BibleThinker Podcast: “Cover-up Culture in the Abortion Industry is Really Bad”

Host: Mike Winger
Guest: AJ Hurley (White Rose Resistance)
Date: February 17, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of BibleThinker is a sobering and in-depth look at the alleged “cover-up culture” in the abortion industry. Host Mike Winger interviews AJ Hurley, a pro-life activist and national outreach director for White Rose Resistance. AJ details his personal journey from neonatal respiratory therapist to pro-life whistleblower and discusses the consequences he’s faced—including legal battles, arrests, and public opposition—for exposing what he attests is illegal and immoral activity within abortion practices at major institutions. The conversation covers practical, theological, and strategic grounds, aiming to mobilize Christians to action.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Reality of Cover-Up Culture

• AJ’s Legal Ordeal:

  • Facing up to 10 years in federal prison, $50k in fines, and multiple arrests for FOIA-based exposure work (00:17–01:41, 23:32–26:31).
  • “I was locked up in D.C. ...being held on felony stalking for a woman I'd never met... just for exposing live dismemberment of babies that were viable.” (AJ, 00:17–01:41)

• Lawfare & Suppression:

  • The abortion industry and allied officials allegedly wield legal mechanisms to punish whistleblowers and pro-life activists (01:59–03:08).
  • “They’re immorally trying to use the law to oppress you.” (Mike, 01:59–03:08)

2. Medical Discrepancies & Hypocrisy

• Hospitals vs. Clinics:
  • AJ’s shock at saving premature babies in one hospital wing while they were allegedly being aborted at older gestational ages in another (03:10–06:04).
    • “In the same name of health care, babies way older... are being violently torn apart. The only difference... is a fiat decision of the mother.” (AJ, 03:10–06:04)

3. Activist Origins & Motivations

• Personal Conviction:

  • AJ’s conversion moment came after spiritual conviction to break his silence—a story told emotively and personally (07:55–10:06).
    • “If everything that’s good and moral and decent is labeled political, Satan lights up and says, ‘All I have to do is label everything godly as political... and ensure the silence of the church.’” (AJ, 07:55–10:06)

• Medical Whistleblowing:

  • FOIA requests uncovered “gruesome” documentation of fetal organs being used in research at University of California medical centers (10:09–12:05).
    • “Literally, ... lungs and livers and thymuses ... clitorises and penises of six month gestational babies they were grafting on lab rats.” (AJ, 10:09–12:05)

4. Born Alive Violations & Federal Law

• Procedures Outlined:

  • AJ describes abortion procedures used to obtain viable fetal tissue and how, he alleges, these break federal law (Born Alive Infants Protection Act & Partial-Birth Abortion Ban) because proper tissue procurement requires altering procedures or delivering children alive (13:12–14:13).

• Systemic Stonewalling:

  • Despite presenting research to authorities, AJ recounts being “hand-waved” and repeatedly arrested only for charges to be dropped later (14:12–18:27).
    • “They started just illegally arresting me. ... They were just doing everything they can to make us go away and have us not shed light on this.” (AJ, 14:12–18:27)

5. The “Justice for the Five” Case

• Discovery of Aborted Infants:

  • A box containing 115 aborted babies, five nearly full-term, discovered outside a DC clinic. Activists turned it over to police; officials refused autopsies or investigations (18:29–21:09).
    • “Overwhelming evidence that babies were being born alive... Mayor Bowser and the chief of police did a public press conference and said nothing to see here. No investigation will be performed.” (AJ, 20:30–21:09)

• Governmental Inaction:

  • Despite national attention and congressional concern, no prosecution—“the only person ever prosecuted is the man who exposed it.” (22:40–23:32)

6. Repercussions for Exposing Abortion Practices

• Detention and Psychological Impact:

  • AJ recounts traumatic jail conditions and psychological tactics used against him during detainment (23:32–26:31).

• Legal System “Gamesmanship” & Plea Bargaining:

  • Pressure to take plea deals or face hostile jury pools; eventual plea to misdemeanors after intense legal and media pressure (26:41–28:22).
    • “Every single lawyer... says none of this makes any legal sense. But if you go to a jury trial in San Francisco… they’ll basically convict you for just being pro-life.” (AJ, 26:41–28:22)

7. Theological and Moral Reflections

• Cost of Discipleship:

  • AJ connects the resolve necessary in pro-life activism with Christian discipleship—suffering, abandonment, even risking one’s life.
    • “If the price to end abortion is not at least this—your life—you are for sale.” (AJ, 33:10–35:53)
    • “The secret to ending abortion was right in front of me... Abortion exists not because we love babies too little but because we love our lives too much.” (AJ, 31:42–35:53)

• No Guarantees:

  • Mike: “You have to actually go in, pay the price, and not know if it's going to work or not, but know that what you did was worthy.” (Mike, 35:53–37:04)

8. Historical Context & Early Christian Witness

• Early Church & Abandonment:
  • Recalling how early Christians would rescue “exposed” Roman infants and strongly condemned abortion in texts like the Didache (39:38–40:15).

