Coverage dated April 6, 2023 to April 10, 2023

Supreme Court may surprise Americans on abortion pill ruling

Headline from Newsweek, on the newest of 3 developments

The Texas case is on track to head to the Supreme Court, but the bench's conservative majority could reject a lower judge's decision to prohibit the pill.

Newsweek's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Earlier updates in this story

Developments in this update

3 dated developments, oldest first, newest marked. Each is named by one outlet's own headline; open its reports to see every outlet that covered it.

Apr 7, 2023
Texas Abortion-Pill Ruling Ignites New National Battle
Headline from Wall Street Journal ·
Apr 9, 2023
Texas judge resurrects 'Comstock Act' claiming FDA's abortion pill violated federal rules
Headline from Digital Journal ·
Apr 10, 2023Newest
Supreme Court may surprise Americans on abortion pill ruling
Headline from Newsweek ·

Read the reports

Reports & sources

47 articles, oldest first.

Wall Street Journal
Abortion-Pill Approval Suspended By U.S. Judge (opens Wall Street Journal)
Published Apr 6, 2023
Wall Street Journal's feed description
A federal judge in Texas said the FDA erred in approving the most common method for ending a pregnancy, but delayed ruling’s impact for one week.
The Guardian
Texas federal judge pauses government approval of abortion pill (opens The Guardian)
Published Apr 6, 2023
The Guardian's feed description
Trump-appointed judge rules in case arguing FDA exceeded its regulatory authority when it approved mifepristone in 2000
Washington Examiner
Texas judge suspends FDA approval of major abortion pill (opens Washington Examiner)
Published Apr 6, 2023
Washington Examiner's feed description
A federal judge in Texas has halted the Food and Drug Administration's approval of a pill involved in roughly half of abortions nationwide, a decision that will likely reduce the availability of abortions in states where the procedure is legal.
Courthouse News Service
Texas federal judge halts FDA approval of abortion pill mifepristone (opens Courthouse News Service)
Published Apr 7, 2023
Courthouse News Service's feed description
U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, a Trump appointee, concluded the agency should have denied approval of mifepristone in 2000.
The Christian Post
Judge suspends FDA approval of abortion pill, blames 'political pressure' for lack of restrictions (opens The Christian Post)
Published Apr 7, 2023
The Christian Post's feed description
A federal judge in Texas suspended the U S Food and Drug Administration s approval of the chemical abortion pill nationwide Friday Not long after, a federal judge in Washington state issued an ...
Wall Street Journal
What the Texas Court’s Abortion-Pill Ruling Means for FDA (opens Wall Street Journal)
Published Apr 7, 2023
Wall Street Journal's feed description
The decision to revoke approval of mifepristone could end courts’ traditional deference to the regulatory agency’s scientific judgments, lawyers say.
Rolling Stone
'Ignore This Ruling': Pro-Choice Groups and Lawmakers Rally Against Abortion Pill Ban (opens Rolling Stone)
Published Apr 7, 2023
Rolling Stone's feed description
Bernie Sanders called the decision overreach by a right-wing judge who “does not know more than the women who have safely used this medication for decades”
The Daily Caller
‘Significant Victory’: Federal Judge Requires FDA Reverse Approval Of Abortion Pill (opens The Daily Caller)
Published Apr 7, 2023
The Daily Caller's feed description
A federal judge ruled Friday that the FDA must reverse its previous approval of the chemical abortion drugs mifepristone and misoprostol.
RedState
BREAKING: Fed. Judge Suspends FDA's Approval of Abortion Medication Pill (opens RedState)
Published Apr 7, 2023
RedState's feed description
The federal judge's ruling comes less than a month after Wyoming became the first U.S. state to ban the abortion pill.
Local News 8
READ: Dueling rulings from federal judges in Texas and Washington on medication abortion pill (opens Local News 8)
Published Apr 7, 2023
Local News 8's feed description
By CNN A federal judge in Texas issued a ruling Friday on medication abortion drug mifepristone, saying he will suspend the US Food and Drug Administration’s two-decade-old approval of it but paused his ruling for seven days so the federal government can appeal.
