WATCH: Elizabeth Warren Explains Why Congress Must Act To Protect Abortion Access
The last two presidential terms have marked a significant shift in the U.S. Supreme Court, with an end result that a full third of the current bench was appointed by a single administration, and was carefully curated to oppose abortion access.
Donald Trump promised that he would appoint justices who would oppose the decision of Roe v. Wade, and it’s one promise he kept. First he filled the seat that had remained open after Mitch McConnell, then the Senate Majority Leader, refused to hold a vote on President Barack Obama’s nominee, Merrick Garland. Then he filled a seat when Justice Anthony Kennedy retired during his term. Finally, with the help of McConnell, Trump pushed through a third nominee in the last weeks before he lost his re-election bid.
The current court has made decisions that supporters of reproductive health access find alarming. Last month NPR reported on a decision by a bare majority of the court (including all three Trump appointees) not to overturn a Texas law that is virtually a complete ban on abortion, and another piece of legislation, this one from Mississippi and banning all abortions after 15 weeks gestation, is on it’s way to the court.
Appearing on MSNBC, Elizabeth Warren explained that the court has already shown itself to be politically biased and hostile toward reproductive rights, and that now it’s up to Congress to act to protect the right to control one’s own uterus.
“The [Supreme Court] has signaled 40 different ways that it is an extremist court out of step with the American people, and that it’s willing to line up and take a shot at Roe v. Wade.”
— Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) pic.twitter.com/3awKTbMbQ4
— The Recount (@therecount) October 24, 2021
“Whether they’ll get rid of [Roe v. Wade precedent] entirely or just continue to allow the states to chip at it, come on. They’ve given us every possible signal. But for me, what that means is, it’s time for Congress to step up.”
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