(AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Afghan protesters defied the Taliban for a second day Thursday, waving their national flag in scattered demonstrations, and the fighters again responded violently as they faced down growing challenges to their rule.
Taliban face early challenges to rule over uneasy Afghanistan
In Kabul and beyond, the challenges facing the militant group in the wake of its rapid takeover of the country were mounting.
www.nbcnews.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.
Was Biden handcuffed by Trump's Taliban deal in Doha?
President Joe Biden and his national security team say the Trump administration tied their hands when it came to the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
apnews.com
Billions in US weaponry seized by Taliban
Billions of dollars of U.S. weapons are now in the hands of the Taliban following the quick collapse of Afghan security forces that were trained to use the military equipment.Among the items seized…
thehill.com
Biden wants everyone to move on from Afghanistan now
The White House wants everyone to move on from President Joe Biden’s catastrophic withdrawal from Afghanistan.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
US fighter jets fly over Kabul to secure evacuations
The Pentagon said Thursday that the U.S. F-18s have been conducting armed “overwatch” flights over Kabul in the last 24 hours as an "added layer of force" to ensure the security of the U.S. mission to evacuate Americans and Afghan allies from the country after the Taliban takeover.
55 bipartisan senators call on Biden to ‘immediately evacuate’ Afghans who helped US
A bipartisan group of 55 senators is calling on President Biden to “immediately evacuate” Afghans who helped the U.S. during its military involvement in the country as the situation in Afghanistan …
thehill.com
Booming Colo. town asks, ‘Where will water come from?’
The northern Colorado city of Greeley is in one of the fastest-growing regions in the United States.
apnews.com
US to erase student debt for those with severe disabilities
The Biden administration says it will automatically erase student loan debt for more than 300,000 Americans with disabilities that leave them unable to earn significant incomes.
apnews.com
U.S. forces can't help Americans flee to Kabul airport, Pentagon chief says
The Pentagon on Wednesday acknowledged that it does not currently have the capability to safely escort Americans in Kabul to the airport for evacuation.
Biden administration officials say enhanced unemployment benefits will expire September 6
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Labor Secretary Marty Walsh said in a letter that President Joe Biden wants Congress to include unemployment reform in the budget reconciliation process.
www.cbsnews.com
'This is warfare:' Trump allies Flynn, Bannon pushed conspiracies at ritzy party backed by Chinese exile
Steve Bannon, Rudy Giuliani, Mike Lindell and Mike Flynn pushed pro-Trump conspiracy theories at an event advertised as a celebration of an anti-China movement.
Landlords look for an exit amid federal eviction moratorium
Landlords are fuming over the decision by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to issue a new eviction moratorium lasting until Oct. 3.
apnews.com
First on CNN: More than 50 senators urge Biden to quickly evacuate Afghan allies | CNN Politics
A bipartisan group of 55 senators is urging President Joe Biden to quickly evacuate Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applicants and their families and fully implement changes to the program signed into law in late July.
www.cnn.com
Federal judge blocks Biden admin's ICE rules that narrowed illegal immigrant arrest priorities
A federal judge on Thursday imposed a preliminary injunction on the Biden administration’s rules for ICE officers that narrowed the categories of illegal immigrants targeted for arrest and deportation.
Biden won't seek to extend enhanced $300 unemployment benefits past Sept. 6
The Biden administration is urging states to use COVID-19 emergency funds if they want to extend the benefits on their own.
Suspect who claimed to have a bomb has surrendered to authorities, sources say
A suspect who claimed to have an explosive device in a truck near the US Capitol has surrendered to authorities, two law enforcement sources tell CNN. Follow here for the latest news.
Court strikes down Biden immigration enforcement priorities
A federal judge has blocked the Biden administration’s immigration enforcement priorities that directed border agents to focus on those with serious criminal records.The Biden administration in two…
thehill.com
The Latest: US says Kabul evacuees don't need COVID tests
The U.S. State Department says evacuees from Afghanistan are not required to get a negative COVID-19 test to be able to leave Kabul.
apnews.com
Biden says he doesn't believe Taliban have changed | CNN Politics
President Joe Biden said Thursday he doesn’t believe the Taliban have changed, as the people of Afghanistan and the international community wait to see how the militants who have seized control of Afghanistan will govern.
www.cnn.com
President and first lady plan to get their Covid-19 vaccine booster shots once they're eligible, Biden says | CNN Politics
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden plan to get Covid-19 vaccine booster shots once they are cleared to take them, the President said in an interview aired Thursday.
www.cnn.com
States race to hand out billions in rent aid before federal deadline to use it or lose it
Tenants anxiously await a slow trickle of funds. Overall, just one-fifth of available aid has been put in renters' hands.
www.cbsnews.com
Biden administration gets on the same page after days of finger-pointing on Afghanistan
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
Evacuation of up to 80,000 lags as U.S. bolsters control of Kabul airport, but Taliban controls access to it
With as many as 80,000 people still needing evacuation, U.S. urges residents to come to Kabul airport, but warns it "cannot ensure safe passage" to get there.
www.cbsnews.com
Meghan McCain rails against Biden over Afghanistan, calls him ‘Jimmy Carter on acid’
Meghan McCain took to Twitter on Thursday to criticize President Biden over Afghanistan, slamming the president as “Jimmy Carter on acid.””No press briefings from the Biden W…
thehill.com
Real estate agent who asked Trump for a pardon pleads guilty in Capitol riot | CNN Politics
A Texas real estate agent who went viral after asking former President Donald Trump to pardon her for storming the Capitol pleaded guilty Thursday to a misdemeanor for her role in the riot.
www.cnn.comMinnesota GOP chair faces vote over leadership as controversy grows
Jennifer Carnahan's uncertain future as chair of the Minnesota Republican Party faces a key test Thursday, as public and private pressure to resign mounts.Stay on top of the latest market trends and economic insights with Axios Markets. Subscribe for freeWhat's happening: The state GOP's...
