Axios PM: Biden's new vow

Plus: Drink fads collide | Tuesday, August 31, 2021

Open in app View in browser   Presented By bp   Axios PM By Mike Allen ·Aug 31, 2021 Good afternoon! Today's PM — edited by Neal Rothschild — is 396 words, a 1.5-minute read.     1 big thing: Biden points to new threats President Biden speaks from the White House's State Dining Room this afternoon. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images   In a fiery defense, President Biden called his Afghanistan withdrawal "the right decision for America," saying it allows the U.S. to protect "not against threats of 2001, but against the threats of 2021 and tomorrow." "It was time to end this war," he said in a 26-minute afternoon address, calling the evacuation an "extraordinary success." Biden said modern threats include Russia, China, cyberattacks, plus terrorists based in Somalia, Syria, Iraq and the Arabian Peninsula. He promised a "tough, unforgiving, targeted, precise strategy that goes after terrorism where it is today, not ... two decades ago." Addressing the terrorists accused of killing 13 U.S. service members in Kabul, Biden said: "To ISIS-K, we are not done with you yet." Biden claimed the 120,000+ people evacuated were more than double what most experts thought possible: "No nation — no nation — has ever done anything like it in all of history." Even if evacuations had begun in June or July, he asserted, "There still would have been a rush to the airport." Biden said the U.S. remains committed to getting out remaining Americans, perhaps 100–200, who want to leave: "There is no deadline."     2. 📊 Data du jour: What our searches show Data: Google Trends. Chart: Jared Whalen/Axios Full FDA approval of the Pfizer vaccine drove a notable uptick in interest in getting the jab, Axios' Neal Rothschild writes. Google searches in the U.S. for "how to get covid vaccine" rose 13% week-over-week after the FDA announcement, Google Trends shows. Searches shot up 76% on Aug. 23, the day the FDA announced the decision, and peaked two days later before trending back down. CDC data shows that the seven-day average for doses administered increased 5% that week. Between the lines: The FDA blessing wasn't as big a vaccination driver as the COVID surge or rise of employer mandates, search data shows. Share this story.     A message from bp Carbon pricing is economics in action     Carbon pricing is both fair and efficient – making the highest emitters pay more, and harnessing the power of a market to create change. When businesses and people have to pay for emissions, they'll invest in ways to drive those emissions down. See why bp has long supported carbon pricing.     3. Catch up quick Satellite image: Planet Labs Inc. California's Caldor Fire swelled to nearly 200,000 acres and is just 16% contained. Above, you can see it approaching South Lake Tahoe yesterday. The latest. After losing his hosting gig, Mike Richards is now out as executive producer of "Jeopardy!" and "Wheel of Fortune" over his offensive comments from 2013 and 2014. Read Sony's statement.     4. Drink fads collide Photo: Anheuser-Busch   Bud Light is launching a pumpkin spice hard seltzer as part of its fall variety pack, CNN reports. The pack includes toasted marshmallow, maple pear and apple crisp.     A message from bp There's a proven way to cut emissions throughout the whole economy     Carbon pricing is simple: if emissions aren't free, the economy won't produce so many of them. Putting a price on carbon doesn't flip a switch to net zero – but it can fund and incentivize other technologies that further cut emissions. Read more about why we — and many others — support carbon pricing.   Like this email style and format? Learn more about Axios HQ. It'll help you deliver employee communications more effectively.   Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. If you're interested in advertising, learn more here. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. Axios, 3100 Clarendon B‌lvd, Suite 1300, Arlington VA 22201   You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from Axios. Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.   Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now to get Axios in your inbox.   Follow Axios on social media: