Feminist Sleeper Cell

Once again, we are reminded of conservatives myopic fascination with fetuses, as Xavier Becerra’s HHS finally rolls back restrictions on using fetal tissue in research that the Trump administration stopped. Call us when people actually care about the medical experimentation on Black and brown bodies. Then the cellmates lighten the mood as we unpack the total LACK of dignity in Tennessee’s looming law requiring fetal burial or cremation. And to ice this particular shitty pod cake, we close out talking about the truly egregious state of healthcare for detained or incarcerated individuals, WHO EVEN HAVE TO SUE on the individual level to access their abortion care, and are still fighting to not be shackled while giving birth. Shit is dark this week people, go with it. 

Gathered in the Sleeper Cell:

Moji Alawode-El @mojilocks

Lizz Winstead @lizzwinstead

Marie Khan @mkhanj 

Follow us on Twitter! @accessforce

Quick Hits:

Biden reverses Trump’s Fetal Tissue Restrictions 

* Health and Human Services Rolls Back Policies to Allow for Critical Research 

Tennessee Fetal Burial Demand

* State Bill Passes all Levels and Awaits Governor’s Signature 

Restricting Access to Abortion Also Causes Maternal Death

* States restricting abortion demonstrate a cavalier disregard to womens’ health overall, effecting Black women more profoundly 

Meaty Story

Reproductive Care in the Carceral System

* Nebraska lawsuit forces Constitutional right to abortion - even a staff member resigns in disgust. Also fuck your sanctuary cities!!!* How do you terminate a pregnancy in detention or prison? * Check out Dr. Michele Goodwin 

Six Degrees

Can Lizz tie LeVar Burton to Abortion?!

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 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!

This week has seen some HELPFUL news for increased abortion access, with changes in Haiwaii and movement by the FDA to reduce barriers to medication abortions. But these barriers should not exist TO BEGIN WITH, and are useless in states who go out of their way to criminalize pregnancy...like Texas.  The shit their legislators are coming up with, trying to penalize ‘aiding and abetting’ abortion, while they simultaneously want a SEVEN WEEK abortion pill cutoff! We get it- you’ve got an obsession with what you don’t control. 

Gathered in the Sleeper Cell:

Moji Alawode-El @mojilocks

Lizz Winstead @lizzwinstead

Marie Khan @mkhanj 

Follow us on Twitter! @accessforce

Quick Hits:

Hawaii Expands Access… Kinda

* Advanced Practice Nurses and Nonviable Pregnancies 

FDA Expands Access… Sort of

* Medication Abortion During Covid

Meaty Story

Texas is Wants to Return to 7 Week Medication Abortion Ban Limit

* Legislation Like this is Cruel* Original Bill Text* Organizations to Support* A Vow* Lilith Fund* Jane’s Due Process* Frontera Fund* Fund Texas Choice* West Fund* Texas Equal Access Fund* Clinic Access Support Network * The Bridge Collective

Six Degrees

Can Lizz Tie Natasha Bedingfield to Abortion?

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 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!

The Arkansas House and Senate hit a new low this week advancing legislation criminalizing EXISTING AND FUTURE gender-affirming healthcare for minors-  making their newest abortion restriction look mild. BUT THE PIECE (OF SHITE) DE RESISTANCE is the deep dive we do into the shallow end of the talent pool and review the latest anti-abortion film, “Roe v. Wade.” 

AAF writer and comedian Molly Gaebe joins as we break down this hyperbolic fact-free-for-all, the brainchild of bloviating zygote fetishist Nick “Don’t let the rampant misogyny distract from the antisemitism”  Loeb. If you must watch this, HAVE A DRINK. Zero stars- that’s our rating and the number of quality actors who participated in this dreck. 

