FRANCE PROTECTS ABORTION IN CONSTITUTION
France became the first country to enshrine abortion access explicitly in its constitution. Legislators voted on a constitutional amendment recognizing abortion as a “guaranteed freedom.” This means future legislators won’t be able to “drastically modify” France’s standing abortion access laws.
French PM Gabriel Attal said of the vote, “We are sending the message to all women: your body belongs to you and no one has the right to control it in your stead.” The push to add a constitutional amendment protecting abortion began as a direct result of SCOTUS overturning Roe v Wade in 2022.
BEYONCÉ TOPS COUNTRY CHARTS
@beyonce made history this week as the first Black woman to top Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart with her single “Texas Hold ‘Em.” Her other new release, “16 Carriages,” is number 9 on the chart.
Beyoncé is also one of only two women solo artists to debut singles at number 1 on the country charts (the other is Taylor Swift, naturally). And Beyoncé is the first woman to top both the country and R&B/hip-hop charts since they were established in 1958. Is there anything she can’t do?
Both new singles are from her new album which drops in March. The new album’s title has yet to be released, but Beyoncé has referred to it as “Act II” of her 2022 album Renaissance.
ALABAMA V IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION
After the Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, many fertility doctors and advocates sounded the alarm that the next target could be in-vitro fertilization. Now, Alabama is realizing those fears. The Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen IVF embryos are legally “children,” citing the Bible in its ruling. Apparently, life begins at conception – even if conception occurs in a Petri dish.
The legal implications of this ruling are many and chilling. We don’t know yet what this means for families in Alabama who currently have frozen embryos stored in the state’s five fertility clinics, but beyond that — this is a worrying precedent to set in any state. Other states decide to adopt similar measures, throwing into doubt the future of IVF for many who need it.
AMY SCHUMER’S HEALTH ANNOUNCEMENT
Comedian, longtime NNN supporter, and friend @amyschumer is no stranger to internet trolls — but recently, misogynist commenters started viciously attacking her appearance. Schumer shared with us the medical diagnosis behind certain changes to her appearance. You can read about her health, her advocacy, and a little bit of history about medical body-shaming in today’s edition of the News Not Noise Letter. Link in bio.
At 515 EST today we’ll be going live here on IG with @drelizabethcomen author of “All in Her Head,” to discuss more about how women’s bodies and appearances are scrutinized for changes related to medical conditions.
If you miss the live look for it in the grid later. And READ THE NEWS NOT NOISE LETTER. Link in bio.
#amyschumer #womenshealth #bodyshaming #women #womensupportingwomen #goodmedicine
NYTIMES INSTAGRAM
Check this out. The @nytimes is up with a piece on Instagram becoming a home for news! We agree Instagram has a troubled relationship with news and news providers (or maybe we should say a troubling relationship….) Thank you to @whatsupna and @mike_isaac for featuring News Not Noise.
When we started News Not Noise in 2018, I only knew of one account posting news on Instagram — a Texas reporter with the account @smarthernews whose name I’ve sadly forgotten. At the time there was no other national journalist doing this. It was before reels existed and before TikTok videos were a thing. We took a big leap, started sharing news this way and proved there is an audience on Instagram hungry for fact-based information, curated and told clearly from a friendly voice. That paved the way for so many others to follow. I’m honored to be mentioned alongside news creators @mosheh @sharonsaysso and @emilyinyourphone in this article.
Our work requires innovation, creativity, and constant adaptation. We are so glad we’ve proven that this model works, and we couldn’t have done it without you showing up every day, confirming that people do want to be part of a community that cares about being informed. That cares about facts, expertise, and our impact on the world.
This is more important than ever in an election year. And Instagram is increasingly making it difficult to reach an audience. So to help us stay strong and reach new people — I’m making a request of everyone. If you care about the work we do to bring you calm, fact-based news even as the IG algorithm suppresses it:
⭐️ Please send this account to 3 friends who don’t follow us and ask them to follow. (You could send it to more than 3 if you’d like 😊)
And you can read the NYT article at the link in stories & bio.
