Administration about to back boosters. Plus, a desperate and unprecedented surge at the u. S. Mexico Border. We talk to migrants who told us why theyve continued to make this incredibly dangerous journey. Welcome to the lead. Im jake tapper. We start today with our world lead. The White House this afternoon attempting to defend how it handled the u. S. Troop withdrawal from afghanistan as the taliban solidifies its grip on that country, and americans and allies rush to try to safely evacuate. This afternoon national Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said that the taliban has agreed to give civilians Safe Passage to the Kabul Airport where the u. S. Military is hoping to speed up the pace of evacuation flights within the next 24 hours. This striking image obtained by Defense One shows nearly 650 afghans packed inside a u. S. Military cargo plane. They were safely evacuated on sunday to qatar. The White House estimates that at least 11,000 americans remain in afghanistan. But those figures do not include the Tens Of Thousands of afghan allies who helped the u. S. During the war, and their families, who could be killed by the taliban if they are not promptly flown out of the country. Lets begin our Coverage Today with Cnns Clarissa Ward whos live in the afghan capital of kabul. Youre getting a sense of just how quickly life is changing for ordinary afghan citizens who are once again under the cruel rule of the taliban. Reporter thats right, jake. There is a sense that this is the new normalcy and there are signs of normalcy creeping back onto the kreets. The taliban announced that Government Workers should be returning to their posts. Today We Saw Traffic Policemen on the roads guiding traffic. The taliban really wants to show that it is not just a fighting force, that it can effectively govern. But it was impossible to ignore that women were not as women while walking around the streets. And we went looking for those women to hear their stories. Take a listen. At the central kabul market today, stores were open and people were back on the streets, or at least some people. It was impossible not to notice that women here seemed to have largely melted away. One store was doing better business than usual. For more than a decade mohamed has been selling burqas, the head to Toe Coverings once imposed by the taliban. More sales he says. Why do you think youre selling more burqas right now . Translator because the taliban took over and all the women are afraid, he says. So thats why theyre all coming in and buying burqas. Do you feel abandoned . Yeah, exactly. In an apartment downtown, We Saw that fear firsthand. Until last week she was working for the u. N. Thats not her real name, and she asked we not show her face. Shes petrified that the taliban will link her to western organizations and says she hasnt gone outside since they arrived in kabul. You look very frightened. Exactly. It is not easy for a person to have worked a lot with international organization having more than ten Years Experience of working with international, and now not one of them help me. No response to the organizations that have worked with you. Reporter are you angry . No, im not angry. But as a person who worked for them, now i need their supports. It is not fair. Reporter you look very emotional as well. Yeah. Because im thinking about my future, my daughters. What will happen to them if they kill me, two daughters without mother . Reporter the taliban says they have learned from history and that womens rights will be protected. But many fearful afghan women remain to be persuaded. Were on our way now to the home of a prominent female afghan politician. Shes told me that there are taliban fighters outside her front door so shes asked that i go in alone. This woman was one of the afghan government negotiators during Peace Talks with the taliban and has dealt with the group a lot. She says that promising change is not enough. They have to really prove it in the provinces across afghanistan. They have to show it by example. Its very easy to issue statements, but people need to see that in practice. Reporter she has every reason not to trust. Last year she was shot by unknown gunmen. The taliban denied they were behind the attack. You have children. I have two daughters. Reporter and are they here . Theyre in kabul. Reporter and are you concerned for them . Im concerned for my daughters and all the girls of afghanistan. I dont want history to repeat itself on them. Reporter jake, we heard for the first time in person from the taliban spokesperson zabihullah mujahid. He gave a Press Conference tonight. And it was really interesting to see the types of questions that were asked by afghan journalists particularly. It really goes to show you how much has changed here in two generations or two decades, i should say. These journalists were not pulling any punches. They pushed him on womens rights. They pushed him on whether women would be able to continue working as journalists, continue working on television. And he was sort of struggling to answer and give a direct and coherent response. But the one question that really just stuck with me, it was so extraordinary. He was talking about this Blanket Amnesty that the taliban has granted to everyone. And this journalist stood up and says, but will the afghan people forgive you for all the people, the innocent civilians who have been killed in your car bombs, to which he applied, well, thats collateral damage, it happens. But the courage