From pushing back the withdrawal time frame Biden inherited from former President Donald Trump to coincide with the peak Taliban fighting season, to the obtuse overnight surprise evacuation of Bagram Air Base, to the impetuous and uncoordinated pulling out of ancillary air support that the Afghan military relied upon, to the images of Afghans falling to their deaths off hastily departing U.S. military planes, to the wholesale stranding of more than 10,000 American citizens on the ground with little exit strategy for them other than reliance upon the magnanimity of an internationally recognized jihadist outfit, this withdrawal was botched in every possible way....

Dr. Dena Grayson, an expert of viral pandemic threats, shared a tweet Sunday night featuring a photo from the White House’s September 26 nomination ceremony for judge Amy Coney Barrett, now considered by many a COVID-19 “superspreader” event. Many high-profile attendees hugged and spoke closely to one another without masks, both outside and during indoor receptions. After the event a number of attendees tested positive for the disease, including President Donald Trump, the first lady, and GOP senators....

The search term began gaining traction around 9:20 p.m. ET, according to Google Trends. This would’ve been just a few minutes into the debate, around the time both candidates were attempting to discuss their healthcare agendas. But Trump, in what would become his go-to tactic throughout the night, interrupted and spoke over Biden so frequently that understanding each candidate was near impossible. Minutes later, Biden would utter one of his more acerbic lines from the night: “Will you shut up, man?...

After their targeted ad proved successful in reversing Toyota’s contributions after less than one day of airing, the organization is primed to take on its next corporate target. A Lincoln Project spokesperson was clear Thursday that the organization planned to continue its strategy of shining light on companies’ controversial political donations. “Toyota made the right choice today. They put democracy ahead of transactional politics,” said RC Di Mezzo. “We hope that the rest of Corporate America will follow their lead — we’ll be there to make sure of it....

The fire began on August 14 and destroyed 1,003 structures including homes and commercial buildings, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, also known as Cal Fire. The Sacramento Bee noted that containment doesn’t mean that that fire has been extinguished, but that firefighters have constructed a perimeter around the fire. The newspaper reported that 500 firefighters are still assigned to the blaze. “Contained, controlled and out are three distinct phases....

“Domestic terrorism is a threat to the American people and our democracy. Acts of violence intended to intimidate civilian populations or to influence or affect government policy should be prosecuted as domestic terrorism regardless of the ideology behind them,” the FBI Agents Association (FBIAA) wrote in a press release on Tuesday. “FBIAA continues to urge Congress to make domestic terrorism a federal crime. This would ensure that FBI Agents and prosecutors have the best tools to fight domestic terrorism....

The deadly massacre, which began at a traffic stop between Odessa and Midland on Saturday afternoon, has intensified pressure on GOP lawmakers to enact stricter gun control measures. The attack came just weeks after a gunman opened fire in Dayton, Ohio, killing nine with an assault weapon and another stormed a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, leaving 22 dead and dozens more injured. During a Fox & Friends segment discussing the West Texas massacre on Sunday, Tony Perkins — a former police officer who’s currently president of the Family Research Council, a Christian conservative policy and lobbying organization — attempted to blame America’s allegedly dwindling morality for the country’s uptick in mass shootings....

Newsweek noticed the site was down shortly after the announcement by the Strand Book Store on Instagram and Twitter, which asked for readers to purchase store merchandise in hopes of upping revenue. The store shared that the website crashed on Twitter, and claimed it may take until tonight or tomorrow for everything to be working properly. When the website is up and running, there are options for the Strand to ship books if you’d like to buy, but aren’t local....

The FBI obtained a warrant to “conduct a site survey underneath the Pulaski Skyway,” according to Mara Schneider, the spokeswoman for the FBI’s Detroit field office. According to Schneider’s written statement, the survey was conducted on October 25 and 26, with its data currently being analyzed. The Newark and Detroit offices were involved in the investigation. The search was spurred by a new tip given to authorities by journalist Dan Moldea....

“I think our members generally are not interested in a motion to dismiss,” the top Republican told reporters. “Certainly there aren’t 51 votes for a motion to dismiss.” Blunt’s comments come one day after Trump rebuked the GOP-led Senate for “giving credence to a trial based on the no evidence, no crime, read the transcripts, ’no pressure’ Impeachment Hoax.” The president made the statement in a tweet, where he went on to suggest Republicans in Congress should “outright” dismiss the articles of impeachment against him....

