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Meet the Press

August 15 — Sec. Antony Blinken & Dr. Michael Osterholm

Meet the Press

NBC News

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3.63.8K Ratings

🗓️ 15 August 2021

⏱️ 49 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Secretary of State Antony Blinken discusses the end to America’s longest war as Afghanistan is on the verge of complete Taliban control. Dr. Michael Osterholm explains how the Delta variant may shape the future of the pandemic. Anne Gearan, Cornell Belcher, Peter Baker and Kristen Soltis Anderson join the Meet the Press roundtable.

Transcript

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0:00.0

This Sunday, Afghanistan's sudden collapse.

0:06.4

Taliban fighters on the brink of total control of the country.

0:12.5

And they have entered the capital city of Kabul, prompting the U.S. to increase the number of troops for the evacuation of the embassy, which has begun.

0:20.5

President Biden, though, standing firm on the U.S. withdrawal. We're going to continue to keep our commitment, but I do not regret my decision. I'll talk to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and to NBC News as Richard Engle, who's in common. Also, the growing COVID crisis. We're at an emergency situation here, no doubt about it. COVID cases rising nationwide, overburdening hospitals.

0:40.3

We're not machines.

0:41.3

We can't continue to do this forever.

0:43.3

With children now caught in the middle over mask mandates in school.

0:47.3

We have two actually in school, and neither one will wear masks.

0:50.3

Now we're seeing more kids who are symptomatic and more kids who are being hospitalized due to the Delta variant.

0:57.4

My guest this morning epidemiologist Michael Osterholm of the University of Minnesota.

1:02.2

And a changing country.

1:03.8

The new census report, rural America shrinks as urban America grows, what that means for political power in the coming decade.

1:11.5

Joining me for Inside and Analysis All, Democratic poster Cornell Belcher, Ann Deeran,

1:16.5

White House correspondent for the Washington Post, Republican pollster Kristen Sulz

1:20.2

Anderson, and Peter Baker, Chief White House correspondent for the New York Times.

1:24.6

Welcome to Sunday. It's Meet the Press.

1:29.1

From NBC News in Washington, the longest running show in television history. This is Meet the

1:35.2

press with Chuck Todd. Good Sunday morning. The scale of the developing disaster in Afghanistan

1:42.8

has exceeded even the most pessimistic of predictions.

1:46.1

Taliban forces seize control of the city of Jalalabad without a fight overnight.

1:50.0

They've now entered the capital city of Kabul.

1:52.3

They're negotiating with the government to take over the city without bloodshed.

...

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