Aug 23, 2021

Feds could withhold money to states defying mask mandates

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (right) issued an executive order lifting the state's mask mandate on Tuesday. Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images

Also today: The Pentagon is enlisting aircraft from United, Delta, American and a few other commercial airlines to help with the evacuation effort in Afghanistan. We also have the second part of our conversation with Matt Zeller, co-founder of an organization that's taking part in the Afghan evacuation.

Segments From this episode

Feds flex the power of the purse to get states in line with COVID-19 restrictions

by Andy Uhler

Aug 23, 2021

The Biden administration has said it would use the power of the purse to try to compel governors who won't champion mask or vaccine mandates to change course.

Spencer Platt/Getty Images

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Uncertainty awaits Afghan refugees coming to the U.S.

by Sabri Ben-Achour and Rose Conlon

Aug 23, 2021

"You can't just think of these people as refugees. In a lot of cases, you've got to think of them as returning war veterans."

In this handout provided by the U.S. Air Force, an air crew assigned to the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron assists evacuees aboard a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft in support of the Afghanistan evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport on August 21, 2021 in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Taylor Crul/U.S. Air Force via Getty Images

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The team

David Brancaccio Host

Victoria Craig Host, BBC

Stephen Ryan Senior Producer, BBC

Jonathan Frewin Producer, BBC

Daniel Shin Producer

Jay Siebold Technical Director

Meredith Garretson Morbey Senior Producer

Erika Soderstrom Producer

Rose Conlon Producer

Alex Schroeder Producer

Redmond Carolipio Digital Producer

Jesson Duller Media Producer

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