CRYSTAL: TONIGHT ON GREATER BOSTON, WIDESPREAD SLOWDOWNS ON THE T ARE JUST THE LATEST ISSUES TO PLAY FOR STRUGGLING TRADE SYSTEM.

HOW ARE WRITERS STIRRING WITH THE RESULTING DELAYS AND WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO GET THE TEA UNDER CONTROL.

THAT THE MOST SIGNIFICANT NATIONAL ABORTION CASE SINCE THE OVERTURNING OF ROE V. WADE.

HEAD OF THE ACLU MASSACHUSETTS -- THE HEAD OF THE ACLU OF MASSACHUSETTS JOINS ME ABOUT HOW THIS LAW CAN LIMIT ABORTION ACCESS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

CRYSTAL: IF YOU LIVE IN AND AROUND BOSTON YOU ARE NO STRANGER TO THE NIGHTMARE THAT IS THE T. WE HAVE DEALT WITH THE REMNANTS, ACCIDENTS, ELECTRICAL ISSUES, DELAYS, SLOWDOWNS AND MORE.

THE LATEST HEADACHE, SPEED RESTRICTIONS.

UNCERTAIN SECTIONS OF MBA -- MBTA LINES, SPEEDS ARE CAPTIVE 25 MILES PER HOUR OR LESS.

AND ON THE GREEN LINE, THE LIMIT IS IN EFFECT ACROSS THE ENTIRE GROUP.

THIS IS A CUTBACK FROM AN MBTA DECISION LAST WEEK TO IMPOSE A GLOBAL SPEED RESTRICTIONS ACROSS THE BOARD.

AFTER A SITE VISIT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES FOUND SEVERAL TRACK DEFECTS.

THE SLOWDOWN COMES AS THE TEA IS ALREADY OPERATING ON A REDUCED SURFACE SCHEDULE, CUTS THAT WERE PUT IN PLACE LAST JUNE AND REMAIN AS THE AGENCY ADDRESSES A DIFFERENT -- SHORTAGE OF DISPATCHERS OPERATORS AND TRAINS PREVENTING THEM FROM RESTORING TO FULL-SERVICE.

THEIR ADVICE TO WRITERS ALLOWS AN EXTRA MINUTE -- UNITS OF TRAVEL TIME FOR THE COMMUTE.

JOINING ME TO DISCUSS OFFICE AND CURSED THE FRUSTRATION OUR STATES REPRESENTED AS MIKE CONLEY, REP SEDATIVES SOMERVILLE, AND THE DIRECTOR OF TRANSIT MATTER.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME.

REP. CONNOLLY: NEXT RETURNING US.

-- THANKS FOR JOINING US.

DIR.

JOHNSON: THANK YOU.

CRYSTAL: I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR WHAT YOU WERE HEARING FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS ABOUT THIS LATEST HEADACHE BEING SLOWDOWNS.

REP. CONNOLLY: WHAT GETS ME MORE THAN ANYTHING OF THE STORIES FROM CONSTITUENTS THAT TELL ME I'’M VERY BUSY, I'’M WORKING, I'’M A FAMILY, AND I DON'’T GET TO TALK -- TALK MY KID IN AT NIGHT BECAUSE I CANNOT LIE ON THE TRAIN TO GET MY ASHLEY HOME AFTER A LONG DAY OF WORK.

AND SO, WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK AHEAD OF US.

AND WE HAVE TO INVEST IN PEOPLE, WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON SAFETY, AND WE HAVE A LOT TO DEAL WITH WITH THE MBTA'’S BUDGET, I'’M SURE WE WILL GET INTO A LOT OF THAT.

CRYSTAL: JARRETT, I KNOW YOU SPEAK WITH WRITERS, I KNOW YOU PRESENT THEM IN SOME SPACES, WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM FOLKS, AS IT SEEMS LIKE INSULT TO INJURY DACA --?

DIR.

JOHNSON: WE HEAR WRITERS RETURNING TO DRIVING WHERE THEY DID NOT USED TO, THEY'’RE SAYING WE CANNOT AFFORD TO BE LIGHT, WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LEAVE 20-40 MINUTES EARLY AND THEN STILL WIND UP LATE, THIS IS HAVING A REAL IMPACT AND I THINK THE REP IS CORRECT IN DESCRIBING IT AS A DISASTER.

WE NEED TO BE TAKING IT SERIOUSLY, AND WE NEED TO BE MARSHALING THE RESOURCES TO FIX IT.

