Deep in The Heart of Gilead

Cartoon for @TorontoStar #margaretatwood #TheHandmaidsTale #handmaidstale #TexasTaliban #TexasAbortionLaw pic.twitter.com/MiIvCLKWox

— Michael de Adder (@deAdder) September 3, 2021

Perhaps I should start at the beginning.

A new Texas abortion law allows private citizens to sue abortion providers and anyone else who helps a woman obtain an abortion — including those who give a woman a ride to a clinic or provide financial assistance in obtaining an abortion. https://t.co/P4HpA4XY0X

— NPR Politics (@nprpolitics) September 2, 2021

🚨 “The Supreme Court refused just before midnight on Wednesday to block a Texas law prohibiting most abortions, less than a day after it took effect and became the most restrictive abortion measure in the nation.” https://t.co/EgbjpOBkCW #BansOffOurBodies #SCOTUS

— NARAL (@NARAL) September 2, 2021

Meanwhile…

As the abortion ban goes into effect, Texas leaders are poised to double down w/ separate restrictions on abortion-inducing medications. #txlege https://t.co/ln9Z0sQ8Da via @19thnews

— Alana Rocha (@viaAlana) September 2, 2021

When life imitates art. #txlege pic.twitter.com/CZ1wNCVv7Z

— Shell_Seas (@LivingBlueTX) September 2, 2021

I hate to burst Michelle's bubble, but electing more Democrats is simply not going to fix this problem, especially now that it's metastized to this point.

The GOP has spent years...trying to force a far-right ideology on a public that keeps rejecting it at the ballot box.

The "soft" overturn of Roe v. Wade exposes how far-right John Roberts has let the Supreme Court go https://t.co/eicP1SfrFu

— Holland Taylor (@HollandTaylor) September 1, 2021

And here is where it all went off the rails for orthodox Democrats.

folks, gives me no pleasure to announce that celeb shitlibs are back on their bullshit pic.twitter.com/TXF4T2yd17

— beth, an alien 👽 (@bourgeoisalien) September 2, 2021

In 2016 I warned that this kind of rhetoric does nothing to budge voters.

I was right.

If Democrats want a different outcome, they should 1) run better candidates, & 2) critique aging liberal justices who hubristically refuse to step down before it's too late. https://t.co/xgPN4rWnTf

— Briahna Joy Gray (@briebriejoy) September 1, 2021

It’s Liberal twitter’s greatest hits on the trends today.

Featuring Ralph Nader tanked Al Gore, Jill Stein Loves Putin, and Bernie Sanders Ruins Everything.

It also features bonus tracks like We can push Biden left and Get Ready to blame the everyone else when we lose in 22.

— BERSERK (@srslyberserk) September 1, 2021

This is what you voted for, so I'll hear zero complaints from you today or any other day.

Hillary Clinton: I Could Compromise (with Republicans) on Abortion If It Included Exceptions For Mother's Healthhttps://t.co/mkWAcciel5

— JillKlausen (@_AbolishPolice_) September 2, 2021

Democrats have been screaming and crying about Ralph Nader and Jill Stein for 20+ years yet they STILL refuse to simply pass #RankedChoiceVoting and solve the “spoiler” problem. Democrats: you are in power. Pass Ranked Choice Voting now or you don’t get to complain ever again. https://t.co/FJY4A05VNu

— Dave Schwab 🌻 (@FreeDaveSchwab) September 1, 2021

Libs are having a completely normal one I see. Years after, they still can't look inward to figure things out. In a way I want to feel sorry for them but I also want laugh for a long time. pic.twitter.com/qrfyySrOdG

— Leftward Swing🌹🌻🏴‍☠️⛑️🍕 (@LeftwardSwing) September 1, 2021

I finally got so sick of arguing with the vote blue no matter who liberals, I started looking them dead in the eye, and telling them with all seriousness to stop splitting the green vote

— holdens-rhm (@jonna_love85) September 1, 2021

The year is 2021, if you have the time to relitigate the 2016 election instead of focusing your energy on #ClimateCrisis #VotingRights and #HumanRights . . . YOU ARE NOT PART OF THE SOLUTION.

Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk Wednesday.

— Sema (@_SemaHernandez_) September 1, 2021

I just wish they could focus on their real enemies.

Now that Brett Kavanaugh just voted to virtually end Roe v. Wade, here are all of the times that Susan Collins said Brett Kavanaugh won’t overturn Roe v. Wade. pic.twitter.com/ShHiEn7Hcm

— No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen (@NoLieWithBTC) September 2, 2021

.@ATT is the top corporate donor to the #TXLege co-authors of the #RoeVWade ban https://t.co/NeWQAG4AQL #CancelATT #BansOffOurBodies

— Forever in debt to your priceless advice. (@PDiddie) September 2, 2021

1. The chief sponsor of Texas' draconian abortion ban, which the SCOTUS left in place, is @SenBryanHughes.

Here are some of Hughes corporate donors over the last 3 years:@ATT (17.5K)@GetSpectrum (17.5K)@WeAreFarmers (10K)@Comcast (5.5K)@CVSHealth (4K)@Deloitte (3K)

— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) September 2, 2021

at six weeks gestation, you still have an embryo. it's not considered a fetus until 8 weeks.

the heart doesn't develop until 9 weeks.

and @ShelbySlawson is not a doctor so she shouldn't be messing in TX women's healthcare. #BringBackSheffield #txlege https://t.co/NWi8bdBPRU

— Sine Big Pants Report (@WithoutReports) September 2, 2021

I remember just like it was 13 days ago when Gov. Abbott received Regeneron, a treatment developed with fetal stem cells coming from abortions.

