Shumita Basu

But the fact that this pushback is also happening in deeply red areas... could be a sign of a larger problem for the party down the road. Let's turn now to a recent investigation from ProPublica that found pregnancy in Texas has become much more dangerous in recent years.

The state implemented a six-week abortion ban in 2021, which became a total abortion ban in 2022, soon after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. But since then, no one at the state or federal level had studied the impacts of the policy on patients. So ProPublica did their own analysis using hospital data from 2017 through 2023. Reporter Lizzie Presser told us what they learned.

The state implemented a six-week abortion ban in 2021, which became a total abortion ban in 2022, soon after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. But since then, no one at the state or federal level had studied the impacts of the policy on patients. So ProPublica did their own analysis using hospital data from 2017 through 2023. Reporter Lizzie Presser told us what they learned.

The state implemented a six-week abortion ban in 2021, which became a total abortion ban in 2022, soon after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. But since then, no one at the state or federal level had studied the impacts of the policy on patients. So ProPublica did their own analysis using hospital data from 2017 through 2023. Reporter Lizzie Presser told us what they learned.

Developing sepsis is one way the body's immune system responds to infection, and it can be incredibly dangerous.

Developing sepsis is one way the body's immune system responds to infection, and it can be incredibly dangerous.

Developing sepsis is one way the body's immune system responds to infection, and it can be incredibly dangerous.

Before Roe v. Wade was overturned, the recommended standard of care for patients with pregnancy complications or miscarriages before fetal viability was to offer to terminate the pregnancy because of how dangerous infections can be. But today, under Texas law, a physician cannot terminate a pregnancy unless they can document the patient's life is at risk.

Before Roe v. Wade was overturned, the recommended standard of care for patients with pregnancy complications or miscarriages before fetal viability was to offer to terminate the pregnancy because of how dangerous infections can be. But today, under Texas law, a physician cannot terminate a pregnancy unless they can document the patient's life is at risk.

Before Roe v. Wade was overturned, the recommended standard of care for patients with pregnancy complications or miscarriages before fetal viability was to offer to terminate the pregnancy because of how dangerous infections can be. But today, under Texas law, a physician cannot terminate a pregnancy unless they can document the patient's life is at risk.

And doctors face up to 99 years in prison for violating that law.

And doctors face up to 99 years in prison for violating that law.

And doctors face up to 99 years in prison for violating that law.

According to ProPublica's analysis, that uncertainty physicians are facing could explain why Texas hospitals are seeing rising sepsis rates for pregnant patients.

According to ProPublica's analysis, that uncertainty physicians are facing could explain why Texas hospitals are seeing rising sepsis rates for pregnant patients.

According to ProPublica's analysis, that uncertainty physicians are facing could explain why Texas hospitals are seeing rising sepsis rates for pregnant patients.

Between 2019 and 2023, the maternal mortality rate rose in Texas by 33%. Meanwhile, nationwide, it dropped by 7.5%. And Presser says this trend with sepsis is not limited to Texas. Other states that have similar laws banning abortion are seeing sepsis rates climb, too, for patients experiencing complications before their pregnancies are viable.

Between 2019 and 2023, the maternal mortality rate rose in Texas by 33%. Meanwhile, nationwide, it dropped by 7.5%. And Presser says this trend with sepsis is not limited to Texas. Other states that have similar laws banning abortion are seeing sepsis rates climb, too, for patients experiencing complications before their pregnancies are viable.

Between 2019 and 2023, the maternal mortality rate rose in Texas by 33%. Meanwhile, nationwide, it dropped by 7.5%. And Presser says this trend with sepsis is not limited to Texas. Other states that have similar laws banning abortion are seeing sepsis rates climb, too, for patients experiencing complications before their pregnancies are viable.

Texas abortion law is under review this legislative session. As a result of ProPublica's reporting, Presser says Republican lawmakers in Texas, including several of the authors of abortion policy in the state, have expressed a willingness to amend the law to better protect the lives of patients. But it's unclear if proposed amendments will receive a public hearing this session.