you know, a lot has happened since paxton smith took a bold stand for reproductive rights at her highech. we spent time in texas talking to young activists on both ends of the abortion debate. >> not going back, we're not going back! we're not going back! we're not going back! >> paxton smith is a rookie when it comes to abortion rights rallies. >> i'm furious as children, we're the ones advocating for our rights. >> reporter: in less than a week, this 18-year-old catapulted on to center stage of america's fiercest fight in politics. already she's feeling the heat from the other side. >> we are the pro-life generation and we will abolish abortion. >> young anti-abortion rights activists like sarah zarr are just as energized. so your goal is to end abortion full stop? >> we want to make abortion illegal and unthinkable in our lifetime. >> reporter: it was this high school graduation speech that brought both sides to the texas state capitol. >> i have dreams and hopes and ambitions. every girl graduating today does. >> in front of a crowd of thousands, the dallas area valedictorian swap

lake highlands high school graduate paxton smith was responding to a bill signed last month by republican governor greg aott banning all abortions about six weeks into a pregnancy. >> i have dres and hopes and ambitions. every rl graduating today does. and we have spenour enti lives working toward our future. and without our input and without our consent, our control over that future has been stripped away from us. i am terrified that if i contraceptiv fails, i am rrified that if i am raved, than my hopes d aspirations and dreams and efforts for my future will no longer matter. i hope that you can feel how gutwrenching tha is. i hope you can feel how dehumanizing it is to have the autonomy of your own body taken away from you. amy: lake highlands high school valedictorian paxton smith giving a speech after she throughout her original written speech in texas. and those are some of the headlines. this is democracy now!, democracynow.org, the quarantine report. when we come back, we speak to emory university professor carol anderson about her new book about what the second: race and guns fat

paxton smith is a name you'll want to remember, and here's why. >> today i was going to talk about tvuse it's something that's very important to me. however, under light of recent events, it feels wrong to talk about anything but what is currently affecting me and millions of other women in this state. six weeks. that's all women get. and so before they realize, most of them don't realize that they're pregnant by six weeks. so before they have a chance to decide if they are emotionally, physically and financially stable enough to carry out a full-term pregnancy, before they have the chance to decide if they can take on the responsibility of bringing another human being into the world, that decision is made for them by a stranger. it's a problem that cannot wait. and i cannot give up this platform to promote complacency and peace when there is a war on my body and a war on my rights. a war on the rights of your mothers. a war on the rights of your sisters. a war on the rights of your daughters. we cannot stay silent. >> paxton joins us now. paxton, congratulations, first of all, on bei

nbc's erin mclaughlin shows us why paxton smith is our loudest voice of the week. >> as we leave highramatic choice to switch out her preapproved speech for a fiery political message. 18-year-old valedictorian paxton smith taking the stage at lake highlands high school sunday where the school thought she would talk about television and the media. >> in light of recent events it feels wrong to talk about anything but what is currently affecting me and millions of other women in this state. >> instead, using her three minutes at the podium to take a stand against texas's new so-called heartbeat abortion bill. >> i cannot give up this platform to promote complacency and peace when there is a war on my body and a war on my rights! i am terrified that if my contraceptives fail, i am terrified that if i am raped, then my hopes and aspirations and dreams and efforts for my future will no longer matter. >> reporter: the bill, signed into law by texas governor greg abbott last month, bans abortions in most cases where a fetal heartbeat is detected, potentially as early as six weeks into pregna

for her part, paxton smith is heading to the university of texas, specifically you t austin.s, maybe she will run for something. and perhaps she knows the story of another texan. the former professor at you if texas austin, named sarah weddington. who as a young lawyer, four years out of texas law school, successfully argued roe v. wade before the u.s. supreme court. which made the right to an abortion the law of the land back in 1973. that for us, is our broadcast for this wednesday night. with our thanks for being here with us. on behalf of all my colleagues at the networks of nbc news, goodnight. goodnight. >> tonight on all in. >> it is exciting to see arizona leading the way. i think it is the first domino that is critical. >> the arizona contagion spreads. >> there's a delegation from pennsylvania coming to arizona to meet with our legislature. we'll probably see some action in pennsylvania. >> and in arizona senator shrugs her shoulders. >> i've long been a supporter of the filibuster because it is a tool that protects the democracy of our nation. >> tonight, growing f

paxton smith is with me now. this certainly did take guts.n't like to share political or controversial opinions. why did you decide to talk about this? >> i felt like reproductive rights were so important and right now they are currently under attack from so many different states with passing of legislation that is restricting abortions all over this -- over the country, and i felt like it was crucial that i used my platform to reach people who were neutral about the topic or didn't agree with me on the topic to spread the message this was not okay. >> did anybody know this was going to happen, and i note organizers and administrators didn't, but did you tell your family or friends? >> i only told my parents. >> what did they tell you? >> at first they were a little apprehensive, and it's a very controversial topic and it's scary to put your face on that topic, but they were supportive after about a day. >> took them a day to be supportive. okay. >> yes. >> so i watched the entire section of the graduation ceremony. you talked for about two a