— Iso (@Weber91870260) September 1, 2021

The topic is so tired but shitlibs are so stupid.  I can never again be in a political party full of people completely unwilling to own their failures, and worse, do absolutely nothing about them.

It makes no sense to keep yelling that the 2016 election is responsible for all our woes as we watch Democrats have complete control of govt & use the filibuster as an excuse to not pass the most vital legislation.

— Vaccinated💉Masked😷Praying for the World🙏🏾✝️ (@BreeNewsome) September 1, 2021

This just has to be said over and over again: Democrats have the power right now to do something about the Texas abortion ban, and every other far-right power grab. They are not helpless bystanders. https://t.co/gGQoC4Hh4W

— Jack Mirkinson (@jackmirkinson) September 1, 2021

Joe Biden can restore constitutional rights to women in Texas, b/c the conservatives' clever plan to evade constitutional review can be flummoxed by Federal Privacy Providers.
If Biden has the guts to defend women's rights, that is.
My latest in @thenationhttps://t.co/urkZfn2fv1

— Elie Mystal (@ElieNYC) September 2, 2021

As the @TexasGOP advanced #SB8, DC Democrats stalled #RoeVWade protections in a committee https://t.co/0vxOoVUhOq #TXLege

— Forever in debt to your priceless advice. (@PDiddie) September 2, 2021

48 Democratic senators have signed onto this bill. The only holdouts: Joe Manchin and Bob Casey https://t.co/CHapZSQOCd

— Andrew Perez (@andrewperezdc) September 2, 2021

Let me be fair; there are lots of people ready to make good trouble and break this law.

Lots of women are going to need support starting tomorrow onward. (The new law bans all abortion once fetal cardiac activity is detected (about 6 weeks along). Thanks to @sovietcyka for being a helping hand. https://t.co/u8Aet6rwr8

— Puro Pinche is Fully Vaxxed 💉 (@PuroPincheSA) September 1, 2021

I will buy your plane ticket out of Texas, pick you up from the airport and give you a place to stay in my home to recover if you are in need of an abortion.

— 🌽🌽 Erica, The White Trash Socialist 🌽🌽™️ (@herosnvrdie69) September 1, 2021

Starting tomorrow, I am officially in the business of defend folks sued for having or providing an abortion. If you’ve been sued by some busybody, it’s time to call me.

— Sabretooth Nietzsche (@FeralNietzsche) September 1, 2021

Life Update:

Today, I, a recovering Catholic living in Texas, have once again found religion @satanic_temple_ 🤘

Thanks @TexasGOP @GovAbbott @KenPaxtonTX @DanPatrick! #txlege #christofascism #AbortionBan #AbortionIsHealthcare #religiousliberty #TST https://t.co/e0SEC7TA2q pic.twitter.com/uYPeRGLwoW

— M. (@mollyiscontent) September 3, 2021

And on that note, I'll wrap here with the cartoons.

pic.twitter.com/NWXiuXW7sy

— chris britt (@chrisbritt01) September 2, 2021

#TexasGOP pic.twitter.com/6idhxj4j7r

— Jo🏳️‍🌈🌒🌕🌘🏳️‍⚧️ (@Jo_IsABitch) September 1, 2021

Gov. Abbott, AG Paxton, Lt. Gov. Patrick, Sen. Ted Cruz, et al. (4) pic.twitter.com/Bgwqvyxng0

— TX Kids Can’t Wait (@TXKidsCantWait) September 2, 2021

Today’s syndicate cartoon. #texas #roevswade #TexasAbortionBan #WomensHealth @AprilDRyan @jimmykimmel @Acosta @laloalcaraz @MaggieJordanACN @1mimi4ever @ElayneBoosler @Yamiche @co_rapunzel4 pic.twitter.com/xRHh7nHQJH

— Ed Hall (@halltoons) September 1, 2021

To: Texas GOP From: Texas Women Voters #TexasDeservesBetter #FireAbbottSaveTexas pic.twitter.com/UuCgxJMd9y

— PatrickTheMexicanCat (@MiaoPatrick) September 2, 2021

#TexasTaliban #TexasHatesWomen #TexasDeservesBetter #TexasShariaLaw #GregAbbottHatesWomen#GregAbbott #Texas#RoeVWade #Privacy pic.twitter.com/40gXw24Iib

— Rev. Louis Cifer PhD (@Lu666Cifer) September 2, 2021

“Under His Eye” = “The Eyes of Texas” pic.twitter.com/xD9PNoEeNF

— Pat Bagley (@Patbagley) September 1, 2021

The Sine MF'n Die Wrangle from Far Left Texas

The Quorum, by @Nick_Anderson_ https://t.co/AvuAAJ29D1 #TXLege #TexasDeservesBetter

— Forever in debt to your priceless advice. (@PDiddie) September 1, 2021

Iterum #sinedie sed revertentur

Translation: again without day, but they’ll be back

In lay terms: #txlege stands adjourned [for now]https://t.co/qmK3kenBk2

— Alana Rocha (@viaAlana) September 3, 2021

The carnage will continue -- redistricting lies ahead -- sometime after the long weekend, subject to Governor Helen Wheels' next summons.

