kate cox, who is 20 weeks pregnant, so their unborn baby has a fatal genetic defect that could jeopardize your health and her chances to conceive again if she carried to term. let's get the details now from cnn senior national correspondent ed lavandera. so ed, this is a really significant ruling from the court. >> reporter: it is, and this has been one of the first cases where you have seen a challenge to the strict abortion laws that have gone into effect in many parts across the country since the end of roe v. wade by the u.s. supreme court last year. and in this case, 31-year-old kate cox, who is 20 weeks pregnant, was essentially asking a judge in austin, texas for permission to get an abortion in light of the strict abortion ban that exists here in the state. as you mentioned, she was told end of november that her baby's -- suffers from a genetic disorder that is essentially fatal. it will either die in the womb or only live for a few hours or a couple of days after the child is born. because of that, kate cox and her attorneys argued before a judge that they feared for her life dow

. >> reporter: a texas judge ruling in favor of kate cox, who asked the court for an abortion in a state that doesn't allow them and threatens to prosecute anyone who helps women get them. >> the idea that ms. cox wants desperately to be a parent and this law might actually cause her to lose that ability is shocking. >> reporter: cox, who teared up at the hearing, is 20 weeks pregnant with a fetus that has a fatal genetic abnormality. the state filed tuesday also states giving birth could affect the dallas woman's ability to have more children. the emergency order applies only to the 31-year-old mother of two and ensures her doctor will not face penalties. >> this case proves that abortion is essential, lifesaving health care, and the judge recognized that immediately. >> reporter: texas has one of the nation's most restrictive abortion laws. a near total ban on the procedure. >> what the judge did today will create more confusion and ultimately more harm, and that's what we're concerned about. >> reporter: for her part, cox in a newspaper op-ed this week wrote, i do not want to continue

. >> reporter: a texas judge ruling in favor of kate cox, who asked the court for an abortion. hat doesn't allow them and threatens to prosecute anyone who helps women get them. >> the idea that ms. cox wants desperately to be a parent and this law might actually cause her to lose that ability is shocking. >> reporter: cox, who teared up at the hearing is 20 weeks pregnant with it fetus that hasn't fatal genetic abnor abnormality. the emergency order applies only to the 31-year-old mother of two. ensures her doctor will not face penalties. >> this case proves that abortion is essential life-saving health care and the judge recognized that immediately. >> reporter: texas has one of the most restrictive abortion laws, near total ban on the procedure. >> what the judge did today will create more confusion and ultimately more harm. that's what we are concerned about. >> reporter: for her part, cox, and the op-ed wrote "i do not want to continue the pain and suffering that has plagued this pregnancy," adding "i do not want my baby to arrive in this world only to watch her suffer." th

kate cox and the thousands. if not more, kate cox's apart from this country the same thing. >> people have to understand that kid cox is not an anomaly. it is not someone whoht they could come forward and have their story shared and bring a lawsuit, there are hundreds of kate cox's in every single state with an abortion ban. we are just going to see more coming forward as well. i do feel like this is why i have so much respect for kate cox for putting her story out there. it is such a personal, vulnerable thing. she is making it possible for more people to come forward, and share those stories, and feel like, you know, maybe i could bring that lawsuit as well. >> mifepristone is another example to me of this sort of grasping nature of a desire for total and complete national control. because when we were talking about medication abortion, you are talking about some of the earliest abortions that were happening. you would think that if there is this, oh, they just don't like it, they will come for that. and then it will be for the supreme court. and i'm sure that you do as well. >> i have a lump in my throat about it. >> abortion medication is used in over

cox to obtain the procedure, but texas' attorney general, ken paxton, asked the state's high court for an emergency stay. he has also threatened to prosecute anyone who helps facilitate the procedure. earlier kate cox's attorney spoke to cnn about what the next options are medically. take a listen. >> well, i think what attorney general paxton's activity over the last day shows is that the medical exceptions to texas' abortion bans never really existed in practice because what we have here is a set of doctors and a real patient, this is a real person going through a heartbreaking situation now with her family, where not only is she suffering the loss of a pregnancy, but she is dealing with the real implications for her health and her future fertility, and her doctor says the care you need is an abortion. the attorney general is attempting to practice medicine i guess and second guess the judgment of those physician who's have, you know, put their lives on the line. what would you do if you were her doctor? and the second that this lawsuit was filed, that we got this order, the attorney general personally threatened you and every hospital you've ever worked at? it's unimaginable and shameful. >>

