Life Advocacy Briefing

Question of the Week

WHY WOULD A DEMONSTRATED COMMITMENT to the first freedom embraced in our Declaration of Independence – the right to Life – be a sticking point for any US Senator in the confirmation of federal judges?

What Is Rep. Fitzpatrick Up To?

SUSAN B. ANTHONY PRO-LIFE AMERICA HAS RAISED AN ALARM about an effort by Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) to discharge for a vote his petition, reports Benjamin Guggenheim of Politico, to “compel a vote on his legislation that would extend a modified version of Affordable Care Act [ObamaCare] subsidies – upping the stakes of a push by GOP moderates to make an end run around leadership on the issue. … Fitzpatrick was joined by two Democratic and six Republican lawmakers in paving the way for such a vote, saying he expects to get the requisite 218 signatures to move forward.”

If he gets them, it will be primarily from the Democratic side of the aisle, as Rep. Fitzpatrick appears to be pressing for the Democrats’ demand for extending ObamaCare without reforms; that would mean continuing to pay for abortions under the massive government welfare program.

“‘Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America has vigorously opposed any Obamacare subsidy funding without Hyde protections,’ said SBA Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser in the letter sent to lawmakers Wednesday,” quoted by Mr. Guggenheim. “‘Since Discharge Petition No. 12 would force a vote on HR-6501, a health care plan entirely unprotected by Hyde, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America strongly opposes and will score against this discharge petition.’”

In SBA’s own news release, issued Dec. 11, Mrs. Dannenfelser said, “‘Sen. [Charles] Schumer is aggressively driving an effort to force taxpayers to fund abortion by pushing an extension of ObamaCare subsidies without Hyde protections. His plan would lock in years of taxpayer-funded abortion. We’re grateful to [Senate Majority] Leader [John] Thune and Senate allies for standing firm and offering an alternative in the Cassidy-Crapo plan that includes strong Hyde protections.

“As the debate continues in the House,” declares SBA in its release, “we reiterate our strong opposition to any plan – Republican or Democrat – that lacks Hyde protections. We’re thankful to Speaker [Mike] Johnson, Leader [Steve] Scalise, Whip [Tom] Emmer, and Chairwoman [Lisa] McClain for their leadership in standing strong against taxpayer-funded abortion. The Republican majority must stand united together to win on health care.”

The release continued: “The pro-life movement has been unequivocal: No Hyde, no deal. Any vote to extend ObamaCare subsidies without Hyde is a vote for abortion funding – a continuation of the Obama-Biden assault on unborn children and their mothers. This is a bright red line. … Failing to protect the most vulnerable is a nonstarter.”

SBA also cited an October letter joined in by 100 pro-life groups “urging [Congressional] lawmakers to stop taxpayer funding of abortion through ObamaCare.”

All these years, many – if not most – pro-life citizens have believed they were protected by the Hyde Amendment. But the annually adopted amendment applies to welfare spending and not to government underwriting of health insurance under ObamaCare.

The Hyde Amendment must be legislated into permanent law – rather than needing annual renewal, as now – and its principle must be applied across the vast array of government spending schemes.

Senate Adding Judges

THE SENATE CONTINUES TO CONFIRM FEDERAL JUDGES, several of whom are opposed for confirmation by left-wing outfits like Alliance for Justice. We are publishing roll calls on those nominees who have demonstrated a commitment to the right to life, as complained of by this or other pro-abortion groups, recognizing that those Senators who have resisted lobbying pressure on these nominations should be acknowledged and believing that the votes of those who opposed such nominees should be reported as well. Readers will find a pair of such roll calls at the close of this edition.

In the case of Judge Susan Rodriguez, the Alliance for Justice had complained: “Rodriguez’s leadership role on the board of Mira Via underscores her alignment with organizations that oppose reproductive rights. Mira Via explicitly affirms life ‘from the moment of conception,’ situating Rodriguez firmly within the anti-abortion movement. Her long membership in the Federalist Society and Republican National Lawyers Assn. further underscores her alignment with conservative legal networks committed to rolling back reproductive freedom, LGBTQ+ rights and other substantive constitutional protections [sic].” She was confirmed 57 to 32.

As for Judge David Bragdon, the Alliance for Justice complained to Senators: “Bragdon’s contempt for women’s autonomy could not be clearer. In his writings, he equates abortion to killing an unwanted neighbor, stating, ‘It would be in my pursuit of happiness to kill the neighbor.’ He further opines that women ‘must face the consequences’ of unintended pregnancy and should be denied access to abortion. Such radical views signal outright hostility toward reproductive health care and, armed with the power of the federal bench, could strip women of agency and treat reproductive freedom as a moral failing that must be punished. Bragdon’s outdated and misogynistic perspective further foreshadows additional harm to contraception access and gender equality more broadly.” His confirmation vote: 53 to 45.

