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Reposted by Mary Tuma

Mother Jones @motherjones.com · 9d

A federal judge in Texas who spent the past three years trying to help conservative groups overturn the FDA's regulation of the abortion drug mifepristone has bowed out of the case.

Fiercely anti-abortion judge has bowed out of blockbuster mifepristone case

But the threat isn't over.

www.motherjones.com

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Reposted by Mary Tuma

The Nation Magazine @thenation.com · 23d

"We refuse to comply with cruelty disguised as law,” says Debra Lynch, founder of Her Safe Harbor, a Delaware-based abortion telehealth provider. "HB 7 is an intimidation tactic, not a reflection of the reality of people’s needs."

Texas Extremists Are Trying Everything to Block Abortion Medication

Texas officials and activists are ramping up the fight against abortion pill access. But providers are standing firm.

www.thenation.com

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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · 22d

At least two out-of-state abortion pill providers @themap-crhc.bsky.social and @hersafeharbor.bsky.social tell me they are undeterred in the face of a new Texas law that allows citizens to sue them and others.

"We refuse to comply with cruelty disguised as law."

www.thenation.com/article/soci...

Texas Extremists Are Trying Everything to Block Abortion Medication

Texas officials and activists are ramping up the fight against abortion pill access. But providers are standing firm.

www.thenation.com

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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · 23d

For @thenation.com: While Texas officials wage a battle against New York's abortion shield law and welcome a law to block abortion medication access, out-of-state providers that send pills to Texans like @hersafeharbor.bsky.social tell me they will not back down:

www.thenation.com/article/soci...

Texas Extremists Are Trying Everything to Block Abortion Medication

Texas officials and activists are ramping up the fight against abortion pill access. But providers are standing firm.

www.thenation.com

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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · 24d

This new study from @nber.org analyzed the imapct of 2013 Texas abortion laws, finding bans cause “significant economic hardship” and widen income inequality, translating into higher rates of “financially motivated crime, such as theft and burglary.”

www.nber.org/papers/w34245

Abortion, Economic Hardship, and Crime

Founded in 1920, the NBER is a private, non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to conducting economic research and to disseminating research findings among academics, public policy makers, an...

www.nber.org

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Reposted by Mary Tuma

Carter Sherman @cartersherman.bsky.social · Sep 8

NEWS from this morning: Letitia James, New York's attorney general, is intervening in a Texas attempt to penalize a New York doctor accused of mailing abortion pills across state lines—escalating one of the most consequential fights in the US abortion wars.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Letitia James will ‘step in to defend’ New York doctor accused of mailing abortion pills to Texas

State attorney general aims to block effort to punish doctor: ‘Texas has no power to impose its cruel abortion ban here’

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Mary Tuma

Autonomy News @autonomynews.co · Sep 3

BREAKING: The Texas man accused in a Jonathan Mitchell-penned lawsuit of putting abortion pills in his partner's drink without her knowledge—causing her to have a miscarriage—says her story isn't true. He's countersuing for $100 million.

Texas Man Accused of Putting Abortion Pills in Partner’s Drink Claims She Made It Up, Countersues for $100 Million

The 34-year-old Marine alleges that the woman who sued him for wrongful death lied about a coerced abortion, and that there were political motives behind her lawsuit.

www.autonomynews.co

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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · Sep 5

While Texas already bans abortion, with HB 7 Republicans aim to halt the flow of abortion medication from out of state, one of the only remaining avenues for Texans to still access care. The bill now moves to the Gov's desk.

My latest for @texasobserver.org:

www.texasobserver.org/texas-legisl...

Texas Legislature Passes ‘Bounty Hunter’ Ban on Abortion Pills

House Bill 7 attacks one of the last remaining options for reproductive care in Texas and declares legal war on blue states.

www.texasobserver.org

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Reposted by Mary Tuma

Texas Observer @texasobserver.org · Sep 4

New from Special Correspondent @marytuma.bsky.social: House Bill 7 attacks one of the last remaining options for reproductive care in Texas and declares legal war on blue states.

Texas Legislature Passes ‘Bounty Hunter’ Ban on Abortion Pills

House Bill 7 attacks one of the last remaining options for reproductive care in Texas and declares legal war on blue states.

www.texasobserver.org

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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · Sep 4

🚨BREAKING (this is a big deal y'all): The Texas Senate has given final approval to HB 7, a bill that empowers citizens to sue anyone who, “manufactures, distributes, mails, transports, delivers, prescribes, or provides” abortion pills to Texans for at least $100K, it now moves to Gov. Abbott's desk.

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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · Aug 29

Now: The Texas House has given approval to HB 7, a bill that seeks to empower citizens to sue those who mail or prescribe abortion pills to Texans, following passionate opposition from Democrats, who testified that the measure will lead to more deaths. HB 7 still needs a vote from the Senate.

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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · Aug 26

A new version of a TX bill that allows private citizens to sue drug manufacturers for mailing abortion pills and reap $100K allows those not related to the person in question to get $10K + donate the rest to charity –– anti-abortion group Texas Right to Life suggest they should be the recipient:

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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · Aug 20

"Failure to comply could result in further legal action, lawsuits seeking injunctive relief, and civil penalties of no less than $100,000 per violation under Texas law."