Gathered in the Sleeper Cell:

Moji Alawode-El @mojilocks

Lizz Winstead @lizzwinstead

Marie Khan @mkhanj 

Special Guest:

Molly Gaebe @MollyGaebe

Follow us on Twitter! @accessforce

Quick Hit

Arkansas Crucified Transcare and Added Duplicate Abortion Restrictions

* Trans healthcare bans* Doubling up on ambulatory requirements 

Meaty Story

A conservative man made a movie about abortion! Because who should own this narrative? We are joined by Molly Gaebe, AAF staff writer, comedian AND co-host of Nevertheless She Existed, a badass podcast! The four of us watched Roe v. Wade SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO- you are welcome.

* Nick Loeb, keep telling yourself lies

Six Degrees

Can Lizz tie Chet Hanks OR his White-Boy-Summer to Abortion? 

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!

It’s April, Fools, and Lizz and Marie hold it down in the Sleeper Cell while Moji is home sleeping off her vaccine!! This week we have all the axes to grind! The first abortion case SCOTUS has agreed to take will have the 6-3 (and not in a good way) court decide if the Kentucky AG-ro can bring cases to SCOTUS that lower courts have RULED are trash. Oh the floodgates...  PLUS Two southwestern states are in a battle royal for the title  “Most Medically Unnecessary and Cruel Legislatures” And we channel our anger over a MN State Supreme Court ruling that reversed a rape conviction with Kaarin Long and Lindsay J. Brice, two of the local policy and legal experts who are working tirelessly to change the unjust law that led to all of it. 

Gathered in the Sleeper Cell:

Lizz Winstead @lizzwinstead

Marie Khan @mkhanj 

Special guests: 

Kaarin Long

Lindsay J. Brice

Follow us on Twitter! @accessforce

Quick Hits:

Kentucky AG continues to be TrashAF

* Cameron v. EMW Women’s Surgical Center* A Conservative SCOTUS

Oklahoma’s Trinity of Restrictions

* Targeting Providers and Fake Heartbeats 

Texas Senate Passes A Week’s Worth of Bans

* Details What is at Stake in the Lone Star State on the Restrictions* Texas Capitol Order of Business 

Meaty Story

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Today we talk with Kaarin Long, Women's Rights Staff Attorney at The Advocates for Human Rights and Lindsay J. Brice, Law & Policy Director of Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault about the work being done to close Minnesota’s rape loophole.

* Background Information * What this Really Says about Rape* Working group report

Resources

* Rape Help Minnesota advocates* STANDPOINT attorneys and advocates* The Advocates for Human Rights* Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault* Upcoming fundraiser!

Six Degrees

Can Lizz Tie Abortion to Indie Music Festivals?

*

WE ARE BAAAAACK! We start off this episode with a passionate endorsement of *ouid*- because that’s the only way to watch the new ‘Roe’ movie starring Tomi Lahren. Multiple states are competing over who can puff puff pass the most restricting and cruel abortion ban; they range from ‘sideways’ to a ‘direct challenge’ of constitutional law...because you know what really are tax dollars?!?!? We round out this episode with a thoughtful discussion about self managed abortion, joined by Plan C’s Amy Merrill!

Your Sleeper Cellmates are: 

Lizz Winstead @lizzwinstead

Moji Alawode-El @mojilocks

Marie Khan @mkhanj 

Follow us on Twitter! @accessforce

Quick Hits

Kooky Roe v Wade movie 

* https://www.thedailybeast.com/revealed-the-leaked-script-to-roe-v-wade-a-graphic-anti-abortion-propaganda-film* https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/secret-roe-v-wade-film-now-shooting-new-orleans-1124557* https://film.avclub.com/drab-pro-life-propaganda-roe-v-wade-lacks-the-wingnut-1846504167

We are Fuming at Arkansas

* https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/21/politics/arkansas-asa-hutchinson-abortion-law-supreme-court-cnntv/index.html 

South Carolina is ‘Sideways’ of the Constitution 

* https://abcnews4.com/news/local/judge-blocks-baffling-south-carolina-abortion-ban-says-it-wasnt-even-a-close-call 

Meaty Story

Today our big story is self-managed abortion. What do you think when you hear that? danger, coat hangers, and last resort? Amy Merrill, Digital Director of Plan C joins us to explain self managed abortion, what it actually looks like, and how it is different from receiving abortion pills from a clinic!

