Roe v Wade has been overturned. How do you feel about that?

[N.E. Brigand]

A Democratic candidate for Georgia's state supreme court, the former Congressman John Barrow, "filed a federal lawsuit Monday to block the state’s judicial watchdog agency from seeking misconduct charges against him for centering his campaign for a seat on the Georgia Supreme Court on a pledge to support abortion rights. The lawsuit came days after the Judicial Qualifications Commission informed the former Democratic lawmaker he was facing a complaint for pledging to 'protect' abortion rights against a 2019 Republican-backed state law that restricts the procedure."

[N.E. Brigand]

The Republican legislature in Louisiana is working on a bill that would designate the abortion drug mifepristone as a "dangerous controlled substance."

[N.E. Brigand]

Donald Trump's two weeks are up.

Donald Trump was interviewed by Time and gave alarming answers on several topics, including abortion rights. On that subject:

1. He won't rule out a national abortion ban (which many Republicans promise to pass if they control Congress).

2.a. He says he has a "very strong" opinion about whether the abortion pill mifepristone should be banned, but he's going to keep it to himself for two weeks. There has been discussion among Republicans about invoking the Comstock Act to criminalize the sale of this pill across state lines.

2.b. The interview was conducted April 12 but only released today. More than two weeks later, on April 27, Time followed up with a second interview. Trump again said that his plans regarding mifepristone would be released in two weeks.

3. He says states led by Republicans should be permitted to monitor pregnant women to make sure they don't have abortions.

[N.E. Brigand]

I like to see Joe Biden embracing Donald Trump's characterization ("If the radical Democratic extremists get their way, they will have a federal law for abortion").

[N.E. Brigand]

Maryland's former governor, Larry Hogan, a moderate Republican running for U.S. Senate, claims in a new pro-choice campaign ad that he will introduce federal legislation to codify the abortion rights in Roe vs. Wade. He probably genuinely means that, and it's gratifying that both major candidates in Maryland are on the right side of this issue, but as noted here, his Democratic opponent, Angela Alsobrooks, the Prince George's County Executive, should point out that such legislation would go nowhere in a Republican-controlled Senate (which is a likely enough outcome as it is and assured if Hogan gets elected).

[N.E. Brigand]

An update on this race:

A Democratic candidate for Georgia's state supreme court, the former Congressman John Barrow, "filed a federal lawsuit Monday to block the state’s judicial watchdog agency from seeking misconduct charges against him for centering his campaign for a seat on the Georgia Supreme Court on a pledge to support abortion rights. The lawsuit came days after the Judicial Qualifications Commission informed the former Democratic lawmaker he was facing a complaint for pledging to 'protect' abortion rights against a 2019 Republican-backed state law that restricts the procedure."

John Barrow is on track to lose by at least ten points tonight to the incumbent Republican. The consensus opinion appears to be that, aforementioned lawsuit outstanding, this contest was "over before it started" because (1) Barrow didn't run much of a campaign, (2) his opponent had the endorsement of Governor Brian Kemp, (3) Georgia ballots give the edge to the "incumbent" by putting that word on the ballot (!), (4) Barrow was well outspent, and (5) Kemp played some dirty tricks over the past four years with suspiciously timed resignations, delayed appointments, and adverse court judgements, resulting in three other Georgia Supreme Court races tonight where Kemp's appointees faced no Democratic opposition. It's a bit hard to follow, but apparently judges keep announcing in the spring that they'll be retiring in the fall, which lets Kemp cancel the election that they would have faced and announce a temporary replacement to serve out their term. Seems pretty gross.

[N.E. Brigand]

Oh look, Texas Republicans nearly killed another pregnant woman. They failed, but not for want of trying. Better luck next time?

Lots of people are arguing that the law isn't intended to cause harm like this. But let's be honest: Republicans have been warned repeatedly about the consequences of draconian anti-abortion legislation, so yes, their laws are absolutely written in order to kill women. They may not admit it openly, but that's the goal.

[Voronwë the Faithful]

Meanwhile here in California