Wednesday, Women's March is leading a protest in Amarillo, Texas to oppose the U.S. The lawsuit filed by Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk in the u.s. district court to revoke the FDA approval of mifepristone, a drug used in medications - abortions. The hearing is set to discuss standing to sue, public interest and potential remedies, which could significantly affect access to the two-drug abortion protocol.
Meanwhile, the Biden administration is struggling to find a qualified candidate to fill the top job at the National Institutes of Health as potential picks have backed out. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) was discharged yesterday from the hospital after a fall last week that resulted in a concussion and he will now be in a inpatient rehabilitation facility for physical therapy.
Gov. & State of California In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom has cancelled a $54 million contract with Walgreens, citing their refusal to expand the distribution of Mifepristone in some states where it might not be legal to do so. After 20 Republican state attorneys general wrote to Walgreens and other pharmacies warning about possible legal consequences, the chain said it would not distribute the medication in those states, resulting in backlash from Democrats and abortion rights supporters. Other pharmacies such as CVS and Rite Aid have also expressed interest in participating in the program, but have not yet specified how they will navigate the varying laws in each state. The Biden administration loosened restrictions on mifepristone recently, allowing ordinary pharmacies to dispense the medication in person and by mail, although pharmacies and their employees remain at risk of criminal and civil liability in red states, raising questions of government economic power.