Mississippi state Sen. Bradford Blackmon, a Democrat, introduced a bill titled the “Contraception Begins at Erection Act” that would ban men from engaging in sexual acts not intended for fertilizing an embryo, with fines ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. The bill allows exceptions for sperm donation and contraceptive use, but is unlikely to pass in the Republican-majority state legislature. Blackmon cited the bill as a response to the focus on women in reproductive health legislation, following the 2022 Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade and led to increased restrictions on abortion and contraception in Republican-led states.
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Germans Are Voting. Here’s What to Watch For.
Germans vote in a snap election as Chancellor Scholz's government collapses, with Friedrich Merz's Christian Democrats leading polls. The far-right AfD is expected to place second, while small parties like Die Linke and the Free Democratic Party aim to clear the five percent threshold. The "firewall" against extremist parties will be tested, with concerns over the AfD's potential impact on German politics and the stability of future coalitions. Full Article
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