the fact is, this poor woman, kate cox, who was on the verge of a tremendous implication with her pregnancy could have died from it. certainly was put in this situation, had to leave texas after being attacked by the attorney general, being attacked by ted cruz, being attacked by the supreme court of texas. republican men in this state have just wreaked havoc on women and the reproductive choices. we have to be able to go at a federal level and codified roe v. wade, possibly expands supreme court, and certainly change the filibuster on the issues that are most important to us, like gun violence, like reproductive rights, like electoral laws. the things that the vast majority of americans are in favor of. >> senator, it is good to talk to you. thank you for being with. us we appreciate you taking the time tonight. texas state senator roland gutierrez. only when we come back, soft landing for the economy is a rarity, but that's what the reserve is anticipating, lowering without plundering the economy into a recession. we're gonna talk about that next. (boy) you're not gonna believe this girl.

this week a woman named kate cox who is forced to flee texas to -- non viable frequency that wristert's after the texas supreme court ruled that her case didn't qualify for an exemption of the state's abortion ban. the lawsuit is still continuing, as is another filed by 20 women in texas accusing the states abortion ban -- similar legal challenges taking place in kentucky after one pregnant woman filed a lawsuit seeking class action status, arguing the states abortion ban by later in kentucky woman's constitutional right to privacy. her attorneys have vowed to pursue the case, encouraging other women to join the lawsuit, even as their client discovered this week that no heartbeat was detected in her fetus. arizona supreme court just heard arguments in a case challenging whether that states 158-year-old near total abortion ban and acted before arizona was even a state should override the 2022 law that bans abortion after 15 weeks. and in oklahoma, the state supreme court is keeping multiple abortion bans on hold as it considers the merits of the case. the legal landscape on abortion r

a judge ruled had kate cox who is 20 weeks pregnancy can legally terminate her pregnancy.he had sued the state arguing her fetus has a genetic disorder and could not survive long term outside the womb and continuing the pregnancy could threaten her life and future fertility. paxton insists that cox does not qualify for the law that bans it at six weeks. he sent a threatening letter to three hospitals where the doctor has privilege thinks. a group of women are fighting the law, they say its unclear language prevents doctors from performing abortions in serious cases. >>> former british prime minister boris johnson has admitted that the rules set out by his government during the covid-19 pandemic were too complex for the police to enforce and for the public to understand. he was giving his second day of testimony on thursday as part of the public inquiry in to the uk handling of the pandemic which is focused on whether or not the prime minister had full grasp of the medical information being presented to him as well as the toxic culture and climate within 10 downing street.

who wrote them intended. they did not want women like kate cox to get abortions. xceptions. so for women who have potentially been -- or many people who have been on the fence about abortion and i think of it as, well, i would not get an abortion in that situation, where i wouldn't get it in that situation, we have learned about an entire aspect of the -- spectrum of reproductive expenses because we all know, any of us who have reproductive lives know these do not follow the very simple boxes. life is messy, complicated, unexpected, and especially when a pregnancy has been involved. so to even be in a situation where you might imagine i would get an abortion in the situation, i wouldn't in that, so many different people have been caught up in these laws. and that is part of the intention. and i just think it's so interesting that when women and men have had the opportunity in red states to vote on this issue, they've gone against the expectations of what conservative states wanted, because of people like kate cox who have spoken out. >> can i just say, it's extraor

kate cox who is 20 weeks pregnant filed a lawsuit this very week saying her unborn baby has a genetic condition and carrying the child to term could threaten her own life. her fetus is diagnosed with a chromosome anomaly that is typically fatal soon after or before birth. now ken paxton is threatening legal consequences for any doctor involved in providing the abortion. he says she failed to show she qualifies for the medical exception for the strict abortion ban after six weeks. t emergency as a life threating physical condition aggravated by, caused by, rising from a pregnancy that places the woman in danger of death or a serious risk of substantial impairment of a major bodily function unless an abortion is performed. i want to bring in a retired california superior court judge. judge, thank you so much for being here this evening. when we hear stories like this, and in many ways it was contemplated after the dobbs decision and even before. and the number one thing people point at is this idea of the definition of a medical emergency. who gets to decide that and who should it be? h

