On Thursday evening and Friday morning, NBC, ABC, and CBS were in full panic mode over Oklahoma passing “the most restrictive abortion law in this country.” ABC’s Good Morning America went so far as to wail that there was “a race among the states to pass the most extreme law restricting abortion.” However, none of network coverage examined some of extreme pro-abortion laws in leftist states across the country.
After the network evening newscasts melted down over the new pro-life legislation in Oklahoma Thursday night, ABC’s Good Morning America began with fill-in co-host Cecilia Vega warning: “Abortion rights fight. Oklahoma passing the strictest law in the nation. What it means for women with the Supreme Court possibly on the verge of overturning Roe vs. Wade.”
Introducing a full report minutes later, she repeated: “It is the most restrictive ban in the country and it comes as the Supreme Court could soon overturn Roe v. Wade.” Correspondent Terry Moran followed with this hysterical fearmongering:
This is a glimpse into the future for so many American women. With the Supreme Court seemingly poised to overturn Roe vs. Wade, it’s looking more and more like a race among the states to pass the most extreme law restricting abortion. And right now, Oklahoma is winning.
NBC’s Today show only offered a news brief on the topic, but co-host Hoda Kotb still sounded the alarm: “The Oklahoma Legislature passed a bill yesterday that would ban nearly all abortions, making it the most restrictive law in the country.”
“Now to the fight over abortion and a new law passed in Oklahoma that is now the most restrictive abortion law in this country,” co-host Gayle King worried on CBS Mornings. She parroted helpful talking points from the pro-abortion lobby: “Oklahoma’s one of 26 states that are certain or likely to ban abortion if the Supreme Court allows it. Now that's according to a leading abortion rights group.”
King remarked to correspondent Jan Crawford: “And Jan, what does this new Oklahoma law say? Because either – depending on your point of view, you’re either very concerned or you’re cheering.” Crawford lamented: “Well, that’s the whole issue of abortion, right, it’s so divisive.”
The reporter then proceeded to frame the pro-life Oklahoma law as being on the fringe: “It will go further than the similar Texas law, which bans abortion as early as six week and gives private citizens the right to enforce it by suing abortion providers....So this latest legislation now, it goes even further. It says abortion is banned any time after fertilization.”
While the networks were eager to throw around words like “extreme” or phrases like “the most restrictive law in the country” when it came to regulating abortion in red states, the left-wing media never seem to show any concern for pro-abortion laws in blue states going too far.
When Colorado passed a radical law just last month that would allow abortions to be performed right up to the moment of birth, Politifact rushed to defend the measure from criticism and The Washington Post spent it’s time exclusively denouncing “extreme” pro-life laws.
In the wake of the leaked draft opinion suggesting the Supreme Court was prepared to overturn Roe v. Wade, ABC’s Good Morning America touted California as a destination for women seeking abortions. In fact, Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom vowed to massively expand abortion funding across the Golden State in preparation.
Back in 2019, the networks went completely silent when then-New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed an extreme pro-abortion law that significantly expanded the procedure and was roundly condemned by pro-life organizations and the Catholic Church – including New York’s Cardinal Timothy Dolan.
In addition to extreme pro-abortion agendas at the state level, pro-life organization Susan B. Anthony List details the multiple ways in which the Biden administration is “the most pro-abortion administration ever.”
The media decry any law that seeks to regulate or curb abortion in any way but they never seem to find pro-abortion legislation they don’t like.
Panic over pro-life laws on ABC was brought to viewers by Old Navy, it was brought to NBC viewers by Walmart, and it was brought to CBS viewers by Cadillac. You can fight back by letting these advertisers know what you think of them sponsoring such content.
Here is a full transcript of the May 20 report on ABC’s GMA:
7:01 AM ET TEASE
CECILIA VEGA: Abortion rights fight. Oklahoma passing the strictest law in the nation. What it means for women with the Supreme Court possibly on the verge of overturning Roe vs. Wade.
7:13 AM ET SEGMENT
CECILIA VEGA: We’re gonna turn now to the battle over abortion rights. Oklahoma passing a near total ban outlawing the procedure from conception and in nearly all cases. It is the most restrictive ban in the country and it comes as the Supreme Court could soon overturn Roe v. Wade. Terry Moran is outside the Court with the latest. Good morning, Terry.
