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Republican Senators Clash with Doctor Over Gender During Abortion Drug Hearing
Republican Senators Josh Hawley of Missouri and Ashley Moody of Florida sparked controversy Wednesday after pressing an OB-GYN with repeated questions about whether men can get pregnant during a Senate committee hearing on chemical abortion drugs.
The tense exchange, which quickly went viral on social media, occurred during a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (HELP) hearing titled “Protecting Women: Exposing the Dangers of Chemical Abortion Drugs” at the Dirksen Senate Office Building.
Dr. Nisha Verma, an obstetrician-gynecologist testifying at the hearing, appeared reluctant to provide a direct “yes or no” answer to what Hawley characterized as a straightforward question about biological sex.
“Can men get pregnant?” Hawley asked repeatedly after Senator Moody initially posed the question during her allotted time.
Verma responded cautiously, explaining that she was uncertain about the direction of the questioning and noting that she treats patients with diverse gender identities in her practice. She pushed back against framing the issue as a binary question, suggesting it was politically motivated.
“The goal is to establish a biological reality,” Hawley insisted during the exchange. “I just want to know, based on the science, can men get pregnant? That’s a yes or no question. It really is, I think.”
As Verma continued to resist providing a direct answer, Hawley eventually stated, “For the record, it’s women who get pregnant, not men. We are here about the safety of women and science that shows that this abortion drug causes adverse health events.”
Following the hearing, both Republican senators took to social media to highlight the exchange. Hawley posted on X (formerly Twitter), writing “SPOILER ALERT: Men cannot get pregnant,” later adding, “Can men get pregnant? Not a difficult question.” Senator Moody simply posted, “Can men get pregnant?” alongside a video clip of the interaction.
The contentious moment reflects the increasingly polarized nature of discussions around gender, reproductive rights, and abortion access in American politics. The hearing itself focused on chemical abortion medications, which have become a central battleground in abortion policy since the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022.
In a statement to Fox News Digital after the hearing, Senator Moody criticized what she characterized as an ideological approach to science. “The agenda driven and radicalized Democrats will overlook not only scientific fact but the harsh and dangerous consequences of their mission to ensure there are absolutely no restrictions to abortion on demand,” she said. “Today’s hearing put that on full display.”
The hearing featured additional testimony from Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill and Dr. Monique Chireau Wubbenhorst, as lawmakers debated federal policies regarding abortion medication. Chemical abortion drugs, sometimes called medication abortion, typically involve a two-drug regimen of mifepristone and misoprostol used to terminate pregnancies up to 10 weeks.
Since the Dobbs decision, medication abortion has become increasingly significant, now accounting for more than half of all abortions in the United States according to the Guttmacher Institute. Republican-led states have sought to restrict access to these medications, while the Biden administration has worked to expand availability, including through telehealth services and mail delivery.
The HELP Committee hearing represents one of the first major legislative confrontations on abortion this year and signals that issues surrounding gender identity and reproductive rights will likely remain contentious as the 2026 midterm elections approach.
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10 Comments
Interesting discussion, though it seems like the senators were more interested in scoring political points than having a meaningful dialogue. I hope they can find a way to have a thoughtful, fact-based conversation about this complex issue.
You’re right, the partisan posturing is unhelpful. These are sensitive topics that deserve nuanced debate informed by medical expertise, not political grandstanding.
This issue touches on some deep philosophical and scientific questions about gender and biology. I’m curious to learn more about the research and perspectives presented at the hearing, even if the senators’ lines of questioning were confrontational.
Agreed, these are not simple yes/no questions. I hope the committee can move past the political theatrics and have a thoughtful, evidence-based discussion to better understand the complexities involved.
The exchange highlights how charged and divisive these topics have become. I hope the senators can find a way to have a more constructive dialogue that brings people together rather than drives them further apart.
Well said. Polarization and political point-scoring don’t serve the public interest on issues like this. A measured, fact-based approach is needed.
This hearing highlights the stark partisan divides on issues of gender and reproductive rights. I hope the senators can find a way to have a more respectful and productive discussion, even if they ultimately disagree.
Well said. Compromise and mutual understanding seem elusive on these topics, but that’s all the more reason for our elected officials to try to find common ground.
While I understand the senators’ desire to clarify scientific definitions, the repeated questioning came across as aggressive and unhelpful. These are complex issues that deserve nuanced discussion, not rhetorical grandstanding.
I agree. The confrontational nature of the questioning seems counterproductive. Hopefully the committee can find a way to have a more constructive dialogue moving forward.