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EVERYTHING
Elon Musk Backs Internet Troll Theory That Women Shouldn’t Vote
What: Elon Musk backed a theory that women cannot physically defend themselves, and therefore “a Republic of high status males is best for decision making.” In other words, women shouldn’t vote.
As Oliver Darcy, formerly at CNN, reports: Ryan Mac of the New York Times, “who has co-authored a book on Musk and X due out later this month, called it a ‘mask off moment.’ Mac told me Monday that he sifted through a lot of Musk’s posts while researching for his book. ‘But,’ he said, ‘even this post, in which he boosts an argument that women do not have the capacity for critical thought and should not be in decision-making positions, stood out.’ And yet, when I used Snapstream to search cable news transcripts, the appalling display of misogyny from one of the world’s most powerful and wealthy men prompted no coverage that I could find.”
Why it matters: Elon Musk is the richest man in the world, and his $242 billion net worth affords him the ability to shape policy around the globe. It is notable when he backs the absurd position that women don’t have the capability to participate in democracy. While this is far afield of the women’s health issues I set out to originally cover in this newsletter, it is important to know this idea is gaining attention from powerful men. What health do we have without a say in our futures?
Source: Status, X (Twitter)
ABORTION ACCESS
Donald Trump Says He Will Vote to Keep Florida Abortion Restrictions
What: Donald Trump on Friday said he *would* vote against an abortion rights amendment in his home state of Florida, after getting criticism from anti-women’s health conservatives who want zero abortion access under any circumstances. His announcement “came one day after an NBC News interview in which he appeared to support the [Florida] measure.”
Why it matters: Trump wanted to oppose the Florida amendment because he knows it is deeply unpopular with voters, but also needs to keep his anti-women’s health evangelical supporters in line. Overall, this episode highlights exactly how Trump would handle a federal abortion ban: he’ll do whatever his party demands he do, even if a large majority of voters oppose it.
Source: BBC
The Real Life Threat of Louisiana’s Abortion Pill Designation
What: States Newsroom reports that Louisiana’s efforts to make the abortion pill a “controlled substance” will make it harder to use the medication to treat women who have potentially fatal postpartum hemorrhaging and need treatment as quickly as possible.
Why it matters: “Misoprostol is prescribed in a number of medical scenarios — it’s an essential part of reproductive health care that can be used during emergencies, as well as for miscarriage treatment, labor induction, or intrauterine device (IUD) insertion. But because it is used for abortion, misoprostol has been targeted by conservatives in Louisiana — an unprecedented move for a medication that routinely saves lives. A controlled dangerous substance has extra barriers for access, which can delay care. ‘My fear is that someone could eventually die,’ said Dr. Tara Morse, an OB-GYN who practices at Touro Infirmary in New Orleans.”
Source: Louisiana Illuminator / States Newsroom
MENOPAUSE
The Gene Variant That Foretells Early Menopause
What: Researchers have identified a gene variant that leads to women heading into menopause before the age of 40. The study looked at the DNA of 174,000 women in Iceland, Denmark, and the UK.
Why it matters: “The discovery might be important for women who are considering having children. Testing for this newly discovered genetic link could help women make better decisions around their odds for early menopause and the appropriate timing of childbearing, the researchers said.”
Source: US News and World Report
CARDIOVASCULAR
Two Blood Biomarkers Can Help Flag Future Heart Disease
What: Researchers have identified two additional blood biomarkers to flag potential risk of heart disease and stroke over 30 years, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine over the weekend. In addition to looking for LDL cholesterol, they found a certain lipoprotein, known as Lp(a), and an inflammation indicator, C-reactive protein, helped predict heart disease: “Women with the highest levels of LDL cholesterol had a 36% higher risk for heart disease compared with those with the lowest levels. The highest levels of Lp(a) indicated a 33% elevated risk, and those with the highest levels of CRP were 70% more at risk for heart disease.”
Why it matters: “In the study, the researchers analyzed data from nearly 30,000 U.S. women who were part of the Women’s Health Study. On average, the women were 55 years old when they enrolled in the years 1992 through 1995. About 13% — roughly 3,600 participants — had either a heart attack or stroke, had surgery to fix a narrowed or blocked artery, or died from heart disease over the 30-year follow-up period. Though the research was done in women, Ridker said the findings would likely also apply to men. Still, the focus on women was on purpose, he said. ‘This is a largely preventable disease, but women tend to be under treated and underdiagnosed.’”
Source: NBC
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