Topic: Fetal Tissue

Project Veritas released internal Pfizer emails showing executives discussing how to handle inquiries about the use of fetal cell lines in vaccine testing. Vanessa Gelman, a Senior Director at Pfizer, advised avoiding the topic to prevent public backlash. The whistleblower, an employee at the McPherson plant, was subsequently terminated via a voicemail from corporate security.

A recent CDC report claims that white men are the primary demographic failing to wash their hands properly after using the bathroom. In medical news, the Regeneron therapeutic given to President Trump was developed using cell lines derived from aborted fetal tissue from the 1970s. This connection has sparked debate regarding the alignment of the treatment with the values of the religious right.

The hosts review President Obama's claim that mass shootings "don't happen in other countries," pointing to recent attacks in France and Norway as counter-evidence. They also revisit Carly Fiorina's comments during a GOP debate regarding fetal tissue harvesting, which the media has labeled as "inflamed rhetoric" following the Colorado shooting.

MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell interviews Cecile Richards in a segment the hosts describe as non-adversarial. Richards claims that the political climate is "toxic" and that Planned Parenthood has been fully exonerated of wrongdoing by Congress. The hosts note that Planned Parenthood changed its policy regarding reimbursement for fetal tissue donation following the controversy, a detail often omitted in news reports.

The PBS NewsHour report on the Planned Parenthood hearing is criticized for being "deceptively edited" and biased. The hosts point out factual errors in the reporting regarding how fetal tissue is used and the segregation of federal funds from political activities. They argue PBS acted as a mouthpiece for the organization by reporting its statements as undisputed facts.

The Center for Medical Progress released a series of undercover videos alleging that Planned Parenthood officials negotiate the sale of fetal organs. Planned Parenthood Executive Vice President Dawn Laguens and White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest have dismissed the footage as "deceptively edited." However, the release of full-length transcripts and a fifth video showing discussions about gender-selective procedures has intensified the political debate over federal funding.

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest defended Planned Parenthood following the release of undercover videos showing the discussion of fetal tissue harvesting. Earnest claimed the videos were "fraudulent" and "heavily edited," despite admitting he had not watched them personally. The timing of the videos coincides with Senate budget hearings where Republicans like Rand Paul are calling for the organization's defunding.

Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell testified before the Senate regarding the department's budget and its $500 million annual funding of Planned Parenthood. Burwell claimed she had not seen the undercover videos but asserted that grantees must certify they follow laws regarding fetal tissue. Representative Phil Roe, an obstetrician, criticized the Secretary for the "ghoulish" nature of the practices described in the footage.

Secretary Burwell clarified that the NIH provides grants for research involving fetal tissue, but the Department of Justice is responsible for investigating any illegal sales. A side discussion explores the "cavalier attitude" in the medical profession, including the use of nicknames like "vegetables" for certain patients in emergency rooms. The hosts critique the clinical language used by Planned Parenthood officials when discussing fetal remains.

The Center for Medical Progress released a new undercover video showing Planned Parenthood employees discussing the pricing of fetal tissue and organs. Planned Parenthood's website briefly claimed it was under attack by "militant extremists" before changing the message to "scheduled maintenance." Republican presidential contenders are calling for a Department of Justice investigation and the defunding of the organization.

The hosts discuss the second undercover video released by the Center for Medical Progress, which shows a Planned Parenthood official negotiating the price of fetal tissue. The official is heard joking about wanting a "Lamborghini" and discussing how to alter abortion procedures to ensure intact specimens. The discussion touches on the organization's history with Margaret Sanger and eugenics, as well as the "bad optics" of the cavalier language used by the doctors.

Undercover videos allegedly showing Planned Parenthood officials discussing the sale of fetal organs spark a national controversy. Senator Ted Cruz calls for a Department of Justice investigation into potential violations of federal laws regarding the sale of body parts and the alteration of abortion procedures for tissue procurement. The discussion highlights the specific gestation period of 20 weeks as being optimal for harvesting usable organs like lungs and livers.

House Speaker John Boehner called for an investigation into Planned Parenthood following the release of an undercover video featuring Dr. Deborah Nukatola. The footage allegedly shows discussions regarding the harvesting and pricing of fetal organs for research. The debate focuses on the legality of profiting from fetal tissue and how these transactions are recorded on financial disclosure forms like the Form 990.