Sophie Novack
@sophienovack.bsky.social
Freelance journalist in Texas. Mostly longform writing about health care access. Work in Washington Post Magazine, Slate, Reveal, The Atlantic, Texas Monthly, Texas Observer, and more.
www.sophienovack.com
snovack@protonmail.com
www.sophienovack.com
snovack@protonmail.com
Reposted by Sophie Novack
NEW:
In 2024, Tierra Walker was sick and getting sicker. She was also pregnant.
She knew abortion was illegal in Texas, but thought there was an exception for women like her, whose health was at risk. Doctors told her there was no emergency.
Then she died.
www.propublica.org/article/texa...
In 2024, Tierra Walker was sick and getting sicker. She was also pregnant.
She knew abortion was illegal in Texas, but thought there was an exception for women like her, whose health was at risk. Doctors told her there was no emergency.
Then she died.
www.propublica.org/article/texa...
“Ticking Time Bomb”: A Pregnant Mother Kept Getting Sicker. She Died After She Couldn’t Get an Abortion in Texas.
Walker is one of several women ProPublica found with underlying health conditions who died when they couldn’t access abortions.
www.propublica.org
November 19, 2025 at 11:08 AM
NEW:
In 2024, Tierra Walker was sick and getting sicker. She was also pregnant.
She knew abortion was illegal in Texas, but thought there was an exception for women like her, whose health was at risk. Doctors told her there was no emergency.
Then she died.
www.propublica.org/article/texa...
In 2024, Tierra Walker was sick and getting sicker. She was also pregnant.
She knew abortion was illegal in Texas, but thought there was an exception for women like her, whose health was at risk. Doctors told her there was no emergency.
Then she died.
www.propublica.org/article/texa...
Reposted by Sophie Novack
Oh my god www.theguardian.com/world/ng-int...
Influencers made millions pushing ‘wild’ births – now the Free Birth Society is linked to baby deaths around the world
A year-long investigation reveals how mothers lost children after being radicalised by uplifting podcast tales of births without midwives or doctors
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Oh my god www.theguardian.com/world/ng-int...
Last night, TX lawmakers passed sweeping bounty-hunter abortion ban, targeting anyone who makes, provides, delivers abortion pills here—or *intends* to. It could further cut access across US, including in medical emergencies.
Background on similar bill that stalled in May: slate.com/news-and-pol...
Background on similar bill that stalled in May: slate.com/news-and-pol...
Texas Gov. Abbott's summer special session agenda released today calls for further abortion restrictions—potentially reviving this sweeping, unprecedented bill targeting abortion pills that narrowly failed to pass last session. Background:
boltsmag.org/texas-1925-a...
slate.com/news-and-pol...
boltsmag.org/texas-1925-a...
slate.com/news-and-pol...
NEW: Texas Republicans are pushing sweeping anti-abortion legislation that would give the attorney general new power to enforce a century-old abortion ban that could criminalize pregnant people and those who help access abortion—including out of state. For @boltsmag.org: boltsmag.org/texas-1925-a...
September 4, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Last night, TX lawmakers passed sweeping bounty-hunter abortion ban, targeting anyone who makes, provides, delivers abortion pills here—or *intends* to. It could further cut access across US, including in medical emergencies.
Background on similar bill that stalled in May: slate.com/news-and-pol...
Background on similar bill that stalled in May: slate.com/news-and-pol...
Reposted by Sophie Novack
Minutes ago, the Texas Senate passed HB7, which will incentivize people to bring $100,000 lawsuits against anyone who makes, sends, or transports abortion medication in Texas.
In a guest essay, Kaitlyn Kash begs Gov. Greg Abbott not to sign it. #txlege
thebarbedwire.com/2025/09/03/i...
In a guest essay, Kaitlyn Kash begs Gov. Greg Abbott not to sign it. #txlege
thebarbedwire.com/2025/09/03/i...
I Almost Died After Giving Birth. Texas Just Made That More Likely for Everyone.
The Women and Child Protection Act does not protect anyone. Instead, it will cause clinicians to second guess themselves.
thebarbedwire.com
September 4, 2025 at 12:47 AM
Minutes ago, the Texas Senate passed HB7, which will incentivize people to bring $100,000 lawsuits against anyone who makes, sends, or transports abortion medication in Texas.
In a guest essay, Kaitlyn Kash begs Gov. Greg Abbott not to sign it. #txlege
thebarbedwire.com/2025/09/03/i...
