So incredibly proud of my dear friend @jazmineulloa.bsky.social's ambitious and beautifully woven new book that traces the complex and rich history of El Paso through the lives of five families, elevating the border city to its "rightful position" at the center of our American story. An excerpt here

NEW: TX AG Paxton sues international abortion pill provider Aid Access for allegedly shipping medication to Texans. This comes after a similar suit against a Delaware-based provider. These suits go up against shield laws + now, international law Filing www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/defaul...

New from @marytuma.bsky.social: “There’s an almost shocking lack of evidence around these #abortion care accusations. What you’re seeing is an attorney general grasping at straws and rushing to indict anyone during an election year.”

Attorney General Paxton wants to imprison midwife Maria Rojas –– a Latina from Peru who was serving the Spanish-speaking community –– for life based on a "baseless" case. I report that the lead investigator has made several pro-MAGA social media posts that include strong anti-immigrant sentiments:

My latest for @texasobserver.org: Maria Margarita Rojas is the first healthcare provider charged for abortion care under Texas’ strict criminal ban. Her attorneys say the state has no evidence—yet her clinics remain shuttered.

BREAKING: Texas AG Ken Paxton is suing abortion pill provider Debra Lynch, founder of Delaware-based Her Safe Harbor for violating Texas abortion law. I talked to Debra in Sept. and she said she would keep providing care to Texans despite HB 7. Suit: www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/defaul...

When I write that Texas right-wing officials are "insatiable" in their crusade to decimate abortion care, it's not hyperbole. This second attempt by TX is in addition to: ->A full criminal ban since 2022 + near-total ban since 2021 ->A new bounty-hunter vigilante.... www.reuters.com/legal/govern...

I spoke with two out-of-state abortion pill providers who tell me a new aggressive Texas law, set to take effect Dec. 4, will not deter them from offering care: “We will not halt shipments to Texas. We refuse to comply with cruelty disguised as law,” says Debra Lynch of @hersafeharbor.bsky.social

On Thurs., Dec. 4 a new Texas anti-abortion law takes effect. HB 7 aims to halt access to medication abortion by empowering people to sue anyone who mails, prescribes, or provides abortion-inducing pills to the state and reap a minimum of $100K in court. Background: www.thenation.com/article/soci...

"During Walker’s many hospital and prenatal visits, 21 OB-GYNs were among the more than 90 physicians involved in her care. None of them counseled her on the option — or the health benefits — of a termination, according to medical records."

Texans under 18 faced more barriers to accessing abortion care in clinics than any other age group in the months following the 2021 near-total abortion ban, according to a new study in @amjpublichealth.bsky.social Caveat: this study does not include SMA ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/10.2105/...

A federal judge in Texas who spent the past three years trying to help conservative groups overturn the FDA's regulation of the abortion drug mifepristone has bowed out of the case.

"We refuse to comply with cruelty disguised as law,” says Debra Lynch, founder of Her Safe Harbor, a Delaware-based abortion telehealth provider. "HB 7 is an intimidation tactic, not a reflection of the reality of people’s needs."

At least two out-of-state abortion pill providers @themap-crhc.bsky.social and @hersafeharbor.bsky.social tell me they are undeterred in the face of a new Texas law that allows citizens to sue them and others. "We refuse to comply with cruelty disguised as law." www.thenation.com/article/soci...

For @thenation.com: While Texas officials wage a battle against New York's abortion shield law and welcome a law to block abortion medication access, out-of-state providers that send pills to Texans like @hersafeharbor.bsky.social tell me they will not back down: www.thenation.com/article/soci...

This new study from @nber.org analyzed the imapct of 2013 Texas abortion laws, finding bans cause “significant economic hardship” and widen income inequality, translating into higher rates of “financially motivated crime, such as theft and burglary.” www.nber.org/papers/w34245

NEWS from this morning: Letitia James, New York's attorney general, is intervening in a Texas attempt to penalize a New York doctor accused of mailing abortion pills across state lines—escalating one of the most consequential fights in the US abortion wars. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

BREAKING: The Texas man accused in a Jonathan Mitchell-penned lawsuit of putting abortion pills in his partner's drink without her knowledge—causing her to have a miscarriage—says her story isn't true. He's countersuing for $100 million.

