Glenn: We all have a part to play

Glenn talks a lot about how he doesn't always know what God's plan is, but that he often finds himself in prayer and moved to do certain things - even if he doesn't know why. For over five years, he has focused on delivering news and opinion that can't be found on any other network, while also uniting and energizing libertarians and conservatives through live events and inspirational programming on TV. But most loyal viewers have heard Glenn say that a few days after Restoring Honor in 2010, he told his wife Tania that he was "standing in the wrong place".

While Glenn has been ringing the bell and sharing the news that the mainstream media refuses to tell, he also knows it's time to expand into films, music, and other projects so that he can impact the culture and reach people who have never heard the message because they aren't tuned into the news of the day. That effort, the need to keep the people who are awake focused and energized while also expanding the choir, was the focus of Wednesday's monologue.

Below is a transcript of Wednesday's monologue:

This is the network that you are building, and you are building quite a building. You really are. What you are building is going to have vast ramifications, and it’s good. I will tell you, some days I am so sick of talking about this President and the people in his administration. They’re overwhelming the system, we got it.

He’s got so many lies out there, there’s not enough time in a 24-hour day to cover all of them, and honestly even if I could cover all of them, I don’t want to spend the rest of my life doing this. Do you? I mean, don’t you just want to – all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, among these rights life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I want to pursue the things that make me happy. How about you?

I just feel like we’re preaching to the choir, and we’ve been here for a while. And the choir is sick of it. I got it, I got it. We need some more choir. That’s what we need. We built this network, we built this network to cover the stories that no one else covers, to ask the questions that no one else asks, things like the president enrollment claims that he gave in his ridiculous speech yesterday, we had 7.1. No, he didn’t. No, he did not. Paying, the number is between 2 million and as low as 800,000. Where is the press?

Or how about this one, Mr. President, is it true you hired a socialist in the Consumer Protection Bureau? Really, a socialist? Despite the stark realities of socialism in Venezuela where they’re actually now on the streets, they’re facing food rationing, they’re being issued ID cards to track their grocery purchases. You can go and get your groceries, sure. You can’t go into a grocery store for another eight days. That’s socialism.

I get it. Do you get it? You think this guy is not a socialist? I know who he is. You know who he is. The problems persist, and somebody has to tell the truth. That’s why we call one of our main shows For the Record, because somebody has to say for the record, this is the truth. And we’ll continue to tell it here at TheBlaze. My job as I see it is multifaceted, but the longest one, the one I got off the stage in 8/28, and I went on vacation. And I said to my wife we’re standing in the wrong place.

I knew I was supposed to build something, and I was supposed to build a network and draw a crowd to get people to know there is a place for truth. The truth can be heard. You can network with other people. We’ve done that. I found out last night we now finished the month with 35 million unique visitors last month. You can play page view game all you want, but this is 35, that’s 10% of the U.S. population now last month visited TheBlaze. Those are not repeat, 35 million unique users.

That makes TheBlaze the 43rd largest website in the country. That’s ahead of news sites like FOXNews.com, CNN.com. I remember CNN, when I was at CNN, they were telling me that CNN.com was bigger than the actual network. TheBlaze is now bigger than CNN.com. It’s bigger than theNewYorkTimes.com, bigger than NBC News. It’s incredible. It’s absolutely incredible.

I’m going to fill you in because if you speak it into existence, it happens. I gave a goal to my staff of 41 million Americans read TheBlaze every month. That was my year end goal, 41 million. I will tell you that by election day, not this year, by the election, I want 75 million. So you know, that is so unheard of, that number. That would put us in the top 10 websites in the entire country, and in the top 10, Google, Facebook. That’s who you’re playing ball with.

We’ve got to get into 75 million, my real goal honestly, 100 million, dream big. My job is to expand the footprint for the truth and not to get bogged down. And I got so angry this morning when I hear all this stuff, I’m like I got it. And I know you feel the same way. But as soon as you start to feel the anger, they’ve got you. Those in power, that’s what they want.