In a guest essay, Kaitlyn Kash begs Gov. Greg Abbott not to sign it. #txlege
thebarbedwire.com/2025/09/03/i...
Texas Gov. Abbott's summer special session agenda released today calls for further abortion restrictions—potentially reviving this sweeping, unprecedented bill targeting abortion pills that narrowly failed to pass last session. Background:
boltsmag.org/texas-1925-a...
slate.com/news-and-pol...
boltsmag.org/texas-1925-a...
slate.com/news-and-pol...
NEW: Texas Republicans are pushing sweeping anti-abortion legislation that would give the attorney general new power to enforce a century-old abortion ban that could criminalize pregnant people and those who help access abortion—including out of state. For @boltsmag.org: boltsmag.org/texas-1925-a...
“A Backdoor Effort” to Revive Texas’ Century-Old Abortion Law - Bolts
Abortion legislation moving through the Texas Legislature gives the attorney general power to enforce a pre-Roe law that could criminalize pregnant people.
boltsmag.org
July 9, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Texas Gov. Abbott's summer special session agenda released today calls for further abortion restrictions—potentially reviving this sweeping, unprecedented bill targeting abortion pills that narrowly failed to pass last session. Background:
boltsmag.org/texas-1925-a...
slate.com/news-and-pol...
boltsmag.org/texas-1925-a...
slate.com/news-and-pol...
On this—as is often the case—Texas offers a warning. Lawmakers kicked Planned Parenthood out of state women’s health programs, slashed family planning funds, shuttered dozens of clinics & funneled millions to anti-abortion groups instead. How it went (from 2019) www.texasobserver.org/inside-texas...
June 9, 2025 at 8:35 PM
On this—as is often the case—Texas offers a warning. Lawmakers kicked Planned Parenthood out of state women’s health programs, slashed family planning funds, shuttered dozens of clinics & funneled millions to anti-abortion groups instead. How it went (from 2019) www.texasobserver.org/inside-texas...
A major win for Texas abortion-rights supporters for now, but important to note there's still a "what's next" on this for anti-abortion activists beyond the legislative session.
Background on the sweeping anti-abortion bill:
boltsmag.org/texas-1925-a...
slate.com/news-and-pol...
Background on the sweeping anti-abortion bill:
boltsmag.org/texas-1925-a...
slate.com/news-and-pol...
A TX bill to let private citizens sue people who mail abortion pills into the state WON'T pass after missing a key deadline.
It's a loss for the state's anti-abortion movement. The bill had been cited as a possible model for other ban states.
I spoke to anti-abortion activists about what's next.
It's a loss for the state's anti-abortion movement. The bill had been cited as a possible model for other ban states.
I spoke to anti-abortion activists about what's next.
A Texas bill to block abortion pills has died for now
Senate Bill 2880, which supporters hoped could halt a key source of abortion, will likely not get a vote before the end of the session.
19thnews.org
May 28, 2025 at 4:25 PM
A major win for Texas abortion-rights supporters for now, but important to note there's still a "what's next" on this for anti-abortion activists beyond the legislative session.
Background on the sweeping anti-abortion bill:
boltsmag.org/texas-1925-a...
slate.com/news-and-pol...
Background on the sweeping anti-abortion bill:
boltsmag.org/texas-1925-a...
slate.com/news-and-pol...
Reposted by Sophie Novack
Huge news. This bill was heralded as a model for other states. My guess is that it was taken down by its language blocking state courts from ruling on its constitutionality. Don't be surprised if many of these proposals are back, in TX and elsewhere, minus that idea.
A TX bill to let private citizens sue people who mail abortion pills into the state WON'T pass after missing a key deadline.
It's a loss for the state's anti-abortion movement. The bill had been cited as a possible model for other ban states.
I spoke to anti-abortion activists about what's next.
It's a loss for the state's anti-abortion movement. The bill had been cited as a possible model for other ban states.
I spoke to anti-abortion activists about what's next.
A Texas bill to block abortion pills has died for now
Senate Bill 2880, which supporters hoped could halt a key source of abortion, will likely not get a vote before the end of the session.
19thnews.org
May 27, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Huge news. This bill was heralded as a model for other states. My guess is that it was taken down by its language blocking state courts from ruling on its constitutionality. Don't be surprised if many of these proposals are back, in TX and elsewhere, minus that idea.
