January 16, 2015

“Daily Show” Explains the Absurdity in Alabama’s New Abortion Law That Appoints Lawyers for Fetuses

Back in September, Mother Jones reporter Molly Redden investigated a new law in Alabama forcing pregnant teenagers seeking an abortion to first receive parental consent. If she is unable to get permission, the teenager is then put on trial, giving judges the right to appoint attorneys to defend the unborn fetus.

This all sounds insane. Last night, “The Daily Show” sent correspondent Jessica Williams to the state to investigate. Here’s how some of that absurdity played out:

“You get a call from a fetus seeking legal representation, then what happens?” Williams asks unborn fetus attorney Julian McPhillips. 

“I cannot get a call from a fetus for anything much less legal representation,” he answers.

When questioned about how he meets in confidentiality with his unborn client, McPhillips shoots back, “I cannot communicate with them directly, you know better than to ask the question.”

“Well I don’t know! You have a crazy ass job, sir. I don’t know what’s in the realm of possibility and what’s in the realm of not possible.” 

For more on how judges humiliate teens seeking abortions, read our in-depth report here. 

Watch below:

 

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WE CAME UP SHORT.

We just wrapped up a shorter-than-normal, urgent-as-ever fundraising drive and we came up about $45,000 short of our $300,000 goal.

That means we're going to have upwards of $350,000, maybe more, to raise in online donations between now and June 30, when our fiscal year ends and we have to get to break-even. And even though there's zero cushion to miss the mark, we won't be all that in your face about our fundraising again until June.

So we urgently need this specific ask, what you're reading right now, to start bringing in more donations than it ever has. The reality, for these next few months and next few years, is that we have to start finding ways to grow our online supporter base in a big way—and we're optimistic we can keep making real headway by being real with you about this.

Because the bottom line: Corporations and powerful people with deep pockets will never sustain the type of journalism Mother Jones exists to do. The only investors who won’t let independent, investigative journalism down are the people who actually care about its future—you.

And we hope you might consider pitching in before moving on to whatever it is you're about to do next. We really need to see if we'll be able to raise more with this real estate on a daily basis than we have been, so we're hoping to see a promising start.

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