Why Didn't Biden Start Evacuating Americans Sooner? We Asked Him.

The NPR Politics Podcast

NPR

Politics, Daily News, News

4.5 • 24.9K Ratings

🗓️ 20 August 2021

⏱️ 29 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

President Biden spoke about the situation in Afghanistan again Friday, emphasizing his commitment to evacuating all Americans and Afghan allies after the Taliban's swift takeover. NPR's Scott Detrow asked him why these evacuations didn't begin months ago when the U.S. still had more control in the country.

And as COVID cases continue to rise, many school administrators are implementing mask mandates for teachers and students despite orders in some states that prohibit the rules. The Biden administration said this week that ensuring a safe learning environment for students is a civil rights issue.

This episode: congressional correspondent Kelsey Snell, White House correspondent Scott Detrow, White House correspondent Ayesha Rascoe, and education reporter Clare Lombardo.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, this is Alice in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
0:03.0	It's Friday night and I've just put my kids to bed.
0:05.5	I'm about to listen to the Empire Politics Podcast while I do the dishes.
0:09.2	And there's no way that this is an exciting enough time stamp to get on the podcast.
0:13.6	Well, you are also listening to the Empire Politics Podcast, which was recorded at...
0:18.5	It's 2.42pm on Friday, August 20th.
0:22.2	Things may have changed by the time you hear this.
0:24.5	Okay, here's the show.
0:30.2	Hey, bedtime is exciting for all of the people involved in this.
0:34.4	True, true, true.
0:35.4	Yeah, that sounds like a very exciting Friday night.
0:38.4	Hey, there. It's the NPR Politics Podcast.
0:40.8	I'm Kelsey Snally, cover Congress.
0:42.8	I'm Aisha Roscoe. I cover the White House.
0:44.9	And I've got Detrello. I also cover the White House.
0:47.5	President Biden made another set of remarks at the White House today
0:51.1	about the situation in Afghanistan.
0:53.4	In the face of continued chaos after the swift takeover of the Taliban,
0:57.6	Biden said he would keep the full force of the American military behind evacuation efforts.
1:03.0	What is Commander-in-Chief?
1:04.8	I can assure you that I will mobilize every resource necessary.
1:09.8	And as an American, I offer my gratitude to the brave men and women
	...

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