RantCrush Top 5: March 7, 2017

Yesterday, the White House reportedly told Planned Parenthood that the organization could keep its federal funding if it stops providing abortions. The suggestion was made in private conversations, and not as an official proposal, but PP has refused and said that money in exchange for abandoning its patients is “not a deal that we will ever accept.” Trump used to support access to abortion but changed his views in 2011. Diane Max, who is a major donor to Planned Parenthood, commented to the New York Times that Trump was “sympathetic to a woman’s right to choose until it was politically unpopular” for him.

Planned Parenthood says it was offered $ by Trump “to abandon” patients. Not a deal “we will ever accept” @maggieNYT https://t.co/1ssKZQ7Oei

— Eric Lipton (@EricLiptonNYT) March 6, 2017

As of now, the organization receives about $500 million in federal funding every year. Laws are already on the books preventing federal money from being used for abortions, but the government still wants to defund the organization as long as it offers the service.

One in five women in America has been to Planned Parenthood. They don’t come to make a political statement – they come for health care.

— Cecile Richards (@CecileRichards) February 4, 2017

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.