Court of Appeals TORCHES Judge Who Forced Trump to FUND Planned Parenthood!

Quick Overview

The Court of Appeals vacated the district court's preliminary injunction, ruling that Appellees (Planned Parenthood affiliates) were unlikely to succeed on their merits because the funding statute does not impose punishment in the sense required for a Bill of Attainder claim, and the government's interest in reducing abortions provides a rational basis for the law under Equal Protection review.

Key Points: The Court of Appeals vacated the district court's preliminary injunctions that blocked Section 71113, finding Appellees unlikely to succeed on the merits of their claims. The court concluded that Section 71113 does not constitute an unconstitutional Bill of Attainder because it imposes new conditions on funding, not punishment for past conduct. The court applied rational basis review to the Equal Protection claim, finding that Congress has broad discretion in taxing and spending to promote general welfare, provided it doesn't violate other constitutional provisions. The district court was found to have erred by applying strict scrutiny instead of rational basis review to the Equal Protection claim, as no fundamental right was implicated. The court noted that the statute is prospective, establishing new conditions for federal funds rather than punishing past actions, unlike historical Bills of Attainder. The court specifically vacated the district court's July 21 and July 28, 2025 orders granting preliminary injunctions. The decision remands the case for further proceedings consistent with the appellate court's opinion.

Context: The video features a legal commentator, Andrew Branca, analyzing a court opinion concerning Section 71113, a statute enacted by Congress that withholds Medicaid funding from certain abortion providers for one year based on four criteria, primarily affecting Planned Parenthood affiliates. The case involves appeals from the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, which had previously granted preliminary injunctions against enforcing Section 71113.