President Joe Biden walks from the podium after speaking about Afghanistan from the East Room of the White House, Monday, Aug. 16, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
WASHINGTON (AP) — A defiant President Joe Biden rejected blame Monday for chaotic scenes of Afghans clinging to U.S. military planes in Kabul in a desperate bid to flee their home country after the Taliban’s easy victory over an Afghan military that America and NATO allies had spent two decades trying to build.
Biden says "buck stops with me" and defends Afghanistan withdrawal
"After 20 years, I've learned the hard way that there was never a good time to withdraw U.S. forces," the president said.
www.cbsnews.com
Afghanistan updates: US, Taliban hold first direct talks since withdrawal
The US and the Taliban held their first direct talks since the chaotic withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan at the end of August in Doha, Qatar, over the weekend.
Analysis: Defiant Biden is face of chaotic Afghan evacuation
Four presidents share responsibility for the missteps in Afghanistan that accumulated over two decades.
apnews.comBiden points to deal negotiated by Trump to explain Afghanistan exit
In remarks Monday, President Biden said the options were either to honor the agreement or to send additional troops and continue the war.
Haiti quake death toll rises to 1,419, injured now at 6,000
Haitian authorities have raised the death toll from the powerful earthquake that struck southwestern Haiti over the weekend to 1,419.
apnews.com
AP FACT CHECK: Biden skirts US failures in Afghan mayhem
President Joe Biden is suggesting Afghans are largely responsible for the desperation at Kabul's airport as civilians try to escape the Taliban.
apnews.com
Defense official during Saigon operation says Pentagon 'not trying hard enough' to evacuate Afghans
Bing West, a former Defense Department official who participated in the evacuation of Saigon, Vietnam in 1975, said Monday the Pentagon under President Biden is “not trying hard enough” to evacuate refugees attempting to flee Afghanistan as the Taliban retakes power.
Afghanistan falls in chaos: Five takeaways
The Taliban’s swift takeover of Afghanistan has set off a chain reaction of chaos just two weeks before the U.S. was set to officially withdraw the last of its troops in the country.The fall of Kab…
thehill.com
CNN slams Ted Cruz for mocking journalist Clarissa Ward over the head covering she wore in Kabul
The news network defended Chief International Correspondent Clarissa Ward against Cruz for covering her head while reporting in Afghanistan.
www.usatoday.com
Biden defends exit, blames Afghanistan leaders for chaos
President Biden on Monday stood by his decision to withdraw U.S. forces from Afghanistan, while also acknowledging the situation descended into chaos faster than he expected and accepting some resp…
thehill.com
EXPLAINER: Western states face first federal water cuts
U.S. officials have declared the first-ever water shortage from a river that serves 40 million people in the West.
apnews.com
These prominent Republicans loved Biden’s Afghanistan withdrawal plan. Until they didn’t - Washington Examiner
A number of high-profile Republican lawmakers who previously praised President Joe Biden's plan to withdraw troops from Afghanistan quickly changed their tunes as Taliban forces conquered Kabul and large swathes of the country in recent days.Most prominent was former President Donald Trump. In...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Inside Biden’s defiant Afghanistan response | CNN Politics
By the time images of desperate Afghans clinging to American warplanes began emerging from Kabul on Monday morning, President Joe Biden had conceded to aides he had little choice but to interrupt his stay at Camp David to return to the White House.
www.cnn.com
After The Taliban Takeover Of Kabul, Here's What We Know
President Biden addressed the nation after images from the airport in the Afghan capital showed desperate people fleeing before the Taliban advance. He said he stands by his decision to withdraw.
www.npr.org
Trump calls on Biden to 'resign in disgrace' over crisis in Afghanistan
Former President Donald Trump Sunday called on President Biden to “resign in disgrace” over his handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal and other issues.
Fact check: MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell spreads false claim about Arizona election results
Certified election results, as well as several audits, show President Joe Biden won Arizona, contrary to Mike Lindell's claims.
'They're really sitting ducks': Refugee advocates inundated with pleas for help from vulnerable Afghans
With the Taliban in power, Afghan women, journalists and others have flooded U.S.-based refugee groups with desperate messages seeking a way out.
www.usatoday.com
Biden defends 'messy' US pull-out from Afghanistan
"How many more American lives is it worth?" asks the president, amid growing criticism over the move.
www.bbc.comBiden draws new red line for U.S. military action in Afghanistan
In a resolute and, at times, defensive speech explaining the swift fall of U.S.-trained security forces in Afghanistan to the Taliban and his decision to pull troops from that country, President Biden also drew a red line Monday for the use of future military force.
U.S. sends aid to Haiti after quake but much more needed
Infrastructure damage and a tropical storm further complicate relief efforts.
www.politico.com
Chaos and deaths at Kabul airport as Afghans flee Taliban and Biden defends decision to withdraw
About 3,000 U.S. troops are setting up barriers to separate the military portion of the airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, from the civilian terminal.
www.usatoday.com
"It was a sacrifice that was for naught": Veterans and Gold Star families react to fall of Afghanistan
U.S. veterans of the war in Afghanistan and their families are wondering if their sacrifices were worth it.
www.cbsnews.comReport shows big spike in mail ballots during 2020 election
Fewer than one-third of voters casting ballots in last year's U.S. presidential election did so at a polling place on Election Day as the coronavirus pandemic led states to greatly expand mail-in balloting and early voting, according to a federal report released Monday. The report by the U.S...