TERRY MORAN: Good morning, Cecilia. This is a glimpse into the future for so many American women. With the Supreme Court seemingly poised to overturn Roe vs. Wade, it’s looking more and more like a race among the states to pass the most extreme law restricting abortion. And right now, Oklahoma is winning.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Oklahoma Passes Near-Total Abortion Ban; Move Comes With Supreme Court Set to Rule on Roe v. Wade]
MORAN: This morning, there’s a new reality for women emerging in Oklahoma. The state legislature has passed the country’s most restrictive ban on abortion, relying on private citizens to enforce it.
EMILY WALES [INTERIM PRESIDENT & CEO, PLANNED PARENTHOOD GREAT PLAINS]: Once signed, abortion will be illegal in Oklahoma, full stop.
MORAN: The new law bans abortions from the moment of fertilization and in nearly all cases, except to protect the life of the mother or in cases of incest and rape, but only if those crimes are reported to police.
ABC’s Rachel Scott, noting how often crimes of rape and incest go unreported by victims, pressed the bill’s author.
STATE REP. WENDI STEARMAN [R-OK]: Well, the goal of this is to protect the child, the unborn child, so I believe that putting in the exception as we have it is acceptable in this situation.
MORAN: Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt has vowed to sign the bill into law, which would take effect immediately.
GOV. KEVIN STITT [R-OK]: We want to outlaw abortion in the state of Oklahoma.
MORAN: This law is enforced by empowering private citizens to sue anyone who assists in an abortion, with a reward of at least $10,000, like a law passed in Texas last year.
Abortion has been a constitutional right for nearly half a century now but the new conservative supermajority on the Supreme Court could change that. According to that leaked Supreme Court draft opinion obtained by Politico, five of the nine justices are ready to overturn Roe vs. Wade and let states make their own abortion laws.
Supporters of abortion rights, including Vice President Kamala Harris, warn of a new repressive era if the Oklahoma law becomes the norm.
KAMALA HARRIS: And it represents a threat, not just to women, but to all Americans.
MORAN: That Supreme Court decision that could overturn Roe vs. Wade could come as early as next week, but more likely at the end of June. And if the Supreme Court does go all the way and overturn Roe vs. Wade, there are at least 26 states that have laws ready to go that would ban or severely restrict abortion. George?
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Seismic impact. Okay, Terry, thanks very much.
Here is a full transcript of the news brief on NBC’s Today:
7:31 AM ET
HODA KOTB: The Oklahoma Legislature passed a bill yesterday that would ban nearly all abortions, making it the most restrictive law in the country.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Oklahoma Lawmakers Pass Abortion Ban]
Republican Governor Kevin Stitt expected to sign that measure, which would prohibit abortions after fertilization, with few exceptions. Abortion providers say they would stop performing the procedure as soon as the Governor signs the bill.
Here is a full transcript of the report on CBS Mornings:
7:06 AM ET
GAYLE KING: Now to the fight over abortion and a new law passed in Oklahoma that is now the most restrictive abortion law in this country. Oklahoma’s one of 26 states that are certain or likely to ban abortion if the Supreme Court allows it. Now that's according to a leading abortion rights group.
Jan Crawford covers the Supreme Court for us. And Jan, what does this new Oklahoma law say? Because either – depending on your point of view, you’re either very concerned or you’re cheering.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Oklahoma Passes Strict Abortion Law; Bill Would Be Nation’s Strictest, Banning Abortion After Conception]
JAN CRAWFORD: Well, that’s the whole issue of abortion, right, it’s so divisive. And this law, of course, would prohibit abortion at any point in pregnancy except to save a woman’s life or in the case of rape or incest. And they are only if it’s reported to law enforcement. It would take effect immediately after Governor Kevin Stitt signs it, which he has said he will do.
It will go further than the similar Texas law, which bans abortion as early as six week and gives private citizens the right to enforce it by suing abortion providers. Now that Texas law is in effect while it’s being challenged in court and that has caused some Texas women to seek abortions in Oklahoma. Oklahoma closed that door, though, earlier this month when it enacted its own six weeks ban.
So this latest legislation now, it goes even further. It says abortion is banned any time after fertilization. Emergency contraception, though, the so-called morning-after pill, that would not be affected. Now other states like Indiana and Nebraska, they’re considering similar laws. All of this, of course, anticipating that the Supreme Court will overturn Roe vs. Wade this summer and allow each state to set its own abortion policy. Nate?
NATE BURLESON: Jan, thank you.