When we are consumed by their corruption, their dysfunction, their lies, it empowers them because it hardens our hearts. It makes you go no way out, nothing left to do, just give up, close up, close in, turn in, grab your family. You need a way out. You and I both want to be more than just the fan that points to the problem and cheers for our side, and when somebody gets it wrong we say yeah, well, we told you. We don’t want to be I told you.

I don’t care about Washington, but we have to solve the problem so you and I can get and do what we’re supposed to do. Now, a big part of that solution is staying informed. I get it. I get it. But a bigger part is getting involved. This is why I told you take the 40-day and 40-night challenge. This is before 8/28, a few months before because I could feel something big happening, and I knew it. And I said we’ve got to be bigger people.

And the last line in the Declaration of Independence is with firm reliance on the protection of divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor. And I said I want you to really live that last line. I want you to know what every word really means to you, and I want you to get down on your knees and ask a few questions.

There are four steps that I asked you to do. And millions of Americans did it. And if you’ve already done it, do it again. If you’ve done it over and over again, if you know all of this, I want you to get this book. This book, I think, is changing my life, I really do. I have been praying differently, in fact, we’ve been praying around this building. There’s a group of us that walk every afternoon at the end of our day, and we pray around this building.

And I found out early this morning that somebody else has been praying around this building that works for me, and I didn’t have any idea. He happened to be here early, early, early this morning, and somebody said to him what are you doing? He says I just feel like I should pray around this building. He didn’t know that we were praying around this building, and I felt compelled to pray around this building.

Then I read this book, and then I’m like oh crap, I really have to pray around this building. He didn’t read this book. He’d never talked to me. He didn’t know we were even doing it. He said to me just about an hour ago when I talked to him, “I felt like in prayer that I was supposed to do that. We’re supposed to do that, Glenn.” I don’t know what God is doing, I really don’t. I have no idea. You don’t know how many times I’m in this position going, “I don’t get it, it won’t work, I don’t know what you’re doing.” And every time, he says you don’t have to, just do it.

Whatever he’s doing does not revolve around me or revolve around this. It revolves around him, and we all have a part in it. This is one little piece. My piece is one little piece, and I think it will all make sense in the end. I think we’re all going to stand back and go holy cow, but being a part of it is going to change your life. It will refocus you on everything that really matters. And once you do that, once you do your part, whatever it is, you’re going to change the lives of others all around you.

And at the same time, if we can continue to grow the footprint, the size of the choir, a ripple effect across the whole world, millions of people. Five years ago, think of this, I was on stage in Washington, D.C. for that, and you were there. And we were so worried about our country. I’m just as worried as I was then. But we were begging people, I know, because I took your phone calls, begging people rise up, please, anyone, rise up and serve, isn’t there anyone with some integrity and some brains that will serve?

We were looking for the next George Washington. It’s happening. It’s happening. Mark it, declare it, it’s happening. Rand Paul, Mike Lee, Ted Cruz, the candidates that are sprouting up all across the country, people like Ben Sasse. That guy’s a good guy, Matt Bevin, unbelievable, Greg Brannon, hello?

And there’s more, and if they don’t happen to be in your district or your state, support them because those are the guys that were called. They heard the call because of you and millions of others just like you that took a stand in life and said you know what, this is what we need in this country. And they heard the call, and now they’re there. Now’s not the time to retreat or say I’m tired. Now’s the time to double down.

Saturday, I’m going to FreePAC. I am really tired, I’m tired of traveling. I was on the plane on Sunday, and I said I can’t take travel anymore. I’d much rather be with my family at home, and I know you feel the same way. We are not different. I love my children, and I love my family. And I’ve never, ever been in this position in my whole life where I’ve wanted to spend time with all of my children and my wife more than I do right now.