EXCLUSIVE: Border Patrol asking overwhelmed agents about helping process Afghan refugees
The U.S. Border Patrol is asking agents about volunteering to deploy to Afghanistan and nearby countries to process Afghan citizens seeking admission to the United States, three agents told the Washington Examiner.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Sanders traveling to Iowa, Indiana to pitch Biden’s spending package
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is hitting the road to pitch Democrats’ $3.5 trillion spending plan, which they are hoping to pass through Congress later this year. Sanders, who chairs the S…
thehill.com
Biden Afghan struggle: Message control weakening
U.S. military and administration officials are speaking cautiously as emergency evacuations of U.S. and European nationals, as well as Special Immigration Visa applicants, continue from Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. The caution is warranted. Officials can’t say how many…
www.washingtonexaminer.comHere's how states can extend expanded unemployment benefits after Biden ends them nationwide
Top Biden officials confirmed unemployment benefits won't be extended beyond Labor Day, but they encourage states to extend them using stimulus.
Pentagon pressed on why British paratroopers leaving Kabul airport to rescue citizens but Americans aren't
The Pentagon was pressed Thursday to explain why the U.S. isn't rescuing Americans outside of the Kabul airport as the British are doing for their citizens.
White House: More than one million vaccine doses administered in past 24 hours
More than 1 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in the past 24 hours, according to the White House, including more than 550,000 first doses. Thursday marks the first time the…
thehill.com
Federal Trade Commission Refiles Suit Accusing Facebook Of Illegal Monopoly
The regulator is taking another swing at Facebook after a judge tossed out its initial effort in June. It accused the social media giant of illegally maintaining a monopoly.
www.npr.org
Federal government refiles monopoly complaint in Facebook antitrust case
The Federal Trade Commission is doubling down on accusations the social media giant illegally squashes tech rivals.
www.cbsnews.com
Fracking linked to surface water quality for first time in new study
The effects of fracking on nearby water sources may be worse than previously thought, according to a new study that found hydraulic fracturing can alter the composition of surface water and not jus…
thehill.com
Facing revolt from police chiefs, U.S. Marshals agree to change body camera rules
The shift highlights the willingness of local law enforcement officials to stand up to federal authorities in an era of police reform.
www.nbcnews.com
UN report warns Taliban going ‘door to door’ for wanted
Threat assessment revealed as protests against Taliban takeover spread and fighters open fire on crowds.
Biden's presidency is under scrutiny as never before over Afghan chaos | CNN Politics
President Joe Biden is struggling against an intensifying examination of his judgment, competence and even his empathy over the chaotic US exit from Afghanistan. And each attempt the administration makes to quell a furor that’s tarnishing America’s image only provokes more questions about its...
www.cnn.com
Connecticut state Senate seat flip shows good signs for GOP ahead of midterm elections
A Republican special election win in a Connecticut state Senate district that broke for President Joe Biden by double digits is an encouraging sign for Republicans looking to repeat the success in this year’s state-level elections and in the 2022 midterm elections.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Maskless flyers face $9,000 fines as U.S. FAA tackles unruly passengers
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration on Thursday proposed $531,545 in civil penalties against 34 airline passengers over unruly behavior - with some facing $9,000 fines for defying mask requirements - pushing its total for the year past $1 million.
www.reuters.comTrump alumni launch group to push his VA policies - and blunt Biden's
WASHINGTON - A group of senior Trump administration alumni this week launched a nonprofit group to try to extend the former president's effort to offer veterans more access to private medical care and other policies while diminishing President Joe Biden's priorities at the Department of Veterans...
House members press FDA to lift in-person requirement to get abortion medication
The dispensing rule is "not scientifically based or needed" and limits access to the drug, ob-gyn group official says.
www.nbcnews.com
Biden falsely claims the US does not have troops in Syria
President Biden falsely claimed that the U.S. doesn’t have military deployed to Syria during an interview with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos Wednesday night, his first TV interview since the Taliban’s rapid takeover of Afghanistan.
Activists win legal victory in battle over notorious ‘Cancer Alley’
A petrochemical facility to be built on the west bank in St. James Parish, La., has hit a roadblock.
thehill.com
Latest news from Afghanistan: 7,000 evacuated from Kabul, with thousands more waiting at airport
Biden says the US cannot protect women through military occupation. GOP leaders ask for classified update. Here's the latest on Afghanistan.
www.usatoday.com
More than 323K disabled borrowers to receive automatic student loan forgiveness
The Biden administration on Thursday announced it would line up more than 323,000 borrowers with a total and permanent disability (TPD) for $5.8 billion in automatic federal student loan forgivenes…
thehill.com
Suspect charged with murder in death of toddler accidentally released due to clerical error
A suspect accused of killing a 2-year-old girl was accidentally released from custody Tuesday due to a "clerical error," according to Tennessee authorities.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Disability Rights Group Files First Federal Lawsuit Against Abbott Over Ban On Mask Mandates
Disability Rights Texas sued on behalf of 14 Texas schoolchildren, arguing the governor's executive order forces schools to violate the Americans with Disabilities Act.
www.kut.org
Afghanistan war unpopular amid chaotic pullout: AP-NORC poll
A significant majority of Americans doubt that the war in Afghanistan was worthwhile, even as they are more divided over President Joe Biden’s handling of foreign policy and national security.
apnews.com
He promised an "organized resistance" to Taliban rule. Now he wants U.S. help to lead the fight.
In May, the son of an anti-Taliban hero vowed to lead an "organized resistance" against the militants if they took over. Now he wants U.S. help.
www.cbsnews.com
Russia was ready for Taliban's win due to longtime contacts
When the Taliban swept over Afghanistan, Russia was ready for the rapid developments after working methodically for years to lay the groundwork for relations with the group that it still officially considers a terrorist organization.
apnews.com
U.S. evacuates 7,000 from Afghanistan in 5 days, thousands more ready to board planes in Kabul
More than 2,000 people were evacuated on C-17 aircraft in the past 24 hours, U.S. Army Maj. Gen. William "Hank" Taylor said.