of that journalist to ask that question, to look him squarely in the eye and ask that, i think it speaks to the real changes that have happened here in the last 20 years, jake. And whether the taliban has changed or not, the people here certainly have. Right. The existence of social media, a whole generation of girls, women, and boys and men educated in the last 20 years. Clarissa, what was the mood like when you were walking around kabul earlier today . Reporter its a very strange mood because it looks normal, it feels secure. There isnt that same as a journalist even, there isnt the feeling that you could be kidnapped or shot or blown up. And thats partially because of the people who mightve done that to you before are now the people who are in charge of the place. But the market was open. It was bustling. I would say about a third of the stores, if not half of the stores, were open. And traffic was moving. This is this moment the taliban knows they have to get it right. They know that they have to get things moving along again. That if there is any vacuum or any kind of violent crackdown of any Sort Or Chaos that they will lose the momentum that they have on their side. Theyre keen to show now that theyre benevolent as well as being able to provide law and order. But you heard it from those women, and particularly from fauzi, an extraordinarily brave politician. The proof will be in the pudding. And its not what you say, its what you do. Right. And weve seen the taliban as they took over the country grabbing young girls forcing them into these, i dont want to call them marriages, but forcing them into these hideous relationships with their fighters. You just mentioned that the taliban claimed today that theyve pledged amnesty to former afghan forces. They also said there would be, quote, no violence against women. Can anybody trust anything that they have to say . Reporter i think that for the most part people have a really hard time trusting. And i asked fauzi, i said youve dealt with them, youve been with them, youve negotiated with them, do you believe what theyre saying . And she said for now its hard for me to trust. She doesnt rule it out entirely. But heres the thing, jake. Its not enough for the taliban just to say women can be educated. Its about leading by example. And so if the taliban wants to really know that they have changed in this respect from their fundamental ideology, then they need to actively campaign for womens education, to make it clear to all the people in this country that there is a new direction. Because the other woman fazollah, as we called her, she told me that her sister went out to buy some milk the other day and the grocer at the Grocery Store said you should be wearing proper covering. He never wouldve said that two weeks ago. But now because the taliban is in town, people adopt their posture. They change their behavior to please what they think is the sort of prevailing Lord Or Ruler at the time. And thats the real problem here. The taliban cant just say these things in passing. They have to actively show by example that there have been fundamental changes in the way theyre going to govern. And i would say from people i have spoken to, not many have a huge amount of faith that that is really going to happen. Clarissa ward live in kabul, afghanistan, thank you for your brave reporting, as always. Joining us now to discuss the former commander of u. S. Nato forces in afghanistan from 2010 to 2011. General, id like to know what your reaction has been to what weve seen out of kabul the last few days. Well, i think its hard not to observe that its just heartbreaking. Its tragic. And whatever you may think of the previous afghan government, its replacement by a group that has been fighting against us for 20 years and has killed civilians left and right that has done all the things that you described in the rural areas that they have entered prior to getting to kabul, its very hard to see that as anything but disastrous. The previous government, again, for all of its shortcomings and flaws, wholeheartedly supported our effort to ensure that Al Qaeda could not reestablish the kind of sanctuary that it enjoyed when it planned the 9 11 attacks on afghan soil under the control of the taliban. General, what do you say to critics who argue that one of the problems has been that the pentagon, the generals, were never forthcoming about how fragile the Afghan Army, writ large, was. And that has come into evidence in the last week or so. Well, first of all, i will stand by everything that i said when i was the commander of u. S. Central command. The region included afghanistan. As the commander of u. S. And Coalition Forces in afghanistan and frankly as the director of the cia after that. And i believe that we will find out that there were some warnings given, that there were concerns voiced that if we state that we are going to withdraw the sheer psychological blow of that and then the actual withdrawal and of course as we have discussed before, the withdrawal of the contractors that kept the most important element of the afghan forces operating, their Air Force, which is how they have the back of soldiers. And soldiers realize that neither we nor their own Air Force because its operational readiness is degrading could have their back, deliver reinforcements, Emergency Resupply and close Air Support, then they do what soldiers in that situation do, do. And i should point out 25 times as many afghans have lost their lives as u. S. Soldiers