But we’ve got to stay in the game because we are close. These elections this fall really matter. So we’ve got to buckle down, work hard, get into the ground game, promote from within, and increase the ranks of the choir. ObamaCare is going to collapse on its own weight, and before things get better, understand, it’s going to get much, much worse.

On Sunday, there was an economist, his name is Martin Armstrong, he posted an article about civil unrest. He warned governments to wake up. He said wake up, “for we are on the brink of a major convergence between both the cycle of civil unrest, civil war & revolution an international war.” He said he’s never seen anything like this. The cycle has not been like this, there’s a cycle to war, he said it’s not been like this since the 1700s.

And he said democracies, Democratic republics, you’re in trouble. It’s not just the Communist dictators because your people have sold you out too. You know it, you feel it. In fact, you know this song by heart. I mean, how many times have we sung the song that he was just singing? For years, for years – the protest, cascade, sweep the Middle East, destabilize Europe and the rest of the world to work together against Israel, against capitalism, and together overturn stability. That’s it.

And the time is here, and the time for us now to go outside the walls because the harvest in the field is white. It’s going to be tough, but it’s an opportunity to show people the truth and get new people on board. Last week, I went to Los Angeles. I was working on some projects because we’re going to go into the film business. I don’t know how, I don’t have the money, but we’re going into the film business. And so I went out to Los Angeles.

This is me on the Paramount set, and we were looking how they were building sets and how they use their space. And after this, I went to speak at the Friends of Abe in Hollywood. What an incredible room of talented people that was, I mean, mind boggling. There are so many in Hollywood that have reached out to me since. I’ve never done this before, I think there were, well, there were several hundred people there, and I just gave out my private e-mail address and said here, you guys can have my e-mail address.

And I can’t tell you how many people have reached out to me wanting to do something to impact the culture. And I don’t mean with me, per se. I mean, they’re doing it themselves. But that’s where we need to be, and I don’t mean in Hollywood. I mean where people actually live. The blown opportunity for Hollywood with Noah is staggering. I have a list on my desk, it is a mile long of projects, shows, television shows, news programs, films, stage, music, you name it, everything. It’s a mile long, and none of those things have anything to do with President Obama and his stupid fake healthcare numbers because that’s going to come crashing down. What comes after?

Don’t be anywhere near the crash site when it comes down. Don’t get bogged down in the mud. We have to lift ourselves and each other out and show them the light, and I don’t mean light in the PC sense. There is something huge at play here, and it’s bigger than the Republicans and the Democrats. It’s bigger than money. It’s bigger than jobs. It’s bigger than you. It’s bigger than me. And I know it’s true because look at how Hollywood is self-destructing on Noah, and meanwhile, there’s two God films out that are not coming through the Hollywood system.

One is God’s Not Dead, which is huge. I haven’t seen it yet, but I hear great things about it, and it’s gigantic. And the other one is Heaven is For Real. Heaven is For Real is a movie from Sony. I watched this last night. It’s great, and it’s about a kid, it’s from a bestseller. That kid doesn’t die on the table. He has his appendix burst, and he almost dies, but he sees heaven. And his dad believes him, wants to believe him, but isn’t sure because he’s a preacher, and what he’s saying isn’t quite right, isn’t quite lining up. And the kid has no business knowing this. You’re four, what are you talking about?

And I’m watching this movie, and it’s speaking to me in a whole different way because that movie is saying exactly what I heard my dad say as he died, his last words, things my father would never say. My father’s last words were, “Okay, I understand. I’m ready. Take me with you.” My dad wasn’t that guy. And as I’m watching this last night, I say to my kids, this is the same story.

Now, why is God telling that kid, why did that happen with my dad? I think it’s for you. I’m supposed to tell you there is a God, there is a heaven, there is a plan. He’s got it under control. Have you always had everything you’ve ever needed? Even in your worst times, have you had everything you needed? Yes. You will again, no matter what comes our way.

