Y’all this is a WEEK. We’ve got South Carolina trying to ban abortion before most folks know they are pregnant; HHS prospect Xavier Beccerra facing a barrage of questions about JUST abortion because THAT’S the health crisis we’re facing...SMDH AND if that isn’t bad enough one of Marie’s pet snails ate another one. PLUS- We are so PSYCHED to be joined by Maysoon Zayid, badass comedian, our favorite soap opera star AND and incredible disability rights advocate. She talks with us about the onslaught of abortion bans that target fetal anaomalies and down syndrome diagnoses and the disgusting way disabled folks have become pawns in the anti-abortion movements plans to ban abortion and the hypocrisy around it all! 

Gathered in the Sleeper Cell

Lizz Winstead @lizzwinstead

Moji Alawode-El @mojilocks

Marie Khan @mkhanj 

Maysoon Zayid @maysoonzayid

Follow us on Twitter! @accessforce

Quick Hits

South Carolina

* https://apnews.com/article/columbia-reproductive-rights-henry-mcmaster-south-carolina-courts-465712cb85d76bc7af4106046191c8f4 * https://www.npr.org/2021/02/19/969653569/court-temporarily-blocks-south-carolina-heartbeat-abortion-ban 

Xavier Becerra Hearings

* https://www.politico.com/news/2021/02/24/xavier-becerra-confirmation-hearings-471507 

Meaty Story

The Rash of Disability Bans: We are so excited to be joined by Maysoon Zayid, comedian, soap star and disability advocate! 

* Maysoon Zayid* https://maysoon.com/ * https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buRLc2eWGPQ&feature=emb_logo * https://dredf.org/ * https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/arizona-senate-panel-approves-bill-bans-abortions-down-syndrome-n1256916* https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/2021/02/17/bill-ban-abortions-based-down-syndrome-diagnosis-moves-house-floor/6779098002/ * https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/appeals-court-upholds-hold-arkansas-abortion-laws-75070767 * https://www.aclu.org/news/disability-rights/the-offensive-hypocrisy-of-banning-abortion-for-a-down-syndrome-diagnosis/ 

Six Degrees

Can Lizz Tie Director Angel Manuel Soto, or the DC Universe, to Abortion?

* https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/angel-manuel-soto-direct-blue-beetle-dc-films-first-latino-n1258737

Announcements

* Support the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act!

We open with the sad news that South Carolina passed a so-called ‘heartbeat’ ban- rest assured though, Planned Parenthood and the Center for Reproductive Rights has already filed suit on this attack on abortion care. We bask in Rush Limbaugh’s passing; when you dedicate a standing segment on your radio show to celebrating the deaths of gay men from AIDs, we will toast your death. Montana has been hit with no less than SIX abortion restrictions in the works, and we are watching a Book of Revelations-eque piece of Tennessee legislation that would allow the sperm source to block an abortion. (Spoiler alert: no one cares about rape or incest.) But the big news from this week is how the horrific weather that has hit Texas and other areas of the South will create immediate effects on accessing abortion care, once clinics and funds can reopen. 

Gathered in the Sleeper Cell

Lizz Winstead @lizzwinstead

Moji Alawode-El @mojilocks

Marie Khan @mkhanj 

Follow us on Twitter! @accessforce

Breaking News

South Carolina “Heartbeat” Ban Passed

* https://apnews.com/article/sc-governor-signs-abortion-ban-2cd9e039d63fb071427db688d7ef8f05 

Quick Hits

A Moment of Non-Silence for the Shit People We Lost in 2021

* https://www.wonkette.com/god-gives-up-rush-limbaugh-for-lent * https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2021/02/rush-limbaugh-used-celebrate-deaths-gay-men-aids-radio-show/ 