over the course of the past 20 years. They have fought and very much died for their country. It is their country. They should fight for it clearly. And what they did obviously is very disappointing. But at the end of the day, they were put in a position where they did not have much choice other than to flee or to surrender, cut a deal. And the taliban were very skilled in putting pressure all around the country simultaneously using assassinations, using various media to communicate and intimidate, really quite a skillful campaign. And they found the weaknesses and the weakness was that if you lose trust in those above you, then youre not going to continue to fight. Again the fact that a government now about which we have so many concerns, but lets see. And by the way, people have actually asked me, what would the taliban have to do to show you that they are sincere . I would say invite us back to Bagram Air base, say lets reopen it. They dont have an Air Force to keep an eye on Al Qaeda. We will be more than happy to do that. That would convince me, and obviously also the demonstrated behavior that clarissa highlighted very appropriately as well as did those she interviewed. So, there is an argument that President Biden makes, which is after 20 years, if the Afghan Army cannot defend itself and if the soldiers, todays soldiers, not the up to 57,000 who have already been killed trying to defend afghanistan, but if the soldiers, if the army falls apart this quickly, that is reinforcing to him of his decision to withdraw u. S. Forces. How do you respond to that . Its probably compelling to a lot of americans to think if the afghan soldiers wont even fight to defend themselves, why should one more american Son Or Daughter Risk Or Sacrifice his or her life in that mission . Its a very, very fair point and i think its the most powerful argument for the course of action that was adopted. But the fact is that afghans did fight when we provided a modicum of Air Support and liaison teams in their headquarters. And we have not lost a soldier in 18 months on the battlefield in afghanistan. So, why it was that we felt constrained by an agreement made by a previous administration many of whose other agreements have already been reversed such as the withdrawal from the w. H. O. , from the paris climate accord, the iran nuclear deal. Again, i did not find particularly compelling. Nonetheless, that was a very powerful case. The question is, is this situation preferable to one that mightve been maintained with 25 or 3,500 troops . Ironically, about the number that vice President Biden wouldve preferred many years ago but were never possible because we didnt have the armada of drones and other Precision Air capabilities that we have now. And i think that is actually the real question. Were running out of time, but i do want to get your response because Jake Sullivan did address the very point youre making. There is this argument it would not have been such a big deal to leave behind 2,500 or so u. S. Counterterrorism forces and others to support the afghan military. Sullivan argued just this afternoon the previous administration drew down from 15,000 troops to 2,500 troops and even at 15,000 the afghan government forces were losing ground. Your quick response to that. Well, there was an erosion of security, no question. You provide more enablers. There were 8,500 Coalition Forces still on the ground, and the 18,000 contractors that were critical. But if i could very quickly make a point, lets shift all of that for the time Being And Focus on the imperative of what really is a dunkirk moment in kabul. And that is to do everything humanly possible to rescue those who put their lives and the lives of their Family Members in jeopardy by serving alongside our troops and working with our various endeavors in afghanistan. I am heartened very much by the aggressive way that the administration is seeking to do that. I have enormous confidence in the men and women in uniform, including that Air Crew that took 650 people out in one single flight. Very safe, by the way. That aircraft can lift that and much more. But thats what we need to focus on right now. We need to use every means necessary. And this is the first test of the taliban. If they truly will allow Safe Passage to american citizens and those who qualify for the special immigrant visa, that would be a step forward. General petraeus, thank you so much for your time today. We appreciate it. American adults may soon be told to get a third Covid Shot while young kids still cant get their first. Desperation at the border due to frustration back home. Cnn talks to new migrants and the new reasons theyre coming to the u. S. For a new life. Stay with us. At tmobile. [music plays. ] when subway® opened they changed the fast food game. But sometimes you gotta refresh. To be fresh. Welcome to the eat fresh refresh. Refresh where there is so much new, some say that it Cant Fit in one ad. I say. Were talking a new allamerican club, delistyle ovenroasted turkey and. 