CRYSTAL: SPEAKING OF RESOURCES, TALK TO ME ABOUT WHAT YOU THINK SHOULD BE HAPPENING WITH THIS MASSIVE BUDGET DEBT THAT THEY HAVE.

REP. CONNOLLY: THERE ARE SOME GOOD NEWS I WOULD SAY, LAST YEAR MASSACHUSETTS THANKS TO OUR VOTERS TOOK A MAJOR STEP TOWARDS PROGRESS WHEN HE PASSED THE FAIR SHARE AMENDMENT, SO THE FINALLY MAKE BIGGER INVESTMENTS IN TRANSPORTATION.

BUT THAT WILL TAKE TIME TO SEE, AND THERE IS A LOT THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

I MEAN, RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE A SHORTAGE OF BUS DRIVERS.

WE NEED MORE ENGINEERING TALENT, MORE PROJECT MANAGEMENT TALENT, NOT TO MENTION IT GENERAL MANAGER.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE INVESTMENTS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN THERE WHILE WE FOCUS ON SAFETY, ON OPERATIONS, AND WHAT WE FOCUS ON THE CAPITAL INVESTMENTS SO THAT THE SYSTEM CAN HOPEFULLY SOMEDAY BE WORLD-CLASS.

CRYSTAL: JUST A FOLLOW-UP ON THAT, DO YOU THINK THAT THE SHORTAGE IN STAFF AROUND THE TEA IS BECAUSE OF THE ENVIRONMENT AT THE T, OR IS THERE A LARGER ISSUE THAT IS HAPPENING DACA --?

REP. CONNOLLY: THERE ARE CERTAINLY A LOT OF FACTORS.

WHEN GOVERNOR BAKER TOOK OFFICE, HE FOCUSED A LOT ON CAPITAL INVESTMENT AND THERE WAS A GREAT FOCUS ON GETTING MONEY OUT THE DOOR.

THAT WAS FINE.

BUT I THINK WHERE THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION DROPPED THE BALL WAS INCONSIDERATE OPERATIONS, CONCERNING SAFETY, CONSIDERING INVESTMENTS AND THE TALENT THAT CAN DELIVER.

HERE IN MY DISTRICT I AM PROUD TO REPRESENT CAMBRIDGE AND SOMERVILLE.

WE HAVE SEEN PROGRESS WITH THE COMPLETION OF THE EXTENSION, BUT I WILL SAY A LOT OF PEOPLE RAISED THEIR EYEBROWS WHEN WE LEARNED THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THAT PROJECT, JOHN DALTON, WOULD BE LEAVING TOWN.

THAT WAS A CASE WHERE THE TEA WENT OUT, THEY PROCURED TALENT, THAT TALENT DELIVERED, AND NOW IT'’S NOT CLEAR THAT TALENT WILL REMAIN IN THE AGENCY.

SO I THINK THERE HAS TO BE A HUGE FOCUS ON INVESTING IN PEOPLE.

WE CANNOT SIMPLY OUTSOURCE AND THEN TURNED TO CONSULTANTS TO TELL US WHAT TO DO.

THERE'’S A PLACE FOR THAT.

BUT THERE HAS TO BE A PLACE FOR INVESTING IN PEOPLE, DEVELOPING THE CAPACITY, ALLOWING THEM TO HELP IT -- JUST TURN THIS AROUND.

CRYSTAL: I WOULD ASK YOU FROM THE WRITER'’S PERSPECTIVE, I KNOW YOU DO WITH A LOT OF FOLKS WHO ARE IN THE MBTA, IS THIS LACK OF STAFF BEING FELT ACUTELY, AS PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO GET ON THE TRAIN, BUT ALSO WITH THE TRAINS BEING LATE, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

DIR.

JOHNSON: ABSOLUTELY.

AS YOU MENTIONED EARLIER, IT IS AN ISSUE WITH THE CONTROL CENTER, WHICH IS LEADING TO LONGER WAIT TIMES BETWEEN TRAINS , UNLIKE A BUS SERVICE.

WHICH HAS LED TO A CUT LAST YEAR, I THINK WE ARE COMING UP ON A YEAR OF THE T CUTTING THAT BUS SERVICE THE -- MATCH THE AMOUNT OF BUS OPERATORS THEY HAD.

A REPORT CANNOT THAT SAYS UNDER THIS REDUCED SCHEDULE WE ARE NOT ABLE TO MEET THE BUS TRIPS THEY HAVE SCHEDULED AND THOSE BUS TRIPS ARE BEING DROPPED.