Montana Legislation Pushes Half a Dozen Abortion Restrictions

* https://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/mtleg/montana-legislature-taking-up-broad-slate-of-bills-aimed-at-abortion/article_2dd8cdc0-53fc-5569-b514-bfc44992c91f.html* https://www.mtpr.org/post/republican-lawmakers-attempt-restrict-abortion-access-montana 

Tennessee Bullshit

* https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/tennessee-lawmakers-abortion-bill-b1803097.html

Meaty Story

What Happens When Weather, Politicians, and Systematic Racism Collide

* https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/16/opinion/medicaid-abortion-planned-parenthood-texas.html?action=click&module=Opinion&pgtype=Homepage * Support the Texas Abortion Community!* Lilith Fund, https://www.lilithfund.org/, @lilithfund* Whole Women’s Health Alliance, https://www.wholewomanshealthalliance.org/, @WWHAlliance * Clinic Access Support Network, https://www.clinicaccess.org/, @casnhtx * Frontera Fund, paypal.

 ::TRIGGER WARNING:: on this episode. 

Ok, Now that we have said that, it’s not “all” triggering, but a heads up is important. 

First off, we forgot to say “HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR,” so Happy year of the Ox!!! 

In this ep we talk about some dope folks already bringing  some serious Ox vibes. Powerhouse New York AG Letitia James who is sticking it to some violent clinic harassers, and Virginia is leading the way as the first southern state poised to have insurance coverage providing for abortion care. 

Then we cover the burden of the Ox with a heavy, ::TRIGGER-WARNING:: portion of the pod, as we sit down with The Daily Beast’s Alaina Demopoulos, one of the first reporters to write about Ruben Verastigui, the anti-abortion, GOP pariah who has been arrested for child pornography.

Gathered in the Sleeper Cell

Lizz Winstead @lizzwinstead

Moji Alawode-El @mojilocks

Marie Khan @mkhanj 

Alaina Demopoulos @alainademop

Follow us on Twitter! @accessforce

Quick Hits

NYC is Finally Responding to Abortion Clinic Hate

* https://www.yonkerstribune.com/2021/02/attorney-general-james-files-lawsuit-to-end-harassment-of-women-entering-manhattan-planned-parenthood-health-center/amp 

Virginia Expanding Private Insurance and Medicaid Coverage of Abortion

* https://msmagazine.com/2021/02/04/virginia-takes-crucial-step-in-removing-barriers-to-abortion-access/ * https://www.wvtf.org/post/removing-abortion-coverage-prohibition-wouldnt-cose-virginia-anything-impact-statement-shows#stream/0

South Carolina Pursues ‘Heartbeat’ Legislation

* https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/sc-house-committee-considers-ban-abortions-75769395 

Meaty Story

CONTENT WARNING: Rape and Sexual Violence 

We are joined by Alaina Demopoulos, Style Writer at The Daily Beast, who has written on and researched Ruben Verastigui, GOP aid and poster child of the anti-choice movement, who last week was arrested and charged with horrific child pornography. 

* https://www.c-span.org/person/?rubenverastigui * https://www.thedailybeast.com/former-trump-and-gop-aide-ruben-verastigui-charged-with-child-pornography-offenses * https://www.thedailybeast.com/ruben-verastigui-former-gop-staffer-arrested-for-child-porn-discussed-killing-a-kid-doj-alleges * Kermit Gosnell information: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/apr/19/gosnell-abortion-trial-pro-life-activists-to-blame 

We are baaaaaaack bitches!!! We’ve been busy y’all! We did a massive counterprotest of the March For Life, the largest anti abortion gathering in the US. And THE VERY NEXT DAY? A bomb threat at a clinic in Charlotte and and a protester in KKK robes harrasses patients in Milwaukee. The violence is escalating so we talk to AAF’s data kween Kat Green who tracks anti abortion violence and breaks down what is happening, who they are targeting and what we all can do to stop it!

Plus: Arkansas wants to force you to call a government pregnancy “hotline” before you can have your abortion! You don’t wanna miss Moji’s experience “calling” it and the “advice” she was given! 