my hopes and aspirations and dreams and efforts for my future will no longer matter >> that is paxton smithn dallas who decided to throw out the prepaid speech instead she used the platform to speak out and speak up for women. she will be on the "today" show this morning. >> what a powerful voice, brave one at that. however you -- whatever side you side on. >> takes guts. >> takes guts for her to do that churchill downs has suspended hall of fame trainer bob baffert for two years. ma spirit failed the used on the horse may have contained beta methadone the three-member panel at churchill downs will determine whether medina spirit keeps the winning title. >>> we continue to honor lgbtq members. we celebrate honey mahogany. elected to the san francisco democratic party share last month. it makes her the first transgender and black chair of the local party. according to the bay area reporter, the 37-year-old has also become the first trans person in the u.s. to chair a local democratic party mahogany is one of the highest ranking transgender officials in the country. >>> two girls giving new m

. >> reporter: paxton smith was planning to speak about the role of the media in society when she addressedling school administrators, she switched her topic to something far more controversial, the new texas abortion law. >> it feels wrong to talk about anything but what is currently affecting me and millions of other women in the state. >> reporter: in september, the so-called heart beat bill is set to become law, banning abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, regardless of rape or incest. it's considered the most restrictive abortion law in the country. >> millions of children lose their right to life every year because of abortion. in texas, we work to save those lives. >> reporter: paxton says she felt obligated to speak out. >> i am terrified that if my contraceptives fail, i am terrified that if i am raped, then my hopes and aspirations and dreams and efforts for my future will no longer matter. >> reporter: paxton telling nbc's linsey davis, she can't believe the response her speech is getting from across the country. when your speech went viral, you've been getting a retweet from

paxton smith scrapped her approved graduation speech to speak out against the state's sweeping new abortiontrictions. the so-called heartbeat law effectively bans most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy and makes no exceptions for pregnancies that result from incest or rape. paxton gave the speech and later spoke to our chris cuomo. >> today i was going to talk about tv and media and content because it's something that's very important to me, however -- however, under light of recent events it feels wrong to talk about anything but what is currently affecting me and millions of other women in this state. six weeks. that's all women get. and so before they realize most of them don't realize that they're pregnant by six weeks. so before they have a chance to decide if they are emotionally, physically and financially stable enough to carry out a full-term pregnancy, before they have the chance to decide if they can take on the responsibility of bringing another human being into the world, that decision is made for them by a stranger. it's a problem that cannot wait and i cannot give up thi

her name is paxton smith, and she was valedictorian of her class in the dallas suburbed.stead, she pulled a switcharoo, and spoke about a new anti-abortion law in texas which is the most severe in the united states. >> recently, the heartbeat bill was passed in texas. starting in september, there will be a ban on abortions after six weeks of pregnancy regardless of whether the pregnancy was the result of rape or incest. six weeks. that's all women get. so before they realize most of them don't realize they're pregnant by six weeks. before they have a chance to decide if they are emotionally, physically, and financially stable enough to carry out a full-term pregnancy, and before they decide if they can take on the responsibility of bringing into human being into the world, that decision is made by a stranger. it will affect the rest of their lives. i have dreams and hopes and ambitions, every girl graduating today does. and we have spent our entire lives working towards our future. and without our input and consent, our control over that future has been stripped away from

. >> paxton smith made the last second change to take a stand against the controversial law referredheartbeat bill. it bans abortion after a heartbeat can be detected without any exemptions. smith says she was nervous about getting her speech cut off. >> i looked to the side of the stage, and they were giving the them adjuster for the microphone to be cut, but i kept speaking and end up getting through the entire thing. >> -- i was very surprised with the crowd response. it was much more positive than i anticipated. >> smith says she has received so many messages after that video went viral. former presidential nominee hillary clinton even weighed in on social media saying thank you for not staying silent paxton. >>> a southern california woman did not expect this trip down memory lane. she got her wallet returned nearly 50 years after she lost it. she lost her wallet in ventura back in 1975. an employee was recently working on a remodeling project at a historic theater and found the wallet in the attic. the theater posted the drivers license on facebook to find the owner. colleen sa

