Feminist Sleeper Cell

This week cellmates Moji, Marie and Lizz break down the latest case before SCOTUS as they hear arguments on the  bullshit notion that your boss should have a say about your birth control. Plus we look at a win in the bluegrass state, what lack of abortion access means for pregnant folks in Africa and an interview with co-owner of the Dupont Clinic, Maritza Arias- Basemore on the challenges of providing later abortions during Covid-19 

Gathered in the Sleeper Cell

Lizz Winstead @lizzwinstead

Moji Alawode-El @mojilocks

Marie Khan @mkhanj 

DONATE

LINK TO SHOW NOTES (link goes to pod post on website where all this info lives)

OPENING STORY: 

US Supreme Court Broadcasting Discussions

Birth Control access on deck- https://www.npr.org/2020/05/03/848317039/listen-live-

supreme-court-arguments-begin-monday

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/06/us/politics/supreme-court-obamacare-contraceptin.html

Quick Hits

Kentucky Abortion Access Lives to See Another Day- https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/kentuckys-democratic-governor-vetoes-abortin-legislation-70340802

International Contexts: Abortion Care in Africa https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/05/04/coronavirus-africa-abortion-access/

Marie Stopes International: https://www.mariestopes.org/support-us/donate/

Meaty Story: The Interview

Maritza Arias Basemore, co-founder / manager of one of the few independent clinics in the United States providing third trimester care, in Washington, DC, 

DuPont Clinic- https://dupontclinic.com/

Six Degrees of Abortion:

Murder hornets have come to the US

Murder hornets are here > Univeristy of Minnesota, Lizz’s alma mater, is doing critical research to help the US bee population > Lizz’s sister is a University of Minnesota grant writer getting these research funds > And her sister donates to AAF

Announcements

Fund Practical Support Organizations and Abortion Funds!

Midwest Access Coalition- https://midwestaccesscoalition.org/pages/donate

Kentucky Health Justice Network- http://www.kentuckyhealthjusticenetwork.org/donate.html

National Abortion Federation-

Hosts Lizz Winstead, Moji Alawode-El, and Molly Gaebe don their 1970s apparel and spill the tea on Phyllis Schlafly, the woman who saw the arc of history bending toward justice and said "hell no, not on my watch!"

Our special guest on April 24th is Rev. Irene Monroe, a speaker, theologian, syndicated columnist, and an expert on racism, sexism, and anti-LGBTQ discrimination. She ALSO grew up in Rep. Shirley Chisholm's district and knew her!

*Mrs. America tells the story of the movement to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), and the unexpected backlash led by Phyllis Schlafly, hailed by supporters as “the sweetheart of the silent majority" and by us as "America's yeast infection".

Hosts Lizz Winstead, Moji Alawode-El, and Molly Gaebe on their 1970s apparel and spill the tea on Phyllis Schlafly, the woman who saw the arc of history bending toward justice and said "hell no, not on my watch!"

Special guest April 19th: journalist, author, and radio host Michaelangelo Signorile, who interviewed anti-LGBTQ icon Phyllis ...and her gay son.

*Mrs. America tells the story of the movement to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), and the unexpected backlash led by Phyllis Schlafly, hailed by supporters as “the sweetheart of the silent majority" and by us as "America's yeast infection".

http://www.aaforce.org/

Week 5 from Quaranpod! Moji, Marie and Lizz gather round the Zoom and talk the latest covid abortion casualties, specifically in Alaska which has no access to oh, anything but salmon. You try floatplaning, then snow machining to get abortion… 

PLUS will Moji and Marie stump Lizz on 6 Degrees of Abortion? 

Listen up sleeper cellers, it’s a dandy- full of rage and hilarity- just how you want your abortion info! 