Reposted by Sophie Novack
major, major update: it appears that this bill has died.
the legislation did not advance in the Texas House as a key deadline passed today.
the legislation did not advance in the Texas House as a key deadline passed today.
NEW: Texas Republicans are pushing sweeping anti-abortion legislation that would give the attorney general new power to enforce a century-old abortion ban that could criminalize pregnant people and those who help access abortion—including out of state. For @boltsmag.org: boltsmag.org/texas-1925-a...
“A Backdoor Effort” to Revive Texas’ Century-Old Abortion Law - Bolts
Abortion legislation moving through the Texas Legislature gives the attorney general power to enforce a pre-Roe law that could criminalize pregnant people.
boltsmag.org
May 28, 2025 at 2:52 AM
major, major update: it appears that this bill has died.
the legislation did not advance in the Texas House as a key deadline passed today.
the legislation did not advance in the Texas House as a key deadline passed today.
Reposted by Sophie Novack
Thinking of this @propublica.org reporting today about stillbirths of unvaccinated parents during the Delta wave, before CDC had explicitly recommended COVID vaccines for pregnant people and the damage the virus did to the placentas.
www.propublica.org/article/covi...
www.propublica.org/article/covi...
May 27, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Thinking of this @propublica.org reporting today about stillbirths of unvaccinated parents during the Delta wave, before CDC had explicitly recommended COVID vaccines for pregnant people and the damage the virus did to the placentas.
www.propublica.org/article/covi...
www.propublica.org/article/covi...
Reposted by Sophie Novack
A huge step from HHS that is at odds with science showing significant risks for young children and pregnant women — and that directly contradicts *the FDA's own publication* from last week listing pregnancy as a high-risk condition that would qualify people for this fall's Covid vaccine
May 27, 2025 at 3:18 PM
A huge step from HHS that is at odds with science showing significant risks for young children and pregnant women — and that directly contradicts *the FDA's own publication* from last week listing pregnancy as a high-risk condition that would qualify people for this fall's Covid vaccine
As anti-abortion activists try to restrict abortion medication nationally, Texas Republicans are pushing a bill that could limit access to the pills across the country—including in medical emergencies—and provide a road map for other states to follow suit. For @slate.com: slate.com/news-and-pol...
May 25, 2025 at 8:17 PM
As anti-abortion activists try to restrict abortion medication nationally, Texas Republicans are pushing a bill that could limit access to the pills across the country—including in medical emergencies—and provide a road map for other states to follow suit. For @slate.com: slate.com/news-and-pol...
Reposted by Sophie Novack
The bill wouldn't just cause millions to lose their health insurance, it would also:
*ban Medicaid coverage of non-abortion care at Planned Parenthood
*ban Medicaid coverage of ANY gender-affirming care (yes, adults)
*block marketplace insurance plans from covering abortion or gender-affirming care
*ban Medicaid coverage of non-abortion care at Planned Parenthood
*ban Medicaid coverage of ANY gender-affirming care (yes, adults)
*block marketplace insurance plans from covering abortion or gender-affirming care
House Passes 'Big, Beautiful Bill' That's a Vicious Attack on Abortion and Gender-Affirming Care
The budget bill would "defund" Planned Parenthood, closing nearly 200 clinics, and prohibit Medicaid from covering healthcare for transgender people, no matter their age.
www.jezebel.com
May 22, 2025 at 7:37 PM
The bill wouldn't just cause millions to lose their health insurance, it would also:
*ban Medicaid coverage of non-abortion care at Planned Parenthood
*ban Medicaid coverage of ANY gender-affirming care (yes, adults)
*block marketplace insurance plans from covering abortion or gender-affirming care
*ban Medicaid coverage of non-abortion care at Planned Parenthood
*ban Medicaid coverage of ANY gender-affirming care (yes, adults)
*block marketplace insurance plans from covering abortion or gender-affirming care
Reposted by Sophie Novack
TX lawmakers advanced this sweeping bill today ahead of a critical deadline, read more from Sophie on how this legislation would even further restrict access to emergency care here and could criminalize pregnant people
slate.com/news-and-pol...
boltsmag.org/texas-1925-a...
slate.com/news-and-pol...
boltsmag.org/texas-1925-a...
May 23, 2025 at 10:53 PM
TX lawmakers advanced this sweeping bill today ahead of a critical deadline, read more from Sophie on how this legislation would even further restrict access to emergency care here and could criminalize pregnant people
slate.com/news-and-pol...
boltsmag.org/texas-1925-a...
slate.com/news-and-pol...
boltsmag.org/texas-1925-a...