We appreciate the apparent continued effort of the Trump Administration to appoint on-the-record pro-life attorneys to federal judgeships, as occurred in the first Trump Presidency. The abortion issue does not appear to be a factor in every appointment, but it is clear to us that when it is, judicial prospects who have embraced the American principle of the right to life is a “plus” for the current White House, in sharp contrast to the Administration of the previous four years. And our readers should know about those Senators who vote for them, regardless of their actual reason for doing so. (Some of the votes for Judge Rodriguez will be surprising, but credit should be given where due.)

Changing Landscape

PLANNED PARENTHOOD APPEARS TO BE IN A STATE OF FLUX. Nearly 50 of its shops “have been forced to close this year,” reports Nicole Hunt for Focus on the Family’s Daily Citizen, “due to the valiant efforts made at the federal level to defund Big Abortion organizations, including an end to federal funding streams such as Title X [Ten] [“family planning”] grants and Medicaid reimbursements. Planned Parenthood estimates as many as 200 of its clinics could close if funding losses persist.”

But before we shoot off firecrackers and pop the champagne corks, pro-life citizens need to take note of the changing landscape of the abortion industry. Abortion is as legal as ever in many of our states and even enshrined in certain states’ constitutions.

The killing of preborn children is shifting, practically speaking, from the so-called clinic to the medicine chest, with abortion drugs delivered by mail even into states where abortion is illegal. The new approach is less costly and just as deadly as surgical abortions, and it solves the problem of a decline in medical students being willing to pursue such a shameful career.

One state, Texas, is leading the way in seeking to choke off even that source of baby killing business.

HB-7, which became effective Dec. 4 after being signed by Gov. Greg Abbott (R), “outlaws the manufacturing or distribution of abortion drugs in Texas,” reports Ray Hilbrich for LifeSiteNews. The new law “also targets organizations,” he notes, “that help women obtain abortion pills through the mail, making them liable for private civil lawsuits with fines reaching up to $100,000 per violation.

“Texas Right to Life celebrated the end of abortion pill trafficking,” writes Mr. Hilbrich, and the group “‘looks to copy our success across the nation to rescue babies, help mothers and end the abortion industry’s criminal network.’”

A Win, for Now

ALMOST BEFORE THE INK WAS DRY, an order by Judge Indira Talwani to force the Trump Administration to keep funding abortion purveyors, including Planned Parenthood, has been blocked by a panel of judges on the 1^st Circuit Court of Appeals, which on Dec. 8 stayed the Talwani ruling of Dec. 2.

That ill-conceived ruling was a preliminary injunction ordering the federal government to keep sending tax dollars to Planned Parenthood in 23 states, reports Zachary Mettler for Focus on the Family’s Daily Citizen. The plaintiff states were led by New York Attorney General Letitia James, “seeking to prevent enforcement,” explains Mr. Mettler, “of Sec. 71113 of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act which Congress passed and the President signed into law on July 4. The challenged provision,” he writes, “prohibits federal Medicaid dollars from going to any ‘prohibited entity’ that provides abortion and received over $800,000 in Medicaid funding in 2023,” disqualifying Planned Parenthood from funding. The provision, Mr. Mettler notes, “lasts for one year,” just like the Hyde Amendment, which blocks funding for abortion but does not prohibit funding abortion outfits for other purposes. 

Following the Talwani ruling, notes Mr. Mettler, “the Trump Administration promptly appealed to the 1^st Circuit [Court of Appeals], requesting a stay pending appeal and an immediate extension of the administrative stay. The Administration reminded the appeals court that Judge Talwani had originally blocked the defunding of Planned Parenthood in every state in a separate lawsuit filed by the abortion giant, before the 1^st Circuit stayed that ruling.” It appears Judge Talwani has a problem with the 1^st Circuit – or the other way around.

“‘Undaunted, the same district court has again enjoined enforcement’” of the provision barring funding of abortionists, noted the Administration filing, according to Mr. Mettler. “‘Defendants respectfully request a stay pending appeal and an immediate extension of the administrative stay to prevent any interruption in the applicability of a duly enacted Act of Congress that this [Appellate] Court has already once acted to leave in effect.’ …

“The [appellate court] decision was made by three judges on the 1^st Circuit,” notes Mr. Mettler, “including Chief Judge David Barron, a nominee of former President Barack Obama, and Judges Gustavo Gelpi and Lara Montecalvo, both nominees of former President Joe Biden.” Who knew? Apparently, some judges are capable of putting law before ideology.

Stop Lying!

