What happened?
Alabama's House and Senate passed similar bills Thursday to legally shield doctors, clinics and hospitals offering in vitro fertilization treatment, after the state Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos have the same rights as children. The ruling effectively halted IVF treatment in the state.
Who said what?
Republicans are rushing through a "quick fix" for the "unintended consequences" of legally declaring that life begins at conception, said state Sen. Bobby Singleton (D). This legislation will at least "get the clinics open for the families" going through IVF, said state Rep. Terri Collins (R).
The commentary
Republicans are stomping on their "own party's triumph," Carmel Richardson said at The American Conservative. Alabama and "divine law" correctly hold that "if you make legal persons, you have to treat them as legal persons in all cases, not just when it is convenient" politically. "Providing legal rights to the unborn at any age of gestation is always going to be a legal mess," said Robin Marty at West Alabama Women's Center to The Washington Post.
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.
What next?
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) is expected to sign the final legislation.
-
Political cartoons for December 7Cartoons Sunday’s political cartoons include the Trump-tanic, AI Santa, and the search for a moderate Republican
-
Trump’s poll collapse: can he stop the slide?Talking Point President who promised to ease cost-of-living has found that US economic woes can’t be solved ‘via executive fiat’
-
Codeword: December 7, 2025The daily codeword puzzle from The Week
-
Trump tightens restrictions for work visasSpeed Read The length of work permits for asylum seekers and refugees has been shortened from five years to 18 months
-
Supreme Court revives Texas GOP gerrymanderSpeed Read Texas Republicans can use the congressional map they approved in August at President Donald Trump’s behest
-
Boat strike footage rattles some lawmakersSpeed Read ‘Disturbing’ footage of the Sept. 2 attack on an alleged drug-trafficking boat also shows the second strike that killed two survivors who were clinging to the wreckage
-
Trump boosts gas cars in fuel economy rollbackspeed read Watering down fuel efficiency standards is another blow to former President Biden’s effort to boost electric vehicles
-
Hegseth’s Signal chat put troops in peril, probe findsSpeed Read The defense secretary risked the lives of military personnel and violated Pentagon rules, says new report
-
Trump pardons Texas Democratic congressmanspeed read Rep. Henry Cuellar was charged with accepting foreign bribes tied to Azerbaijan and Mexico
-
GOP wins tight House race in red Tennessee districtSpeed Read Republicans maintained their advantage in the House
-
Trump targets ‘garbage’ Somalis ahead of ICE raidsSpeed Read The Department of Homeland Security will launch an immigration operation targeting Somali immigrants in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area
