitter.com/GavinNewsom/status/1632811406344192000" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Newsom tweeted.</a> &#8220;We&#8217;re done.&#8221;
A spokesperson for Newsom further noted that &#8220;all relationships&#8221; between Walgreens and California are under review, <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/1-california-not-business-walgreens-004938652.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to Reuters</a>.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
California won&#39;t be doing business with <a href="https://twitter.com/Walgreens?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@walgreens</a> &#8212; or any company that cowers to the extremists and puts women&#39;s lives at risk.
We&#39;re done.<a href="https://t.co/OB10cYfm8H">https://t.co/OB10cYfm8H</a>
&mdash; Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) <a href="https://twitter.com/GavinNewsom/status/1632811406344192000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
A Walgreens representative declined to comment on Newsom&#8217;s tweet but did share a general statement with The Daily Wire about Mifepristone, one of two drugs used in medical abortions.
&#8220;We want to be very clear about what our position has always been: Walgreens plans to dispense Mifepristone in any jurisdiction where it is legally permissible to do so,&#8221; a Walgreens spokesperson said.
&#8220;Once we are certified by the [Food and Drug Administration], we will dispense this medication consistent with federal and state laws,&#8221; the spokesperson added. &#8220;Providing legally approved medications to patients is what pharmacies do, and is rooted in our commitment to the communities in which we operate.&#8221;
Walgreens, which operates nearly 9,000 retail locations across the United States, <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2023/03/02/walgreens-abortion-pills-00085325" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told POLITICO</a> last week it would not distribute abortion pills in almost two dozen states where the attorneys general threatened legal action over the sale of abortion pills by mail in their states.
In four of the states — Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, and Montana — <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/us/abortion-laws-roe-v-wade.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">abortion remains legal</a> after the Supreme Court ruling last summer overturning the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.
<a class="c-link c-link--focus-visible" href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://onelink.to/dwapp" data-sk="tooltip_parent" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-224564">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP</a>
However, these largely conservative states have all pushed for more restrictions, and their attorneys general have joined a lawsuit <a href="https://tennesseelookout.com/2023/02/13/attorneys-general-from-23-gop-led-states-back-suit-seeking-to-block-abortion-pill/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">seeking to overturn</a> the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of using Mifepristone for abortions.
The Guttmacher Institute, a <a href="https://www.guttmacher.org/about" target="_blank" rel="noopener">research and policy organizatio</a>n focused on sexual and reproductive health, <a href="https://www.guttmacher.org/article/2022/02/medication-abortion-now-accounts-more-half-all-us-abortions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">released an analysis last year</a> that found medication abortions accounted for more than half of all facility-based abortions performed in the United States in 2020.

California Governor Gavin Newsom

Newsom Says California ‘Done’ With Walgreens Over Abortion Pills

Newsom Says California 'Done' With Walgreens Over Abortion Pills

Politics

This article is adapted from today’s Morning Wire Afternoon Update. To listen to the podcast version, click <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/podcasts/morning-wire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
East Palestine Payouts
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro announced Monday that Norfolk Southern — the company at the center of the disastrous derailment in East Palestine — will pay “millions” for its error. Along with the train company, the Biden administration has received a lot of criticism for its handling of the disaster, including from Ohio Senator J.D. Vance (R):
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
JD Vance torches Biden admin response to Ohio disaster: &#39;Total catastrophic failure&#39; <a href="https://t.co/gxXqL1shjJ">pic.twitter.com/gxXqL1shjJ</a>
&mdash; Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) <a href="https://twitter.com/IngrahamAngle/status/1632002619488043011?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 4, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Newsom Goes To Mexico
California Governor Gavin Newsom is drawing fire from critics for vacationing in Baja, Mexico. This comes as his state battles severe weather and power outages. Daily Wire Senior Editor Cabot Phillips told The Morning Wire&#8217;s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/podcasts/morning-wire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Afternoon Update</a> the following:
<blockquote>Last week, California was pummeled by historic snowstorms leaving many stranded in their homes and desperate for help — especially in the San Bernardino Mountain region. On Thursday, Newsom left the state for a “personal trip” to Baja California — a day after he declared a State of Emergency in 13 of the state’s counties. On Sunday, his office announced that Newsom had returned to California. While Newsom was away, rescue workers saved at least 150 people unable to leave their homes due to the heavy snowfall. First responders are delivering food and providing meals for many who are unable to travel to grocery stores either due to business closures or blocked roadways. More storms are expected to drop mounds of snow and precipitation onto the state in the days ahead.</blockquote>
&#8220;Blackout Rage Gallons&#8221; Threaten College Kids
The University of Massachusetts-Amherst is warning other schools of a new viral trend, started on TikTok that encourages college students to chug so-called “blackout rage gallons,” or BORGS — a potent mix of alcohol, flavoring, electrolytes, and water. UMass students had to call for the ambulance at least 28 times, and neighboring towns had to help Amherst deal with the binge drinking over the weekend.
Ukrainian Pilots Trained In America
Two Ukrainian pilots are in the U.S. for operations related to military training of U.S. aircraft — including F-16s. The Daily Wire&#8217;s Tim Pearce reported on the Afternoon update &#8220;that Congressional and Pentagon officials have told NBC news that the two pilots are currently in Tucson where their skills are being tested in flight simulators. The goals here are to improve the pilots’ skills and evaluate how long a proper training program could take. Ten additional Ukrainians have been approved by Congress for additional assessments as early as this month&#8221;
&#8220;Officials say that these training sessions will help the U.S. advise Ukraine’s military on how to better use the equipment it already has,&#8221; Pearce added.
Left-Wing Rioters Arrested
A night of fire and violence at the future site of a police training center in Atlanta on Sunday led to the arrests of 35 people, according to authorities. Here with more is Daily Wire Reporter Daniel Chaitin:
<blockquote>Police said a group of “violent agitators” wearing all-black clothing attacked the construction area of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, which critics have dubbed “Cop City.” People threw large rocks as well as Molotov cocktails during the clash, and some construction equipment caught fire. Police said 35 people were detained and authorities released a list showing 23 individuals, most of whom are from out of state, had been charged with domestic terrorism, a felony that could land them in prison for decades. Among those arrested and charged was Thomas Jurgens, an attorney with the Southern Poverty Law Center.</blockquote>
<a class="c-link" href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://onelink.to/dwapp" data-sk="tooltip_parent">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP</a>
Walgreens Won&#8217;t Sell Abortion Pill In 21 States
The pharmaceutical giant Walgreens is <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/walgreens-wont-distribute-abortion-pill-in-21-states-spokesperson-says" target="_blank" rel="noopener">defending itself</a> after it announced that it will not sell or distribute an Abortion Pill in 21 States, either by mail or via retail. For more, here’s Daily Wire reporter Brandon Drey:
<blockquote>The states that Walgreens won’t be selling the pills include Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, and Montana, where the drug is legal. The decision followed a letter from 20 Republican attorneys general last month warning that doing so would violate state law. A spokesperson for the company said recently “This is a very complex and in flux area of the law, and the company is “taking that into account” as it seeks FDA certification to sell the drug. Walgreens will still sell it where it is legal.</blockquote>
To listen to the audio version of this podcast, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/morning-wire/id1576594336" target="_blank" rel="noopener">click here</a>. And for more in-depth discussion of the biggest stories of the day, listen to the latest full episode of Morning Wire every morning.