Gathered in the Sleeper Cell

Lizz Winstead @lizzwinstead

Moji Alawode-El @mojilocks

Marie Khan @mkhanj 

Follow us on Twitter! @accessforce

Quick Hits

March For Life Takeaways and Our M4L Action 

* https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2021/01/29/march-for-life-roe-wade-abortion-trump-biden/ 

Last Week’s Threats on Abortion Providers

* KKK in Milwaukee (TW: Racism and White Supremacy Imagery)- https://onmilwaukee.com/articles/kkk-health-clinic * Bomb Threat in North Carolina- https://twitter.com/heyitscalla/status/1355584171347996672 * Washington DC Planned Parenthood terrorization by the Red Rose community 

Arizona’s 10 New Abortion Restrictions

* https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/legislature/2021/02/03/arizona-gop-lawmakers-push-multiple-abortion-restriction-proposals/4310055001/ 

Our Off-Broadway Depiction of Arkansas’ Useless Hotline

* https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2021/feb/02/house-approves-abortion-hotline-requirement-bill/ 

Texas Won’t Quit

* https://www.texastribune.org/2021/02/01/texas-abortion-laws-legislature/* https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/texas/rosies-law-abortion-bill-filed-in-texas/269-a987c97f-cddb-4d0e-b0ab-b4d0343fd0a8 * Shout-Out to Zaena Zamora, THE FIRST ED OF FRONTERA FUND https://www.facebook.com/fronterafundtexas/photos/a.1780332595519830/2900680616818350/ 

Meaty Story

We refuse to back down on reminding folks that the very same people who terrorize clinics and abortion patients are also involved in other areas of domestic violence and white supremacy. We are joined by Kat Green, AAF Managing Director and resident manager of data on threats and acts, to talk about the trends and arcs in this area, and how grassroots efforts are getting the job done.

* https://www.latimes.

Instead of taping the pod this week we’re live at the #MarchForActualLives counter-protesting the anti abortion “March for Life” virtual lie-fest. Friday January 29th at 11am follow the #MarchForActualLives hashtag on Twitter to get in on the action, and help us counter their fiction in real time

Gathered in the Sleeper Cell

Lizz Winstead @lizzwinstead

Moji Alawode-El @mojilocks

Marie Khan @mkhanj 

All the housekeeping

* Write a review / give us 5 stars - it’s the best way for our podcast to reach more people!* Follow us on social @accessforce on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook/tikok and YouTube* Email us at [email protected]! * Edited by Brad Pearson, theme song by Cory Eischen, The Purple Xperience

DONATE TO Abortion Access Force/Feminist Sleeper Cell pod!!!!

MAY THE ABORTION ACCESS FORCE BE WITH YOU!

We can breathe slightly easier knowing that our nation has a new administration- but we cannot pause in demanding that the racist and classist Hyde Amendment be overturned. And as we shake our heads at the mountains of Trump pardons (so glad that Elliott Broidy can get back to hushing up pregnancies) we are reveling in how ex-legislator Derrick Evans’ clinic harassment is being scrutinized. We are excited for Robin Marty, abobo historian, author, and activist to give us a crash course on Joe Schiedler, founder of the Prolife Action League. who died this week at age 93. Scheidler was one of the OG abortion extremists, and Robin takes us on a scary trip down Scheidler lane and gives us a reality check about his legacy and the harm it hath wrought. 

Gathered in the Sleeper Cell

Lizz Winstead @lizzwinstead

Moji Alawode-El @mojilocks

Marie Khan @mkhanj 

Guest Robin Marty @robinmarty

Follow us on Twitter! @accessforce

Quick Hits

What Can Biden-Harris Do Right Now?