kate cox could face legal ramifications. either civil fines or criminal prosecution. we have reached out to the attorneys for kate cox who say they believe that the attorney general's reaction to all of this is callous and extreme. boris? >> and lavandera, thank you very much for the report. still ahead, new cnn polling reveals who americans think bear the responsibility to combat the climate crisis. the numbers in just a few minutes. >>> a stark warning today from climate scientists, the planets average the pitcher could rise by 1.5 degrees celsius above preindustrial levels next year. researchers say anything above that threshold would cause potentially irreversible effects on the world. this year has already been the hottest year on record. these dire warnings are coming as new cnn polling reveals how americans feel about the climate crisis and who they think there's response ability for combating it. correspondent bill travis howe. so bill, this really ambitious goal the u.s. has set a target to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030, how americans feel about this? >> is really stunning. it has been a politiciz

kate cox, who with 20 weeks pregnant, filed a lawsuit saying that her on board baby has a genetic condition and carrying the child to term could threaten her own life. cox -- tries in the 18, a chromosome anomaly that typically is fail before or soon after birth. the texas a.g., ken paxton, is now threatening legal consequences for any doctor involved in providing the abortion if mrs. cox goes forward with it. he claims that she failed to show that she qualifies for the, quote unquote, medical emergency exception with the strict abortion ban after six weeks of pregnancy. the law defines a medical emergency as a life-threatening, physical condition aggravated by, caused by, or arising from a pregnancy that, as a certified by a physician, a place of the women in danger of death or a serious risk of substantial impairment of major bodily function and was less an abortion is performed. i want to bring in judge gordon, who is a retired california's theory or court judge. judge, thank you for being here this evening. when we heard stories about this, in many ways, it was contemplated right after

a fellow texan, kate cox, who had to leave that state terminator penske after really what became a backth the course there. congressman, you are also a physician. how concerned are you if at all about the confusion that seems to exist around these medical exemptions? >> well, just going back to the dobbs decision itself, i thought it was correct those decisions were returned to the state. it never seemed logical to me that the supreme court would be the place where that would be generated. i know that i have had constituents who were concerned about that policy in this country, and so now it's correctly been returned to the states. the states make the decision, and you know what? if people in the state don't like the decision, they can then correct that problem at the state level. >> but let me just ask, before i let you go, you're a doctor, how would you feel about courts intervening with a decision or recommendation that you have made for your patient? >> well, look i do know this. every case is different, and every case requires a significant amount of sensitivity to the facts in the

on thursday a judge granted a temporary restraining order that would allow texas resident kate cox, who have an abortion under a narrow exemption to the state's outright ban. cox's fetus has a condition that will likely end in a miscarriage or stillbirth, according to the cleveland clinic. cox's doctor warned her that if she continues to carry the pregnancy, it will likely jeopardize her health and her future fertility. despite this, the texas attorney general asked the state supreme court to step in, arguing that cox does not meet the criteria for a medical exemption. the state's highest court then issued a temporary stay, which will block the woman from obtaining an abortion in that state. the court did not say when it would make its final decision. joining us now, health care reporter on capitol hill for "politico," alice miranda olstein. she's been following this story and so much on the abortion landscape since the overturning of roe v. wade. we're so glad you're here for us now. can you start by breaking down the attorney general's arguments? does he have any medical expertise to

. >> cnn previously reported that kate cox, who's 21 weeks pregnant, ended up leaving texas to have that procedure in another state. doctors said that cox's life and her ability to have another baby were at risk because her fetus was diagnosed with a rare, fatal genetic condition. cnn senior national correspondent ed lavandera has been following the latest details on this story. this case is now triggering a tense and highly public legal battle, ed. what are you learning from cox's legal team? >> reporter: they have been speaking out against the texas supreme court opinion that was written by nine justices, all of them republican, here in the state of texas. essentially, what the texas supreme court ruled yesterday is that the conditions that kate cox and her lawyers described in their efforts to get a legal abortion through a court order don't rise to the level of the medical exemption. the opinion the justices wrote, no one disputes that miss cox's pregnancy has been extremely complicated. many parents would be devastated that their unborn child's trisomy 18 diagnosis. some difficultie