Gathered in the Sleeper Cell

Lizz Winstead @lizzwinstead

Moji Alawode-El @mojilocks

Marie Khan @mkhanj 

EVENT ALERT: Phyllis: The Schlftershow! Join Lizz and Moji and comedian Molly Gaebe for the @accessforce after-show of Hulu’s Mrs. America. Each episode drops Friday’s at 9et, streaming on all @accessforce platforms! First episode premieres tonight with special guest Michaelangelo Signorile, host of the Signorile Show on Sirius XM Progress. PLUS: We are turning the audio from the after-show into a podcast that will be a bonus episode dropping every Monday right here! 

DONATE

LINK TO SHOW NOTES (link goes to pod post on website where all this info lives)

End post 

SHOW NOTES 

Quick Hits

Alaska: Another Site of COVID19 Abortion Bans

https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/04/16/alaska-issues-covid-19-abortion-ban#

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/alaska/articles/2020-04-08/alaska-says-abortions-can-be-delayed-amid-virus-concerns

BAR BATHROOM PREGNANCY TESTS- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DK_AtyjK3xY

https://www.guttmacher.org/fact-sheet/state-facts-about-abortion-alaska?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3eLPw6jv6AIVBMDICh3i6QOAEAAYASAAEgKIKfD_BwE

Planned Parenthood Expanding Telehealth as Senators Push National Effort

https://www.plannedparenthood.org/get-care/get-care-online

https://www.kcrg.com/content/news/Planned-Parenthood-of-Iowa-seeing-an-increased-number-of-patients-use-online-appointments-569687731.html

https://m.dailykos.com/stories/2020/4/16/1937786/-Telemedicine-Abortion-Could-Save-Lives-During-the-COVID-19-Pandemic

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/female-senators-fda-medication-abortion-coronavirus_n_5e95c563c5b6cc788eaf939

Anti Abortion Harassers and Organizations Continue to Make Progress

https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/y3m8gk/pro-life-clinics-think-theyre-getting-coronavirus-bailout-money

SPECIAL GUEST: Eliza Hittman- Writer/director of the new film “Never Always Sometimes Rarely” 

Description: The cellmates Marie, Moji and Lizz hop on the abortion access roller coaster and ride with Texas as it dips in and out of access. As of now, a judge allows clinics to  reopen…but like a roller coaster, who knows what the next turn will be. Plus- while abortion clinics are being deemed by shitty politicians as “non essential” FAKE ABORTION CLINICS ARE ALLOWED TO REMAIN OPEN.Yep, lying to people about abortion is now deemed “essential”… Ugh, just ugh. 

Gathered in the Sleeper Cell

Lizz Winstead @lizzwinstead

Moji Alawode-El @mojilocks

Marie Khan @mkhanj

Quick Hits

Texas is Reopened 

* https://www.statesman.com/news/20200409/us-judge-issues-2nd-order-limiting-texas-abortion-ban* https://news.yahoo.com/abortion-texas-continue-federal-judge-221653985.html

Oklahoma Gets Some Abortion Relief

* https://www.cbsnews.com/news/oklahoma-abortion-resume-judge-rules-temporary-restraining-order/* https://www.tulsaworld.com/news/state-and-regional/abortion-fight-oklahoma-attorney-general-appeals-temporary-restraining-order/article_f5886cbf-1f69-5a02-b095-d9e24a733895.html* https://www.jurist.org/news/2020/04/federal-judge-temporarily-blocks-oklahomas-ban-on-abortion-during-covid-19-pandemic/

Fake Clinics Are Flourishing During COVID19

* https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/5dm84n/anti-abortion-crisis-pregnancy-centers-are-still-open-in-states-that-banned-abortion-because-of-coronavirus* Accurate information here >>> https://www.exposefakeclinics.com/

INTERVIEW: STREAMING ON ALL PLATFORMS

Writer and Director of the new film, Never Rarely Sometimes Always, Eliza Hittman 

* https://www.focusfeatures.com/never-rarely-sometimes-always

Six Degrees of Abortion 

Bill Withers has passed from COVID19 (https://www.charlestonchronicle.net/2020/04/08/in-memoriam-lean-on-me-singer-songwriting-legend-bill-withers-dies-at-81/) > Per Lizz “I don’t know if I can tie Bill Withers to abortion- I probably fucked to his songs, but that doesn’t count” … THAT MEANS MOJI AND MARIE STUMPED LIZZ!