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Progressive cant protect you from becoming your parents, but we can protect your Home And Auto when you bundle with us. Someone shouldve left home earlier. Trading isnt just a hobby. Its your future. So you dont lose sight of the big picture, even when youre focused on whats happening right now. And thinkorswim trading™ is right there with you. To help you become a smarter investor. With an innovative Trading Platform full of customizable tools. Dedicated Trade Desk pros and a passionate Trader Community Sharing strategies right on the platform. Because we take trading as seriously as you do. Thinkorswim trading™ from td ameritrade. In our world lead, the pentagon says today u. S. Commanders in afghanistan are in communication with the Taliban And Hope to speed up operations at the airport in kabul. Their new goal, get between five and 9,000 passengers out of afghanistan every day. For context, the pentagon and the White House said there are more than 11,000 americans in afghanistan, and Tens Of Thousands, of course, of afghan interpreters and their families waiting to get out. Lets bring in Cnns Barbara Starr and kylie atwood. Bar area, the pentagon says so far they have not had any hostile interactions with the taliban, but of course this is still a very sensitive mission. They are struggling at the moment still to ramp it all up. Getting that promise of Safe Passage from the taliban for people to get to the airport is a big step forward. That should help in order to get people there in the first place. They want to ramp up to 5,000 to 9,000 a day, but the latest figure we had for a time frame over the last day or so was that they got some 700 out and less than 200 of those were americans. Still, the Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby putting an optimistic face on it just for the moment. The best jung of how were doing is how were doing. And the results that were achieving and i think id leave it at that. Theyve also put a commander from the elite 82nd Airborne in charge of Coordinating Everything at the airport with the goal of getting 6,000 u. S. Troops on the ground. They have to get that organization. Its key to getting everything moving at a faster pace. Jake . Kylie, let me bring you in. There is this circle of blame inside the biden administration about what has gone wrong in the last few days. The pentagon says that theyve been urging the State Department to move faster when it comes to the special immigrant visas, to the evacuation of staff. The State Department is blaming u. S. Intelligence, who they claim they suggested they had more time. The Intelligence Community insisting that the taliban would quickly take over. Youve been talking to american diplomats who were in afghanistan. What do they have to say . American diplomats who ive talked to who spent time there are gutted for two reasons. First of all, theyre concerned that all of their work in the country is going to be completely eroded as the taliban take over. Their work to advocate for womens rights organizations, for education, all of that, theyre concerned about that. Now the Secretary Of State Tony Blinken sent a memo to the entire workforce just earlier this week, explaining that he understands that they must be wrenched as they watch what is happening in afghanistan but talked about the mission at hand right now. He couldnt, in good faith, frankly, tell them that everything that they had done was for not. The other thing that these diplomats are really frustrated over is just how this has all happened. They think that at least some of this Chaos Couldve been avoided if there was better advanced planning and there were earlier actions taken to get more of these afghans who worked alongside the u. S. Out of the country earlier. They talk about a lot of meetings happening. They dont talk about a lot of action being taken earlier. Coming up, some breaking news on masking. Where will you have to keep masking up . Thats next. It takes a certain kind of person to change the world. My greatgreatgrandmother, my greatgrandfather, greatgreatgrandfather was that kind of person. He looked after his community. She built an empire. He protected this nation. They lived their lives in extraordinary ways. With ancestry, i learned the story of peter vaughters. William lacy. Madam c. J. Walker. They are the heroes in my family. Who are the heroes in yours . If you have this. Consider adding this. An Aarp Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan from unitedhealthcare. Medicare supplement plans help by paying some of what medicare doesnt. And let you see any doctor. Any specialist. Anywhere in the u. S. Who accepts medicare patients. So if you have this. Consider adding this. Call Unitedhealthcare Today for your free decision guide. We have some breaking news for you now in our health lead. The tsa is expected to announce that the Mask Mandate on planes and trains in the united states will continue through at least midjanuary, according to a source, as the debate on masks rages on. Sources tell cnn that the biden administration as soon as tomorrow is going to recommend a covid Booster Shot for most american adults. Cnns Erica Hill looks into the big booster rollout. Reporter with an extra dose of protection on the horizon for fully vaccinated americans, new concerns about the administrations priorities. I think the bigger question is with the existing immunity that people already have from two doses of the vaccine, how much does that protect them . Reporter about 60 of the eligible population is now fully vaccinated. We squander an opportunity in our country to vaccinate people. Reporter while the push continues to encourage more shots in arms, requiring them is a different story. Arizonas governor now threatening criminal Misdemeanor Charges for local officials who mandate the vaccine, as health Experts Eye a number of new hotspots. In the past week New Cases in these states up more than 50 . Not far