The Hill Articles: August 17, 2021

Utah ‘eager’ to assist with resettling Afghan refugees: governor California utility shutting off power to 51K customers to prevent wildfires Pelosi presses moderate Democrats amid budget standoff Broadway star explains why she quit show that required COVID-19 vaccination Democrat on Biden’s claim some Afghans didn’t want to leave earlier: ‘Utter BS’ Feehery: Afghanistan is Biden’s Katrina Democratic activist Steven Olikara enters Wisconsin Senate race Abbott says he’s feeling well after positive COVID-19 test Why the child care crisis is a national security issue GOP senator rips Biden over Afghanistan: ‘The biggest terrorist victory since 9/11’ Florida officials vote to penalize 2 school districts over mask mandates Haiti death toll reaches nearly 2,000; over 1 million affected by earthquake New Mexico indoor mask mandate returns with new vaccine requirements Overnight Defense: US scrambles to get Americans out of Kabul After Kabul, China exploits perceptions of American weakness Spike in traffic to DC tunnel website caused operator to contact FBI before Jan. 6 Prosecutors call for Biden focus on criminal justice reform Menendez ‘disappointed’ in Biden administration over Afghanistan pullout On The Money: September unemployment cliff looms for 7 million Americans | Yellen pushes ‘fiscally responsible’ Biden agenda ahead of planned House vote California city threatened by approaching wildfire The Road to Zero-Emission Trucks: Fleets & Shippers Toxic fumes from chemical leak spurs face mask advisory — and skeptics Biden risks global backlash on COVID-19 booster shots Overnight Health Care: NIH director says Israeli data builds case for boosters | Biden walks fine line on vaccine mandates | Lawmakers ask FDA about timeline for vaccines for children US Chamber mandates vaccines for employees, visitors Biden administration set to extend mask mandate on public transit: report Hiker’s body recovered after nearly two years in North Cascade mountain range How licensing reform lost its way  Bezos’ Blue Origin sues NASA over award of lunar lander contract to Musk’s SpaceX Hillicon Valley: Facebook says it will keep ban on Taliban content | Rubio reiterates calls for Tik Tok ban after China’s reported ownership stake | Pharmacist sold COVID-19 vaccination cards online, prosecutors allege Uganda, Balkan nations to take Afghan refugees after US request Overnight Energy: US communities say dire predictions in UN climate report already unfolding University of South Carolina allowed to implement mask mandate: court Meeks invites Blinken, Austin to testify about situation in Afghanistan Biden faces increasing questions from lawmakers on messy Afghan exit Biden, UK’s Boris Johnson hold call on situation in Afghanistan PFAS are vital to enabling our lives in the 21st century Union says Biden mask rules ‘not enough’ to protect workers The Hill’s Sustainability Report: Coronavirus could keep developing nations from key climate talks FBI assisting in investigation of QAnon-Colorado video Abbott tests positive for COVID-19 breakthrough infection Majority of American voters want Congress to work collaboratively: poll McCarthy, Ducey speak at Pence fundraiser: report Florida official asks Gov DeSantis to declare state of emergency New bipartisan legislation can encourage needed antibiotic development Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and husband are now parents Houston-area officials offering $100 rewards for getting first vaccination dose Arizona’s new early voting restrictions hit with lawsuit Rubio reiterates calls for Tik Tok ban after China’s reported ownership stake Morgan Stanley tells staff they must provide proof of vaccination Over 100 lawmakers ask FDA about timeline for vaccines for children Chris Cuomo’s revisionist history National security expert: Blaming American public for Afghanistan collapse is ‘the definition of insanity’ 9 in 10 Democrats support masking in schools: poll Chinese warships, fighter jets conduct drills near Taiwan Biden to extend mask mandate for travelers until January One of the biggest Texas counties now offering $100 to residents who get vaccinated US agencies purge websites of content that could endanger Afghans Firefighters have to blast 40 times more water at burning Tesla than other cars Minnesota GOP chair asks party leaders for vote of confidence Alabama doctor tells his unvaccinated patients he won’t see them any more Psychology and