Thanks for making this such a fantastic community!
Photo by @elizabethrweinberg
So I don’t usually do this but this was a special occasion. So:
Thank you @mishelbrownbeauty for such pretty makeup and @coryaaronscott for always making my hair glow.
#gratitude #creativity #innovation
WARNING: Contains discussion of sexual violence and torture.
Before I share this reporting I want to say — nothing in my career compares to the cruel dehumanizing comments I receive whenever I report about the massacre and rapes of Israelis on 10/7 or about the the suffering of hostages in Hamas captivity.
So to those who wish to deny the reality of what they suffered: one can object to the war or want peace….without dehumanizing Israelis or denying their experience. If you do that here I will restrict you as a commenter and if it continues I will shut off comments. Without compassion there will never be peace.
*****
Five months after the 10/7 massacre, the UN released a report detailing evidence Hamas committed sexual violence against Israeli women and girls on 10/7. Investigators “reviewed over 5,000 photos, around 50 hours and several audio files of footage of the attacks” and conducted “confidential interviews with survivors and witnesses” of the 10/7 attack. After reviewing all the evidence they found “clear and credible evidence” of “rape and gang rape” occurring in at least 4 sites: the Nova Music Festival, the road leading away from the festival, and at least 2 kibbutzim.
The U.N. Special Representative for Sexual Violence in Conflict wrote this report, which also described how “several fully naked or partially naked bodies from the waist down were recovered – mostly women – with hands tied and shot multiple times, often in the head” and “several bodies were found with genital injuries.” The report notes that the inquiry was complicated by some factors including “the high number of bodies with destructive burn damage, which made the identification of potential crimes of sexual violence impossible.” The UN called for further investigation into these crimes.
The report also found “clear and convincing information that sexual violence, including rape, sexualized torture, and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment occurred against some women and children during their time in captivity and has reasonable grounds to believe that this violence may be ongoing.”
IVF Ruling: Would you Move?
A number of Alabama fertility clinics have paused their services, after the state’s Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos are “extrauterine children”. Legal analysts say the justices stopped short of granting the frozen embryos the same rights as children, but doctors are sufficiently concerned about the legal liability this creates to pause IVF treatments.
At least 3 Alabama fertility clinics including the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s center have put services on hold. Another says they will allow for egg retrieval but not fertilization. The state attorney general says he “has no intention” of prosecuting IVF patients or doctors; that’s not the same as saying there is no legal liability.
There are already reports of: one couple leaving Alabama for implantation; fallout effects on young cancer patients who often turn to IVF to ensure they can have children after cancer treatment; and speculation about other states following Alabama’s lead.
A number of people told me they would move to a different state if this happened where they live. So I asked you. These are some of the answers that struck me.
Comment your thoughts. Would you move if IVF were banned where you live? If abortion were banned? How about birth control?
#children #alabama #parenthood #kids #freedom #fertility
IVF Ruling: Would you Move?
A number of Alabama fertility clinics have paused their services, after the state’s Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos are “extrauterine children”. Legal analysts say the justices stopped short of granting the frozen embryos the same rights as children, but doctors are sufficiently concerned about the legal liability this creates to pause IVF treatments.
At least 3 Alabama fertility clinics including the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s center have put services on hold. Another says they will allow for egg retrieval but not fertilization. The state attorney general says he “has no intention” of prosecuting IVF patients or doctors; that’s not the same as saying there is no legal liability.
There are already reports of: one couple leaving Alabama for implantation; fallout effects on young cancer patients who often turn to IVF to ensure they can have children after cancer treatment; and speculation about other states following Alabama’s lead.
A number of people told me they would move to a different state if this happened where they live. So I asked you. These are some of the answers that struck me.
Comment your thoughts. Would you move if IVF were banned where you live? If abortion were banned? How about birth control?
#children #alabama #parenthood #kids #freedom #fertility
IVF Ruling: Would you Move?
