Former Planned Parenthood Employee Shares a Big Reason Why Young People Are Pro-Life

January 19, 2018

WRITER

The 45th annual March for Life is taking place today. Former Planned Parenthood director Abby Johnson, now a pro-life advocate, joined Glenn on today’s show to talk about why so many young people are passionate about protecting unborn babies.

‘I Was Wrong’: Glenn Remembers When He Wasn’t Openly Pro-Life

The advancements of science and technology have been influential for today’s pro-lifers. The younger generation grew up with the idea that your first “baby picture” is an ultrasound, something that has made a profound difference to how they see life in the womb.

Johnson also shared the best ways to reach out to ex-abortion clinic employees or moms-to-be who are contemplating abortion. Reacting with anger and condemnation will only produce more hurt in return; instead, we should be kind and offer a far better, more hopeful alternative to abortion.

This article provided courtesy of TheBlaze.

GLENN: Abby Johnson, she is the CEO and founder of and then there were none. She was a woman -- I would like to ask her to tell her story, in case you've never heard it. Because it is -- it's a story of redemption and love.

Abby, welcome to the program.

ABBY: Oh, thanks for having me, Glenn. It's always good to be on.

GLENN: You are in Washington, I assume?

ABBY: I am. I'm backstage in the March for Life.

GLENN: I know you've got a million things going on. Can you tell me first what's happening today, and how many people are showing up, and what it's like?

ABBY: Sure. So 45th Annual March for Life. I mean, it's sad that we're still here, 45 years after Roe v. Wade. But we see, you know, significant change in our culture. The overwhelming majority of people here are under the age of 30. I'm 37, and they look at me like I'm ancient. So it's young people here.

In fact, 50 years ago, the president, they were out in the March for Life. And in her report, she said, I looked around, and I thought to myself, "They are all so young."

And that's true. And I think one of the reasons is because, you know, we have a generation of people now that their first baby picture was of themselves in the womb.

It's not, you know, being -- being a child in the womb is not something that is abstract. They can see themselves. They can see that they were potentially at risk for abortion. But they were able to live.

And so it's very real for them. And it's -- it's a great time coming together. But also a time of remembrance, for, you know, the 60 million-plus lives that have been destroyed by abortion. And that's just the unborn. Then we have to consider all the women and men who are also suffering from their abortion decisions.

We expect probably between 400 and 500,000 people to be here in Washington today. Although, you know, CNN will probably say there were a few thousand.

GLENN: Yeah. It doesn't matter.

ABBY: But it's always -- it's always a good time.

GLENN: So, Abby, would you just share your story? Because I like -- what I -- I think you are the key to unlocking so many doors. Because you actually worked at Planned Parenthood. And you're not somebody who is -- you know, drives the abortion truck. You know, that is -- is shouting at people as they go into Planned Parenthood. You're a person who has compassion. And that's what led you to Planned Parenthood in the first place, until you figured it out.

ABBY: Right. So I worked at Planned Parenthood for eight years. Got involved as a college kid. Got -- the prime target for Planned Parenthood is college-aged kids. I say that wherever there are vulnerable women, so is Planned Parenthood. And there are tens of thousands of vulnerable students on college campuses. And you better believe that Planned Parenthood is right there along with them. I didn't know anything about Planned Parenthood. But they told me they were all about helping women. And certainly as a woman, I want to help other women. And so got involved with them. Ended up rising through the ranks. Was a clinic director with them for many years.

And left, in October of 2009, after witnessing a live ultrasound abortion procedure, where I saw a baby fight and struggle for his life against the abortion instrument, and ultimately lost his life.

And I knew then that two things were true: That life was, in fact, in the womb. And that there was humanity in the womb. And if those two things were true, then I was on the wrong side of this debate.

And so I left. And when I left, Planned Parenthood sued me. Tried to take me to court. Tried to get a permanent gag order against me so that I would not be able to speak out about my experience at Planned Parenthood and things that I do.