The truth is there is a plan. You have a purpose, and you’ve got to get to it. I don’t know what it is, but he’s going to help you carry out that purpose. Just do what he says. At the end of the day, if we just remember that the best farmer in the world is still at the mercy of God for weather and rain, not too much sun but some sun, not too much rain but some rain, the best fisherman in the world doesn’t control the seas. We are nothing when we stop doing the things he’s telling us to do. We’re nothing without him. But with him and with each other, we’re unstoppable.

Editor's Note: Glenn spoke more about the idea of expanding the choir in Wednesday's morning meeting.

How prepared are YOU to weather a future crisis? We recently published a brand new quiz so you can find out exactly how prepared you are. Whether you're a "prepper" with a bunker fit for the apocolypse or just want to feel more secure for the future, there is always something more to learn. That's why Glenn wants to give his newsletter subscribers his "Ultimate Preparation Guide," filled with practical tips for building a solid foundation to weather future crises. And let's face it—in our crazy world right now, who couldn't use a bit more peace of mind?

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Editor's Note: Arizona House Bill HB2770 has since been shut down! AZ Rep. Rachel Jones tweeted that the AZ Freedom Caucus shut down the bill before it could reach the board. It is encouraging to see states stepping to protect the American people from getting one step closer to a Central Bank Digital Currency. Hopefully, Arizona will be a precedent for the other states!

On today's radio broadcast, Glenn warned about dangerous Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) language being smuggled into routine legislation in REPUBLICAN-led states. This is unacceptable, and as Glenn said, we can't let this legislation pass as it now stands.

The legislation being used to smuggle in this CBDC language is the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), a routine piece of legislation passed on the state level that helps standardize commercial and business transactions. However, a new round of UCCs being deliberated RIGHT NOW amongst a swath of Republican-led states anticipate the use of "electronic money." In a public letter sent to the Republican states currently deliberating this legislation, the Pro-Family Legislative Network said this can only refer to the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) under consideration and testing by the Federal Reserve. Biden's Executive Order 14067 issued in March of 2022 started the push for CBDC, and now these states, knowingly or unknowingly, are laying the legislative groundwork for making CBDC a reality.

There is absolutely no reason why Republican-led states should aid in laying the foundation for CBDC, yet 12 of them are deliberating it RIGHT NOW, with one UCC bill already on one GOP governor's desk! We have to act NOW to stop these UCCs in their tracks and demand our lawmakers amend the bills without the "electronic money" language.

If your state is listed below, contact your representative NOW to put an end to CBDC language.

1. North Dakota

North Dakota House Bill HB1082 passed BOTH chambers and is now sitting on Governor Burgum's desk. Burgun has 3 DAYS to veto this bill once it's placed on his desk—if not, it will pass automatically. If you are a North Dakota resident, it is absolutely CRUCIAL that you contact Governor Burgum's office NOW and demand that he veto this bill and re-introduce it without the "electronic money" language.

2. Arizona

Arizona House Bill HB2770 has been SHUT DOWN! See the above editor's note for more details.

Arizona House Bill HB2770 passed the House majority and minority caucuses. Arizona residents, contact your representative's office NOW so that they amend this bill without the "electronic money" language.

3. Arkansas

Arkansas House Bill HB1588 is in committee, and if passed, will head to the House floor. Though the bill is only in its beginning stages, it's important for Arkansas residents to stop this bill in its tracks and amend it without the "electronic money" language.

4. Missouri

Missouri House Bill HB1165 is also in its beginning stages in committee. That means it's important to contact your representative as soon as possible to amend it without the "electronic money" language.

5. Oklahoma

Oklahoma House Bill HB 2776 passed the House Committee and will go to a chamber vote soon. If passed, it will go to the Senate, then the governor's desk. If you are an Indiana resident, contact your representative's office NOW to amend the bill without the "electronic money" language.

6. Indiana

Indiana Senate Bill SB0486 passed the Senate and is headed to the House. Republicans control Indiana's executive office and BOTH chambers of the legislature. There is no excuse for this bill to pass. If you are an Indiana resident, it's vital you contact your representative NOW and demand they amend this bill without the "electronic money" language.

