Emergency Y’all-itics: June 24, 2022

Abortion is now illegal in Texas. Our state never repealed any pre-Roe anti-abortion statues, so the moment the U.S. Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade, those became immediately enforceable again. And thanks to our state’s “trigger law,” in 30-days, the penalty will become even more severe, jumping from a misdemeanor to a felony. But this is only the beginning of the story in Texas. As you’ll hear in this emergency episode of Y’all-itics, Republican lawmakers are already planning legislation that would punish businesses that help female employees obtain an abortion. Rep. Briscoe Cain says there could even be legislation that empowers district attorneys to prosecute folks from neighboring counties, if their home county DA decides not to enforce it. Meantime, Democrats call the historic ruling a devastating blow to women that will severely limit access to healthcare. And Rep. Nicole Collier wonders out loud why the same folks who used the argument “my body, my choice” to resist COVID-19 vaccines and masks aren’t making the same argument now. And finally, the Jasons and special guest host Teresa Woodard turn to one of the nation’s premiere constitutional law experts to find out if the Supreme Court’s ruling will put any other rights at risk.

Guests

Rep. Nicole Collier, (D) Fort Worth

Rep. Briscoe Cain, (R) Baytown

Steve Vladeck, University of Texas School of Law