behind these seven where theyre up more than 40 . New cases in children also continue to rise. More than 121,000 reported in just the last week according to the american academy of pediatrics. The unvaccinated are at much higher risk because the Delta Variant is so contagious. Its not surprising that were seeing an increase in cases among children. Reporter as for how many kids are sick enough to end up in the hospital, thats not clear. Only 23 states in new York City actually report the number of children in hospitals. Talking about flying blind relative to children, we need better data, and thats got to be the basis for action. Reporter meantime, more states digging in on masks, and politics as Governors Battle local officials. This is not republicans versus democrats or at least it shouldnt be. This is Human Beings versus the virus. Reporter in tennessee schools, theyre now optional thanks to a new executive order. Districts will make the decisions that they think are best for their schools. But parents will have the ultimate decisionmaking for their individual childs health. We dont know how few masks we can get away with in schools. But we have a raging pandemic, and we do know with good data that if children wear masks in school school, they can be safe. Reporter in floridas Hillsborough County its nearly 5,600 students and more than 300 staff. Even if you have the same positive cases there will be less quarantine. Reporter one Parents Plea ahead of an Emergency School Board Meeting And Concern of whats to come. And, jake, as you mentioned, cnn just learning that the tsa is expected to extend that Mask Mandate for travel through january 18th. It had been set to expire september 13th. The tsa saying they dont yet have a time line. Weve also reached out to the cdc but have yet to hear back. Lets bring in dr. Peter hotez. Dr. Hotez, i want to get your reaction to this breaking news. The tsa extending the Mask Mandate on planes and trains until midjanuary. Why not a Vaccine Mandate . Would that not be a more sciencebased approach if were going to start requiring, keep requiring people to do things to be on the nations planes and rails . Yeah, ideally both. For masks were at a Screaming Level of Virus Transmission in the united states. Were pushing up to 150,000 New Cases a day. Well soon probably be up to 200,000 New Cases a day. If you look at the slope, thats practically vertical. In terms of New Cases it looks as bad as last january and february. I would certainly prefer a vaccination mandate. I think thats been a tougher nut to crack. But that would be ideal as well. But thats been fraught with a lot of political difficulty. Lets be honest, its not the science thats precluding a Vaccine Mandate for planes and trains. Its the politics. Thats right. This is all politics. And its selfdefeating politics because right now when you have a virus thats this transmissible with the reproductive number of 6 to 8, we know from past epidemics what that means. The best way to do this is to vaccinate your way out of it in collaboration with masks. And we cant be either or. The only way were going to defeat this virus is with both. Tomorrow the biden administration is expected to recommend officially covid Booster Shots for more american adults. Whats more important in your view, getting people who already have the shots, this booster, or getting unvaccinated people and unvaccinated children their first dose . Jake, as a nation we have to figure out a way to do both. And heres why. When these vaccines were rolled out in december and january, both the pfizer, Biontech And Moderna vaccine had a three to Fourweek Interval between doses. That was done because we had to fully vaccinate the american people as quickly as possible. At that time there were 3,000 americans losing their lives every day. And we did that with the knowledge that the durability of protection would probably not be very long because when you immunized and then give a boost three, four weeks later, that doesnt give you longlasting immunity. Typically you usually need a sixmonth to a yearinterval. We always anticipated a booster come hg. And now with data coming out of the Mayo Clinic and israel showing sharp declines in protection against infection going from over 90 to 40 to 50 with uncertainty in terms of protecting against hospitalizations, although thats still looking good, thats the reason for the booster. In parallel weve got to walk and chew gum at the same time. Weve got to get the younger kids vaccinated. If were really serious about interrupting this Virus Transmission with this kind of reproductive Number Transmissibility of the virus, were talking about 80 to 85 of the u. S. Population vaccinated, not 80 to 85 of the adults but 80, 85 of the population. Pretty much all of the adults and adolescents have to be vaccinated in the u. S. And given whats going on right now here in the south, you can imagine what high a bar that is right now. Your Home State of texas leads the nation in children hospitalized with covid. Were also seeing a combined covid19 respiratory sin sishl virus. This is happening before school starts. So schools are opening now. So the houston independent School District opens august 23rd. Thats going to be a huge accelerant. So this is just the warmup act. This is just the beginning unfortunately. Unfortunately. Dr. Peter hotez, thank you so much. Coming up an unprecedented surge. We went to the u. S. Mexico Border to speak to migrants. Among them, a mother who fears that gangs