Abortion mostly illegal in Arizona now |
The Arizona Supreme Court has banned nearly all abortions in the state, amid a national battle over reproductive rights.
The Hill's Lauren Irwin breaks down the 1864 law here. In the state Supreme Court's 4-2 decision, the justices argue they didn't have to enforce a 15-week ban implemented by former Gov. Doug Ducey (R) in 2022. Instead, the court argued that a Civil War-era abortion law, which was signed into law before Arizona was a state, should go into effect. This law makes abortion a felony, punishable by two to five years of jail time for anyone who performs an abortion or helps someone obtain the procedure. "Physicians are now on notice that all abortions, except those necessary to save a woman's life, are illegal," the court wrote in its 4-2 decision. "Additional criminal and regulatory sanctions may apply to abortions performed after fifteen weeks' gestation." There is no exception for rape or incest and only includes a minuscule exception for "when it is necessary" to save the life of a pregnant person. The legislation could shutter abortion clinics in the state, although it is unclear how the law will be enforced. Republicans and Democrats at state and federal levels have decried the ruling: - Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) issued an executive order that bars county attorneys from prosecuting women and doctors for obtaining or performing abortions.
- U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake (R) said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter, "I oppose today's ruling," and called for the state's Legislature to "come up with an immediate common sense solution that Arizonans can support."
- Lake's opponent, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D), said the "ruling is devastating for Arizona women and their families ... This is not what Arizonans want."
- Ducey, who passed the initial 15-week ban while in office, opposed the ruling, saying it "is not the outcome I would have preferred, and I call on our elected leaders to ... address this issue with a policy that is workable and reflective of our electorate."
- Rep. David Schweikert (R-Ariz.), the most vulnerable Republican in the state, opposed the high court's ruling, saying "I do not support today's ruling from the AZ Supreme Court. This issue should be decided by Arizonans, not legislated from the bench."
- The White House issued a statement, saying, "[t]his ruling is a result of the extreme agenda of Republican elected officials who are committed to ripping away women's freedom."
- Vice President Harris, in a swing at former President Trump, said the ruling "just rolled back the clock to a time before women could vote – and, by his own admission, there's one person responsible: Donald Trump."
Vice President Harris will head to Arizona later this week to address the issue. She'll be in Tucson on Friday for an event billed as supporting "reproductive freedom."
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Welcome to Evening Report! I'm Liz Crisp, catching you up from the afternoon and what's coming tomorrow. Not on the list? Subscribe here. |
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- 🔒 The parents of convicted Michigan school shooter Ethan Crumbley will spend 10 to 15 years in prison for their role in the deaths of four high school students in 2021.
- 🗣️ Former Colorado Rep. Ken Buck (R) blasted one-time colleague Marjorie Taylor Greene for her opposition to Ukraine funding, calling her "Moscow Marjorie."
- 📺 What the real Veep is watching: Vice President Harris talked about what she and second gentleman Doug Emhoff have been streaming.
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Trump's push for hush money trial delay denied |
An appeals court has shut down former President Trump's push for a delay on the alleged hush money trial related to the 2016 election. Trump's lawyers had argued for a delay because of a gag order that bans him from making public statements about jurors, witnesses and others connected to the case. Trump is accused of paying adult film star Stormy Daniels to keep quiet about their alleged affair. "The First Amendment harms arising from this gag order right now are irreparable," Trump lawyer Emil Bove said at an emergency hearing Tuesday in the state's mid-level appeals court. The former president can still discuss factual issues and things unrelated to the case. (The Hill)
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Zelensky says Ukraine will lose war without US funding |
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukraine "will lose the war" against Russia if U.S. lawmakers do not send more funding for the war-torn nation's defense.
"We need to tell Congress specifically -- If Congress does not help Ukraine, Ukraine will lose the war," Zelensky said over the weekend. "If Ukraine loses the war, other states will be attacked: This is a fact."
Additional aid for Ukraine has been stalled in Congress amid the GOP-controlled House's infighting.
The House is now back from a two-week Easter recess, and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) says he wants to take up Ukraine aid in the coming weeks. (The Hill)
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Pentagon chief: No evidence Israel committing genocide
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Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says there is no evidence that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza amid its war with Hamas.
Austin, during a Senate Armed Services hearing at the Capitol on Tuesday, denied claims that Israel is committing a genocide as protesters interrupted the meeting calling for a ceasefire in the war, which has been going since Hamas militants carried out a deadly attack on Israelis and took more than a hundred hostages on Oct. 7, 2023. Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed as a result of the war. (The Hill) |
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March sets 10th-straight monthly heat record
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March marked the 10th month in a row where Earth had record-high temperatures, according to the European Union's climate agency Copernicus. The air and ocean temperatures both reached their highest levels ever recorded for the month. The average global temperature reached about 56 degrees Fahrenheit over the month, surpassing the record set in 2016. (The Hill) |
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Seven more states sue over Biden student loan plan
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Seven states are suing the U.S. Department of Education over President Biden's latest student loan easement plan, adding to a previous lawsuit by several other states.
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey (R) accused Biden of trying to "curry favor with some citizens by forcing others to shoulder their debts" in Biden's SAVE plan, which is an income-driven repayment program for borrowers saddled with student debt.
"With the stroke of his pen, Joe Biden is attempting to saddle working Missourians with a half trillion dollars in college debt," Bailey said. "The United States Constitution makes clear that the President lacks the authority to unilaterally 'cancel' student loan debt for millions of Americans without express permission from Congress." (The Hill)
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"Missouri case shows that even people sentenced to death can be rehabilitated," writes Austin Sarat of Amherst College. "Have Trump's lawyers violated their professional oaths?" writes Charles Cragin, lawyer and former member of the Republican National Committee. |
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97 days until the Republican National Convention.
132 days until the Democratic National Convention.
209 days until the 2024 general election. |
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President Biden will welcome Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the White House this evening, ahead of Wednesday's official diplomatic visit and state dinner. The prime minister also is expected to address a joint meeting of Congress on Thursday. |
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