Biden points fingers for Afghanistan debacle after promising he wouldn't 'blame others'
During his speech today, Biden said he had “inherited” the deal former President Trump struck with the Taliban which required him to either follow through on the agreement or risk “escalating the conflict and sending thousands of American troops back into Afghanistan.”
Biden: ‘I stand squarely behind my decision’ on Afghanistan - Washington Examiner
President Joe Biden defended his decision to withdraw all U.S. military forces from Afghanistan on Monday amid the collapse of the country's government."Our mission in Afghanistan was never supposed to have been nation-building," Biden, speaking from the East Room of the White House, said in a...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Senate GOP campaign chairman floats 25th Amendment, probe against Biden
Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), who chairs the Senate GOP campaign arm, is raising the prospect of using the 25th Amendment to remove President Biden from office and calling for a congressional investiga…
thehill.comRushed Evacuation in Kabul Highlights Disconnect in Washington
WASHINGTON — There was gunfire at the airport and a dire warning from the State Department to shelter in place as the United States began the frantic evacuations of Americans and Afghan allies from the Afghan capital, Kabul, after it fell to the Taliban in one harrowing weekend. In the end, even...
Spirit Air says canceled flights cost $50M, hurt bookings
Spirit Airlines is putting numbers on a damaging stretch of flight cancellations this summer
Pelosi circulates WH talking points after Afghanistan collapse
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Monday circulated White House talking points to rank-and-file House Democrats on Afghanistan as President Biden and his party came under withering criticism after…
thehill.com
American newspapers call on White House to evacuate journalists from Kabul
The statement from The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal comes as the U.S. works to maintain control of Hamid Karzai International Airport.
www.politico.com
AOC says the US has a moral responsibility to let Afghan refugees into its borders - Washington Examiner
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democrat, said on Monday that the United States must immediately welcome Afghan refugees into the country amid the Taliban's takeover. "We must waste no time or expense in helping refugees safely & swiftly leave Afghanistan," Ocasio-Cortez tweeted. "We...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Biden administration appeals federal judge's 'Remain in Mexico' policy reinstatement ruling
The 'Remain in Mexico' policy ordered non-Mexican asylum-seekers to remain in Mexico as they waited for their court hearings in the U.S.
www.usatoday.com
Biden says US will evacuate thousands of Americans from Afghanistan
President Biden on Monday said that the U.S. intends to evacuate from Afghanistan thousands of American citizens who have been living and working in the country, warning the Taliban of a devastatin…
thehill.com
Feds declare first Colorado River shortage, order water cuts for 2022
Scientists say a combination of natural weather patterns and human-driven climate change is fueling the historic drought and dwindling water levels.
www.nbcnews.comRep. Lee, who voted against war, says Taliban takeover proves 'there is no military solution' for Afghanistan
Barbara Lee was the only member of Congress to vote against the 2001 resolution that launched the U.S. war with Afghanistan.
New York lawmakers to publish report on Cuomo's conduct
Material from an investigation that ranged from sexual misconduct allegations to COVID-19 in nursing homes may see the light of day, lawmakers said Monday.
www.cbsnews.com
Billions spent on Afghan army ultimately benefited Taliban
Built and trained at a two-decade cost of $83 billion, Afghan security forces collapsed so quickly and completely — in some cases without a shot fired — that the ultimate beneficiary of the American investment turns out to be the Taliban.
apnews.comIn Backlash to Racial Reckoning, Conservative Publishers See Gold
The book “How to Be an Antiracist,” by Ibram X. Kendi, has sold almost 2 million printed copies, e-books and audiobooks since it came out two years ago, according to its publisher, an astonishing sales figure more commonly associated with books about Donald Trump than titles on difficult social...
'It's just wrong': Internal fight over Sierra Club founder's racial legacy roils organization
An internal battle over the allegedly racist views of the Sierra Club’s founder erupted in public view.
www.politico.com
Chicago school system let thousands of special needs students fall through the cracks - Washington Examiner
Fifteen-year-old David Rushing was excelling in school. The energetic teenager from the inner city liked to play baseball and basketball. He was a great swimmer and part of the Jesse White Tumblers, doing backflips and somersaults in front of crowds. Things were going well, but when the pandemic...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
US lays out conditions for recognising a new Afghan gov’t
State Department says any new administration in Kabul must respect human rights, including rights of women.
Karl Rove says ‘you bet’ former President George W. Bush is ‘deeply upset’ about Afghanistan - Washington Examiner
Former President George W. Bush is undoubtedly "deeply upset" over the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, according to a onetime top aide. Karl Rove, who served as senior adviser and deputy chief of staff in the White House, talked about his former boss minutes before President Joe Biden addressed...
www.washingtonexaminer.comBiden stands by Afghanistan withdrawal, says there was no good time to leave
President Biden addressed the American people about the messy U.S. pullout from Afghanistan. He stood by his decision and said there was no good time to leave.
