Anderson Cooper 360

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Biden: 70,000+ people evacuated from Afghanistan in 10 days Aug 25, 2021

Show notes

President Joe Biden said the U.S. is on track to complete its evacuation mission by August 31 and doesn’t plan to have troops stay in the country past that date. The President also said the U.S. has helped more than 70,000 people evacuate Afghanistan in the last 10 days. Leon Panetta is the former Defense Secretary under President Obama. He tells Anderson Cooper we made a promise to U.S. citizens who are in Afghanistan and to Afghans who helped us that “we would do everything we could to evacuate them. I think we’ve got to still keep that promise.” Plus, a new Quinnipiac poll shows Floridians largely support mask mandates and oppose Gov. Ron DeSantis’ efforts to block them in schools. Dr. Aileen Marty is an infectious disease expert at Florida International University and a Miami-Dade County Public Schools medical task force member. She joins AC360 to discuss the important of masks in schools and says “the governor” and “all leaders should be working with us to do everything possible to slow down transmission.”

Airdate: August 24, 2021

Guests:

Leon Panetta

Dr. Aileen Marty

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FDA grants full approval to Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine Aug 24, 2021

Show notes

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted full approval to the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for people age 16 and older. Dr. Anthony Fauci is the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. He tells Anderson Cooper if most eligible people get vaccinated, the U.S. could have control over Covid-19 entering Spring 2022. Plus, CNN’s Chief International Correspondent Clarissa Ward joins AC360 to give an update on the situation in Afghanistan and describes just how chaotic it was trying to get out of Kabul.

Airdate: August 23, 2021

Guests:

Dr. Anthony Fauci

Clarissa Ward

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Desperation grows as thousands still wait to evacuate Kabul Aug 21, 2021

Show notes

Chaotic scenes played out at the Kabul airport as thousands desperately sought to reach evacuation flights out of Afghanistan. President Joe Biden pledged to get Americans who are still trapped in the country out. The President also extended that promise to Afghan translators who risked their lives to help U.S. troops and diplomats over the 20-year U.S. presence in Afghanistan. CNN’s Chief International Correspondent Clarissa Ward and her team were among some of the evacuees who were able to get out of Kabul. She joins AC360 to describe the chaotic scene at the airport. Plus, a senior federal official tells CNN full FDA approval of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine is “imminent.” Dr. Jerome Adams is the former U.S. Surgeon General. He tells Anderson Cooper if the vaccine gets full approval, it “will pave the way for organization to have more aggressive tactics in terms of getting their employees vaccinated.”

Airdate: August 20, 2021

Guests:

Clarissa Ward

Dr. Jerome Adams

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U.S. is working directly with Taliban leaders on the ground trying to salvage Biden's crisis in Afghanistan Aug 20, 2021

Show notes

The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Admn. Peter Vasely, is leading the effort to negotiate with his Taliban counterpart to maintain security at the Kabul airport and ensure the safety of both Americans and Afghans hoping to escape. Ryan Crocker is a former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan and Syria. He tells Anderson Cooper he thinks the Admiral is “doing the right thing.” Plus, Miami-Dade County, Florida’s largest school district, voted 7-1 in favor of a mask mandate, in defiance of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ executive order that blocks mask mandates in schools. Alberto Carvalho is the superintendent of the Miami-Dade County Public Schools. He joins AC360 to explain why he thinks he’s doing the right thing and says he will wear the consequences of his decision as a “badge of honor.”

Airdate: August 19, 2021

Guests:

Amb. Ryan Crocker

Alberto Carvalho

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Top U.S. general: The situation in Afghanistan “is still very dangerous” Aug 19, 2021

Show notes

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley told reporters the situation in Afghanistan “is still very dangerous, very dynamic and very fluid” and said U.S. troops are “at risk.” CNN’s Chief International Correspondent Clarissa Ward joins AC360 from Kabul to describe the chaos she’s been seeing as people have been rushing to the airport in an effort to flee and countries are racing to evacuate their citizens. Plus, Covid-19 vaccine booster shots will be offered in the U.S. beginning September 20, pending FDA authorization. Dr. Francis Collins is the director of the National Institutes of Health. He tells Anderson Cooper “when you try to balance benefits and risk,” getting a booster shot seems like “the wisest thing.”

