Top Items:
New York Times:
Intelligence Warned of Afghan Military Collapse, Despite Biden's Assurances — Even as the president was telling the public that Kabul was unlikely to fall, intelligence assessments painted a grimmer picture. — WASHINGTON — Classified assessments by American spy agencies over the summer painted …
Discussion:
HuffPost, HotAir, Washington Post, New York Post, Crooks and Liars, National Review, The Colorado Sun, NaturalNews.com and Bipartisan Report
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Chris Kahn / Reuters:
Biden approval drops to lowest of 7-month presidency after Taliban takeover — President Joe Biden's approval rating dropped by 7 percentage points and hit its lowest level so far as the U.S.-backed Afghan government collapsed over the weekend in an upheaval that sent thousands of civilians …
Discussion:
Washington Free Beacon
Jim Langevin / Foreign Policy:
I'm a Democrat Who Opposed the Withdrawal. This Catastrophe Is Why. — At minimum, Biden owed our allies in Afghanistan a plan. — During a hearing of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee about Afghanistan in May, I asked a senior Defense Department official if the U.S. military …
Discussion:
Politico, Townhall, The Hill, National Review and Raw Story
Jeff Stein / Washington Post:
Biden administration freezes billions of dollars in Afghan reserves, depriving Taliban of cash — The move comes as the White House has scrambled to redraw its Afghanistan policies — The Biden administration on Sunday froze Afghan government reserves held in U.S. bank accounts …
Discussion:
Politico and National Review
Washington Post:
Taliban strikes conciliatory tone, consolidates power as de facto leader returns to country … At a wide-ranging news conference in Kabul on Tuesday, Taliban leaders in Afghanistan offered conciliatory messages, met with skepticism by experts, promising not to discriminate against women …
Discussion:
Associated Press, Raw Story, Bloomberg, Reuters and The Daily Beast
CNN:
The Taliban knocked on her door 3 times. The fourth time, they killed her — (CNN)Najia was at home with her three young sons and daughter in a small village in northern Afghanistan when Taliban fighters knocked on their door. — Najia's daughter Manizha, 25, knew they were coming …
Washington Post:
72 hours at Camp David: Inside Biden's lagging response to the fall of Afghanistan — Marine One lifted off Friday at 1:36 p.m. for Camp David bearing a leader headed on a long-planned August vacation: President Biden, clad in a black baseball cap and a light-blue short-sleeved shirt …
Discussion:
Washington Examiner, ABC News, Insider, Breitbart, The Western Journal, Politico, Twitchy, CNN, Vox, RedState, spectatorworld.com, Newsweek and The Gateway Pundit
Associated Press:
Taliban vow to honor women's rights but within Islamic law — KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A Taliban spokesman promised Tuesday that the insurgents who overran Afghanistan in recent days would respect women's rights and would not exact revenge, seeking to calm a wary population and skeptical world powers.
Discussion:
RedState, New Republic, National Review, ABC13, Raw Story, Associated Press, Snopes.com, The National Interest, Daily Kos, The Daily Caller, Political Wire, Insider and Fox News
Condoleezza Rice / Washington Post:
The Afghan people didn't choose the Taliban. They fought and died alongside us.
The Afghan people didn't choose the Taliban. They fought and died alongside us.
Discussion:
New York Times and emptywheel
Paul LeBlanc / CNN:
Ex-defense secretary: Trump's push to get US troops out of Afghanistan possibly ‘undermined’ deal with Taliban
Ex-defense secretary: Trump's push to get US troops out of Afghanistan possibly ‘undermined’ deal with Taliban
Discussion:
Salon, Fox News, RedState and The Bulwark
Hans Nichols / Axios:
Biden officials: Trump left bare cupboard on Afghanistan
Biden officials: Trump left bare cupboard on Afghanistan
Discussion:
Wall Street Journal, New York Times, CNN, Defense One, HotAir, New York Magazine, Wall Street Journal, Just Security, Salon, The Debate Link, Associated Press, Raw Story, Documented, Ace of Spades HQ, Breitbart, The Federalist, NaturalNews.com, Insider, Reuters, spectatorworld.com, Mediaite, Blue Virginia, pjmedia.com, Washington Examiner, The White House, Front Page Magazine, Washington Post, Townhall, The Hill, Bush Center, NPR, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, The Hill, Washington Post, The Bulwark, Washington Post, Washington Examiner, The New York Times Company, spectatorworld.com, USA Today, The Daily Beast, The Week, Newsweek, The Boston Globe, Defense One, Politico, Deseret News, Associated Press, Washingtonian, Politico, Washington Post and Washington Post
Reuters:
UNICEF ‘quite optimistic’ after Taliban comments on girls' education, official says
UNICEF ‘quite optimistic’ after Taliban comments on girls' education, official says
Discussion:
The Daily Caller and Common Dreams
Paul Farhi / Washington Post:
The Washington Post evacuates Afghan employees and family members from Taliban-held Kabul
The Washington Post evacuates Afghan employees and family members from Taliban-held Kabul
Discussion:
New York Times and Poynter, more at Mediagazer »
Allahpundit / HotAir:
Joementum: Two new polls show support for Afghanistan withdrawal nosediving
Joementum: Two new polls show support for Afghanistan withdrawal nosediving
Discussion:
Politico, Washington Free Beacon, Commentary Magazine, Insider, BizPac Review and The Western Journal
Dan Bilefsky / New York Times:
A Taliban official's TV interview with a female presenter is part of a broader campaign.