that lawsuit was filed a few days before texas's supreme court ruled that another woman, kate cox, whoon viable and life-threatening pregnancy, did not qualify for a medical exception to the states extreme abortion ban. these stories are clearly shifting conservative narrative about who seeks abortions and why. so it is not exactly a surprise that republicans do not want to have anything to do with it. >> are you supportive of the texas cream courts ruling indicate clocks case that prevented her from getting an abortion after she learned her fetus was not viable? >> just call the press office. >> i have for two days now and i haven't received an answer. >> thank you. >> joining me now is jessica valenti, author and writer of the abortion every day newsletter. jessica, thank you for being here, initially when i was told that there was a soundbite of ted cruz refusing to answer the question i thought it was the one from earlier in the week but in all this is still the guy's position days later, after he has had maybe time to think about how he would answer this question. to me it's so in

even when asked about kate cox who had to flee texas to terminate. >> we have to approach these issuesme pro-life. this is why i said you have to show compassion and humanize this situation. >> this is an issue reserved for the states. >> voters can decide whether this sounds clear because saying states lately has been a different way of saying they don't want to deal with it or be responsible for it. if you are a citizen dealing with this, we just discussed one who had to flee her home state for health care, well, you're not interested in which politician is taking credit for this. you want to know whether your rights and health are going to be respected or not. in that state there are two u.s. senators. both have spent their careers, four decades, trying to get justices on the supreme court who would overturn roe, which is what they did. they support what's happening in texas. listen to now whe it's happening how they try to duck questions about kate cox. >> i'm not a state official. i won't comment on what state officials are doing. >> do you have any comment on that? >> call our pr

none of these policies would have helped kate cox. whoe the state of texas to receive an abortion after her fetus was diagnosed with a life-threatening disorder. and after, she was informed by our doctors that carry her pregnancy to term could justify her future fertility. she wants a big family. the texas supreme court ruled against granting cake talks and exception. and she had to lead the state to get the health care she needed. now, the city of amarillo is even considering an ordinance to ban out of state travel for an abortion. in kate story is just the tip of the iceberg. in a country that no longer has the constitutional right to an abortion. in kentucky, where there's a nearly total ban on abortion without exceptions for rape or incest, a pregnant woman just filed a lawsuit demanding her right to an abortion. in ohio, a woman was just criminally charged for the, quote, abuse of a corpse after she survived and nearly potentially fatal miscarriage. bernie watts was still recovering from her miscarriage, hooked up to an iv, when a de

he's the actual attorney general of texas, who was actually tracking down this woman in texas, kate cox, whod to get a court order to get the abortion. she had to flee the state after paxton threatened her doctor. this guy is as extreme -- he is abiding by a vision of bodily autonomy and freedom and liberal democracy that is probably 80% of the electorate. >> right, but i think that vision is not universally shared with the republican party, but is broadly shared. >> it is, but he's also like, they're all ken paxton. none of them are gonna stand in can paxton's way. to your point, one that ships are down, and this isn't just random dude who said something vile on twitter or who has a bad podcast, this is what they do with actual power. >> the media hold republicans to different standards, though. we saw this during the speaker of the house ways when democrats are always supposed to be the responsible ones, the reasonable ones, and that allows republicans, gives them license to go off the chain crazy. >> it certainly for impeachment, right? remember, when trump was impeached for valid reasons

kate cox who has made to be alone by the state of texas is not known as well. thanks a lot. thanks a lot abortion is making people feel like you're alone. >> and you're not alone. kate cox is not alone as well. that is "all in" on this wednesday night. alex wagner tonight starts right now. >> the fact we're talking about who's alone. 150,000 florida republicans, i believe, have signed onto that ballot. i mean it's just an epically appalling move to try and do this to pregnant people across the u.s. >> repugnant to the vast majority of voters. >> they will pay and pay and pay as long as they keep trying to do thiske to the american publi. thank you, chris, and thank you jessica vulenty as always. today the criminal case against donald trump, the one that was mostru likely to be completed before the 2024 election, special counsel jack smith's federal election interference case, todayec it effectively ca to a standstill. it was frozen or in legal terminology its deadlines were stayed. two weeks ago the judge in that case, judge tanya chutkan denied trump's claim that the entire

tonight in a stunning but not shocking move, the texas supreme court ruled against 31-year-old kate cox, whobecause her fetus had developed a lethal condition and her health was at risk. in the ruling, the court said difficulties in pregnancy do not pose the heightened risk to the mother that the state's exceptions for a mother whose life in is danger encompasses. going against what cox's doctor had recommended. due to her underlying health conditions every day she remained pregnant endangered her health and her ability to have another child. it's worth notice just who made that private health decision for her. the court is made up entirely of republicans, including john divine, who centered his 2012 election on his antiabortion ideology, including boasting about getting arrested dozens of time. one about a decision he and his wife made to continue their pregnancy. his wife survived the birth but their daughter only lived for an hour. that was divinethat was he and s private decision to go forward with that pregnancy, and now kate cox is health is at risk because people like to fine or tryin

