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| White House refuses to sign on to Christchurch call to combat online extremism – live | White House refuses to sign on to Christchurch call to combat online extremism – live |
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| While Alabama’s Republican Governor considers whether to sign the state’s near-total abortion ban, abortion providers in Ohio have formally filed a lawsuit against an abortion ban there. | |
| Lawmakers in Ohio enacted a law which bans abortion after six weeks, called a “fetal heartbeat” bill. At six weeks, a pregnancy is called an embryo, and the still microscopic tissues which will become the heart have not fully formed. | |
| When lawmakers enacted the law, they acknowledged it was unlikely to ever go into effect, but was instead meant to challenge Roe versus Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion in the US. | |
| “If a woman is forced to continue a pregnancy against her will, it can pose a risk to her physical, mental, and emotional health, as well as to the stability and well-being of her family, including existing children,” the lawsuit said, according to the AP. | |
| With both chambers of the Alabama legislature passing a near-total abortion ban, attention is going to turn to Republican Governor Kay Ivey, who must sign the bill for it to become law. | With both chambers of the Alabama legislature passing a near-total abortion ban, attention is going to turn to Republican Governor Kay Ivey, who must sign the bill for it to become law. |
| The law has no exemptions for rape or incest, and criminalizes doctors who perform the procedure. Anti-abortion campaigners hope the law will be challenged in court, and eventually prompt the US Supreme Court to reconsider Roe versus Wade. | The law has no exemptions for rape or incest, and criminalizes doctors who perform the procedure. Anti-abortion campaigners hope the law will be challenged in court, and eventually prompt the US Supreme Court to reconsider Roe versus Wade. |
| Abortion remains legal in all 50 states as long as Roe versus Wade stands. | Abortion remains legal in all 50 states as long as Roe versus Wade stands. |
| Here is more reporting from the AP: | Here is more reporting from the AP: |
| Abortion rights advocates Wednesday morning urged Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey to reject the bill and vowed swift legal action if it is enacted. | Abortion rights advocates Wednesday morning urged Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey to reject the bill and vowed swift legal action if it is enacted. |
| “We are laser-focused on urging Gov. Kay Ivey to veto this dangerous bill. If she chooses not to, then we will take this to court and ensure that abortion remains safe and legal and accessible in the state of Alabama,” said Staci Fox, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Southeast. | “We are laser-focused on urging Gov. Kay Ivey to veto this dangerous bill. If she chooses not to, then we will take this to court and ensure that abortion remains safe and legal and accessible in the state of Alabama,” said Staci Fox, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Southeast. |
| Ivey has not commented on the bill but the Republican fixture in Alabama has long identified as anti-abortion and the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Terri Collins, said she expects her to sign the legislation. | Ivey has not commented on the bill but the Republican fixture in Alabama has long identified as anti-abortion and the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Terri Collins, said she expects her to sign the legislation. |
| ...“Roe v. Wade has ended the lives of millions of children,” Alabama Republican Sen. Clyde Chambliss said in a statement. “While we cannot undo the damage that decades of legal precedence under Roe have caused, this bill has the opportunity to save the lives of millions of unborn children.” | ...“Roe v. Wade has ended the lives of millions of children,” Alabama Republican Sen. Clyde Chambliss said in a statement. “While we cannot undo the damage that decades of legal precedence under Roe have caused, this bill has the opportunity to save the lives of millions of unborn children.” |
| Democrats criticized the bill as a mixture of political grandstanding and a waste of taxpayer dollars. | Democrats criticized the bill as a mixture of political grandstanding and a waste of taxpayer dollars. |
| “The state of Alabama ought to be ashamed of herself. You ought to be ashamed. Go look in the mirror,” Sen. Bobby Singleton said “Women in this state didn’t deserve this. This is all about political grandstanding.” | “The state of Alabama ought to be ashamed of herself. You ought to be ashamed. Go look in the mirror,” Sen. Bobby Singleton said “Women in this state didn’t deserve this. This is all about political grandstanding.” |
| Trump returned to one of his favorite topics during this speech: the southern border. With an assist from Guardian US reporter Amanda Holpuch, we are fact-checking his statements. | Trump returned to one of his favorite topics during this speech: the southern border. With an assist from Guardian US reporter Amanda Holpuch, we are fact-checking his statements. |
| Trump: The “wrong people [are] being allowed to come in” over the Southern border, and that sanctuary cities are “deadly”. | Trump: The “wrong people [are] being allowed to come in” over the Southern border, and that sanctuary cities are “deadly”. |