Microsoft adds another outside firm and Fifth Third adds first in a decade
Huawei tweaks lobbying lineup — Ballard partners with Sacramento firm
www.politico.com
Democratic staffers frustrated by lack of White House details on Afghan evacuees
Democratic congressional staffers on a call with the White House shortly after President Biden’s speech on Afghanistan said they were disappointed to hear the administration had few new details to …
thehill.com
In Quake-Ravaged Haiti, Rescuers Scramble To Save People Trapped In Rubble
"Everything was moving — houses, cars — and everyone was crying," said one Haitian from an area close to the earthquake's epicenter. More than 1,400 people are confirmed dead.
www.npr.org"It was avoidable": Congress reacts to the rapid collapse of Afghanistan
The Taliban has declared victory in Afghanistan after seizing most of Kabul Sunday, forcing Ashraf Ghani to flee the country and the evacuation of the U.S. Embassy.Why it matters: The U.S.'s exit from the country was the opposite of the orderly withdrawal that President Biden had promised when...
Who's to blame for Afghanistan?
www.politico.com
U.S. appeals judge's order reviving Trump 'remain in Mexico' program
The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday appealed a federal judge's order to reinstate a controversial immigration program that forced tens of thousands of migrants to wait in Mexico for the resolution of their U.S. asylum cases.
www.reuters.com
Afghanistan debacle shows foreign policy split among GOP 2024 contenders - Washington Examiner
Republicans eyeing a campaign to succeed President Joe Biden as commander in chief agree the Afghanistan withdrawal is an incompetently managed foreign policy debacle, yet they are notably split over the underlying policy of American retreat from the region.There is a laundry list of Republicans...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
5 days: The key dates that led to a Taliban takeover in Afghanistan
They lost the country 20 years ago. In a matter of months the Taliban has regained control. Scroll through to see their swift advance.
www.nbcnews.com
Bob Dylan sued for alleged sexual abuse of 12-year-old in 1960s
An unnamed woman has sued folk singer-songwriter Bob Dylan alleging he sexually abused her after giving her drugs and alcohol in 1965 when she was 12 years old.
www.reuters.com
Why Earthquakes In Haiti Are So Catastrophic
Haiti has a long history of major earthquakes that leave destruction and carnage in their wake. A combination of factors makes the country especially susceptible to damage from these quakes.
www.npr.org
Cause of Afghan military plane crash in Uzbekistan disputed
Uzbek authorities issue conflicting reports on the cause of the crash of an Afghan plane after Taliban seize Kabul.
Proud Boys supporter pleads guilty to social media threats tied to Jan. 6
A member of the Proud Boys pleaded guilty on Monday to making social media threats connected to the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, including one against Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.).Eduard Flor…
thehill.com
Newsom using stark language as he seeks to stay in office
California Gov. Gavin Newsom is sharpening his message as he hits the campaign trail in the recall's final month
Trump administration officials highlight one specific ‘failure’ in Biden’s Afghanistan withdrawal plan - Washington Examiner
Former Trump administration national security officials are pointing to one aspect of President Joe Biden's Afghanistan withdrawal as the linchpin behind the Taliban's near-completed takeover of Afghanistan.Those officials argue that though withdrawing from Afghanistan was the right decision...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Lindsey Graham slams Biden Afghanistan speech: 'No one to blame but himself'
Senator Lindsey Graham took aim at President Joe Biden's speech, insisting Biden take more responsibility for failures in Afghanistan
‘Cut the bureaucratic b.s.’: Inundated lawmakers call for speeding up Afghanistan evacuations
“Put people on planes, land them at bases and deal with the paperwork later,” said Rep. Ruben Gallego.
www.politico.comIs Kabul 'Biden's Saigon'? Images of chaotic exit evoke comparisons to retreat from Vietnam
People are describing the Afghan capital, Kabul, as "Biden's Saigon" – images of defeat that may haunt the president and his foreign policy team.
Biden faces lasting blemish from Afghanistan exit
President Biden is facing criticism over his administration’s withdrawal from the two-decade conflict in Afghanistan that could leave a lasting blemish on his presidency.Biden, who ran for presiden…
thehill.com
Thousands of Californians likely to lose power amid powerful winds, wildfire threat
About 39,000 PG&E customers across 16 counties are likely to lose power, the utility said.
www.nbcnews.com
Haiti earthquake: Tropical Storm Grace hampers rescue
Tropical Storm Grace has dumped heavy rain on Haiti just days after a tremor left at least 1,419 dead.
www.bbc.com
Tropical storm Fred makes landfall in Florida
Tropical storm Fred is closing in on Florida where it's expected to make landfall Monday afternoon.
Pentagon says up to 22,000 'at-risk' Afghans could be transported to US
Kirby said that up to 22,000 'at-risk' Afghans could be transported to three U.S. facilities
'We could have done more' - frustration grows in Washington over Biden's Kabul evacuation
Frustration and anger at U.S. President Joe Biden’s handling of evacuations from Afghanistan are mounting among administration officials, lawmakers of both parties and advocacy groups.
www.reuters.com
Trapped by Taliban, Afghans who helped U.S. fear they've been abandoned
"We should view this as a Dunkirk moment," members of Congress say.
www.nbcnews.comBiden Isn’t Trump. He’s a Disaster In His Own Right.
Drew Angerer/GettyJoe Biden was the perfect presidential candidate.It’s likely that no other plausible Democratic nominee would have defeated Donald Trump in 2020. Biden’s friendly and decent demeanor was the perfect contrast to Trump’s malignant, vulgar image—and that made it nearly impossible...
The US spent $2 trillion in Afghanistan – and for what?
Since 2001, the US has spent $2.26 trillion in Afghanistan only to see the Taliban retake the country.
