- A law restricting most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy went into effect Wednesday in Florida, which previously had a law restricting the procedure after 15 weeks. New York Times (LR: 2 CP: 5)
- By enacting this law, Florida joins with nearly every other state in the region that has tightened restrictions on abortions since the US Supreme Court (SCOTUS) overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022. New York Times (LR: 2 CP: 5)
- Residents of the southern US seeking an abortion after six weeks of pregnancy now must travel to North Carolina, which doesn't restrict the procedure until after 12 weeks, or Virginia, which currently has no laws banning abortion procedures. Tallahassee Democrat
- The law provides exceptions for rape or incest if the mother can provide documentation, including a restraining order or police report. Obtaining abortion drugs by mail is now prohibited. USA Today (LR: 3 CP: 5)
- This law took effect after the Florida Supreme Court on April 1 upheld the state's 15-week ban in the face of a legal challenge, but in a separate ruling cleared a path for an amendment to enshrine abortion rights into the state's Constitution to be on the ballot in November. ABC News
Right narrative:
- Florida's abortion law is in line with science (six weeks is often when a baby's heartbeat becomes detectable) and public opinion (according to recent polling). No amount of fear-mongering by the radical left can obscure the fact that this law will save tens of thousands of children's lives while protecting women by including several exceptions and continuing to provide women with emergency medical care when they need it.
FEDERALIST (LR: 5 CP: 5)
Left narrative:
- By enacting this law, Florida has lost its status as a safe harbor for those in the state and the southeastern region seeking abortions. Luckily, democracy moves on, and not only has the right's draconian law inspired record-breaking fundraising in opposition to the ban, but a popular amendment to overturn the law will be on the ballot on Election Day. Abortion rights aren't dead yet.
THE DAILY BEAST
Nerd narrative:
- There's a 50% chance that Casey-era abortion rights will be granted in 56% of US states on May 1, 2026, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
METACULUS (LR: 3 CP: 3)