but here's the reality, none of these policies would have helped kate cox, who was forced to flee theas diagnosed with a life threatening disorder. and after she was informed by her doctors that carrying her pregnancy to term could jeopardize her future fertility. she wants a big family. so, the texas supreme court ruled against granting kate caught an exception, and she had to leave the state to get the health care she needed. and now, the city of st. murillo as even considering an ordinance to ban out-of-state travel for an abortion. and kate's story is just the tip of the iceberg, in a country that no longer has the constitutional right to an abortion. in kentucky, where there is a nearly total ban on abortion, without exceptions for rape or incest, a pregnant woman just filed a lawsuit demanding her right to an abortion. in ohio, a woman was just criminally charge for the, quote, abuse of a corpse, after she survived a potentially miss fatal miscarriage. britney watts was still recover from her miscarriage, hooked up to an iv, when detectives came to her hospital bed and interroga

kate cox who has made to be alone by the state of texas is not known as well. thanks a lot. that is all in on this wednesday night. alex wagner tonight's starting now. good evening alex. >> yeah. definitely -- the fact that we were talking about who is alone. 150,000 florida republicans i believe have signed on to that ballot. it is just an epically appalling move to try to do this to people across the u.s.. it is a disastrous political decision. they will pay, and pay, and pay as long as they can keep trying to do this. thank you chris. thank you jessica as always. and thanks to you at home for joining us this hour. anks to you at home the criminat donald trump, the one that was most likely to be completed before the 2024 election, the special counsel jack smith's federal election interference case today, it effectively came to a standstill. it was frozen, or in legal terminology, its deadlines were stayed. two weeks ago the judge in that case, judge tanya chutkan, denied the claim that the entire case would be null and void because of quote, presidential immunity. trump's

take the recent case of a woman in texas named kate cox who was denied an emergency abortion for a potentiallyble pregnancy. the case has horrified americans across the country with its abject cruelty, and now republicans are running scared from the laws they're responsible for. texas senator ted cruz wouldn't even answer questions about the case, which, again, took place in his own home state, and which is a policy, again, he supports. >> both republican senators from the state of texas refuse to say anything about it. >> what are your thoughts on what the texas attorney general is doing in the case against kate cox and blocking her from receiving abortion do you have any comment on that? >> just call our press office. >> do you agree with attorney general braxton's actions and what he did? >> call the press office >> i have. i actually haven't received an answer, so is there anything you would like to say right now on this >> call the press office >> seth: that's right ted cruz, a man who has public opinions on everything from potato head dolls to the "barbie" movie and once picked a fight w

kate cox, who is 20 weeks pregnant, was warned by her doctor and multiple doctors that if she carries this pregnancy to term, it will likely jeopardize her health and future fertility. despite this, the texas attorney general asked the state supreme court to step in, arguing cox does not meet the criteria for a medical exception. >>> today is monday, december 11th. believe it or not, it is 2023, not 1923. that's where we're going to begin this morning. this is an unsettling and all-too-common story. once again, an aging, white man facing indictments, is accused of covering up an affair, faced impeachment, and still his wrecking ball use of political power continues with brutal consequences on the lives of women. sounds familiar. i'm actually not talking about donald trump. this time, it's another far right republican who considers it a compliment to be called trumpy. after all, this man, according to "reuters," tried to sue joe biden over 50 times on issues including immigration and gun rights and a ton of other garbage. i'm talking, of course, about texas attorney general ken paxton.

