Exclusive: Republicans investigate 'obscure' abortion pill companies over alleged illegal sales, safety concerns



Republican senators are launching an investigation into several abortion pill manufacturers to combat the alleged dangers and illegal distribution of these drugs, Blaze News has learned.

Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy (La.), who chairs the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, is leading the investigation against "obscure" abortion manufacturers like Draco Laboratories, Evita Solutions, and GenBioPro. Cassidy, who is a physician, slammed these manufacturers for allegedly hiding the harmful reality of taking abortion pills and for allegedly failing to act within basic safety parameters imposed by the Food and Drug Administration.

'Women deserve real medical care, not drugs dispensed through anonymous websites.'

"Chemical drugmakers profit off killing innocent children while putting mothers' lives at risk," Cassidy told Blaze News. "These manufacturers and websites have facilitated the explosion in online sales of these harmful drugs without the regard for women's health and safety, while opening the door for coercion and abuse."

"FDA should act within its existing authorities to curb this abuse and immediately reinstate safeguards such as the in-person dispensing requirement."

RELATED: Pro-abortion doctor gets dismantled by Hawley on men and pregnancy: 'I don't know how we can take you seriously'

Cassidy, alongside Republican Sens. Steve Daines of Montana, James Lankford of Oklahoma, Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi, and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, penned inquiries to the three manufacturers requesting all documents, data, and relevant materials detailing the production and use of these abortion drugs. The lawmakers also alerted the FDA about potential violations.

This investigation also gained the support of prominent pro-life activists like President of National Right to Life Carol Tobias, who said the letters "raise serious and long-overdue questions about whether federal protocols are being followed — and whether women are being put at risk as a result."

"Women deserve real medical care, not drugs dispensed through anonymous websites with little to no oversight," Tobias told Blaze News.

"Data show that one in ten women who take abortion pills experience serious complications, yet basic safeguards have been stripped away," Live Action President Lila Rose told Blaze News. "Women and their children are being put at risk."

RELATED: 'Federal dollars should not pay for abortion, period': Sen. Cassidy doubles down on Hyde, abortion pill restrictions

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Activists like Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, also pointed out the alarming rise of abortion drugs in the aftermath of the Dobbs decision, potentially putting more women at risk and opening the door for abuse and coercion.

"Abortion numbers are up, not down after Dobbs, driven by mail-order drugs flooding the states without regard for their laws,” Dannenfelser told Blaze News. “We are now at over 1.1 million abortions per year. Companies whose sole source of revenue is abortion drugs — which carry a black box warning — are raking in millions, while their inherently risky, abuse-prone drug sends thousands of women to emergency rooms, enables abusers, systematically kills countless unborn children, and brazenly undermines democratically enacted state protections."

"Their disregard for even the few remaining safety standards — and the lack of transparency around these secretive entities — is deeply troubling," Dannenfelser added. "Chairman Cassidy and fellow pro-life senators are boldly confronting this crisis head-on, demanding real accountability and safety for women and girls. It’s time for the FDA to act.”

Draco Laboratories, Evita Solutions, and GenBioPro did not respond to a request for comment from Blaze News.

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Senate tanks GOP solution to Obamacare subsidy problems



The Senate failed to pass the Republican-led health care bill as the deadline to extend Obamacare subsidies fast approaches.

The Health Care Freedom for Patients Act failed to pass in a 51-48 vote after one Republican, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, joined 47 Democrats to vote against it. 51 Republicans voted in favor of the legislation, but the bill ultimately failed due to the 60-vote threshold. Notably, Republican Sen. Steve Daines of Montana was not present for the vote.

The bill would also foster competition and broaden health care.

Certain subsidies from former President Barack Obama's landmark health care bill, known as the Affordable Care Act, are set to expire at the end of the year. Notably, these ACA subsidies are the reason Senate Democrats decided to shut down the government in October.

Despite facilitating the longest government shutdown in history, Senate Democrats have not struck a deal with Republicans to address health care.

RELATED: Democrat senator makes stunning admission about Obamacare failures

Kayla Bartkowski/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The Health Care Freedom for Patients Act, authored by Republican Sens. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Mike Crapo of Idaho, would have allowed these Obamacare subsidies to lapse, instead directing funds to individual health savings accounts.

While this bill ultimately failed, other Republican lawmakers have drafted their own legislation to address the impending problem.

Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida introduced the More Affordable Care Act, which would also redirect federal subsidies to HSA-style accounts called Trump Health Freedom Accounts. The bill would additionally foster competition and broaden health care options for states by establishing the Health Freedom Waiver Program.