Airdate: August 18, 2021

Guests:

Clarissa Ward

Dr. Francis Collins

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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott tests positive for Covid-19 Aug 18, 2021

Show notes

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has tested positive for Covid-19, despite being fully vaccinated. The Republican has opposed mask mandates and issued an executive order banning school districts from requiring masks. Dr. Peter Hotez is the co-director at the Center for Vaccine Development at Texas Children’s Hospital. He tells Anderson Cooper school hasn’t started yet and kids are getting sick. Plus, CNN’s Chief International Correspondent Clarissa Ward joins AC360 from Kabul Afghanistan to describe the fear women now have that the Taliban have taken over saying they seem to “have largely melted away.”

Airdate: August 17, 2021

Guests:

Dr. Peter Hotez

Clarissa Ward

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Biden: “I stand squarely behind my decision” Aug 17, 2021

Show notes

During an address to the nation, President Biden admitted the collapse of the Afghan government and the Taliban retaking control happened more quickly than the U.S. government had expected. Biden said he stands “squarely behind my decision.” Thomas Friedman is a foreign affairs columnist for The New York Times. He tells Anderson Cooper the President “certainly made clear they had made mistakes and they weren’t prepared.” Plus, CNN’s Chief International Correspondent Clarissa Ward takes AC360 to Kabul to give an update on the evacuation of Afghan allies from the capital city. She says many Afghans she’s met are in a “state of shock” and “struggling to process the last 24 hours.”

Airdate: August 16, 2021

Guests:

Thomas Friedman

Clarissa Ward

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CDC recommends third Covid-19 vaccine dose for certain immunocompromised people Aug 14, 2021

Show notes

Vaccine advisers to the CDC voted unanimously to recommend an extra dose of the Covid-19 vaccine for some immunocompromised people. The FDA had already authorized a third dose in certain patients who are likely to have had a poor response to two doses of either Pfizer or Moderna’s vaccine. Dr. Peter Hotez is the co-director for the Center for Vaccine Development at Texas Children’s Hospital. He joins AC360 to discuss the CDC’s recommendation. Plus, John Cohen, the Homeland Security Intelligence chief told CNN online extremist rhetoric is strikingly similar to the buildup to the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger is a member of the bipartisan House select committee that’s investigating the insurrection. He tells Anderson Cooper conspiracy theories and false narratives can grow into action and “it’s a real concern.”

Airdate: Friday August 13, 2021

Guests:

Dr. Peter Hotez

Rep. Adam Kinzinger

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More than 98% of U.S. residents live in an area with “high” or “substantial Covid-19 transmission Aug 13, 2021

Show notes

More than 98% of U.S. residents now live in an area with a “high” or “substantial” risk of Covid-19 community transmission, up from 19% just a month ago. Meanwhile, the FDA is expecting to authorize coronavirus vaccine booster shots for some immunocompromised people. Dr. Anthony Fauci is the director for the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. He joins AC360 to discuss the recent surge in cases and the anticipated authorization of booster shots. Plus, there are only 368 ICU beds currently available in Texas as the state faces another rise in hospitalization. Gov. Greg Abbott announced that more than 2,500 medical personnel will be deployed to hospitals around the state to help care for the increasing number of Covid-19 patients despite defying science and having issued an executive order prohibiting state governmental entities from requiring mask wearing. Beto O’Rourke is a former U.S. Congressman from Texas and he tells Anderson Cooper “this is a crisis and we need the governor to treat it as such.”

Airdate: August 12, 2021

Guests:

Dr. Anthony Fauci

Beto O’Rourke

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FDA expected to authorize Covid-19 booster shots for some immunocompromised people Aug 12, 2021

Show notes

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expect to authorize Covid-19 vaccine booster shots for some immunocompromised people. This would be a third shot to the current two-shot Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Dr. Leana Wen is the former Baltimore health commissioner and an emergency room physician. She joins AC360 to discuss the FDA’s expected decision. Plus, a federal judge ruled that House Democrats can get some of former President Trump’s tax records through a subpoena to his accounting firm. Norman Eisen is a former special counsel to the House Democrats in Trump's first impeachment trial as well as a CNN legal analyst. He tells Anderson Cooper he thinks “it’s an important milestone on holding Trump accountable.”

Airdate: August 11, 2021

Guests:

Dr. Leana Wen

Norman Eisen

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