Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

AOC Gives Blistering Fact Check to GOP's Witness in Abortion Rights Hearing

AOC Gives Blistering Fact Check to GOP's Witness in Abortion Rights Hearing
C-SPAN

The state of Texas continues to face national outcry after the most restrictive anti-abortion law in the nation went into effect. Senate Bill 8, also misleadingly known as the "heartbeat bill," forbids abortions after six weeks—long before the fetal viability period, making it a blatant violation of Roe v. Wade.

S.B. 8 bans abortions after six weeks, before many even know they're pregnant. What's more, it allows anyone who aided or abetted a procedure after that time—from doctors who perform an abortion to Uber drivers who transport someone to a clinic—to be subject to criminal liability. The law offers up to a $10 thousand bounty to those who successfully report an illegal abortion.


This week, the House Oversight Committee held a hearing on the injustices of S.B. 8 and the broader attempts of Republican state legislatures to encroach on the bodily autonomy of anyone with a uterus.

Most memorably, three Democratic representatives—Barbara Lee of Texas, Pramila Jayapal of Washington, and Cori Bush of Missouri—testified about their own abortions in an effort to emphasize the importance of an individual's—and not their governments—decide when and how they give birth.

Another notable moment came from firebrand progressive Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.

Earlier in the hearing, a Republican witness—Dr. Ingrid Skop, an anti-abortion OB/GYN—addressed the lack of exemptions for rape and incest in S.B. 8, as well as the six week time limit on legal abortion.

Skop falsely claimed:

"S.B. 8 gives enough time for a woman who knows she's been raped to determine that she is pregnant."

As her five minutes of questioning commenced, a visibly irritated Ocasio-Cortez, known colloquially as AOC, fact-checked Dr. Skop and shamed the Republican lawmakers on the committee, most of whom are cisgender men, for not knowing basic biology.

Watch below.

Ocasio-Cortez said:

"I need to correct and address an assertion that was made not too long ago, this idea, this myth that, first of all, that this law S.B. 8 provides ample time for a victim of abuse to seek abortion care. Because once again we're in a room of legislators who are attempting to legislate reproductive systems that they know nothing about. Six weeks pregnant—and it's shameful that this education needs to happen, because this conversation shouldn't even be held in a legislative body—six weeks pregnant is two weeks late for one's period. When you are raped, you don't always know what happened to you. And I speak about this as a survivor. You are in so much shock.

After noting the variety of conditions, both related and unrelated to sexual assault, that can delay a period, she continued:

"Unbelievable. Unbelievable that the Republican side would call a witness so irresponsible and hurtful to survivors across this country. Honestly. [Y]our constituents [deserve] an apology."

People widely agreed.




They praised the argument she laid out.


The conservative Supreme Court has refused to intervene in the enforcement of S.B. 8.

More from People/alexandria-ocasio-cortez

Screenshots from @mstarland's TikTok video
@mstarland/TikTok

Pregnant Mom Calls Out Husband For Falling Asleep While Watching Their Two-Year-Old

There's nothing quite like discovering how much louder actions speak than words when your partner falls asleep on the job.

Especially when you're 38 weeks pregnant.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Jake Tapper and Mike Turner
CNN

GOP Rep. Ousted From Chairmanship By Trump Calls Out Colleagues For Russian Propaganda In Resurfaced Clip

Speaking to anchor Jake Tapper on CNN last April, Ohio Republican Mike Turner said that Russian propaganda had "infected" the GOP in a clip that has resurfaced after President-elect Donald Trump had him ousted as House Intelligence Committee chair.

At the time, Turner made it clear that his fellow Republicans were parroting Russian propaganda about the war in Ukraine and its relationship with NATO members. That claim came after House Foreign Affairs Committee chair Michael McCaul, who said he thinks "Russian propaganda has made its way into the United States, unfortunately, and it’s infected a good chunk of my party’s base."

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots from @poorandhungry's TikTok video
@poorandhungry/TikTok

TikToker Dumbfounded After Discovering A Troll Signed Her Up For The Special Olympics

Some people are natural born givers and like to lift other people's spirits and find unique and fun ways to make them laugh.

TikToker @poorandhungry, or "Syd," is one such person who maintains a TikTok and Instagram account with funny parodies, quips, and skits that leave her audience rolling with laughter.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots from @myriamestrella8's TikTok video
@myriamestrella8/TikTok

Lesbian Speaks Out After She And Partner Were Targets Of Homophobic Bullying On Disney Cruise

A l Disney fan and her partner believe they were targeted in a homophobic bullying incident while traveling on a Disney cruise.

Myriam–a.k.a. @myriamestrella8–recounted the disturbing incident in the first of a couple of TikTok videos that went viral.

Keep ReadingShow less
Man walking by warehouse forklift
Pickawood/Unsplash

People Describe The All-Time Worst Jobs They've Ever Had

Dream jobs are the ones where they don't feel like work at all.

Very few are lucky enough to earn a living while fulfilling their passions. In contrast, others show up despite the arduous tasks involved in raising a family or living a comfortable life.

Keep ReadingShow less