In the ABC interview, Biden pushed back against criticism that there was poor planning for the evacuation and withdrawal, saying, "The idea that somehow, there’s a way to have gotten out without chaos ensuing, I don’t know how that happens." General Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke yesterday about how they didn't foresee the speed of the collapse of the Afghan military and government, saying, "There was nothing that I or anyone else saw that indicated a collapse of this army, and this government, in 11 days."
Meanwhile, former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, who fled the country on Sunday as the Taliban took over Kabul, said in a video statement from the United Arab Emirates that he left to avoid being killed by the Taliban and that he plans to return. Ghani also said he fled because he wanted to prevent violence and the destruction of the capital city. He denied, however, reports that he fled the country with many millions of dollars, saying he left, quote, "empty-handed," stating, "I left with one shirt, one pants, one vest and one sandals."
➤U.S. HEALTH OFFICIALS ANNOUNCE PLANS FOR COVID BOOSTER SHOTS: As had been expected, U.S. health officials announced plans yesterday to give Covid-19 vaccine booster shots to all Americans amid the surge driven by the delta variant and indications that the vaccines' effectiveness begins to wane after several months. The plan will be for people to get their booster eight months after they got their second shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. The extra shots could being the week of September 20th. People who got the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will also probably need a booster, according to health officials, but they are waiting for more data. World Health Organization scientists criticized the U.S. plans to give boosters, saying that poor countries aren't getting enough vaccine for their first shots. White House officials said the U.S. had donated 115 million doses to 80 countries, more than all other nations combined, and said the U.S. has enough vaccine for boosters.
Meanwhile the administration announced that nursing homes will be required to mandate that staffers be vaccinated in order to continue getting federal funds.
➤BIDEN TELLS EDUCATION SECRETARY TO LOOK AT POSSIBLE LEGAL ACTION AGAINST STATES BLOCKING SCHOOL MASK MANDATES: President Biden directed Education Secretary Miguel Cardona yesterday to look into possible legal action against states that have blocked school mask mandates and other public health measures meant to protect students against the coronavirus. That order came as some Republican governors, including notably in Florida and Texas, have banned school mask mandates and sometimes threatened consequences if school districts implement them anyway. The Education Department raised the possibility of using its civil rights division, saying on its website that banning mask mandates could amount to discrimination if it leads to unsafe conditions that prevent students from attending school.
➤TOILET PAPER AND WATER DISAPPEAR FROM COSTCO STORES AS DELTA VARIANT SPREADS: Costco shoppers took to Twitter recently to complain about toilet paper and water shortages, mirroring the start of the pandemic in the US in March 2020. Research shows stockpiling could return as the Delta variant sweeps through the nation. A study survey from Inmar Intelligence showed that 69.4% of the 1,000 adults surveyed would consider stockpiling items amidst the spread of the Delta variant. One customer from Nevada lamented, “Did we not learn from last year at all? I pulled up to Costco and they are out of toilet paper and water. These people never learn.” Another customer from California expressed this could be a “sign of the times to come.”
➤MORE PAST TROUBLING BEHAVIOR SURFACES FOR NEW JEOPARDY! HOST RICHARDS: Things haven't been going well for Mike Richards since it was announced earlier this month that the Jeopardy! executive producer would become the iconic TV game show's new host. His selection resurfaced a decade-old lawsuit from when he was the executive producer of The Price is Right by two models on the show alleging pregnancy discrimination, saying he made insensitive statements and took questionable actions after they became pregnant.
🏈ATTORNEY SAYS FBI INVOLVED IN SEX ASSAULT, HARASS PROBE OF TEXANS' WATSON: Tony Buzbee, an attorney for 22 women who have filed lawsuits accusing Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson of sexual assault and harassment, said yesterday that the FBI is involved in the probe. Buzbee said he and some of his clients have spoken to the FBI about the case, telling the Associated Press that the FBI, quote, "reached out to me, and I responded." Watson's attorney, Rusty Hardin, said yesterday that the FBI had spoken with the quarterback about allegations that one of his accusers was trying to extort him. The women accuse Watson of exposing himself, touching them with his penis or kissing them against their will during massage appointments. He denies the claims, saying that "sexual activity" during some of the appointments wasn't forced. Houston police and the NFL are both investigating.