RELATED: Republicans race to pass competing health care bill as clock ticks on Obamacare subsidies

Photo by Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images

The companion bill to Scott's legislation was also introduced in the House by Republican Study Committee Chairman August Pfluger. At this time, no vote has been scheduled on the bill in either the House or the Senate.

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Doug Burgum Pledges To Restore Responsible Land Management To Interior Department

Trump's pick for Interior secretary also responded to queries about the myriad public lands issues that have frustrated Republicans for years.

Political heavyweights partake in pressure campaign for GOP Senate leader



Although most U.S. senators are tight lipped ahead of the vote for Republican leader, many influential figures online are starting to put their thumb on the scale.

Republican Sens. John Thune of South Dakota, John Cornyn of Texas, and Rick Scott of Florida are going head-to-head in the race to replace Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Wednesday. As of now, only nine senators have made public endorsements.

Despite this uptick in support for Scott, President-elect Donald Trump has not yet endorsed any candidate, and it is unclear if he plans to.

Thune has secured the backing of Republican Sens. Steve Daines of Montana, Mike Rounds of South Dakota, and Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma. Cornyn has so far gained one endorsement, from Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri.

Scott has the largest public backing, with Republican Sens. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Marco Rubio from Florida, Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, and Tommy Tuberville of Alabama.

Unlike his competitors, big players outside of D.C. have also come to bat for Scott.

Over the weekend, Scott racked up endorsements from politicos and media personalities like Tucker Carlson, Elon Musk, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Vivek Ramaswamay, and Charlie Kirk.

"What the hell is going on in the US Senate?" Carlson asked in a post on X. "Hours after Donald Trump wins the most conclusive mandate in 40 years, Mitch McConnell engineers a coup against his agenda by calling early leadership elections in the senate. Two of the three candidates hate Trump and what he ran on."

"One of them, John Cornyn, is an angry liberal whose politics are indistinguishable from Liz Cheney’s," Carlson continued. "The election is Wednesday, it’s by secret ballot, and it will determine whether or not the new administration succeeds. Rick Scott of Florida is the only candidate who agrees with Donald Trump. Call your senator and demand a public endorsement of Rick Scott. Don’t let McConnell get away with it again."

Despite this uptick in support for Scott, President-elect Donald Trump has not yet endorsed any candidate, and it is unclear if he plans to. At the same time, Trump has put forth a standard he expects the senators to follow, should they be elected leader.

On Sunday, Trump declared that any Republican leader must support recess appointments, which would allow the president to appoint an individual to a federal office without a Senate confirmation. This would greatly reduce the glacial pace of Senate confirmations and strengthen Trump's ability to staff federal offices with candidates of his choosing.

That being said, Republicans are fairly insulated from external pressures throughout this process. For one thing, on Tuesday, Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah is set to hold a forum behind closed doors where the three candidates can privately make their pitches to their conference. The morning after, the Republican conference will vote for the GOP leader with secret ballots.

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How Tim Scott plans to capitalize on GOP Senate gains



Republican Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina announced that he is running to chair the National Republican Senatorial Committee that serves as the Senate GOP's campaign arm.

Scott, who has been a longtime ally to President-elect Donald Trump, was rumored to be eyeing the position last month, confirming his ambitions in a statement Friday. Scott's announcement follows the GOP's Senate sweep where Republicans flipped seats in Montana, West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

"Let's do this!" Scott said in a statement. "I'm running for NRSC Chair because two years of a Republican agenda is good, but four years of success under Donald J. Trump is even better."

'Tim's inspiring message, record of fundraising and vision for the party makes him the perfect partner for President Trump.'

"That means the entire four years of his presidency will create low inflation, secure borders and safe streets, leading to a generation of American prosperity!" Scott continued. "With Donald J. Trump in the White House and Republicans leading the U.S. Senate, we will protect our majority in 2026 and create opportunities for all Americans."

Scott, who had presidential ambitions this cycle, also received some high-profile endorsements alongside his announcement, including current NRSC chairman Sen. Steve Daines of Montana.

"We took back the U.S. Senate in 2024, and there is no one I trust more to protect the majority in 2026 than Tim Scott," Daines said in a statement.

Scott was also backed by Republican colleagues like Senate GOP Conference Chairman John Barrasso and Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida.

"Tim's inspiring message, record of fundraising and vision for the party makes him the perfect partner for President Trump," Barasso said. "Together, they will protect and grow the Republican majority. There's nobody better than Tim Scott."

"Protecting the majority and growing the party starts with a vision and the resources to compete anywhere," Rubio said. "That is why I'm confident in Tim leading the NRSC in 2026."

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With McConnell MIA, His Potential Replacements Step In To Bolster Battleground Republicans

With McConnell MIA, His Potential Replacements Step In To Bolster Battleground Republicans