WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:05.000 We're diving into a heated debate sparked by the recent Senate vote that blocked a 2 00:00:05.120 --> 00:00:11.119 bill aiming to secure nationwide access to in vitro fertilization, or IVF. Cindy 3 00:00:11.160 --> 00:00:17.079 has a story, Cindy Yeah. A Cenain article by Claire Foran and Ted 4 00:00:17.120 --> 00:00:22.839 Barrett, published on the June thirteenth, tells us about the result of Senate 5 00:00:22.920 --> 00:00:28.199 vote on a text that would protect IVF in the US regardless of the whims 6 00:00:28.199 --> 00:00:35.479 of state legislatures. The GOP surprisingly decided to vote against these text and we'll 7 00:00:35.520 --> 00:00:40.600 talk about why the irony of it all. So, Cindy, since you 8 00:00:40.759 --> 00:00:44.719 have actually introduced us to the story, what are your thoughts about the story 9 00:00:44.719 --> 00:00:50.719 when you first read it. So there's something I don't say very often, 10 00:00:50.799 --> 00:00:58.560 but the GOP is right here. This is definitely political theater. It's Schumer 11 00:00:58.880 --> 00:01:06.000 who is trying to force the GOP to vote on certain laws so he can 12 00:01:06.159 --> 00:01:12.480 use their rejection in the Democratic campaign. And that's the purpose of those laws 13 00:01:12.519 --> 00:01:19.280 he proposed recently, like the bomb stock law he tried to advance. There 14 00:01:19.280 --> 00:01:21.799 were a few in the last couple of weeks, and to me, it's 15 00:01:21.840 --> 00:01:26.719 obvious that this is the case. He's trying to h to make the GOP 16 00:01:27.000 --> 00:01:33.760 vote on those issues, and then the all the senators and and uh and 17 00:01:34.280 --> 00:01:38.120 uh, both people in the chambers that are going to be on on on 18 00:01:38.120 --> 00:01:44.200 on the ballot uh in scept in November, they will be able to use 19 00:01:44.239 --> 00:01:47.120 Hey, look, my opponent voted against this, and this and this and 20 00:01:47.159 --> 00:01:51.680 this vote for me. And I think it's a very very effective tactic. 21 00:01:52.040 --> 00:01:57.120 And I think it's it's a win win situation because when these uh, these 22 00:01:57.200 --> 00:02:01.799 votes are offered, the GP can choose to do the right thing and vote 23 00:02:01.840 --> 00:02:07.079 for them, or they choose to not do it, and it can be 24 00:02:07.159 --> 00:02:13.520 used against them later. So I think it's theater, yes, but it's 25 00:02:13.639 --> 00:02:15.439 it's heavy. I think, well, what about you, Jimmy. Do 26 00:02:15.479 --> 00:02:19.960 you think it's just political theater. Do you agree with Cindy or do you 27 00:02:20.000 --> 00:02:24.159 think that it was an actual pertinent thing to bring up to to really rule 28 00:02:24.280 --> 00:02:28.439 on the fate of IBS. Well, I think it's both. It's an 29 00:02:28.479 --> 00:02:34.319 attempt to get Republicans to have to have a conversation, a tough conversation, 30 00:02:34.400 --> 00:02:38.479 you know, force them into a corner and make them address something that is 31 00:02:38.120 --> 00:02:45.159 not necessarily a right, but something that we have the ability to offer people, 32 00:02:45.439 --> 00:02:50.039 and if we're going to operate on any standards of consistency, it should 33 00:02:50.080 --> 00:02:53.560 be offered to them based on the fact that we offer you know, medical 34 00:02:53.560 --> 00:03:00.560 insurance will cover things like hair replacement or erection pills, right, Uh, 35 00:03:00.800 --> 00:03:05.560 things that really do help the men, the old white men that have the 36 00:03:05.599 --> 00:03:10.039 majority in both both chambers of the legislature. Right. And so if we're 37 00:03:10.039 --> 00:03:15.319 gonna be consistent, then if we can't have one, why should we have 38 00:03:15.479 --> 00:03:19.560 any of it. If we can't, if we can't provide people something that 39 00:03:19.639 --> 00:03:23.280 will bring them joy and allow them to be parents, why should and you 40 00:03:23.319 --> 00:03:27.879 