While Texas already bans abortion, with HB 7 Republicans aim to halt the flow of abortion medication from out of state, one of the only remaining avenues for Texans to still access care. The bill now moves to the Gov's desk. My latest for @texasobserver.org: www.texasobserver.org/texas-legisl...

New from Special Correspondent @marytuma.bsky.social: House Bill 7 attacks one of the last remaining options for reproductive care in Texas and declares legal war on blue states.

🚨BREAKING (this is a big deal y'all): The Texas Senate has given final approval to HB 7, a bill that empowers citizens to sue anyone who, “manufactures, distributes, mails, transports, delivers, prescribes, or provides” abortion pills to Texans for at least $100K, it now moves to Gov. Abbott's desk.

Now: The Texas House has given approval to HB 7, a bill that seeks to empower citizens to sue those who mail or prescribe abortion pills to Texans, following passionate opposition from Democrats, who testified that the measure will lead to more deaths. HB 7 still needs a vote from the Senate.

A new version of a TX bill that allows private citizens to sue drug manufacturers for mailing abortion pills and reap $100K allows those not related to the person in question to get $10K + donate the rest to charity –– anti-abortion group Texas Right to Life suggest they should be the recipient:

JUST IN: Attorney General Ken Paxton demands an "immediate halt" to mailing of abortion pills to Texans via cease and desist letters, citing a violation of the Comstock Act and abortion bans, targeting Plan C, Her Safe Harbor, and affiliate of Aid Access: www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/defaul...

My latest for @texasobserver.org: After a surge of post-SB 8 + Dobbs "rage donations," Texas abortion funds – grassroots groups on the frontlines of connecting Texans with out-of-state care – now see dwindling contributions while facing rising costs and demand: www.texasobserver.org/abortion-fun...

Just in: A South Texas woman who was unlawfully arrested and charged w/ murder for having a medication abortion in 2022 faced "gross abuse of power" from Starr County officials who have also sought to evade accountability, a new filing from @aclutx.bsky.social claims: www.aclu.org/cases/gonzal...

Bold of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to criticize + sue to enforce arrest warrants of Texas Democrats who "fled" and who have "run away" to protect voting rights when Paxton quite literally fled and "RAN" away to avoid being served a subpoena (Is "bold" the word I'm looking for? Probably not.)

Now: A Texas Senate Committee just passed anti-abortion bill SB 6 and it will move to the full Senate, where it will surely pass. However, the Democrat gerrymandering exodus prevents a quorum in the House so bills like this will be slowed down (or potentially defeated) for now if the walkout holds.

NEW: A Texas woman filed a wrongful death suit in federal court today alleging a man gave her abortion pills without her consent. The suit also names Aid Access and its founder Rebecca Gomperts. The woman is represented by SB 8 architect Jonathan Mitchell. Me at @autonomynews.co:

Today: A Texas Senate committee is expected to hear a revival of an anti-abortion bill (that failed during the regular session) which would empower private citizens to sue health providers and manufacturers who mail or prescribe abortion pills to Texans. SB 6: capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/H...

And the walkout has slowed down anti-abortion bills — including a measure that would let private citizens sue health providers and manufacturers for mailing + prescribing abortion medication to Texans

Mistress of aggressively anti-abortion conservative Rep. Giovanni Capriglione alleges that he paid for multiple abortions during their affair, via right-wing outlet, Current Revolt. Capriglione authored the state's abortion trigger ban, which criminalizes care w/ up to life in prison for providers.

Jonathan Mitchell strikes again. A Texas man has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against a California abortion provider for allegedly mailing abortion medication to his girlfriend. Like the Silva case, Mitchell is arguing a violation of the Comstock Act. www.courthousenews.com/texas-man-su...