This sweeping anti-abortion bill passed a TX House committee today—a day after full House gave final ok to a bill meant to help clarify when doctors can intervene in life-threatening emergencies.
It could revive pre-Roe abortion ban and further restrict access to medication in medical emergencies.
It could revive pre-Roe abortion ban and further restrict access to medication in medical emergencies.
May 23, 2025 at 8:58 PM
This sweeping anti-abortion bill passed a TX House committee today—a day after full House gave final ok to a bill meant to help clarify when doctors can intervene in life-threatening emergencies.
It could revive pre-Roe abortion ban and further restrict access to medication in medical emergencies.
It could revive pre-Roe abortion ban and further restrict access to medication in medical emergencies.
I've been thinking often of this essay by @anrao.bsky.social, especially since becoming a mother myself www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
May 20, 2025 at 9:51 PM
I've been thinking often of this essay by @anrao.bsky.social, especially since becoming a mother myself www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
Reposted by Sophie Novack
Georgia is forcing the family of Adriana Smith, who is brain dead but pregnant, to keep her on life support for at least ten weeks and swallow the enormous bills that keep adding up www.11alive.com/article/news...
May 15, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Georgia is forcing the family of Adriana Smith, who is brain dead but pregnant, to keep her on life support for at least ten weeks and swallow the enormous bills that keep adding up www.11alive.com/article/news...
Reposted by Sophie Novack
Under Texas’ abortion ban, the rate of sepsis shot up by more than 50% for women hospitalized when they lost a second-trimester pregnancy.
Our new analysis shows the risk varies widely between the state’s two largest metro areas.
By Kavitha Surana, Lizzie Presser and @andreasuozzo.com
Our new analysis shows the risk varies widely between the state’s two largest metro areas.
By Kavitha Surana, Lizzie Presser and @andreasuozzo.com
Why Hospital Policies Matter in States That Ban Abortion
Our first-of-its-kind data analysis found that a seismic split emerged in how medical institutions in Texas' two largest metro areas, Houston and Dallas, treated miscarrying patients — and in their…
www.propublica.org
May 11, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Under Texas’ abortion ban, the rate of sepsis shot up by more than 50% for women hospitalized when they lost a second-trimester pregnancy.
Our new analysis shows the risk varies widely between the state’s two largest metro areas.
By Kavitha Surana, Lizzie Presser and @andreasuozzo.com
Our new analysis shows the risk varies widely between the state’s two largest metro areas.
By Kavitha Surana, Lizzie Presser and @andreasuozzo.com
NEW: Texas Republicans are pushing sweeping anti-abortion legislation that would give the attorney general new power to enforce a century-old abortion ban that could criminalize pregnant people and those who help access abortion—including out of state. For @boltsmag.org: boltsmag.org/texas-1925-a...
“A Backdoor Effort” to Revive Texas’ Century-Old Abortion Law - Bolts
Abortion legislation moving through the Texas Legislature gives the attorney general power to enforce a pre-Roe law that could criminalize pregnant people.
boltsmag.org
May 7, 2025 at 3:41 PM
NEW: Texas Republicans are pushing sweeping anti-abortion legislation that would give the attorney general new power to enforce a century-old abortion ban that could criminalize pregnant people and those who help access abortion—including out of state. For @boltsmag.org: boltsmag.org/texas-1925-a...
Reposted by Sophie Novack
an infuriating story here by @sophienovack.bsky.social on TX officials dodging responsibility for their years-long failure to follow the Sandra Bland Act, a law mandating outside investigations of jail deaths so that sheriffs don’t investigate themselves
boltsmag.org/texas-jail-d...
boltsmag.org/texas-jail-d...
Officials Play “Accountability Ping Pong” With Jail Deaths in Texas - Bolts
A bipartisan push for jail oversight comes after a North Texas sheriff flouted state law mandating independent investigations of deaths on his watch.
boltsmag.org
April 22, 2025 at 7:08 PM
an infuriating story here by @sophienovack.bsky.social on TX officials dodging responsibility for their years-long failure to follow the Sandra Bland Act, a law mandating outside investigations of jail deaths so that sheriffs don’t investigate themselves
boltsmag.org/texas-jail-d...
boltsmag.org/texas-jail-d...