all of us are kate cox, because -- >> she's got nowhere to go. >> nowhere to go. >> i have to say, is a bit in the ruling, a little bit in the reads of the ruling, but kate, my wife, who you know, law professor, pointed this out to me, there's something so disingenuously bad faith about the court ruling, which basically says, well, if you can get, if it's a medical necessity, they say a woman who meets a medical necessity exception need not seek a court order to obtain an abortion. under the law is a doctor who must decide that a woman is suffering from a life-threatening condition during a pregnancy, basically saying what do you mean corridor order? go ahead. if it's medically necessary. you have the attorney general of the state writing to threaten this woman with felony conviction and the court has the gall to say we don't see a court issue here. the doctor can make the call. let the chips fall where they may. >> i'm laughing because it's not funny at all, but the courts are saying they don't want to be involved, the medical board says they don't want to be involved, the attorney general's not going to do anything to help and it's going to run roughshod on the medi

and in ken paxton's case, he wrote a letter to the three hospitals with a doctor who is dealing with kate coxd, but in alabama, you have an attorney general who has sort of indicated that he's definitely trying to make a case out of somebody. he will come after people who what they believe to be the spirit of the letter of the law. to be th >> for, shorten as wire clinic as well as other clinics have done our lawsuit in order to get clarity as to why whether we allowed to provide support or information about where these legal issues exist. we still have not had a response. this case has still not been heard in any way, shape, or form, and i'm not exaggerating when i say that people are struggling in potentially dying out here. we have seen the maternal mortality rates have gone up, we've seen that the instant mortality rates have gone up, and people are hurting. we see them every day at the clinic. so having -- this leaning over your head and having nobody actually do the action that is necessary in order to get clarity, that is harming everybody to the point at where there may need to be dir

first though, if not kate cox, then who exactly would qualify for an emergency abortion in texas?nyone at all? yone at all? . and ask your healthcare provider about the number one prescribed h-i-v treatment, biktarvy. biktarvy is a complete, one-pill, once-a-day treatment used for h-i-v in many people whether you're 18 or 80. with one small pill, biktarvy fights h-i-v to help you get to undetectable—and stay there whether you're just starting or replacing your current treatment. research shows that taking h-i-v treatment as prescribed and getting to and staying undetectable prevents transmitting h-i-v through sex. serious side effects can occur, including kidney problems and kidney failure. rare, life-threatening side effects include a buildup of lactic acid and liver problems. do not take biktarvy if you take dofetilide or rifampin. tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines and supplements you take, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have kidney or liver problems, including hepatitis. if you have hepatitis b do not stop taking biktarvy without talking to

that decision, the arguing attorney did reiterate several times how there are many women in kate cox's position whon, or a similar case but are not able to even afford to have a legal team take this to court. we expect the state to hear this. we are waiting on a time line. one last thing i will add, in terms of next steps for cox, her team said they are not going to give specifics on when or where she will receive an abortion for safety reasons, they say. >> thank you for that. professor you're one of the world's leading historians of the u.s. abortion debate. tell us how this fits into that picture, how significant you think this decision is? >> it's really unusual. one of the things that's really remarkable to me as a historian is we're saying kate cox's name, seeing her picture and face. in the pre-roe era, jane roe was not named jane roe. people were scared of the stigma put on them. the courage it takes for someone to go to court and say, this is my story, this is my experience. i need this abortion for this reason is really remarkable. even seeking a court ordered abortion at all rather than

in a statement cox's lawyer responded if kate cox can't get an abortion in texas who can? now, cox may have gotten her abortion, but this particular fight is not over. far from it. there are hundreds of women like kate cox nearly dying from nonviable life threatening pregnancies in states where they are denied abortions. 20 of them have sued the state of texas this year. they want the state supreme court to clarify the medical exemptions that are part of the state's abortion ban. texas attorney general ken paxton's office has argued that the law is already clear that kate cox's case highlights the utter absurdity of that argument. in her latest column "the new york times" opinion writer michelle goldberg interviewed cox's lawyer, molly duane, who said i think it's the clearest message you could possibly receive from an anti-aborgds state that they never meant the medical exemption to mean anything at all. joining me now is michelle goldberg, opinion columnist for "the times." thanks for being here. i am astounded and appalled by what has unfolded in texas. you write in your

she's somebody who lost a pregnancy, and sued. kate cox was someone who was currently pregnant. what made her case different. the supreme court of texas is going to be ruling on that medical exception you know, in the next couple of months, i would say. this is a live issue. they're going to have to decide this soon. >> i feel badly for her. it's a terrible situation to be in, and to have to go into another state when you already have two kids to get an abortion is a real struggle. laura jarrett, thank you very much. >>> and in michigan, governor whitmer rolled back a law that required women to get additional elective insurance to cover an abortion even in cases of rape. julie tsirkin caught up with whitmer in the moments before she repealed this law. >> when we get into these fights that are worth having because we can win, it night take longer than it should, ten years is a long time, but to be here today to know that i can get rid of this rape insurance law that has created yet another barrier for women in michigan to having real reproductive freedom, it's really a remarkable

