Do crisis pregnancy centers have a First Amendment right to spread unproven claims?
Good morning and welcome to the A.M. Alert!
ARE CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTERS BEING CENSORED?
The conservative Alliance Defending Freedom is taking California Attorney General Rob Bonta to court to defend the right of crisis pregnancy centers to spread the unproven claim that medication-assisted abortions can be reversed.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists states that such claims “are not based in science and do not meet clinical standards.”
Nevertheless, the ADF lawsuit contends that crisis pregnancy centers have a First Amendment right to tell people that such abortions can be reversed.
“Access to information is a hallmark of a free society and is essential to making informed medical choices. But California’s attorney general is silencing pregnancy centers and censoring information about life-saving medical options,” ADF Senior Counsel Caleb Dalton said in a statement.
The lawsuit is filed in the federal U.S. District Court Central District of California.
The ADF lawsuit comes in response to Bonta’s 2023 lawsuit against crisis pregnancy centers that alleges that they engage in false or deceptive advertising. Those legal proceedings are ongoing.
“Bonta’s politically motivated lawsuit threatens other pregnancy centers in the state that have made, or would like to make, similar statements,” according to the ADF.
Reached for comment, Bonta’s office said in an email statement that “the Attorney General is committed to ensuring that Californians have access to accurate, comprehensive information on abortion and other reproductive healthcare services. He looks forward to continuing to fight against fraudulent and misleading claims about abortion pill reversal and to protecting reproductive freedom for all.”
KAMALA HARRIS HAS MIXED FAVORABILITY, SURVEY SAYS
Via David Lightman...
The good news for Kamala Harris — 48% of Americans view her favorably, a higher percentage than most prominent public figures, including Donald Trump, Joe Biden and even Oprah Winfrey.
The not-so-good news: The same percentage views Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, unfavorably.
The latest survey of public sentiment by the Economist/YouGov poll Sept. 21 to 24 found that of the four major top of the ticket candidates, Harris polls best. Trump is seen favorably by 42% and unfavorably by 56%.
Others: Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz, 41% favorable, same percentage unfavorable. GOP nominee JD Vance: 34% favorable, 51% unfavorable. The poll was taken before Tuesday’s vice presidential debate.
Biden was viewed favorably by 40% and unfavorably by 56%.
The big winner, though, was rapper and television personality Snoop Dogg, who’s liked by 64% and disliked by 26%.
Support for Winfrey, who’s backing Harris, was split–46% favorable, 47% not.
Harris did less well, though, than NATO and the United Nations, which were seen favorably by 54% and 53% respectively.
Worst performer? Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Eight percent saw him favorably. 80% didn’t.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“This victory belongs to the workers who spoke passionately about the grueling work and the impact on patients when workers cover two or three jobs, whether on short-staffed nursing home floors, in hospital operating rooms, or at the front desks and phone lines of community clinics.”
- Sen. Maria Elena Durazo, D-Long Beach, discussing the $25 health care worker minimum wage going into effect Oct. 16.
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This story was originally published October 3, 2024 at 4:55 AM with the headline "Do crisis pregnancy centers have a First Amendment right to spread unproven claims?."