will kill her and her toddler. Stay with us. But get there faster, with better outcomes. With app, cloud and anywhere workspace solutions, vmware helps companies navigate change meeting them where they are, and getting them where they want to be. Faster. Vmware. Welcome change. People with moderate to severe psoriasis, are rethinking the choices they make like the splash they create the entrance they make, the surprises they initiate. Otezla. Its a choice you can make. Otezla is not a cream. Its a pill that treats Plaque Psoriasis differently. With otezla, 75 clearer skin is achievable. Dont use if youre allergic to otezla. It may cause severe diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting. Otezla is associated with an increased risk of depression. Tell your doctor if you have a history of depression or suicidal thoughts or if these feelings develop. Some people taking otezla reported weight loss. Your doctor should monitor your weight and may stop treatment. Upper respiratory Tract Infection and headache may occur. Tell your doctor about your medicines, and if youre pregnant or planning to be. Otezla. Show more of you. Is your family ready for an emergency . You can prepare by mapping out two ways to escape your home, creating a supply kit, and including your whole family in practice drills. For help creating an emergency plan, visit safetyactioncenter. Pge. Com a little preparation will make you and your family safer in an emergency. A Weeks Worth of food and water, radio, flashlight, batteries and first Aid Kit are a good start to learn more, visit safetyactioncenter. Pge. Com in our national lead, another foreign Policy Crisis for the biden administration with central american migrants fleeing to the u. S. Border at Record Numbers. More than 212,000 migrants were detained by u. S. Customs and Border Protection in july alone. Thats up 12 from june. And its the highest number of migrants detained in one month in more than two decades. Among them, babies, families, teenagers making the risky crossing. Cnns nick valencia went down to the border to find out why do they make this dangerous journey. Reporter these are the young faces of those crossing the u. S. Mexico Border. Day after day, sometimes hour after hour. Theyre coming to the u. S. In Record Numbers in groups no smaller than this. What are you guys running from . The unprecedented number of illegal crossings include this 21yearold single mother fearing retaliation from the gangs in El Salvador who she says want to kill her and her toddler daughter. Why are you crying . Youre scared . For years the u. S. Has seen central american families like this come looking for asylum. But many of the migrants we spoke to like this young father say between existing gang violence, a hurricane in november, and the pandemic, theres no future left for his infant son. So now hes here looking for work and a new life. Its the same for this group of Teen Boys who tell us the pandemic gave them no choice but to look for a better future here in the united states. Each of them came alone without their parents. The 16yearold crossed without his parents. He says this is all he crossed with, the clothes on his back and this. The boys tell me they know there are those who dont want them here. This 16yearold said he wishes those people would see the life he fled. If theyd go over there, what would they would . [ speaking foreign language ] this is a large group that was just processed in the field by Border Patrol agents. About half of them are small children. One of them is still nursing. From here this group will be taken and tested for covid19. If they test positive, theyll then be taken to a tent thats been put up at a park where there are already thousands of others. 11 miles away inside the park we meet sister norma, who along with the city of mcallen is running a tent camp, home to more than 1,500 migrant families. After complaints from residents about the risk of covid among the migrants. She says despite the concerns, migrants are testing at a lower Positivity Rate than the state average. The people that are arriving here are arriving the majority without covid. So those that do are then contained and isolated to help us make sure that we proceed correctly. Reporter those who Test Negative are busted downtown to the catholic Charities Respite Center where volunteers and staff help them reconnect with families and wait for pending immigration court hearings. Theyre Human Beings. Theyre in distress, hurting. We cannot lose sight of that just because we fear the fact that theyre here because theyre bringing covid. No, theyre coming here as people fleeing violence and needing help. Reporter and as the pandemic adds to other preexisting factors, more migrants will come day after day, hour after hour. The biden administration has been reluctant to call this a crisis, but its clear that this is a problem that theyve not yet found a solution for. Jake . Thank you so much. Coming up, at least 1,900 people are dead in desperate need for medical supplies. And now a storm in the earthquake zone. Were going live to haiti, next. Oh, focaccia ah, theres no place like panera. Enjoy the toasty, saucy Chipotle Chicken Avocado melt on freshly baked bread. Panera. Order on the app today. Without my medication, my small tremors would be extreme. I was diagnosed with parkinsons. I had to retire from law enforcement. It was devastating. One of my medications is Three Thousand dollars per month. Prescription drugs do not work if you cannot afford them. Aarp is fighting for americans like larry, and we wont stop. 