Announcements

* Shout out to Choices Women’s Medical Center in Queens (https://www.choicesmedical.com/) and practical support organizations Haven Coalition (http://www.havencoalition.

We took this week to talk about how this pandemic has taken its toll on all of us and having 4 generations of people on a pod is a good opportunity to share how we are all experiencing and processing fear and injustice as this virus spreads.

PLUS: Anqa Khan joins us to talk about how our system of incarceration is punishing those who are in the system, how it is even worse in the time of covid and how prison abolition must happen now. Good news is, Anqa fills you in on how YOU can take action, because all of this, every bit, ties into reproductive justice! 

Listen up!!! 

Gathered in the Sleeper Cell

Lizz Winstead @lizzwinstead

Moji Alawode-El @mojilocks

Anqa Khan @anqakhan

Marie Khan @mkhanj

Reality Check- How Are Folks Doing?

Meaty Story

Reproductive Justice and the Prison Abolition Movement

SisterSong defines Reproductive Justice as the human right to maintain personal bodily autonomy, have children, not have children, and parent the children we have in safe and sustainable communities.

* https://www.sistersong.net/reproductive-justice* Meanwhile, reproductive rights are the legal rights and freedoms relating to reproduction and reproductive health that vary amongst communities

Rikers Island Prison and COVID19 

* https://www.gq.com/story/rikers-island-mass-grave* https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/04/rikers-inmates-on-life-as-prisoners-of-the-coronavirus.html

Bodily Autonomy and Personhood

* Both prisons and legislative barriers to reproductive healthcare serve to rip people of their agency and bodily autonomy * Who gets to be a human? For how long? In what ways? * Who is personhood reserved for and when? * https://www.huffpost.com/entry/legal-sex-workers-denied-coronavirus-aid_n_5e86287ac5b6d302366ca912?fbclid=IwAR3UNxoFR6BcJFFazDoUXhCBH1O4qUzUXUCmncsqIUtF1S7gC1GAtQPzu98

Reproductive Health Behind Bars - a report by the ACLU

* https://www.aclunc.org/sites/default/files/Reproductive%20Health%20Behind%20Bars%20in%20California.pdf* Lack of access to abortions* Lack of access to menstrual products* Shackling during birth continues (federal law passed in 2018 to end it, but hasn’t been implemented fully)* Sexual violence

Forced Sterilization

* In 2013, the Center for Investigative Reporting found that at least 148 female inmates in California received tubal ligations without their consent between 2006 and 2010: https://talkpoverty.org/2017/08/23/u-s-still-forcibly-sterilizing-prisoners/* https://www.themarshallproject.org/2017/07/26/our-long-troubling-history-of-sterilizing-the-incarcerated 

Gender-Based Violence

Hey friends! Smells like quarateen spirit up in here! 

This week the cellmates are gathered and we are PISSSSSED!

Guess it’s not hard enough to wake up and figure out your life during a plague. Nope, the shittiest governors in America have decided to use a pandemic as an excuse to ban abortion. It is really scary and the states that are shutting down clinics are spreading faster than… well...really fast. 

Joining us on the pod to talk about what it’s like to be helping patients in one of those states, are Derenda Hancock and Kim Gibson founders of the non profit, We Engage and escorts at The Pink House, the last clinic left providing abortion in the state of Mississippi. Have a listen and learn how to mobilize with us online, it’s working! 