Library of Congress bomb suspect livestreamed on Facebook for hours before being blocked
The man suspected of making a bomb threat in front of the Library of Congress posted lengthy Facebook livestreams several times throughout the morning.
www.politico.com
Israel approves resumption of Qatar aid to Gaza
Benny Gantz says Israel reaches deal on mechanism for Qatar to resume aid payments to thousands of families in Gaza.
Watchdog group urges Jan. 6 committee to question Republican AGs
A left-leaning watchdog group is calling on Republican attorneys general to testify before Congress about their role in organizing a Jan. 6 rally that preceded the Capitol attack.In a letter t…
thehill.com
Sole surviving Khmer Rouge leader denies role in genocide
Khieu Samphan, 90, was sentenced in 2018 by a UN-backed court to life in prison for genocide.
Biden bets a war-weary America will reward him for leaving Afghanistan
"It's hard to see Republicans winning elections on a campaign promise to go back to war in Afghanistan in 2022 or 2024," says a Democratic consultant.
www.nbcnews.com
Congress's hip-hop legislation is the latest symbolic gesturing that doesn't improve Black lives | CNN Politics
A version of this story appeared in CNN’s Race Deconstructed newsletter. To get it in your inbox every week, sign up for free here.
www.cnn.com
How the Taliban uses social media to seek legitimacy in the West, sow chaos at home
Social media is seen by some as another weapon employed by the militant group.
Afghanistan withdrawal: Biden continues bunker strategy after widely panned ABC interview
Biden took all public remarks, press briefings and press conferences off his schedule Thursday as he and his admin deal with the blowback from their botched troop withdrawal in Kabul.
U.S. judge signs off on $850 million Boy Scouts sex abuse settlement
The judge overseeing the Boy Scouts of America bankruptcy on Thursday approved the youth organization’s request to sign off on an $850 million settlement to resolve tens of thousands of sex abuse claims.
www.reuters.com
Democratic-led committees vow investigations on Afghanistan
Democratic-led congressional committees are vowing to press President Joe Biden’s administration on what went wrong as the Taliban swept to power in Afghanistan.
apnews.com
Four Albuquerque police officers injured in shooting while responding to coffee shop robbery
Several police officers in Albuquerque were injured in a shooting Thursday morning while responding to a robbery at a coffee shop, authorities said.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Afghan footballer fell to death from US plane
Afghanistan sports federation says Anwari, who played for the national youth football team, died in chaos at airport.
DOJ tells court that Missouri gun law unconstitutional
The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday backed a legal challenge to a new Missouri law that seeks to nullify federal gun regulations, arguing that the measure is unconstitutional and should be…
thehill.com
Jobless data, Fed minutes offer snapshot of US economic recovery
US Department of Labor data showed initial claims for jobless aid fell to their lowest level since March 14, 2020.
Mike Pompeo prioritized oil, Saudi relationship after Jamal Khashoggi's murder
Ex-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Kansas oilmen in Wichita that his relationship with the Saudis mattered most when crude oil futures crashed.
www.usatoday.com
Booming black market for fake COVID-19 vaccination cards is going mainstream
Researchers have detected a surge in counterfeit card sellers using popular apps like WhatsApp and PayPal.
www.cbsnews.com
R. Kelly accuser testifies that R&B singer made her dress like a Girl Scout
A key prosecution witness against R. Kelly at his sex abuse trial testified on Thursday that the R&B singer videotaped their sexual activity when she was 16 and insisted she dress like a Girl Scout.
www.reuters.com
Elder’s ex-fiancee said he brandished a gun at her
Alexandra Datig, who broke off her engagement with the California gubernatorial candidate in 2015, describes a series of troubling encounters with him.
www.politico.com
U.S. states rush to meet deadline to join $26 billion opioid settlement
U.S. states are racing to meet a deadline to commit to a $26 billion opioid settlement with three drug distributors and the drugmaker Johnson & Johnson , as some grapple with local resistance and concerns the amount isn't big enough to address the damage done by an epidemic of addiction.
www.reuters.com
FAA proposes more than $500,000 in new fines against unruly airline passengers | CNN Politics
Federal authorities are proposing more than a half-million dollars in new fines against commercial airline passengers they say refused to wear masks, hit flight attendants and even threw luggage across the cabin.
www.cnn.com
Push to bring in Afghan refugees sees support, little opposition from GOP lawmakers
The push by the Biden administration to bring tens of thousands of Afghan refugees into the U.S. is so far seeing support from many Republican lawmakers, with only a handful objecting to the move in response to the collapse of Afghanistan to the Taliban.
'You can smell death from Haiti earthquake'
The death toll from the 7.2-magnitude quake is now over 2,000, with many still missing in towns like Les Cayes.
www.bbc.com
A Texas-sized methane problem
ConocoPhillip's Willow project hits a hiccup — Solar's China puzzle
www.politico.com
Biden defends policy decisions as Afghanistan, booster shot fallout builds
Biden prides himself on his diplomatic prowess—but some say it's emerging as a major weak spot in his presidency.
Jimmy Carter, trounced in 1980, gets fresh look from history
Jimmy Carter is sometimes called a better former president than he was president. The backhanded compliment has always rankled Carter allies and, they say, the former president himself.
apnews.com
Hurricane Grace hits Mexico near Tulum
Storm causes widespread power outages on the Yucatan Peninsula.
