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Biden's political calculations

President Biden in the Situation Room Sunday. Photo: The White House

President Biden aimed three numbered messages at three specific audiences during Sunday afternoon remarks on Afghanistan.

To Fox News viewers: "One, planes taking off from Kabul are not flying directly to the United States. They're landing at U.S. military bases and transit centers around the world."

College students on high COVID alert ahead of return to campus

Illustration: Rae Cook/Axios

With the Delta variant surging, college students are not ready to resume campus life as normal, according to a new Generation Lab/Axios poll.

Why it matters: For four-year students who enrolled in 2019-20, there is just one year remaining to enjoy something resembling a regular college experience.

The Next Astronauts
Axios' Miriam Kramer follows the first space flight to orbit without professional astronauts. Listen for free.
Ben Geman, author of Generate
4 mins ago - Energy & Environment

The EV revolution will hit speed bumps

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

Nobody said the transition to electric vehicles would be seamless, and the General Motors recall of every Chevy Bolt is the latest example of why it won't be.

Driving the news: GM's expanding Bolt recall over battery fire risks to include 2020-2022 models, and 2019 models that weren't covered by previous rounds.

53 mins ago - World

Taliban says there will be "consequences" if U.S. extends troop withdrawal

U.S. soldiers standing guard at the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Aug. 20. Photo: Wakil Kohsar/AFP via Getty Images

A spokesperson for the Taliban told Sky News Monday there would be "consequences" if the U.S. extended its troop withdrawal beyond Aug. 31 to complete the evacuation of Americans and Afghan allies from the country.

Why it matters: The U.S. and its allies are quickly approaching the full withdrawal date with thousands left to still evacuate. President Biden has said troops will remain in Afghanistan until every American is evacuated, and in remarks Sunday, he did not rule out the prospect of staying past the deadline.

Updated 6 hours ago - World

German military: Firefight involving U.S. forces at Kabul Airport

British and Canadian soldiers stand guard near a canal as Afghans wait outside the foreign military-controlled part of Kabul's airport late Sunday. Photo: Wakil Kohsar/AFP via Getty Images

An Afghan guard was killed and three others wounded in a "firefight" with "unknown attackers" at Kabul's airport — which also involved German and U.S. security forces, Germany's military said Monday.

Of note: The incident happened as thousands of Afghans and foreigners seeking to leave Afghanistan were at the airport's north gate, per Reuters.

Updated 9 hours ago - Science

Storm Henri causes travel chaos as Northeast hit by heavy rains

Members of the New Market Volunteer Fire Company in Helmetta, New Jersey, on Aug. 22 after Henri made landfall as a tropical storm. Photo: Tom BrennerAFP via Getty Images

Storm Henri was dumping heavy rain across the Northeastern U.S. — and the National Hurricane Center warned late Sunday it would continue to trigger "considerable flash, urban" and other minor flooding over the Tri-State Area and New England.

The big picture: Henri weakened to a depression Sunday night, after striking Rhode Island as a tropical storm, knocking out power to over 100,000 homes, causing flight cancellations and bringing record rainfall to New York City.

Updated 10 hours ago - Health

Jesse and Jacqueline Jackson "responding positively" to COVID treatment

The Rev. Jesse Jackson and Jacqueline Jackson at a 2018 Congressional Black Caucus Foundation event in Washington, D.C. Photo: Earl Gibson III/Getty Images

The Rev. Jesse Jackson and his wife, Jacqueline Jackson, were "responding positively" to treatment Sunday — one day after being hospitalized with COVID-19, their son said.

Details: Physicians at the Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago were "carefully monitoring" the 79-year-old civil rights leader and Jacqueline Jackson "especially because of their ages," said Jonathan Jackson in a statement Sunday.

Updated 11 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Biden says Afghan evacuation efforts could extend beyond Aug. 31

President Biden at the White House on Sunday. Photo: Ken Cedeno/Sipa/Bloomberg via Getty Images

President Biden said on Sunday that U.S. evacuation efforts from Afghanistan could be extended beyond Aug. 31.

Why it matters: Biden sought to address criticisms of much of the White House response to the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan, outlining why the administration was using commercial airlines to help relocate evacuees and the protocols in place to ensure that Afghans arriving to the U.S. have been thoroughly vetted.

Tennessee flooding leaves at least 22 people dead and dozens missing

The impact of the flooding on the Waverly area of Tennessee. Photo: Hardin County Fire Department, Savannah Tennessee/Facebook

Severe flooding in parts of middle Tennessee has left at least 22 people dead and dozens of others unaccounted for, local authorities said on Sunday.

The latest: Waverly Chief of Public Safety Grant Gillespie told reporters search-and-rescue were working into the night to find those missing from Saturday's flooding, driven by heavy rainfall.

Sources: No Biden firings

Photo: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

President Biden isn't inclined to fire any senior national security officials over the chaos in Kabul unless the situation drastically deteriorates or there's significant loss of American life, people familiar with the matter tell Axios.