Chairman of Joint Chiefs warns of growth of al Qaeda, threat to US amid Taliban takeover of Afghanistan
Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley warned lawmakers during a briefing over the weekend that terror groups like al-Qaeda may be able to grow at a much faster pace and pose a threat to the United States in the wake of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, a source confirmed to Fox News.
Afghanistan: Another 200 UK troops sent to Kabul evacuation
Around 700 troops were already in the Afghan capital to help UK citizens and others leave.
www.bbc.com
Nevada Lt. Gov. Kate Marshall to resign and accept White House position: report
Nevada Lt. Gov. Kate Marshall (D) is reportedly planning on resigning from her post to accept a position with the Biden White House.The Nevada Independent reported on Monday that Marshall is s…
thehill.comInside Biden’s defiant Afghanistan response | CNN Politics
By the time images of desperate Afghans clinging to American warplanes began emerging from Kabul on Monday morning, President Joe Biden had conceded to aides he had little choice but to interrupt his stay at Camp David to return to the White House.
www.cnn.com
New York man pleads guilty to posting threats against Warnock and Congress | CNN Politics
A New York man has pleaded guilty after posting online violent threats against Congress and newly elected Georgia Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock in the lead-up to and during the January 6 insurrection, federal prosecutors announced Monday.
www.cnn.comMajor news outlets call for Biden's 'unequivocal' support of journalists reporting in Afghanistan after the Taliban took over the government
The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times asked for an "unequivocal signal" that the Biden team will support reporters.
Tropical Storm Fred makes landfall, slams Florida Panhandle
Tropical Storm Fred slammed the Florida Panhandle on Monday afternoon, making landfall with a wet slap of heavy rain and blasting winds at 65 miles per hour (104 kph).
www.reuters.com
Lawsuit Alleges Sexual Abuse By Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is accused of drugging and sexually abusing a minor in 1965, according to a complaint filed in Manhattan Supreme Court on Friday. A Dylan spokesperson denies the claims.
www.npr.org
Kabul airport plunges into chaos as Taliban patrol capital
At least seven people are dead after the main airport in the Afghan capital descended into chaos. Thousands of Afghans rushed onto the tarmac Monday, a day after the government fell to the advancing Taliban.
apnews.comAnalysis: Defiant Biden is face of chaotic Afghan evacuation
Four presidents share responsibility for the missteps in Afghanistan that accumulated over two decades.
apnews.com
Chaos at Kabul airport amid struggle to flee
United States troops have taken control of the airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, and world leaders are responding after the Taliban took control of the country.
Flights resume at Kabul airport as U.S. aims to extract 22,000 Afghans who helped military
Afghans scaled walls and rushed to the tarmac in a frenzy to flee after the Taliban takeover in the capital.
www.nbcnews.com
Biden: Afghan chaos 'gut-wrenching' but stands by withdrawal
President Joe Biden is calling the violent chaos at Kabul's airport “gut-wrenching,” but he's standing by America's withdrawal from Afghanistan.
apnews.com
Afghanistan Updates: Biden Is Set To Speak As Chaos Unfolds In Kabul
President Biden is set to give his first remarks since the Taliban overtook Kabul. Images from the ground in Kabul show hundreds if not thousands of Afghans crowding the airport, where U.S. troops are holding guard. Thousands of Afghans who helped the U.S. remain. Here's the latest.
www.npr.org
Biden, Trump battle over who’s to blame for Afghanistan
The finger pointing over the fall of Afghanistan between President Biden and former President Trump is in full swing amid the chaotic scramble to get U.S. personnel and allies out of the country be…
thehill.comBiden says "buck stops with me" and defends Afghanistan withdrawal
"After 20 years, I've learned the hard way that there was never a good time to withdraw U.S. forces," the president said.
www.cbsnews.com
Top Biden official admits fall of Afghanistan 'unfolded at unexpected speed'
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan on Monday said the security situation in Afghanistan “unfolded at unexpected speed,” while maintaining that President Biden stands by his decision to withdraw U.S. troops.
Biden owns this Afghanistan debacle - Washington Examiner
Just six weeks ago, President Joe Biden promised the public that our withdrawal from Afghanistan would not echo our withdrawal from Vietnam. “The Taliban is not the South — the North Vietnamese army,” Biden said. “They’re not remotely comparable in terms of capability. There’s going to be no...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Pentagon to provide two more US bases to house Afghans
The U.S. military will provide two additional facilities in the United States to house thousands of at-risk Afghans being evacuated after the Taliban seized power Sunday, the Pentagon confirme…
thehill.com
Death toll in Haiti earthquake climbs to 1,297 as search continues for survivors
Haiti's Office of Civil Protection said at least 2,800 were injured.
www.cbsnews.com
The GOP waves white flag in the same-sex marriage wars
The Republican Party has moved on from one of the most seminal culture war debates, even as evangelicals fume.
www.politico.comAfghanistan Updates: Biden Is Set To Speak As Chaos Unfolds In Kabul
President Biden is set to give his first remarks since the Taliban overtook Kabul. Images from the ground in Kabul show hundreds if not thousands of Afghans crowding the airport, where U.S. troops are holding guard. Thousands of Afghans who helped the U.S. remain. Here's the latest.
www.npr.org
Pelosi seeks to advance bipartisan infrastructure bill and $3.5 trillion budget plan at same time
Pelosi's plan, however, fell flat with moderate Democrats who want the House to pass the bipartisan infrastructure deal immediately.