A number of Alabama fertility clinics have paused their services, after the state’s Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos are “extrauterine children”. Legal analysts say the justices stopped short of granting the frozen embryos the same rights as children, but doctors are sufficiently concerned about the legal liability this creates to pause IVF treatments.
At least 3 Alabama fertility clinics including the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s center have put services on hold. Another says they will allow for egg retrieval but not fertilization. The state attorney general says he “has no intention” of prosecuting IVF patients or doctors; that’s not the same as saying there is no legal liability.
There are already reports of: one couple leaving Alabama for implantation; fallout effects on young cancer patients who often turn to IVF to ensure they can have children after cancer treatment; and speculation about other states following Alabama’s lead.
A number of people told me they would move to a different state if this happened where they live. So I asked you. These are some of the answers that struck me.
Comment your thoughts. Would you move if IVF were banned where you live? If abortion were banned? How about birth control?
#children #alabama #parenthood #kids #freedom #fertility
IVF Ruling: Would you Move?
A number of Alabama fertility clinics have paused their services, after the state’s Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos are “extrauterine children”. Legal analysts say the justices stopped short of granting the frozen embryos the same rights as children, but doctors are sufficiently concerned about the legal liability this creates to pause IVF treatments.
At least 3 Alabama fertility clinics including the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s center have put services on hold. Another says they will allow for egg retrieval but not fertilization. The state attorney general says he “has no intention” of prosecuting IVF patients or doctors; that’s not the same as saying there is no legal liability.
There are already reports of: one couple leaving Alabama for implantation; fallout effects on young cancer patients who often turn to IVF to ensure they can have children after cancer treatment; and speculation about other states following Alabama’s lead.
A number of people told me they would move to a different state if this happened where they live. So I asked you. These are some of the answers that struck me.
Comment your thoughts. Would you move if IVF were banned where you live? If abortion were banned? How about birth control?
#children #alabama #parenthood #kids #freedom #fertility
IVF Ruling: Would you Move?
A number of Alabama fertility clinics have paused their services, after the state’s Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos are “extrauterine children”. Legal analysts say the justices stopped short of granting the frozen embryos the same rights as children, but doctors are sufficiently concerned about the legal liability this creates to pause IVF treatments.
At least 3 Alabama fertility clinics including the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s center have put services on hold. Another says they will allow for egg retrieval but not fertilization. The state attorney general says he “has no intention” of prosecuting IVF patients or doctors; that’s not the same as saying there is no legal liability.
There are already reports of: one couple leaving Alabama for implantation; fallout effects on young cancer patients who often turn to IVF to ensure they can have children after cancer treatment; and speculation about other states following Alabama’s lead.
A number of people told me they would move to a different state if this happened where they live. So I asked you. These are some of the answers that struck me.
Comment your thoughts. Would you move if IVF were banned where you live? If abortion were banned? How about birth control?
#children #alabama #parenthood #kids #freedom #fertility
IVF Ruling: Would you Move?
A number of Alabama fertility clinics have paused their services, after the state’s Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos are “extrauterine children”. Legal analysts say the justices stopped short of granting the frozen embryos the same rights as children, but doctors are sufficiently concerned about the legal liability this creates to pause IVF treatments.
At least 3 Alabama fertility clinics including the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s center have put services on hold. Another says they will allow for egg retrieval but not fertilization. The state attorney general says he “has no intention” of prosecuting IVF patients or doctors; that’s not the same as saying there is no legal liability.
There are already reports of: one couple leaving Alabama for implantation; fallout effects on young cancer patients who often turn to IVF to ensure they can have children after cancer treatment; and speculation about other states following Alabama’s lead.
A number of people told me they would move to a different state if this happened where they live. So I asked you. These are some of the answers that struck me.
Comment your thoughts. Would you move if IVF were banned where you live? If abortion were banned? How about birth control?
#children #alabama #parenthood #kids #freedom #fertility
IVF Ruling: Would you Move?