Why it matters: Dismissing national security advisor Jake Sullivan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin or CIA Director William Burns would be tantamount to admitting a mistake, and the president stands by his decision.

15 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Pelosi stares down dissenters

Photo: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is staring down the nine centrist lawmakers demanding an immediate vote on the bipartisan infrastructure package — all but daring them to sink President Biden’s Build Back Better agenda.

Driving the news: White House officials and congressional leaders have been pressing the nine throughout the weekend to withdraw their threat to vote against consideration of the $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation package but the lawmakers aren't budging.

Democrat brushes off Kabul fallout

Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.). Photo: Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Republican efforts to saddle the Democrats with fallout from the fall of Kabul won't necessarily fly with voters — or instill fears in midterm candidates.

Why it matters: Axios traveled to Virginia’s 7th District last week, where Rep. Abigail Spanberger is running for re-election in a bellwether district. She focused solely on selling President Biden’s stimulus package and the bipartisan infrastructure deal still working its way through Congress.

GOP ad-makers jump on Afghan footage

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

Footage from Afghanistan is already starting to pop up in Republican political ads, and GOP consultants say it's going to provide TV-ready ammo for attacks heading into the midterms.

Why it matters: The haphazard U.S. withdrawal is the first major policy vulnerability presented by the Biden administration. The opposition expects it to play heavily in 2022 messaging — and even in the 2024 presidential contest.

Tropical Storm Henri makes landfall in Rhode Island

Satellite image shows Henri making landfall in Rhode Island. Photo: CIRA/RAMMB

Tropical Storm Henri made landfall in Rhode Island on Sunday afternoon, bringing damaging winds, storm surge flooding and torrential rainfall, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The latest: Speaking from the White House later Sunday, President Biden said the administration has been monitoring the storm's movements and making preparations for recovery efforts. "This storm has the potential for widespread consequences across the region," Biden said

Updated 20 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Pentagon enlists commercial airlines to assist Afghanistan evacuation efforts

Afghans continue to wait at and near the Hamid Karzai International Airport as they try to leave the Afghan capital of Kabul, Afghanistan on Saturday. Photo: Haroon Sabawoon/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

The Pentagon said Sunday it is formally seeking assistance from commercial airlines to help relocate evacuees from Afghanistan.

Driving the news: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has activated the first stage of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF), asking 18 commercial aircraft from six airlines to support the U.S. military in its efforts to evacuate Americans and Afghan allies. It's the third time a CRAF has been activated in the program's history.

Haiti struggles to distribute aid as earthquake death toll tops 2,200

Earthquake victims quarrel over a bag of food as part of the humanitarian aid in Les Cayes, Haiti. Photo: Richard Pierrin/Getty Images

The death toll from last weekend's earthquake in Haiti has climbed to more than 2,200, with 344 people still missing, the country's Civil Protection Agency said Sunday.

The big picture: The updated toll comes as the government and relief groups struggle to distribute aid due to the security situation in the country, AP reports. Relief operations are underway but face difficulties due to local gangs, who control access to certain areas and have hijacked some aid trucks.

Updated 21 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Biden hasn't ruled out sending more troops to Kabul, national security adviser says

National security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Sunday that President Biden hasn't ruled sending more troops to the airport in Kabul, but "at the moment, we believe we have sufficient forces on the ground.”

The big picture: The president's senior national security team made the rounds on the Sunday political talk shows to explain — and defend — the Biden administration's handling of the ongoing turbulence in Afghanistan.

Updated 22 hours ago - Politics & Policy

7 Afghan civilians killed in crush of people vying to enter Kabul airport

Afghans wait outside Kabul International Airport on Aug. 20. Photo: Haroon Sabawoon/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Seven Afghan civilians died on Saturday as part of a crush of those desperate to enter the Kabul airport, Britain’s Ministry of Defense said on Sunday.

The big picture: News of the deaths comes as the U.S. Embassy warned Americans on Saturday not to venture to the airport "because of potential security threats."

Biden recess plan omits Afghanistan

Photo: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

The White House is downplaying Afghanistan in outside-the-Beltway events during the August congressional recess, hoping voters will pay more attention to President Biden's big spending plans.

Why it matters: Democrats privately fear political blowback, even though the White House insists voters aren't talking about the Kabul calamity.

Making the outdoors safe for people of color

Julius Crowe Hampton, an Outdoor Afro leader, kayaks in Marina Bay Yacht Harbor in Richmond, Calif. Photo: Yalonda M. James/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images

Outdoor enthusiasts want people of color to embrace activities like hiking, biking, kayaking, camping and birding — and feel safe while enjoying it all.

Why it matters: A national reckoning has drawn attention to the discrimination some people of color face during a run in the mountains or a walk on a trail. The outdoors can be deadly due to bigotry, not just wildlife, lurking in the woods.