IN A MOVE WHICH WILL LIKELY HELP EDUCATE AN ILL-INFORMED PUBLIC, the attorney general of Florida has filed suit against Planned Parenthood, reports Nicole Hunt for Focus on the Family’s Daily Citizen, “for falsely advertising chemical abortion as ‘safer than Tylenol.’ The lawsuit alleges Planned Parenthood promoted this claim to sell abortion-inducing drugs, like mifepristone, while downplaying the potential risks for women.” Not to mention the near-universal risk for unborn babies. “The state contends this deceptive advertising violates state consumer protection and racketeering laws,” writes Ms. Hunt. The suit seeks statutory penalties of $350 million.

Wisdom from the Great Communicator

EXCERPT #31 from Abortion & the Conscience of the Nation, 1983 treatise by then-President Ronald Reagan, published in Human Life Review, then as a hardcover book from Thomas Nelson Publishers; we re-publish this excerpt, corrected, as we erred in its presentation last week. We apologize to our readers and to the Gipper!

The Adolescent Family Life Program, adopted by Congress at the request of Senator Jeremiah Denton, has opened new opportunities for unwed mothers to give their children life. We should not rest until our entire society echoes the tone of John Powell in the dedication of his book, Abortion: the Silent Holocaust, a dedication to every woman carrying an unwanted child: “Please believe that you are not alone. There are many of us that truly love you, who want to stand at your side, and help in any way we can.” And we can echo the always-practical woman of faith, Mother Teresa, when she says, “If you don’t want the little child, that unborn child, give him to me.” We have so many families in America seeking to adopt children that the slogan “every child a wanted child” is now the emptiest of all reasons to tolerate abortion.

Senate Voting Records

Cloture on nomination of David A. Bragdon as District Judge (Middle N. Carolina) – Passed – 50-41 – Dec. 1, 2025 (Democrats in italics; “Independents” marked “I”)

Voting “yes” / pro-Life: Britt & Tuberville/AL, Murkowski & Sullivan/AK, Boozman & Cotton/AR, Moody & Scott/FL, Crapo/ID, Banks & Young/IN, Ernst & Grassley/IA, Marshall & Moran/KS, Paul/KY, Cassidy & Kennedy/LA, Collins/ME, Hyde-Smith & Wicker/MS, Hawley & Schmitt/MO, Daines & Sheehy/MT, Fischer & Ricketts/NE, Budd & Tillis/NC, Cramer & Hoeven/ND, Husted & Moreno/OH, Lankford & Mullin/OK, McCormick/PA, Graham & Scott/SC, Rounds & Thune/SD, Blackburn & Hagerty/TN, Cornyn & Cruz/TX, Lee/UT, Capito & Justice/WV, Johnson/WI, Barrasso & Lummis/WY.

Voting “no” / anti-Life: Kelly/AZ, Padilla/CA, Bennet & Hickenlooper/CO, Blumenthal & Murphy/CT, Blunt-Rochester & Coons/DE, Ossoff/GA, Hirono & Schatz/HI, Duckworth & Durbin/IL, King(I)/ME, Alsobrooks & VanHollen/MD, Markey & Warren/MA, Peters & Slotkin/MI, Klobuchar & Smith/MN, Cortez–Masto & Rosen/NV, Hassan & Shaheen/NH, Booker/NJ, Heinrich & Lujan/NM, Gillibrand & Schumer/NY, Merkley & Wyden/OR, Reed & Whitehouse/RI, Welch/VT, Kaine & Warner/VA, Cantwell & Murray/WA, Baldwin/WI.

Not voting: Gallego/AZ, Schiff/CA, Warnock/GA, Risch/ID, McConnell/KY, Kim/NJ, Fetterman/PA, Curtis/UT, Sanders(I)/VT.

Confirmation of David A. Bragdon as District Judge (Middle N. Carolina) – Passed – 53-45 – Dec. 2, 2025 (Democrats in italics; “Independents” marked “I”)

Voting “yes” / pro-Life: Britt & Tuberville/AL, Murkowski & Sullivan/AK, Boozman & Cotton/AR, Moody & Scott/FL, Crapo & Risch/ID, Banks & Young/IN, Ernst & Grassley/IA, Marshall & Moran/KS, McConnell & Paul/KY, Cassidy & Kennedy/LA, Collins/ME, Hyde-Smith & Wicker/MS, Hawley & Schmitt/MO, Daines & Sheehy/MT, Fischer & Ricketts/NE, Budd & Tillis/NC, Cramer & Hoeven/ND, Husted & Moreno/OH, Lankford & Mullin/OK, McCormick/PA, Graham & Scott/SC, Rounds & Thune/SD, Blackburn & Hagerty/TN, Cornyn & Cruz/TX, Curtis & Lee/UT, Capito & Justice/WV, Johnson/WI, Barrasso & Lummis/WY.