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has listed "Protecting Unborn Children" –aka further banning abortion access in a state that already criminally bans abortion care – as the sixth highest priority for the state's special legislative session, above water conservation and protecting survivors of human trafficking

We’re proud to welcome to the Observer masthead @candicebernd.bsky.social and @marytuma.bsky.social as special investigative correspondents, joining @stevanzetti.bsky.social as freelance reporters helping us tackle the environment, reproductive rights, & extremism: www.texasobserver.org/home/staff/

TX Republicans have filed a slew of bills further restricting abortion rights this special session, including the revival of a measure to block the flow of abortion pills: capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/H... + a bill that could criminalize anyone who pay for care: capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/891/...

Privacy is an interesting request from an Attorney General who is actively fighting against HIPAA privacy rules in order to access the confidential medical records of Texas abortion patients 🤔 (www.thenation.com/article/soci...)

I’m pretty curious about “recent discoveries” means — in light of the fact that she stood beside him through the criminal indictment/affair/impeachment trial and related media circuses

What ”recent discoveries” could possibly be worse than what she – and we – already know? www.texastribune.org/2025/07/10/a...

There's a reason I was skeptical a month ago... Indeed, Gov. Abbott has included further restricting abortion rights on the agenda for the legislative special session, which begins July 21. Anti-abortion activists hope the Lege will revive and pass a bill meant to halt the flow of abortion pills.

My recap of Texas reproductive rights bills this legislative session for @texasobserver.org: While the most aggressive anti-abortion bill died, abortion advocates aren’t celebrating “We don’t necessarily feel victorious, we just feel relief for now.” www.texasobserver.org/legislature-...

This will be essential reading from two of the best repro rights journalists in the country! Excited for @susanrinkunas.com + @garnethenderson.com and can’t wait to read their incredible reporting! 👏🏼

"We were trying to find her to get her to a hospital" claims Texas cop who used a nationwide license plate database to track down a person who had allegedly self-managed an abortion. I don't even know where to start

When you have HB 2 flashbacks from 2013: While sweeping anti-abortion bill #SB2880 has not been placed on the House calendar for tomorrow and may not be heard, I won't believe it's officially dead until the session is fully over. That means special session(s) too, y'all.

A Texas House committee is hearing a sweeping anti-abortion bill that, among other extreme provisions, would: ->allow citizens to sue websites that sell – or even provide information about – abortion pills ->make it a felony to pay for a Texan's abortion Livestream: house.texas.gov/videos/21915

Sharing in opposition from many Texas reproductive rights advocates right now, abortion care expert and complex family planning specialist @dr-moayedi.bsky.social explains why she's against SB 31/HB 44 @thenation.com: "I can confidently say that this bill will not help me save additional lives."

Update: Echoing concerns one abortion fund leader told me earlier this week, six Texas funds including Lilith, TEA, Frontera, and Fund Texas Choice just announced they “stand united” in opposition to clarifying exceptions bill SB 31 calling it a “fake fix” that could put more Texans “in danger” b/c:

A TX Senate Cmte. also taking up GOP-backed SB 31, meant to clarify medical exceptions in abortion law. Repro rights advocates worry it is a "Trojan Horse" that could be used to prosecute abortion supporters. Watch: senate.texas.gov/videoplayer.... Read more on SB 31 in @texasobserver.org below ⬇️

A Texas Senate Committee is taking up SB 2880, a GOP bill that would stop the flow of out of state medication abortion, by allowing Texans to file civil suit against groups that mail abortion-inducing drugs, among many other extreme provisions. Watch live here: senate.texas.gov/videoplayer....

Too late for many pregnant Texans, Republican lawmakers might finally clarify exceptions to the state’s deadly abortion bans after years of desperate calls to do so—but reproductive rights advocates fear the current bills could also pose a new threat. My latest for @texasobserver.org: