What Happened Was...

A lightning fast recap of the week's biggest events for May 16th - May 22nd, 2022

An abortion-rights protester holds up a sign during a demonstration in front of the US Supreme Court Building on May 07, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/via Getty Images)

Below is a catch-up of the significant events of this past week. You can check in with a minimal time commitment, read about the big stuff, and stay in the know before we’re on to the next. The amount of detailed news concerning the war in Ukraine is massive, and I will provide only the most critical news in this recap. If you are looking for more information, you might want to scroll through my Twitter feed for the week for details on any essential topics that I don’t mention here.

I would also encourage you to listen to my latest weekly live podcast in my episode entitled: “Is Trump’s Stronghold Waning?” I discuss the recent Republican Primary Elections in critical swing states as well as some upcoming primary elections this summer.

Amee Vanderpool @girlsreallyrule

I’m looking forward to a new episode of SHERO today, called “Is Trump’s Stronghold Waning?” Be sure to tune in today this Friday at 5:00 PM ET/ 2:00 PM PT. Join me and call in live to give me your opinion!

callin.comIs Trump’s Stronghold Waning? | SHEROA discussion about the latest Republican Primary results and whether they are indicative of faltering political power for Donald Trump within the GOP.

Gun Violence This Week

There were 13 separate mass shooting incidents in the US in the last week, where 12 people were killed and 59 were injured. I am documenting all mass shooting incidents for the week every Sunday, so please take a moment to review them and remember to keep up the fight for sensible gun reform. 

1. Sunday, May 15, 2022: Amarillo, Texas

2. Sunday, May 15, 2022: Houston, Texas

3. Sunday, May 15, 2022: Elizabeth City, North Carolina

4. Sunday, May 15, 2022: Winston Salem, North Carolina

5. Sunday, May 15, 2022: Laguna Woods, California

6. Tuesday, May 17, 2022: Palo Alto, California

7. Wednesday, May 18, 2022: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

8. Thursday, May 19, 2022: Chicago, Illinois

9. Friday, May 20, 2022: New Orleans, Louisiana

10. Friday, May 20, 2022: Highland, California

11. Friday, May 20, 2022: Kissimmee, Florida

12. Saturday, May 21, 2022: Tacoma, Washington

13. Saturday, May 21, 2022: Goshen, Indiana

• Virginia “Ginni” Thomas, the conservative activist and wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, pressed Arizona lawmakers after the 2020 election to set aside Joe Biden’s popular-vote victory and choose “a clean slate of Electors.”

• In an interview with Politico, Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy (R) explained that his state’s maternal mortality rate — which is one of the worst in the nation — is not so bad if you don’t factor in all of the Black women who are dying.

• A manual by founding father Benjamin Franklin includes instructions for at-home abortions in direct contradiction of Justice Alito’s argument in the draft opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade that "a right to abortion is not deeply rooted in the nation's histories and traditions."