This morning, chaos persists in Kabul as the U.S. military struggles to pick up the pace of evacuations.

The Pentagon says about 7,000 people have been evacuated so far, but many more are still waiting.

The question is, how long will it take to get everyone to safety?

Plus, a growing number of senators testing positive for coronavirus despite

being vaccinated. The question is, will COVID keep breaking through? And Tropical Storm Henri is

strengthening over the Atlantic. The question is, does New England need to brace for a hurricane?

It is way too early for this.

Good morning and welcome to way too early, the show that's really hoping we don't have to pull out our umbrellas this weekend.

I'm Alicia Menendez on this Friday, August 20th. We'll start with the

news. Facing intense criticism over the exit from Afghanistan, President Biden will deliver

remarks later today on evacuation efforts. As of yesterday afternoon, the U.S. military had

evacuated 7,000 Americans, Afghans, and others since Saturday when the Afghan government began to collapse.

NBC News White House correspondent, Kelly O'Donnell, has the latest.

U.S. officials say another 6,000 people made it safely to the Kabul airport awaiting evacuation.

Pressed repeatedly, officials at the Departments of State and Defense could not say how many

Americans still need to be rescued. I don't know with that level of detail. We're just not in a

position to give a number right now. In an interview with ABC, the president defended the evacuation

mission despite chaos near the airport.

Well, there is, but look, but no one's being killed right now.

God forgive me if I'm wrong about that, but no one's being killed right now.

Among the most vulnerable, Afghan women and girls fearful of Taliban repression.

There are Afghan women outside the gate. I told

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