Hot Air
Texas judge suspends FDA approval of abortion pill as Washington judge protects it (opens Hot Air)
Published Apr 7, 2023
Hot Air's feed description
Two judges, two contradicting opinions
NBC News
Democrats condemn Texas abortion pill ruling and the Trump judge who issued it (opens NBC News)
Published Apr 7, 2023
NBC News's feed description
Top Republican in Congress have remained largely silent on the decision to suspend the Food and Drug Administration’s longtime approval of the drug, mifepristone.
Washington Examiner
Biden administration appeals Texas abortion pill ruling, setting up legal fight (opens Washington Examiner)
Published Apr 7, 2023
Washington Examiner's feed description
The Biden administration announced it would appeal a ruling by a federal judge in Texas to halt the approval of mifepristone, effectively banning the sale of the abortion pill across the country.
Newsweek
Trump-, Obama-appointed judges issue dueling decisions on abortion pill ban (opens Newsweek)
Published Apr 7, 2023
Newsweek's feed description
Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk ordered the FDA to invalidate its decades-long approval of mifepristone, while Judge Thomas Rice issued a contradictory ruling.
Axios
Washington judge orders FDA to not suspend abortion pill approval (opens Axios)
Published Apr 7, 2023
Axios's feed description
The Washington ruling conflicts with another one in Texas that is ordering the FDA to pause its approval of mifepristone.
The Guardian
‘Unborn human’: the anti-abortion rhetoric of Texas judge’s ruling (opens The Guardian)
Published Apr 7, 2023
The Guardian's feed description
Matthew Kacsmaryk issued a ruling on Friday aiming to suspend the FDA’s approval of abortion drug mifepristone
Wall Street Journal
Texas Abortion-Pill Ruling Ignites New National Battle (opens Wall Street Journal)
Published Apr 8, 2023
Wall Street Journal's feed description
A federal judge’s decision to suspend FDA approval of mifepristone could upend access even in liberal states such as New York and California.
Digital Journal
Texas judge resurrects 'Comstock Act' claiming FDA's abortion pill violated federal rules (opens Digital Journal)
Published Apr 8, 2023
Digital Journal's feed description
A Texas judge said that the FDA's approval of mifepristone more than two decades ago violated federal rules.
Bangor Daily News
Maine advocates denounce decision revoking FDA approval for abortion pill (opens Bangor Daily News)
Published Apr 8, 2023
Bangor Daily News's feed description
Gov. Janet Mills called the mifepristone decision "reckless," saying it ignored basic science and facts.
NPR
Texas judge's anti-abortion drug ruling is indefensible, says lawyer (opens NPR)
Published Apr 9, 2023
NPR's feed description
NPR's Juana Summers talks with lawyer Adam Unikowski about a Texas judge's ruling overturning FDA approval for the abortion pill mifepristone.
Axios
GOP Rep. Nancy Mace joins AOC in urging FDA to "ignore" abortion pill freeze (opens Axios)
Published Apr 9, 2023
Axios's feed description
If the ruling stands, then it would effectively create a nationwide ban on abortion medication.
Al Jazeera
Biden admin seeks to halt ruling suspending sale of abortion pill (opens Al Jazeera)
Published Apr 9, 2023
Al Jazeera's feed description
The abortion pill mifepristone accounts for more than half of all abortions in the US and is considered safe to use.
Bloomberg
Hundreds of Drugmakers Condemn Texas Judge’s Abortion Pill Order (opens Bloomberg)
Published Apr 9, 2023
Bloomberg's feed description
Hundreds of biotech and pharmaceutical industry executives condemned a ruling by a federal judge in Texas to suspend the US government’s decades-old approval of a key drug used in medication abortion.
NBC News
Drugmakers led by Pfizer blast Texas judge's abortion pill decision (opens NBC News)
Published Apr 9, 2023
NBC News's feed description
More than 200 biopharma groups said the ruling undermines the FDA's drug approval process.
Townhall
Nancy Mace Says FDA Should 'Ignore' Court Ruling on Abortion Pill (opens Townhall)
Published Apr 9, 2023

Showing the first 25 of 43 headlines. ·

Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.