* https://rewirenewsgroup.com/article/2021/03/11/is-the-u-s-missing-out-with-missed-period-pills/ * https://www.politico.com/news/2021/03/20/abortion-pills-telemedicine-477234 * https://msmagazine.com/2021/03/24/biden-lift-abortion-pill-restrictions-fda-medication-abortion/?fbclid=IwAR3q5ccAu_Int_BOJx--TzeSUU-2_-5cVhQQ1CLt1nfamP0maUE-0G1TS0w * https://www.plancpills.org/guide-how-to-get-abortion-pills 

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!!!!

Lizz is off having an organ removed but Marie and Moji hold it down in the Sleeper Cell! This week on the pod: “Having a Bad  Day” My Ass! Atlanta is yet another reminder that our country has sat idly by as racist Asian tropes have been passed off without being checked, and violence continues to escalate because of it. Spoiler Alert: Cops are just as awful to Asian Folks as Black Folks.

PLUS  Moji “Get off My Lawn” Alawode-El goes off on states wasting millions on abortion lawsuits while turning down medicaid expansion!

And pop the champers, pro abortion Xavier Baccera is in Da Cabinet!!

All that and breaking news from Illinois, Arkansas and in AWESOME NEWS, an anti abortion shitbag gets hit with a 27 million dollar fine and jailtime! Happy Friday! 

Your Sleeper Cellmates are: 

Moji Alawode-El @mojilocks

Marie Khan @mkhanj 

Follow us on Twitter! @accessforce

Quick Hits

Taxpayer Cost of June Medical

* https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/article_1c277910-81ec-11eb-9969-e33b98492184.html * https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/2019/09/23/abortion-restrictions-are-costing-states-millions-dollars-fees-other-side/?arc404=true 

Pregnancy Care in Stimmy Funding

* https://19thnews.org/2021/03/how-the-covid-stimulus-bill-could-help-fight-pregnancy-related-deaths/ * https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewsolender/2021/03/15/decline-stimulus-money-top-gop-senator-urges-cities-and-states-to-reject-funds/?sh=8c627525a023 

White Restitution

* https://msmagazine.com/2021/03/15/anti-abortion-extremist-jeff-white-prison-restitution/

Repeal Parental Notice in Illinois NOW

* https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/03/11/illinois-repeal-forced-parental-notice-abortion 

Meaty Story 

Arkansas Bullshit

* https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2021/03/arkansas-abortion-ban-amy-coney-barrett.html 

Announcements

* Dirty Dancing- https://www.crowdcast.io/e/dirty-dancing-riff/register * AAPI Anti Violence Resources - https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/

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

This episode comes at the heels of Abortion Provider Appreciation Week (but they deserve love 365 days a year!!). Lizz, Marie and Moji tackle a scary week in abortion care friends, as violence at clinics is escalating. 

We cover a good law enforcement win in New York against harassers, but also do a deep dive into an alarming trend (and by trend we mean every day fuckery) of law enforcement cozying up to the anti abortion protesters. In just one week, there was gun violence at a North Carolina clinic, a patient attack in Kentucky, and we are joined by guest Melissa Grant, CEO of carfem, a clinic in Nashville that was literally invaded by dangerous prayer warriors. She brings a very personal and stark reality about how terrifying it is when clinics are attacked and their local police are on the side of the oppressors.  Really compelling. 