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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · Aug 20

JUST IN: Attorney General Ken Paxton demands an "immediate halt" to mailing of abortion pills to Texans via cease and desist letters, citing a violation of the Comstock Act and abortion bans, targeting Plan C, Her Safe Harbor, and affiliate of Aid Access:
www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/defaul...

www.texasattorneygeneral.gov

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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · Aug 13

My latest for @texasobserver.org: After a surge of post-SB 8 + Dobbs "rage donations," Texas abortion funds – grassroots groups on the frontlines of connecting Texans with out-of-state care – now see dwindling contributions while facing rising costs and demand:
www.texasobserver.org/abortion-fun...

Abortion Funds See Dwindling Donations as Demand and Cost Rise

A flood of cash following Roe’s fall has dried up, leaving Texas nonprofits struggling to keep pace with the state’s abortion access crisis.

www.texasobserver.org

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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · Aug 12

Just in: A South Texas woman who was unlawfully arrested and charged w/ murder for having a medication abortion in 2022 faced "gross abuse of power" from Starr County officials who have also sought to evade accountability, a new filing from @aclutx.bsky.social claims:
www.aclu.org/cases/gonzal...

Gonzalez v. Ramirez et al. | American Civil Liberties Union

Although Texas law clearly prohibits prosecuting people for terminating their pregnancies, Starr County officials indicted, arrested, and jailed Lizelle Gonzalez for having an abortion. The ACLU’s Abo...

www.aclu.org

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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · Aug 12

Bold of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to criticize + sue to enforce arrest warrants of Texas Democrats who "fled" and who have "run away" to protect voting rights when Paxton quite literally fled and "RAN" away to avoid being served a subpoena (Is "bold" the word I'm looking for? Probably not.)

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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · Aug 11

Now: A Texas Senate Committee just passed anti-abortion bill SB 6 and it will move to the full Senate, where it will surely pass. However, the Democrat gerrymandering exodus prevents a quorum in the House so bills like this will be slowed down (or potentially defeated) for now if the walkout holds.

Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · Aug 11

Today: A Texas Senate committee is expected to hear a revival of an anti-abortion bill (that failed during the regular session) which would empower private citizens to sue health providers and manufacturers who mail or prescribe abortion pills to Texans. SB 6: capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/H...

Texas Legislature Online - 89(1) History for SB 6

capitol.texas.gov

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Reposted by Mary Tuma

Garnet Henderson @garnethenderson.com · Aug 11

NEW: A Texas woman filed a wrongful death suit in federal court today alleging a man gave her abortion pills without her consent. The suit also names Aid Access and its founder Rebecca Gomperts. The woman is represented by SB 8 architect Jonathan Mitchell.

Me at @autonomynews.co:

Texas Woman Files Wrongful Death Suit, Alleges Man Slipped Abortion Pills in Her Drink

Jonathan Mitchell is representing a woman suing both her male partner and Aid Access founder Rebecca Gomperts. Mitchell associate Mark Lee Dickson said he learned of the incident from a crisis pregnan...

www.autonomynews.co

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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · Aug 11

Today: A Texas Senate committee is expected to hear a revival of an anti-abortion bill (that failed during the regular session) which would empower private citizens to sue health providers and manufacturers who mail or prescribe abortion pills to Texans. SB 6: capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/H...

Texas Legislature Online - 89(1) History for SB 6

capitol.texas.gov

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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · Aug 5

And the walkout has slowed down anti-abortion bills — including a measure that would let private citizens sue health providers and manufacturers for mailing + prescribing abortion medication to Texans

Kit boO'Connell (🎃For Hire👻) @kitoconnell.com · Aug 5

One aspect of the quorum break that's not getting much coverage is that it also killed the anti-trans bathroom bill, at least for now.

Texas Observer @texasobserver.org · Aug 5

New from @byjustinmiller.bsky.social: While House Democrats in Chicago, plus some in New York, seem willing and able to withhold their numbers for the remaining weeks of this first 30-day special session, all that would do is delay the inevitable.

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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · Jul 25

Mistress of aggressively anti-abortion conservative Rep. Giovanni Capriglione alleges that he paid for multiple abortions during their affair, via right-wing outlet, Current Revolt. Capriglione authored the state's abortion trigger ban, which criminalizes care w/ up to life in prison for providers.

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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · Jul 22

Jonathan Mitchell strikes again. A Texas man has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against a California abortion provider for allegedly mailing abortion medication to his girlfriend. Like the Silva case, Mitchell is arguing a violation of the Comstock Act.
www.courthousenews.com/texas-man-su...

Texas man sues California doctor over medication abortion

The wrongful death suit invokes a long-dormant federal law alongside state law.

www.courthousenews.com

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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · Jul 22

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has listed "Protecting Unborn Children" –aka further banning abortion access in a state that already criminally bans abortion care – as the sixth highest priority for the state's special legislative session, above water conservation and protecting survivors of human trafficking

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Reposted by Mary Tuma

Texas Observer @texasobserver.org · Jul 17

We’re proud to welcome to the Observer masthead @candicebernd.bsky.social and @marytuma.bsky.social as special investigative correspondents, joining @stevanzetti.bsky.social as freelance reporters helping us tackle the environment, reproductive rights, & extremism: www.texasobserver.org/home/staff/

A composite image of two headshots of Candice Bernd and Mary Tuma. Candice has blonde hair with brown highlights and is posed in front of a full bookcase. Mary Tuma is wearing black plastic glasses and bright pink lipstick.

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