Gathered in the Sleeper Cell

Lizz Winstead @lizzwinstead

Moji Alawode-El @mojilocks

Marie Khan @mkhanj

Quick Hits

State Trends of Anti-Abortion Aggression DURING A PANDEMIC 

* Ohio * https://www.dispatch.com/news/20200327/ohio-again-probing-whether-abortions-are-allowed-under-coronavirus-health-order* https://www.toledoblade.com/news/medical/2020/03/26/toledo-abortion-clinic-open-offering-nonsurgical-services-coronavirus-stay-at-home/stories/20200326110* Kentucky AG Being Granted More Political Power* https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/ky-legislature/2020/03/26/abortion-kentucky-controversial-bill-advances-amid-coronavirus/5084436002/* https://legiscan.com/KY/text/HB451/2020* Texas* https://time.com/5810345/texas-abortion-lawsuit-coronavirus/* https://www.texastribune.org/2020/03/25/texas-abortions-coronavirus-outbreak-lawsuit/

Meaty Stories

Coordinated Effort by Susan B. Anthony List Aimed at State Governors to Stop Access

Abortion Access Force’s Advice is:

* Listen to real science!- https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/* Pregnancy during COVID19 has novel challenges- https://www.uchealth.org/today/pregnancy-and-coronavirus-experts-advise-precautions* Pregnant folks can communicate COVID19 to a fetus is appears https://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/mother-baby-transmission-covid-19-ruled-study-finds/story?id=69821832* Telemedicine MUST BE PUT UTILIZED- https://www.plannedparenthood.org/about-us/newsroom/press-releases/new-multi-state-study-shows-telemedicine-abortion-is-as-safe-and-effective-as-in-person-care* Doctors are saying that abortion is esssential  -

Hello fellow coroniacs! The social distancing continues but that does not stop us intrepid feminists from gathering in our various sleeper cells to bring you all the abobo related news from this week! And man, patriarchy does NOT care about spreading its own special plague in their little game of, “Corona, But Make it Abortion.” 

It’s a special edition of The Feminist Sleeper Cell as we spend the pod doing a deep dive into how abortion access and provision is being navigated and made even more challenging during a pandemic. 

Joining us is an incredible journalist, Senior Reporter at Huffpo, Melissa Jeltsen 

Gathered in the Sleeper Cell

Lizz Winstead @lizzwinstead

Moji Alawode-El @mojilocks

Marie Khan @mkhanj

Quick Hits

Update on Corona Funding

* https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2020/mar/16/blog-posting/no-pelosi-wasnt-caught-trying-add-abortion-funding/

Fetal Tissue Research Could Save Us All

* https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/trump-ban-on-fetal-tissue-research-blocks-coronavirus-treatment-effort/2020/03/18/ddd9f754-685c-11ea-abef-020f086a3fab_story.html?fbclid=IwAR1ipDbTZly8LmUvJR5Gzm9300c_Ghf4-z4nNB-rxCQvmF6a3ISY589GbMw

Meaty Story

The Interview: Melissa Jeltsen She/her

Senior reporter at HuffPost who writes about violence against women and repro rights

* https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_5e70f423c5b60fb69ddee6e9/amp?ncid=engmodushpmg00000004&__twitter_impression=true

Here Is What Every State Should Do

* https://reason.com/2019/05/09/let-midwives-and-nurse-practitioners-provide-first-trimester-abortions-says-federal-court/* https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3673521/

How Abortion Pills By Prescription Should Be a Thing BUT ESPECIALLY NOW

* https://www.guttmacher.org/gpr/2019/05/improving-access-abortion-telehealth* https://www.ansirh.org/research/telemedicine-medication-abortion* https://www.healthline.com/health-news/telemedicine-abortion-care-can-be-just-as-safe-as-an-in-person-visit

* https://www.ansirh.org/news/allowing-pharmacists-dispense-medication-abortion-prescription-could-improve-access-early* https://rewire.

The cellmates are in self-quarantine because of coronavirus but also because we drank all the vodka infused, homemade hand sanitizer, so we felt a remote pod was the best course of action.

While we were recording, Breaking news came that the Trump administration is trying to tie anti abortion fuckery to coronavirus aid. We have A LOT of feelings. Also, Alabama, Kentucky and Ohio are at it again creating a toxic cocktail of false viability and real oppression. 