A number of Alabama fertility clinics have paused their services, after the state’s Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos are “extrauterine children”. Legal analysts say the justices stopped short of granting the frozen embryos the same rights as children, but doctors are sufficiently concerned about the legal liability this creates to pause IVF treatments.
At least 3 Alabama fertility clinics including the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s center have put services on hold. Another says they will allow for egg retrieval but not fertilization. The state attorney general says he “has no intention” of prosecuting IVF patients or doctors; that’s not the same as saying there is no legal liability.
There are already reports of: one couple leaving Alabama for implantation; fallout effects on young cancer patients who often turn to IVF to ensure they can have children after cancer treatment; and speculation about other states following Alabama’s lead.
A number of people told me they would move to a different state if this happened where they live. So I asked you. These are some of the answers that struck me.
Comment your thoughts. Would you move if IVF were banned where you live? If abortion were banned? How about birth control?
#children #alabama #parenthood #kids #freedom #fertility
IVF Ruling: Would you Move?
A number of Alabama fertility clinics have paused their services, after the state’s Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos are “extrauterine children”. Legal analysts say the justices stopped short of granting the frozen embryos the same rights as children, but doctors are sufficiently concerned about the legal liability this creates to pause IVF treatments.
At least 3 Alabama fertility clinics including the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s center have put services on hold. Another says they will allow for egg retrieval but not fertilization. The state attorney general says he “has no intention” of prosecuting IVF patients or doctors; that’s not the same as saying there is no legal liability.
There are already reports of: one couple leaving Alabama for implantation; fallout effects on young cancer patients who often turn to IVF to ensure they can have children after cancer treatment; and speculation about other states following Alabama’s lead.
A number of people told me they would move to a different state if this happened where they live. So I asked you. These are some of the answers that struck me.
Comment your thoughts. Would you move if IVF were banned where you live? If abortion were banned? How about birth control?
#children #alabama #parenthood #kids #freedom #fertility
IVF Ruling: Would you Move?
A number of Alabama fertility clinics have paused their services, after the state’s Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos are “extrauterine children”. Legal analysts say the justices stopped short of granting the frozen embryos the same rights as children, but doctors are sufficiently concerned about the legal liability this creates to pause IVF treatments.
At least 3 Alabama fertility clinics including the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s center have put services on hold. Another says they will allow for egg retrieval but not fertilization. The state attorney general says he “has no intention” of prosecuting IVF patients or doctors; that’s not the same as saying there is no legal liability.
There are already reports of: one couple leaving Alabama for implantation; fallout effects on young cancer patients who often turn to IVF to ensure they can have children after cancer treatment; and speculation about other states following Alabama’s lead.
A number of people told me they would move to a different state if this happened where they live. So I asked you. These are some of the answers that struck me.
Comment your thoughts. Would you move if IVF were banned where you live? If abortion were banned? How about birth control?
#children #alabama #parenthood #kids #freedom #fertility
IVF Ruling: Would you Move?
A number of Alabama fertility clinics have paused their services, after the state’s Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos are “extrauterine children”. Legal analysts say the justices stopped short of granting the frozen embryos the same rights as children, but doctors are sufficiently concerned about the legal liability this creates to pause IVF treatments.
At least 3 Alabama fertility clinics including the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s center have put services on hold. Another says they will allow for egg retrieval but not fertilization. The state attorney general says he “has no intention” of prosecuting IVF patients or doctors; that’s not the same as saying there is no legal liability.
There are already reports of: one couple leaving Alabama for implantation; fallout effects on young cancer patients who often turn to IVF to ensure they can have children after cancer treatment; and speculation about other states following Alabama’s lead.
A number of people told me they would move to a different state if this happened where they live. So I asked you. These are some of the answers that struck me.
Comment your thoughts. Would you move if IVF were banned where you live? If abortion were banned? How about birth control?
#children #alabama #parenthood #kids #freedom #fertility
WOMEN’S HEALTH AND BODY-SHAMING
Here, Dr. Elizabeth Comen and I discuss @amyschumer medical diagnosis and the history of women’s health and body shaming. Dr. Comen is the author of “All in Her Head,” a book documenting the history of women’s bodies, medicine, and social stigma.
