Spain
The Story
Spain is really going with the flow.
What?
Yesterday, the Spanish parliament said ‘sí’ to paid leave for menstrual cramps. The new law gives women up to five days of medical leave if they’re experiencing a painful period, or as the law describes it “in case of incapacitating menstruation.” Health experts say about a third of Spanish women fall under that category. Now, Spain's the first European country to approve paid menstrual leave and joins countries like Zambia, Japan, and South Korea, which have similar policies. The new law also aims to tackle period poverty by offering free pads and tampons at schools and prisons. Spanish lawmakers didn’t stop there.
What else?
They also passed laws on trans rights and abortion access. Spain's made it easier for people 16 and older to change their registered gender. This means trans people no longer need medical supervision or a doctor to sign-off. Lawmakers also voted to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to get abortions without parental consent. Spain’s equality minister said the new laws are “saving many lives.” Meanwhile, the country's right-wing parties reportedly opposed the new measures. They argued in part that the changes in transgender rights could allow men to compete in women's sports.
Meanwhile, in the US…
It’s still the only wealthy country that doesn’t guarantee paid family leave. More than 16 million people who menstruate are living in poverty. The pink tax doesn’t help. Virginia recently blocked a bill that would have banned officers from accessing period tracking apps — raising concerns about bodily autonomy. In Kentucky, the state's Supreme Court decided to keep the state's trigger law and six-week abortion ban in place. On top of that, there’s reportedly also been more than 150 anti-trans bills proposed in 25 states this year.
theSkimm
The spotlight's on paid medical leave and abortion and trans rights. Spain has expanded some of its policies, but the situation across the US is an ongoing debate.
And Also...This
What’s finally closing the loop…
Georgia. Yesterday, a special grand jury released excerpts of its report on allegations of voter fraud in 2020. Spoiler: It found none. Last year, an Atlanta grand jury began investigating former President Trump and his allies for their alleged attempt to overturn the 2020 election. While the report said there was no widespread voter fraud — as we’ve learned before — the jury believes “one or more” witnesses may have lied under oath. The jurors didn’t specify who that could be, but they interviewed or received evidence from 75 people. That includes former Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC). Now, the grand jury is recommending perjury charges against those unnamed witnesses. Perjury is a federal offense that carries a penalty of up to five years in prison. It’s up to Fulton County DA Fani Willis to pursue the indictments.
Who’s clearing the air…
President Biden. Yesterday, he said China was “most likely” not connected to the three unidentified objects that were shot down last weekend. US fighter jets downed objects over Alaska, Canada, and Lake Huron, days after shooting down a Chinese spy balloon. Over the past week, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle called on the president to provide more information. Now, Biden said the three most recent objects likely belong to private companies or research institutions. He added that military radar systems increased their sensitivity to be able to identify more floating objects — hence the discoveries last weekend. The Biden admin said it'll update its rules on how to handle UFOs moving forward. Meanwhile, critics said the president is not providing Americans with “safety and security.”
Who people are thinking of…
Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA). Yesterday, Fetterman’s office shared that the lawmaker checked himself into a hospital for severe depression. In a statement, his office said Fetterman has “experienced depression off and on throughout his life.” Lawmakers like Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) applauded Fetterman for getting the help he needs. It's not clear if this incident was connected to when he was hospitalized for lightheadedness last week.
Bruce Willis. Yesterday, the actor’s family shared on social media that he is suffering from frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Last year, his family said Willis was stepping away from acting due to an aphasia diagnosis. As it stands, there is no treatment for FTD.
Who’s replacing her work husband with her real husband…
Who’s got people talking…
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