kate cox's health is at risk. what do you say to that? what i say to that is whoisk? do you want the attorney general to decide or do you want her doctors to decide? our position has always been it is up to the doctors to determine when their patient�*s lives and health and in kate's case herfuture fertility is at risk. we're talking about a woman who has two young children who desperately want grow her family and the state of texas is saying we don't care if you are carrying a non—viable pregnancy, we do not care if your physician says it is dangerous for your fertility and we do not care what you and your family want. we get to decide. that is what is so stunning about what is happening here. we have about 30 seconds left but i want to ask what this means for other women in texas. what precedent do you think this case sets? this case was really about one woman and one family but i think it portends something very dangerous about what the future looks like in the state of texas. we still have a case pending with the texas supreme court on behalf of 20 different w

. >> kate cox, a dallas mother who sued texas, leaving the state for what she calls an urgent abortion 31 year old, now 20 weeks pregnant, says doctors determine her fetus has a low survival rate and the longer she continued, the pregnancy, the greater risk to her health. and fertility. >> i could see in this case, surely i would qualify for that exemption. >> initially, she was granted permission for an abortion by a lower court. >> i am going to grant the temporary restraining order, but that decision appealed by attorney general ken paxton, asking the high court to reverse the order. >> on monday, it was shuttered by the all republican state supreme court. the justices unanimously denying her abortion, ruling her pregnancy risk, didn't meet the state's qualified options, including to prevent major bodily harm. are saved. the life of the mother. this doctor slamming the decision. >> they clearly want to continue to be able to control people's lives instead of allowing physicians to make the medical decisions that make the best sense for them and their patients. attorneys representing

i think a lot of people assume that somebody in kate cox's position, somebody who has been to the emergency room four times during the course of her pregnancy, who has a fatal fetal anomaly and people think well there are exceptions to the bans and she would be able to get an abortion. but obviously that wasn't the case. she was denied. and i think there was national uproar about this case. and i certainly would not be surprised to see other cases similar to this one emerging in the near future. >> and we'll see how they deal with it. texas is one of the strictest in the country and it underscores, we're a year past the decision on dobbs and republicans are still struggling with how to deal with it. do we have a national ban or by the state level. how many weeks? and it is a debate playing out on capitol hill and the campaign trail and some of the members in difficult races. as the supreme court announced it would take up this case involving the abortion pill and whether or not it would allow its accessibility more widely. some the republican members said it was a bad idea. >> the states sh

. >> are you worried about women in your state who may be at risk by state laws like kate cox. >> i'm a state official. i'm not going to comment on what state officials are doing. i'm happy to comment on anything that i'm responsible for. >> joining us now, nbc news correspondent vaughn hillyard, msnbc legal analyst, lisa rubin and "the new york times" adam hiptack whose reporting i just mentioned. adam, i want to begin with you. i think you have some insightful and meaningful detail in this piece. i want to start with when the court decided to take on the issue of abortion and how quickly it became clear that the conservatives had the majority to overturn it within the supreme court. >> well, so the standard account is that ruth bader ginsburg dies, amy coney barrett comes on to the court, and it's inevitable. it's going to happen. but in fact, they take months and months and months of internal deliberations about whether to hear the case. and our reporting shows that justice barrett ultimately voted against hearing the case, so the bear minimum of four justices, it takes four justic

after a week in legal limbo, kate cox, a woman who sought a court ruling to temporarily block texas'tion ban so she have an emergency abortion, has left texas to obtain the time-sensitive procedure she needs elsewhere. she is a mother of two who is 20 weeks pregnant when she sought the abortion after learning her fetus has a lethal abnormality and that being forced to carry the nonviable pregnancy to term could make it impossible for her to have more children. a texas judge granted a court order last thursday that would have allowed her to have the abortion. but the texas supreme court temporarily overturned the order. on monday, it issued a final ruling to stop kate cox from having an abortion. texas republican attorney general ken paxton filed a motion overturned and threatened to prosecute any providers involved in giving cox an abortion. cox spoke to nbc news last thursday. >> hard times. we are going through the loss of a child. there's no outcome here that i take home my healthy baby girl. it is hard. grief. amy: the lawsuit filed by kate cox also sought protection for her husb

