AP Runs Laughably Deceiving Article About Infant Mortality Rates Amid Texas Abortion Ban
Election years bring out the worst in corporate journalists, many of whom are more partisan than ethical. A headline from the Associated Press, which brands itself a neutral arbiter of the facts, emphasized that sad reality on Tuesday.
"Infant mortality rate rose 8% in wake of Texas abortion ban, study shows," the headline reads.
The most gullible among us will read that line and figure the abortion ban has increased deaths among infants. That's true – sort of.
In actuality, the study states there's an increase in the mortality rate of babies carried to term. Of course, there is. Due to the abortion ban, more babies are carried to term.
But get this, and here's when you realize how slimy these news organizations are: the mortality rate of babies who are aborted is 100 percent. All of them are killed. That's the point of an abortion.
Yet, nowhere in the AP article does the author acknowledge that simple fact. Rather, the article quotes subjects with avowed support of the pro-choice movement.
"I think these findings make clear the potentially devastating consequences that abortion bans can have," said co-author Suzanne Bell, a fertility researcher quoted in the piece.
At least the headline was met with the proper ridicule on social media:
Call it a manipulation of the facts.
Simply put, the AP acknowledges that the infant mortality rate increases when you don't kill a baby before it's birthed.
Further, the AP understands that abortion is, unfortunately, a winning message for Democrats. Abortion was one of the main reasons Republicans under-performed during the 2022 midterms.
Conversely, heading into November, hot-button issues like the economy, immigration, foreign policy, and crime seemingly favor Donald Trump and the GOP.
Credit where it's due: the press is wise to lean into the topic of abortion, even if it has to cover the topic dishonestly.
CNN debate moderators Jake Tapper and Dana Bash are surely taking notes for Thursday.