Justice Dept. bolsters monitoring of federal inmate accounts
The Justice Department is directing the federal prison system implement new procedures to monitor government-run prison deposit accounts that have at times been used by inmates to shield themselves from paying debts and for suspicious or illegal activity.
apnews.com
Biden says Taliban in 'existential crisis,' as Islamic militant group terrorizes Afghans after US withdrawal
Biden was interviewed by ABC about the withdrawal from Afghanistan
Judge rejects murder and attempted murder charges for Honolulu officers in fatal shooting of 16-year-old
A judge agreed with the defense that the officers who fired into the teen's car were in danger when the vehicle started to move.
www.cbsnews.com
A Look At Afghanistan's 40 Years Of Crisis — From The Soviet War To Taliban Recapture
Afghans have lived through Soviet and U.S. invasions, civil war, insurgency and a previous period of heavy-handed Taliban rule. Here are some key events and dates from the past four decades.
www.npr.org
Afghanistan: Danger lies on Kabul's airport road to freedom
As thousands try to flee Afghanistan, the main route to the capital's airport has become treacherous.
www.bbc.com
How AI-powered tech landed man in jail with scant evidence
CHICAGO (AP) — Michael Williams’ wife pleaded with him to remember their fishing trips with the grandchildren, how he used to braid her hair, anything to jar him back to his world outside the concrete walls of Cook County Jail.
apnews.com
Biden: Greater threats than Taliban-controlled Afghanistan
President Biden says that even with the Taliban in power in Afghanistan, he sees a greater threat from al-Qaida and its affiliated organizations from other countries.
apnews.com
Assaults, a death threat and mask refusal: Fines for unruly passengers this year top $1 million
The Federal Aviation Administration announced Thursday it would seek more than $500,000 in fines against 34 passengers for bad behavior on flights.
www.cbsnews.com
Trump acting DNI Grenell: Taliban should hear 'very tough message,' slams Biden for 'ignoring the conditions'
Former acting Director of National Intelligence Ric Grenell slammed President Biden for having "ignored the conditions" set by former President Donald Trump in his 2020 agreement with the Taliban.
R. Kelly trial: Singer 'knew I was underage', accuser tells court
The US R&B singer is accused of sexual abuse, racketeering and bribery; charges which he has denied.
www.bbc.com
Chip shortage: Toyota to cut global production by 40%
The world's biggest carmaker will cut output in September, while VW warns it may have to make further cuts.
www.bbc.com
Zaki Anwari: Afghan footballer falls to death from US plane in Kabul
Zaki Anwari, 19, had played for Afghanistan's national youth team before trying to flee the country.
www.bbc.com
Analysis: Twin tragedies, and the strings that pull them
Twin tragedies on opposite sides of the world are piling misery on people who have seen far more than their share.
apnews.com
Biden: I would have sought Afghanistan withdrawal even without Trump’s Taliban deal
The president’s acknowledgment comes after he has argued his hands were tied by the previous administration’s agreement.
www.politico.com
Canadian soldier faces jail over feeding cannabis cupcakes to troops
A Canadian bombardier fed cannabis cakes to troops during a drill involving guns and live ammunition.
www.bbc.com
Afghans plead for faster US evacuation from Taliban rule
Educated young women, former U.S. military translators and other Afghans most at-risk from the Taliban are appealing to the Biden administration to get them on evacuation flights.
apnews.com
Afghanistan crisis: Biden says US troops may stay past withdrawal deadline
President Biden says he may keep forces there beyond August to help evacuate US citizens.
www.bbc.com
Biden: Troops will stay in Afghanistan to evacuate Americans
President Joe Biden says he’s committed to keeping U.S. troops in Afghanistan until every American is evacuated, even if that means maintaining a military presence there beyond his Aug. 31 deadline for withdrawal.
apnews.com
States banning mask mandates could face civil rights probes
President Joe Biden has ordered his Education secretary to explore possible legal action against states that have blocked school mask mandates and other public health measures meant to protect students.
apnews.com
Biden’s Pentagon still enforcing Trump policy blocking citizenship path for troops, ACLU says
The Defense Department has “subjected service members to Kafkaesque ordeals that have further delayed their attempts to become U.S. citizens,” an ACLU lawyer said.
www.nbcnews.com
Misread warnings helped lead to chaotic Afghan evacuation
The warnings were clear: The Afghan government would likely fall once U.S. troops pulled out. But intelligence agencies and ultimately President Joe Biden missed how quickly it would happen, losing weeks for evacuation and spurring the biggest foreign policy crisis of the young administration.
apnews.com
Biden says his administration will take on GOP governors blocking masks in schools
In a speech Wednesday, Biden also said nursing homes must require their staff members to be vaccinated or they will lose federal funds.
www.nbcnews.com
Trump team polls Perdue vs. Kemp Georgia showdown
The survey shows more GOP voters would pick Perdue over Kemp — if Trump backed the former senator.
www.politico.com
Afghanistan disaster puts intelligence under scrutiny
The unfolding disaster in Afghanistan has put a spotlight on the intelligence community’s role in the largest foreign policy crisis of Joe Biden’s presidency.Afghanistan unraveled much more quickly…
thehill.com
Court orders Biden administration to redo 'legally flawed' reviews of Conoco Alaska oil project
Judge Sharon Gleason wrote that the exclusion of foreign greenhouse gas emissions in an alternatives analysis was "arbitrary and capricious."
www.politico.com
Judge Rules Philadelphia Can't Remove A Christopher Columbus Statue
The city may appeal. Officials wanted to take the statue out of South Philadelphia's Marconi Plaza in reaction to racial justice protests after the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
www.npr.org
CNN reporter in Afghanistan: ‘No way’ civilians can get past Taliban
“It’s very dicey, it’s very dangerous and it’s completely unpredictable”
thehill.com
Memories of Taliban rule strike fear, uncertainty in Afghan women
Empowered young Afghan women fear a return to a repressive life.
Opinion | Biden Campaigned as a Truth Teller. Afghanistan Undermined His Credibility.
The president made assurances about the U.S. withdrawal that didn’t come close to bearing out, and instead were contradicted by photos and videos for all Americans to see.
www.politico.com
McCarthy, McConnell send letter to Biden requesting 'Gang of 8' briefing on Afghanistan evacuation
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell sent a letter to President Biden requesting a “Gang of 8” briefing on the rapidly deteriorating situation in Afghanistan where the U.S. military is attempting to evacuate Americans from the Taliban controlled capital.