It took two-and-half years to get complete the story, all due to Jones’ indiscretions outside the Octagon. Testing positive for cocaine, being involved in a hit-and-run accident with a pregnant woman, going to jail, failing a drug test for taking two banned substances — questions were raised as to whether Jones could regain the mantle he had before his screw-ups, the greatest fighter of all time. Jones said all the right things in the lead-up to UFC 214....

Speaking at a scientific meeting in Baltimore last week, researchers from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center reported that fluoride – given orally in a new low-dose, slow-release form – can help sufferers avoid spinal fractures. Fluoride’s bone-producing properties are well known, but the high doses used in past studies have generated abnormal bone that breaks easily. The Texas researchers tested the new low-dose formula against a placebo in 99 patients over a four-year period....

’Sane one of the worst wingers ever’ Iheanacho started up front and scored City’s only goal in the 1-1 draw with Celtic in the Champions League on Tuesday, and afterwards revealed that Aguero had already given him some words of encouragement. “Before we played Celtic [he said] that it’s up to me now to fill that gap, to carry the team along,” the 20-year-old told reporters. “He’s telling me I should do very well and they are words of encouragement from him....

This year’s NHL Entry Draft begins at 7 p.m. ET Friday with first-round selections. Saturday’s proceedings include rounds two through seven, beginning at 10 a.m. ET. Television coverage: NBC Sports Network, and Canada’s Sportsnet and TVA Sports on Friday; NHL Network and TVA on Saturday. MORE: Preliminary selection order | What you need to know | All-time No. 1 overall picks Rumors are flying thicker than mosquitoes on a fetid pond....

It was claimed that the draft system isn’t something the players are in favour given that it doesn’t allow them the choice to choose their team. FPAI also mentioned that they the ISL needs to introduce a minimum salary cap in order to ensure the well being of a player. DSK Shivajians miss I-League record by whisker The Players Association also pointed that there mustn’t be a limit to the number of Indian players a franchise could sign as it restricts the opportunity for several players....

’Utd & Arsenal are Chelsea’s main rivals’ But they have nobody but themselves to blame for an aimless, characterless performance against Hull City which ensured they made nothing of the batch of results which had gone their way elsewhere. The 0-0 draw at the Theatre of Dreams was a reminder of why they fell to sixth spot in the first place. Unable to find a cohesive style of play to open up committed yet rudimentary defending, Jose Mourinho will have to answer questions with more than just glib statements about factors not going his way....

The data released Tuesday also states that 142 active duty airmen have been “administratively separated” as of Monday afternoon. The Marine Corps is the only other military service that has approved religious exemptions, granting three so far, according to the Associated Press. The Air Force data states that 97.8 percent of active duty airmen are fully vaccinated, and combined with reserve and National Guard members, the Air Force is 96 percent vaccinated overall....

CR7 & Messi: The changing face of football The Netherlands defender is one of Chelsea’s main targets but progress is slow, with Southampton reluctant to enter talks at this stage in the transfer market. Conte is keen to bring in a world-class defender and would like to see Juventus’ Leonardo Bonucci alongside Van Dijk, but no deal is imminent. Instead, Chelsea are focusing their negotiating efforts on a striker, midfielder and wing-back for the time being....

Bradley began obliquely, asking Gore whether he thought “consistency on fundamental issues of principle is important.” Gore, knowing that Bradley was coming crabwise to the subject of abortion, said, “I’ve always supported Roe v. Wade. I have always supported a woman’s right to choose.” Then he said: “Now it’s true that early in my career I wrestled with the question of what kinds of exceptions should be allowed to the general rule that Medicaid should also pay for this procedure....

Before election night, defeat almost certainly meant a one-way ticket to private life for Al Gore. The idea of a Nixon-like sojourn in the wilderness, followed by a climb back to the top, seemed a quaint one. Since Nixon, no major party has given its failed standard-bearer a second chance. Losers often wake up to a harsh and unforgiving political world on the morning after, shunned by their party and frozen for years in their worst moments: Michael Dukakis riding in the tank, Jimmy Carter in his malaise, Walter Mondale promising higher taxes....