The Slatest for Nov. 17: The Plan to Ban Abortion Nationwide Without Congress

We already knew abortion was going to be on the ballot in 2024. Democrats are going to campaign for abortion protections, while Republicans have promised to maintain the status quo. But at least according to conservative activists, that’s not what all Republicans are going to do. Mary Ziegler explains how, if Trump wins in 2024, he’s probably going to try to ban abortion nationwide without Congress.

Plus, speaking of Republican plans: Susan Rinkunas takes a look at the desperately cynical push to save the Supreme Court abortion pill case.

Vigilante violence perpetrated by Israeli settlers is surging in the West Bank—and New York charities are helping to fund it, Chris Gelardi writes. He examines how tax-deductible donations are being used to arm settlers with combat gear, surveillance systems, and more.

Contrary to how it’s being widely reported, defenses of Osama bin Laden didn’t exactly go “viral” on TikTok. Scott Nover breaks down what’s wrong with that framing.

That said, viral or not, it’s pretty bad! Fred Kaplan explains what people on TikTok are getting wrong about bin Laden’s “Letter to America,” and puts it in its historical context.

The Steelers have one of the league’s worst offenses. And one of its worst defenses. And somehow they’re 6–3. Alex Kirshner explains what’s going on.

George Santos will soon leave Congress, and Luke Winkie, for one, is not ready to say goodbye! “Nobody has ever crammed so many baffling scandals in a single term,” Winkie writes. “Nothing, and I do mean nothing, hits like grade-A Santos derangement.” He takes a fond look back at the highs and lows (but mostly high lows, honestly) of one of the messiest runs in Congress.

Napoleon is Ridley Scott and Joaquin Phoenix’s first movie together since Gladiator—and Dana Stevens was not entertained. She lays out why the biopic is just like its hero: ambitious, masterful at staging battles, and too short.

Dan Kois laughed so hard at the new movie from three SNL standouts that he missed a bunch of the jokes! He reviews Please Don’t Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain.

… much like a certain former president surely wants to—if there’s even anywhere for him to go after Truth Social.

We hope you have a glorious weekend, even if you don’t post a single thing.

Thanks so much for reading, and we’ll see you on Monday.