Monday stock photo

Monday Afternoon Update: East Palestine Payouts, Anti-Cop Rioters Arrested, Newsom Bails To Baja

East Palestine

Georgia

Joe Biden

Morning Wire

Podcast

Ukraine

Ukraine-Russia War

American pharmacy chain Walgreens faced backlash over the weekend after announcing it would not sell abortion pills in states where the drugs remain legal after nearly two dozen Republican state attorney generals threatened legal action against the company.
Walgreens, the second-largest pharmaceutical chain in the United States, told <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2023/03/02/walgreens-abortion-pills-00085325">Politico</a> last week they would not dispense abortion pills either by mail or at locations in 21 states, including Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, and Montana, where the drug is legal.
The decision followed a letter from 20 Republican attorneys general last month, who warned of violating state laws if the company mailed out abortion pills. Several other pharmacies, including CVS, Walmart, and Costco, also received a similar letter from those state officials.
&#8220;This is a very complex and in flux area of the law, and we are taking that into account as we seek certification,&#8221; Fraser Engerman, a spokesman for Walgreens, told <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/03/health/walgreens-abortion-pills.html">The New York Times</a> on Friday.
Following the announcement, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/walgreens-boycott-pharmacy-wont-sell-abortion-pills-20-states-2023-3">Business Insider</a> reported the phrases &#8220;Walgreens&#8221; and &#8220;#BoycottWalgreens&#8221; trended on Twitter as critics called on consumers to stop supporting the pharmacy — which cited tweets from one of President Joe Biden&#8217;s aides, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, and Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) — all calling on the pharmacy to reverse its decision.
Kristi Hamrick, a spokesperson for Students for Life, praised Walgreens&#8217; decision.
&#8220;This response indicates that pro-life concerns are being heard and that corporations are not rushing to take over the abortion business but are proceeding cautiously,&#8221; Hamrick told Poltico.
Students for Life and other pro-life groups have also written to Walgreens and CVS, threatening &#8220;legal ramifications&#8221; for the pharmacies if they begin filling prescriptions for abortion pills, Politico reported.
Other states Walgreens included in the announcement were those that made it illegal to dispense the abortion pill through mail such as Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia.
A Walgreens spokesperson told Business Insider that it would still distribute abortion pills &#8220;only in those jurisdictions where it is legal and operationally feasible,&#8221; adding it still plans on becoming an FDA-certified pharmacy to sell the drug.
Earlier this year, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/22-attorneys-general-urge-fda-to-reverse-abortion-pill-decision">22 attorneys general</a> wrote to Federal Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf asking the agency to reverse its decision to certify retail pharmacies to dispense abortion pills.
The letter argues that the distribution of abortion-inducing drugs threatens women&#8217;s health.
&#8220;The Food and Drug Administration&#8217;s decision to abandon commonsense restrictions on remotely prescribing and administering abortion-inducing drugs is both illegal and dangerous,&#8221; the letter read. &#8220;In direct contravention of longstanding FDA practice and congressional mandate, the FDA&#8217;s rollback of important safety restrictions ignores both women&#8217;s health and straightforward federal statutes.&#8221;
Such medications used to induce abortions, Mifeprex and its generic Mifepristone Tablets, are approved by the FDA for up to 10 weeks gestation, as a woman&#8217;s health risk reportedly increases after that time.
Since the historic overturning of the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling by the Supreme Court last summer, medication-induced abortions have been sought after as an alternative abortion method.
According to the Guttmacher Institute, more than half of all &#8220;facility-based abortions&#8221; in the U.S. yearly have been due to such drugs.

Walgreens Posts Quarterly Earnings That Beat Analysts’ Expectations

Walgreens Won’t Distribute Abortion Pill In 21 States, Spokesperson Says

Walgreens Won't Distribute Abortion Pill In 21 States, Spokesperson Says

Pro-Abortion

Menu