And they obviously lost. And then a couple years later, I started an organization called, And Then There Were None.

And we actively reach out to abortion clinic workers and try to get them out of the abortion industry.

And to date, in the past few years, we have helped 419 abortion clinic workers leave the industry, find help and hope and healing in Christ.

GLENN: Wow.

ABBY: And get them new jobs in life-affirming situations. And that 419 also includes seven full-time abortion doctors, who now work in life-affirming medical practices.

GLENN: What was the key to the -- I mean, the doctors know. What was the key to turn them?

ABBY: You know, they know. A lot of times they've known for a while. And they've wanted to get out for a while. But I think almost all the doctors that we have helped to leave, they -- there's a lot of baggage that comes along with them. Because when you are aborting babies, you are also usually living a pretty immoral lifestyle.

GLENN: Uh-huh.

ABBY: And so there's tax issues. There's, you know, many, many divorces. There's, you know, all these issues with children, custody. And so there's a lot of baggage that comes along with them. And they just think, I'm never going to get out of this. I'm never going to be able to get my head above water. Because performing abortion is a very lucrative job. And they think that they can't do it. And we just show them that, look, your soul is more important than the money you're bringing in every year. And we're going to help you -- we're going to help you get your head above water, but you've got to trust us.

GLENN: Abbey, what is the one thing that maybe has been done in the past that you hope to change with people who are pro-life? What is the thing that if you could have everybody here today, this is the message that we should be carrying?

ABBY: So we've got to be carrying a message of love. And oftentimes, there's life and death and the power of the tongue, right?

And in this case in the times that we're living in now, it's the power of our keyboard. And I wish that I could, you know, talk to every pro-lifer and instruct them on how to respond to people online. People are watching us.

Women who have had abortions, they're watching us. They're watching how we respond. And when you call them murderers. When you say hateful things about them, when you say that God will never forgive them, they're watching us. And you could be impeding someone's progress to finding healing and hope in Christ.

When -- when a woman is considering having an abortion, when she's trying to make that decision and she sees you online saying, you know, I -- just, women who do that, oh, they just need to keep their legs closed. What's wrong with them? And they made their need, and they need to lie in it. They're saying things like that. You have the ability to change someone's life and to actually save a life. When an abortion worker is online or a former abortion worker is online and they're looking for resources and they're looking for help, and they pro-lifers, you know, I hope they burn in hell. I pray they burn in hell. God is never going to forgive them. They're baby killers.

They're watching you. And I just wish that I could help everybody understand that our words are so powerful. And underneath everything we do, it should be undergirded in love and in life and in mercy. Because we have all received mercy and grace from Christ, and we should be extending that to everyone.

GLENN: Abby Johnson, thank you so much. I'm glad your voice was heard today.

ABBY: Thanks.

Washington Post EXPOSED: How Watergate editors almost published a fake Pulitzer Prize-winning story

Episode 6 of Glenn’s new history podcast series The Beck Story releases this Saturday.

This latest installment explores the history of Left-wing bias in mainstream media. Like every episode of this series, episode 6 is jam-packed with historical detail, but you can’t squeeze in every story, so some inevitably get cut from the final version. Part of this episode involves the late Ben Bradlee, who was the legendary editor of the Washington Post. Bradlee is legendary mostly because of the Watergate investigation that was conducted on his watch by two young reporters named Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein. Bradlee, Woodward, and Bernstein became celebrities after the release of the book and movie based on their investigation called All the President’s Men.

But there is another true story about the Washington Post that you probably won’t see any time soon at a theater near you.

In 1980, Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee wanted to expand the Post’s readership in the black community. The paper made an effort to hire more minority journalists, like Janet Cooke, a black female reporter from Ohio. Cooke was an aggressive reporter and a good writer. She was a fast-rising star on a staff already full of stars. The Post had a very competitive environment and Cooke desperately wanted to win a Pulitzer Prize.

Readers were hooked. And outraged.