EVEN THE LATEST INCIDENT WITH THE TRACK CONDITIONS AND THE SLOW ZONES RELATED TO THE TEAM NOT HAVING ENOUGH MAINTENANCE WORKERS.

I THINK IT'’S SPOT ON ABOUT HOW WE PUT, YOU KNOW, WE PUT AN EMPHASIS ON THE BUDGET AND THAT WAS GREAT, BUT NOT THINKING ABOUT THAT OPERATING BUDGET HAS CONSEQUENCES, AND THAT REALLY HAS TO BE THE FOCUS OF THIS ADMINISTRATION.

NOT LETTING THE FOOT OFF THE GAS ON CAPITAL BUDGETS, PUTTING EVEN MORE ON CAPITAL, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO HAVE A COMMISERATE FOCUS ON OPERATIONS AS WELL.

THE IMPACT IS BEING FELT WIDE ACROSS THE SYSTEM.

CRYSTAL: HOW MUCH OF THIS IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THERE IS, THERE IS AN ACTING GM, BUT THERE HAS NOT BEEN AT GM THAT STAYED ON PAST A FEW YEARS.

DIR.

JOHNSON: THAT'’S A HUGE PART OF IT.

NOT HAVING THAT CONTINUITY AND STABILITY HAS BEEN DIFFICULT, BUT I THINK THE CHALLENGE FOR THE T IS THAT, YOU KNOW, I, I HAVE NO INSIGHT INTO WHEN, I KNEW -- WISH I KNEW THAT INFORMATION.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE CANNOT WAIT FOR THAT NEW GENERAL MANAGER SO I THINK THE INTERIM GENERAL MANAGER WE HAVE NOW IS 70 WHO HAS BEEN AT THE T, WE HAVE START THAT PROCESS NOW, THAT'’S GREAT AND THEY CAN JUMP IN, BUT WRITERS NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET TO WORK TOMORROW.

AND SO STARTING THAT PROCESS IS REALLY CRITICAL, AND WE SHOULD NOT BE WAITING UNTIL WE GET A NEW GENERAL MANAGER BECAUSE WITHOUT HAVING THE VISION, WITHOUT HAVING THE VISION FOR THE MINISTER SHOULD, WITHOUT HAVING SUPPORT, ENERGY AND WILL SPEND SIX MONTHS GETTING UP TO SPEED WITH NO PROGRESS, IT'’S REALLY ABOUT FUNDAMENTALS.

CRYSTAL: REPRESENTATIVE CONNOLLY, AS A THING ABOUT THE SLOW ZONES, AND WHAT LINES HAVE BEEN AFFECTED, IT FEELS LIKE IT IS ALWAYS A LONG LOW INCOME CENSUS TRACTS, LOW INCOME, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, WORKING FOLKS PARTS THEY ARE THE MOST GREATLY IMPACTED BY SOMETHING LIKE THE SLOW ZONES, SOMETHING LIKE THE WORK, SOMETHING LIKE THE LINES BEING DELAYED OR CANCELED.

REP. CONNOLLY: IT'’S SUTURE.

70 DID THE THOUGHT EXPERIENCED -- EXTREMITY OF THE DAY.

IMAGINE IF THE STATE GOVERNMENT WOKE UP TOMORROW AND SET ALL HIGHWAYS WILL BE REDUCED TO 35 MILES PER HOUR.

IT WOULD BE -- NOT BE ACCESSIBLE, HE WOULD SEE MANY MORE ELECTED OFFICIALS ON THE FRONT LINES DEMANDING THAT CANNOT STAND.

BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE TRANSIT WRITING IN PUBLIC, THESE ACCESSIBLE CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN ACCEPTABLE, AND YOU RATTLE OFF ALL THESE SLOW ZONES, DOZENS AND DOZENS OF BLOCKS WAS IT -- RISK, GLOBAL SPEED RESTRICTIONS AND THEN THE BUS SERVICE WHERE THE MBTA IS SO FAR BEHIND IN HIRING BUS DRIVERS, HUNDREDS UPON HUNDREDS OF BUS DRIVERS WITH VACANT POSITIONS.

WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FULFILL A STANDARD SCHEDULE.

I WOULD AGREE WITH JIM INSOFAR AS AND ALSO, FOR SECRETARY GENERAL LUIS HE SAID THE POINT, THAT THE GENERAL MANAGER WILL NOT BE A HERO WHO CAN WALK IN AND FIX IT ALL, WE REALLY HAVE TO FOCUS ON FILLING ALL OF THE DIFFERENT POSITIONS AT I DO GIVE JEFF SOME CREDIT, HE HANDLED THE TERRIBLE SITUATION LAST WEEK WITH SOME TRANSPARENCY.