'Down to nothing' - dry, heavy winds stoke growing California wildfires
An incendiary mix of strong, shifting winds and drought-parched vegetation stoked two of California's largest wildfires on Wednesday, with thousands of people chased from their foothill and forest homes in the Sierra Nevada range.
www.reuters.com
Top Democrat unveils bill aimed at making housing more affordable
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) on Wednesday rolled out legislation aimed at making housing more affordable for Americans.”It’s time America’s lawmakers get with the prog…
thehill.com
Biden says he did not see a way to withdraw from Afghanistan without 'chaos ensuing'
President Joe Biden in an exclusive interview with ABC News' George Stephanopoulos.
US suggests world leaders skip General Assembly in-person
The United States on Wednesday urged the leaders of nearly 200 countries to consider giving video addresses at the United Nations General Assembly in September instead of traveling to New…
thehill.com
What went wrong in Afghanistan? Perspectives on the 'forever war' from those who saw it up close
Five people, representing both sides of the aisle and both sides of the world, share their perspectives in their own words on the Afghanistan war.
www.usatoday.com
White House says the public is with them on Afghanistan
www.politico.com
U.S. working with Taliban to evacuate Americans and allies out of Afghanistan, Pentagon says
U.S. officials said that 6,000 people have been evacuated to date.
www.nbcnews.com
Biden insists no mistakes were made in US exit from Afghanistan
President Joe Biden defended his administration's rushed exit from Afghanistan, despite Afghans dying in the chaos at and around Kabul's international airport.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
What an Afghan News Outlet’s Early Encounters With the Taliban Tell Us About the Country’s Future
Media executive Saad Mohseni on what the Taliban’s first moves after taking power could mean for the media, women and young Afghans accustomed to basic freedoms.
www.politico.com
US cannot ensure safe passage to Kabul airport, embassy says | CNN Politics
As reports of harassment and beatings at Taliban checkpoints continued to surface Wednesday, the US Embassy in Kabul warned it could not ensure safe passage for Americans to the airport to escape Afghanistan, despite the Pentagon underscoring alleged Taliban assurances that it will ensure safe...
www.cnn.com
Judge throws out Trump-era approvals for Alaska oil project
Ruling calls federal reports flawed and says plan didn't do enough to prevent further harm to polar bears and their habitat.
www.nbcnews.com
IMF denies Taliban access to millions in Afghanistan funding
The International Monetary Fund had designated $450 million for Afghanistan to be released next week.
www.cbsnews.com
Witnesses grouse about Garland's handling of Durham inquiry: Report
Witnesses are getting antsy with special counsel John Durham's criminal inquiry into the opening and conduct of the Russia investigation.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Biden says as many as 15,000 Americans looking to flee Afghanistan
As many as 15,000 American citizens may remain inside Afghanistan, struggling to get out, days after the Asian nation fell to control of Taliban terrorists, President Biden said Wednesday.
Son of late anti-Taliban militia commander promises armed resistance: 'We knew this day might come'
The son of a powerful Afghan resistance commander who once fought against the Taliban declared he is "ready to follow" in his father's footsteps and take up arms against the Islamist military organization now in control of his homeland.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Fraud, waste and abuse in Afghanistan: Inspector general reflects on US failures
The fall of the Afghan government is depressing, says John Sopko, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) .
www.usatoday.com
Nominee would be 1st Native American to head national parks
President Joe Biden has nominated Oregon resident and tribal citizen Charles F. “Chuck” Sams III to head the National Park Service.
apnews.com
Appeals court upholds Texas law to ban abortion procedure
The law in question, which affects the method known as dilation and evacuation, had never been enforced.
www.nbcnews.com
Journalist sues Congress for Jan. 6 surveillance footage, other records
A freelance journalist is suing Congress for footage and other records pertaining to the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, challenging the legislative branch’s lack of legal transparency requirements.Sh…
thehill.com
First polls show mixed picture on Rubio-Demings race
A pair of polls out of Florida paint a mixed picture of the state’s closely watched Senate race, suggesting an unpredictable contest in one of the nation’s most unpredictable battlegrounds. On…
thehill.com
Pentagon offers service members mental health resources as U.S. exits Afghanistan
"These are difficult days for those who lost loved ones in Afghanistan and those who carry the wounds of war," Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Wednesday.
www.cbsnews.com
Texas Supreme Court says quorum-breaking Democrats can be arrested. Will they?
The Texas Supreme Court has ruled Democratic state legislators can be arrested and compelled to return to the state House to force consideration of voting legislation they previously tried to block.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Chief in charge of intel before Capitol riot returns to post
Yogananda Pittman, who was the top Capitol Police intelligence official when thousands of pro-Trump rioters descended in January and who served as the agency’s acting chief, is back in charge of intelligence.
apnews.com
Biden promised allies 'America is back.' Chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal is making them fear it's still 'America First.' | CNN Politics
Visiting Brussels earlier this summer, President Joe Biden was single-minded in his message to American allies.
www.cnn.com
Fed officials signal move toward tapering bond purchases
Federal Reserve officials are moving toward reducing the pace of the central bank’s monthly purchases of Treasury and mortgage bonds by the end of the year, according to minutes released Wednesday …
thehill.com
Kushner pal hit with state charges months after Trump pardon
A newspaper editor friend of former President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner was hit Wednesday with state cyberstalking charges in New York, seven months after Trump pardoned him in a similar federal case just before leaving office
Biden says U.S. forces could stay in Afghanistan past August 31 to get all Americans out
President Biden sat down with ABC's George Stephanopoulos for his first interview since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.
www.cbsnews.com
Afghanistan updates: Biden says troops could remain in Afghanistan beyond Aug. 31 deadline
U.S. troops will stay in Afghanistan past August, if necessary, to ensure all Americans are evacuated, President Joe Biden said Wednesday.
www.usatoday.com
Tensions high, Biden invites Israel's new PM to Washington
The White House says Israel's new prime minister is coming to Washington next week, with Iran and Israel's relationship with the Palestinians on the agenda.
apnews.com
Darkness, sadness in Kabul as Taliban go public: Reporter’s Notebook
After taking back control, the Taliban wants you to believe they've changed.