climate change: Reframing our thinking while we still have time to act 5,000 students isolate or quarantine because of Florida COVID-19 spike What America’s Thinking: August 17, 2021 US commander vows ‘overwhelming force’ if Taliban interfere with evacuation Watchdog: Iran accelerating uranium enrichment to near weapons-level NFL player Jay Cutler loses UberEats ad due to anti-masking views Psaki dismisses Axelrod’s criticism of Biden on Afghanistan Weil doesn’t deserve a second chance on American labor Nevada governor says events requiring vaccinations don’t need masks Grim intelligence assessments did not match Biden’s assurances on Afghanistan: report Moderna vaccine approved for 12- to 17-year-olds in UK Music star Lizzo breaks down over racist and fat-shaming slurs Powell: Delta variant’s impact on economy ‘not yet clear’ Family of man fatally shot by Kyle Rittenhouse sues Kenosha Biden officials defend chaotic Afghanistan exit Texas adding five mortuary trailers as COVID-19 cases rise Don’t expect Supreme Court to do the right thing on voting rights Prince Andrew a ‘person of interest’ in Epstein probe: report How a Yale doctor is using a video game to fight the opioid epidemic White House adviser says his ‘heart goes out to Afghan women and girls’ School districts impose mask mandates, defying GOP governors These are the 10 longest living animals on Earth — and two might be ‘immortal’ Atlanta Falcons first NFL team to reach 100 percent vaccinations Biden yet to speak with world leaders after fall of Kabul FEC watchdog raises concerns about foreign money in US politics Master Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop with this $40 training bundle New census data pose challenges for Republicans and Democrats Three Alaskan volcanoes have been erupting simultaneously for two weeks Paratrooper found dead at Fort Bragg Facebook says it will keep ban on Taliban content Arizona governor issues order banning cities, counties from enacting vaccine mandates Biden administration freezes Afghan government reserves in US banks: report House Democrats introduce John Lewis voting rights bill CNN’s Toobin hit with backlash for column arguing against prosecuting Trump US will not be harmed from Afghan soil, Taliban spokesman says Firefighters find bear cub whose mom may have died in California wildfire California GOP recall candidate ends bid after heart attack OAN loses appeal in defamation lawsuit against Rachel Maddow Democrats play game of chicken over Biden agenda Visitor leaps in to rescue alligator handler under attack A quick reaction force in India could prevent the worst of Taliban rule in Afghanistan Biden admin to internationally ship first of pledged 500M Pfizer doses Fascinating, preserved human remains uncovered in Pompeii Pete and Chasten Buttigieg announce they’re going to be parents Unvaccinated California Assembly employees risk losing jobs, speaker says School bus driver shortage causes districts to pay parents to drive their own children Biden administration set to recommend booster shots Human remains found in wheel well of US military plane swarmed on tarmac in Kabul LA councilman calls on colleagues to prohibit tents near schools Is the eviction moratorium legal? US reconstruction mission in Afghanistan ‘marked by too many failures,’ watchdog says House Democrat on Afghanistan pullout: ‘This is a catastrophe’ Can the new infrastructure plan help fix climate change and save you money? Woman says she was ‘terrified’ during night with Dodgers’ Trevor Bauer The imminent danger for Afghanistan’s women and minorities Biden administration says solar power could jump from 3 percent to 40 percent of US power by 2035 92 percent of LGBTQ+ adults in US have had at least one vaccine shot Malala Yousafzai: Biden must take ‘bold step’ to protect Afghans The Hill’s 12:30 Report — Presented by AT&T — A World in Crisis Return to Trump: Federal judge orders Biden to return border policy to way it was Germany halts development aid to Afghanistan amid Taliban takeover Time to get serious about uncovering the pandemic’s origins McMaster: Rapid Taliban takeover ‘should not have come as a surprise’ Pentagon aims to ramp up evacuation flights after Kabul airport chaos Five states set COVID-19 records After the fall of Kabul, will there be more Islamist revolutions? Lawsuit challenges California recall process ahead of September election Yellen pushes ‘fiscally responsible’ Biden agenda ahead of planned House