AND ALSO JUST TAKE QUICK NOTE, GOVERNOR HALEY HAS MADE SHAKEUPS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES, AND THIS MOST RECENT SET OF SLOWDOWNS IS A RESULT OF DPU ACTUALLY STARTING TO DO OVERSIGHT IN A REAL WAY FOR THE FIRST TIME.

THOSE WERE SOME REALLY ENCOURAGING SIGNS, BUT THERE IS SO MUCH MORE THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

CRYSTAL: JARED, I HEARD ABOUT THE SLOWDOWNS AND I IMMEDIATELY SAW ON TWITTER PEOPLE NOTICING THE COMMUNITIES THAT WOULD BE THE MOST AFFECTED.

DIR.

JOHNSON: ABSOLUTELY.

IT'’S FOLKS WHO DON'’T HAVE THE ABILITY TO SHOW UP LATE.

IF I'’M READY THE TRAIN, I CAN JOIN IT FROM A ZOOM MEETING, I CAN DO SOMETHING ON MY PHONE.

BUT FOR A LOT OF LOW INCOME WORKERS, A LOT OF WORKING-CLASS FOLKS, THEY CLOCK IN.

AND SO THAT TIME SPENT ON THE TRAIN HAS A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THEM.

WERE TALKING ABOUT PARENTS FOR WHOM A $25 LATE FEE FOR PICKING UP THE KIDS FROM CHILDCARE IS A BIG DEAL.

AND SO, ABSOLUTELY THESE THINGS IMPACT LOW INCOME WORKERS.

AND WHEN WE LOOK AT WHERE LOCAL INCOME -- WHERE LOW INCOME WORKERS ARE LIKELY TO LIVE, IT'’S AT THE END OF THE LINES.

THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CATCH A CHEAP UBER OR LEFT RIGHT OR JUST BITE THERE, THAT KIND OF THING.

ESPECIALLY IN THE WINTER.

THESE ARE FOLKS THAT ALREADY HAVE A LONG COMMUTE, AND THEN WE ARE ADDING, YOU KNOW, 20 MINUTES ON TOP OF IT, WHICH THE RED LINE IS ALREADY ABOUT 35-40 MINUTES SLOWER, FROM L TO BRAINTREE ALREADY.

WE ARE ALREADY TALKING ABOUT THAT.

THAT IS A TIME TAX ON LOW INCOME FOLKS.

CRYSTAL: THAT'’S A GREAT WAY TO PUT IT.

IT IS A TIME TAX.

IN THE LAST MINUTE AND A HALF, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT YOU BOTH THINK THE HEALY ADMINISTRATION FEES TO DO GOING FORWARD.

OR HAS DONE, IN THE WORKS, TO HELP FIX THIS PROBLEM FOR WRITERS WHO ARE WATCHING THIS, SAYING WHAT JARED WAS SAYING, WE NEED HELP NOW, WE NEED SOLUTIONS NOW.

ANDRA PRESENTED OF CONNOLLY, I WILL START WITH YOU.

-- AND REPRESENTATIVE CONNOLLY I WILL START WITH YOU.

CRYSTAL:REP. CONNOLLY: WE NEED A FULL BOARD, WE ARE IN LIMBO, AND WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER ON THAT WITH THE LEDGE LATER.

WE NEED TO HAVE THE CITY OF BOSTON REPRESENTED ON THE BOARD.

AND HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU HAVE, I COULD TALK FOR HOURS ABOUT WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

NOT JUST COME BACK TO WHERE HE STARTED TO SAY THERE HAS TO BE A FOCUS ON INVESTING IN PEOPLE.

WE CAN'’T NICKEL AND DIME OUR WAY OUT OF THIS.

WE HAVE TO INVEST IN HUMAN TALENT, PEOPLE WHO CAN WORK FOR THE TEAM FOR BEER -- LONG PERIODS OF TIME, AND GAIN EXPERIENCE.

WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH AN OPERATING BUDGET THAT IS ABOUT TO EXPLODE IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, AND CREATE EVEN MORE DEFICITS AND CHALLENGES.

CRYSTAL: JARED.

DIR.

JOHNSON: I WOULD ALSO ADD THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE TRANSIT A PRIORITY, SOMETIMES PEOPLE TRY NOT TO ENGAGE WITH IT BECAUSE THEY THINK IT ISN'’T IMPORTANT.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS AN IMPACT ACROSS SO MANY DIFFERENT AVENUES.

YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR WORK ON HOUSING, AND ON SMART RAIL.