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Thats cool, but ours save us serious clamaroonies. Relax people, my wireless is crushing it. Thats because you all have Xfinity Mobile with your internet. Its wireless so good, it keeps one upping itself. In our world lead, a humanitarian Disaster Unfolding in haiti. Overnight what is now tropical Storm Grace dumped nearly a foot of rain on some parts of the Earthquake Disaster Zone in haiti. Officials just updated the overall Death Toll at least 1,900 people are confirmed dead. Cnns Matt Rivers has made his way to haitis southern peninsula near the epicenter of the quake. You arrived a short time ago, but youre already seeing plenty of destruction. Yeah, jake. We really only got here within the last id say two hours or so after taking a helicopter ride. We hitched a ride with the u. S. Coast guard, which is actually ferrying one or two helicopters and a plane back and forth to this area because its really the only way to get to this area. It took us about an hour in that helicopter to get here. And in the town, its really the fifth largest city here in haiti. There is destruction on every single block that We Saw. We drove through the town, people in different sections of the town going through Rubble Finding whatever they can in that rubble. They obviously had to deal with a tropical depression that came through here last night. At least from what weve seen here so far its been limited. No major signs of flooding and that was a huge concern here. However, we did drive past the hospital here. It was very bad. We saw dozens of people outside the hospital. Clearly this is a situation where doctors and nurses are going to be overwhelmed because these victims from this earthquake just keep coming in. How do they get out of here, jake . Thats the big question. There are no medical evacuation flights really happening. Its very piecemeal. And in the short time that weve been here, we did not see any haitian government presence, no Search And Rescue teams, no first aid convoys because its such a remote place these people out in this part of haiti have a long way to go in terms of keeping their people safe, taking care of those who are injured and also trying to begin this cleanup process. Matt rivers, thank you so much for your reporting. Coming up, were going to go live outside the Kabul Airport as afghans are frantically trying to get out as the taliban take over. Stay with us. [music plays. ] meet jeff. In his life, hes been to the bottom of the ocean. The tops of mountains. The er. Twice. And all the places this guy runs off to. Like jeffs, a life well lived should continue at home. Home instead offers customized services from personal care to memory care, so older adults can stay home, stay safe, and stay happy. Home instead. To us, its personal. Welcome to the lead. Im jake tapper. This Hour Backing boosters. A plan coming together for you to get your third shot. When should you book your appointment . Thats ahead. Plus, life after the trump presidency. The niece of Donald Trump joins us live explaining the lasting effects that she sees from his time and office. And leading this hour, the crisis in afghanistan. The taliban taking over in a frantic attempt to get americans and afghan allies out of the country with the fear that their lives are on the line. In minutes were going to speak to an afghan interpreter who is now safely in the u. S. But has more family left behind desperate to get out. Top biden administration officials insist they knew there would be chaos in afghanistan as americans tried to leave this 20year war. And that Contingency Plans were always in place. But as cnns jeremy diamond reports, growing criticism is coming from all sides, blaming the administration for ignoring intelligence and warnings and for the potential fallout to come. Reporter facing mounting criticism over the chaos in kabul, today President Biden staying out of public view, holdup at Camp David while his national Security Advise york trying to contain the fallout. When you conclude 20 years of Military Action of Civil War in another country with the impacts of 20 years of decisions that have piled up, you have to make a lot of hard calls. None with clean outcomes. Reporter even as desperate scenes have unfolded in kabul, sullivan insisting the u. S. Planned for every contingency. But he said the administration will conduct a review of what went right and wrong. Biden acknowledged his administration miscalculated how swiftly kabul would fall. This did unfold more quickly than we had anticipated. Reporter but No One in his administration has explained how the u. S. Was caught so flatfooted after nearly two decades at war. Sources told cnn its a Question Biden put to his team during briefings, answers have been harder to come by, amid internal fingerpointing. Sullivan said the taliban have promised Safe Passage for civilians to the airport. But he refused to commit to evacuating every American In Kabul after the planned August 31st withdrawal. So im not going to comment on hypotheticals. Im going to stay focused on the task at hand which is getting as many people out as rapidly as possible. Reporter Behind The Scenes a senior white House Official acknowledging our competence is being questioned. Telling cnn the only way to fix that is to stabilize the airport and safely withdraw americans and our partners to the best of our ability. I stand squarel