⚾BASSITT OUT OF HOSPITAL, WILL NEED SURGERY AFTER BEING HIT BY LINE DRIVE: Oakland A's pitcher Chris Bassitt was out of the hospital yesterday after being hit in the head by a line drive the night before in a game against the Chicago White Sox. Bassitt has broken bones in his cheek that will need surgery to fix, but he didn't have any eye damage, a brain scan was normal, and he hasn't shown any signs of a concussion. He received some stitches for two cuts on his face. It's not yet known how long the 32-year-old will be out, but A's athletic trainer Nick Paparesta said six weeks is the usual healing time for his type of injury.
⚾BAUER'S ACCUSER QUESTIONED FOR THIRD DAY: The 27-year-old woman who's accused Trevor Bauer of assaulting her during two sexual encounters was questioned for a third day yesterday as she seeks a five-year restraining order against the L.A. Dodgers pitcher. Bauer's attorney again asked her about texts she'd sent to Bauer, including one that said, "gimme all the pain" and indicated she wanted to be choked. But she said yesterday, "To me, text messages do not mean consent. I did not consent to hurting all over my body and being put in the hospital and having things done to me when I was unconscious." Bauer's attorney also brought up texts she exchanged with her sponsor nearly two weeks after she went to the hospital after the second encounter and spoke to police. The sponsor texted, "pretty soon I'll be like HEY RICH B****," and the woman answered, "hopping in the god damn RANGE ROVER," and the sponsor answered, "You can make it rain daily." Bauer is expected to take the stand today, the last day of the hearing, but his attorneys told the judge he'll only state his name and that he's a Major League Baseball player and will invoke the Fifth Amendment if asked any more questions.
🏈NCAA INVESTIGATING NEBRASKA'S FOOTBALL PROGRAM: Nebraska said yesterday that the NCAA is investigating its football program, amid allegations that staff improperly used analysts and consultants with the knowledge of head coach Scott Frost and moved workouts off campus last year to avoid detection when they were banned due to the pandemic. Frost said any workouts were approved by "athletic department administration and campus administration."
EXCLUSIVE: Pressed on whether the U.S.'s exit from Afghanistan could have been handled better, Pres. Biden tells me, "The idea that somehow, there's a way to have gotten out without chaos ensuing—I don't know how that happens." https://t.co/j2MYMUJcdKpic.twitter.com/ua9T2q9wal
— GeorgeStephanopoulos (@GStephanopoulos) August 18, 2021
Meanwhile, former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, who fled the country on Sunday as the Taliban took over Kabul, said in a video statement from the United Arab Emirates that he left to avoid being killed by the Taliban and that he plans to return. Ghani also said he fled because he wanted to prevent violence and the destruction of the capital city. He denied, however, reports that he fled the country with many millions of dollars, saying he left, quote, "empty-handed," stating, "I left with one shirt, one pants, one vest and one sandals."
➤U.S. HEALTH OFFICIALS ANNOUNCE PLANS FOR COVID BOOSTER SHOTS: As had been expected, U.S. health officials announced plans yesterday to give Covid-19 vaccine booster shots to all Americans amid the surge driven by the delta variant and indications that the vaccines' effectiveness begins to wane after several months. The plan will be for people to get their booster eight months after they got their second shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. The extra shots could being the week of September 20th. People who got the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will also probably need a booster, according to health officials, but they are waiting for more data. World Health Organization scientists criticized the U.S. plans to give boosters, saying that poor countries aren't getting enough vaccine for their first shots. White House officials said the U.S. had donated 115 million doses to 80 countries, more than all other nations combined, and said the U.S. has enough vaccine for boosters.
The White House unveiled plans for Americans who received certain vaccines to get COVID-19 booster shots beginning this fall. https://t.co/l9sfl3CiL9 pic.twitter.com/qxJEB8RGQc
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) August 18, 2021
Meanwhile the administration announced that nursing homes will be required to mandate that staffers be vaccinated in order to continue getting federal funds.
➤BIDEN TELLS EDUCATION SECRETARY TO LOOK AT POSSIBLE LEGAL ACTION AGAINST STATES BLOCKING SCHOOL MASK MANDATES: President Biden directed Education Secretary Miguel Cardona yesterday to look into possible legal action against states that have blocked school mask mandates and other public health measures meant to protect students against the coronavirus. That order came as some Republican governors, including notably in Florida and Texas, have banned school mask mandates and sometimes threatened consequences if school districts implement them anyway. The Education Department raised the possibility of using its civil rights division, saying on its website that banning mask mandates could amount to discrimination if it leads to unsafe conditions that prevent students from attending school.