DOES NOT WORK WITHOUT THE T. THE ABILITY TO MEET THE CLIMATE GOALS WILL FAIL WITHOUT THE TEA.

OUR STRATEGY TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE ECONOMICALLY WILL FAIL WITHOUT THE T. AND SO, IT REALLY IS, WE HAVE TO MAKE TRANSIT A PRIORITY AND REALIZED THAT WE, WE HAVE YOU KNOW, THIS USED TO BE ONE OF THE BEST TRANSIT AGENCIES IN THE COUNTRY, IF NOT THE WORLD.

BUT THAT WAS WHEN YOU HAD AN ADMINISTRATION AND LEGISLATURE IN A COMMUNITY THAT WAS WILLING TO PUT IN THE RESOURCES, SO WE HAVE TO REALIZE THAT THE T IS IN INVESTMENT.

A REPORT FROM YEARS AGO FROM BEFORE THE PANDEMIC SAID ON A $3 BILLION A YEAR BUDGET, THE T PRODUCES AN IMPACT OF ABOUT $11 BILLION, IN EVERY CORNER OF THE STATE.

TRANSIT HAS TO BE A PRIORITY BECAUSE IT IS CONNECTED TO SO MANY AVENUES AND WAYS THAT WE WANT TO MAKE OUR COMMONWEALTH BETTER AND MORE EQUITABLE AND MORE ECONOMICALLY VIBRANT.

CRYSTAL: WILL HAVE TO LIVE IT THERE.

PRESENTED OF MIKE CONNOLLY AND JARRED JOHNSON.

THINKING SOME FREE TIME.

-- THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

UP NEXT TO TEXAS LAWSUIT THAT COULD IMPACT ACCESS TO ABORTION ACROSS THE COUNTRY INCLUDING IN MASSACHUSETTS.

A FEDERAL JUDGE IN THE STATE HEARD ARGUMENTS IN A CASE LOOKING TO REVERSE THE FDA APPROVAL OF A COMMON ABORTION MEDICATION.

MORE THAN TWO DECADES AGO, THE AGENCY APPROVED THE MEDICATION, WHICH, WHEN TAKEN ALONG WITH ANOTHER DRUG, BECAUSE A MEDICALLY INDUCED ABORTION.

THOSE DRUGS ARE USED IN MORE THAN HALF OF ALL ABORTIONS IN THE U.S., AND THOUGH THE LAWSUIT WAS FILED IN TEXAS, DEPENDING ON THE RULING BY A JUDGE APPOINTED BY PRESIDENT TRUMP, A COULD HALT THE SALES IN ALL STATES NATIONWIDE.

REGARDLESS OF LOCAL ABORTION LAWS.

JOINING ME NOT TO DISCUSS ALL OF THIS AND THE IMPACT IT HASN'’T ABORTION RIGHTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY IS CAROL ROSE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ACLU OF MASSACHUSETTS.

HIGH CAROL.

DIR.

ROSE: GREAT TO BE HERE.

CRYSTAL: TALK TO ME ABOUT THE MERITS OF THIS TEXAS CASE AND HOW IT COULD HAVE SUCH A WIDESPREAD EFFECT.

DIR.

ROSE: THIS IS A CASE THAT WAS FILED INTENTIONALLY IN AMARILLO TEXAS BY A GROUP OF ANTIABORTION EXTREMISTS WHO ARE -- WORK JUDGE SHOPPING, THEY WANTED THIS PARTICULAR JUDGE, HE HAS A HISTORY OF RULING AGAINST THINGS LIKE THESE.

THEY ARE ASKING THIS JUDGE IF HE COULD PUT A BAN ON THE USE OF THE FDA'’S APPROVAL FOR AN INCREDIBLY SAFE DRUG THAT HAS BEEN USED FOR OVER 20 YEARS IN AN EFFORT TO TRY TO BAN ACCESS TO ABORTION, NATIONWIDE.

TODAY WAS A REALLY HIGH-STAKES HEARING ON THAT CASE.

TOOK ABOUT FOUR HOURS, TODAY.

AND WE ARE EXPECTING A RULING FROM THE JUDGE AT ANY MOMENT.

CRYSTAL: WHY WOULD IT IMPACT THE ABORTION LAWS OR RIGHTS THAT WE HAVE HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS?

DIR.

ROSE: TO BE CLEAR, NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS TODAY, ABORTION WILL STILL BE LEGAL HERE, THE LEASE FOR THE TIME BEING.

THERE IS A NUMBER OF WAYS THE JUDGE COULD RULE.