www.cbsnews.com
Biden draws criticism from fellow Democrats over deadly Afghanistan withdrawal - Washington Examiner
Congressional Democrats aren't sparing a president from their own party of criticism over the chaotic U.S. evacuation of Afghanistan as the Taliban seized control of the country and images of fleeing Afghans at Kabul's airport surfaced worldwide.“There’s no way to hide it. The situation in...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
US reaches deal with Taliban on evacuations: report
The U.S. has reached a deal with the Taliban to ensure that evacuations from Kabul’s airport can take place without interference from the group, according to a report by The Associated P…
thehill.com
Early indicators suggest Democrats' House majority is in jeopardy
Barack Obama and Donald Trump got "shellacked" in their first midterms. Early signs indicate Joe Biden might face a similar fate in 2022.
www.nbcnews.comTaliban Sweep in Afghanistan Follows Years of U.S. Miscalculations
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden’s top advisers concede they were stunned by the rapid collapse of the Afghan army in the face of an aggressive, well-planned offensive by the Taliban that now threatens Kabul, Afghanistan’s capital. The past 20 years show they should not have been. If there is a...
Obama-era Afghanistan ambassador has 'grave questions' about Biden's 'ability to lead' US
A former Obama-era ambassador to Afghanistan says he has "grave questions" about President Biden's "ability to lead" America as commander in chief following the stunning collapse of Afghanistan.
'They're really sitting ducks': Refugee advocates inundated with pleas for help from vulnerable Afghans
With the Taliban in power, Afghan women, journalists and others have flooded U.S.-based refugee groups with desperate messages seeking a way out.
www.usatoday.com
Cheney: Biden ignored military commanders’ advice on Afghanistan
Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) on Monday accused President Biden of ignoring the advice of military commanders when it came to dealing with Afghanistan.While appearing on Fox News Radio’s R…
thehill.com
U.N. secretary-general: 'We cannot and must not abandon the people of Afghanistan'
Guterres said that roughly 18 million people, or about half its population, are in need of humanitarian assistance.
www.politico.com
Biden defends Afghanistan pullout amid airport chaos
Defiant US president says he “stands squarely” behind withdrawal after 20 years in the country.
Biden infrastructure pitch puts labor unions in the spotlight - Washington Examiner
Total union membership has been on a decadeslong decline as workers move further away from organized labor, but President Joe Biden’s infrastructure plan is meant to arrest or reverse the trend. While the scope and scale of a possible bipartisan infrastructure plan are still in flux, Biden’s...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Taliban spokesmen use Twitter to broadcast updates on Afghanistan as Trump remains banned - Washington Examiner
Twitter has allowed the Taliban to spread news of their takeover of Afghanistan even as former President Donald Trump is being kept off the platform. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, whose Twitter account has amassed some 287,000 followers, regularly provides updates on the Taliban’s...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Buttigieg, Harris sort out their roles for Biden
Pete Buttigieg visited two states following the Senate passage of the bipartisan infrastructure bill, touring local projects like a highway in Nevada that could be revamped because of the legislati…
thehill.comPelosi suggests tying infrastructure plan and $3.5 trln budget resolution
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told lawmakers Sunday that she had asked a House committee to advance both a $1 trillion infrastructure plan and a $3.5 trillion spending package together, an apparent effort to patch up divisions that had threatened to stall President Joe...
Chaos and deaths at Kabul airport as Afghans flee Taliban and Biden defends decision to withdraw
About 3,000 U.S. troops are setting up barriers to separate the military portion of the airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, from the civilian terminal.
www.usatoday.com
Senate Republicans tout 'difficult position' they've put House Democrats on infrastructure
House Democrats are in a "difficult position" over infrastructure because of a series of politically charged votes Senate Republicans forced last week on the $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation bill, according to a new memo authored by Sen. Mitch McConnell's team.
Analysis: Biden’s botched Afghan exit is a disaster at home and abroad long in the making | CNN Politics
The debacle of the US defeat and chaotic retreat in Afghanistan is a political disaster for Joe Biden, whose failure to orchestrate an urgent and orderly exit will further rock a presidency plagued by crises and stain his legacy.
www.cnn.com
‘Clearly botched’: Biden White House under assault on Afghanistan drawdown
Biden’s foreign policy experience fails him as the Taliban seize Kabul far sooner than expected.
www.politico.com
Pelosi faces infrastructure squeeze between moderates and progressives
The conflicting demands put Democrats in a predicament with high stakes for Joe Biden's presidency and the party's political fortunes next year.
www.nbcnews.com
Afghanistan's collapse: Did US intelligence get it wrong?
As the Taliban overtook Kabul Sunday, many Americans wondered how top Biden officials could have been so wrong in their assurances that Kabul would not easily fall.
'An epidemic in itself': Why billions of federal aid isn't making it to renters, landlords during pandemic
A slow start, computer glitches, and a thorny application process has meant emergency assistance isn't getting to many renters and landlords.
www.usatoday.com
Chaotic scenes at Kabul airport as Afghans and foreign nationals flee Taliban
Thousands of Afghans have amassed on the tarmac at Kabul's international airport in the hours after the Taliban captured the capital.
Cause of Afghan military plane crash in Uzbekistan disputed
Uzbek authorities issue conflicting reports on the cause of the crash of an Afghan plane after Taliban seize Kabul.