* https://www.npr.org/sections/president-biden-takes-office/2021/01/21/959170860/biden-administration-prepares-to-overturn-trump-abortion-rule 

Trump Pardons Two Antis 

* Representative Rick Renzi 

https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=4408794&page=1

https://www.12news.com/article/news/politics/former-arizona-congressman-rick-renzi-pardoned-by-president-trump/75-ffc3f0a6-cd26-41c2-98b6-39540435f4c9

* Elliott Broidy

https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2018/05/more-evidence-that-broidy-was-covering-for-trump-in-affair.html

https://www.newsweek.com/elliott-broidy-donald-trump-pardon-gop-fundraiser-1562908

https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/20/trump-pardons-exits-white-house-460586

We Knew About Derrick Evans 

* https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/capitol-siege-derrick-evans-trump-maga-b1788368.html

Meaty Story

Joe Scheidler Is Dead- Where’s The Rapture? 

* https://apnews.com/article/us-news-us-supreme-court-chicago-64f4fe81c88ae96994923634f6182d2b* https://pressfolios-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/story/story_pdf/185828/1858281456074208.pdf* Wrath of Angels- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1999414.Wrath_of_Angels 

Six Degrees

Week two of 2021 has almost come to a close and my god we have aged. From SCOTUS deciding it’s safer to navigate a pandemic than getting your abortion by mail, to watching the number of antis being exposed for participating in terrorism climb faster than the National Debt clock, we are dizzy y’all. We are excited to be joined by Kellie Copeland, honcho at NARAL Prochoice OH to talk about the latest in Ohion fuckery involving burying your abortion because… wait for it… dignity,  

Live. Laugh. Learn muthfuckas

Gathered in the Sleeper Cell

Lizz Winstead @lizzwinstead

Moji Alawode-El @mojilocks

Marie Khan @mkhanj 

Follow us on Twitter! 

Quick Hits

SCOTUS, You Doing Okay?

* Mississippi Case Kicked Down the Road Again * Ginny Thomas- https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2021/01/ginni-thomas-donald-trump-clarence-thomas-capitol-riot.html * Abrupt reversal of Telemedicine for Medication Abortion- https://www.wpsdlocal6.com/news/supreme-court-grants-trump-administration-request-to-limit-access-to-abortion-drug/article_40c605c4-5560-11eb-8632-e7ec83fff3ed.html ; https://www.democracynow.org/2021/1/14/headlines/scotus_makes_it_harder_to_get_abortion_pill_during_pandemic 

Anti-choice Shitbags Continue to Support and Engage in Terrorism

* Golden Probes Winner Madison Cawthorne- https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/madison/2021/01/08/madison-cawthorn-says-he-armed-during-capitol-invasion-jan-6/6594808002/ * Abby Johson- https://jezebel.com/anti-abortion-activist-abby-johnson-had-quite-the-adven-1846043253 * Convicted Clinic Bomber John Brockhoeft- https://www.vice.com/en/article/z3vwka/this-convicted-planned-parenthood-bomber-was-at-the-capitol-fighting-for-trump * https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RF46tLxoVA&feature=emb_imp_woyt 

Meaty Story

The FSC is joined by Kellie Copeland, Executive Director of NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio

Ohio Fetal Burial Madness

* https://www.thedailybeast.com/concerned-ohio-gopers-mandate-proper-burials-for-zygotes?ref=author* https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/state/dewine-signs-bill-that-requires-women-to-choose-burial-or-cremation-of-aborted-fetal-tissue 

NARAL Ohio 

* https://prochoiceohio.org/* https://secure.everyaction.

This week is a racist kick in the teeth to start 2021. While we should be celebrating the power of the electoral process in Georgia, accomplished only by the work of Black women, we saw the US Capitol sieged by domestic terrorists. Tune-in as we name the prominent anti-abortion extremists who also showed up, and discuss the connection between antis and domestic terrorism. 

Gathered in the Sleeper Cell

Lizz Winstead @lizzwinstead

Moji Alawode-El @mojilocks

Marie Khan @mkhanj 

Follow us on Twitter! 