FIRST HE COULD GRANT AN EMERGENCY INJUNCTION IN PART, SO HE WOULD UPHOLD THE FDA'’S APPROVAL, OF THIS DRUG, WHICH HAPPENED IN 2000.

AND IF THE FDA HAS TO REINSTATE SOME RESTRICTIONS LIKE SHOWING UP IN PERSON TO GET THE DRUG, OBVIOUSLY THAT WOULD NEGATIVELY IMPACT PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN REMOTE OR RURAL AREAS, OR PEOPLE WHO DON'’T HAVE THE ABILITY TO TRAVEL TO A DOCTOR'’S OFFICE.

OR, THE JUDGE MIGHT ALSO ISSUE AN EMERGENCY INJUNCTION INFO, SAYING THE FDA HAS TO STOP THE APPROVAL COMPLETELY OF THIS PARTICULAR ABORTION MEDICINE, AND THAT WENT IMPACT THE ABILITY OF EVERYONE NATIONWIDE.

IT WILL BE CHALLENGED THE MOST IMMEDIATELY, SOME PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW THAT.

AND THERE ARE OTHER WAYS PEOPLE CAN ACCESS ABORTION CURES.

THERE ARE OTHER DRUGS USED IN CONDUCT -- CONJUNCTION WITH THIS ONE, BUT THIS ONE WOULD STILL BE AVAILABLE.

ABORTIONS WILL STILL CONTINUE.

THIS IS PART OF A NATIONWIDE STRATEGY BY ANTIABORTION EXTREMISTS TO TRY TO BAN ABORTION FOR EVERYONE THREAT THE COUNTRY.

CRYSTAL: WE SAW ROE V. WADE BE OVERTURNED, AND THERE WAS A PREDICTION OUT THERE THAT WE WOULD SEE CASES LIKE THESE POP UP ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

DIR.

ROSE: THIS IS PART OF A LARGER STRATEGY.

SO, HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS, OUR LEGISLATURE AND OUR GOVERNOR HAVE DONE WONDERFUL WORK IN ENSURING THAT WE HAVE THE STRONGEST PROTECTIONS FOR ABORTION PATIENTS AND PROVIDERS HERE AS WELL AS, BY THE WAY, THESE DRUGS ARE USED FOR MISCARRIAGE CURES.

WHEN WE RECOGNIZE THAT ABORTION IS REALLY HEALTH CARE WE SEE THAT THIS IS A DIRECT ATTACK ON ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

BECAUSE THE SUPREME COURT RULED IN THE CASE OVERTHROWING ROE V. WADE THAT THERE IS NO FEDERAL CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTION, NOW WE HAVE A PATCHWORK WITH EACH STATE HAVING ITS OWN APPROACH TO ENSURING OR DENYING ABORTION CARE.

THIS ATTEMPT TO TRY TO GET THE JUDGE TO ISSUE A NATIONWIDE BANK TO FORCE THE FDA TO BAN ACCESS TO MENTOR FIRST-OUT IS A TEST CASE -- THIS DRUG IS A TEST CASE TO SEE IF THEY CAN MOVE IN OTHER WAYS TO BAN ALL FORMS OF ABORTION NATIONWIDE.

CRYSTAL: WHAT DO WE SEE IS THE DANGER OF THIS TYPE OF THING.

THIS DRUG, WHICH HAS BEEN PROVEN SAFE FOR 20 YEARS, THEN HE GOES OFF THE MARKET, WHAT HAPPENS THEN ?

?

DIR.

ROSE: IT WAS INCREDIBLE HE SAY, HE WAS ASKING THE LAWYERS WHAT THEY THOUGHT ABOUT THIS PROCESS FOR APPROVING MOTHER CRYSTAL, AND IT TOOK MORE THAN FOUR YEARS TO GET THE FDA APPROVAL, BACK IN 2000.

AND IT IS SAFER THAN TYLENOL.

IT IS SAFER THAN VIAGRA.

THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY SAFE ABORTION MEDICINE, ANGRILY SAFE MEDICINE.

AND SO, THE IMPACT THAT THIS IS GOING TO HAVE IS ONCE AGAIN MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT TO ACCESS ABORTION AND MISCARRIAGE CARE.

HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS WE ARE LIKELY TO SEE AN INCREASE IN PEOPLE COMING TO MASSACHUSETTS OR SEEKING HELP FROM MASSACHUSETTS PROVIDERS AS A WAY TO CONTINUE TO GET ACCESS TO ABORTION CARE.