A Taliban official's TV interview with a female presenter is part of a broader campaign.
Discussion:
The Daily Beast, Insider and euronews
CNN:
Biden administration embroiled in internal blame-shifting amid Afghanistan chaos
Biden administration embroiled in internal blame-shifting amid Afghanistan chaos
Discussion:
Digby's Hullabaloo, Breitbart, HotAir, Ace of Spades HQ, TheBlaze, Washington Examiner, The Drive, Twitchy and The Western Journal
Jerry Dunleavy / Washington Examiner:
State's ‘rosy’ Afghanistan outlook at odds with grim intelligence before Taliban takeover
State's ‘rosy’ Afghanistan outlook at odds with grim intelligence before Taliban takeover
Discussion:
ABC News, Bloomberg and Washington Post
Luis Martinez / ABC News:
Human remains found in wheel well of C-17 military plane that departed from Kabul
Human remains found in wheel well of C-17 military plane that departed from Kabul
Discussion:
Politico, USA Today, Metro.co.uk, The Daily Caller and HotAir
Kevin Breuninger / CNBC:
Taliban pledged safe passage of civilians to Kabul airport, White House says
Taliban pledged safe passage of civilians to Kabul airport, White House says
Discussion:
Fox News, The Hill, Financial Times and Political Wire
Office of the Texas Governor:
Office Of The Governor Statement Concerning Governor Abbott — Office of the Governor Communications Director Mark Miner today issued a statement after Governor Greg Abbott tested positive for COVID-19: — “Governor Greg Abbott today tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.
Discussion:
HuffPost, VICE, The Hill, Insider, NPR, Washington Examiner, CNN, Forbes, UPI, Breitbart, National Review, The Daily Caller, TheBlaze and The Texas Tribune
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Patrick Svitek / The Texas Tribune:
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott tests positive for COVID-19 — He spoke Monday night at a GOP event in Collin County, later tweeting photos of him addressing a maskless crowd. Less than three hours before his diagnosis was announced Tuesday afternoon, he tweeted pictures of a meeting with guitarist Jimmie Vaughan.
Discussion:
BuzzFeed News, Politico, USA Today, RedState, TMZ.com, New York Post, The Gateway Pundit, The US Sun, Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Mediaite, ABC7, KVEO-TV and WNCT-TV
Felicia Sonmez / Washington Post:
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who has sought to ban mask mandates in schools, tests positive for the coronavirus — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has tested positive for the coronavirus, his office said Tuesday. — Abbott is among the Republican governors who have resisted public-health mandates aimed …
Discussion:
CBS News, Gizmodo, Metro.co.uk, Louder With Crowder, Raw Story, The US Sun, One America News Network and Daily Kos
Dartunorro Clark / NBC News:
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott tests positive for Covid after banning mask, vaccination mandates — Texas GOP Gov. Greg Abbott tested positive for Covid-19, a spokesman said in a statement on Tuesday. — “Governor Abbott is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, in good health, and currently experiencing no symptoms …
Dan Levin / New York Times:
Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas has tested positive for the coronavirus. — Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas tested positive for the coronavirus on Tuesday, though he has no symptoms, the governor's office announced. — An ardent opponent of mask and vaccine mandates, Mr. Abbott, a Republican …
Discussion:
Vanity Fair
Eric Griffey Texas / Spectrum News 1 South Texas:
Exclusive Spectrum News/Ipsos poll finds Texas parents want common-sense precautions against COVID in schools
Exclusive Spectrum News/Ipsos poll finds Texas parents want common-sense precautions against COVID in schools
Discussion:
ABC13, The Texas Tribune and Raw Story
Jonathan Chait / New York Magazine:
The House Suicide Squad's Nonsensical Reason to Kill Biden's Agenda Gottheimer claims the bridges can't wait a few weeks. — Nine House Democrats are refusing to support the budget plan containing Joe Biden's signature domestic agenda. The leader of the renegade caucus …
Discussion:
Politico
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Politico:
Pelosi loses patience with centrists on infrastructure deal
Pelosi loses patience with centrists on infrastructure deal
Discussion:
Bloomberg, Washington Examiner, Talking Points Memo, The Hill, NRCC, Fox News, Breitbart, CNN, Washington Free Beacon, Wall Street Journal, Democrats, Raw Story, Daily Kos, Crooks and Liars and NBC News
Emily Cochrane / New York Times:
House Democrats Plan to Press Ahead With Budget Blueprint Vote
House Democrats Plan to Press Ahead With Budget Blueprint Vote
Discussion:
Associated Press, Wall Street Journal, CNBC, NBC News and Roll Call
Harper's:
Bad News — In the beginning, there were ABC, NBC, and CBS, and they were good. Midcentury American man could come home after eight hours of work and turn on his television and know where he stood in relation to his wife, and his children, and his neighbors, and his town, and his country, and his world.