know, counter something that their body is doing naturally. Well, then we 41 00:03:27.879 --> 00:03:30.759 should take away everything, right, It's only fair. And I don't think 42 00:03:30.800 --> 00:03:37.680 that many lawmakers are going to vote to have viagra taken away or have Bosley 43 00:03:38.080 --> 00:03:40.520 uh not covered by their by their medical insurance. In fact, these things 44 00:03:40.560 --> 00:03:46.159 are covered by by Uh. Well, I'm gonna I'm venturing to say that 45 00:03:46.319 --> 00:03:51.960 there's probably coverage from the the government medical plan because they get everything. I 46 00:03:52.000 --> 00:03:54.439 mean, these guys serve two years to get a retirement. Anyway, I'm 47 00:03:54.479 --> 00:03:59.479 digressing a little bit. What I want to say on my last point is 48 00:03:59.479 --> 00:04:01.800 that you know, I have known, I know three families that could not 49 00:04:01.919 --> 00:04:06.400 conceive. They had in virtual fertilization and then they conceived naturally following that. 50 00:04:06.639 --> 00:04:11.199 You know, sometimes you just need a little help, And why as a 51 00:04:11.240 --> 00:04:15.800 society, with the means and the desire to help, why can't we just 52 00:04:15.839 --> 00:04:20.000 do that? Yeah, I agree with that part because there are a lot 53 00:04:20.040 --> 00:04:25.879 of families that are trying to conceive but they just don't have the wherewithal to 54 00:04:25.920 --> 00:04:31.680 do it naturally, right, So having an option like IVF to be available 55 00:04:31.800 --> 00:04:38.839 to do that would make sense. And I guess I am a bit confused 56 00:04:39.319 --> 00:04:44.959 by members of the GOP who would have issues concerning IVF, especially when this 57 00:04:45.040 --> 00:04:49.680 is the party they're supposed to be quote unquote pro life. So why would 58 00:04:49.720 --> 00:04:56.600 we even consider, like what happened in Alabama which we covered where the majority 59 00:04:57.040 --> 00:05:03.199 GOP led Alabama s Senate the Supreme Court there tried to black ideas and it's 60 00:05:03.240 --> 00:05:09.839 also said the frozen embryos are persons. So it's it's very it's very weird 61 00:05:10.160 --> 00:05:15.399 to me how all this thing is really playing out. And you know, 62 00:05:15.839 --> 00:05:19.680 in speaking of since we did cover about the Alabama Supreme Court's ruling on frozen 63 00:05:19.720 --> 00:05:26.399 embryos and also the Southern Baptist delegates concerns. Cindy, how do you see 64 00:05:26.600 --> 00:05:34.360 the ethical and moral debates around IVA influencing future legislation. Well, it's it's 65 00:05:34.399 --> 00:05:41.839 even more weird than what you were saying, because for the party who is 66 00:05:41.879 --> 00:05:48.199 trying to imply that there is this great replacement that white people need to make 67 00:05:48.279 --> 00:05:55.920 more babies, being against this is just nonsensical. But yeah, I think 68 00:05:57.519 --> 00:06:01.920 the the idea to talk about this more is interesting because a lot of people, 69 00:06:02.279 --> 00:06:09.040 especially in the right, they tend to reduce abortion to abortion, when 70 00:06:09.040 --> 00:06:14.040 in fact it's reproductive rights. And showing that there is a real push from 71 00:06:14.120 --> 00:06:21.439 the GOP to prevent any access to IVF it helps broadening the topic and showing 72 00:06:21.519 --> 00:06:28.959 that no, it's not just abortion, it's everything that deals with reproductive rights 73 00:06:29.240 --> 00:06:33.959 and that entails people things that people care about, like like what you said 74 00:06:34.800 --> 00:06:42.560 the morning peel, the contraception everything, and so yeah, I think it's 75 00:06:42.600 --> 00:06:46.480 it's good to talk about this. It's good to for the Senate to to 76 00:06:46.600 --> 00:06:54.079 force GOP to UH to to vote against in some way UH And for the 77 00:06:54.120 --> 00:06:59.040 record, and I think it's it's interesting, Well, how do you, 78 00:06:59.199 --> 00:07:05.199 Jimmy, actually