Our local village had an election in June for mayor and council. And behold, the decades-long red government (with many contests often having gone uncontested) flipped unanimously to blue (that is, all the Democratic candidates won; not that they had 100% of the vote; I wish!)! They also noted a much higher participation rate amongst young voters. Many of the Democratic candidates were women who had never run for office before. Take that, MAGA!
Abortion is not a local issue, but education is. As are zoning, development, and the environment (we are increasing the presence of both sidewalks and trees for increased walkability; and considering limiting business development, as recent increases have caused traffic congestion). Not to mention for some voters the issue is probably just the desire for any workable government at all: Keep the roads and sidewalks in good repair, pick up the trash, etc. A lot of local government is not sexy, but it either functions and we have a decent quality of life; or the GOP lowers taxes and doesn’t bother with function anymore, and quality of life deteriorates. I also think that outsiders showing up at school board meetings and yelling about books that should be banned has not helped the GOP locally.
You want to be bullies? Welcome to our pushback. You lose.
I don't want us to get complacent; not only do you never know what complications will be thrown into the works last minute, but with a GOP this badly out of control, they need a strong signal that their recent behaviour is universally unacceptable. Let's not plan to win 51-49%, but overwhelmingly. Keep working hard for 2024: Every vote is a bigger hit against fascism.
In Other News
Netroots
This is a somewhat abbreviated roundup. With the Netroots Nation (NN) meeting in Chicago and one of the biggest attendance records ever, traffic on DKos may be low. So we’re presenting some of the week’s most prominent items. If you have others, please feel free to add in Comments. Or just join us for a chat because you're not at the meeting or are taking a break from it!
The above NN report states that this year’s meeting is much more focused on issues rather than “namey names”. Issues mentioned in the article include (emphasis mine):
The move away from big names “is an indication of all the different fronts we are dealing with at the same time as progressives,” Netroots Nation Executive Director Eric Thut told POLITICO, ticking off issues like gun violence and the recent Supreme Court decisions on everything from affirmative action to student loan forgiveness to abortion. “We’ve got a lot of folks and a lot of stuff to talk about and a lot of voices to amplify.”
Panel discussions examine AI’s impact on organizing, “what’s next for student debt,” “how to debunk abortion disinformation” and the challenge women candidates face in “navigating the threat of dis/misinformation.”
States’ role in government also gets some airtime. “The states are being used by the GOP to silence people they don’t agree with and stall progress on major issues. And we’re starting to see blowback, like in Tennessee,” Thut said.
Sounds like a smart, engaged group! Along with that Moulitsas guy. ;-)
Abortion
Via Jessica Valenti: Iowa calls a special session of the legislature to try to push through a 6-week abortion ban. Despite polls showing 61% of Iowans support abortion rights. The bill was passed and signed by the governor, but a judge is hearing a request to postpone the law as its constitutionality is challenged. He may rule as early as this coming Monday.
Pro-choice groups in Idaho are challenging the "abortion trafficking" law, which has vague wording that could criminalize pretty much any way of helping a minor get an abortion, possibly even just telling her it's available in another state. As Valenti states, often restrictions for minors quickly become restrictions for everyone.
Ohio's special election has started early voting: the Republican legislature is trying to raise the voting threshold for citizen initiatives in advance of a vote on restoring abortion rights. “Majority rule only if you agree with us!”
And the latest anti-choice strategy is to redefine the word "ban." They've discovered that abortion bans are unpopular, so they're playing word games to call their bans anything else. It's “abortion consensus" (even though they’re on the wrong side of consensus)! Or “fetal protection”! Etc., etc. If the GOP tells you they’re "pro women," listen closely; they’re about to try to gaslight you.
Political gaslighting
Political gaslighting occurs when a political group or figure lies or manipulates information to control people, according to an article in the Buffalo Law Review.
For example, the person or political party may downplay things their administration has done, discredit their opponents, imply that critics are mentally unstable, or use controversy to deflect attention away from their mistakes.
