It’s an EmMajority Report Thursday, the first of 2024! She speaks with Dr. Sydney Calkin, senior lecturer in the School of Geography at Queen Mary University in London, to discuss her recent book Abortion Pills Go Global: Reproductive Freedom across Borders. Then, she speaks with Francis Boyle, professor of international law at the University of Illinois, to discuss South Africa filing a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Israel over its actions in Gaza.

First, Emma runs through updates on the US taking actions against the Houthis over the conflict in the Red Sea, Israel’s mounting death toll in Gaza, the US’ reaction to South Africa’s charge of Genocide against Israel, the murder of a New Jersey Imam, Ilhan Omar’s attempt to block Saudi and UAE arms sales, the Epstein files, Donald Trump’s corruption, Lina Khan’s FTC, the DOJ vs. Texas, and DeSantis anti-vax administration, before parsing through Joy Reid’s recent interview with a Palestinian American member of the Biden Admin who resigned in protest. Sydney Calkin then joins, diving right into general perceptions of the illegal abortion industry, with generally violent pictures coming to mind, and how that contrasts with the reality of countries where black market access to abortion pills like Mifepristone and Misoprostol allows women to rely on restricted drugs to perform generally safe, at home abortions. Calkin then walks through the role of the abortion pill in a post-Roe v. Wade United States, playing a major role in states both with and without abortion access, before expanding the picture as she looks to the pill’s role in recent reforms in Poland, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Next, Sydney walks Emma through her particular interest in the illegal cross-border dealing of this drug, before analyzing the central role it played in redefining what abortion could look like, and wrapping up with a quick assessment of the continuing fight for reproductive rights. Francis Boyle then runs through a quick background on the UN’s International Court of Justice and the criminal suit South Africa has brought against Israel over their genocide of Palestinians, exploring his personal history as the first lawyer to win a case on genocide at this court, and why precedent suggests South Africa has a strong chance of winning. After parsing through the difference between the ICJ and the ICC – the latter of which has a history of failing Palestinians – and what this suit means for both Israel and South Africa, Francis and Emma discuss John Kirby’s diminishment of the case, and explore the active complicity of the US government per the ICJ’s statutes. Boyle wraps up with a quick analysis of the relevant legal text and assesses the expected timeframe of the case.

And in the Fun Half: Emma is joined by Brandon Sutton and Matt Binder as they tackle the recently released Epstein documents, including a feature of fan-favorite Alan Dershowitz, watch Pope of the Jews go after President Gay, and listen to Dan from Oceanside discuss the future of Baby Boomer politics. Dave from Jamaica calls in for his takes on Ben Shapiro’s attacks on former Harvard president Claudine Gay, Tim Pool revises Nikki Haley’s Civil War revisionism, and the MR Crew reflects on the absurdity of caring about citation practices as a proxy for genocide, plus, your calls and IMs!

Check out Sydney’s book here: https://www.ucpress.edu/book/9780520391987/abortion-pills-go-global

Check out Francis’s appearance on Democracy Now! here: https://www.democracynow.org/2024/1/2/south_africa_israel_genocide_icj

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Check out Sydney’s book here: https://www.ucpress.edu/book/9780520391987/abortion-pills-go-global

Check out Francis’s appearance on Democracy Now! here: https://www.democracynow.org/2024/1/2/south_africa_israel_genocide_icj

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