When Cooke was asked to work on a story about the D.C. area’s growing heroin problem, she saw her chance to win that Pulitzer. As she interviewed people in black neighborhoods that were hardest hit by the heroin epidemic, she was appalled to learn that even some children were heroin addicts. When she learned about an eight-year-old heroin addict named Jimmy, she knew she had her hook. His heartbreaking story would surely be her ticket to a Pulitzer.

Cooke wrote her feature story, titling it, “Jimmy’s World.” It blew away her editors at the Post, including Bob Woodward, who by then was Assistant Managing Editor. “Jimmy’s World” would be a front-page story:

'Jimmy is 8 years old and a third-generation heroin addict,' Cooke’s story began, 'a precocious little boy with sandy hair, velvety brown eyes and needle marks freckling the baby-smooth skin of his thin brown arms. He nestles in a large, beige reclining chair in the living room of his comfortably furnished home in Southeast Washington. There is an almost cherubic expression on his small, round face as he talks about life – clothes, money, the Baltimore Orioles and heroin. He has been an addict since the age of 5.'

Readers were hooked. And outraged. The mayor’s office instructed the police to immediately search for Jimmy and get him medical treatment. But no one was able to locate Jimmy. Cooke wasn’t surprised. She told her editors at the Post that she had only been able to interview Jimmy and his mother by promising them anonymity. She also revealed that the mother’s boyfriend had threatened Cooke’s life if the police discovered Jimmy’s whereabouts.

A few months later, Cooke’s hard work paid off and her dream came true – her story was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for feature writing. Cooke had to submit some autobiographical information to the Prize committee, but there was a slight snag. The committee contacted the Post when they couldn’t verify that Cooke had graduated magna cum laude from Vassar College. Turns out she only attended Vassar her freshman year. She actually graduated from the University of Toledo with a B.A. degree, not with a master’s degree as she told the Pulitzer committee.

Cooke’s editors summoned her for an explanation. Unfortunately for Cooke and the Washington Post, her resume flubs were the least of her lies. After hours of grilling, Cooke finally confessed that “Jimmy’s World” was entirely made up. Jimmy did not exist.

The Pulitzer committee withdrew its prize and Cooke resigned in shame. The Washington Post, the paper that uncovered Watergate – the biggest political scandal in American history – failed to even vet Cooke’s resume. Then it published a front-page, Pulitzer Prize-winning feature story that was 100 percent made up.

Remarkably, neither Ben Bradlee nor Bob Woodward resigned over the incident. It was a different time, but also, the halo of All the President’s Men probably saved them.

Don’t miss the first five episodes of The Beck Story, which are available now. And look for Episode 6 this Saturday, wherever you get your podcasts.

UPDATED: 5 Democrats who have endorsed Kamala (and one who hasn't)

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With Biden removed from the 2024 election and only a month to find a replacement before the DNC, Democrats continue to fall in line and back Vice President Kamala Harris to headline the party's ticket. Her proximity and familiarity with the Biden campaign along with an endorsement from Biden sets Harris up to step into Biden's shoes and preserve the momentum from his campaign.

Glenn doesn't think Kamala Harris is likely to survive as the assumed Democratic nominee, and once the DNC starts, anything could happen. Plenty of powerful and important Democrats have rallied around Harris over the last few days, but there have been some crucial exemptions. Here are five democrats that have thrown their name behind Harris, and two SHOCKING names that didn't...

Sen. Dick Durbin: ENDORSED

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High-ranking Senate Democrat Dick Durbin officially put in his support for Harris in a statement that came out the day after Biden stepped down: “I’m proud to endorse my former Senate colleague and good friend, Vice President Kamala Harris . . . our nation needs to continue moving forward with unity and not MAGA chaos. Vice President Harris was a critical partner in building the Biden record over the past four years . . . Count me in with Kamala Harris for President.”

