The Republicans are banning abortion in California

They're doing it in uniquely sinister ways.

A guest post from Michelle Bartlett (Chair, Community Action Fund of PPOSBC) and Amy Luna Capelle, Board Member, Community Action Fund of PPOSBC

Hey, California—guess what? Republicans found a way to ban abortion in blue states, too. They didn’t change the laws, they just skirted the law and killed the funding.

No, they’re not bothering with a federal abortion ban anymore (too hard, too public, too messy before the midterms). The GOP is going full backdoor—quietly defunding Planned Parenthood in the fine print while everyone was distracted by the Epstein files and the Big Ugly Bill in early July. (You know, the one that lets the wealthy write off their new yachts while kicking the poor and working families off Medicaid).

Buried in that disaster was a provision that blocks federal Medicaid reimbursements to Planned Parenthood—not just for abortion, but for ALL services like cancer screenings, STI testing, birth control, well-woman visits, and sexual health education. Yes, all services and yes, every state, including the deep blue, reproductive freedom state, California.

For the Planned Parenthood affiliate here in Orange County, that little “oops” creates a roughly $50 million budget hole (nearly half their revenue!) for non-abortion services. Planned Parenthood is one of the largest providers of reproductive care for low-income women in California — but hey, who needs cancer screenings when you’ve got thoughts and prayers, right?

In Northern California, five centers have already shut their doors. If our health centers close in Orange and San Bernardino Counties that means 125,000 people (65,000 in OC) will lose access to healthcare. That means STI testing, birth control, and abortion care. All because the GOP figured out how to financially starve the nation's reproductive health system, one Medicaid line item at a time. Slow-motion sabotage wrapped in a budget talk.

The kicker? These are the same “states’ rights” fanboys who once promised blue states would be totally “safe” from their Handmaid’s Tale fever dreams to control women’s bodies. Cute. Turns out “states’ rights” really just means “until we can quietly cram every inch of Project 2025 through the back door while you’re busy doom-scrolling.” Surprise!

And what happens when you gut services for Planned Parenthood patients who rely on Medicaid? They turn to emergency rooms already bursting at the seams, or they go without. People get sicker. Wait times will go up. Health insurance costs will rise even more.

Ah yes, the “Christian values” crusaders—where the moral high ground is denying a woman birth control and then watching her die of cervical cancer. Praise be!

You can help. Support our local Planned Parenthood. Call out your representatives who voted for this betrayal … so that would be Young Kim, Darrell Issa, and Ken Calvert.

PS: If you’re wondering why the image topping this post is former New Jersey Nets center Yinka Dare, it’s because this is what the Republicans do very well. Look, over there! It’s Sidney Sweeney! Be mad at her ad, while we’re over here screwing you over in X, Y and Z ways. So … look! It’s Yinka Dare! - Jeff P.