POLITICO Playbook: Biden’s stubborn streak paved the way for havoc in Afghanistan
And corporate America wants Biden to take on tariffs.
www.politico.com
National security adviser: Afghan army lacked ‘will’ to defend its country
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan on Monday defended the Biden administration’s withdrawal from Afghanistan while acknowledging that the country fell to the Taliban much quicker t…
thehill.com
Kinzinger: Trump was naive on Afghanistan, Biden acted without a plan
Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) on Sunday called out President Biden and former President Trump over the fall of Afghanistan, saying the actions and policies of each leader contributed to the governme…
thehill.comAfghanistan Updates: Biden Is Set To Speak As Chaos Unfolds In Kabul
President Biden is set to give his first remarks since the Taliban overtook Kabul. Images from the ground in Kabul show hundreds if not thousands of Afghans crowding the airport, where U.S. troops are holding guard. Thousands of Afghans who helped the U.S. remain. Here's the latest.
www.npr.org
Chaos is unfolding in Afghanistan. Here's what you need to know.
The Taliban edged closer to solidifying control of Afghanistan on Sunday, including entering the presidential palace in Kabul hours after former President Ashraf Ghani fled the country.
www.cnn.com
Swing voters, week 1: ‘Election is no slam-dunk’
“I heard the foundations for a vigorous contest,” pollster David Herle said of his first meeting with a focus group of voters from B.C. and the 905.
www.politico.com
Germany may need to rescue 10,000 people from Afghanistan: Merkel
Chancellor’s comments come as an official within her party says Afghanistan’s woes cannot be solved via migration.
Drone video shows devastation left in the wake of Haiti earthquake
At least 1,400 people have been confirmed dead as the Caribbean country braces for a tropical depression.
www.nbcnews.com
Food stamp benefits to increase by more than 25% in October
The Biden administration has approved a significant and permanent increase in the levels of food stamp assistance available to needy families.
apnews.comTropical storm Fred makes landfall in Florida
Tropical storm Fred is closing in on Florida where it's expected to make landfall Monday afternoon.
Congressional Reaction To Biden's Afghanistan Withdrawal Has Been Scathing
Republicans excoriated the White House's strategy while Democrats criticized the haphazard manner of the U.S. withdrawal.
www.npr.org
Landlords turn to appellate court to block CDC’s latest eviction moratorium | CNN Politics
Landlord groups challenging the Biden administration’s eviction moratorium are now turning to the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit to try to block the extension of the moratorium.
www.cnn.com
Taliban’s Afghanistan takeover raises big questions for U.S. security chiefs
“There absolutely was intelligence reporting that it could happen this fast. This was not a surprise,” one senior defense intelligence official said.
www.nbcnews.com
Biden defends Afghanistan policy amid mounting criticism of withdrawal
"I stand squarely behind my decision," the president said on Monday. "After 20 years, I've learned the hard way that there was never a good time to withdraw U.S. forces."
www.nbcnews.com
Exclusive: Title, cover and details of new Trump book from Bob Woodward and Robert Costa revealed | CNN Politics
First it was “Fear,” then it was “Rage,” now it is “Peril.” That is the title of the highly anticipated third book about President Trump from legendary journalist Bob Woodward, this time written with co-author Robert Costa, a Washington Post national political reporter.
www.cnn.com
This 29-year-old YouTube millionaire has a good chance to be the next governor of California
Kevin Paffrath is running as a Democrat in the California recall election, and he's leading the polls among replacement candidates.
National security adviser Jake Sullivan denies Taliban takeover in Afghanistan is ‘worst-case scenario’ - Washington Examiner
National security adviser Jake Sullivan on Monday denied the swift Taliban takeover of Afghanistan was a "worst-case scenario" as U.S. forces scramble to evacuate embassy personnel and others from the embattled nation. Taliban leaders stormed the presidential palace in Kabul on Sunday as the...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Leon Panetta compares fall of Afghanistan to Bay of Pigs
Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta compared the fall of the democratic government in Afghanistan over the weekend to the failed Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba in 1961. “I think of John …
thehill.com
Pelosi takes step to quell moderates' budget rebellion
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is proposing a procedural vote that would set up future passage of two budget measures crucial to President Joe Biden’s domestic agenda.
apnews.com
Haiti braces for Tropical Depression Grace as Fred takes aim at Florida
Tropical Storm Fred eyeing Florida, tropical depression Grace likely heading for earthquake-devastated Haiti and tropical depression 8 has formed near Bermuda.
www.cbsnews.com
Kabul’s collapse followed string of intel failures, defense officials say
Officials overestimated the capability and will of the Afghan security forces to fight back as the Taliban seized city after city in recent days.
www.politico.com
US resumes operations at Kabul airport after US forces kill two armed men | CNN Politics
Violence erupted at the Kabul airport as US forces shot and killed two armed men who fired on them Monday, the Pentagon said, as the US resumed temporarily suspended operations at the airfield after clearing crowds off the runways.
www.cnn.com
Obama shuts off Instagram comments amid Afghanistan collapse
Commenting on former President Obama's Instagram page was briefly suspended Monday morning as commenters urged the former president to do something about the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan.