BECAUSE PEOPLE KNOW THAT IF YOU NEED THIS IN YOUR LIFE YOU ARE GOING TO FIND A WAY TO GET THERE, IT'’S JUST HARDER FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE POOR, HARDER FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN RURAL AREAS AND WE HAD THE ACLU REALLY BELIEVES STRONGLY THAT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT EVERYONE HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO ABORTION CURES, HEALTH CARE, AND PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO THAT.

CRYSTAL: I KNOW THAT WHEN THESE CASES COME UP, DOCTORS WHO DO PROVIDE ABORTION CARE TEND TO END UP BEING TARGETS, WHETHER FOLKS TARGETING THEIR LICENSOR, WHETHER OR NOT -- LICENSE SURE, WHETHER OR NOT THERE QUESTIONING THEIR PERCEPTIONS, IN TERMS OF LEGAL MATTERS ARE THERE DOCTORS THAT ARE TRYING TO SHARPEN PRETAPED -- CREATE PROTECTIONS?

DIR.

ROSE: WORKING WITH OUR ALLIES AT REPRODUCTIVE EQUITY IN MASSACHUSETTS HAVE OPENED A HOTLINE FOR PATIENTS OR PROVIDERS WHO HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THEY STAY OUT OF TROUBLE WITH THE LAW.

AND THEY CAN CALL THAT NUMBER AT 833-309-6301.

IN ADDITION OUR ALLIES AT -- AT PLANNED PARENTHOOD HAD ASSURED US THAT THEY HAD THE ABILITY TO CONTINUE TO ABORTION AND MISCARRIAGE CARE FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED IT, AND WE IN MASSACHUSETTS REALLY LEAD THE NATION, WE HAVE THE BEST LAW IN THE NATION TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN ACCESS ABORTION CARE WHEN THEY NEED IT, AND DESPITE THESE EFFORTS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE IN REMOTE PLACES LIKE AMARILLO TEXAS TO TRY TO CHANGE THE LAW FOR EVERYBODY ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THE ACLU AND OUR ALLIES ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST THAT, CONTINUE TO ENSURE THAT PATIENTS AND PROVIDERS CAN ACCESS THIS FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO HEALTH CARE.

CRYSTAL: HOW SUCCESSFUL IN YOUR OPINION AND YOUR EXPERIENCE IS THIS CASE IN TEXAS GOING TO BE, IS THERE NO WAY TO KNOW, DOES IT NECESSARILY DEPEND ON EACH CASE-BY-CASE CIRCUMSTANCE?

DIR.

ROSE: IT WILL BE LITIGATED.

A LOT OF LAWYERS WILL BE BUSY FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS BECAUSE THE SUPREME COURT HAS LIVED WITH THIS PATCHWORK OF STATE-BY-STATE CONFLICTING LAWS.

AND SO I THINK THIS CASE WILL BE FOUGHT OUT FOR A LONG TIME, THERE IS ANOTHER CASE THAT IS COMING OUT OF THE ATTORNEYS GENERAL OUT OF WASHINGTON STATE, THEY ARE ACTUALLY CHALLENGING THE FDA SAY THAT THEY DON'’T HAVE ANY FRUSTRATIONS GOING IN THE OTHER DIRECTION, THERE IS ANOTHER CASE FROM 2017, THERE WILL BE BATTLES AND RECORDS FROM BOTH SIDES, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING TO MASSACHUSETTS UNDERSCORE FIRE SUPPORT CONNECTED TO THE FULL EXTENT OF THE LAW AND THAT THE ACLU OUR ALLIES ARE THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT ACCESS TO ABORTION AND MISCARRIAGE CARE IS AVAILABLE, NOT ONLY IN THE LAW, BUT IN REALITY.

CRYSTAL: CAROL ROSE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

SHORTAGES OF ADDERALL HAVE MADE IT HARD FOR ADHD PATIENTS TO GET A HOLD OF THEIR PRESCRIPTIONS, WHICH MANY SAY HAVE BEEN CHANGING.

ONCE BEHIND THIS SHORTAGE AND WHEN WILL IT BE OVER?

CANNOT ROUHALTER HAS THE ANSWERS.

ROUHALTER: YOU'’VE BEEN CALLING TO GET YOUR ADHD MEDICATION, IT USED TO BE AN EASY REFILL THAT HAS BECOME A DAYS LONG, EVERY TIME YOU NEED MORE.

HOW DID WE GET HERE AND WHEN WILL IT GET BETTER?

I'’M, ROUHALTER WITH CONTEXT.

TELL ME IF THIS SOUNDS FAMILIAR.

