Lil Bites

I usually just feature stories in this section, but please look at the absolutely remarkable miniature my friend Melissa built. It's absolute insanity the level of detail she managed to put in here. (Follow her if you want details on future commissions! Or just follow her to follow her because she's swell.)

Nicole Hill knocked this piece on Batwoman out of the park. Her headline alone deserves all your praise (but read the full piece because it's the goods). Kayti Burt talked about how you want to smooch everyone in The Mummy Returns (and The Mummy) because obviously. Sarah Halle Corey explores how Tina Fey is making up for her past. And finally, Keli Goff profiled women creating entertainment after one hell of a year.

ICYMI...

• Knives Out 2 casting news will continue until the world gets better! So far we have: Dave Bautista, Janelle Monae, Kathryn Hahn, Edward Norton, and the returning Daniel Craig.
• Pacey's going to play a sociopath.
• Disenchanted started production!
• WarnerMedia belongs to Discovery now.

The Good News Is,

• Wall-E is saving birds. No, really...
• Book nerds, trip when?
• Disney revealed Avengers Campus snacks. Nature is healing... etc. etc.

Get Loud

The Supreme Court is hearing a case challenging Roe v. Wade. The Supreme Court is conservative. So, this is most certainly something to be paying attention to right now.

Note: I try to keep the actions/issues in this newsletter domestic to keep folks from getting overwhelmed, but I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't acknowledge the humanitarian crisis Palestinians are facing right now. To help, learn more here.

The Baby Step

It's important for everyone to understand what it means for the US (yeah, not just women, all of the country) if Roe v. Wade is overturned. Learn more about why a conservative court leaves a lot of women constantly on edge, and what can be done on the state level should the worst happen.

I Want to do More

I feel like I bang this drum too often, but donate to Planned Parenthood! Anti-Abortion? That's a whole different conversation, but for now let's leave it at the fact that PP does so much more than abortions, including doing everything they can to ensure things don't get that far. Can't donate? Volunteer! Don't have time? Raise awareness. We can all do something to support this live saving organization! Don't ever feel like your involvement doesn't matter just because you can't throw your money at a cause.

You hear a lot of "defund planned parenthood" from conservative groups. Here's what that actually means:

“Defunding” has become a popular term, but it isn’t an accurate way to describe the threats facing Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood is not “funded” by the federal government. There is no line item in the federal budget for Planned Parenthood, and we don’t get a blank check from the government. Instead, we get grants and reimbursements for specific programs.

So when people talk about “defunding,” what they mean is blocking patients who rely on public health care programs from going to Planned Parenthood health centers for care. If the current defunding bills are passed, people using programs like Medicaid could no longer get services like birth control, cancer screenings, annual exams, and STD testing and treatment at Planned Parenthood. Many would have nowhere else to turn for the health care they need.

This would have a devastating impact on our country’s most vulnerable communities, who already face barriers to getting health care. At least 60% of Planned Parenthood patients rely on public health programs like Medicaid and Title X for their preventive and primary care. And without Planned Parenthood, there aren’t enough health care providers to deliver the millions of medical services we do each year. Health centers that accept Medicaid and provide ob-gyn health care — like Planned Parenthood — are in particularly short supply.

The real goal of “defunding” Planned Parenthood is to shut down Planned Parenthood health centers across the country. As a nonprofit and the nation’s most trusted provider of reproductive care, the health of our patients is our number one priority. We’re doing everything we can to protect access to health care and prevent health centers from closing. Read more about what would happen if Planned Parenthood was “defunded.”

Whatcha Watchin?

There was so much good TV this week. It always feels weird giving recommendations in the middle of the season but, in my defense, I told y'all about Batwoman in the beginning of season 2. It's not my fault if you didn't listen! Anyway, they just delivered a series-best episode that left my jaw on the floor. When you let Black writers discuss Black issues, the results truly speak for themselves.

Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist wrapped up its second season on Sunday. I called every beat of it and I still had a grand old time. And I say that after being down on most of the season. Grief makes us all miserable folks sometimes, and the series is able to get away with that because of a stellar ensemble, but man Zoey herself was tough to deal with at times. (It's literally the point, I'm not highlighting that as a negative, just calling it out.)

Finally, Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous hits Netflix this Friday. If you haven't watched past seasons because it's a "kids show," you're being silly. It is a kids show, but it's a kid's show that understands that parents are watching along and probably have more in their heart for this island than their kids. Season 3 goes harder than any of the rest on both scares and nostalgia and is an absolute blast.

And now, a word from our sponsors...

Certified Forgotten highlights the horror films that fall through the cracks of modern distribution. The Matts™ host a bi-weekly podcast featuring forgotten gems with five reviews or less on Rotten Tomatoes, as well as acting as a home for new voices in the horror genre! You can follow them on both Twitter and Instagram.

Want your ad in Pickety Witch? Check out our sponsor tier.

• Support The Pickety Witch on Patreon or Ko-Fi!
• Tips, questions, concerns, etc? Hit that reply button!
• If you dug this week’s newsletter, hit that happy little thumbs up (and vice versa if you hated it! Feedback is how I make PW better). Sharing is always a huge help as well!
• If you’re looking for more of my shenanigans, you can follow me on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.