kate cox, the mother who sued texas for a medical exemption is seeking the life-saving care her doctorsds in another state. last night after her attorneys announced her decision, the texas supreme court denied her the request. cox is among one in five women in the world -- in the u.s., rather, forced to travel across state lines for abortion care. many cannot afford it. for some texans, that means traveling more than 600 miles. many can't afford that or the potential legal or medical repercussions. joining me now is nbc news senior legal correspondent laura jarrett, former obama white house policy director dr. patel and boston globe columnist, attorney as well, kimberly atkins stohr. she's co-host of the sisters-in-law podcast. imagine the emotional, medical, logistical, financial challenges of having to travel 600 miles or more from some states, surrounded by similarly restrictive states. the court says the doctor didn't prove cox's condition was life-threatening. her lawyer says it proves that exemptions like saving the life of the mother don't work. >> yeah. i think what this really

they would not have helped kate cox. >> they would not help kate cox, and most people around the country whoemselves in need of care and people see right through it. that's why you have that poll. they don't trust republicans to make this decision. >> they understand. this is such an important conversation, thank you for elevating it did day after day, guys, thank you for spending time with us. >>> ahead, part of my conversation with families of the hostages held by hamas, and what they think of the biden administration's efforts to win freedom for their loved ones. my active psoriatic arthritis can make me feel like i'm losing my rhythm. with skyrizi to treat my skin and joints, i'm getting into my groove. ♪(uplifting music)♪ along with significantly clearer skin... skyrizi helps me move with less joint pain, stiffness, swelling, and fatigue. and is just 4 doses a year, after 2 starter doses. skyrizi attaches to and reduces a source of excess inflammation that can lead to skin and joint symptoms. with skyrizi 90% clearer skin and less joint pain are possible. serious allergic reactions and

. >> the case of kate cox in texas, the women who sued and wanted to end her pregnancy after learning her fetus had a deadly condition, doctors were warning her that if she carried this child to term, her fertility was at risk, her health was at risk and senator john cornyn was asked to weigh in on the fact the texas supreme court was trying to force her to carry this child to term, take a listen to what you're calling had to say. >> that is strictly a matter of state law, i'm a federal official. i'm not a state official so i'm not to comment on what -- state officials are doing. >> senator ted cruz, the other senator also declined to comment, your thoughts? >> both of them have voted to try to march towards this nationwide abortion ban, what happened to kate cox is horrific, they were doing this to her. no one should be forced to leave their state to get the healthcare they need, kate cox is being forced to risk her health and with a fatal condition, and jeopardize her future ability to have another child if she wanted to simply because she lives in texas. no woman should have to go

this is kate cox, a 31-year-old mother of two who is about 20 weeks pregnant right now, but last weekikely be stillborn or live for a week at most. they say the state's abortion ban means their hands are tied. they can't perform any procedures, so cox has already been to the emergency room three times. her doctors also say carrying this pregnancy to term could impact her fertility in the future. marissa parra is joining us now. what more are we learning about cox's story as this hearing gets underway, and could a ruling have impact on other texas women? >> hey, ana, good morning. yeah, kate cox as you mentioned, she's 20 weeks pregnant. she's actually already had two c-sections, she's a mother of two already. that does put her further at risk. she's carrying a baby who has trisomy 18, roughly 90% of babies with trisomy 18 do not survive past their first year. her future fertility as well as her own life is at risk if she carries out this pregnancy. as you mentioned, doctors told her she's required to continue with her pregnancy because of the texas law. and this is why her lawyers arg

who perform the procedure could face legal jeopardy. what happens next here? >> reporter: well, it has really intensified here this afternoon, as the attorneys for this woman, 31-year-old kate coxd it's unforgivable that this mother, who is 20 weeks pregnant, had to go before a judge today and essentially beg for an abortion to protect her life and her future for fertility. kate cox is pregnant, the baby has been diagnosed with a rare genetic condition that essentially is fatal, and the likelihood of the baby surviving more than a few hours is very unlikely. during this temporary restraining order hearing, the judge granted her the ability to have an abortion. this is believed to be one of the first cases like it since the u.s. supreme court overturned roe v wade last year. the judge said the idea that mrs. cox wants desperately to be a parent and this law might actually cause her to lose the ability is shocking and would be a genuine miscarr o the attorney general, republican ken paxton just a short while ago released a statement essentially threatening the patient and the doctors who would be possibly involved in her getting abortion saying, that the temporary restraining ord