view the argument that the Democratic led legislation saying it's a necessary 79 00:07:05.360 --> 00:07:11.360 overreach and a political show vote. What might be the motivations behind such a 80 00:07:11.439 --> 00:07:15.920 legislation from both parties and their perspectives. Well, I think on the Democratic 81 00:07:15.040 --> 00:07:19.759 side, if I were to argue that it is not in fact political theater, 82 00:07:20.120 --> 00:07:23.920 I would be saying, no, this is the perfect time to have 83 00:07:23.959 --> 00:07:27.879 this conversation because we have a very important election coming up and people need to 84 00:07:27.959 --> 00:07:30.480 know where you stand. Now, if you are in fact the party of 85 00:07:30.680 --> 00:07:35.439 family values, then why are you supportive of legislation that would take away the 86 00:07:36.120 --> 00:07:43.680 construction the foundation of a family, which of course is reproduction. So that 87 00:07:43.759 --> 00:07:46.759 would be I think one hill that I'd be willing to die on and just 88 00:07:47.560 --> 00:07:53.120 kind of tell them, look, you are not the family values party because 89 00:07:53.319 --> 00:07:58.240 you definitely do not value the family. In fact, we have the means 90 00:07:58.519 --> 00:08:01.560 to give these people who want to have a family the ability to do so, 91 00:08:01.680 --> 00:08:07.000 but instead where is our money going? And that is the segue that 92 00:08:07.079 --> 00:08:11.680 I would make and and show that well, as the Family Values party, 93 00:08:11.720 --> 00:08:16.560 while you reject the ability for people to form a family. You were also 94 00:08:16.959 --> 00:08:22.319 willing to spend more money on military aid or on well, let's say, 95 00:08:22.360 --> 00:08:28.160 religious legislative legislation that clearly supports religion and is in violation of the Constitution. 96 00:08:28.439 --> 00:08:31.000 I mean, these are the things that I would bring up and just kind 97 00:08:31.039 --> 00:08:35.559 of highlight, Look, our money is being misallocated, you know. And 98 00:08:35.600 --> 00:08:37.759 if it's going to be a financial argument from the right that says, well, 99 00:08:37.799 --> 00:08:41.240 you know, we shouldn't have to spend our tax dollars on that, 100 00:08:41.519 --> 00:08:43.679 well, okay, let's talk about what we're actually spending our tax dollars on. 101 00:08:43.720 --> 00:08:50.399 And that would be my second argument there. Well, let's go back 102 00:08:50.440 --> 00:08:54.080 to that whole thing about you know, what is our money being said spent 103 00:08:54.200 --> 00:09:01.440 on and even like what other means, because like I know that Cindy, 104 00:09:01.759 --> 00:09:05.080 I believe that you brought up the or Jimmy was one of you. Sorry 105 00:09:05.080 --> 00:09:09.679 guys, I'm an old person, but one of you actually brought up the 106 00:09:09.600 --> 00:09:16.480 thing about having no jim use you the coverage available for some of these different 107 00:09:16.480 --> 00:09:20.679 treatments, especially when you brought up like, you know, Sile's viagra, 108 00:09:20.080 --> 00:09:24.519 you know, monoxial for like your hair loss and things of that nature. 109 00:09:24.159 --> 00:09:30.080 So you know, there is an issue that you know, requirements for like 110 00:09:30.360 --> 00:09:37.000 employees sponsored insurance and also public insurance plans covering you know, actual fertility treatments 111 00:09:37.000 --> 00:09:41.600 including IVF. So how do you think if, like say, for instance, 112 00:09:41.639 --> 00:09:43.879 this so we know this particular bill is blocked, there may be something 113 00:09:43.919 --> 00:09:46.360 that's going to come out that says that we're just going to ban this all 114 00:09:46.360 --> 00:09:50.399 together or maybe other things in the future. How do you think that's actually 115 00:09:50.480 --> 00:09:56.200 going to impact employee base or you know, public insurance plans that cover these 116 00:09:56.200 --> 00:10:00.000 things. Cindy, I want to start