| More context... While 310,531 people were apprehended trying to cross the southern border illegally in 2017, in the same year more than 600,000 people who entered the US legally by air or sea overstayed their visas and remained in the country at the end of the year, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). | More context... While 310,531 people were apprehended trying to cross the southern border illegally in 2017, in the same year more than 600,000 people who entered the US legally by air or sea overstayed their visas and remained in the country at the end of the year, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). |
| This is a tiny fraction of the 52 million people who entered the US legally in 2017. It is estimated that the number of visa overstays are actually higher, because the DHS report does not include land crossings. | This is a tiny fraction of the 52 million people who entered the US legally in 2017. It is estimated that the number of visa overstays are actually higher, because the DHS report does not include land crossings. |
| Trump: “I don’t think most countries are giving us their finest,” he added. | Trump: “I don’t think most countries are giving us their finest,” he added. |
| Actually... The share of families are coming over the border has increased steadily since 2012, many of whom are refugees from violent countries. | Actually... The share of families are coming over the border has increased steadily since 2012, many of whom are refugees from violent countries. |
| Here is one advocate Jorge Santos from Udefegua, which monitors attacks against journalists: “There’s a growing feeling that there is little possibility of a dignified life in Guatemala which is producing the increased flow of migrants and refugees.” | Here is one advocate Jorge Santos from Udefegua, which monitors attacks against journalists: “There’s a growing feeling that there is little possibility of a dignified life in Guatemala which is producing the increased flow of migrants and refugees.” |
| President Trump just brought the family of California police officer Corporal Ronil Singh up to the microphone to speak, through Secret Service barricades. | President Trump just brought the family of California police officer Corporal Ronil Singh up to the microphone to speak, through Secret Service barricades. |
| “Every family sitting out here wants justice,” said his widow, holding his 10-month-old son, “And that’s what I want for my husband.” | “Every family sitting out here wants justice,” said his widow, holding his 10-month-old son, “And that’s what I want for my husband.” |
| Trump has said the perpetrators of ambushes on police should, “get the death penalty”, to cheers. | Trump has said the perpetrators of ambushes on police should, “get the death penalty”, to cheers. |
| “The ongoing attacks on our police must end,” Trump said. The trials of perpetrators should “go fast,” and added “fair but fast.” | “The ongoing attacks on our police must end,” Trump said. The trials of perpetrators should “go fast,” and added “fair but fast.” |
| Trump is now speaking about police officers killed in the line of duty. Two of those officers are Brookhaven, Mississippi police officers who were shot in January, Corporal Zach Moak and Patrolman James White. | Trump is now speaking about police officers killed in the line of duty. Two of those officers are Brookhaven, Mississippi police officers who were shot in January, Corporal Zach Moak and Patrolman James White. |
| “This morning we are honored to be joined by the families of both of these remarkable officers,” he said. | “This morning we are honored to be joined by the families of both of these remarkable officers,” he said. |
| The White House will not sign onto the “Christchurch call to action”, an international agreement to combat online extremism and hate speech. This is the statement from the White House, from the Washington Post: | The White House will not sign onto the “Christchurch call to action”, an international agreement to combat online extremism and hate speech. This is the statement from the White House, from the Washington Post: |
| We continue to be proactive in our efforts to counter terrorist content online while also continuing to respect freedom of expression and freedom of the press,” the White House said. “Further, we maintain that the best tool to defeat terrorist speech is productive speech, and thus we emphasize the importance of promoting credible, alternative narratives as the primary means by which we can defeat terrorist messaging.” | We continue to be proactive in our efforts to counter terrorist content online while also continuing to respect freedom of expression and freedom of the press,” the White House said. “Further, we maintain that the best tool to defeat terrorist speech is productive speech, and thus we emphasize the importance of promoting credible, alternative narratives as the primary means by which we can defeat terrorist messaging.” |
| Trump has often been criticized for retweeting conspiracy theories and alt-right personalities who boost white supremacy. | Trump has often been criticized for retweeting conspiracy theories and alt-right personalities who boost white supremacy. |
| Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden just tweeted about the near-total abortion ban passed by Alabama’s Senate Tuesday night. | Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden just tweeted about the near-total abortion ban passed by Alabama’s Senate Tuesday night. |
