THE DAILY NEWSLETTER - THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021 

Media Winners & Losers

MEDIA WINNER:
George Stephanopoulos

ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos conducted a massively news-making interview with President Joe Biden Wednesday on the subject of Afghanistan.

Stephanopoulos pressed hard for details and timelines, and Biden's answers were so clippable and quotable it is still, 24 hours or so after the first preview clip was released, a huge topic in the press and online.

The president set August 31st as the end date of the U.S. military mission in Afghanistan, so Stephanopoulos pushed on the subject, starting by asking, if "all troops are supposed to be out by August 31st," does that hold "even if Americans and our Afghan allies are still trying to get out, they’re going to leave?”

“We’re going to do everything in our power to get all Americans out and our allies out,” Biden responded.

“Does that mean troops will stay beyond August 31st if necessary?” Stephanopoulos asked.

“It depends on where we are,” the president said.

In fact, Biden could fairly be described as both defiant and defensive about his decisions. Among many quotes that will be in the air for some time was when Biden said diffidently at one point, "look,no one’s being killed right now, God forgive me if I’m wrong about that, but no one’s being killed right now."

Aside from a badly-worded tweet, ABC and Stephanopoulos pulled off a real news coup in getting the interview so quickly, and getting it out there so soon after the president opted to avoid questions from reporters at his covid briefing. A great job (mostly) all-around.

MEDIA LOSER:
Sean Hannity

Fox News’ Sean Hannity told his viewers on Wednesday night that the covid-19 vaccine is “not protecting many people,” almost one month to the day after he got national attention for saying he “believe[s] in the science of vaccination.”

Hannity spoke with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, commended his leadership during the pandemic, and talked about him opening a monoclonal antibody treatment site. The Fox host remarked, “The CDC has said in no uncertain terms even fully vaccinated people — the vaccine will not prevent you from getting covid.”

DeSantis talked about those sites Florida is setting up, and said of the treatment, “It can keep you out of the hospital and it can save your life.”

Hannity ended the interview by bringing up Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who is vaccinated and at last report was experiencing no symptoms. 

"I applaud you and others for doing this and setting this up immediately, now that the science shows the vaccine will not necessarily protect you," said Hannity. It’s not protecting many people."

A Fox News spokesperson told Mediaite that Hannnity was referencing comments made by CDC Director Rochelle Walensky back in August. But that's simply not what came across on air. And coming just a month after he told viewers that “it absolutely makes sense for many Americans to get vaccinated," the whole thing smacked of reversal.

It marred what could have been a good news day for the host, after killer Tuesday ratings.

The A-Block

Top Biden Officials To Testify About Afghanistan

The downtown area of Washington D.C is currently occupied by Capitol Police responding to what is being described as an active bomb threat near the Library of Congress.

Video that purports to be taken from a Facebook live video streamed by the alleged assailant has emerged that shows an unnamed individual who was previously reported to be a White male from North Carolina.

Police statements were released via social media informing the public that a “suspicious vehicle” was found in the area on Thursday morning, and they are asking people to stay away.

Huffington Post reporter Ryan Reilly published video that shows the unnamed man speaking to camera with some device on his lap. Viewers can hear him saying “The revolution is on,” and “I’m ready to die for the cause.”

The shocking clip isn't the only one from the incident.

 
In Other News...

Ken Jennings Speaks Out After Reports New Jeopardy! Host Rigged Search in His Own Favor

Times Square Briefly Evacuated Over Suspicious Package

Carmelo Anthony Reveals Hair Braids Got Him Kicked out of Catholic High School: ‘It Was Racism’

WATCH: Rachel Maddow Reduced to Tears in Retelling Harrowing Effort for Afghan Translator to Escape With Family

Must See Clip

"Suddenly, two other Taliban charge towards us"

CNN’s Clarissa Ward had another exemplary moment of journalism in Kabul when she maintained her composure as Taliban fighters threatened to attack her and her team in the middle of a report.

Ward was reporting from the area around Hamid Karzai International Airport when a Taliban fighter started harassing her team and demanding she cover her face.

Then things escalated.

Links We Like

Fire The Military And Intelligence Bigs Who Bungled Afghanistan — Now
- Glenn Reynolds, New York Post
Judge Seals Fate of Oklahoma Serial Killer After Jury Recommended Death Penalty in Slaying of Teen
- Adam Klasfeld, Law&Crime
Republican Governors Are Not ‘Banning Masks in Classrooms’
Charles C. W. Cooke, National Review
Trump & Co. Engineered The Pullout From Afghanistan. Now They Criticize It.
- Max Boot, Washington Post
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