Quick Hits

GA Runoff Outcome

* https://nowthisnews.com/politics/how-activists-like-stacey-abrams-did-remarkable-work-to-flip-georgia * https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/how-ossoff-and-warnock-victories-could-enable-taxpayer-funding-of-abortion/ * https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/02/politics/georgia-senate-runoff-abortion/index.html

White Supremacy on Full Display, As Anti-Choice Terrorists Attack the US Capitol

* https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/trump-us-capitol-secured-dc-protest/ * https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/anti-abortion-white-supremacy/ * Josh Hawley, Missouri’s finest* https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article248316415.html * Derrick Evans, you bring shame to West Virginia * https://theslot.jezebel.com/west-virginia-politician-who-livestreamed-himself-storm-1846010366?fbclid=IwAR3kVhhPmutJVKGQggJ5n08g9B8teHvD4WOkpPYZC3Y9_w4wkVrM8h32BrE 

Argentina Legalizes Abortion Up to 14 weeks

* https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jan/05/argentina-legalising-abortion-women-political-power* https://www.reuters.com/article/us-argentina-abortion/we-did-it-sisters-argentina-senate-votes-to-legalize-abortion-idUSKBN2940LG 

Six Degrees

Can Lizz tie Sweet Canadian National Treasure Alex Trebek to Abortion?

* https://deadline.com/2021/01/alex-trebek-jeopardy-kindness-covid-final-episodes-1234664830/ 

Events

Start off 2021 with Corona Borealis! 

* https://vimeo.com/ondemand/coronaborealis 

Watch for a huge petition coming out, demanding that permits be revoked for March for Life!!

All the housekeeping

* Write a review / give us 5 stars - it’s the best way for our podcast to reach more ...

Molly Bangs of Equity Forward is here to guide us through our third and final trimester. There are way too many appointed vaginal crossing guards empowered to make regulations about your body and this year they destroyed some programs that folks count on to access care. We cover some of the scariest rules that were enacted in 2020 that happened under the radar and you need to know how we can put pressure on the new sheriff at 1600 to roll that shit back! 

Gathered in the Sleeper Cell

HOSTS: 

Lizz Winstead @lizzwinstead

Moji Alawode-El @mojilocks

Marie Khan @mkhanj 

Follow us on Twitter! 

GUEST: Molly Bangs

* Director at Equity Forward 

https://equityfwd.org/

All the housekeeping

* Write a review / give us 5 stars - it’s the best way for our podcast to reach more people!* Follow us on social @accessforce on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook/tikok and YouTube* Email us at [email protected]! * Edited by Brad Pearson, theme song by Cory Eischen, The Purple Xperience

DONATE TO Abortion Access Force/Feminist Sleeper Cell pod!!!!

MAY THE ABORTION ACCESS FORCE BE WITH YOU!

The Feminist Sleeper Cellmates sit down with the “Beyonce of Abortion Storytelling” Renee Bracey Sherman, for the second trimester of our end-of-year trilogy! Join us as we cover the year in monstrous legislation and discuss why storytelling is crucial in our fight for justice, and to putting an end to legitimizing proposing these laws in the first place!  

Gathered in the Sleeper Cell

HOSTS: 

Lizz Winstead @lizzwinstead

Moji Alawode-El @mojilocks

Marie Khan @mkhanj 

Follow us on Twitter! 

GUEST:  Renee Bracey Sherman 

* Founder and Executive Director of We Testify, https://wetestify.org/ 

All the housekeeping

* Write a review / give us 5 stars - it’s the best way for our podcast to reach more people!* Follow us on social @accessforce on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook/tikok and YouTube* Email us at [email protected]! * Edited by Brad Pearson, theme song by Cory Eischen, The Purple Xperience

DONATE TO Abortion Access Force/Feminist Sleeper Cell pod!!!!

MAY THE ABORTION ACCESS FORCE BE WITH YOU!