You can find her @drelizabethcomen or at her website www.drelizabethcomen.com
Read my interview with Amy in the News Not Noise letter. Link in bio.
#allinherhead #amyschumer #womenshealth #womensupportingwomen
GOT ANXIETY? TIPS TO CALM YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM
Since I live in the news and on social media I’ve been dealing with news anxiety for a long time. So I’ve learned some tricks and tools to help me calm down and recenter when I feel stress get too intense. These are all science-backed tips.
Most of these tips are related to stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system, which is the part of the nervous system responsible for regulating relaxation, rest, and digestion. The parasympathetic nervous system translates sensory input into signals that tell your body to relax your muscles, slow your heart rate and breathing, and even reduce inflammation. Touching your lips, yawning, and cold exposure all stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system.
As for the other tips here? Studies show making eye contact with your pet boosts your levels of oxytocin, a hormone which supports feelings of trust and love. And numerous studies have shown the benefits of being in or even just looking at nature. One found that participants performing boring tasks made fewer mistakes when they looked at nature during a 40-second break (compared to participants who looked at a concrete rooftop instead).
What tricks do you use to calm down when the news gets overwhelming? Tell us in the comments.
GOT ANXIETY? TIPS TO CALM YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM
Since I live in the news and on social media I’ve been dealing with news anxiety for a long time. So I’ve learned some tricks and tools to help me calm down and recenter when I feel stress get too intense. These are all science-backed tips.
Most of these tips are related to stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system, which is the part of the nervous system responsible for regulating relaxation, rest, and digestion. The parasympathetic nervous system translates sensory input into signals that tell your body to relax your muscles, slow your heart rate and breathing, and even reduce inflammation. Touching your lips, yawning, and cold exposure all stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system.
As for the other tips here? Studies show making eye contact with your pet boosts your levels of oxytocin, a hormone which supports feelings of trust and love. And numerous studies have shown the benefits of being in or even just looking at nature. One found that participants performing boring tasks made fewer mistakes when they looked at nature during a 40-second break (compared to participants who looked at a concrete rooftop instead).
What tricks do you use to calm down when the news gets overwhelming? Tell us in the comments.
CHANGING OF THE GUARD
Republican Senate Minority Leader Senator Mitch McConnell surprises with an announcement that he plans to step down from his role as leader in November. McConnell has been a defining voice and leader in Washington – spearheading an effort to place conservative justices on the U.S. Supreme Court, expanding use of the filibuster to block Democrats’ agenda, and changing the tax code.
He has shown signs of illness in recent months – “freezing” during public remarks more than once. He has been at odds with President Trump – who has made racist comments to criticize McConnell’s wife Elaine Chao, and and is increasingly alienated from the MAGA part of the GOP.
At 82 years, he is the longest serving senate leader in U.S. history. He will remain in the Senate even after he steps down as GOP leader.
His departure puts a number of issues in doubt – chief among them future US foreign aid for conflicts overseas (Ukraine, Israel). He was also master of Senate rules and without him there, expect less order in the Senate GOP conference which could empower the MAGA wing of the party.
What are your thoughts on this news?
RFK JR VP PICK: NICOLE SHANAHAN
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. announced his running mate in his independent bid for the presidency: Nicole Shanahan. She is an extremely wealthy environmental lawyer and entrepreneur and the ex-wife of Google cofounder Sergey Brin.
In the announcement speech Kennedy introduced Shanahan as a “fellow lawyer, a brilliant scientist, technologist, and a fierce warrior mom.” Shanahan, 38, founded the Bia-Echo Foundation, a charitable organization that focuses on “climate solutions, reproductive health, social justice and a cure for autism.” She has shared that her daughter, Echo, was diagnosed with autism.
