North Carolina legislature enacts 12-week abortion ban, overriding governor's veto
North Carolina's Republican-led legislature voted along party lines Tuesday to override Gov. Roy Cooper's (D) veto of a 12-week abortion ban. The new restrictions will now take effect July 1.
Cooper vetoed the bill over the weekend after spending the previous week campaigning against it, trying to peel off at least one Republican to defeat the override. "How about we leave medicine to the doctors and the decisions to the women," he suggested after signing his veto. All four Republicans he targeted voted for the ban, including Rep. Tricia Cotham (R), a former pro-choice Democrat who switched parties in April, giving Republicans the supermajority they needed in both chambers to override Cooper's veto.
The new abortion ban includes rape and incest exceptions through 20 weeks of pregnancy, an exemption for some fetal abnormalities through 24 weeks, and no limit for when a pregnant woman's life is in danger. The override will further limit abortion access in the South, where South Carolina will be the only state that allows abortion past 12 weeks.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
3 tips to lower your household bills
The Explainer Prices on everything from eggs to auto insurance to rent have increased — but there are ways to make your bills more manageable
By Becca Stanek, The Week US Published
-
Crossword: November 11, 2024
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sudoku hard: November 11, 2024
The Week's daily hard sudoku puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
Fed cuts rates, chair says he won't quit if Trump asks
Speed Read Jerome Powell was noncommittal on future rate cuts that were expected before Trump won the election
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Melania Trump: the second coming of the first lady
The Explainer Melania was absent from Washington for large chunks of her husband's first reign
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Judge revives plea deal for 9/11 suspects
Speed Read A military judge has ruled to restore the plea deals struck by 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two co-conspirators
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Harris concedes as world prepares for Trump's return
Speed Read Vice President Kamala Harris told supporters it was important to 'accept the results of this election'
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Abortion rights measures go 7 for 10
Speed Read Constitutional amendments to protect abortion passed in seven states but failed in three others: Florida, Nebraska and South Dakota
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Netanyahu fires defense minister, sparking protests
Speed Read Yoav Gallant and Netanyahu have clashed for years. The Israeli prime minister first tried to fire the defense minister in 2023, but backed off following a public outcry.
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump wins, GOP flips Senate, House a tossup
Speed Read The Republican candidate flipped back the swing states he lost to President Joe Biden in 2020
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Supreme Court to resolve Louisiana gerrymander
Speed Read The court will hear a case challenging the second majority-Black district in the state
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published