9. Strategy for Change & Internal Pro-Life Debate

• Engagement vs. Isolation:

  • Mike and AJ discuss dangers of disengaging from “political” issues and the biblical imperative to love neighbor, including the unborn (42:03–45:50).

• Incrementalism vs. Abolitionism:

  • Explaining divisions within the pro-life movement: some groups oppose any law that isn’t a total abolition, while others support incremental gains (50:18–54:21).
    • “If you vote for that heartbeat bill, you’re telling America you can kill babies without heartbeats. ...That’s completely not true at all.” (AJ, 51:08–52:52)

• Major Pro-Life Organizations' Compromises:

  • Some large organizations reportedly lobby against full protection laws if they hold mothers immune from prosecution (54:21–58:47).
    • “Provided that the mom does it herself, the pro-life movement is totally okay with this loophole.” (AJ, 54:21–58:47)

• Naming Names:

  • “Susan B. Anthony List, National Right to Life, Concerned Women for America, Heartbeat International... in the past, Students for Life” have lobbied against equal protection bills. (AJ, 58:51–59:18)

• Justice and Consistency:

  • AJ and Mike both argue laws must treat the unborn as equal humans. Declining prosecution for abortions “says I don’t really believe this is a human.” (Mike, 60:51–61:14; AJ, 61:14–62:28)

• Rise of At-Home Chemical Abortions:

  • After Roe's overturn, vast majority now occur at home, with legal and cultural challenges shifting accordingly (64:13–65:30).

10. Action Steps for Christians

• Three Categories of Engagement (AJ, 71:09):

  • Inform: Spread truthful information about abortion.
  • Engage: Debate and persuade, especially on college campuses and in public.
  • Enrage: Disrupt apathy—demonstrations, rallies, even “crashing” establishment events.

• Local Focus Required:

  • Now, “all politics is local”—state laws matter more than ever post-Roe (71:09–74:54).

• Call to Courage:

  • “Jesus did not promise that the gates of hell would prevail against the GOP, but against the church. Christians must own their calling and preach the Gospel and the dignity of the unborn.” (AJ, 74:54)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Lawfare:

  • “They're immorally trying to use the law to oppress you.” (Mike, 01:59)

• On Medical Hypocrisy:

  • “Babies way older than the ones I was saving, Mike, were being lifelessly ripped apart... The only difference... is a fiat decision as to which one was valuable.” (AJ, 03:10–06:04)

• On Silence & the Political Label:

  • “If everything ...is labeled as political, Satan lights up and says, 'amazing. All I have to do is label everything that’s godly as political.'” (AJ, 07:55)

• On Pro-Life Costs:

  • “Abortion exists not because we love babies too little, but because we love our lives too much.” (AJ, 31:42–35:53)

• On Incremental vs. Absolute Laws:

  • “If that's truly the best we can do...I'm voting for it.” (AJ, 51:09)

• On Organizations Blocking Legislation:

  • “Susan B. Anthony List, National Right to Life... have lobbied against equal protection bills.” (AJ, 58:51–59:18)

Key Timestamps

• 00:17–01:41 — AJ’s legal challenges and background
• 03:10–06:04 — Medical hypocrisy in treating/aborting preemies
• 07:55–10:06 — AJ’s conversion to activism
• 13:12–14:13 — How federal laws are allegedly violated
• 18:29–21:09 — Justice for the Five: discovery of late-term babies in DC
• 23:32–26:31 — Jail time and psychological tactics used
• 31:42–35:53 — The cost of discipleship and activism
• 50:18–54:21 — Divisions within the pro-life movement, incrementalism vs. abolitionism
• 54:21–58:47 — Pro-life organizations lobbying against equal protection bills
• 71:09–74:54 — Practical action steps for Christians and the local level battle

Final Thoughts and Actionable Takeaways

• The abortion industry, according to AJ, engages in “cover-up culture,” using legal and governmental power to suppress whistleblowers and pro-life dissenters.
• Christians are called, biblically and historically, to combat injustice against the unborn both spiritually and practically.
• The battle is at the state level now; Christians are urged to get locally involved—inform, engage, disrupt apathy, and support life-affirming organizations.
• Strategic debates persist within the pro-life movement over incremental vs. total abolition approaches and the treatment of mothers under the law.

Learn more or get involved:
thewhiterose.life

AJ Hurley contact: AJ [at] thewhiterose.life