The Taliban is making sweeping advances across Afghanistan.

This morning, only a handful of major cities are still under government control.

The United States is sending 3,000 troops back to the region to help with evacuations.

The question is, will we see the Afghan government collapse within the next month?

Plus, the Supreme Court declines a request by college students to block a coronavirus

vaccine mandate.

The question is, what kind of impact will this ruling have on similar lawsuits?

And after months of public pressure, the father of Grammy-Wittning singer Britney Spears

says he is willing to step down as her conservator.

The question is, is the pop star finally free?

It's way too early for this.

Good morning and welcome to way too early.

The show that on this, Friday the 13th, a black cat cross under a ladder after breaking a mirror on the way into the studio today.

I'm Jonathan Lemire. It is indeed Friday the 13th of August. And let's start with the news.

We'll begin overseas where the Taliban is rapidly gaining control of Afghanistan. Just this morning, the Associated Press reports the group

captured another two provincial capitals in the southern part of the country. The group overtook

the key city of Kandahar yesterday, the second largest in the country, as well as the third largest

city of Harat. These defeats of heavily guarded areas come after weeks of battle and a wearing down of Afghan

forces.

The New York Times reports many Afghan soldiers deserted the cities in the final days of the battle,

and some even changed sides.

This has sent residents fleeing to Kabul, one of the last cities spared from major violence.

...