7. Kentucky

Kentucky Senate Bill SB64 passed the Senate and is now being deliberated in the House. If you live in Kentucky, contact your representative's office to amend the bill without the "electronic money" language.

8. Montana

Montana Senate Bill SB370 passed the Senate and was sent to the House on March 3rd. If you are a Montana resident, contact your representative's office NOW so that the bill doesn't without changing the "electronic money" language.

9. Nebraska

Nebraska's Legislative Bill LB94 passed committee and the first floor vote. As Nebraska only has one legislative chamber, this bill is dangerously close to passing the legislature and being sent to the governor's desk. If you are a Nebraska resident, contact your representative's office NOW and demand they amend the bill without the "electronic money" language.

10. New Hampshire

New Hampshire House Bill HB584 is currently in House committee deliberations and has not yet reached the House floor. If you are a New Hampshire resident, contact your representative's office NOW to amend the bill without the "electronic money" language.

11. Tennessee

Tennessee House Bill HB0640 didn't successfully pass the House. However, it was deferred to a Senate committee and has now taken the form of Senate Bill SB0479, which is now in committee. This bill is still alive, and it's important for you, Tennessee residents, to stop it before it reaches the floor! Contact your representative to amend the bill without the "electronic money" language.

12. Texas

Texas House Bill HB5011 was filed and is ready to be taken up by committee. Fellow Texans, let's not let this bill progress any further! Contact your representative and demand they amend the bill without the "electronic money" language.

6 things you NEED to know about the Silicon Valley Bank collapse

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Silicon Valley Bank's collapse is sparking traumatic memories of the 2008 financial crash. Should we be worried SVB is signaling a similar economic catastrophe, or is everyone overreacting to the media's hype? Glenn told his listeners to be "healthily terrified." This event is sure to have ripple effects throughout the economy, but the more you are informed about it, the more you can prepare. Here are 6 things you need to know about Silicon Valley Bank's crash—explained in simple words.

1. The short answer to what happened: SVB didn't have enough money to pay its depositors.

Remember the scene from It's a Wonderful Life when all of the residents make a run on George Bailey's bank demanding their money? Fortunately for them, their money was in the altruistic hands of George Bailey, who used his honeymoon savings to give the depositors the money they demanded.

Silicon Valley Bank's depositors weren't so lucky.

In short, the depositors made a run on Silicon Valley Bank, demanding the withdrawal of their money. But SVB simply didn't have the liquid money available to give their depositors, causing regulators to shut down the bank shortly afterward.

2. It all started with COVID...

Why didn't SVB have enough money for its depositors? To explain this, we have to go back to the pandemic era.

The pandemic saw a rapid decrease in spending and a massive increase in bank deposits. Due to the uncertainty of the future and lockdowns limiting ways to spend money on recreational activities, like restaurants, bars, and other outlets, many Americans stocked up money in their accounts. In fact, SVB's deposits doubled in 2021 alone, bringing in more money than they could lend out to their clients.

To make a return on their available cash, SVB wanted to invest it, as many banks do. Since they had reached their lending limit, they decided to invest it in U.S. Treasury Securities, which are the government's means of funding itself without using taxation (in a nutshell). These are considered "ultra-safe" investments because they are backed by the "full faith and credit of the federal government."

Unlike other forms of investments, investing in Treasuries means the government will do everything within its legal power to pay back the money used to fund itself. In other words, it is typically very safe... so what happened?

3. Then came the magic cocktail—record-high inflation and rising interest rates...

Interest rates ruined the typically "ultra-safe" investment. Due to 40-year record-high inflation, the Fed lifted rates eight times by a total of 4.25 percentage points in 2022, raising interest rates from 0.25 percent to 4.375 percent. This means the value of U.S. Treasuries investments plummeted rapidly. SVB reported that it lost $1.8 billion due to the decreased value of its Treasuries investments after a year of rising interest rates.