| Republicans in AL, FL, GA, and OH are ushering in laws that clearly violate Roe v Wade and they should be declared unconstitutional. Roe v Wade is settled law and should not be overturned. This choice should remain between a woman and her doctor. | Republicans in AL, FL, GA, and OH are ushering in laws that clearly violate Roe v Wade and they should be declared unconstitutional. Roe v Wade is settled law and should not be overturned. This choice should remain between a woman and her doctor. |
| His comment is notable for two reasons. | His comment is notable for two reasons. |
| 1. Many Democratic candidates tweeted about this last night. It took him many hours longer to denounce the near-total ban. | 1. Many Democratic candidates tweeted about this last night. It took him many hours longer to denounce the near-total ban. |
| (This reporter is working on a full list of 2020 contender reactions right now.) | (This reporter is working on a full list of 2020 contender reactions right now.) |
| 2. Biden has an inconsistent record on abortion. He is a Catholic, and at times, has voted in favor of restrictions, other times against them. | 2. Biden has an inconsistent record on abortion. He is a Catholic, and at times, has voted in favor of restrictions, other times against them. |
| Trump and members of his cabinet are now listening to the National Anthem. Trump is flanked by Attorney General Bill Barr and Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, among others. | Trump and members of his cabinet are now listening to the National Anthem. Trump is flanked by Attorney General Bill Barr and Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, among others. |
| President Trump has just entered the National Peace Officer’s Memorial Service. Again, here is the livestream. | President Trump has just entered the National Peace Officer’s Memorial Service. Again, here is the livestream. |
| Democratic US presidential candidate and New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand heads to Georgia tomorrow to rally against near-total abortion bans. Roughly one week ago, Georgia joined five other states in enacting a ban on abortion after six-weeks. | Democratic US presidential candidate and New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand heads to Georgia tomorrow to rally against near-total abortion bans. Roughly one week ago, Georgia joined five other states in enacting a ban on abortion after six-weeks. |
| The laws effectively ban all abortion, since most women do not yet know they are pregnant at six weeks. Georgia’s law makes exceptions for rape and incest, but other similar laws do not – for example in Ohio. | The laws effectively ban all abortion, since most women do not yet know they are pregnant at six weeks. Georgia’s law makes exceptions for rape and incest, but other similar laws do not – for example in Ohio. |
| Right now, the conversation about what women can do with our own bodies is being driven by too many male politicians. It should be led by the actual experts: women and doctors. So I'm going to hear from the people most directly affected by abortion bans like Georgia's. | Right now, the conversation about what women can do with our own bodies is being driven by too many male politicians. It should be led by the actual experts: women and doctors. So I'm going to hear from the people most directly affected by abortion bans like Georgia's. |
| We're facing an all-out assault on women’s constitutional rights, explicitly aimed at overturning Roe v. Wade. We need to loudly proclaim that reproductive rights are nonnegotiable, and join together to defend them at every level—in Washington, in the courts, and in the states. | We're facing an all-out assault on women’s constitutional rights, explicitly aimed at overturning Roe v. Wade. We need to loudly proclaim that reproductive rights are nonnegotiable, and join together to defend them at every level—in Washington, in the courts, and in the states. |
| These 25 Republicans – all white men – just voted to ban abortion in Alabama | These 25 Republicans – all white men – just voted to ban abortion in Alabama |
| From our story on the legislators who passed Alabama’s abortion ban: | From our story on the legislators who passed Alabama’s abortion ban: |
| Alabama’s new law mandating an almost blanket ban on abortion, the strictest in the United States, was passed by this group of exclusively white, male politicians. | Alabama’s new law mandating an almost blanket ban on abortion, the strictest in the United States, was passed by this group of exclusively white, male politicians. |
| The Alabama law will disproportionately affect black and poor women, because they are more likely to seek abortions, and less likely to have resources to obtain an abortion out-of-state. | The Alabama law will disproportionately affect black and poor women, because they are more likely to seek abortions, and less likely to have resources to obtain an abortion out-of-state. |
| Of the 27 Republicans, all white men, that dominate the 35-seat Alabama senate, 25 voted to pass the bill late on Tuesday. | Of the 27 Republicans, all white men, that dominate the 35-seat Alabama senate, 25 voted to pass the bill late on Tuesday. |
| This is what the Republican leadership group in the senate looks like, as presented on their caucus’s website: | This is what the Republican leadership group in the senate looks like, as presented on their caucus’s website: |