Michigan Gov. Whitmer: ENDORSED

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The Monday after Biden stepped down from the presidential VP hopeful, Gretchen Whitmer released the following statement on X: “Today, I am fired up to endorse Kamala Harris for president of the United States [...] In Vice President Harris, Michigan voters have a presidential candidate they can count on to focus on lowering their costs, restoring their freedoms, bringing jobs and supply chains back home from overseas, and building an economy that works for working people.”

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: ENDORSED

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Mere hours after Joe Biden made his announcement, AOC hopped on X and made the following post showing her support: "Kamala Harris will be the next President of the United States. I pledge my full support to ensure her victory in November. Now more than ever, it is crucial that our party and country swiftly unite to defeat Donald Trump and the threat to American democracy. Let’s get to work."

Rep. Nancy Pelosi: ENDORSED

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Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who is arguably one of the most influential democrats, backed Harris's campaign with the following statement given the day after Biden's decision: “I have full confidence she will lead us to victory in November . . . My enthusiastic support for Kamala Harris for President is official, personal, and political.”

Sen. Elizabeth Warren: ENDORSED

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Massasschesets Senator Elizabeth Warren was quick to endorse Kamala, releasing the following statement shortly after Harris placed her presidential bid: "I endorse Kamala Harris for President. She is a proven fighter who has been a national leader in safeguarding consumers and protecting access to abortion. As a former prosecutor, she can press a forceful case against allowing Donald Trump to regain the White House. We have many talented people in our party, but Vice President Harris is the person who was chosen by the voters to succeed Joe Biden if needed. She can unite our party, take on Donald Trump, and win in November."

UPDATED: Former President Barack Obama: ENDORSED

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Former President Barack Obama wasted no time releasing the following statement which glaringly omits any support for Harris or any other candidate. Instead, he suggests someone will be chosen at the DNC in August: "We will be navigating uncharted waters in the days ahead. But I have extraordinary confidence that the leaders of our party will be able to create a process from which an outstanding nominee emerges. I believe that Joe Biden's vision of a generous, prosperous, and united America that provides opportunity for everyone will be on full display at the Democratic Convention in August. And I expect that every single one of us are prepared to carry that message of hope and progress forward into November and beyond."

UPDATED: On Friday, July 26th Barack and Michelle Obama officially threw their support behind Harris over a phone call with the current VP:

“We called to say, Michelle and I couldn’t be prouder to endorse you and do everything we can to get you through this election and into the Oval Office.”

The fact that it took nearly a week for the former president to endorse Kamala, along with his original statement, gives the endorsement a begrudging tone.

Prominent Democratic Donor John Morgan: DID NOT ENDORSE

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Prominent and wealthy Florida lawyer and democrat donor John Morgan was clearly very pessimistic about Kamala's odds aginst Trump when he gave the following statement: “You have to be enthusiastic or hoping for a political appointment to be asking friends for money. I am neither. It’s others turn now . . . The donors holding the 90 million can release those funds in the morning. It’s all yours. You can keep my million. And good luck . . . [Harris] would not be my first choice, but it’s a done deal.”

How did Trump's would-be assassin get past Secret Service?

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Editor's Note: This article was originally published on TheBlaze.com.

Former President Donald Trump on Saturday was targeted in an assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. It occurred just after 6:10 p.m. while Trump was delivering his speech.

Here are the details of the “official” story. The shooter was Thomas Matthew Crooks. He was 20 years old from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. He used an AR-15 rifle and managed to reach the rooftop of a nearby building unnoticed. The Secret Service's counter-response team responded swiftly, according to "the facts," killing Crooks and preventing further harm.

Did it though? That’s what the official story says, so far, but calling this a mere lapse in security by Secret Service doesn't add up. There are some glaring questions that need to be answered.

If Trump had been killed on Saturday, we would be in a civil war today. We would have seen for the first time the president's brains splattered on live television, and because of the details of this, I have a hard time thinking it wouldn't have been viewed as JFK 2.0.

How does someone sneak a rifle onto the rally grounds? How does someone even know that that building is there? How is it that Thomas Matthew Crooks was acting so weird and pacing in front of the metal detectors, and no one seemed to notice? People tried to follow him, but, oops, he got away.

