Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) angered quite a few doctors and pundits on Tuesday, after misleadingly claiming that his state's extreme new abortion ban still allows rape or incest victims "at least six weeks" to get an abortion.
The highly-criticized law, which went into effect last week, criminalizes and thus effectively bans abortions at the (incredibly early) six week mark, and makes no exceptions in cases of rape or incest.
Abbott told a reporter that the law does not force a rape or incest victim to carry a pregnancy to term because "obviously it provides at least six weeks for a person to be able to get an abortion." He went on to make clear that Texas will work "tirelessly" to make sure "we eliminate all rapists from the streets of Texas."
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.
The governor quickly found himself in a torrent of online criticism, with doctors and pundits pointing out that not only do most women not even know they are pregnant at the six-week mark, the law does not necessarily allow an individual six weeks to get an abortion; it bans the procedure after six weeks of pregnancy, a distinction that makes all the difference. Furthermore, critics took issue with Abbott's characterization of rape and the circumstances in which it happens.
Abbott also on Tuesday signed into law the contentious, state GOP-backed elections overhaul, which will introduce a whole slew of voting restrictions in Texas. In July, Lonestar Democrats fled the state in protest of the legislation, which they believe is an effort to "weaken minority turnout and preserve the GOP's eroding dominance," per The Associated Press.
-
Sloth fever shows no signs of slowing downThe explainer The vector-borne illness is expanding its range
-
'With every technological advance, there are risks'Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
5 of the best platonic TV friendshipsthe week recommends Maintaining boundaries has proven tricky for all but the most committed of buddies on the small screen
-
DOGE put Social Security data at risk, official saysSpeed Read DOGE workers made the personal information of hundreds of millions of Americans vulnerable to identity theft
-
Court rejects Trump suit against Maryland US judgesSpeed Read Judge Thomas Cullen, a Trump appointee, said the executive branch had no authority to sue the judges
-
Trump expands National Guard role in policingSpeed Read The president wants the Guard to take on a larger role in domestic law enforcement
-
Trump says he's firing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa CookSpeed Read The move is likely part of Trump's push to get the central bank to cut interest rates
-
Abrego released from jail, faces Uganda deportationSpeed Read The wrongly deported Kilmar Abrego García is expected to be detained at an ICE check-in and deported to Uganda
-
Trump arms National Guard in DC, threatens other citiesspeed read His next targets are Chicago, New York and Baltimore
-
Judge: Trump's US attorney in NJ serving unlawfullySpeed Read The appointment of Trump's former personal defense lawyer, Alina Habba, as acting US attorney in New Jersey was ruled 'unlawful'
-
Third judge rejects DOJ's Epstein records requestSpeed Read Judge Richard Berman was the third and final federal judge to reject DOJ petitions to unseal Epstein-related grand jury material