with you, and then Jimmy, 117 00:10:00.039 --> 00:10:03.240 I would like for you to follow up with that. Yeah, I think 118 00:10:03.240 --> 00:10:11.120 it will increase this this trend that we've seen since robtusuade was overturned to see 119 00:10:11.159 --> 00:10:16.600 that some states are going to be medical deserts as we call them in my 120 00:10:16.639 --> 00:10:24.519 country, because doctors will not want to go there and people will not want 121 00:10:24.519 --> 00:10:30.320 to go there either, and military base won't be uh new new ones won't 122 00:10:30.320 --> 00:10:37.000 be installed there, and companies will think twice before setting up buildings there. 123 00:10:37.120 --> 00:10:41.799 And it's it's going to have very very strong, long term bad effects on 124 00:10:41.840 --> 00:10:48.679 the population at large. And as usually the poorest people will suffer the most 125 00:10:48.480 --> 00:10:54.799 from this. Yeah, I think it will drive costs for insurance up if 126 00:10:54.840 --> 00:10:58.559 we start to see this desertion that Cindy is talking about. And I also 127 00:10:58.639 --> 00:11:03.399 think there is a relationship here. There are probably insurance companies that don't want 128 00:11:03.440 --> 00:11:09.679 to cover this kind of thing, and they're lobbying for these representatives to vote 129 00:11:09.679 --> 00:11:15.320 against such access. So I don't think this is merely just a conservative point 130 00:11:15.320 --> 00:11:18.759 of view problem. But I do think that this is a lobbying problem as 131 00:11:18.759 --> 00:11:24.279 well, where there are people who want to control the kind of medical care 132 00:11:24.279 --> 00:11:28.960 that they would be responsible for, and in that way they can control the 133 00:11:30.000 --> 00:11:33.639 costs because they don't want to lose money by covering more and not being able 134 00:11:33.679 --> 00:11:37.679 to raise their rates, which they would essentially get to do anyway. But 135 00:11:37.559 --> 00:11:39.879 it's not going to make anything easier. I think it's a great point. 136 00:11:39.919 --> 00:11:43.759 The poorest people are going to suffer the most, and yeah, it's just 137 00:11:45.519 --> 00:11:52.279 it's hypocritical. I think I can't highlight enough the fact that the government and 138 00:11:52.399 --> 00:11:58.360 Congress's medical plan is one of the most comprehensive plans known to anybody in this 139 00:11:58.440 --> 00:12:03.039 country. I mean, they get everything they want, but to take that 140 00:12:03.080 --> 00:12:07.919 away from people who need medical coverage is incredibly hypocritical. Who do these people 141 00:12:07.960 --> 00:12:11.320 work for? Right, we do not work for them. They should be 142 00:12:11.399 --> 00:12:15.720 doing what's best for the country. That is the social contract that they are 143 00:12:15.759 --> 00:12:18.279 obliged to, and they are not, and that conversation needs to be had. 144 00:12:18.919 --> 00:12:24.200 That is an excellent point to bring up, especially when you're talking about 145 00:12:24.519 --> 00:12:30.000 who is behind this is just the political base that we're talking about, you 146 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:33.720 know, the GOP versus like the dirty Libs or are we also talking about 147 00:12:33.720 --> 00:12:41.120 corporate interests, which, let's face it, insurance companies have a huge actual 148 00:12:41.159 --> 00:12:46.919 liability when it comes to what type of laws are passed when it comes to 149 00:12:48.080 --> 00:12:52.279 healthcare, right IVF being one of them, what type of prescriptions are going 150 00:12:52.360 --> 00:12:56.399 to be covered versus not, you know, the cost point, et cetera, 151 00:12:56.440 --> 00:13:05.639 et cetera, And I know that the conversation in those insurance companies' corporate 152 00:13:05.679 --> 00:13:13.240 offices are always about keeping cost down. And often what that means is that 153 00:13:13.519 --> 00:13:18.879 people who happen to buy into these plans, most likely through