How could the kid possibly even think that the highest ground at the venue wouldn't be watched? If I were Crooks, my first guess would be, "That’s the one place I shouldn't crawl up to with a rifle because there's most definitely going to be Secret Service there." Why wasn't anyone there? Why wasn't anyone watching it? Nobody except the shooter decided that the highest ground with the best view of the rally would be the greatest vulnerability to Trump’s safety.

Moreover, a handy ladder just happened to be there. Are we supposed to believe that nobody in the Secret Service, none of the drones, none of the things we pay millions of dollars for caught him? How did he get a ladder there? If the ladder was there, was it always there? Why was the ladder there? Secret Service welds manhole covers closed when a president drives down a road. How was there a ladder sitting around, ready to climb up to the highest ground at the venue, and the Secret Service failed to take it away?

There is plenty of video of eyewitnesses yelling that there was a guy with a rifle climbing up on a ladder to the roof for at least 120 seconds before the first shot was fired. Why were the police looking for him while Secret Service wasn't? Why did the sniper have him in his sights for over a minute before he took a shot? Why did a cop climb up the ladder to look around? When Thomas Matthew Cooks pointed a gun at him, he then ducked and came down off the ladder. Did he call anyone to warn that this young man had a rifle within range of the president?

How is it the Secret Service has a female bodyguard who doesn't even reach Trump's nipples? How was she going to guard the president's body with hers? How is it another female Secret Service agent pulled her gun out a good four minutes too late, then looked around, apparently not knowing what to do? She then couldn't even get the pistol back into the holster because she's a Melissa McCarthy body double. I don't think it's a good idea to have Melissa McCarthy guarding the president.

Here’s the critical question now: Who trusts the FBI with the shooter’s computer? Will his hard drive get filed with the Nashville manifesto? How is it that the Secret Service almost didn't have snipers at all but decided to supply them only one day before the rally because all the local resources were going to be put on Jill Biden? I want Jill Biden safe, of course. I want Jill Biden to have what the first lady should have for security, but you can’t hire a few extra guys to make sure our candidates are safe?

How is it that we have a Secret Service director, Kimberly Cheatle, whose experience is literally guarding two liters of Squirt and spicy Doritos? Did you know that's her background? She's in charge of the United States Secret Service, and her last job was as the head of security for Pepsi.

This is a game, and that's what makes this sick. This is a joke. There are people in our country who thought it was OK to post themselves screaming about the shooter’s incompetence: “How do you miss that shot?” Do you realize how close we came to another JFK? If the president hadn't turned his head at the exact moment he did, it would have gone into the center of his head, and we would be a different country today.

Now, Joe Biden is also saying that we shouldn't make assumptions about the motive of the shooter. Well, I think we can assume one thing: He wanted to kill the Republican presidential candidate. Can we agree on that at least? Can we assume that much?

How can the media even think of blaming Trump for the rhetoric when the Democrats and the media constantly call him literally worse than Hitler who must be stopped at all costs?

These questions need to be answered if we want to know the truth behind what could have been one of the most consequential days in U.S. history. Yet, the FBI has its hands clasped on all the sources that could point to the truth. There must be an independent investigation to get to the bottom of these glaring “mistakes.”

POLL: Do you think Trump is going to win the election?

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It feels like all of the tension that has been building over the last four years has finally burst to the surface over the past month. Many predicted 2024 was going to be one of the most important and tumultuous elections in our lifetimes, but the last two weeks will go down in the history books. And it's not over yet.

The Democratic National Convention is in August, and while Kamala seems to be the likely candidate to replace Biden, anything could happen in Chicago. And if Biden is too old to campaign, isn't he too old to be president? Glenn doesn't think he'll make it as President through January, but who knows?

There is a lot of uncertainty that surrounds the current political landscape. Trump came out of the attempted assassination, and the RNC is looking stronger than ever, but who knows what tricks the Democrats have up their sleeves? Let us know your predictions in the poll below:

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