Or use language implying the opposite of what they actually do or believe.
reuters via medscape Indiana's Top Court Allows Near-Total Abortion Ban
The Indiana Supreme Court on Friday upheld a law banning nearly all abortions in the state [in a 4-1 decision], lifting a lower court order that had blocked the law in response to a lawsuit by Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers......The law prohibits all abortion with exceptions for rape, incest, lethal fetal abnormalities and to save the mother's life or prevent serious health risk....
...Justice Christopher Goff, in a dissent, said he would have left the order blocking the law in place while the lawsuit goes forward, and suggested that the issue should ultimately be decided by a referendum.
"In my view, even those who abhor abortion in all circumstances should be wary of unfettered government power over the most personal, private aspects of a person's life," he wrote....
Legal News
Camille Vasquez, Johnny Depp’s lawyer, says she hopes she inspires Latinas. Attorney who successfully defended actor in last year’s defamation trial makes remarks in interview. The Guardian, July 12
Attack the credibility of relatively powerless women? I’m not feeling particularly inspired. But maybe that’s just me.
Media/Entertainment
from TheConversation Female physicists aren’t represented in the media – and this lack of representation hurts the physics field.
Christopher Nolan’s highly-anticipated movie “Oppenheimer,” set for release July 21, 2023, depicts J. Robert Oppenheimer and his role in the development of the atomic bomb. But while the Manhattan Project wouldn’t have been possible without the work of many accomplished female scientists, the only women seen in the movie’s trailer are either hanging laundry, crying or cheering the men on…. It also represents a larger trend of women’s contributions in science going unrecognized in modern media.
Please see the link for much more on female scientists!
Coroner releases cause of death for Lisa Marie Presley, https://apnews.com/...: Small bowel obstruction years after bariatric surgery. SBO is "a common complication" of such weight-loss surgery.
So think long and hard about risks and benefits if you're considering surgery for overweight! Unsurprisingly, 78% of bariatric surgery patients are female. Before I looked it up, I predicted that women would be way, way overrepresented as bariatric surgery patients. Globally, 73% are female.
I suspect that surgery is recommended far more than it is really warranted. The same person who makes money off your surgery is helping you decide if it's worth the risks. Colour me skeptical. Ms. Presley being a perfect example, since AFAIK she has never been obese, and the pressure is heavier on celebrities to have perfect bodies.
[Note also that there was a potential battle over Lisa Marie's will, but her Mom Priscilla Presley and her daughter Riley Keough worked out a settlement amongst themselves. Women rock!]
Good News
Lashrecse Aird wins VA primary, young black woman defeating an anti-choice Democrat. Woot! Her website, where you can donate or volunteer, https://www.lashrecseaird.com/ Her record can be read and admired at, https://www.lashrecseaird.com/...
If you're in VA, please help her win the general!
Women Deliver Conference:
The Guttmacher Institute will be participating at the Women Deliver conference in Kigali, Rwanda on July 17–July 20.
If you are attending the conference, make sure to stop by Booth K25 / K40 in the exhibition hall, where you can discover our latest research and engage with our experts. In addition, our partner organizations TaYA (Ethiopia), The YP Foundation (India) and APHRC (African Region) will be joining our booth at selected times to discuss their work to advance gender equality and sexual and reproductive health and rights.
TaYA – 18 JULY | 8:30am–12:00pm
The YP Foundation – 19 JULY | 8:30am–12:00pm
African Population and Health Research Center – 19 JULY | 1:30–5:00pm
If you are not attending the conference, you can still join the buzz on social media. You are invited to try our new quiz filter on Instagram and Facebook. Test your knowledge of sexual and reproductive health topics and tag us for a chance to be featured in our Stories!...
Much more at the link. Note that you can still register and attend virtually if you wish!
As always, this is a group effort! Many thanks to Tara the Antisocial Social Worker and mettle fatigue for items and discussion behind the scenes!