their employers, 154 00:13:18.240 --> 00:13:22.200 are going to have less things that they're going to be able to have covered 155 00:13:22.600 --> 00:13:28.399 because their insurance company wants to keep cost down. So even if they are 156 00:13:28.080 --> 00:13:35.960 a family that wants to have IVF because they're not able to conceive, you 157 00:13:35.000 --> 00:13:41.200 know, the natural way, then there is a very big possibility that all 158 00:13:41.320 --> 00:13:48.440 the cost will be coming out of their pocket, or that particular procedure may 159 00:13:48.480 --> 00:13:54.679 not even be available at all. And Cindy, I want to ask you, 160 00:13:54.200 --> 00:13:58.559 since you know we're bringing up this whole point about what is available as 161 00:13:58.559 --> 00:14:03.399 far as like you know, uh, health coverage is concerned, how are 162 00:14:03.679 --> 00:14:09.879 the potential impacts going to be for people who may be seeking these particular procedures 163 00:14:09.960 --> 00:14:16.000 depending on what state that they're in. Like we have seen where let's just 164 00:14:16.039 --> 00:14:24.120 say, Texas has what you mentioned a medical desert because of their very stringent 165 00:14:24.240 --> 00:14:31.399 laws on abortion rights. Right, So if we have this particular bill that's 166 00:14:31.399 --> 00:14:37.120 saying it's blocked and that the control of what's available for IVF is going to 167 00:14:37.159 --> 00:14:43.000 be thrown back into the states, like Row versus Wade was, how is 168 00:14:43.000 --> 00:14:46.240 that going to impact other families that may be in those states? Please start, 169 00:14:46.559 --> 00:14:48.919 Cindy, and then Jimmy, I would like for you to chime in. 170 00:14:50.120 --> 00:14:54.039 Well, first, yeah, the lord that was proposed by Schumer, 171 00:14:54.399 --> 00:15:01.279 it also included how the finances of this we're supposed to work, and so 172 00:15:01.879 --> 00:15:05.840 insurance were supposed to cover some of the costs, and so it's it's a 173 00:15:05.960 --> 00:15:13.080 very real possibility that the lobbies of those companies they worked hard against this. 174 00:15:13.279 --> 00:15:18.360 That's that's a real possibility. But I think it's just I'm not sure it's 175 00:15:18.399 --> 00:15:24.440 going to to matter much in in in the in the great large plan, 176 00:15:24.559 --> 00:15:30.399 because there are so many things that are kicking down at people in in in 177 00:15:30.440 --> 00:15:35.360 those red states that I'm not sure this will make a huge difference. Because 178 00:15:35.840 --> 00:15:41.279 we talked about religion imposed in schools, we talked about pollution, we talked 179 00:15:41.279 --> 00:15:50.960 about UH, voter suppression, suppression, gerymandering, UH, these medical issues, 180 00:15:52.240 --> 00:15:56.159 abortion, Uh. I mean to me, uh, who is not 181 00:15:56.279 --> 00:16:03.799 living in the US. Sometimes I just can't comprehend the depth of the problem 182 00:16:04.080 --> 00:16:10.919 in this country and and how much because I keep hearing in in in the 183 00:16:10.960 --> 00:16:15.440 news people saying the US is the greatest country on earth. What's wrong with 184 00:16:15.559 --> 00:16:22.679 you? I mean, how, how how can you be blind uh to 185 00:16:22.679 --> 00:16:26.600 to to this point. I mean, it's it's it's unbelievable. So yeah, 186 00:16:26.679 --> 00:16:32.679 I'm I know that individually, some people will be devastated because they can 187 00:16:32.759 --> 00:16:37.240 have children. I know because I went through this, so I know it 188 00:16:37.320 --> 00:16:44.759 will be impactful for some people. But on on on the on the large 189 00:16:44.799 --> 00:16:48.759 scheme of things, I don't think this specific problem will matter much. I 190 00:16:48.799 --> 00:16:57.279 mean, it doesn't impact that many people in not like abortion or or contraception 191 00:16:57.440 --> 00:17:02.440 or but it's still but it still could be something that can be impactful. 