U.S. Troops leave Afghanistan's Bagram air base after 20 years; 20 confirmed dead, 128 unaccounted for as rescue effort enters day 9; GOP Leader McCarthy joins Biden at WH to celebrate L.A. Dodgers; CDC Dir: Nearly all covid deaths in past 6 months were unvaccinated;
The Lead with Jake Tapper
CNN
3.5 • 1.7K Ratings
🗓️ 2 July 2021
⏱️ 41 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Biden frustrated after questions on U.S. exit from Afghanistan; Source: Biden stands by his "gut decision" despite terror concerns; Pentagon: U.S. troop withdrawal will be done by end of August; Defense officials; U.S. retains authority to strike Taliban; U.S. hands airbase to Afghan military as civil war fears grow; Firefighter's own team finds body of his daughter at collapse site; Officials consider demolishing what's left of building; CNN obtains 2020 letter highlighting severe concrete damage; House GOP Leader McCarthy yet to say who he'll put on Jan. 6 Cmte.; GOP Lawmaker: January 6 committee will be "no gift," and a "pretty nasty, partisan fight"; White House denies reports of dysfunction in VP Harris office; States with low vaccination regretting decision as variant spreads; States with low vaccination leaving door open for Delta spread; TSA reports busiest days at airports in 16 months; AAA expects 43 million on the road this weekend; National parks become tourist magnet as covid restrictions lift; Natl parks forced to limit crowds as visitors flood public lands; Utah town swamped by visitors & vacation home buyers; WH: Transportation dept may direct airlines to return some fees to passengers
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | A moment nearly two decades in the making, the lead starts right now. |
| 0:08.6 | All U.S. troops have now left Bogrum Air Base in Afghanistan, a signal America's longest |
| 0:14.3 | war is nearly done as a top commander issues a major warning. |
| 0:20.1 | And more than 100 people still missing in Florida. |
| 0:23.2 | The remaining building may need to be demolished quickly, and rescue workers may soon have |
| 0:28.2 | to deal with a hurricane. |
| 0:31.0 | Plus, have plans to visit a national park this holiday weekend? |
| 0:34.8 | Well, you are not alone, and you might even get turned away. |
| 0:40.6 | Welcome to the lead. |
| 0:44.3 | I'm Pamela Brown in for Jake Tapper on this Friday, and we begin today with our world |
| 0:48.9 | lead. |
| 0:49.9 | And the clear sign that America's longest war is coming to an end. |
| 0:54.0 | Today, the remaining U.S. troops at Bogrum Air Base in Afghanistan, which served as the |
| 0:58.4 | heart of U.S. military operations for 20 years, handed over control to the Afghan military. |
| 1:05.4 | A military that is now bracing for the Taliban's continued advance, which a top U.S. commander |
| 1:10.6 | warned could result in a civil war. |
| 1:13.9 | We are covering this from Washington to Kabul. |
| 1:16.0 | Let's start with CNN's Caitlin Collins at the White House, where President Biden was |
| 1:19.8 | visibly frustrated today. |
| 1:23.6 | As little fanfare, the U.S. left Afghanistan's largest air base and effectively ended two |
| 1:29.0 | decades of war. |
| 1:30.4 | You're on track exactly as to where we expect it to be. |
... |
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