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From chairperson Lavora Barnes
In political debates, the rhetoric sometimes overshadows the impact of those policy decisions on actual people: what’s the impact on individual lives. That is one of the many reasons Joe Biden is such an amazing leader: every decision he makes is influenced by a lifetime of experiences of “Scranton Joe,” the guy who grew up in a working class family that faced the same challenges that confront millions of Americans.
Sadly, a lot of the debate over reproductive rights overlooks the real world. Opponents manufacture horror stories that are mostly fantasies unattached from the real world. They talk about late term abortions right up to the moment of birth, something that simply isn’t a thing. They trivialize what, in reality, is one of the most difficult decisions a woman can make.
In the case of exceeding rare late-term abortions, those decisions are the direct result of a major emergency that’s life-or-death, but opponents make it sound heartless. In the last week, Michiganders had the opportunity to learn more about the real-world impact of the anti-choice movement from two victims of those laws.
Texan Amanda Zurawski and Kaitlin Joshua of Louisiana both very much wanted a child, but both of them experienced the horror of a pregnancy gone bad. Thanks to the draconian laws passed by their legislatures, both of them nearly died as a result.
On this week’s podcast, we hear both of their stories: the real world impact of taking away the right of women to control their own healthcare.
In the News
Michigan Politics
- Kamala Harris touts EV transition loans in Detroit – Bridge Michigan
- In Detroit, VP Harris promotes White House aid for small business – Detroit News
- Michigan AG Dana Nessel plans to sue fossil fuel companies over climate change – Bridge Michigan
- Lawyer who advised Trump sends ‘message’ to Michigan attorney general
- A Democrat won a recall election in Republican dominated Ottawa County. Was it a harbinger? – mlive.com
- Michigan editor who covered Ottawa County upheaval fired – Detroit News
- Senate ad targets Rogers over disputed Benghazi detail – Detroit News
- Michigan Senate candidate spews anti-China rhetoric despite working to expand Chinese companies and personal wealth – Heartland Signal
- Hollier responds to Thanedar challenge of voter signatures – Detroit Free Press
Michigan Policy
- Michigan AG Dana Nessel plans to sue fossil fuel companies over climate change – Bridge Michigan
- Opinion: Abortion in Michigan needs to be protected. Re-elect Joe Biden – Governor Whitmer via Detroit Free Press
- Michigan may test out gas tax replacement using $5M pay-per-mile pilot – mlive.com
Trump/GOP Outrages
- Trump seeks $1 billion from oil CEOs, vows to limit EVs – The Washington Post
- IRS Audit Could Cost Trump $100 Million — ProPublica
- Judge indefinitely delays Trump’s classified documents criminal trial – NBC News
- Opinion | Judge Aileen Cannon hands Trump a gift in classified documents case – The Washington Post
National
- Geoff Duncan, former Republican Georgia lieutenant governor, endorses Biden over Trump – MSNBC
- Biden revives effort to lower costs of caregiving for families – AP News
- Minority Rule Is Threatening American Democracy Like Never Before – Mother Jones
- Opinion | Newsletter: Biden is the president of law and order – The Washington Post
- New rule to speed up removal of limited group of migrants – AP News
- Group of Republicans unite to defend legitimacy of US elections | AP News
- How ‘History and Tradition’ Rulings Are Changing American Law – The New York Times
- RFK Jr. Says Doctors Found a Dead Worm in His Brain – The New York Times
- If it bleeds it leads, inflation edition – Paul Krugman/New York Times