US abortions rise for the first time in decades

Plus, Saudia Arabia confiscates rainbow toys.  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ 

In 2020, US abortion numbers rose for the first time since 1994; Saudi Arabian authorities seized rainbow-colored toys, clothes, and other items.     Tonight's Sentences was written by Jariel Arvin. TOP NEWS US abortions rose in 2020, reversing years of decline  E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images US abortions rose between 2017 and 2020 after decades of decline, according to figures released Wednesday. [Associated Press / Carla K. Johnson] The data, from research group the Guttmacher Institute, found 930,160 patients received abortions in 2020, up 8 percent from 862,320 in 2017, the last time the survey was taken. In 2020, roughly 1 in 5 pregnancies ended in abortion. [USA Today / Cady Stanton] From 2017 to 2020, US birth rates declined 6 percent, meaning fewer people got pregnant, and a greater proportion of those who did got abortions. [Forbes / Siladitya Ray] Although abortions grew nationwide, the situation varied locally, likely due to varied state rules on Medicaid abortion coverage, uneven distribution of financial aid to help low-income people afford the procedure, and Covid-related care disruptions. [Guttmacher Institute] Another big factor: Trump administration rules preventing family planning organizations receiving Title X funding from mentioning abortion, causing Planned Parenthood and some states to withdraw from the program. [NYT / Pam Belluck] The numbers underscore the need for abortion care in the wake of a leaked draft opinion suggesting the Supreme Court could soon overturn Roe v. Wade. [NPR / Sarah McCammon] Saudi Arabia cracks down on rainbow toys Saudi Arabian authorities are confiscating rainbow-colored toys, clothes, and other items which they say encourage homosexuality, according to state TV. [Guardian / Agence France-Presse] "We are giving a tour of the items that contradict the Islamic faith and public morals and promote homosexual colors targeting the younger generation," a Saudi Arabian official said. [Deutsche Welle] Saudi Arabia prohibits some forms of gender expression as well as gay sex, which, under its interpretation of Islamic law, is punishable by flogging or death. [BBC / David Gritten] The country recently banned Marvel's Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which features a gay character, and Pixar's upcoming Lightyear, which includes a gay kiss. [Variety / Nick Vivarelli and Patrick Frater] MISCELLANEOUS The House Committee investigating the January 6, 2021, riot released footage Wednesday showing that a man who attended a Capitol tour with Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA) returned for the attack the following day. [The Hill / Rebecca Beitsch] On Tuesday, New Mexico's secretary of state asked the state Supreme Court to order that the state's primary election results be certified. A GOP-led commission has refused to do so over bogus claims about Dominion voting machines. [AP / Morgan Lee] FDA advisers voted unanimously on Wednesday to authorize Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine for children aged 6 months to 5 years. Final approval from the CDC could come next Tuesday. [NBC News / Berkeley Lovelace Jr.] The Federal Reserve hiked interest rates 0.75 percent — the biggest increase since 1994 — to curb soaring inflation. [Yahoo Finance / Brian Cheung]   Support our journalism   Reader contributions help keep newsletters like Sentences free for all. Support our work with a one-time gift today. Give VERBATIM "Rather than focusing on reducing abortion, policies should instead center the needs of people and protect their right to bodily autonomy." [US abortion report authors  / Guttmacher Institute] LISTEN TO THIS Lost Worlds: Why do we have a moon? In all our searching of the universe, we've never seen another moon like ours. It's big, it's weird, and it has played a huge role in shaping our planet. But how did we get it? Every story points to cataclysm. This is the second episode of our new four-part series, Lost Worlds.   Listen now   ▶ Read more from Vox Juneteenth merch is American consumerism at its most crass 4 big questions about Covid-19 vaccines for babies and toddlers Stopping inflation is going to hurt 4 winners and 2 losers from the Maine, Nevada, North Dakota, and South Carolina primaries The federal government started New Mexico's largest wildfire. It had good intentions This email was sent to vox@quicklydone.com. Manage your email preferences or unsubscribe. If you value Vox's unique explanatory journalism, support our work with a one-time or recurring contribution.   View our Privacy Notice and our Terms of Service.   Vox Media, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, Floor 12, Washington, DC 20036. Copyright © 2022. All rights reserved.