Your Sleeper Cellmates are: 

Lizz Winstead @lizzwinstead

Moji Alawode-El @mojilocks

Marie Khan @mkhanj 

Follow us on Twitter! @accessforce

Quick Hits

NY Court Win for Clinic Access

* https://www.yahoo.com/news/court-rules-against-anti-abortion-175744235.html 

Shooting Outside of Raleigh, NC Clinic 

* https://www.wral.com/staff-at-raleigh-abortion-clinic-slam-police-after-protester-s-shooting/19565363/ 

Kentucky Clinic Escort Assaulted, A Week After A Cop Protested

* https://www.wdrb.com/news/surveillance-video-released-by-louisville-abortion-clinic-shows-lmpd-officer-marching-in-protest/article_3d8ade82-7e16-11eb-83f8-db0a258683d6.html * https://www.facebook.com/LouSafetyZone/photos/pcb.2791660591096284/2791660141096329 

Meaty Story 

Melissa Grant joins the Sleeper Cell, CEO of carafem, with clinics central to Atlanta, Chicago, Nashville, and Washington, DC. Last Friday carafem of Tennessee was the target of a blockade by anti-abortion aggressors traveling the country.

* https://carafem.org/donate/ * https://fox17.com/news/local/trespassers-refuse-to-leave-mt-juliet-medical-center-others-asked-to-shelter-in-place-wilson-county-middle-tennessee-providence-medical-pavilion 

Six Degrees

Can Lizz Tie Secret Rooms to Abortion?

* https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/mar/08/new-york-woman-secret-apartment-bathroom-mirror 

Announcements

* Dirty Dancing- https://www.crowdcast.io/e/dirty-dancing-riff/register 

All the housekeeping

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

Check out our Very special edition of this weeks Pod. Instead of doing a proper Feminist Sleeper Cell show this week, Lizz, Moji and Marie, are bringing you the audio version of another show they do for our sibling org, Abortion Access Front.  AA Front are playing around with a video comedy talk show format so we thought we’d pull the audio to give you a taste of what we got cooking so listen and enjoy! This episode features a breakdown of all things Alabama with special guests from The Yellowhammer Fund and The West Alabama Women's Center, a hilarious convo & standup set from the amazing comedianJoyelle Johnson, and we hit some top news stories that will explode your head. If you wanna watch the video cast, you can find it on all of our social platforms @abortionfront

Gathered in the Sleeper Cell

Lizz Winstead @lizzwinstead

Moji Alawode-El @mojilocks

Marie Khan @mkhanj 

Joyelle Johnson @joyellenicole

The Yellowhammer Fund @YellowFund

The West Alabama Women’s Center @alabama_west

Follow us on Twitter! @accessforce

The Bullshit is Poppin’

Xavier Becerra for Secretary of HHS!

* https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/biden-becerra-hhs-coronavirus/ 

Arkansas Wants to Ban All Abortion

* https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/arkansas-senate-approves-bill-banning-abortions-76052320 

Arkansas Wants to Ban All Abortion

* https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/arkansas-senate-approves-bill-banning-abortions-76052320 

South Carolina “Heartbeat” Ban

* https://www.npr.org/2021/02/19/969653569/court-temporarily-blocks-south-carolina-heartbeat-abortion-ban

Lauren Boebart Coming in Hot and Factless

* https://coloradotimesrecorder.com/2021/03/boebert-outrageously-claims-that-nearly-a-quarter-of-covid-relief-bill-could-fund-abortion/34759

The Discussion

Marie sits down virtually with Dr. Leah Torres, OB/Gyn and Reproductive Health Specialist and Laurie Bertram Roberts, Executive Director of The Yellowhammer Fund! Learn more about Alabama’s attempts at throttling abortion access and this powerhouse fund-clinic team bringing a mutual aid and reproductive justice framework to complete abortion care.

* https://alabortionclinic.com/* https://action.yellowhammerfund.org/onlineactions/VJwyf79UF0yW0qhFnyakGw2  

The Interview + Comedy Set

Lizz and Moji talk with Joyelle Johnson, comedian, activist, and an ardent supporter of abortion access. They talk about clinic outreach in Alabama (spoiler alert, most men suck), followed by a great comedy set by Joyelle!

Announcements

* Abortion Provider Appreciation Day is March 10!

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.