1 Biden Decision On Afghanistan Extension Coming Soon
According to reports, President Biden will make a decision on extending the chaotic Afghanistan troop withdrawal deadline beyond August 31st within the next 24 hours. The President has openly admitted that he hasn’t ruled out the extension, but the major issue is the Taliban. The group calls deadline date a "red line" to keep troops in the country longer than planned. They also say such a decision would be “met with a response.” This, as the military scrambles to get Americans and Afghan allies out of the country with a week to go until the deadline. Biden is going to participate in a meeting with G7 leaders on Afghanistan today – and in the meantime. the White House says flights evacuating refugees out of Afghanistan are continuing "hour-by-hour." Speaking with reporters, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said 26 countries across four continents are helping the U.S. to transport refugees.
2 Biden’s Big Budget Plan In Peril
The future of a Democratic-backed three-and-a-half-trillion-dollar budget bill is very much in doubt. Late last night, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reportedly tried to negotiate with ten moderate Democrats who refuse to move on the measure until the House votes on the Senate's one-trillion dollar bipartisan infrastructure bill. Pelosi can lose only three Democratic votes before the three-and-a-half-trillion-dollar bill falls apart. Word is, House Democrats will try to strike a deal today to move forward. The issue is that the centrists don't want it linked to Biden's three-point-five trillion dollar economic plan. Pelosi has wanted votes on both at the same time to get support from centrists on the economic agenda and progressives on the infrastructure bill.
3 Pac-12, Big Ten, And ACC Set To Announce Alliance
The Big Ten, Pac-12, and ACC are expected to formally announce their alliance today. The Athletic reports the three leagues plan to work together on multiple fronts, including making sure their teams have shot at taking part in the College Football Playoff expansion. Insiders say the alliance came after Texas and Oklahoma moved to the SEC from the Big 12. The Big Ten includes college football powerhouse Ohio State. The Pac 12 has schools like Oregon, USC, and UCLA while the ACC has college basketball icons including Duke and North Carolina.