This raises the following question: why didn't SVB just weather the storm and wait for interest rates to decrease? There are two issues with this. The first is that, with so many of their assets held up in Treasuries investments, SVB still wouldn't have enough liquid assets to give their depositors during the bank run.

The second issue is that Treasuries investments have a ten-year limit. In 2021 during the Trump administration, interest rates were at an all-time low of 0.125 percent.

The record-fast increase of interest rates in 2022 caused very little chance for rates to go back down to their historic 2021 lows within ten years for banks to make their money back on their investments.

To avoid this, SVB planned to sell their investments at a loss and re-purchase Treasuries investments at the decreased value, giving them an extra ten years to bet on decreased interest rates in the future.

But people caught on to SVB's plan and didn't want to ride with the risk.

4. Account holders withdrew their money... FAST.

As aforementioned, SVP lost $1.8 billion when it sold its depleted Treasuries investments. While they were betting on being able to re-purchase the devalued securities, hoping that they would go up in value in the future with lowered interest rates, investors were worried about the risk.

Once they made the announcement of their $1.8 billion loss, their stocks began to drop, and venture capitalists warned the companies they invest in to pull out of SVB. This had a snowball effect, leading to a "bank run" of depositors demanding to withdraw their money from their SVB accounts.

This led to the perfect storm: SVB's investment losses coupled with the influx of withdrawals were so immense that regulators had to step in and shut the bank down to protect depositors. The government currently "running" SVB, for all practical purposes, is the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). The FDIC closed SVB on Friday and reopened the bank on Monday, March 13th as the Deposit Insurance Bank of Santa Clara.

5. Some people may lose their money. 

Banks insure accounts with $250,000 or less with FDIC insurance. That means, in cases of bank failure, exactly like this one, the FDIC covers all accounts less than $250,000. The FDIC said SVB customers who had less than $250,000 in their accounts will have access to all of their money when the bank reopens. Since it reopened this week, they should have access to their funds.

However, many of SVB's depositors had more than $250,000 in their accounts—it is Silicon Valley after all. Therefore, their accounts were not covered by FDIC insurance. Will they get their money back? There is a chance that they will not.

It is unclear how much SVB currently has to cover uninsured deposits. It is likely not enough. The FDIC has issued a "Receiver's Certificate" to the uninsured account holders with the amount in their account that is not covered by FDIC insurance.

The FDIC said it will pay some of the uninsured deposits by next week by liquidating any additional assets held by SVB. However, if the liquidated assets are not enough, many of SVB's uninsured account holders could lose their money for good.

6. Is this 2008 all over again?

SVB's collapse was the largest bank failure since 2008, when Washington Mutual failed with $307 billion in assets. Its failure, along with the collapse of the Lehman Brother's investment bank, triggered the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. Are we in danger of repeating 2008?

Some argue that we are not in danger of another economic catastrophe, simply because SVB holds less than 1 percent of the nation's assets. However, as Glenn warns, there is a danger of banks repeating the same mistakes as SVP.

SVP wasn't the only bank to use its surplus deposits to invest in U.S. Treasuries, which means that other banks are wrestling with the depleted value of their securities investments due to rising interest rates.

Bank of America, for example, lost $109 billion in their securities investments due to rising interest rates, the most among its peers—and Bank of America is no small fish in the ocean of assets.

Other major banks recorded other massive losses in their securities investments due to rising interest rates. JP Morgan Chase lost $36 billion, Wells Fargo lost $41 billion, Citigroup lost $25 billion, and Goldman Sachs lost $1 billion. If the little banks collapse, will they get the same effort and attention from the federal government as the "big guys?"

The critic may argue that these are still small values given the incredibly large amount of assets held in banks nationwide. However, this is missing the point. Major banks have majorly invested in securities since the pandemic-era skyrocketing rate of deposits. Now those investments are depleted in value.