In her remarks Shanahan positioned herself as a disaffected Democrat who has dedicated herself, in part, to questioning the causes of illness in America. She specifically named the targets of her concern: “endocrine disrupting chemicals,” “electromagnetic pollution,” and “the cumulative impact of one prescription on top of another prescription and one shot on top of another shot on top of another shot throughout the course of childhood.” Note: Scientists and doctors in this audience, please share your thoughts in comments.
Shanhan, once a megadonor to the Democratic party, became a super supporter of RFK. She was involved in funding and designing the controversial RFK, Jr Super Bowl ad that featured footage of uncle JFK and drew the ire of many Kennedy family members.
Shanahan is also the cofounder of an AI company and has worked on efforts to extend “reproductive longevity.” She has no experience in elective office and a very limited public profile. She was the focus of press attention during her divorce from Brin when the Wall Street Journal reported a semi-scandalous (though what really is scandalous?) story involving Elon Musk.
Her addition will likely ensure RFK has the funds he needs to compete through November and will position him to draw more votes from Biden, as Shanahan’s message is designed to woo Democrats to RFK’s cause.
Share your thoughts in comments.
#2024
HALEY WINS DC PRIMARY
Nikki Haley won her first primary election in the District of Columbia, garnering 63% of DC Republican votes while Donald Trump got 33%. Trump’s team said of the results that “the swamp has claimed their queen.”
This comes a day before Super Tuesday, when 16 states hold primaries. Haley is backing away from her pledge to support Trump in the general election, saying she’ll “make the decision I want to make” if Trump becomes the GOP nominee.
TEXAS WILDFIRE OUT OF CONTROL
The Smokehouse Creek wildfire is raging in the Texas panhandle and parts of Western Oklahoma. The cause of the blaze is currently unknown, but it started Monday evening and has already burned more than 1 million acres. It’s now the largest wildfire in Texas history and the second-largest wildfire in US history.
Here, footage from first responders and storm chasers shows the intensity of the flames as clouds of acrid smoke billow over the land — and some of the smoke has even reached as far north as Canada.
Strong winds accelerated the fire’s spread through grasslands and other rural areas, even creating brief “fire tornadoes.” Firefighters are trying to contain the spread but progress is slow “due to rough terrain” according to the National Wildfire Coordinating Group. The fire has only been contained 3% at time of posting.
#SmokehouseCreekFire #Wildfire #TexasWildfire #Texas
Trump to Remain on Ballot Nationwide
In a unanimous decision the Supreme Court today ruled that the state of Colorado cannot remove former President Trump from the ballot. Effectively this means no states can kick Trump off the ballot for his actions on January 6th. Efforts by Maine and Illinois are shut down now as well.
Background: The Colorado Supreme Court ruled that Trump can’t serve as President again because he violated Section 3 of the Constitution’s 14th Amendment, the insurrection clause. It holds that any former office holder who “engaged in insurrection” can’t hold federal office.
The US Supreme Court disagreed with Colorado. All 9 justices held that it’s up to the federal government, not state government, to decide whether people running for federal office are eligible under Section 3. They found that states have the power only to decide who can run for state office.
The justices split about how far to take this.
Four conservative justices ruled that only Congress can decide if a person has committed insurrection/can be kicked off the ballot for federal office and that Congress must pass legislation to do so.
Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson disagreed and wrote in a joint concurring opinion that the Court shouldn’t limit that power to Congress and by shutting down other means of federal enforcement of Section 3 the Court was helping to “insulate” former President Trump from “future controversy.”
Justice Amy Coney Barrett tried to stake out a middle position.
The justices didn’t address the larger question – whether Trump engaged in insurrection on January 6th. This ruling has no impact on the 4 court cases Trump is facing, including the Special Counsel’s cases.
Bottom line, Trump will not be taken off ballots for insurrection. The decision comes a day before Super Tuesday when 15 states hold primaries.
Note: This also means red states can’t remove Biden from their ballot. This unanimous decision eliminates the possibility that any one state can shape the outcome of the election by removing candidates from their ballots.
Trump hailed the decision as a massive victory.
#court #colorado