. >> i have dreams and hopes and then dish and every girl graduating today does 18 year-old paxton smithook to the stage sunday prepared to talk about tv and the media. we have spent our entire lives working towards our future. but the texas high school graduate tossed out her original speech. instead. speaking from the heart just weeks after her state passed the heartbeat abortion bill. i am terrified. >> that is my contraceptives fail. i'm terrified. that is i am great. then my hopes and aspirations and dreams and efforts from my future will no longer matter the heartbeat bill bans abortions when a fetal heartbeat is detected as early as 6 weeks into pregnancy. it allows exceptions. if the life of a woman is in danger but not for rape or incest supporters, including texas governor greg abbott says the law will save lives. creator. >> doubt us with the right to life and yet millions of children lose their right to life. every year because of abortion. in texas. we work to save those lives. i hope that you can feel how gut wrenching that is. >> i hope you can feel how dehumanizing it is

paxton smith tells

a high school valedictorian in dallas paxton smith tossed out their planned speech to tear into a newted as early as six weeks. >> as we leave high school we need to make our voices heard. today i was going to talk about tv and media and content because it's something that's very important to me, however, under recent events it feels wrong to talk about anything but what is currently affecting me and millions of other women in this state. six weeks. that's all women get and so before they realize most of them don't realize that they're pregnant by six weeks. so before they have a chance to decide if they are emotionally, physically and financially stable enough to carry out a full-term pregnancy, before they have the chance to decide if they can take on the responsibility of bringing another human being into the world, that decision is made for them by a stranger. a decision that will affect the rest of their lives is made by a stranger. i have dreams and hopes and ambitions. every girl graduating today does and we have spent our entire lives working towards our future and without our

. >> it was interesting to see paxton smith talking at her graduation and then poppy northcut still havingeer. >> how do you reconcile that? were you speaking your truth and people get upset with you? >> it's all right. they're given me what we have. it's there if they take it away. right? i'm the hardest headed person you've ever met. if you think for one moment i'm going to change the way i feel so you can love me, i'm sorry. that ain't going to happen. >> garth brooks, talks about his break from music and life with his wife and fellow country singer, trisha yearwood who he >>> and meet the 91 lox slicer who has returned to the counter after the pandemic. see what it shows about new york's spirit. you're watching "cbs this morning." becaususe of our g ge, who we falall in love e with, the cocolor of ourur skin or the abibility of ouour bodi. our r life's s work mamay never bebe seen. or heard i it's timeme for cha. lifewtwtr is on a a mission to fill l the worldd with creatativity by people e like us soso it can ininspire the next g generation,n, join lifewewtr's momovement to make ununs

. >> reporter: good morning, guys, 18-year-old paxton smith said she knew she was taking a big risk whenpped on that stage on sunday. only her parents knew about her surprise speech. she says the response has been overwhelming >> as we leave high school, we need to make our voices heard. for going very off script. a high school student making the dramatic choice to switch out her pre-approved speech for a fiery political message. 18-year-old valedictorian paxto smith taking the stage on sunday where the school thought she'd talk about television and the media. >> in light of recent events it feels wrong to talk about anything than anything that is currently affecting me and millions of other women in the state. instead, yusing her three minute at the podium to take a stand against texas's heartbeat abortion bill. >> i cannot give up this platform to promote complacency and peace when there is a war on my body and a war on my rights i am terrifying that if my contraceptive fails, i am terrified that if i am raped, then my hopes and aspirations and dreams and efforts for my future will no

paxton smith gave the speech to a huge crowd at lake highlands high school. let's have a listen.away from us. i am terrified that if my contraceptives fail, i am terrified that if i am raped, then my hopes and aspirations and dreams and efforts for my future will no longer matter. i hope that you can feel how gut—wrenching that is. i hope that you can feel how dehumanising it is to have the autonomy over your own body taken away from you. paxton's speech has been watched over 4 million times on the social media site tik tok. amongst the viewers was former us secretary of state hillary clinton, who tweeted, "this took guts. thank you for not staying silent, paxton." nasa has announced two new missions to venus, aimed at understanding why the planet became an extremely inhospitable place while earth managed to thrive. the missions will examine the planet's atmosphere and geological features and are scheduled to launch at the end of the decade. our correspondent, david willis, reports. venus is the closest planet to earth, and similar in size, mass, density and composition. in recen

smith. former white house press secretary kayleigh mcenany. "the wall street journal" bill mcgurn, douglas holtz-eakin, texas ag, ken paxton, ford o'connell andorder patrol vice president, art del cueto. listen to this, half of the pandemic jobless benefits stolen by criminals. unemployment fraud the fourth biggest government covid expenditure. it has tripled, tripled what was spent on vaccines. more where the money may have ended up. we have the story. the biggest surge in consumers prices in nearly 13 years? combined with all that fraud, and nine million jobs still not filled, all that spells big political trouble for the biden agenda. now this news coming in, we have breaking news, even democrat senators now reject tax hikes on the upper brackets to pay for a new infrastructure plan. plus we've got this story, republicans right to warn that president biden's energy policies will bring us back to the 1970s? make the u.s. once again dependent on foreign energy? what will president biden say to russian president vladmir putin at their face-to-face next week after the president killed the keystone xl pipeline, it is now officially dead, he gre