They can either sell those investments at a loss, or they can wait and hope that they will recover over time. However, if those investments are no longer liquid, what happens when their depositors come knocking? Will they have enough liquid assets to cover a massive bank run? These are the lingering questions that our banks need to address.

As Glenn says, this will impact you—it is only a matter of time. What will you do to prepare?

Glenn just purchased the entire historical Roe v. Wade archive as a solemn reminder of our nation's past and the vital importance of honoring the sacredness of life. Since Roe was overturned in 2022, many states have been stepping up to protect both their unborn citizens AND the mothers carrying them.

Which states are doing the most to protect their most vulnerable? Here are the top 12 states with the strictest laws against abortion.

1. Alabama

​Alabama has some of the nation's most protective pro-life measures, banning all abortions in the case of life-threatening circumstances for the mother. That means abortion is banned at every ​stage of pregnancy. Health care providers found guilty of performing abortions face a class-A felony, the most serious charge besides Capitol Murder, with the potential of carrying a life sentence in prison. However, the pill, Plan B, is classified as "contraception" rather than abortion. Taxpayer-funded Medicaid does not cover abortion procedures except in very limited circumstances.

Alabama is one of the few states to add protections within its state constitution for the unborn. The state:

Acknowledges, declares, and affirms that it is the public policy of this state to recognize and support the sanctity of unborn life and the rights of unborn children, including the right to life.

2. Arkansas

Like Alabama, Arkansas bans abortion at every stage of pregnancy except in life-threatening situations for the mother. However, Plan B is still considered "contraception" and is legal. Taxpayer-funded Medicaid does not cover abortion procedures except in very limited circumstances. Additionally, Arkansas added the amendment to its state constitution, declaring:

The policy of Arkansas is to protect the life of every unborn child from conception until birth, to the extent permitted by the Federal Constitution.

3. Idaho

Idaho bans abortions at every stage of pregnancy with the exceptions of life-threatening situations to the mother and instances of rape and incest. The health care practitioner who gave an abortion must prove "affirmative defense," which means they have to prove in court why the abortion is necessary and meets the legal criteria. Patients approved for abortion must wait 24 hours after counseling to receive the procedure. Anyone who performs an abortion unless it's in one of the approved cases will face felony charges. Like Alabama and Arkansas, taxpayer-funded Medicaid does not cover abortion procedures.

Unlike Alabama and Arkansas, Idaho law does not include explicit constitutional or statutory protections for abortion.

4. Kentucky

Kentucky has also banned abortion at all stages of pregnancy except in life-threatening situations for the mother. There are no exceptions for rape or incest. However, abortion providers are fighting the all-out ban on abortion through appealing to the state's previous abortion ban after six weeks of pregnancy. The appeal is ongoing.

Though Kentucky voters voted down a proposal to add an amendment to the state constitution banning abortion, the state adopted the following policy towards abortion in 2018:

Children, whether born or unborn, are the greatest natural resource in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

5. Louisiana

Louisiana also banned abortion at all stages of pregnancy with no exceptions for rape or incest. However there is an appeal to allow abortions in the case of rape and incest. Healthcare practitioners who violate this ban are subject to criminal prosecution. Moreover, Louisiana adopted an amendment in their state constitution—specifically, the Louisiana Declaration of Rights, banning the construction of any constitutional right to abortion:

To protect human life, nothing in present constitution shall be construed to secure or protect a right to abortion or require the funding of abortion.

6. Mississippi

Mississippi bans all abortions except to save the life of the mother or in cases of rape or incest that have been reported to law enforcement. Though Mississippi did not adopt a constitutional amendment to ban abortion as a right, the Mississippi Code says:

Abortion carries significant physical and psychological risks to the maternal patient, and these physical and psychological risks increase with gestational age.

Moreover, doctors who perform illegal abortions face civil and criminal charges.