Wildfires rage across Europe
A look at some of the fires spreading across Europe - and the rest of the globe.
www.bbc.com
US military equipment left in Afghanistan needs full accounting, GOP senators say
A group of GOP senators called Wednesday for a full accounting of U.S. military equipment that may have fallen into the hands of Taliban militants during the ongoing chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan.
At least 47 dead in Burkina Faso attack by suspected Islamist militants
At least 47 people were killed in an ambush attack in Burkina Faso on Wednesday by suspected Islamist militants, the latest incident amid ongoing violence that has increasingly gripped Africa’s Sah…
thehill.comArizona county seeks reimbursement for new voting machines
Arizona’s largest county is demanding the state Senate pay $2.8 million to cover the costs of replacing vote-counting machines that the state’s top election official says can't be used again because of their handling during the Senate Republicans’ 2020 election review.
apnews.com
The Taliban Destroyed An Enemy's Statue. It Adds Doubt Over The Claims Of Moderation
The insurgents' every action is being watched closely. They insist they have changed and won't impose the same restrictions they did when they last ruled, but many remain skeptical.
www.npr.org
Haiti faces multiple crises following deadly 7.2 magnitude earthquake
Following a 7.2 magnitude earthquake on Saturday, Haiti's death toll keeps rising as the country faces multiple crises.
Biden admin to ban pesticide tied to children's health problems, reversing Trump-era decision | CNN Politics
The Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday it’s banning chlorpyrifos, reversing a Trump-era decision not to ban the controversial chemical.
www.cnn.com
'Not normal': Big flow of U.S. arms to Mexico 'can't be denied,' author says
Gun manufacturers "have to take responsibility and see why their products are getting into the hands of the cartels," said Ioan Grillo, whose research was cited in a related lawsuit.
www.nbcnews.comFaulconer hits GOP rival Elder as California recall heats up
Former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer has changed tactics in his campaign for California governor, criticizing fellow Republican Larry Elder, the conservative radio host who has emerged as a GOP front-runner in the recall election that could remove Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom. In an odd...
Facebook Reveals Most Viewed Posts To Rebut Claims It's Rife With Disinformation
The social network is pushing back against claims its platform is dominated by inflammatory, highly partisan right-wing accounts.
www.npr.org
Attorney: FBI probing allegations tied to Texans quarterback
An attorney for 22 women who have filed lawsuits accusing Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson of sexual assault and harassment says he and some of his clients have spoken to the FBI about the case
Trump family friend, associate Ken Kurson re-arrested on cyber-stalking charges
Seven months after he was granted a pardon by then-President Trump, Ken Kurson, a friend of Trump's son-in-law, was arrested Wednesday on new charges.
US Capitol rioter sentencing delayed after online sleuths uncover new footage of alleged police assault | CNN Politics
The sentencing for one of the January 6 US Capitol rioters was abruptly postponed Wednesday after new videos emerged of the man allegedly fighting with police, an unexpected twist in the case because prosecutors hadn’t previously accused him of committing violence that day.
www.cnn.com
Colorado's Boebert discloses husband's work for energy firm
Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert has disclosed that her husband worked as consultant for a energy firm during her run for Congress last year.
apnews.com
Defense Secretary says military will "get as many people out" of Afghanistan "in the time available"
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley said neither he nor anyone else saw any sign that Afghan forces would collapse in 11 days.
www.cbsnews.com
US friends try to rescue brother in arms in Afghanistan
American friends of a high-profile national police officer in Afghanistan are trying to help him and his family escape almost certain death at the hands of the Taliban.
apnews.com
An Afghan family's harrowing account of getting to Kabul's airport
On his third attempt to evacuate, "Khan" made it out of Kabul on Wednesday and detailed the troubles of getting his family to the airport as Taliban patrol the streets.
New satellite images show Russia may be preparing to test nuclear powered 'Skyfall' missile | CNN Politics
New satellite images obtained by CNN show Russia may be preparing another test of its nuclear-powered cruise missile, known as “Skyfall”– a controversial weapon that is designed to defeat US defense systems.
www.cnn.com
Journalist Joe Galloway, chronicler of Vietnam War, dies
American foreign correspondent Joseph L. Galloway, best known for his book recounting a pivotal battle in the Vietnam War, has died. He was 79.
apnews.com
North Carolina poised to raise minimum marriage age from 14 to 16 | CNN Politics
North Carolina is one step away from raising the minimum age at which children in the state can wed from 14 to 16 after lawmakers there approved a measure that would change several key rules around child marriages in the state.
www.cnn.com
Baseball announcer Jack Morris suspended indefinitely for racist remark about Shohei Ohtani
"We have a zero-tolerance policy for bias or discrimination and deeply apologize for his insensitive remark," Bally Sports Detroit said in a statement.
www.nbcnews.com
The Taliban are sitting on $1 trillion worth of minerals the world desperately needs | CNN Business
The swift fall of Afghanistan to Taliban fighters has triggered a humanitarian crisis, with thousands trying to flee the country. It’s also brought renewed focus on Afghanistan’s vast untapped mineral wealth, resources that could transform its economic prospects if ever developed.
www.cnn.com
"This case is about a predator:" R. Kelly's racketeering trial begins in New York
The first of the disgraced R&B singer's accusers testified against him Wednesday following opening statements in the high-profile trial.
www.cbsnews.com
More than 30 unaccounted for in North Carolina after flooding from Fred
Unconfirmed tornados spawned by Fred already caused damage in places in Georgia and North Carolina.
www.nbcnews.com
How Haitian organizations are leading their own relief efforts
The earthquake in Haiti has revived anger over the aid response to the country’s 2010 disaster. Here’s how Haitian residents are leading recovery efforts now.
www.nbcnews.com
Satellite video shows the "explosive growth" of the Caldor Fire in California
The blaze, which is zero percent contained, tripled in size over the past 24 hours and threatens more than 5,800 homes, officials said.