Plus Moji and Marie actually stump Lizz in Six Degrees of Abortion!

It’s packed full of info y’all with some actions to take! 

Gathered in the Sleeper Cell

Lizz Winstead @lizzwinstead

Moji Alawode-El @mojilocks

Marie Khan @mkhanj

Breaking News

The White House Is Using Abortion to Hamstring COVID-19 Aid

* https://www.msnbc.com/katy-tur/watch/paid-sick-leave-abortion-debate-delaying-coronavirus-aid-approval-80563781588

* https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/republicans-oppose-coronavirus-bill-would-provide-paid-sick-leave-testing-2020-3-1028990627

Quick Hits 

Bipartisan Walk-Out By Utah Female Officials

* https://www.newsweek.com/utah-women-senators-walk-out-after-male-peers-pass-abortion-ultrasound-bill-1491675?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1583931123* https://le.utah.gov/~2020/bills/hbillamd/HB0364S05.pdf

Idaho wants Roe Trigger law

* https://www.postregister.com/news/government/trigger-law-to-ban-abortion-if-roe-is-overturned-heads/article_c5977f32-7486-563a-8ac5-edd09e2910f7.html

Alabama’s New “Medically Implausible” Born-Alive Bill

* https://www.al.com/politics/2020/03/doctors-call-new-alabama-abortion-bill-medically-implausible.html* http://alisondb.legislature.state.al.us/ALISON/SearchableInstruments/2020RS/PrintFiles/HB248-int.pdf

Another Attempt at a Fetal Prognosis Ban 

* https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/down-syndrome-abortion-fight-ohio-takes-legal-twists-n1155276* https://apnews.com/56b28c25b32c0b9f8e95585b43a3f012* https://apnews.com/c9a12bac02c8261e0c26487a4a8a0d8a

Abortions have all but stopped in Missouri

*

The pod jihad has returned from (what unfortunately has become) their monthly pilgrimage to the US Supreme Court! Once more they stood-up for abortion rights, as June Medical Services LLC presented opening arguments rallying for unfettered abortion access in Louisiana. It was full day that included joyful pro-abortion messaging by over 50 speakers, brought together by the Center for Reproductive Rights. We capped the evening off with a great gathering of activists, providers, and abortion funders. Keep supporting your local independent abortion clinic, and donate to them in honor of Abortion Provider Appreciation Day on March 10th!

Gathered in the Sleeper Cell

Moji Alawode-El @mojilocks

Anqa Khan @anqakhan

Marie Khan @mkhanj

Meaty Story  

* For those who missed this cast of AMAZING speakers- https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=om5c20c_HB4&fbclid=IwAR0zWw

yQO6v2undQyfq3mlFKpOe9Yqs71SLBA_lkY3s2ylPlWJc3rmKnDh0&app=desktop

* Opening Argument Transcript for June Medical Services LLC v. Russo- https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1323_11o2.pdf* Spotlight on youth leaders: WE LOVED HK Gray (Youth Testify) and Kaylan Tanner (Abortion Out Loud)* Anti-Abortion Zealots- https://www.vox.com/2020/3/5/21164953/abortion-supreme-court-louisiana-case-admitting-privileges

Announcements

Donate to your state’s clinic(s) for Abortion Provider Appreciation Day on March 10th!!!

Thank you for the Shout-Out by the BOOM! Lawyered Podcast

* https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/june-medical-services-v-russo-arguments-rapid-reaction/id1282116646?i=1000467460682

Our sister organization Abortion Access Front has a great comedy show on March 17th

* https://www.unionhallny.com/e/abortion-access-front-presents-feminist-buzzkills-of-comedy-93716178613/

All the housekeeping

* Write a review/ give us 5 stars* Follow us on social @accessforce on Twitter/Instagram* Email us at podcast@aaforce.org! * 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!