7. Missouri

Missouri bans all abortions except in the case of a medical emergency concerning the mother, with no exceptions for rape or incest. Those seeking to get an abortion must prove "affirmative defense," which means they have to prove in court why the abortion is necessary and meets the legal criteria. Minors seeking an abortion through "affirmative defense" must do so with parental consent. Moreover, those seeking an abortion must be offered an ultrasound.

Moreover, Missouri adopted the following statute protecting the unborn:

It is the intention of the general assembly of the state of Missouri to: (1) [d]efend the right to life of all humans, born and unborn; (2) [d]eclare that the state and all of its political subdivisions are a ‘sanctuary of life’ that protects pregnant women and their unborn children; and (3) [r]egulate abortion to the full extent permitted by the Constitution of the United States, decisions of the United States Supreme Court, and federal statutes.

8. Oklahoma

Oklahoma was the first state to successfully ban all abortions after conception following the overturn of Roe v. Wade and continues to lead the way as one of the toughest states on abortion. Exceptions include life-saving procedures for the mother or pregnancies resulting from "rape, sexual assault, or incest." Those who perform legal abortions can be reported and prosecuted criminally under state law HB427 and be charged at least $10,000 per illegal abortion procedure. Violations also include insurance companies or private citizens caught funding abortions.

Though Oklahoma has not adopted a state constitutional amendment concerning abortion, its Public Health Code states that it cannot be “construed as creating or recognizing right to abortion."

9. South Dakota

South Dakota bans all abortions except in life-threatening cases for the mother. There are no exceptions for rape and incest. However, it is legal to travel out of state to get an abortion. There are no state constitutional provisions protecting against abortion.

10. Tennessee

Tennessee bans all abortions except in life-threatening cases for the mother. There is currently a movement in the Tennessee state legislature to enact exceptions for rape and incest. Like Idaho and Missouri, healthcare practitioners who gave an abortion must prove "affirmative defense," which means they have to prove in court why the abortion is necessary and meets the legal criteria. Those who provide abortions illegally can be criminally prosecuted.

Tennessee's state constitution was amended to supersede a 2000 Tennessee supreme court case, which held:

A woman’s right to terminate her pregnancy is a vital part of the right to privacy guaranteed by the Tennessee Constitution [and that] the right is inherent in the concept of ordered liberty embodied in our constitution and is therefore fundamental.

The new state constitutional amendment reads as follows:

Nothing in this Constitution secures or protects a right to abortion or requires the funding of an abortion.

11. Texas

Texas bans all abortions except in life-threatening cases concerning the mother. There is a movement in the Texas state legislature to provide exemptions for rape and incest.

Moreover, Texas received a lot of heat for its law not only criminalizing providing illegal abortions but enabled citizens to report illegal abortions. However, several cities in Texas are pushing back against the abortion ban. After Dobbs, Texas increased the penalties for performing an abortion up to life in prison, including a civil penalty of no less than $100,000 per abortion performed.

Attorney General Ken Paxton said the following:

Now that the Supreme Court has finally overturned Roe, I will do everything in my power to protect mothers, families, and unborn children, and to uphold the state laws duly enacted by the Texas Legislature.

The cities of Austin and San Antonio passed ordinances preventing city funds from being used to investigate the provision or receipt of abortion care.

12. West Virginia

West Virginia bans abortion at all stages of pregnancy, except in the case of a “nonmedically viable fetus”, ectopic pregnancy, or medical emergency. According to the West Virginia state legislature, "Nonmedically viable fetus" means:

A fetus that contains sufficient lethal fetal anomalies so as to render the fetus medically futile or incompatible with life outside the womb in the reasonable medical judgment of a reasonably prudent physician.

Victims of rape and incest can obtain abortions up to eight weeks after conception, but only if they report to law enforcement first.

In 2018, West Virginians voted to add the following language to the state constitution:

Nothing in this Constitution secures or protects a right to abortion or requires the funding of abortion.