➤SCHOOL DISTRICT MAKES MASKS PART OF SCHOOL DRESS CODE: The Paris Independent School District in Texas has made face masks part of its school dress code, viewing it as loophole to get around Republican Governor Gregg Abbott's statewide ban on mask mandates.
Texas school board adds masks to dress code to get around Gov. Abbott's ban on mask mandates in schools https://t.co/4nsxkNqhDn
— CBS News (@CBSNews) August 18, 2021
The district in north Texas, which has about 4,000 students, said in a statement, "The Board believes the dress code can be used to mitigate communicable health issues. The Texas Governor does not have the authority to usurp the Board of Trustees’ exclusive power and duty to govern and oversee the management of the public schools of the district." The district is requiring masks for all employees and students. A spokeswoman for Abbott -- who is himself quarantining after testing positive for Covid-19 -- told the Washington Post, "There is no loophole. While a school district cannot mandate or prohibit masks, parents and guardians have the right to decide whether their child will wear a mask or not." Texas has been dealing with surging Covid infections and hospitalizations driven by the delta variant.
➤ADMIN. PROPOSES CHANGING ASYLUM CLAIMS SYSTEM TO REDUCE BACKLOG FROM BORDER: The administration yesterday proposed changing how asylum claims are handled, looking to reduce the huge backlog of cases of people claiming asylum at the southern border. That backlog has left people waiting for years to find out if they'll be allowed to stay in the U.S. Routine asylum cases would no longer be automatically referred to the inundated immigration court system under the proposal, but would instead be overseen by asylum officers from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Those backing the change believe it can better help those with legitimate asylum claims, while allowing people who don't qualify or who are taking advantage of the long delay to stay in the U.S. to be more quickly removed.
➤BIDEN INVITES NEW ISRAELI PM TO WASHINGTON NEXT WEEK: The White House said yesterday that President Biden had invited new Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett to come to Washington next week to discuss Iran and Israel’s relationship with the Palestinians. White House spokesman Jen Psaki said the August 26th meeting will, quote, "underscore the United States' unwavering commitment to Israel’s security."
➤ADMIN. PROPOSES CHANGING ASYLUM CLAIMS SYSTEM TO REDUCE BACKLOG FROM BORDER: The administration yesterday proposed changing how asylum claims are handled, looking to reduce the huge backlog of cases of people claiming asylum at the southern border. That backlog has left people waiting for years to find out if they'll be allowed to stay in the U.S. Routine asylum cases would no longer be automatically referred to the inundated immigration court system under the proposal, but would instead be overseen by asylum officers from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Those backing the change believe it can better help those with legitimate asylum claims, while allowing people who don't qualify or who are taking advantage of the long delay to stay in the U.S. to be more quickly removed.
➤BIDEN INVITES NEW ISRAELI PM TO WASHINGTON NEXT WEEK: The White House said yesterday that President Biden had invited new Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett to come to Washington next week to discuss Iran and Israel’s relationship with the Palestinians. White House spokesman Jen Psaki said the August 26th meeting will, quote, "underscore the United States' unwavering commitment to Israel’s security."
📱T-MOBILE SAYS DATA OF 40 MILLION PEOPLE EXPOSED IN BREACH: Two days after confirming that it had been affected by a data breach, T-Mobile exposed the large scope of it Wednesday (August 18th), saying the names, Social Security numbers and information from driver’s licenses or other ID of just over 40 million people who applied for T-Mobile credit were exposed. The same data for about 7.8 million current customers also appeared to have been compromised. T-Mobile said it will offer two years of free identity protection services to those affected. Vice had reported Sunday that T-Mobile had been the target of a data breach, saying the culprits were apparently trying to sell about one-third of the data taken online.
⏰RESEARCHERS FIND MEN HAVE BIOLOGICAL CLOCK TOO: British researchers have found that men appear to have a biological clock too, with their fertility waning as they get older. The study by a team from the Centre for Reproductive and Genetic Health in London found that the probability of a live birth is 33 percent lower if the father is over 50 years old. Some 40 percent of the men over age 50 had sperm counts and motility within the healthy range, compared to 60 percent in younger men. While male age was a factor in fertility, the researchers didn't find that it increased the rate of miscarriage.