www.cbsnews.com
Lower pay, less visibility: Employers have ways to get you back to the office
Two-thirds of managers said employees who work remotely are easier to replace than people who show up at the office every day.
www.nbcnews.com
North Carolina legislature passes bill eliminating pistol permit system
The North Carolina state Senate on Wednesday voted to approve legislation that would allow residents to bypass the longstanding requirement to obtain a permit from the local sheriff in order to pur…
thehill.com
Taliban keep low key presence on streets of Kabul | CNN
Little by little, life appears to be creeping back to normal in Kabul, even though no one seems to know quite what this new normal – a life under the Taliban – will look like once the dust settles and the last US troops leave the country.
www.cnn.com
Vietnamese American refugees who witnessed fall of Saigon urge U.S. to accept more Afghans
Witnessing the strife of Afghans is “heart-wrenching for families who escaped Saigon,” one community advocate said. “We know the desperation, the loss of homeland and fear and panic they must be feeling.”
www.nbcnews.comWhat Louisiana ambulance workers are seeing as COVID surges
David Begnaud spent three days riding along with ambulance crews in Louisiana. He found overwhelmed workers and patients who wished they'd gotten vaccinated.
Federal courts impose new COVID-19 restrictions amid surge
A surge of COVID-19 cases is prompting federal courts to impose new restrictions and requirements for mask-wearing and vaccinations.
apnews.com
Gulf Coast's beloved 'Redneck Riviera' now a virus hotspot
The U.S. Gulf Coast is glowing like a bad sunburn on maps that show COVID-19 trouble spots in red. Alabama's coastal counties lead the state in new cases, and some events have been canceled in Florida and Louisiana because of the latest surge.
apnews.com
Parents pull kids from schools as district bucks CDC guidance and board member spreads misinformation | CNN
It’s the third week of school in Cobb County, Georgia, and many parents are livid with the district’s lax Covid-19 protocols and dangerous misinformation being disseminated by a school board member via his official email account.
www.cnn.com
Texas faces tipping point as COVID-19 spreads
Texas is facing a tipping point in the state’s battle with COVID-19.Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R), who is fully vaccinated, tested positive for COVID-19 this week as deaths in his state from the coron…
thehill.com
Where’s the data on delta? Lack of testing, info makes it hard to see virus’s full scope
The CDC announced the creation of a disease forecasting center to assess emerging health threats and help guide public health decisions.
www.nbcnews.com
Sens. Wicker, King, Hickenlooper test positive for Covid-19 after vaccination
All three senators reported mild symptoms and said they were isolating after their positive tests.
www.politico.com
Sens. Hickenlooper, Wicker and King test positive for Covid after being fully vaccinated
Sens. John Hickenlooper, Roger Wicker and Angus King, who are both vaccinated for the coronavirus, tested positive for Covid on Thursday.
CDC director: Annual COVID-19 dose after booster not anticipated
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky on Thursday said that while the CDC is recommending booster COVID-19 shots, annual shots going forward may not be necessary.…
thehill.comBiden takes a harder line in COVID response
President Biden signaled Wednesday he's leaning into a heavier-handed approach to the COVID response.Driving the news: In addition to announcing plans for boosters for the general population, Biden unveiled plans to require staff vaccinations at nursing homes. He also stepped up his fight with...
War over masks deepens in U.S. South where COVID-19 cases are highest
Florida's largest school district on Wednesday imposed a mask mandate in defiance of the state's governor, the latest chapter in the coronavirus political battle in the southern United States where new infections are highest.
www.reuters.com
Iowa governor fires back at Biden's threat over mask mandate prohibition: 'I'm doing my job.'
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds described the Biden administration's efforts to allow mask requirements as "a disservice."
www.usatoday.com
Record delta wave hits kids, raises fear as US schools open
Just as school doors are reopening across the U.S., children are filling hospital beds instead of classrooms in record numbers, sick with COVID-19
West Africa healthcare strained by Ebola, COVID outbreaks: WHO
UN health agency says West Africa faces complex challenge of multiple outbreaks that could strain healthcare systems.
As U.S. promotes booster shots against Covid, moral questions arise over vaccine equity
"We're planning to hand out extra life jackets to people who already have life jackets, while we're leaving other people to drown without a single life jacket," a WHO official said.
www.nbcnews.com
Alabama Hospitals Have Run Out Of ICU Beds As COVID-19 Cases Surge
There are 29 more patients than there are open ICU beds as of Wednesday. The recent run, reminiscent of early in the pandemic, is occurring largely in states with the lowest vaccination rates.
www.npr.org
Study: Fully vaccinated people with "breakthrough" COVID Delta infections carry as much virus as the unvaccinated
Oxford research indicates people who catch the Delta variant despite vaccination may pose a significant infection risk, even though they're unlikely to get seriously ill.
www.cbsnews.com
GOP governors embrace Covid cocktails over masks as cases surge
The push to medicate rankles public health officials and some within the Biden administration, who say the governors' stance misleadingly implies Covid-19 can be treated easily.
www.politico.com
Missouri lawmaker's husband, who was not vaccinated, dies of Covid
Republican state Rep. Sara Walsh said previously that she and her husband did not get the vaccine because it has not been fully approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
www.nbcnews.com
A Texas school superintendent speaks out after parents accosted 2 teachers over masks | CNN
A school superintendent in Texas is speaking out after a teacher was physically assaulted and another harassed in incidents involving masks.
www.cnn.com
Florida couple arrested after traveling to Hawaii with fake Covid vaccination cards, officials say
Enzo and Daniela Dalmazzo allegedly had fake cards for themselves and their two children, who are not yet eligible to receive the vaccine.
www.nbcnews.com
What is being done to distribute COVID-19 vaccines globally?
Several groups are working to get COVID-19 vaccines to poor countries, but the efforts are falling short of what’s needed to curb outbreaks globally.
apnews.com
Over 20,000 Mississippi students under quarantine after 1st week of school
More than 20,000 students across Mississippi are in quarantine after the first week of in-person classes.