192 00:17:02.480 --> 00:17:04.599 And even though those spear are still families that are going to be seeking this 193 00:17:04.720 --> 00:17:10.119 procedure. Uh. And and as far as like what you said, Uh, 194 00:17:10.279 --> 00:17:12.119 we don't know what's wrong with us. We're still trying to figure out 195 00:17:12.119 --> 00:17:15.359 out, Cindy. But what are your thoughts, Jimmy about that question that 196 00:17:15.400 --> 00:17:19.200 I just posed about the impact that it could possibly have for the for other 197 00:17:19.240 --> 00:17:23.759 states that already have like such stringent laws when it comes to reproductive rights in 198 00:17:23.799 --> 00:17:27.559 the first place, Well, any progress that would take place in this area, 199 00:17:27.680 --> 00:17:33.079 of course, is going to be stymied. And I think it's ironic 200 00:17:33.480 --> 00:17:40.119 that the people who support the Republican Party generally speaking are very poor, uh, 201 00:17:40.160 --> 00:17:44.400 you know, and they're only shooting themselves in the foot if they plan 202 00:17:44.519 --> 00:17:48.880 on taking advantage of medical care that could be offered to them by voting for 203 00:17:48.960 --> 00:17:52.920 people who want to want to shut it down or want to not even have 204 00:17:52.960 --> 00:17:56.079 the conversation. Right, So, the the argument to not voting for this, 205 00:17:56.279 --> 00:18:00.920 or the argument you know, buy some Republicans for not even being willing 206 00:18:00.960 --> 00:18:03.880 to have the conversation is by them saying, well, this isn't even really 207 00:18:03.880 --> 00:18:07.079 a problem. I mean, isn't this isn't something that people are looking for. 208 00:18:07.279 --> 00:18:10.519 Well, according to who, you know, how many people want to 209 00:18:10.640 --> 00:18:15.039 conceive but can't because they just don't have the means. And the people that 210 00:18:15.119 --> 00:18:18.880 are voting for these people have no idea that the people they're voting for are 211 00:18:18.920 --> 00:18:22.759 the ones that are actually their biggest enemy when it comes to their life goals 212 00:18:22.799 --> 00:18:26.319 and their family goals. And so it really takes a certain amount of education. 213 00:18:27.000 --> 00:18:30.599 On Cindy's point, people saying well what is wrong you know, by 214 00:18:30.640 --> 00:18:34.599 saying what is wrong with you? To say, well, America is not 215 00:18:34.759 --> 00:18:38.359 the greatest country? Well, you know that is a subjective, a subjective 216 00:18:38.440 --> 00:18:41.680 term, and that could be defined multiple ways. Right, there are different 217 00:18:42.240 --> 00:18:48.000 programs happening in other European countries that are really great for society that don't happen 218 00:18:48.039 --> 00:18:51.319 here. So yeah, that makes sense. But those people aren't educated on 219 00:18:51.359 --> 00:18:56.240 that. Those people are willfully ignorant to what's happening around them, and they 220 00:18:56.319 --> 00:18:59.920 just want to be told by the talking heads what to do. And unfortunately, 221 00:19:00.039 --> 00:19:03.400 those talking heads are fed by the same people where their information comes from, 222 00:19:03.440 --> 00:19:07.599 the same people who are lobbying to have these, uh these programs put 223 00:19:07.640 --> 00:19:12.000 in place or or not put in place to manage costs and things like that. 224 00:19:12.279 --> 00:19:15.440 So I think, I think that's how I feel about that. You 225 00:19:15.440 --> 00:19:18.000 know, the people who are going to be affected, yes, are going 226 00:19:18.079 --> 00:19:22.160 to be the most poor, but oftentimes it's the members of their of this 227 00:19:22.480 --> 00:19:26.720 the very own party, that are putting them in power. And also remember 228 00:19:26.799 --> 00:19:33.680 the intertwining of religious beliefs with legislative decisions, particularly in the matters of reproduction 229 00:19:33.839 --> 00:19:38.680 health, could actually be seen as a regression rather than a step forward in society.