vote Taliban leader arrives in Afghanistan Teammate of soccer star Megan Rapinoe accuses her of ‘bullying’ team into kneeling for anthem Brett Favre: Kids shouldn’t play tackle football until they are 14 Pharmacist sold COVID-19 vaccination cards online, prosecutors allege Trump’s deal with the Taliban set the stage for the Afghan collapse Poppy Harlow taking hiatus from CNN Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala, who was shot by the Taliban, calls for protection of women and children Maryland, Virginia say they stand ‘ready and willing’ to take in more Afghan refugees School board member says ‘mad king’ DeSantis has caused ‘panic’ and ‘chaos’ in district Tropical Storm Fred whips Florida with slashing rain, high winds San Diego officials recommend companies require employees to be vaccinated Naomi Osaka leaves press conference after question about relationship with media Ex-ambassador to Afghanistan: ‘I’m left with some grave questions’ about Biden’s ability to lead Solar could provide 40 percent of US power generation by 2035, Biden administration says Bear surprises man in dumpster, man files lawsuit Watch live: Psaki, Sullivan to brief press on Afghanistan Biden’s foreign policy fiascos demand immediate changes WHO warns Afghanistan’s collapse could worsen coronavirus crisis Mike Lee holds commanding lead over GOP challengers in new Utah poll NATO chief blames Afghan leaders for country’s collapse Music icon Bob Dylan accused of sexually abusing underage girl more than 50 years ago Spirit Airlines lost $50M due to canceled flights Dating in a changing America Rising: August 17, 2021 San Francisco reopening mass COVID-19 testing site Underwater volcano erupts, creates new island Female Afghan mayor says she’s waiting for Taliban to kill her Over 700 evacuated by US from Afghanistan in past 24 hours Muzzle mailed to fired Tennessee vaccine chief bought with her credit card: report Wisconsin Republicans seek to intervene in Democrats’ redistricting case California utility says preemptive power shutoffs likely amid wildfire fears After abandoning Afghanistan, Biden urgently needs clarity on Taiwan CBS selling Black Rock headquarters in NY for $760M Adam Laxalt jumps into Nevada Senate race Petraeus shoots down Biden’s claim Afghan army wouldn’t fight Zoo visitors rescue alligator handler after attack Moderation no virtue in voting rights fight ​​Save more than $100 on this 3-in-1 wireless charging station NIH director says Israeli data builds case for COVID-19 boosters Shifting the blame: How the Pentagon lost Afghanistan Macron calls for EU migration plan as Afghans flee Taliban control Anti-abortion group targets Democrats ahead of 2022 July was so hot it convinced Republicans climate change is real — but they’re still getting it wrong Retail sales fell 1.1 percent in July, far deeper than expected New Zealand locking down after discovery of single virus case Gorbachev says US, NATO had no chance of success in Afghanistan Percentage of Americans who have tried marijuana rises to new high: Gallup The Fed’s risky quest for maximum employment Support for US withdrawal from Afghanistan tumbles in new poll The fastest shrinking city in America Taliban declare ‘amnesty,’ call on women to join government Raiders requiring fans to be vaccinated in first for NFL team Haiti earthquake death toll rises as tropical depression hits Ilhan Omar would give money to all Americans — but who pays for it? George W Bush says he feels ‘deep sadness’ watching ‘tragic events’ in Afghanistan Chris Cuomo addresses brother Andrew Cuomo: ‘I tried to do the right thing’ Press: Afghanistan was wrong from start to finish Evacuation flights resume at Kabul airport The US botched its Afghanistan withdrawal but can take 3 pragmatic steps forward National Park Service mandates masks in buildings, crowded public spaces Biden authorizes $500M more for Afghan refugee relocation ‘Shock and awe,’ Taliban style The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by AT&T – Biden defends Afghanistan exit; Taliban talk ‘amnesty’ US communities say dire predictions in UN climate report already unfolding September unemployment cliff looms for 7 million Americans Biden walks fine line on vaccine mandates The Memo: Biden gambles he can plow through Afghan crisis Afghanistan’s fall renews terrorism fears for US CDC action heats up debate over vaccine boosters Progressives eye shift in strategy after high-profile losses Bottom line