Voting “no” / anti-Life: Gallego & Kelly/AZ, Padilla & Schiff/CA, Bennet & Hickenlooper/CO, Blumenthal & Murphy/CT, Blunt-Rochester & Coons/DE, Ossoff & Warnock/GA, Hirono & Schatz/HI, Durbin/IL, King(I)/ME, Alsobrooks & VanHollen/MD, Markey & Warren/MA, Peters & Slotkin/MI, Klobuchar & Smith/MN, Cortez–Masto & Rosen/NV, Hassan & Shaheen/NH, Booker & Kim/NJ, Heinrich & Lujan/NM, Gillibrand & Schumer/NY, Merkley & Wyden/OR, Reed & Whitehouse/RI, Sanders(I) & Welch/VT, Kaine & Warner/VA, Cantwell & Murray/WA, Baldwin/WI.

Not voting: Duckworth/IL & Fetterman/PA.

Cloture on nomination of Susan Courtwright Rodriguez as District Judge (Western N. Carolina) – Passed 63-34 – Dec. 3, 2025 (Democrats in italics; “Independents” marked “I”)

Voting “yes” / pro-Life: Britt & Tuberville/AL, Murkowski & Sullivan/AK, Gallego & Kelly/AZ, Boozman & Cotton/AR, Moody & Scott/FL, Hirono/HI, Crapo & Risch/ID, Durbin/IL, Banks & Young/IN, Ernst & Grassley/IA, Marshall & Moran/KS, Paul/KY, Cassidy & Kennedy/LA, Collins & King(I)/ME, Klobuchar/MN, Hyde-Smith & Wicker/MS, Hawley & Schmidt/MO, Daines & Sheehy/MT, Fischer & Ricketts/NE, Rosen/NV, Hassan/NH, Budd & Tillis/NC, Cramer & Hoeven/ND, Husted & Moreno/OH, Lankford & Mullin/OK, McCormick/PA, Reed & Whitehouse/RI, Graham & Scott/SC, Rounds & Thune/SD, Blackburn & Hagerty/TN, Cornyn & Cruz/TX, Curtis & Lee/UT, Kaine/VA, Capito & Justice/WV, Johnson/WI, Barrasso & Lummis/WY.

Voting “no” / anti-Life: Padilla & Schiff/CA, Bennet & Hickenlooper/CO, Blumenthal & Murphy/CT, Blunt-Rochester/DE, Ossoff & Warnock/GA, Schatz/HI, Duckworth/IL, Alsobrooks & VanHollen/MD, Markey & Warren/MA, Peters & Slotkin/MI, Smith/MN, Cortez–Masto/NV, Booker & Kim/NJ, Heinrich & Lujan/NM, Gillibrand & Schumer/NY, Merkley & Wyden/OR, Fetterman/PA, Sanders(I) & Welch/VT, Warner/VA, Cantwell & Murray/WA, Baldwin/WI.

Not voting: Coons/DE, McConnell/KY, Shaheen/NH.

Confirmation of Susan Courtwright Rodriguez as District Judge (Western N. Carolina) – Passed 57-32 – Dec. 4, 2025 (Democrats in italics; “Independents” marked “I”)

Voting “yes” / pro-Life: Britt/AL, Murkowski & Sullivan/AK, Gallego & Kelly/AZ, Boozman & Cotton/AR, Coons/DE, Scott/FL, Hirono/HI, Crapo & Risch/ID, Durbin/IL, Banks & Young/IN, Ernst & Grassley/IA, Marshall/KS, McConnell & Paul/KY, Cassidy/LA, Collins & King(I)/ME, Klobuchar/MN, Wicker/MS, Hawley & Schmitt/MO, Sheehy/MT, Fischer & Ricketts/NE, Rosen/NV, Hassan/NH, Budd & Tillis/NC, Cramer & Hoeven/ND, Husted & Moreno/OH, Lankford & Mullin/OK, McCormick/PA, Reed/RI, Scott/SC, Rounds & Thune/SD, Blackburn & Hagerty/TN, Cornyn & Cruz/TX, Curtis & Lee/UT, Kaine/VA, Capito & Justice/WV, Johnson/WI, Barrasso & Lummis/WY.

Voting “no” / anti-Life: Padilla/CA, Bennet & Hickenlooper/CO, Blumenthal/CT, Blunt-Rochester/DE, Ossoff & Warnock/GA, Schatz/HI, Duckworth/IL, Alsobrooks & VanHollen/MD, Markey & Warren/MA, Peters & Slotkin/MI, Smith/MN, Cortez–Masto/NV, Booker & Kim/NJ, Heinrich & Lujan/NM, Gillibrand & Schumer/NY, Merkley & Wyden/OR, Fetterman/PA, Sanders(I) & Welch/VT, Warner/VA, Cantwell & Murray/WA, Baldwin/WI.

Not voting: Tuberville/AL, Schiff/CA, Murphy/CT, Moody/FL, Moran/KS, Kennedy/LA, Hyde-Smith/MS, Daines/MT, Shaheen/NH, Whitehouse/RI, Graham/SC.