Discussion:
Kevin Drum, more at Mediagazer »
Seth Barrett Tillman / THE NEW REFORM CLUB:
What I Learned About the United States After Ten Years in Ireland — This is an anniversary, of sorts, for me. I have now lived in Ireland for ten years. They were ten good years. During that time, I made some friends and worked with colleagues, who later became friends, and befriended some students, who later befriended me.
Greg Sargent / Washington Post:
The latest GOP anti-mask lunacy is stirring a backlash. New polling reveals it. — The other day, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis likened mask and other health mandates to “medical authoritarianism.” The Republican added that we may be witnessing “the most significant threat to freedom in my lifetime …
Discussion:
Yahoo News, Raw Story, No More Mister Nice Blog, The American Independent, Forbes, The Daily Caller and Daily Kos
Molly Beck / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Sen. Andre Jacque of De Pere hospitalized after testing positive for COVID-19 — MADISON - One of the Legislature's most active lawmakers who has opposed mask and vaccine mandates has received hospital care after testing positive for COVID-19. — Sen. Andre Jacque, a Republican from De Pere …
Discussion:
Twin Cities and Raw Story
NBC4 Washington:
DC Tunnel History Site Flagged Suspicious Activity Before Capitol Insurrection — The founder and administrator of an obscure website about underground infrastructure in Washington, D.C., saw a sudden and suspicious spike in traffic in the days before the U.S. Capitol insurrection.
Discussion:
Raw Story
Tim Kelly / Reuters:
As Taliban takes over, some swap iconic AK-47s for made-in-America rifles — The Russian Kalashnikov AK-47 and its derivatives have long been the assault rifle of choice for militant groups because of their rugged design, but some Taliban fighters are trading them in for captured U.S. guns as Afghanistan's government collapses.
Discussion:
The Daily Caller
Adam Barnes / The Hill:
Teammate of soccer star Megan Rapinoe accuses her of ‘bullying’ team into kneeling for anthem — “I've seen Megan Rapinoe almost bully players into kneeling because she really wants to stand up for something in her particular way.” — Story at a glance — Former U.S. Women's National …
Discussion:
The Independent, The Western Journal, New York Post, TheBlaze, Insider, Newsbusters and The Wrap
Georgia Slater / People.com:
CNN's Abby Phillip Welcomes First Baby, Daughter Naomi Angelina, with Husband Marcus Richardson — Abby Phillip shared her pregnancy news to The Cut back in March — This just in: Abby Phillip is officially a mom! — The CNN anchor and senior political correspondent, 32 …
Ryan J. Reilly / HuffPost:
Instagram Posts Help FBI Nab Trump-Loving Romance Novel Model Who Beat Capitol Cops — The FBI has arrested Logan Barnhart, whom online sleuths dubbed “CatSweat,” with the help of the Sedition Hunters community. — When former President Donald Trump sent a tweet early this year promoting Jan. 6 as a …
Discussion:
The Daily Beast, Daily Kos, CNN, HuffPost UK, Bipartisan Report and Raw Story
The Intercept:
The Taliban Have Seized U.S. Military Biometrics Devices … The Taliban have seized U.S. military biometrics devices that could aid in the identification of Afghans who assisted coalition forces, current and former military officials have told The Intercept.
Amara Omeokwe / Wall Street Journal:
U.S. Retail Sales Fell 1.1% in July as Spending Fell Across Categories — Sales are well above pre-pandemic levels, but spending on goods retreated over the month — Spending at U.S. retailers fell sharply in July, amid cooling purchases of goods and signs of some pullback in consumer demand …
Discussion:
Kevin Drum
Wall Street Journal:
U.S. Halted Dollar Shipments to Afghanistan to Keep Cash Out of Taliban's Hands — U.S. officials are also blocking Taliban from Afghan government accounts managed by the Fed and U.S. banks — WASHINGTON—The Biden administration last week canceled bulk shipments of dollars headed …
Discussion:
New York Post, Townhall and Political Wire
Jamie Killin / Insider:
I'm a landlord with 24 properties. We're suffering during Biden's eviction ban, too, and no one is helping. — The Biden administration's eviction moratorium, which covers most US counties, lasts until Oct. 3. — Landlords like Julio Gonzalez, who owns 24 East Coast properties, are struggling to navigate costs.