.@DanPatrick calls on @GovAbbott to give the Legislature another shot at passing a bill that would restrict which teams transgender student athletes could join, one of the few conservative priorities that didn’t make it across the finish line this session. #txlege pic.twitter.com/0WfwJmCPnn

— Jasper Scherer (@jaspscherer) September 3, 2021

And TXElects, with a spot of good news (subject to the call in the third special session).

SB 97 by Sen. Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) would have required various “audits” and “reviews” of, and “explanations” from, county election officials. It passed the Senate today on a 17-14 vote but did not make it over to the House for further action. At least one Republican voted against it.

It's apropos that statehouse Dems managed to screw up one last time before the end came.

On critical race theory, there appeared to be a sustainable point of order but Democrats were divided amongst themselves about whether to try to kill it and win the day or surrender and at least temporarily end the punishment of this cruel summer https://t.co/80ZOJObiZh #TxLege

— Scott Braddock (@scottbraddock) September 3, 2021

Recriminations both accurately and falsely ascribed with respect to the origins of SB8 are still circulating, so I'll post that separately.  Let's survey the rest of the damage left behind by Hurricane IDontGiveaDamn, aka the Texas GOP.

ICYMI ...

These 16 Texas laws went into effect today https://t.co/AUr92DWvuu

— Houston Chronicle (@HoustonChron) September 2, 2021

House Bill 1925 makes camping in an unapproved public place a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $500. https://t.co/r2tJh121Tg

— FOX 4 NEWS (@FOX4) September 2, 2021

One law going into effect bans government contracts with companies that “discriminate against the firearm or ammunition industries,” while another effectively makes gun stores essential businesses that can't be shut down in a disaster. | via @keranews https://t.co/JRoebqaurS

— KUT Austin (@KUT) September 1, 2021

#HB3979 goes into effect today, just as the #txlege Senate brings #SB3 to the floor tomorrow.
These bills attempt to hide our children from the truth of history and will harm the future of Texas. #StopSB3https://t.co/b9qVAgteN8

— IDRAEdPolicyFellows (@IDRAeduFellows) September 1, 2021

Why all the legislative gymnastics to pass another bill on critical race theory? It probably has something to do with the Chairman of a group that put at least $11 million into defending the GOP majority making it a personal mission to ban CRT https://t.co/1HpFacPTjb #txlege

— Scott Braddock (@scottbraddock) September 1, 2021

And the bail reform bill got a lot of concerned attention from the people whose opinions I respect on criminal justice issues.

This article uses the phrase "bail reform" in the wake of the Legislature passing new restrictions on pretrial release for poor people, but once again, the bill passed at the #txlege wouldn't affect this case. At all. The whole frame is misleading. https://t.co/HYKfym3A3S

— Grits for Breakfast (@Grits4Breakfast) August 31, 2021

Harris County isn’t giving defense attorneys body cam footage for 6 months, yet the #txlege wants to make it harder for people to make bail. Innocent people will be in jail for 1/2 year because attorneys don’t have access to evidence. That is not justice. https://t.co/UjcGGFgISy

— Elsa Alcala (@TexasElsa) August 28, 2021

Ross Ramsey of the TexTrib and Matt Davies of Newsday, in cartoon form, provide the summary of the week's events.

https://t.co/AbvotV7qZk pic.twitter.com/JkBZcWNt4g

— Matt Davies (@MatttDavies) September 1, 2021

Here in Texas, it’s now legal to carry a gun with no license or training and enforcement of anti-abortion laws has been crowdsourced to citizen bounty hunters who can get up to $10k for turning in anyone they catch helping women obtain abortions. #txlege https://t.co/iJ5pDplp5D

— Ross Ramsey (@rossramsey) September 2, 2021

I'll also address the coming redistricting fight already under way in a forthcoming post.  Lots more ahead, so I'll close with some laugh-to-keep-from-crying.

New law requires Texans to have counseling, 24-hour waiting period before being allowed to vote https://t.co/L6uRnkD7wT #TXLege

— Forever in debt to your priceless advice. (@PDiddie) September 2, 2021

https://t.co/MMLMwbQU9i pic.twitter.com/5HdeZX0MX7

— Ken Klippenstein (@kenklippenstein) September 1, 2021

Abortions and BBQ https://t.co/UwXVbnHG3T

— Clay Jones (@claytoonz) September 3, 2021