Biden’s rosy statements on Afghanistan, Covid have come back to haunt him
First Read is your briefing from "Meet the Press" and the NBC Political Unit on the day's most important political stories and why they matter.
www.nbcnews.com
August 16, 2021, Afghanistan-Taliban news | CNN
www.cnn.comHaiti quake death toll rises to 1,419, injured now at 6,000
Haitian authorities have raised the death toll from the powerful earthquake that struck southwestern Haiti over the weekend to 1,419.
apnews.com
Government under pressure to reveal Afghan refugee plan
Thousands are in fear of their lives amid concerns over a "humanitarian catastrophe".
www.bbc.comWhy Earthquakes In Haiti Are So Catastrophic
Haiti has a long history of major earthquakes that leave destruction and carnage in their wake. A combination of factors makes the country especially susceptible to damage from these quakes.
www.npr.orgAFL-CIO prepares to replace Trumka
Moderate Democrats endanger social spending — Women say New York harassment goes deeper than Cuomo
www.politico.com
Arizona AG calls on Biden to replace Mayorkas as GOP pressure over border numbers grows
Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich has written to President Biden urging him to replace Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, describing the secretary’s tenure as an "unmitigated disaster" for U.S. border security – amid an increasing migrant surge.
Tesla is under investigation because its cars keep hitting emergency vehicles | CNN Business
Federal safety regulators are investigating at least 11 accidents involving Tesla cars using Autopilot or other self-driving features that crashed into emergency vehicles when coming upon the scene of an earlier crash.
www.cnn.com
Moderate Dems reject latest Pelosi move to slow-walk infrastructure bill, extending stalemate on Dems' agenda
Moderate Democrats appeared Sunday to reject a move by Speaker Pelosi on passage of the bipartisan infrastructure bill and budget resolution, which includes Democrats' $3.5 trillion spending plan.
Haiti death toll rises as tropical storm hits earthquake zone | CNN
A tropical storm system has dumped heavy rain on the area of Haiti where a 7.2-magnitude earthquake on Saturday killed at least 1,419 people.
www.cnn.com
He spent years trying to modernize Afghanistan. It took weeks for his state to collapse.
Seen as a visionary with expertise in failed states, Ghani was unable to mend Afghanistan's deep divisions.
www.nbcnews.com
Experts say record-setting heat and wildfires just a taste what’s coming in our future
“The climate crisis is not only here, it is growing increasingly severe.”
thehill.com
Detainee says China has secret jail in Dubai, holds Uyghurs
A young Chinese woman says she was held for eight days at a Chinese-run secret detention facility in Dubai along with at least two Uyghurs, in what may be the first evidence that China is operating a so-called “black site” beyond its borders.
apnews.com
Ex-Rep. Paul Mitchell, who left GOP over Trump, dies
Former Michigan Rep. Paul Mitchell, who left the Republican Party last year over former President Trump’s refusal to accept the 2020 election results, has died at the age of 64 after a battle with …
thehill.com
'Everything about her was innocent': 7-year-old killed as shootings rock 3 major cities
More than 250 children have been shot and 32 killed in Chicago this year,
Taliban take over Afghanistan: What we know and what's next
The Taliban have seized power in Afghanistan two weeks before the U.S. is set to complete its troop withdrawal after a costly two-decade war
Corporate America impatient over Biden China trade review
Tai seeks to boost ag exports — ITC says fertilizer material imports harm US producers
www.politico.com
Youngkin ties McAuliffe to rising crime rates in new ads
Virginia GOP gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin’s campaign is tying his Democratic opponent, Terry McAuliffe, to rising crime rates in two new ads, as Republicans across the country seize …
thehill.com
California Gov. Newsom sharpens message as Larry Elder poses threat in recall race | CNN Politics
As he hit the campaign trail this weekend to fight the Republican-led effort to oust him, California Gov. Gavin Newsom leaned into the microphone with a message for all the disengaged Democrats who might be inclined to ignore the September 14 recall election.
www.cnn.com
Population decline in rural areas spotlights severe shortage in farm workers
Vilifying immigrants "just makes it harder to get there," says Nebraska Farmers Union on push for new immigration laws.
www.cbsnews.com
EXPLAINER: Why Haiti is prone to devastating earthquakes
Earthquakes have been wreaking havoc in Haiti since at least the 18th century, when the city of Port-au-Prince was destroyed twice in 19 years.
apnews.com
Religious health care providers win injunction on ACA rules
The providers feared the Biden administration would interpret the Affordable Care Act as requiring them to perform abortions and gender-affirming procedures.
www.nbcnews.com
Afghanistan IG says it was 'not surprising' how country fell to Taliban: 'All the signs have been there'
The Biden administration was taken by surprise by the Taliban’s swift victory in Afghanistan, but according to John Sopko, the head of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), the watchdog agency who has been reporting on the situation on the ground for years, none...
Afghan woman in limbo at Kabul airport after Taliban sweep
A young Afghan woman stands between two worlds at Kabul's airport, engulfed in panic as thousands of Afghans scramble desperate to get out following the Taliban takeover of the country.
apnews.com
Afghanistan: US takes control of Kabul airport to evacuate staff
Crowds of fleeing locals thronged the runway, where foreign military planes are now landing again.
www.bbc.com
Search for survivors continues after Haiti earthquake
Haitians are searching for survivors and the dead in collapsed buildings following the powerful earthquake over the weekend as hospitals overflow with patients
President Biden, VP Harris avoid the cameras as Kabul falls to Taliban
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have avoided going on camera as Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan, fell to the Taliban on Sunday.