➤NO MORE FREE 'FAST PASSES' AT DISNEY WORLD, DISNEYLAND: Disney World and Disneyland didn't bring back the FastPass when they re-opened after their pandemic closures, and now they're saying they aren't coming back. The passes were a free way to make a reservation window for a ride, cutting down on the wait time, using Disney's app. Disney is introducing a new system, called Disney Genie, which visitors will be able to use by putting in what rides, food, etc. they want and then getting a personalized itinerary designed to minimize wait times. Although that's free, getting a FastPass equivalent called Lightning Lane to cut wait times further will be available, but it will cost $15 per person per day at Disney World at $20 per person per day at Disneyland.
⏰RESEARCHERS FIND MEN HAVE BIOLOGICAL CLOCK TOO: British researchers have found that men appear to have a biological clock too, with their fertility waning as they get older. The study by a team from the Centre for Reproductive and Genetic Health in London found that the probability of a live birth is 33 percent lower if the father is over 50 years old. Some 40 percent of the men over age 50 had sperm counts and motility within the healthy range, compared to 60 percent in younger men. While male age was a factor in fertility, the researchers didn't find that it increased the rate of miscarriage.
➤TOILET PAPER AND WATER DISAPPEAR FROM COSTCO STORES AS DELTA VARIANT SPREADS: Costco shoppers took to Twitter recently to complain about toilet paper and water shortages, mirroring the start of the pandemic in the US in March 2020. Research shows stockpiling could return as the Delta variant sweeps through the nation. A study survey from Inmar Intelligence showed that 69.4% of the 1,000 adults surveyed would consider stockpiling items amidst the spread of the Delta variant. One customer from Nevada lamented, “Did we not learn from last year at all? I pulled up to Costco and they are out of toilet paper and water. These people never learn.” Another customer from California expressed this could be a “sign of the times to come.”
Then there was talk about how much involvement he, as executive producer, had in choosing himself to be the new host. And now, crude comments he made more than seven years ago about women, Jews and Haiti in a podcast he hosted have resurfaced. Among the remarks from The Randumb Show: he said one-piece bathing suits make women look "really frumpy and overweight"; he asked his co-hosts who were both younger women if they'd ever taken nude photos, asking them, "Like booby pictures?"; in response to a comment about big noses, said, "Ixnay on the ose-nay. She’s not an ew-Jay"; and when a co-host talked about problems with her apartment, said, "Does Beth live, like, in Haiti? Doesn’t it sound like that? Like, the urine smell, the woman in the muumuu, the stray cats."
Richards apologized, saying in a statement to The Ringer, which reported the story: "It is humbling to confront a terribly embarrassing moment of misjudgment, thoughtlessness, and insensitivity from nearly a decade ago. Looking back now, there is no excuse, of course, for the comments I made on this podcast and I am deeply sorry."
🏈ATTORNEY SAYS FBI INVOLVED IN SEX ASSAULT, HARASS PROBE OF TEXANS' WATSON: Tony Buzbee, an attorney for 22 women who have filed lawsuits accusing Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson of sexual assault and harassment, said yesterday that the FBI is involved in the probe. Buzbee said he and some of his clients have spoken to the FBI about the case, telling the Associated Press that the FBI, quote, "reached out to me, and I responded." Watson's attorney, Rusty Hardin, said yesterday that the FBI had spoken with the quarterback about allegations that one of his accusers was trying to extort him. The women accuse Watson of exposing himself, touching them with his penis or kissing them against their will during massage appointments. He denies the claims, saying that "sexual activity" during some of the appointments wasn't forced. Houston police and the NFL are both investigating.
⚾BASSITT OUT OF HOSPITAL, WILL NEED SURGERY AFTER BEING HIT BY LINE DRIVE: Oakland A's pitcher Chris Bassitt was out of the hospital yesterday after being hit in the head by a line drive the night before in a game against the Chicago White Sox. Bassitt has broken bones in his cheek that will need surgery to fix, but he didn't have any eye damage, a brain scan was normal, and he hasn't shown any signs of a concussion. He received some stitches for two cuts on his face. It's not yet known how long the 32-year-old will be out, but A's athletic trainer Nick Paparesta said six weeks is the usual healing time for his type of injury.
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| Daily Mail 8/19/21 |
🏈NCAA INVESTIGATING NEBRASKA'S FOOTBALL PROGRAM: Nebraska said yesterday that the NCAA is investigating its football program, amid allegations that staff improperly used analysts and consultants with the knowledge of head coach Scott Frost and moved workouts off campus last year to avoid detection when they were banned due to the pandemic. Frost said any workouts were approved by "athletic department administration and campus administration."
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