Good morning and welcome to Fox News First. Here’s what you need to know as you start your day. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called out the Biden administration Thursday for what he described as poor planning and poor execution of a U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, saying it may lead to Taliban insurgents gaining control of Kabul, the capital city, within the next three months. Biden admin’s Afghanistan pullout plan a potential disaster, Mike Pompeo says.
Pompeo, who helped plan and execute the Trump administration’s shift toward withdrawing troops from the country after 20 years there, told Fox News’s “The Story” that he and former President Trump made sure there were multiple, enforceable “models of deterrence” that would prevent the potential disaster that may await the current White House. “[It] looks like they have been unable to execute this,” he said. “Strategy depends on planning and execution. It looks like there’s a bit of panic. I hope they have the right number of folks and quickly get them there. I hope we can protect Americans in the way the Trump administration had every intention of doing.”
In other developments:
– U.S. troops to evacuate Americans from the embassy in Kabul
– U.S. reveals when Afghanistan capital may fall to Taliban
– See how Tthe Taliban has surged in weeks since Biden said the terrorist takeover was ‘highly unlikely.’
– Afghanistan war veterans feeling demoralized, struggling with mental health amid U.S. withdrawal
– Obama Lied about Withdrawal from Afghanistan: book
FDA green-lights COVID-19 booster vaccine for some patients
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration expanded the emergency use of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines to authorize a booster shot for some immunocompromised patients. HIV and cancer patients, organ transplant recipients, and those taking immunosuppressant drugs comprise about 2.7% of the U.S. adult population. Growing evidence suggested selecting immunocompromised patients to out a diminished protective immune response, even after two vaccine doses.
Research published this week in the New England Journal of Medicine said that 120 organ transplant recipients who received the third dose of Moderna’s vaccine showed a substantial boost in neutralizing antibodies and T-cell counts compared to a group receiving sa saline placebo. The FDA statement, released Thursday night, said the specific individuals impacted were “solid organ transplant recipients or those who are diagnosed with conditions that are considered to have an equivalent level of immunocompromised.” OThe statement said that other fully vaccinated individuals do not need an additional vaccine dose right now,
In other developments:
– Justice Amy Coney Barrett denies appeal from Indiana University students fighting COVID-19 vaccine mandate
– News outlet falsely reports thousands of kids hospitalized with COVID in 1 week
– Florida County residents asked to limit 911 calls amid COVID-19 surge
– COVID-19 vaccine and testing mandate gets support from the most prominent U.S. teachers union
– WHO says COVID-19 origin needs more studies as top expert’s lab ‘concern’ made public for the first time
Inflation pressure ‘never seen before across entire food chain: former Heinz CEO
On Thursday, former Heinz CEO Bill Johnson told Fox Business’s “Cavuto: Coast to Coast” that he was “very” worried about inflation. “We’re seeing pressures that we’ve never seen before, even across the entire food chain,” Johnson said. He added that inflation has a “huge impact” on “simple things like container costs coming out of Europe or China,” he said
Meanwhile, he added, costs have increased for freight and fuel, “which everyone just sees as a gasoline price, but ultimately dictates the price we pay for packaging — particularly plastic packaging.” Johnson commented one day after the Labor Department reported that its consumer price index rose 5.4% year over year in July, matching the prior month’s gain was the fastest since August 2008. Prices increased 0.5% last month, slowing from June’s 0.9% increase. Analysts surveyed by Refinitiv were expecting a 0.5% gain. The department said prices for shelter, food, energy, and new and used vehicles increased in July. The energy index rose 1.6%, buoyed by a 2.4% gain in gasoline prices.
In other developments:
– Inflation being felt at ‘all levels’: Wealth adviser
– Inflation hits the home appliance industry; consumers pay up
– Fox News Poll: High Concern over higher prices
– Maria Bartiromo on ‘The Brian Kilmeade Show’: Inflation will ‘soar’ due to Dem spending
TODAY’S MUST-READS:
– Chicago cop-killing suspect linked to hit-and-run while free on probation: report
– Bank robbery foiled when teller can’t read stickup note
– Top Biden adviser who refused to disclose her finances leaves White House
– Stronger than yesterday: Britney Spears just scored a major victory in a conservatorship battle
– MLB’s ‘Field of Dreams’ game ends in true Hollywood fashion
THE LATEST FROM FOX BUSINESS:
– Samsung leader Jay Y. Lee released from jail on parole
– Boeing’s Starliner launch could face a delay of several months
– Ryanair apologizes after staffers force 12-year-old autistic boy to have COVID-19 test: report
– Pelosi announces House staff can make more money than members of Congress
– Kansas City Southern rejects new bid from Canadian Pacific
SOME PARTING WORDS
Florida Gov.Ron DeSantis says a recent screw-up on COVID numbers for his state from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was caused by “a standard data entry.” “They took three days’ worth of data, put it over two – and made it look like it was a massive increase,” the Republican said during an appearance on Thursday’s edition of “Tucker Carlson Tonight.” DeSantis said he didn’t know what had happened or how it happened or the motivation, but “The White House, they’re more concerned about trying to attack me than actually dealing with the problems of the country.”
“I don’t see them dealing with the border crisis,” he added, “I don’t see them dealing with inflation. OEnergyprices are out of control, yet they are obsessed with Florida.” Not signed up yet for Fox News First? Click here to find out what you’re missing. Fox News Go Watch page is now available, providing visitors with Pay T.V. provider options in their area carrying Fox News Channel & Fox Business Network. Fox News’ Jack Durschlag compiled Fox News First. Thank you for making us your first choice in the morning! Have a great weekend, stay safe, and we’ll see you in your inbox first thing Monday.