China ready for ‘friendly’ relations with Afghanistan after Taliban takes control
China on Monday said it is ready to pursue “friendly and cooperative” relations with the Taliban after the insurgent group took control of Afghanistan’s capital city of Kabul…
thehill.com
Bill Aims To Change North Carolina's Reputation As The Place For Adults To Marry Kids
The proposed legislation would raise the minimum marriage age from 14 to 16 and limit the age difference between a 16-year-old and their spouse to four years.
www.npr.org
Hong Kong protest organizer disbands in blow to civil society
Hong Kong's Civil Human Rights Front, Hong Kong' s biggest pro-democracy group that organizes most of the protests in 2019 disbanded under pressure.
www.nbcnews.com
Taliban poised to impose Sharia law in Afghanistan, threatening people Biden professes to fight for
Fears are growing that the Taliban will move to reimplement Sharia Law with their trademark brutal enforcement
Shooting outside San Antonio sports bar kills 3, wounds 2
Police say a man fatally shot three people and wounded two others outside of a San Antonio sports bar following an argument
RNC post on Trump peace deal with Taliban among pre-2021 items offline during site maintenance
A Republican National Committee (RNC) post touting the Trump administration’s peace deal with the Taliban is offline, along with all posts before 2021, during what the RNC said is routin…
thehill.com
Malala Yousafzai 'deeply worried' about women and minorities as Afghanistan falls to Taliban
Malala Yousafzai sounded the alarm as the Taliban took over the capital of Afghanistan on Sunday and called for the international community to take action.
Younger children more likely to spread COVID-19, study finds
Younger children may be more likely to spread COVID-19 than older children, according to a new study.
Texas requests five mortuary trailers in anticipation of Covid deaths
The state’s seven-day average of coronavirus deaths is at its highest since March 2021.
www.nbcnews.com
Jesse Jackson, wife hospitalized with COVID-19
The United States is facing a COVID-19 surge this summer as the more contagious delta variant spreads.
Atlanta Falcons become first NFL team to be 100 percent vaccinated against Covid
Players can now forgo daily tests, mask-wearing and quarantines following close contact with people who test positive, the team said.
www.nbcnews.com
Are COVID hospitalizations high where you live? Look up your hospital
COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to strain U.S. hospitals in certain places, while the burden is easing up in other areas. Look up your local hospital to see how it's faring.
www.npr.org
Mask mandates at schools no different than dress codes, superintendent says
Some school officials plan to enforce mask-wearing as part of the dress code.
Ex-NFL player Jay Cutler cut from Uber Eats ads over anti-mask views
The former NFL quarterback said Uber Eats ended its advertising partnership with him over views that "aren't aligned."
www.nbcnews.com
New Yorkers largely back mayor's vaccine mandate to dine out
New Yorkers interviewed by Reuters on Monday were largely backing the push by the city's mayor, Bill de Blasio, to require proof of COVID-19 vaccination to enter restaurants, gyms and other businesses.
www.reuters.comJesse Jackson, wife hospitalized with COVID-19
The United States is facing a COVID-19 surge this summer as the more contagious delta variant spreads.
Many Bible Belt preachers silent on shots as COVID-19 surges
Dr. Danny Avula, the head of Virginia’s COVID-19 vaccination effort, suspected he might have a problem getting pastors to publicly advocate for the shots when some members of his own church referred to them as “the mark of the beast,” a biblical reference to allegiance to the devil, and the minister
apnews.com
Australia's worst day of pandemic sees restrictions tighten
Australia’s most populous state has reported its worst day of the pandemic with 478 new infections and seven COVID-19 deaths as pandemic restrictions tightened in other parts of the country
More than 3,000 fake vaccine cards from China seized by customs and border patrol officers at one port
The cards seized in Memphis had typos, unfinished words and some Spanish words that were misspelled. However, there are many more fake COVID-19 vaccine cards out there.
www.cbsnews.comBiden administration escalates fight with GOP governors over masks in schools
House plots path forward on reconciliation — Advocates press Cardona for action on Title IX
www.politico.com
Japan extends, expands coronavirus emergency as cases surge
Japan’s “state of emergency” for curbing surging COVID-19 cases will continue through Sept. 12 rather than ending this month as originally planned
Virus blundering cuts Biden approval to lowest point - Washington Examiner
President Joe Biden’s approval ratings continue to sink, driven in part by his administration’s unmet promises of ending COVID.Several new polls show that the president is at his lowest point yet, and likely to go lower due to the crisis in Afghanistan.Rasmussen Reports today said that their...
www.washingtonexaminer.comCovid shines a spotlight on data breakdowns
Delta isn’t peaking anytime soon — Regulators flesh out who gets third vaccine doses, and how
www.politico.comTexas Supreme Court temporarily blocks 2 counties' mask mandates
The Texas Supreme Court granted an emergency stay to the state's Republican governor, Greg Abbott, over his ban on face mask mandates on Sunday.Why it matters: The stay overrides lower court rulings in favor of local authorities in the counties of Dallas and Bexar, which includes San Antonio, to...
16-year-old South Carolina student dies from Covid-19 complications as school district struggles with infections | CNN
As students return for the first day of school in Lancaster County, South Carolina, the district’s leadership has confirmed that a 16-year-old student has died of complications from Covid-19.
www.cnn.com
Trump is curiously quiet on mask mandates
Aides to the former president say Trump’s main focus remains on election issues.
www.politico.com
Covid vaccine boosters for elderly could be as early as fall, NIH director says
Preliminary studies suggest the vaccine’s protection against serious illness dropped among those vaccinated in January.
www.nbcnews.com
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