GOP Gov. Baker orders vaccine mandate for Massachusetts executive department workers
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (R) issued an executive order Thursday that requires executive department employees to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination on or by Oct. 17. Why it matters: Baker's order comes as other Republican governors push back on vaccine and masks mandates. Get market...
Dolly Parton on helping fund vaccine development: ‘I knew something bad was on the rise’
Dolly Parton in an interview this week recalled what drove her to take action in the development of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine.”I knew something bad was on the rise and I…
thehill.com
Puerto Rico orders businesses to require proof of vaccination
Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro Pierluisi (D) on Thursday ordered a series of businesses to require proof of COVID-19 vaccination for their employees and patrons amid rising cases in the U.S. territory.Unde…
thehill.com
FBI joins criminal probe in Colorado voting equipment breach
Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold alerted federal cyber security officials within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security of the suspected May breach.
www.cbsnews.com
Teachers In Washington State Must Get Fully Vaccinated — Or They Could Be Fired
The mandate, effective Oct. 18, applies to all K-12 teachers and staff in the state. The news comes as states around the country grapple with rising cases and the return of in-person schooling.
www.npr.org
Sonny Chiba, 'Kill Bill' actor, dies at 82 of Covid complications
The Japanese actor and martial arts legend had starring roles in American films like “Kill Bill” and “The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift.”
www.nbcnews.com
Carrie Underwood faces backlash after liking anti-mask tweet
Country music star Carrie Underwood came under fire Wednesday after she liked a tweet in which a conservative podcaster spoke out against school mask mandates.The tweet, shared by Matt Walsh, conta…
thehill.com
If you live in a state with a low vaccination rate, you're 4 times more likely to be hospitalized and more than 5 times more likely to die | CNN
A vast majority of US residents live in an area with high Covid-19 transmission, but hospitalization and death rates are significantly higher in states with the lowest vaccination rates.
www.cnn.com
Nicole Kidman gets quarantine exemption by Hong Kong to film TV series
Exemption contrasts sharply with entry rules for residents that are some of the most stringent coronavirus requirements globally.
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.
White House decision over Johnson & Johnson's booster shots will likely take weeks
Both the drug maker and an NIH trial could have results for recipients of the single-shot vaccine soon.
www.cbsnews.com
EXPLAINER: What do we know about booster shots for COVID-19?
U.S. health officials plan to offer COVID-19 booster shots to vaccinated Americans to shore up their protection amid the surging delta variant and evidence that the vaccines’ effectiveness is declining.
apnews.com
Tampa-area school district imposes mask mandate after 10K students forced to isolate
A Tampa-area school district, the eighth largest in the U.S., voted on Wednesday to issue a mask mandate after more than 10,000 students and staff members were forced into quarantine or isolat…
thehill.com
Over 20,000 Mississippi students in Covid quarantine after first week of school
A grieving aunt whose teen niece died from Covid-19 in Mississippi said: "I found out Friday it was a positive test. And then on Saturday, she passed."
www.nbcnews.com
Biden to require COVID vaccines for nursing home staff
The Biden administration will require that nursing home staff are vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition for those facilities to continue receiving federal Medicare and Medicaid funding.
apnews.com
COVID infections during pregnancy linked to higher risks
A new study found pregnant women infected with COVID-19 are at a significantly higher risk for pre-term births.
www.cbsnews.com
With no beds, hospitals ship patients to far-off cities
Many overwhelmed hospitals, with no beds to offer, are putting critically ill COVID-19 patients on planes, helicopters and ambulances and sending them hundreds of miles to far-flung states for treatment.The delta variant of the virus, combined with low vaccination rates in many states, is causing a
apnews.comBiden criticizes GOP governors over opposition to school mask mandates
"Some politicians are trying to turn public safety measures — that is, children wearing masks in school — into political disputes for their own political gain,” President Biden said in a White House address on Wednesday.
In Florida, Texas And Arizona, Defiant School Leaders Are Sticking With Mask Mandates
A legal tug of war is playing out in Texas, while Florida districts that enforce mask mandates could risk a state investigation and lost funding. Here's where the school masking battles stand.
www.npr.org
The U.S. plans to offer booster shots next month. Some health experts are wary.
Officials said data showing decline in vaccines' protection against the Delta variant prompted the decision.
www.politico.com
Why A Push For Boosters Could Make The Pandemic Even Worse
Public health figures believe a focus on boosters for the already vaccinated will hasten the emergence of new variants among the billions of unvaccinated people — including a vaccine-resistant strain.
www.npr.orgAs U.S. promotes booster shots against Covid, moral questions arise over vaccine equity
"We're planning to hand out extra life jackets to people who already have life jackets, while we're leaving other people to drown without a single life jacket," a WHO official said.
www.nbcnews.com
'We're going to do both': White House argues it can offer booster shots to Americans while sharing vaccines globally | CNN Politics
White House officials on Wednesday insisted the US could begin offering Covid-19 booster shots to fully vaccinated Americans in the fall while also continuing its efforts to help vaccinate the rest of the world, stressing the importance of doing both simultaneously to end the global pandemic.
www.cnn.comBiden directs Education Department to discourage states from banning masks
The Biden administration will use the Department of Education's civil rights office to discourage states from banning mask mandates in schools, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona told the New York Times on Wednesday. Why it matters: Several states have prohibited mask requirements from being...
2 more Florida school districts defy DeSantis' order and vote for mask mandates
School boards in Hillsborough and Miami-Dade counties issued mask mandates Wednesday, a day after the state school board voted to penalize two other districts for similar orders.
www.nbcnews.com
Opinion | Why So Many Holdouts Still Won’t Get Vaxxed — And Why We Should Learn to Live With It
Vaccine resistance runs deeper and wider than the current Covid strain. Keep trying to convert the hesitant — but keep expectations in check.
www.politico.comPOLITICO Playbook PM: The Biden admin’s cold logic on boosters and Afghanistan
And the U.S. hits a vaccination milestone.
www.politico.com
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