YOU CALL YOUR DOCTOR FOR YOUR TRIED AND TRUE IDIOCY MEDICATION.

THEY CALL INTO THE PHARMACY AND OUT.

THEY CALL AROUND TO OTHER PHARMACIES AND THERE'’S 150 MILES AWAY THAT HAS A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT VERSION OF THE SAME GENERAL PRESCRIPTION.

YOU CALL YOUR DOCTOR BACK AND THEY CALL IN THE NEW PRESCRIPT INTO THE FARAWAY PHARMACY.

YOU RACE THERE BEFORE THEY RUN OUT.

ONLY TO FIND THERE IS NO GENERIC VERSION OF THAT ONE AVAILABLE, MEANING IT COSTS THREE TIMES AS MUCH.

YOU PAY, HOPING THE NEW MEDICATION IS IN FACT CLOSE ENOUGH TO YOUR USUAL ONE.

WHILE DREADING THE THOUGHT OF DOING THIS ALL AGAIN NEXT MONTH.

SO WHY IS THIS HAPPENING " OUT LIKE SO MANY MODERN SOCIAL ILLS, THIS IS ONE THING THE PANDEMIC MADE WORSE.

WHEN THE WORLD SHUTDOWN IN 2020, TELL US WHAT -- CAP TELEMEDICINE BECAME ALL THE RAGE.

YOU CAN TALK TO A DOCTOR, GET A PROFESSIONAL DIAGNOSIS, MAYBE A PRESCRIPTION, WITHOUT LEAVING YOUR CASH.

WITH EVERYONE COOPED UP, WORKING AND SCHOOLING AND DOING LITERALLY EVERYTHING WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THEIR HOMES, CONCENTRATION WAS HARDER.

YOU KNOW IT HELPS CONCENTRATION, IDIOCY MEDICATION.

TELEMEDICINE DOCTORS PRESCRIBE THEM.

A LOT OF THEM.

IN FACT AFTER THREE STRAIGHT YEARS OF ADDERALL PRESCRIPTION INCREASES HOVERING AROUND 5%, IN 2021 THEY DOUBLED TO MORE THAN 10%.

AND WHEN EVEN HIGHER IN 2022.

WHICH IS PROBABLY FINE, BECAUSE THE MAKERS OF THESE MEDICATIONS CAN JUST MAKE MORE, RIGHT.

WRONG.

ON TOP OF MANY FASHION INTERRUPTIONS, THE INGREDIENTS IN ADDERALL ARE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES.

AND THE DEA SETS NATIONWIDE LIMITS ON THEM BASED ON HOW MANY PEOPLE I'’VE USED THEM THE YEAR BEFORE.

MONTHS, ANIMAL DEMAND HAS PACED SUPPLY, AND THAT SHORTAGE HAS SENT PEOPLE SCRAGGLY FOR ALTERNATIVE MEDICATIONS, WHICH OF COURSE CREATED A SUPPLY ISSUE FOR THOSE AS WELL.

SO WHEN IS HE GOING TO GET BETTER DACA NOT ANYTIME SOON.

-- WHEN IS HE GOING TO GET BETTER?

NOT ANYTIME SOON.

THE DEA SAYS IT HAS NO INTENTION OF INCREASING THE LIMITS.

ACCORDING TO THEM THAT THERE IS STILL PLENTY TO MEET THE KNEE.

I GUESS THEY HAVE NOT TRIED TO FILL UP DISCUSSION LATELY.

ONE THING THEY ARE LOOKING TO DO IS PUT AN END TO THAT TELEHEALTH PRESCRIPTION DEAL FOR ADHD MEDICATION, AND A FEW OTHER PRESCRIPTIONS, MEANING YOU HAVE TO SEE A DOCTOR IN PERSON AT LEAST ONCE PER DIAGNOSIS.

WHILE THAT MIGHT HELP IN THE LONG TERM, MEDICAL EXPERTS SAY GET YOUR PLANS IN ORDER.

AND FIND ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS.

BECAUSE THIS WILL BE THE NORM FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

CRYSTAL: AND THAT'’S IT FOR TONIGHT, BUT COME BACK TOMORROW, WE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT THE STATE OF INFLATION AFTER THE SILICON VALLEY BANK COLLAPSE, AND HOW YOU CAN KEEP YOUR MONEY SAFE.

PLUS HISTORIAN ELIZABETH COMBS JOINS US WITH FEARLESS WOMEN, PATRIOTS FROM ABIGAIL TO BEYONCÉ.

I'’M CRYSTAL HANES, GOOD NIGHT.